California is, in so many ways, a radical contrast to where we’ve been lately. This lovely flower (from a pepper tree or something) about sums up the California atmosphere, with its electric color, its non-flower image, and its simply being so out there. Contrasting the dry hills, the heat, the water conservation efforts, and the endlessly burnished blue sky is a bit of a culture shock when compared with the damp and gray — but beautiful — UK.
Our family and friends are what make home “home,” but California living feels a bit foreign after nine months away. The scale is certainly different, as most things require a vehicle, and the attitudes of the people are… well, American. Of course, American doesn’t mean bad (although the little old lady who made rude gestures in the parking lot of Costco will have some accounting to do in the afterlife), but that the American attitude is … certainly not of the UK.
Americans are out-there, aggressive, on the move, quick-paced, energetic, getting things done. ‘American’ is laughing loudly, looking on the bright side (“that can-do attitude” as one British woman characterized it to us), finding opportunities. ‘American’ is criticizing, confronting, screaming out for justice. ‘American’ is boisterous, opinionated, and going to force you to see the error of your ways.
Shown here are crosses hammered into the hillside near the Lafayette B.A.R.T., just where they’re visible from the freeway and from the platform. There is one for each and every U.S. soldier killed in Iraq. (They have their own blog, as well). ‘American’ is also looking at the dark side, confronting ourselves, challenging ourselves, not forgetting what we’ve done, good or bad. A vast country, full of inconsistencies and major extremes, a single citizen can almost feel lost in its size, soaking in all that we’ve missed, observing things as returning sojourners, slightly on the outside, looking inward…
We were in Miami for not even a whole day, enjoyed the Latin atmosphere, gave our Spanish a workout, and headed back to California the following morning. We won’t bore you with the stupid details of the work that took us there — to the wrong hotel and to a red-eye flight with a two hour break for a shower and breakfast and a full day of work — but in the end, we were in Miami a total of 28 hours, and that was all. Still, it was nice to see the other side of the continent, and travel ‘locally’ for a bit – to see ‘our fellow Americans’ in their own element, as opposed to misbehaving in foreign airports! And can you say ‘Cortadito Nevado Cubano?’ Cuban coffee is fantastic, and may be the only reason to stay in Miami. Unless you have relatives there, or something. Anyway!
Our main reasons for returning home were both joyful and sad and family-oriented — a graduation, a remission ending — and not work related, though T’s book release and D’s dissertation consultations and trip to Miami did work in fairly well; nor friend-related, although we have managed to see quite a few because we met up at church or elsewhere. The frustration of some that we haven’t made it to L.A. (!?) or their particular neck of the woods will have to remain a frustration — D’s sinus infection, the heat, and the overall weariness of changing time zones twice and being on the road almost daily have just about taken their toll and done us in, and there are still medical appointments and a few last details to come before we return to the UK next week. We have discovered that we simply cannot shove our entire lives up to the previous eight months into two weeks. It’s not working, and we’re officially Not Trying Anymore.
T., who has been working and fairly isolated for the last eight months, mentioned missing her desk, and longing for a gym with an elliptical machine, as everyone lovingly has fêted and fed us. D., freckled and pink, is getting tired of goo, and wants to stop adding sunblock to his morning routine. We have discovered that if we don’t ‘slow our roll’ as the Niece says, we’ll return home from vacation as everyone seems to — completely wiped out instead of relaxed and rejuvenated. It would be a shame to relate being home with being tired out of our minds, but…
Sunday is coming quickly — and leaving again will be wrenching. But we’re looking forward to slowing waaaaaaay down and taking up our quiet vegetable (mushroom — in the cool, dark and wet?) existence back in the UK.
– D & T
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‘American’ is also looking at the dark side, confronting ourselves, challenging ourselves, not forgetting what we’ve done, good or bad – guess that makes Bush fairly UNamerican, eh ;0)
SOunds like you need to get back to Scotland to recover from your holiday!
India
I’m tired just thinking about the miles and events that you’ve covered in the past few days! Soon! You will be in your new flat and can unpack both your literal life and the memories of this trip!
Which do you see more appealing? Sipping coffee in the library a block from your new place, or fighting over a parking spot at Costco so you can buy 38 pairs of “pants” in one shrinkwrap? I have faith that you’ll readjust to Glasgow quite nicely. But I’ll miss you.