March 21st, 2004
107996064353126013
Right at home
[3:36 am JST / 10:36 am PST ...please note that although this appears to be only two minutes from my last entry, it has actually been seventeen hours]
So I’m back on US soil, and doing what Americans do best at places of government administration: waiting. The state of the union is this: if you’re a US citizen, come on in! If you’re a resident, give us some fingerprints just in case you try anything shifty. If you’re a visitor, well… That’s why I’m waiting. Because the domestic immigration lines are staffed by two folks (unnecessary considering how short they are), and the visitors line (which wraps around to the boarding tunnel), is manned by one poor woman, who has to take photos of nearly everyone with a USB camera after checking their papers twice. Of course I can’t go on to my hotel without my company, so I’m stationed in a wastefully expensive ergonomic chair, typing away. I don’t envy my colleagues, in fact I really am not looking forward to the mood they’ll be in when they finally get out.
Anyway- back in the US. Land of too large portions at T.G.I. Friday’s and a Ford Excursion full of other cliche’ (but accurate) stereotypes. I’m happy to be here though. The sun is shining, the palm trees beckon, and I get to sleep on beds and snap cynical witty remarks with English-speaking chums my age for a whole week. Whatever will I do with myself?
I got a “talk” about protocol and what not from the big man before we came over, and I promised to do my best to get our company’s money’s worth and make our work environment a better place through my mental upgrades.
But I can’t dwell on that. I’m happy, I’m home. It’s a different place, lots of different things, different people. It’s like, I’m not an outsider anymore, and I guess that’s the biggest charge for me. No more of the constant minute ebbing of my strength to fight the diluted cryptonite of expatriatism. Yeah, this country has a lot of problems, yeah we piss a lot of people off with our attitudes and actions (probably more than most countries), but it’s home. I believe in the Constitution, and I believe in American spirit and the freedom and possibility to improve oneself, one’s community, and the world.
