Sometimes I wonder where I live. I know my address says KL. Last time I looked at the map KL was about as far as you can get from my sweet home Alabama. If you go any further, you're going home. However, there are little things that remind me of home; things that I never expected to find half-way around the world.
G Dub. Now I realize that Bush is recognized outside of the U.S. and his decisions can effect people globally. But I never realized how much people around the world cared. Until I saw the billboard. I wish I had a picture to show you. It has more to do with the upcoming election than with GW. It had a big picture of Hilary and Obama and a small pic of McCain. It read, "Who will sweep up the mess Bush has left for us?" People here know more about U.S. politics than I even care to know (I realize that I need to know more and car more; I'm working on this...mainly so I can keep up with the q's I get asked by people here). This makes me feel that I am back in my high school AP History class where we had to compare the presidential candidates for the upcoming elections.
James Dobson. A well recognized radio host and founder of Focus on the Family. In Colorado. I thought the continental US was as far as his reach went. Or maybe just the Bible belt. Then I heard the clip. In the Giant Supermarket (that's the name of the supermarket. it's medium sized.). As I was browsing for my favorite type of cereal, I heard, "And now a message from James Dobson, your family man." James proceeded to give practical advice about how to raise children in a healthy environment...something about giving them boundaries. I frequent this store almost once a week (I really like my cereal) and I hear a different clip from Dobson every time I'm in the store. Who knew CO could broadcast so far?
Ryan Seacrest. I have a TV. I don't have cable. I get 5 channels: 2 are usually in some chinese dialect (with bahasa subtitles); 1 in bahasa (with chinese subtitles; 1 in tamil (with bahasa subtitles); 1 is sometimes in English (with bahasa subtitles). For the first time in my life, I faithfully watched the final month of American Idol. I was a David Cook fan. But this isn't the kicker. On the radio every weekend I hear America's Top 40 with host Ryan Seacrest. This is the popular music here. I haven't found any stations that broadcast Mal. Top 40.
But they do have So You Think You Can Dance?, Mal. style. I guess I'm not in America after all.
side note: thanks for the bday cards and gifts! it was hard to beat the memory lane bday but it was a great bday!
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2 comments:
Candis, you have no idea who I am, so I apologize for that. I found this blog via Emily Remington. However, I just wanted to chime in on how it sometimes seems like people outside of our country know more about US policy than we Americans do. That's probably because US policy adversly affects them more than it does us, or at least that's how it seems.
I was in Europe in the fall of 2001. In fact, I was supposed to depart for Paris the evening of 9/11. I made the trip for a semester abroad a few days later, and I think it was one of the best times to be out of the US. Not only did I miss the anthrax scare, but I had the chance to hear the opinions of people outside of my American bubble about the nation where I grew up. All I can say is that it was eye opening and humbling.
I'm excited for you. Sounds like your Ethiopian experience, one which I'm sure you expected to change your life forever, will do so, and in ways you didn't expect.
ha. that's kinda funny. but i am in the same boat... someone asked me if i was happy that Obama won the election. quite the challenge to explain that elections don't really happen until november...
candis. does my mail make it to you? i have my doubts... i miss you.
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