Posted 11:08 AM by MelanieandSteve
RETURN TO THE U.S.A.,12 Nov and OBSERVATIONS

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: We came home to visit family for the holidays starting on the East Coast, through the middle, and all the way to Hawaii. Melanie had to remind herself that people spoke English - (No brushing up on new phrases). It was great to see America anew and appreciate it´s luxuries and its good people. Some fresh observations came to mind:

-AMERICA IS CHEAPER than much of the World, as far as consumer goods: Our $30 headlamp in the states cost $70 in Australia. While you can stay at a hotel for $2 in Asia, you still spend $2 on a AA battery. And Cheap eats: Mel loves her $7 salads here that cost $20 in England.

-PEOPLE ARE EXTROVERTED: Americans don´t hesitate to approach and offer help. We were surprised to find helpful people and friendly hellos in passing even in busy New York City.

-NEW YORK IS CLEANER than we expected. We remember graffiti and dirt, traffic and fast pace from the media. What we found were immaculate subway trains and clean streets with glassy sky scrapers.

-POLITICAL OPINIONS about current issues are more diverse. Often outside the country we agreed with travellers and foreign nationals, but at home it didn´t take long before we found ourselves in a few heated conversations.

-YOU CAN GET JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT: ´´Open 24 Hours´´ are beautiful words. Abroad, we often found ourselves hungry when we missed usual restaurant service times. But America doesn’t sleep. Stores carry high quality and wide selection – for cheap.

-SERVICE AT RESTAURANTS IS TOP NOTCH: We were used to the relaxed service standards abroad, and were amazed back in the States to be treated like five star guests - even at family cafe’s. So America´s high tipping culture now makes more sense. (In most of the world, where there is tipping at all, they top out at about 10 percent.).

-STATES HAVE GREAT INFRASTRUCTURE: We’ve seen the worst in roads and sidewalks abroad. In some places we´ve held our breath and closed our eyes just hoping to make it to our destination. It´s nice here that directions are our main concern instead of our lives.

-MEDIA´S INWARD FOCUS: The World media often focuses on the United States. So does the U.S. media. In the´´World´´ section of one foreign paper , 6 out of 8 articles, were about the U.S.A. A difference is, the US can sometimes neglect events in the rest of the world, while World Media tends to cover the globe. For example, when we were in Nepal, civil unrest broke out and the only news coverage was in Asia and Europe. Our friends in the States were unaware.

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U.S.A.; (12 Nov - 23 Nov)(Written 19 Jan)

EAST COAST: 12 Nov – 19 Nov

We spent some time in the states catching up with friends. Everyone was welcoming and warm. Feeling at home is priceless, and each friend and family member gave us this gift. Since most readers of this web site are American, we won´t go into too many details, but here is a list of great highlights:

--JENNIE AND BILL’S AND CONNECTICUT (12 -16 Nov): met at the airport by Cousin Jennie and all four beautiful kids. Barbara, Lliam, Grace and Felicity. Met Bill at the house. Loved their home surrounded by firey autumn trees on a lot carpeted in leaves, and then covered by the falling snow. We joined family in homework, gymnastics, shopping, beach walking, evening entertainment by the kids, Sunday driving, church, and great conversations.

--A NEW FRIEND: Dilshod drove 3 hours to take a voice lesson from Jennie. Then she drove us 3 hours back to Boston with her. Strangers in the beginning, we were good friends by the end.

--MICHELLE AND DOUG IN NEW YORK CITY (13-14 Nov): Michelle met us at Grand Central Station and took us to her miracle on 34th street apartment with a million dollar view. She and Doug gave us dinners out, strolling about, and great conversation. We walked Wallstreet, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Greenwich village. We strolled along the harborside with a view of the Statue of Liberty, and visited ground zero (Melanie was saddened by some cheap tourism it supported. Steve felt it lacked memorial feel). We enjoyed window shopping, posing with manaquins at Prada, and admiring the old Trinity Church (surprised to see it again a week later in the movie “National Treasure.”) The Big Apple was juicy and sweet (and cold). We ate it up.

--JENNA AND WALLEY’S, (17 Nov to 18 Nov.) IN LEXINGTON MA: Flashback to Law school days of study and stress, and Jenna with all her positive energy. Spent the night, meeting her new home, new husband, new child, and met her whole 4-generation family.

--KENNIS AND GREG (16 To 19 Nov): We were cradled in creature comforts in their country style condo with the great big bath tub. Kennis amazed us with her yummy cooking skills for dinner in, and we all enjoyed a couple of their favorite restaurants for dinner, out including the “Gentlemans Club!” Not for strippers, just gentlemen. Pictures on the wall showed Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton enjoying the place.

NEXT USA STOP: MINNEAPOLIS: 19- 23 Nov.

--CLAY AND DOLLY, AND KIDS: LIBBY, HENRY, AND SAGE : We walked the 5 acre evergreen dream property with forts, tree swings, and spatterings of snow. Saturday morning the kids woke us for tea and pancakes that they made. We went to a Christmas party that Dolly´s friend threw just because Dolly needed a place to wear her dress. And the best times of all were cards, games, and chats by the snuggly fireplace. P.s., thanks Clay for repairing Mel´s super old backpack.

--REUNION WITH SCOTT, AN INTERESTING PERSON WE MET IN TANZANIA: An inventer and a cheritable entrepreneur, Scott was starting up a trade school in Tanzania. We met him at our hotel. Conversation over breakfast in Tanzania was so interesting that breakfast soon turned into lunch. So in Minneapolis, we met again for lunch (along with his wife Sue). Still full of things to talk about, we had to hold back not to let this meal turn into a dinner.

NEXT TIME: Colo and Cali

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS TO: Laura G., Kabin G., Matt J., Paula G., Antonia C., and Claudia C.