Top ten things that I wasn't getting in Europe:
1) Bing Crosby singing carols
2) Free water, free samples
3) Gas for only US$2.50/gal
4) High-volume toilets
5) Shoes that fit
6) Personal comments
7) One-stop Wal-Mart shopping
8) Current movies
9) US$5 photo developing
10) Mike, Kim, Matt, John, Donnie, Kelley, William, David, Mary, Anna, Ian, WPC, Sarah, Jeff, Melissa, Benton, and Cyd
I can't really wrap my mind around a life with all of these things, available on at least a weekly basis. It kinda blows my mind. There are a lot of cultural assumptions tied into each of these things (yes, even Bing). Coming home for meetings and the holidays really pries the lids off and leaves them open for contemplation. Pots of assumption. Like paint.
To be fair, there are some neat things available in Europe, too. Like organic produce, awesome transportation, and some great people. Those things are tied to their own assumptions, just like any other cultural artifacts. I just haven't been there long enough to know what those assumptions are.
For now, I'm planning to relax and indulge in some highly-caffeinated self-analysis. With isolated foreign-language interludes. Thanks to those of you who've really gotten that ball rolling. And for those of you on the other side, I'll see you in January. Get ready.
Posted by nickles at December 9, 2006 10:51 AM | TrackBackNice to have you back Bob. I had noticed the continent seemed a little more poetic, random, and yes, even lankier, in the last few days.
Now I know why.
You know. . .so many of those I can empathize with but the biggest one--1-stop Wal-Mart shopping. The crazy thing is, i even have a wal-mart close by here, but it's NOT the same at all. The only thing that is the same is the sign out front--which is half in Chinese. sigh.
Posted by: Yemen at December 10, 2006 07:27 PMwell, rich, i do what i can. i hear europe was a particularly depressing place right after i left...
just joking. there were probably parties.
and yemen, you should know that i've totally switched from "oh how nice it is here" to "oh how nice it was there." i'll probably bounce back in a few days, but while i'm thinking of it, here's a quick list of things i'm not getting in america:
1) good beverages. (it's europe, people. coffee and fizzy wheat drinks are consistently excellent. enough said.)
2) aforementioned public transportation
3) sense of history everywhere
4) reasons to be intellectually humble
5) perspective on the global church
6) FRENCH
It's true. If I went back to America I would be instantly overwhelmed with what I missed about China. I mean, 2 kuai (that's a quarter) breakfast of dumplings and hot sauce. That's my latest addiction. and the amusement i derive from the bus tv. but hey. this will be the rest of my life. . .missing a country that I'm not in. So far I've got 2 to miss at any given time. sigh. Oh well, i like it.
Posted by: Yemen at December 12, 2006 08:47 PM