Nothing makes an American like Europe!
Sarah and I noticed this last time we were here…but it’s amazing how American you become the minute you leave the country. I suppose because a large part of your identity suddenly becomes your nation of origin, whereas, of course, in America being American is nothing special. Also it seems to be instinct (at least for her and I and the other members of our group!) to respond to any kind of homesickness and anything that bugged us about European culture by becoming even more American. Hence Sarah, who normally can’t stand carbonated drinks, started guzzling Coca-Cola, and I began eating regularly at Starbucks (an evil chain with plans for world domination which I therefore normally boycott.)
Things like that. This time my coping strategy has been…www.azstarnet.com. For the first time in years, I am reading the news on a daily basis. The local news (I mean, Arizona,) not the New York Times. (Btw, if you haven’t read Fitz today–the day before Thanksgiving–READ IT.) I’m actually commenting on articles! And for the first time in my life, I am keeping a semi-eye on American sports. I actually know who’s playing tomorrow! (ASU vs. USC…oooh, the dilemma…do I dislike California enough to make me root for the Scum-Devils?)
I actually wrote some lyrics for like three different songs yesterday and today, for that lit & rock class project. They’re not very good, but I figure, hey, they’re a start. (They’re too literary, the language is too high-level. Not suitable for rock. Maciek is going to try to dumb them down a bit.) Then I tried to write another song, but it turned into a poem you definitely couldn’t put to music, and then the poem turned into basically a rant about being American in Europe (read: Europeans picking on America in Europe.) Naturally I don’t plan to show this lovely little spew to anyone on this side of the pond. And being a rant, it’s rather too disorganized for poetry. But I think some parts of it actually have potential, so I’m going to hold onto it and clean it up a bit, maybe. (Basic theme: Europe is an old fogey.)
***Disclaimer***
Europe is actually quite a cool, very unique and beautiful place and I’m very happy to be here. I would recommend it as a great travel destination to virtually anybody. It’s just…you know…it’s not home…and sometimes in order to enjoy yourself even more you have to let off steam once in a while, or the little things (read: political snobbery & conflicting cosmologies) begin to pile up and bug you.
mle said,
November 22, 2007 at 5:28 am
Hey! Bask in your American heritage! Be proud of Starbucks, McDonalds, and Nike…or not. So where are these things to read? Europeans picking on America in Europe? Well, Happy Thanksgiving Mikaela! I’ll let you know how the pumpkin pie tastes! love, mle
Mom said,
November 23, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Happy Day after Thanksgiving Sweetheart (otherwise known as Black Friday by anyone who has to be out shopping in the fracas). We love you!
A year ago today I was in the hospital waiting room in Salt Lake City while Chris was having his emergency eye surgery – so I’m very thankful this year to be at home with a healthy boy with 20-20 vision in both eyes! Even if I’m writing a paper!
Skype me! love, Mima xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Dad said,
November 28, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Actually, it was in college that I and my friends finally started reading the news, too. You’re not just in Europe, you’re probably just growing up.
Speaking of the news, I read that in London, a subway announcer was fired, or sacked as they say, for her use of obnoxious announcements over the PA system. Among others she said things like, “We would like to remind our American tourist friends that you are almost certainly talking too loudly.” I guess we are pretty boisterous compared to other more reserved cultures.
יוחנן רכב said,
December 2, 2007 at 7:53 am
Dear Niece.com,
Well, your Dad’s little anecdote is not the only such one I’ve heard. It seems there is a small but influential subset of people in the British Isles who try to anchor their place in the world by keeping American visitors in line (in one way or another). So if I make it to London early in January, I wonder how I will fare.
Yes, it is actually possible that I will make a three-cornered trip: Charlotte, NC. to Jerusalem to London (then home) or Charlotte to London to Jerusalem (then home). I have my passport, and I have my travel funds, and I have some of my hotel bookings already (in Charlotte and for the music Conference in Jerusalem). At the top of next week, I will seek to corner a travel agent who can help me coordinate all the things that need to be coordinated.
England is foreign enough. Who knows how I’ll respond to Israel. Not by drinking Coca-Cola, I think…:)