Just can't sleep here...
Trip Start
Jun 12, 2005
1
34
40
Trip End
Ongoing
Kenai,
Alaska,
United States
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Yet, I want to go back where there is none of that. My life is more fulfilling there. It is simpler. I have time to read without distractions. I have my life, my schedule, my own peace. Here in the states, most of us can find a job if we choose not to be picky. They can't. We have the tv's, new cars, new computers, stuff. There they have a few prized possessions... and they tend not to take them for granted a few weeks later. Here I have few friends who I love but hate to describe the differences. It is something that is just really to hard to talk about. I break down so easy. I am so fortunate and it aggravates me. There, many live with their neighbors, taking them as family, and not affraid to share their human side.
I then try to relax with a book on my couch, but find the phone that goes off every few minutes just impossible to maneuver around. I could go on the beach just off the bluff and relax, but it just isn't the same. It is cold. It is lonely. It is less home for me on this visit to the Kenai Peninsula.
So I turn on the T.V. I go to stations that I could have just vegged on for hours before I left, that alone is a sad-memory. MTV has The Hills which showcases the worst of what US promotes. We have Sweet 16 birthday where people dish out 300,000 bucks for a 16th birthday. How happier are those girls who get a BMW, throw a fashion show in light of themselves, than the Quintereros (customary 15 year old parties) where family and friends pass around Orange Soda, share a slice of cake if the father found a few hours of work this week, and dance amongst themselves... how happier are we with the big houses, nice cars, high-stress jobs, life-less lives where we are scared of the neighbors next door, or annoyed at the non-functioning appliances.
I considered myself a sports guy before I left. Now I go to those stations, I log onto ESPN.com in my excess of time here in my old home... And it is just like, whatever. I can't make it sound more profound. It is all really whatever. I remember the sights of the bambu houses, houses of my friends; I remember the groups of ladies who meet to save, try to save, 50 cents weekly for their childs highschool education, they are my friends; I remember the bone and flesh eating infection of a child's leg due to insufficent funds for something you get in a small tube at your next door pharmacy, a simple antibiotic.
Mick, a top manager at a Safeway Store asked me a few nights ago who is truly happier, us or them. I didn't know then and I don't think I will know after another year, but I just wish that we could all find a little more happiness in understanding how lucky the annoyances of our daily lives makes us.
Comments
Western Life
I think there is definately a family thing when it comes to living in a non-western culture. I am shocked at how far apart people are in the US , emotionally and physically. When it comes to family life overall, I think people in the non-western countries prevail (this is also due to my growing up in India for 7.5 years). We hear of western countries, particularly the US, as the land of milk and honey. It throws dust in the eyes of non-western people who want to reside in the western world, but the truth is quickly realized when they actually come here. Not that I am criticizing the west but when it comes to family life, hands down, non-western countries previal. Even in Europe the attitude towards families is the same as in the US but makes it better because of the smaller size of the countries. Here in the US, when we are forced to relocate, we have to travel 1000 miles vs. 100 miles in Europe.
About materialism, an old beat up football is sometimes better than a shinning goal post.