i heart my america (too)

last night i felt like a domestic goddess. ordering groceries, preparing a delicious dinner, starting a fire in my wood-burning stove. this morning, as i walked down to the teacher’s lounge to put my leftovers in the fridge, i glanced at the tv. MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!! a tingling sensation overcame my body as my love for fall football, the vikings, cheering for pretty much any team, hot apple cider and dome dogs returned. although my third untraditional thanksgiving was amazing, filled with delicious food, ultimate frisbee and unique definitions of family, monday night “american” football (as my students call it), brett favre (whom i usually hate), john madden and snow-covered turf made me recall just how much i adore the united states.

whenever i return to the u.s., people ask me, “do you notice things you hate here a lot more? is it hard getting used to life in the u.s. again?” studying abroad and living as an ex-pat over the last few years has (of course) heightened my awareness to fat americans, gluttony, laziness, giant army-sized suv’s on highways, over-consumption and other byproducts of the overabundance of american culture. my time away has also shown me inadequacies in foreign and domestic policy in a new, more critical light. however, the longer i am away, the more i love what is unique about the united states. the little stuff and the larger principles. target stores, whole foods markets and the abundance of caramel-filled chocolate, produce in any season, caramel lattes, myriad cheeses and wines and foreign food (wait, is all i love about america concerned with my nature as a gastronome? even in singing american praises, i am an american glutton). multiple radio stations with new music (though, thanks to robyn topic-humm, entertainment aficionado, i have missed little in the means of music and movies over the last two years) and varying political perspectives. the changing of the seasons. the proliferation of culture, languages and ideas in american cities. the overarching beliefs concerning democracy, freedom of speech, etc. that, even in times of conflict, impel people to speak out. the incredible sense of movement and opportunities afforded to those with the financial and educational means.


what i ascertain again and again as i live in foreign countries is that each place has myriad faults. the united states and india are no different. but, time and again, i also remember that each country also has beauty, that which is inherent and that which must be unearthed. i love finding beauty in new places: france, italy, south india, etc. but i also adore remembering the splendor of the united states, faults and all. an intrinsic responsibility comes with any form of citizenship. i am glad to take mine, faults and all.

footnote: i use "america" here in place of "the united states of america." i hate when "america" connotes what i have used it to illustrate, u.s.a. versus all of north america or even central and south america, but it just sounds better. i am part of the problem. i know this.

postscript: the picture of jenell, ash, beth and i is a joke.