It definitely is when you find similarities that you find peace with this. The differences will always be there. For me I reconcile it in that my frustrations are mostly surface level, like the ones you express here. The deeply cultural differences get smaller every day because the ones I can, I accept and take on. The little ones can get the best of me though on a frustrating day where I can´t find a plunger anywhere to save my life and just whine for a Home Depot or acid free tape and freaking stores are only open from 10:00 – 1:30 and 5:30 – 8:00. It´s those days I want to pull my hair out, but I find that I rarely struggle with the deeper cultural divides the longer I´m here. Weird how that happens. I´m morphing I guess. We shall see when I have kids though.

bluestreaks last blog post..A Day in the Life of an Unemployed Blues

This is an interesting post to me, because it’s a topic of discussion I’ve been having with my oldest son (11 going on 40). I remember well what it was like to be the sole yankee in a school of Johnny Rebs – you stick out, even when you don’t want to.
My son’s issue is his intellect makes it hard for him to assimilate easily (cha ching! Can you smell the 40.00 words?) and I think he’s gotten used to doing the Superior Dance, rather than trying to find common ground. And you’re right – looking for and finding that commonality is key to fitting in.
Now tell my son that!

we_be_toyss last blog post..Hindsight Doesn’t Amount to a Hill of Beans

Barbara – I imagine it’s a big issue here as there are a lot of recent migrants. It’s a little different for us because there’s not that much of a difference between American, Australian and Irish culture when compared to Australian and Thai for example. But good advice nonetheless.

Mongola – I don’t know about that, have you seen the photos I posted today?

Dr. O’C – I’m pretty sure he’s not going to be POTUS. I mean, they’re still on about Obama’s birth certificate and he was actually born IN the U.S.

I like ‘Sun Maid’ as well!

CMGD – It’s getting there. There is lots of Asian and Mediterranean influence in SA. Which means lots of gooood food!

Joe – I actually agree with you. Growing up I reveled in my Italian heritage, but I’m about as Italian as George Bush. At some point I just came to terms with the fact that I was American and that’s it.

Angel – Balance is quite tricky. As you probably know!

Jams – Really! That’s awesome. You should have told him to wash his hair. They are kind of Husker Du proteges aren’t they?

Carrie – I don’t know. I never really got into Collective Soul.

Jud – That’s a great damn book.

TUB – Well, I have a friend in the Albanian mafia.

Gypsy – I think he’ll probably get damn sick of flying at least.

Yello – The bee girl was s Blind Melon. I don’t know about flopping fish though.

SIS – Yep, and ‘Black Gold’ as well.

Erin – I didn’t realize you were from NY originally as well! What part? And where did y’all settle in FL?

To the ‘where are you from?’ question, I always just say Florida because it’s easier than the long story.

saralas last blog post..Huge Cubes

Ginnys last blog post..Sugar and Spice and WHAT IS THAT SMELL?

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Gypsys last blog post..Facebook Fabulous

The Unbearable Banishments last blog post..to get to america, you have to walk through egypt

“Our senses have ben fed by our terrific land; our blood has learned to run to the imperial pulse of America which, leaving, we can never lose and never forget. …. And the old hunger returned– the terrible and obscure hunger that haunts and hurts Americans, and that makes us exiles at home and strangers wherever we go.”

I have always thought it apt and fitting, as I have lived and moved a lot across the country, and get itchy feet when I stay in one place too long.

Juds last blog post..The Interview Project: Questions from Rodger Jacobs

carries last blog post..let’s revisit the car museum, shall we?