I came to study in the United States a year ago. Yet, I did not know the real American society until I wasinjured in a car accident because after the car accident I had to see a doctor-and go to court (法庭).
After the accident, my roommate called a doctor for me. I was very grateful and determined to repay him
one day. But the next day, he asked me to pay him $200 for what he had done. I was astonished. He had good
reason to charge me, he said. And if I wanted to collect money from the person who was responsible for my
injury, I"d have to have a good lawyer. And only a good doctor can help me get a good lawyer. Now that he
had help me find a good doctor, it was only fair that I should pay him.
But every time I want to see doctor, I had to wait about 50 minutes. He would see two or three patients at
the same time, and often stop treating one so as to see another. Yet he charged me $115 each time. The final
examination report consisted of ten lines and it cost me $215.
My lawyer was all smiles the first time we met. But after that he avoided seeing me at all. He knew very
well the other party was responsible for the accident, yet he hardly did anything. He simply waited to collect
his money. He was so irresponsible that I decided to dismiss him. And he made me pay him $770.
Now I had to act as my own lawyer. Due to my inexperience, I told the insurance (保险) company the date
I was leaving American. Knowing that, they played for time and I left without getting a cent.
My experience taught me two things about America: firstly, in a country like America money is everything.
It is more important than friendship, honor or professional morality (道德). Secondly, foreigners are still being
treated unfairly. So when we talk about America, we should see both its good and bad sides.