stateside

How has it been so long? This past weekend, I worked through all the accounting (ugh) for my trip reimbursement. It was tedious and a pain-in-the-ass, but I also was reminded of how much we accomplished, and how many articles it can potentially translate into. :)

(When I ever get the time - this online class is sucking my will to live.) Ok, I could type forever about online education (scam-o-rama) and the particular hell that is known as Blackboard ("Captain, I'm an educator, not a html-coder!") But I'd rather summarize differences in European and American lifeways - albeit from a very consumer-oriented, pedestrian point of view.

First: things that Europeans should definitely import from the States:
1. window screens. Hello!? You have insects, especially at night! Stop lying to yourselves (and us) about it and keep them out!
2.Ice. In drinks; in hotel ice machines. Not just for cooling drinks either: maybe we like an ice pack on our feet or head or [insert body part here] after a strenuous day of European sightseeing. And see also the next item: ice would help!
3. Air conditioning. "Oh, it's never THIS hot!" Bullshit! I have lived in Europe 3 out of the last 6 summers and it's been unbearably hot. And I wasn't there the tragic year when all the French old people died of heat exhaustion! Global climate change, people! This is not 1816-and-froze-to-death! (google it) Figure out how to make yourselves comfortable!
4.Deodorants. On the subway: "Sir, for the love of God, please put your arms down!" Yeah, we Americans are over-obsessed with cleanliness and washing. Riiiiight....

On the other hand, we of course can learn from the world's second-largest economy. Here are some examples.

1.Health care. B got a very bad foot blister. He went to a doctor recommended by the hotel; they saw him at once; and his treatment (cutting and bandaging and 'scrip) cost less than $40. NO INSURANCE! TRY THAT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

2. Vacation. 5 weeks is normal. What is this two-week routine in the States? Do we live to work, or work to live???

3. Celebrating outdoor living in summer. Of course, we were in the dense historic urban cores of Germany. Cafes everywhere - coffee or beer at any hour. (We chatted up a mom and 15-year-old son celebrating his birthday in Berlin. The boy was having a beer at 10 am.) World Cup - sit and nurse a drink as long as you like. By contrast, we watched the World Cup Final at a Pizzeria Uno in Swampscott MA and the server would NOT leave us be: "Would you like to order food? Another drink? The check?" NO, WE WOULD LIKE TO WATCH THE GAME! IN PEACE!

We drove by some little sandwich shop this week and there was a valiant (but pathetic) attempt at urbanity - two picnic tables in the parking lot, marked off with some yellow police tape. My hypothesis is that Americans really WANT this pedestrian-oriented, walkable lifestyle - they love it as tourists! - but they just can't reconcile it with the auto-oriented, sprawl lifestyle that is our paradigm.

Bottom line: I could live in Europe and work there (if I could conquer the language). I am really feeling pretty good about that, which is a relief after my years of Polish angst.