Back in the day, when I was young (17 going on 18), unbiased and full of dreams I spent a month in the USA with an organization called World Education Program (WEP). July 2001 to be exact. Boy did my eyes open during that month in Andover, NJ. It became clear that I was very naive in my beliefs, opinions and convictions about the US, people in general and society. All in all I could call it a great eye opener for myself, and an amazing experience. Travelling really helps coming to age.
One thing that'll stick with me is the nickname one of my friends' host family gave me: "trouble". You'd think people would have made the link sooner, right? You gotta hand it to those hicks: they sure know how to read people from the surface.
Anyway, every time I hear Ray LaMontagne burst out into this song here, I think about that US-trip. And I'm grateful I live on the other side of the ocean.
Do I read an insult to Britney Spears between the lines of this post?
ReplyDeleteWell, a couple of things we learned there were that being a professional cleaning lady is perfectly combinable with 10 cm fake nails, that cats are happy on leashes, that parents are supposed to drug their 16 year olds if they don't want to go to bed at 10 during the holidays and that cucumbers are supposed to float in oil.
Hope you still got your thong, Samyn?
Now that turns me on!
You're obviously forgetting that the only way to learn English as a teenager is to get a kindergarten teacher teach you on an overpaid and overestimated cultural homestay. Oh, and tearing down cars works to ease your mind.
ReplyDeleteAnd most importantly of all: never wear pink lipstick above the age of 50.
Ahh, good times :)