USA by Contrast
Part one
Cynical as I maybe towards American Politicians and the Macdonaldisation of the globe, I met some amazing characters on my trip to the USA. If you take out the paranoia of terrorism, bad adverts that seems to me to have seeped into the hearts and minds of Mr & Mrs Joe Average, the USA does have its appeal and charm. The USA landscape is simply stunning and nestled amongst the bravado and hype, are real down to earth people with real lives and real appeal. Its hard to remember that not every one is brain washed nor insular.
The protective shell I had built around me as an Asian in Walt Disney World in Florida, soon vanished after leaving W D W, in fact, it happened the moment I stepped onto our plane heading for Las Vegas. I met a charming elderly couple who had left California and moved to South Carolina, the woman spoke to me about how she missed her kids and the grand children, how California had become too expensive. The Couple were en-route to Las Vegas for the husbands school reunion “Class of 52”. He was a walking history book (I always wonder if these people I meet ever write down their life story or do they take this precious life history with them to their graves, as a history lover I much prefer secondary sources, letters and journals, takes me into the life and times of simple ordinary people; given a different time and place could be your neighbours) He told me of the hardships he suffered growing up in Vegas, I say hardships as they seem to me today, yet there was no malice, no bitterness and an almost matter of fact attitude “You did what you were told and you looked after yourself”. His father had been a part of building the Hoover Dam and made a modest living. He was the youngest of eight siblings and now the only one left. He gave me a history lesson, Ill never forget.
A very serious fellow I thought until the plane flew over the mountains, he looked at his wife and myself and without any facial expression at all said “hmmmm down there is death valley, aint no way we are going to survive, we are sure to go down here”. How can I best describe my feelings, well I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or be alarmed, did he know some thing about the plane that I did not?
Ill never see this couple again, I don’t know their names and they don’t know mine and they did not strike me as internet savvy affiliate marketeers so most unlikely they will ever find this blog….so just an ordinary Mr & Mrs Joe average? ……Nope not to me they weren’t
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment