One of the great things about traveling overseas (which I highly recommend for everybody) is that it gives you a whole new perspective. Yes, you learn many things about the foreign places you visit, but when you return home your eyes are opened in a new way to your own country. You see things you never noticed before. You took them for granted because you never knew any different.
I came home to the U.S. after my first year of living in Cambodia. Here are some of my observations while at home. There's the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between.
-I feel small in America. There are folks here taller and wider than me, whereas in Cambodia I'm a head taller than the females and outweigh most Khmer fellas by about 20 lbs. It's nice not to feel monstrously large here.
-Booty shorts are in. The shorts have NO inseam, and sometimes cheeks are hanging out the bottom. This just does not look good on most gals. As my southern friend would say, "She looks like a busted can of biscuits." The general public is not a classy set folks.
-Driving on the freeway feels like you're about to blast off into outer space. Traffic in Phnom Penh travels very slowly, maybe about 30 mph in the city. So to go 75 on the freeway feels like warp speed.
-Freeways! Sidewalks! Recycle bins! Hooray!
-I went to the Del Mar Fair in San Diego. There was country music playing near the piggy races. I'm not usually a fan of country, but with all those farm animals and big pickup trucks, it just seemed right some how and just so gosh durned American.
-Public events cater to individual needs. Moms need a quiet room to nurse babies? You got it. Need handicap accessibility? Guaranteed. Don't like smokers? There are thousands of signs everywhere to keep them and their cancer causing fumes safely at bay.
-Really unhealthy food is around every corner. Such as this monstrosity available at the fair. It's a triple cheeseburger on a Krispy Kreme doughnut. Gak.
-You can shop in bulk here. There are piles and mountains of processed food under about 4 layers of packaging. You push a shopping cart the size of a dump truck and load in groceries to store up in your home.
-Even the summer feels cool compared to Cambodia. It's a 20-30 degree temperature difference. It's wonderful to sleep under the covers and wear jeans comfortably again.
-Pets stay in the house. Pets are clean here and more domesticated than in Cambodia. Puppies and kitties live in the house. They cuddle and play and kiss. They don't have the mange, rabies or scabies. It's like therapy for the soul to pet a soft, warm puppy dog.
-Littering is not the norm here. Just look at these beautiful trash cans. Someone should start a campaign in Cambodia. I would volunteer my time to help paint garbage bins.
-There is a lack of smells. My family lives near the coast, so there is always a fresh breeze blowing. In Cambodia there are often smells of sewer, fish, garlic, rotting garbage, incense, or an odd combination of any of those.
-The lines are straight and orderly. There is a very strong sense of order, and if someone cuts in there is a tangible sense of displeasure in the air and someone will most likely speak out. In Cambodia, if you don't establish dominance in line someone may just step right in front of you.
-Of course you don't have to negotiate for your purchases here, but my oh my, are things expensive!
-I never knew there were so many brands of shampoo available. I stood in an aisle for about 15 minutes just looking at all the different brands, varieties and flavors available. It was a little overwhelming.
-I took my Granny down to the DMV. All the seats were taken and a few people offered Gran their seats. Good job America. You've still got a few good manners.
-REAL Mexican food.
-Mexican markets full of chilis and tortillas and tres leches cake and Spanish music. I love it.
-The sounds of home. The coffee maker brewing. Granny's humming old time tunes while working on the puzzle. The dog sighs/snores under the table. The clanking of dishes and silverware in the kitchen. Back doors opening and closing. The dog snuffling under your door in the morning to see if you're awake yet.
-Eating tender slabs of beef without bones. It's quite a luxury, you know.
-America has parks! Beautiful, clean and uncrowded spaces with carpet-like lawns stretching over slightly rolling hillocks and knolls.
-Did I mention that things are expensive here? The cost of my dinner alone would be the tab for 3-4 people in Cambodia.
-When you order in a restaurant they'll serve you a portion that could feed a family of four in a different country. If you're American, you can eat that portion all by yourself. In one sitting.
-I have a general sense of trust here. This is a broad observation, so let me give you a few different examples. Food is labeled and I can trust what's inside the packaging (exception for GMO's, shame on America for this). I trust that, generally speaking, in most cases, people follow the rules when driving. If you disagree, I invite to to drive in S.E. Asia just to give some perspective. Routines and procedures are followed in business places and government offices, and are not subject to the whim of any specific individual. If you go to your local post office you wait in line and are served in order. The price is set for a stamp. My packages feel safe in the capable hands of those uniformed postal employees.
In reviewing my extensive list of observations, I was pleased that there were more good points than the bad or ugly. None-the-less, let's choose a winner for each category.
Good: clean, soft puppies
Bad: the expense of it all!
Ugly: booty shorts on big girls.
I know many of you read, but not many comment. Here's an invitation: comment with your own good, bad and ugly about your country. Please specify which country if it's not America.
