Readjusting

During the first few days in Denver, including the time at the wedding, I was quickly reminded of the good, the bad, and the different aspects of American culture. First off, I was pleased and yet strangely horrified to see people walking around in t-shirts and frumpy shorts and tennis shoes. Where were the collard shirts for men, and big, flashy accessories for women? Finally, I can feel comfortable leaving the house wearing whatever the heck I want. Also, it was very nice to be able to walk around in a crowd and not be brushed up against or have people bump into me. I do appreciate the American sense of personal space, though this personal space is compromised in the Boston area. It is also nice to be acknowledged and have people look me in the eyes and say 'hello' or 'excuse me', etc. Additionally, while I do love Italian food, it is wonderful to have the option of Mexican, Asian, and all sorts of other ethnic cuisine. Screens on windows are also a nice touch, as well as is the relative improvement in water and air quality, good radio stations, accurate weather reports, and not having to use a converter every time I want to plug in my computers.

At the same time, I have to get re-accustomed to the less savory side of the American way of life, including high fructose corn syrup, pre-shredded 'mozzarella' in a bag, expensive lettuce, cheap and abundant (though not necessarily ethical and healthy) meat, and seeing the prevalence of over-weightness alongside extensive fast food establishments. While convenient, strip malls and suburbs are more of an eye sore than ever before. General wastefulness, such as big, nasty cars and overuse of air conditioning and other utilities, is both heartbreaking and obnoxious; it is so counter-intuitive to have to wear a hoodie when going grocery shopping in the middle of summer. I must say that I also already miss the social aspect that is so important to Italians, including the afternoon passeggiata, or evening stroll, and joining half the neighborhood in the piazza for dinner every night. Of course, I also already miss watching the open market from our kitchen window and waving to the old lady and carpenter across the street every time I step out of my apartment.

Some other things are not necessarily good or bad, but just require some personal adjustments, such has reverting from kissing cheeks to hugging and hand shaking, and figuring out how best to answer the question "where are you from?". I had to field this question multiple times during the wedding and even at the airport and I never know what to say. I don't really live in Massachusetts (though I do pay MA taxes), I haven't officially lived in North Carolina for 5 years, and I was only a long-term visitor of Italy... In fact, it is strange to think that Seth and I have been so mobile that since graduating from UNC 5 years ago we have moved 4 times and have spent 3 of those years out of the country. As exciting as going to new places might be, it is also very exhausting and makes it difficult to establish solid roots.