[Culturechat] A foreigner in his own country

[Joan Herriges]

I think you are right Vance.  Generally, we see a kinder U.S.  We have been
doing some domestic travel and find people leaning over backward to please
and be friendlier.

But a disclaimer!  Would have to drive a bit in Boston (we're from Calif.)
to see how those good folks have improved.  No offense intended.   Cheers.
Joan.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vance Roy" <giglisaw@aiconnect.com>
To: "culturechat" <culturechat@untours.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2002 11:48 AM
Subject: [Culturechat] A foreigner in his own country


> OK, first the disclaimer. If you think me a traitor, don't bore anyone
about
> it but me. You can send what you like as a private message. Some of you
know
> how I like to wear my asbestos underwear.
>
> I have been in USA four days now. Am I mistaken or are people a bit nicer
to
> each other since 9/11? It hit me between the eyes in Boston as I entered
MY
> country again after many months. You may know that in the late 60's, I was
a
> prisoner of war in Boston. Almost never left.
>
> Our country has become a multi language country since I left in 1994.
There
> have been a lot of voices in the USA for a long time. I knew that already,
> but it is more apparent each time I return. What the Heck! I live in a
3/4/5
> language country anyway.
>
> Folks in RI have always been a cut above the New England "brusqueness", so
> Newport is still Newport. Mansions, great accents, wonderful traffic
> courtesy, lousy streets and sidewalks, beautiful trees and  beaches, what
I
> call Rhode Island "lick and promise work", overpriced places to eat and
play
> (not so bad in the off season), and I especially like it because I don't
> have to get my "Boston personality" on before I walk in somewhere.
>
> Funny though. I know folks over the whole USA that recycle. As some of you
> know, the Swiss are big on this. Today, we went to the grocery and asked
for
> paper instead of plastic bags. What did we get? We got paper bags filled
> with groceries AND STUFFED INTO PLASTIC BAGS!! We just laughed.
>
> I still run around turning off lights, wonder at the amazing number of
cars
> with only one person on the roads, am amazed at the great variety of goods
> in places like Walmart (One of my favorite places to waste time), don't
want
> to be here if gasoline gets to be 10$ a gallon, but I cannot find a bakery
> in the whole town comparable to those Swiss places.
>
> I'll probably write more about this. I am still learning a lot about "my
> country". If you read this as unpatriotic, so be it. I don't see it that
> way. I just realize how different things can be. It is a "culture thing",
I
> suppose. After all, we are still all together on the same ball.
>
> Vance Roy
> gigli.saw@dplanet.ch
>
>
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