So, we've just returned from 4 days in New York. Was amazing, as predicted. Such a diverse, wonderful city. Anyway, on our way home we were delayed at JFK for 9 hours. No shit. They cancelled dozens of planes which led to a whole lotta pissed off passengers. I've never seen so many self-important douchebags in one place over the course of one day.
Anywho, during our wait, Dev wrote this little number and I liked it so much I thought I'd share:
The airport
I sit and wait for almost a day
The planes not here there’s been a delay
Purchasing overpriced food and drink
Gives me time to sit and think
About the world and what we are doing
How we consume the world we’re screwing
The buzz of caffeine is fading fast
I don’t know how long I am going to last
If the airline makes us wait any longer
I may give in to the constant hunger
And buy another magazine
To pass the time I wish to read
Of science, news and current affairs
Stimulating my mind and arm hairs
But instead I walk around
Taking in the sights and sound
Of other stressed airport victims
Hating the ineffective airway systems
The board now says we will leave at seven
And when we take off it will be heaven
But I put no stock in these proclamation
So I will just wait til we arrive at our destination
To finally breathe a sigh of relief
That we made finally it home in one piece
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Can you say Cheeeseburrga?
I am writing this blog from Seattle. At the moment it is Spring Break and I have been on quite the adventure over this annual (traditionally Skanky) Americana holiday bonanza. I realize that I haven’t updated this sucker for a few weeks which means either: a) I’ve been too lazy b) I’ve been too busy or, c) I am lacking in commitment to my blogging career or d) I have been sucked into the Hulu vortex (which is actually quite close to reality...STAY AWAY FROM IT, YOUR BRAIN WILL BECOME A GELATINOUS LUMP.....but filled with such awesome things as EVERY EPISODE OF FAMILY GUY....) Yes.
It has been a hectic first two months for us in Chapel Hill. I have been thrown in the deep end with Uni…it is very different to the University of Sydney. I really like my classes though sometimes struggle to see the relevance to reality. It is a lot less applied and more theoretical. There is a real emphasis on numbers and statistics in research, which really suits me, considering that I failed grade 10 maths. Yes, I am guilty of innumeracy. There are also plenty of actual nerds (boo, hiss). Do they realise what nerds they are? Do they care? Do they understand that food comes in other forms to bars and snacks, and that not everyone gives shit about their thesis topic nor how many books they read per week? I am getting a little over this American idea that unless you are completely killing yourself with work and saraficing every comfort, moment of free time and slice of breaking out, you are a SLACKER. They are addicted to the shit. It is a right of passage to be overworked, underappreciated, and completely dedicated to the grind. I think this aspect of American culture has annoyed me the most. Maybe because I want to have as many opportunities as possible to enjoy life, go on holdays and not chain myself to a desk, that I would probably be considered an American slacker. Yes, I can live with this. And proudly too. Give me a public holday, a 4 day week. Give me unions and 4 weeks vacation a year. Give me superanuation and a decent wage. I'll work hard and not hate you for it. Hakuna-matata.
Other than ranting as per previous para: we’ve been exploring the local region, along with Chapel Hill specifically, in much more detail over the last 2 months. We have now seen Raleigh (which is the capital of North Carolina). Raleigh itself is OK (learning towards blah). It’s pretty much a ghost town on the weekends with no shops or…people. It is very strange how there is so much action at the mall and yet so little in the city. I was a little disappointed by this. What does it mean? Why do people like spending time at soulless shopping malls with fake perimeters and artificial environments, but not in the cities which are supposed to provide a hub? I guess it is a comofrtable bubble for most people who like things to be contained and controlled. In my view this is boring and a little depressing.
On the first sunny warm day of the winter (which was a few weeks ago in mid-Feb, we cycled to a nearby town called Hillsborough. It was 15 miles away. We took the back roads into the town and the old highway back into Chapel Hill. The route there is spectacular. We passed farms, forests, rolling hills. It was scenic and peaceful. We saw old homesteads and American flags big enough to wrap around a house. There was also a discarded McCain/Palin poster by the side of the road that we were so tempted to take home and defile. The effort of biking home with the poster outweighed the benefits of Palin hatin, especially since she has been made redundant (phew).
We have become much more familliar with our local area. This is mainly because it is not all that big. At all. In fact, you’d have to do all of 3 days exploring to actually see most of Chapel Hill. That said there is a fairly impressive array of bars and cafes, restaurants and shops. We’ve gone to a few a bars, and one in particular, Mansions 462 is my favorite. I am planning on remodeling the next house that I live in on the décor of this place: from the zebra-print walls to the antique lamps, and the pimped out Manager who I have seen wearing a bowler hat and pinstriped suit. I will also take him with me. Even though he’s probably 60+ but would clearly have some funky dance moves to match the atire.
So, I have been on an early Spring Break, having left North Carolina 5 days ago. I left a week earlier because it is cheaper and I wanted to avoid the holiday crowds. I stopped in Chicago first, which is very, very awesome. I would love to spend more time there. I really needed to be in the built up urban, city environment and realized how much of a city parasite that I am. This was an interesting realization as I had always romanticized about moving to the country, the fresh air, the land, space….horses? Maybe. Now I know that I am definitely drawn to cities much more. I love the diversity, the action. After Chicago, I flew to Seattle, which is also amazing. I am staying with Becca her mum and Arturo in Kirkland. Seattle is beautiful and I’ve had such a great time hanging out with them. We’ve done lots of exploring of various suburbs and townships….admiring the yuppies and their vegan cafes and wineries. My kind of place (minus the crocs, bootcut jeans and Northface jackets of course).
This is some belated news but I managed to score a job as a research assistant at UNC. I work on a few different projects for a Professor in the Department of Public Policy. She is very cool and I am so glad to be working. It is good to have some extra cash to work with.
Well, signing off for another length of time. Not sure when I’ll write again, but I’ll attempt to keep it updated.
PEACE
It has been a hectic first two months for us in Chapel Hill. I have been thrown in the deep end with Uni…it is very different to the University of Sydney. I really like my classes though sometimes struggle to see the relevance to reality. It is a lot less applied and more theoretical. There is a real emphasis on numbers and statistics in research, which really suits me, considering that I failed grade 10 maths. Yes, I am guilty of innumeracy. There are also plenty of actual nerds (boo, hiss). Do they realise what nerds they are? Do they care? Do they understand that food comes in other forms to bars and snacks, and that not everyone gives shit about their thesis topic nor how many books they read per week? I am getting a little over this American idea that unless you are completely killing yourself with work and saraficing every comfort, moment of free time and slice of breaking out, you are a SLACKER. They are addicted to the shit. It is a right of passage to be overworked, underappreciated, and completely dedicated to the grind. I think this aspect of American culture has annoyed me the most. Maybe because I want to have as many opportunities as possible to enjoy life, go on holdays and not chain myself to a desk, that I would probably be considered an American slacker. Yes, I can live with this. And proudly too. Give me a public holday, a 4 day week. Give me unions and 4 weeks vacation a year. Give me superanuation and a decent wage. I'll work hard and not hate you for it. Hakuna-matata.
Other than ranting as per previous para: we’ve been exploring the local region, along with Chapel Hill specifically, in much more detail over the last 2 months. We have now seen Raleigh (which is the capital of North Carolina). Raleigh itself is OK (learning towards blah). It’s pretty much a ghost town on the weekends with no shops or…people. It is very strange how there is so much action at the mall and yet so little in the city. I was a little disappointed by this. What does it mean? Why do people like spending time at soulless shopping malls with fake perimeters and artificial environments, but not in the cities which are supposed to provide a hub? I guess it is a comofrtable bubble for most people who like things to be contained and controlled. In my view this is boring and a little depressing.
On the first sunny warm day of the winter (which was a few weeks ago in mid-Feb, we cycled to a nearby town called Hillsborough. It was 15 miles away. We took the back roads into the town and the old highway back into Chapel Hill. The route there is spectacular. We passed farms, forests, rolling hills. It was scenic and peaceful. We saw old homesteads and American flags big enough to wrap around a house. There was also a discarded McCain/Palin poster by the side of the road that we were so tempted to take home and defile. The effort of biking home with the poster outweighed the benefits of Palin hatin, especially since she has been made redundant (phew).
We have become much more familliar with our local area. This is mainly because it is not all that big. At all. In fact, you’d have to do all of 3 days exploring to actually see most of Chapel Hill. That said there is a fairly impressive array of bars and cafes, restaurants and shops. We’ve gone to a few a bars, and one in particular, Mansions 462 is my favorite. I am planning on remodeling the next house that I live in on the décor of this place: from the zebra-print walls to the antique lamps, and the pimped out Manager who I have seen wearing a bowler hat and pinstriped suit. I will also take him with me. Even though he’s probably 60+ but would clearly have some funky dance moves to match the atire.
So, I have been on an early Spring Break, having left North Carolina 5 days ago. I left a week earlier because it is cheaper and I wanted to avoid the holiday crowds. I stopped in Chicago first, which is very, very awesome. I would love to spend more time there. I really needed to be in the built up urban, city environment and realized how much of a city parasite that I am. This was an interesting realization as I had always romanticized about moving to the country, the fresh air, the land, space….horses? Maybe. Now I know that I am definitely drawn to cities much more. I love the diversity, the action. After Chicago, I flew to Seattle, which is also amazing. I am staying with Becca her mum and Arturo in Kirkland. Seattle is beautiful and I’ve had such a great time hanging out with them. We’ve done lots of exploring of various suburbs and townships….admiring the yuppies and their vegan cafes and wineries. My kind of place (minus the crocs, bootcut jeans and Northface jackets of course).
This is some belated news but I managed to score a job as a research assistant at UNC. I work on a few different projects for a Professor in the Department of Public Policy. She is very cool and I am so glad to be working. It is good to have some extra cash to work with.
Well, signing off for another length of time. Not sure when I’ll write again, but I’ll attempt to keep it updated.
PEACE
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Meemos are for PUBAs
It has been 2 weeks I guess since my last entry, so based on this, it looks like this will be a fortnightly updated blog. I am really ‘learning’ estimation skills that I am being taught in the class “decision making analysis” (…such a nerd).
Before continuing I should explain exactly what the title of my last blog meant. First, let me preface this anecdote with this statement: American television is garbage. It is certainly a fast food nation, and the television is no different. There are, however, certain exceptions. There are some excellent news shows on PBS and current affairs shows like 60 minutes. HOWEVER, there is so much reality TV…enough to make me want to beat myself in the face with a shoe. We literally do not watch TV anymore. I do feel that I should share the plot and content of one reality show in particular, purely for the G factor*. Although I am deterring from my original anecdote, stick with me, dear reader. So, it called something along the lines of “Momma’s boys” (http://www.nbc.com/Mommas_Boys/). It’s about these three guys who are given a handful of bimbos to choose from, but the catch is, their mother will be accompanying them through the process – these lucky girls will get to hang out with (and LIVE) with their neurotic mums! (Cyanide tablets, anyone?) There is obviously an elimination process. So, the show seems fairly (as much as it can be) innocuous. WELL, I watched this gem of a program 3 weeks leading up to its final show and became a bit familiar with the characters. There was this one mother in particular who was aggressively protective of her son. Like, he was on a date at this remote resort with ho number 4 or whatever, and Mumsy was so pissed off that she got the show to get her into a helicopter to fly over the hotel in which they were staying (they were dry humping in the pool) to spy on them. Thus, mummy got angry. So angry that she punched the window of the helicoper. Needless to say, the pilot was not happy with her. Well, it got worse. By the final episode, it was just plain creepy. She became really hostile to the competing hos and refused to select any of them as her ‘fave’ (one of her tasks). Then, she made her son go on a ‘date’ with her, cuddling him, telling him how much she loved him and how handsome he was…she was basically HITTING ON HER SON. Ick! Anywho, we decided after that, the world of TV was not for us. Whew, so now back to the original the story: the title of the blog, which was ‘side effects may include’…the reason for this is that they advertise medication on television. Weird enough as it is, they also advertise anti-depressants and other staple prescriptions of the American diet. However, they must also have some regulation where they need to disclose the side effects. So, following this glowing endorsement of whatever legal crack you can get prescribed, they announce, ‘side-effects may include’: constipation, dizziness, nausea, fainting, swelling, blood clots and DEATH. You can only imagine the hysterics that this induces, dear reader.
Now onto the other stuff:
At the time of writing this, I am totally exhausted because I have been on an exercise binge (no disorders, don’t worry, dear reader). I have started Taekwondo training which happens about 4-3 times a week. Yep, it’s intense. We do a vomit-inducing (again, no disorder) amount of pushup and sit-ups in every class, which is great for fitness, but not good for my neck/guts. I am, however, keen to raise my endurance and physical discipline, along with being able to potentially stand my ground if ever intimidated. How tough do I sound?!Yeah, don’t with eff with me. Seems like this place is definitely rubbing off. In addition, our student fees have paid for unlimited use of the University indoor pool and gym. We’ve been abusing that power.
We’ve been in Chapel Hill for about 3 weeks now. We’ve really settled into our place and are starting to enjoy the town. It is almost sad that we are only here for a 5 months because we’re just starting to get to know the place, and people. I guess it’s just a matter of embracing the time we have rather than mourning the time when we have to leave. As for the everyday stuff, we’re living in this great townhouse that backs onto a forest. We actually had Deer in our backyard the other day! And there are always little red and blue robins flittering around. We live with an awesome housemate and we’ve all really clicked.
As for uni, we’re both finding the subjects that we’re taking at UNC much more challenging than at our respective Universities in Australia. It may have something to do with us both undertaking policy subjects in which we need to have some level of U.S. political knowledge. The teaching and content here is very parochial. It is not tailored to suit the needs of high fee paying international students (looking at you, University of Sydney). And this is actually one of the advantages – they have standards as to the level of students that they admit (stinging).
The last few weeks have been fairly minimal but hectic nonetheless. Of significance: it snowed (apparently the first time in like a decade) which was beautiful. I made my way to class in it…trudging through the snow to get to class. I kept replaying the line “we used to walk 15 miles barefoot through the snow to get to school” (from the Simpsons, maybe?)We also experienced some eye-watering cold nights (um... -15) in which I levitated above by body and joined a metaphysical plane of existence before rejoining my numb self that was, although wrapped in many layers, hating me for making it walk around in said cold temps.
We’ve also been introduced to the other exchange students at a recent induction session. There were plenty of Australian students there…most are undergrad and live on campus. Speaking of Australia, we went to an 'Australia Day' themed college party last weekend. It was kitschy, alcohol-fuelled and very funny. There was even a bogan in a flag-cape there. Seriously, they are unavoidable! This was our second university party and there is definitely a consistent theme emerging: blind drunkenness and bad music. I am pretty much over it and eager to socialize in other ways. One bonus is that there have been some good people that we’ve met through these parties, though the actual events have been pretty pissweak. The funniest thing is ‘drinking games’. I mean, really? Do we not know how to interact? Drinking games are so, eh.
So, I am missing friends and family ridiculously (lump in throat), really, but glad to be on this adventure. Til next (estimated) fortnight!
*G factor = gross disgustingness factor
Before continuing I should explain exactly what the title of my last blog meant. First, let me preface this anecdote with this statement: American television is garbage. It is certainly a fast food nation, and the television is no different. There are, however, certain exceptions. There are some excellent news shows on PBS and current affairs shows like 60 minutes. HOWEVER, there is so much reality TV…enough to make me want to beat myself in the face with a shoe. We literally do not watch TV anymore. I do feel that I should share the plot and content of one reality show in particular, purely for the G factor*. Although I am deterring from my original anecdote, stick with me, dear reader. So, it called something along the lines of “Momma’s boys” (http://www.nbc.com/Mommas_Boys/). It’s about these three guys who are given a handful of bimbos to choose from, but the catch is, their mother will be accompanying them through the process – these lucky girls will get to hang out with (and LIVE) with their neurotic mums! (Cyanide tablets, anyone?) There is obviously an elimination process. So, the show seems fairly (as much as it can be) innocuous. WELL, I watched this gem of a program 3 weeks leading up to its final show and became a bit familiar with the characters. There was this one mother in particular who was aggressively protective of her son. Like, he was on a date at this remote resort with ho number 4 or whatever, and Mumsy was so pissed off that she got the show to get her into a helicopter to fly over the hotel in which they were staying (they were dry humping in the pool) to spy on them. Thus, mummy got angry. So angry that she punched the window of the helicoper. Needless to say, the pilot was not happy with her. Well, it got worse. By the final episode, it was just plain creepy. She became really hostile to the competing hos and refused to select any of them as her ‘fave’ (one of her tasks). Then, she made her son go on a ‘date’ with her, cuddling him, telling him how much she loved him and how handsome he was…she was basically HITTING ON HER SON. Ick! Anywho, we decided after that, the world of TV was not for us. Whew, so now back to the original the story: the title of the blog, which was ‘side effects may include’…the reason for this is that they advertise medication on television. Weird enough as it is, they also advertise anti-depressants and other staple prescriptions of the American diet. However, they must also have some regulation where they need to disclose the side effects. So, following this glowing endorsement of whatever legal crack you can get prescribed, they announce, ‘side-effects may include’: constipation, dizziness, nausea, fainting, swelling, blood clots and DEATH. You can only imagine the hysterics that this induces, dear reader.
Now onto the other stuff:
At the time of writing this, I am totally exhausted because I have been on an exercise binge (no disorders, don’t worry, dear reader). I have started Taekwondo training which happens about 4-3 times a week. Yep, it’s intense. We do a vomit-inducing (again, no disorder) amount of pushup and sit-ups in every class, which is great for fitness, but not good for my neck/guts. I am, however, keen to raise my endurance and physical discipline, along with being able to potentially stand my ground if ever intimidated. How tough do I sound?!Yeah, don’t with eff with me. Seems like this place is definitely rubbing off. In addition, our student fees have paid for unlimited use of the University indoor pool and gym. We’ve been abusing that power.
We’ve been in Chapel Hill for about 3 weeks now. We’ve really settled into our place and are starting to enjoy the town. It is almost sad that we are only here for a 5 months because we’re just starting to get to know the place, and people. I guess it’s just a matter of embracing the time we have rather than mourning the time when we have to leave. As for the everyday stuff, we’re living in this great townhouse that backs onto a forest. We actually had Deer in our backyard the other day! And there are always little red and blue robins flittering around. We live with an awesome housemate and we’ve all really clicked.
As for uni, we’re both finding the subjects that we’re taking at UNC much more challenging than at our respective Universities in Australia. It may have something to do with us both undertaking policy subjects in which we need to have some level of U.S. political knowledge. The teaching and content here is very parochial. It is not tailored to suit the needs of high fee paying international students (looking at you, University of Sydney). And this is actually one of the advantages – they have standards as to the level of students that they admit (stinging).
The last few weeks have been fairly minimal but hectic nonetheless. Of significance: it snowed (apparently the first time in like a decade) which was beautiful. I made my way to class in it…trudging through the snow to get to class. I kept replaying the line “we used to walk 15 miles barefoot through the snow to get to school” (from the Simpsons, maybe?)We also experienced some eye-watering cold nights (um... -15) in which I levitated above by body and joined a metaphysical plane of existence before rejoining my numb self that was, although wrapped in many layers, hating me for making it walk around in said cold temps.
We’ve also been introduced to the other exchange students at a recent induction session. There were plenty of Australian students there…most are undergrad and live on campus. Speaking of Australia, we went to an 'Australia Day' themed college party last weekend. It was kitschy, alcohol-fuelled and very funny. There was even a bogan in a flag-cape there. Seriously, they are unavoidable! This was our second university party and there is definitely a consistent theme emerging: blind drunkenness and bad music. I am pretty much over it and eager to socialize in other ways. One bonus is that there have been some good people that we’ve met through these parties, though the actual events have been pretty pissweak. The funniest thing is ‘drinking games’. I mean, really? Do we not know how to interact? Drinking games are so, eh.
So, I am missing friends and family ridiculously (lump in throat), really, but glad to be on this adventure. Til next (estimated) fortnight!
*G factor = gross disgustingness factor
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Side-effects may include...
This is the first blog I have ever posted. I think it is about time. Time for some blogging. We (Devin and I) are now living in America. And it is time to document the experience. I will be minimal with describing the details. Because details, description, are boring to the reader. So, I will ensure to jump straight to the facts. And the funny bits. The bits of amusement that tickle the fancy of this Australian traveller and soon to be, student, of the 'land of the free'. Or so they keep telling me. Let me set the scene for you, dear reader: We are living in a townhouse style place in a smallish (100.000 population) town called Chapel Hill in North Carolina. It is what is described as a University town that is extremely 'liberal'. Whatever that means. It is quaint and cute. There is a great main street with pretty cool cafes and restaurants. But let me backtrack. We arrived here about a week ago. I got on a plane from Madrid to Miami then the Raleigh. This was all on the 1st Jan. Which was pretty ridiculous. But I made it. I was greeted at the airport by Cathy and Kevin Zimmer and their sons David and Matthew, who are friends of my parents, and now, of ours. I was wretchedly sick from the flight thanks to some craptastic food that they fed us. It was creamy cheesy pasta which went well with my allergy to dairy. Anywho, after getting off the plane...oh, did I mention I thought we were going to die whilst attempting to fly to Miami from Madrid? It all started with the shitty service and obvious cost-cutting that American Airlines (who I had to fly with) were clearly undertaking. I mean, they are the pits. Really. Don't recommend flying with them. We were apparently 'stuck' at a certain altitude with horrible, horrible turbulence. It was bad. So bad, that I was actually gripping my tray table. Hanging on for dear life. Because that 7 centimetres of hard plastic was definitely going to save MY life if the plane started to nose dive. Anyhow, how did I get so distracted? No long winded anecdotes, I told you, dear reader.
So, we're in the United States. In North Carolina. Did I mention that this is technically the south? They are still fighting the civil war in some parts of the State, apparently. Our furniture salesmen, a top bloke, carries a loaded handgun. Everyday. On his belt. He also asked Dev and I if we were "wed". Still, a lovely guy. He basically furnished our room for us, on a very slim budget. Other than the gun toting furniture guy, we are being entertained on a daily basis by the friendly folks with their southern accents. Cleetus style. We are also, just as entertained by eavesdropping on conversations between African-American women (younger, in particular) who seem to fill every stereotype in my mind...with the head 'side-to-side' "oh, no she di'n't!" reactions.
Next stop of cultural 'adjustment': The FOOD TRAIN. Well, other than the notoriously nasty cheeses (none of which I can eat anyway) is the copious amounts of sugar, corn and soybean that is in, um, EVERYTHING. We were literally queasy for the first few days of arriving. Since we have moved, we shop fairly exclusively at the co-op which has an amazing selection of foods for fussy shitheads like me on new age wacky diets that consist of goats cheese and blueberries (among other healthy rubbish). Strange things thus far: drinks are GIANT and BOTTOMLESS. You can refill your glass til you are about to piss straight Sprite. The drink of choice here is iced tea. Oh, and alcohol is ridiculously expensive to buy in a restaurant. No one is BYO. They don't understand the concept, except for at parties. Which is really to be expected.
My last cultural analysis of this place, after week one: Sports players are revered as demigods. No shit. I am saying this as an Australian: where sports players can rape and pillage and it is excused as 'part of the culture'. Basketball, gridiron and Baseball. People go nuts over them. There are cable channels (note the plural) that are dedicated to college sports (mainly basketball), exclusively. Hmmm. Note to self: do not attempt to understand the game because it just means that locals will attempt to talk to you about it. In this case ignorance is certainly, on the way to bliss.
Final comment: the big box stores are AMAZING. They are also incredibly unethical. But, wow. You can buy tampons, a lettuce, a pair of jogging shoes AND a couch all in the same shop. Most of the chain stores are like this, huge, addictive, and totally engaging. We have probably spend a total of 3 out of 10 days in America, mouths open, trawling big box stores. Target is our weakness.
FYI I will be starting tae-kwon-do classes whilst we are here. And I am really excited about uni. I am feeling motivated and inspired. I am also sounding slightly evangelical. Seems like this place is already rubbing off.
So, we're in the United States. In North Carolina. Did I mention that this is technically the south? They are still fighting the civil war in some parts of the State, apparently. Our furniture salesmen, a top bloke, carries a loaded handgun. Everyday. On his belt. He also asked Dev and I if we were "wed". Still, a lovely guy. He basically furnished our room for us, on a very slim budget. Other than the gun toting furniture guy, we are being entertained on a daily basis by the friendly folks with their southern accents. Cleetus style. We are also, just as entertained by eavesdropping on conversations between African-American women (younger, in particular) who seem to fill every stereotype in my mind...with the head 'side-to-side' "oh, no she di'n't!" reactions.
Next stop of cultural 'adjustment': The FOOD TRAIN. Well, other than the notoriously nasty cheeses (none of which I can eat anyway) is the copious amounts of sugar, corn and soybean that is in, um, EVERYTHING. We were literally queasy for the first few days of arriving. Since we have moved, we shop fairly exclusively at the co-op which has an amazing selection of foods for fussy shitheads like me on new age wacky diets that consist of goats cheese and blueberries (among other healthy rubbish). Strange things thus far: drinks are GIANT and BOTTOMLESS. You can refill your glass til you are about to piss straight Sprite. The drink of choice here is iced tea. Oh, and alcohol is ridiculously expensive to buy in a restaurant. No one is BYO. They don't understand the concept, except for at parties. Which is really to be expected.
My last cultural analysis of this place, after week one: Sports players are revered as demigods. No shit. I am saying this as an Australian: where sports players can rape and pillage and it is excused as 'part of the culture'. Basketball, gridiron and Baseball. People go nuts over them. There are cable channels (note the plural) that are dedicated to college sports (mainly basketball), exclusively. Hmmm. Note to self: do not attempt to understand the game because it just means that locals will attempt to talk to you about it. In this case ignorance is certainly, on the way to bliss.
Final comment: the big box stores are AMAZING. They are also incredibly unethical. But, wow. You can buy tampons, a lettuce, a pair of jogging shoes AND a couch all in the same shop. Most of the chain stores are like this, huge, addictive, and totally engaging. We have probably spend a total of 3 out of 10 days in America, mouths open, trawling big box stores. Target is our weakness.
FYI I will be starting tae-kwon-do classes whilst we are here. And I am really excited about uni. I am feeling motivated and inspired. I am also sounding slightly evangelical. Seems like this place is already rubbing off.
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