i've been back in the usa since 30 june. every time i return from ukraine after an extended stay, the things that stand out 1) fat people 2) ugly women 3) we take so much for granted, especially our creature comforts, water, hot water, electricity, land line phones. 4) most americans CANNOT drive.
i almost go through a reverse culture shock. i think one of the RW said she can get in moscow whatever she can get here. that might be true, but you would have to look far and wide in moscow. all you have to do here is find a mall or shopping center.
about hamburgers and koloties or whatever they are. one might be better than the other, but if kolotys are made out of the beef you generally find in a market in russia or ukraine, it will be far, far inferior to a koloty made with usda beef.
to think a fast food place like mcdonalds is going to make anything resembling home made food shows a lack of thinking ability.
we americans like our space and are unwilling to share it with others, which is one reason we are lousy drivers.
the day after i arrived home, i met with my parents at a local restaurant. the usual country club types came in, would say hi to us since we are one of the best known families in my hometown. they all seemed so fake and superficial, the "fasade" was so evident, the public face they want to project to the world, the layer upon layer of "front" one must go through to get to the real person. they would see my computer, they all knew i had been in russia or ukraine. they all had comments to make, i could sense the ignorance. one brought up the recorder of deeds or some other official from a neighboring county "didn't so and so marry a russian girl?"..... all smiling, all thinking they know what they are talking about.. little do they know...
i kept thinking, how easy we have it here... we all take it for granted.... all of these people, rich.. one was my banker, the other a lawyer..another a successful business owner. all wealthy people, going out to have dinner at a nice restaurant.. we have it so easy here....
as hassim said the day before i left ukraine, if we did not have electricity going out, water turned off, or hot water all the time, life would be boring....
life sure is boring and easy in edwardsville....
