A trip back to America. Three reasons why I don’t miss it.
My long haitus on the site has been the result of a 2 week holiday back to the States. Back to visit family, to visit my 2 week old neice, and to further plan for my upcoming wedding in September. It was a good trip; no a great trip, but it was a whirlwind of a trip nonetheless. Two weeks of nonstop activities has me longing for a holiday from my holiday. It’s good to be home though. It’s very good to be home. While I miss my friends and family, and always will, I’ve realised that Australia fits me. It’s a really good fit actually. Fifteen minutes into my drive from the Los Angeles airport, I remembered why I was always frustrated on Southern California highways. Fifteen minutes into a shopping experience at a local mall in San Diego, I remembered why an economy of scale has its positives and negatives. Fifteen minutes after I left, I remembered that I’m 7,000 miles away from my closest friends and family.
Living overseas has always been an adventure, but after returning home for the first time since leaving 18 months ago, I’ve been able to refresh my thoughts and truly understand and remember why I was so excited and jazzed about moving to another country. More specifically, Australia.
The majority of my trip was spent in San Diego, however between my partner and I, we had trips to Los Angeles (Disneyland), San Francisco, and Las Vegas. Each of these locales, although all quite different from each other, had traits that very similiar; traits that I wouldn’t have otherwise noticed had I not been out of the country for the past 18 months.
Especially in Las Vegas, where excess is the norm, everything (and I mean everything/everyone) was in excess. Drinking, gambling, food ($9 Prime Ribs) were abundant. You couldn’t help but be surrounding by an uneccesarily large amount of everything, everywhere you went.
While life would be different in any country, and each have their positives and negatives, this past trip has shown me that my decision to live in Australia was a good one. It’s one that has more positives than negatives associated with it, and although it has put me 7000 miles away from a great number of people that are important to me, I know that the ones that are truly great friends and great family members we’ll see on a pretty regular basis. To be honest, between Skype, Vonage VOIP, and email, I talk to my parents on almost a daily basis, and my closest friends almost every other day. The world is getting smaller. Maybe that’s a good thing? Fifteen years ago, Australia would have felt a lot further away, more isolated.
Either way, I love it here.
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I’m so glad to find an American who agrees with me…Australia is AWESOME.
You’re so lucky you get to live there.
I might have to disagree with you on portions though. We had some horrific sized portions in Australia.
I hope you continue to have a wonderful time there. And if you want, maybe you can adopt me. No pressure….of course.
Dina’s last blog post..Day 19….in which we head to Sydney
Yea, I feel you about the traffic. LA blows. I can’t do that anymore. Anything north of Carlsbad is just in the wrong direction and I fly instead. I really hope I can live somewhere else for a while to get some perspective on the world. American’s are so convinced we are the center of the universe, and have no idea how much we rely on the rest of the world. The arrogance is getting to me.
Justin’s last blog post..The Cost of Free
Great to “see” you again, Stefan! I was wondering about the silence!
I was “home” for a few weeks last month too! It was just the right duration for me to reconnect with friends, eat the food, and water my roots. Pity about the really messed up political scene of Malaysia – if only those in power would grow up! :p
While I can relate to what you posted, for me, I feel such a sense of belonging in the USA compared to Malaysia. It helps that I’ve only ever been in the friendlier, more laid-back midwest – one year in Oklahoma, then a total of 7+ years and counting in Illinois. The excess and traffic you talk about exist here too, but on a smaller (haha!) scale, methinks. I can’t say much about the outlook, because hermit/recluse that I am, I don’ t have too much interaction with real people :p
My main beef with my “adopted” country is summarised thusly: “Just because people are free to do whatever they please, doesn’t mean they should.” Coming from a more controlled, repressed, upbringing, I love how I can be my own person in the US… it’s a pity many Americans take this freedom for granted.
*lynne*’s last blog post..Public Holidays, Festivals and Events in April
I never lived in LA., but I think the traffic is pretty horrendous here and the drivers are so agressive!
However, I can certainly understand a LOT of your post – living abroad etc. I though your last lines….
‘The world is getting smaller. Maybe that’s a good thing? Fifteen years ago, Australia would have felt a lot further away, more isolated.’
SO SO true, I left the US almost 8 years ago and I just don’t know if I could have done it without all the conveniences we have today – email and skype make it ok for me to live here, I’m not sure if I could do it without that contact with my family in the US
Monique’s last blog post..Oh I can do it
You’re spot on with the freeways comment…it’s a ridiculous situation both in SoCal and here in the Bay Area.
On the rest of the excess tip, I hear you, though it does depend on location and choice of venue. Vegas, Disneyland, and suburbia in general = epitome of excess, particularly when it comes to food/eating out (people need to start saying NO to chain restaurants!) and the quantity-vs-quality philosophy many places seem to have. Ugh.
Anyway, good on ya for the post mate…keep it up!
Well, look who’s back..
I’ve been wondering why u went silent for a long time..lol!
You were at California? Cool!
I’ve been wanting to go there and see all those places I saw on TV! LOL!
Hmm.. so many places to go…
And yes, Australia’s awesome! I would love to retire and live there too..
The life there is so relaxing and the people are friendly and everything’s just great.
Never been to US.. so I can’t say much about it..
Is it really that bad?
Cashmere’s last blog post..March’s Toppers..
And oh… I didn’t know you’re getting married in September..
Congrats to both u and your partner!
So happy for you..
Cashmere’s last blog post..March’s Toppers..
First time coming across this blog!I am back in America for college after spending 15 out of 20 years abroad. I use to look forward to visiting the states so I could shop at a mall. Now I want to leave so badly. One of the biggest things I am not liking about the US is the food. It’s always too salty, sweet, greasy, etc. The traffic in America is not that bad. Most of the places I’ve lived actually had worse traffic. Take Korea for instance where traffic laws are rarely enforced and a red light means speed up.
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Hey Stef, I understand what you are talking about, not of the States but of Singapore when I went back for a visit. It’s ironic that when I am in London, I can’t wait to head back home but after spending just two weeks back home, I am reminded of all the reasons why I left in the first place and can’t wait to return to London.
Like what Lynn pointed out in her comment (I guess Malaysia and Singapore are somewhat similar), I love the freedom and the anonymity (that I enjoy) over in London. Life is a bit slower but hey, you live only once so the last thing I want is to spend the better part of my day in the office, yah?
That said, I’ve only been to San Francisco and NYC in the States so it might not be appropriate to comment on the ‘excesses’ of America, though I have to agree that the food portions are massive.
Cheers,
C K
Singaporean in London’s last blog post..London in one day itinerary
That’s so weird – I missed this post! I think because I was travelling in South Africa at the time and had limited internet access. Oh well.
Great post! I am going to NYC in a week so I will look out for those huge meals and perhaps I can comment more. This will be my first trip to the States.
I could write a post about why I prefer London to South Africa but it might become a small novel.
[rq=5147,0,blog][/rq]Day out: Taking the Thames Clipper