Some quick observations about living in the midwest, in particular about staying in this town, home of this famous college that I graduated from in 1994.
It is NOT a fashion faux pas to wear dress shoes, no socks, and shorts. And the shorts have to be tan, preferably with a blue polo shirt. I always wondered how you could pull off high end dress shoes with shorts, and I am still left to wonder that.
Harry Potter is really big out here too. Bev took Anneke and Corina to see the movie on Friday, and Anneke bought the book on Saturday. I took Emma to see Ratatouille. We both hated it. Terrible movie. The other girls loved Potter.
Lots of people out here drive motorcycles. And no one wears helmets. So, nice to save the money on the fuel, and look like you are on Baywatch as your hair blows in the wind and you get a sweet tan. Many bikers look like they put on some lotion that makes them look all sweaty and cool.
Speaking of weird, you can buy guns anywhere. Apparently it is in the bill or Rights or the constitution or something. Do you want to live in a country where it is your "right" to buy guns at a corner store? I went into a sports store here and they had this huge hunting and gun section. It was weird. I was with the girls; we were all disturbed and fascinated at the same time. "Hey, you can buy guns in a store" said a curious Corina. And then Anneke, not missing a beat said, "Yeah, you can buy guns anywhere here" but sounding quite grossed out by it. I know, guns don't kill people, people kill people (or so I always heard from my students in Montanta).
Sunday observance still exists here. I think I like it. Nearly the whole town shuts down on Sunday. The rebellious owners of McDonald's and the local theatre are the only things open on Sunday. It really feels restful. Weirdly quiet, but restful.
At 12:00 noon, 6:00 p.m, and 9:00 p.m a siren goes off to signal lunch, supper, and...I don't know why it goes off at 9:00. Maybe for the kids. At first I thought we had three tornado warnings in one day.
Little kids drive cars. There are 14 year old people driving around town, most of them on mopeds. And they aren't being arrested. Oh man, I would've loved that being a kid. You can drive to school in 9th grade! Can you imagine the cruising around you could do after you just graduated from middle school.
There is more. But it is time to work. Four days left of classes. I am missing the Democratic debate on CNN. I think I would vote Democrat if I lived here, although secretly I hope Guiliani wins the Republican nomination because he is more left than the democrats and that would just be funny.
4 comments:
but guns give people the opportunity to kill based on a one second instinct ya?
Great flashbacks Matt. Send me a can of that sweaty and cool stuff. Boy do I need it out here. One similarity to here is the humidity that makes you sweaty even before you've even stepped out of bed. that and screaming cicadas.
LOL
The gun thing is scary, man I'm glad I live in Canada.
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