Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

[Kepler]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Coming back Sateside after going into Canada a few weeks ago was culture shock in a not good way. I find I think more like a European/ UK person

That's how I feel whenever I come back. In many ways, European thinking is simply more natural and comfortable. American thinking is considerably more dichotomous and aggressive.

Europe : America :: America : New York City

The basic problem is American corporatized culture (television, sports, commerce, politics, organized religion) is dominated by our worst voices, because those voices are both the loudest and also the dumbest and thus easiest to sell to.

There are plenty of communities in the States where intelligence and thoughtfulness are civic and public virtues. Just not corporatized space. We traded humanity for convenience.

[burd]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

That's how I feel whenever I come back. In many ways, European thinking is simply more natural and comfortable. American thinking is considerably more dichotomous and aggressive.

Europe : America :: America : New York City

The basic problem is American corporatized culture (television, sports, commerce, politics, organized religion) is dominated by our worst voices, because those voices are both the loudest and also the dumbest and thus easiest to sell to.

There are plenty of communities in the States where intelligence and thoughtfulness are civic and public virtues. Just not corporatized space. We traded humanity for convenience.

I can tell you my recent hours-long jump from rural midwestern America to Vancouver had a bit of a science fiction feel to it.

[leswp1]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

That's how I feel whenever I come back. In many ways, European thinking is simply more natural and comfortable. American thinking is considerably more dichotomous and aggressive.

Europe : America :: America : New York City

The basic problem is American corporatized culture (television, sports, commerce, politics, organized religion) is dominated by our worst voices, because those voices are both the loudest and also the dumbest and thus easiest to sell to.

There are plenty of communities in the States where intelligence and thoughtfulness are civic and public virtues. Just not corporatized space. We traded humanity for convenience.

Yep. It is hard re-enter all the self absorption, don't share, make sure the other guy doesn't get something for free, etc when it works so well other places. Going to St Croix- a 'part' of the US but I will struggle when I come home. Say hello to the bus driver in the airport and he twitches like he's been shot.

[joecct]

heh
Coming back Sateside after going into Canada a few weeks ago was culture shock in a not good way. I find I think more like a European/ UK person (well, I think so that is a problem!). Pretty much anywhere I go I think I could live there.

When I was younger took German because my Dad had visions of me going to med school and they had a lot of med books in German. I can swear, count and say come here please. THat is the extent of what I remember now

From my misspent youth:

Earschplittenloudenboomer

https://youtu.be/3GTbWnI-jx8

[leswp1]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

From my misspent youth:

Earschplittenloudenboomer

https://youtu.be/3GTbWnI-jx8

When I was engaging in mispent youth my father would yell, in a very fierce voice, Kommen sie hier BITTE!!! Then he would count to ten in German. That was a very, very bad thing to hear.

[Kepler]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Then he would count to ten in German. That was a very, very bad thing to hear.

I can imagine. Even gay men speaking German sound like Nazis.

[Kepler]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Say hello to the bus driver in the airport and he twitches like he's been shot.

Too be fair, Austrians are like that too. They're a very uptight people, particularly out in the sticks.

Being polite to people in New York or New England is hilarious. The stick is so far up their as-s they choke on it rather than return the gesture.

One of the paradoxes of the States is the people out in Buttf-ck Stupid Country are also the most friendly, as long as you're One Of Them (which I can pass for as an old white male).

[leswp1]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

I can imagine. Even gay men speaking German sound like Nazis.

Marine Major, Ret. When I was young he sounded scary when he was nice.

Too be fair, Austrians are like that too. They're a very uptight people, particularly out in the sticks.

Being polite to people in New York or New England is hilarious. The stick is so far up their as-s they choke on it rather than return the gesture.

One of the paradoxes of the States is the people out in Buttf-ck Stupid Country are also the most friendly, as long as you're One Of Them (which I can pass for as an old white male).

::Raises hand::
We have lived in the same house for 23 yrs. Until last yr the guy who lives at the corner of my street would look like I shot him every time I waved at him. Grew up behind an AF base (in Mass) and went to school briefly on base overseas. Default in Mass is to not talk to someone for 5 yrs then maybe think about acknowledging them. This is not the way things work when people get transfered out every few yrs. it took me a very long time to figure out it wasn't me that people were being stuck up to. It was just the way they were. I talk to everyone (like I was on base, because that is how it works there) and some people just can't get over that. It weirds them out

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Being polite to people in New York or New England is hilarious. The stick is so far up their as-s they choke on it rather than return the gesture.

This must be why I seem to do so well in New York, even though I've only be there a few times. I'm perfectly comfortable trudging right through a Don't Walk sign, while I grumble something about "tourists" who just stand and wait.

[joecct]

This must be why I seem to do so well in New York, even though I've only be there a few times. I'm perfectly comfortable trudging right through a Don't Walk sign, while I grumble something about "tourists" who just stand and wait.

In my misspent youth, I was waiting for a walk sign on 8th Ave on the walk from the Port Authority bus station to MSG. A beat cop blew past me and muttered "What are you waiting for? Spring?" Figured it out after that.

Now, in NYC when crossing streets, if I have a clear path, I go.

Rumor has it DC cops will ticket Skywalker. I avoid DC like Kep avoids the Confederacy.

[burd]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

I was waiting for a walk sign on 8th Ave on the walk from the Port Authority bus station to MSG. A beat cop blew past me and muttered "What are you waiting for? Spring?" Figured it out after that.

Now, in NYC when crossing streets, if I have a clear path, I go.

Rumor has it DC cops will ticket Skywalker. I avoid DC like Kep avoids the Confederacy.

The streets in Manhattan are all one-ways, aren't they? That makes it quite a bit easier to judge when there is a safe opening.

[joecct]

The streets in Manhattan are all one-ways, aren't they? That makes it quite a bit easier to judge when there is a safe opening.

Most are. Because the Avenues are so wide, you have to wait. The streets are 2 open lanes wide, max.

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Yeah, with the streets it is easy. Just carve around/through the gaggle of flyover folk standing there taking selfies and gawking up at the skyscrapers, and go.

Avenues are a little trickier, but there are few incidents that can't be resolved by giving a honking driver the New York/New Jersey salute.

Friends don't let friends stray into Times Square, especially during peak tourist times. To go to theaters/shows, walk up 8th Ave. and then cut over.

[joecct]

Yeah, with the streets it is easy. Just carve around/through the gaggle of flyover folk standing there taking selfies and gawking up at the skyscrapers, and go.

Avenues are a little trickier, but there are few incidents that can't be resolved by giving a honking driver the New York/New Jersey salute.

Friends don't let friends stray into Times Square, especially during peak tourist times. To go to theaters/shows, walk up 8th Ave. and then cut over.

I took the family to NYC for a day visit a few years ago. Did the usual stuff. Ground zero, Statue of Liberty, Grand Central, Battery. The fun was explaining to walk fast and don't dawdle else you'd get run over.

The subway system was a novel experience for those used to the DC Metro. We had to switch from an uptown express to a downtown local to get to our stop. This was beyond my wife's comprehension. After I showed her the map, I then explained we had to go up a flight of stairs and the down another and to do it quickly if we wanted to catch the train. Again another level of incomprehension.

She's not going to NYC again.

[mookie1995]

Most are. Because the Avenues are so wide, you have to wait. The streets are 2 open lanes wide, max.

Not anymore it seems with the dam bike paths. Makes traffic crawl