So here I am staving off jetlag - distracting myself from the very strong desire to just crash right now at four in the afternoon by posting and reading and avoiding all horizontal surfaces that will lure me into a sleep that will seriously screw up my already somewhat distorted body clock. My bio rhythms are more like bio cacophanies right now. On visiting the States:
Back in good ole' Perth - where it's pretty damn chilly at night - not so hot during the day and altogether dark for way too long.
My first visit to the USA is over and done with and I think it says a lot that I've already started laying the groundplans for a new budgeting system that will allow me to return as soon as possible and spend a much longer time there. Said new budget might include an over reliance on 2 minute noodles and learning the art of driving so that I get 100 more ks out of every full tank of fuel but it does have the added motivation I needed to get my application for senior teacher status done so that there's more pay in the pay packet every fortnight.
One of the first questions I've been asked is "What did you like the best about the States?"
It's a difficult one to answer for the simple fact that there was so much I loved. But I usually come up with this - I only visited 3 different states and saw four different cities but each one was so unique to each other I felt like I was in a new little country every time. I am constantly astounded by how different each city was from the other - Houston, New Orleans, San Francisco and San Diego. I also LOVED meeting so many different and diverse people. So the uniqueness of every place we saw and also the people. These are the aspects I loved best. Also the food! Such variety and such good cooking on such a consistent level - only had maybe two crap meals the entire time I was there. Although the American public really should start picketing their food industry about portion sizes - who decided to supersize everything? Was this trend started by Mickey D's or was it an all over decision?
So may wonderful things (and yeah some not so great things as well - I'm not all sparkles and light about the US) that I may have to listify here:
Top Ten Things I Loved About the States:
1. Such vastly different experiences from city to city (it's almost like becoming exposed to different culture with each city)
2. So many wonderfully warm, generous Americans from so many different backgrounds - if Australia is a melting pot of ethnicity then the US is like a melting VAT. There are a lot of good people out there.
3. The food (to be honest Mexican food will never be the same, nor will BBQ and I have new insight whenever Sam orders the Cobb salad now)
4. The service (9 times out of 10 I would say the service in the hospitality industry is vastly better than here - however I do think that the tipping system may have a fair bit to do with that but it's not the only reason)
5. San Diego's love of sharing artworks with the public - the walk along harbour drive and then the harbour itself truly like walking through a gallery.
6. New Orlean's love of partying, food and drinking. They do all three very well and at ALL hours of the day and night. The seafood in NO is something I will never forget. Their history is so rich and eventful, it's am amazing combination of all kinds of influences.
7. San Francisco's ability to exude the coolness factor to a point where it's not even consciously acknowledged it's just seeped into the pores of all who occupy the city. The trolley car was a very unique experience as was the Golden Gate bridge.
8. The peoples' love, admiration and respect for their military. This was a surprise to me, not the actual fact that this is what they felt - but the way they so freely and unselfconsciously demonstrated their respect for the men and women in the service. I was surprised by my own reaction as I felt quite moved when I witnessed displays of this gratitude and respect. This rarely happens in Australia and I think there are various reasons for that . Whatever a person may think about the US foreign polices/decisions to intervene on a global level you cannot help but be struck by such a strong display. Anyone who chooses a military life and serves their country in this way has my utmost respect and admiration - these people do not make the big picture decisions but they do follow them, often at their own risk and I find that kind of discipline to be highly admirable. As they say in the Marines - Ooh Rah!
9. Texas - what an eye opener that was! I met all kinds of people there and regardless of our commonalities or differences on the topics of guns, politics and sex every last one of them was so generous, kind and welcoming and immensely proud of their great state. They really do love their state and it shows in everything they say and do. I do want to go back there and meet with the friends I've made and see so much more - Austin and San Antonio are on the list to name just a few.
10. The San Diego Zoo. Amazing - you could spend days there. Hell I spent nearly an hour just watching the gorillas - their exhibits are just first class and the reputation the zoo has world wide is clearly deserving.
Top Five Things I Didn't Like (only five because really there wasn't that much)
1. San Diego seems to have an awful lot of homeless people. I mean a LOT. That was kind of disturbing to see in this city where the standard of living is quite high and there seems to be a fairly affluent population.
2. One of the front desk men at the Hilton in SF. He was fairly frustrating and pretty damn rude - however he was made up for by a very helpful female concierge who, when she found out who I had already spoken to, rolled her eyes and with a sympathetic look said - oh yes - he should be retired - we apologise!
3. Two cab drivers (out of the dozen or so we had so that's not too bad but they stood out) - one who was a brake tapper on the highway - seriously how hard is it to just pick a speed dammit? and the other who may or may not have had the clap but every five seconds he'd twitch in his seat and grab the crotch of his pants and pull them away from his groin. Ewww. Also he'd not heard of deoderant or showers - or maybe both. *Shudders*
4. Market place vendors who clearly don't like tourists. You're selling souvenir tee shirts lady - tourists are your main demographic, figure it out.
5. Food! Huh? Yeah I know but what I mean is the portion sizes. Reeeeediculous! So much wastage too - we had a convo with our Hard Rock cafe waitress and we're like - can't you box that up and give it to some homeless people and apparently that's against health regulations and we're all so why do the servings come so big? She just shrugged and said that's the way it's done now - get people to eat more they get used to it and stay longer, but more drinks etc. More often than not I would end up ordering from the appetisers and that would be plenty enough.
I could rattle on for quite some time about the various experiences we had - a crazy-mad hilarious ex New Yorker cab driver in SF, the educating of foreigners in the Texan way, the wooden roller coaster, the cruise up and down the Mississippi on a paddle steamer, the visit to the USS Midway and the several nights on Bourbon street in New Orleans however those posts can wait. I am back to school tomorrow and I need to go plan. These lessons never seem to run themselves.
I will post some more with photos soon.
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