Coming from a post-Soviet country, I grew up with the hype about the American dream. Some people were so hyped about it that they left and found a better life there; some wanted to go but never had a chance. And I knew of no one who went and came back disappointed. Movies repeated the same message day in, and day out. Most of the good movies were American movies and we know how that goes – the USA swoops in and saves the day (or the world in some cases). It was not only the words unspoken but the little things. I was born just after the USSR broke down and there were very few things available at that time. But there was one or two McDonald’s in the whooooole country and they were magic. When my parents wanted to do something for the kids, we would go there, get those cheap toys, and be happy campers for a while. There was a running joke about wonderful American jeans and inspiring American music cassettes (and yes, that’s how old I am – I know what cassettes are). American art was the one that people got inspired by, tried to replicate, and had hundreds of illegal copies. Even today there are glimpses of the American dream and inspiration. So, the moment we got a chance to visit the land of magic, we got excited and that might be a bit of an understatement.
It’s not only us who got excited but our friends and families were, too. All of us had plenty of questions, expectations and maybe even hopes for what it would be. Whenever we travel, we make a list of things that we want to do or try in the country and it’s usually something exotic like an odd dish that we can’t pronounce or paragliding. With the US, it was all the simple things – a milkshake, a diner, a concert, a stand-up, a hot dog. The magic was in the simple things that I tried a hundred times before but in a different land. Nonethless, trying them at the “source” was special. So, we went deep. We tried all the things that normal people do – we went to Walmart, swam in the ocean, stayed on a farm, watched a movie in a park, had a hot dog during a baseball game. We crammed everything possible in a span of two weeks to experience “true” America. How true anything is when you are rushing through one could debate. But we are not here for that, not today. I am here to share the experience a bit and, hopefully, you are here to read it 🙂 So, you might ask how was it and I think there is a great (American) movie that could cover the general feeling about the country – there was some Good; a bit of Bad and definitely some Ugly.
And before we dive into that, few pics to prove that it was really as American as it can get. Oh, and we managed to land there on July 4th; even made the news (about the weather ahead of the July 4th fireworks but still… we made the news!).
The Good
I will give you two words – culture and nature. Two things that I love and two things that exists in ample in the US. Not only that, there is the whole culture built around love, experience and development of it. You are encouraged at every step, no matter the age. If you are a kid, there are junior ranger programs that encourage to learn, explore and stay curious. There are art programs for seniors to keep them engaged, connect and create. And then everything in-between.
Cities and spaces are filled with art. No matter the size of the place – and we tried few of them; small small rural cities with 5 houses to mega cities like NYC – you can find a version of art. At least, a whiff of it – be that outdoor sculptures, street art, street musicians, comedy clubs and so much more. The first night after we landed, we went straight to our hotel which was moonlighting as jazz club. And when it’s your first introduction to the country, it can only get better. We spent the evening on a law watching Jurassic Park and listening to one of the best orchestras in the country; had a night out at Comedy Cellar and laughed a lot; we walked through the tiny city and looked at local sculptures and installations. There is always something. And that inspires you not only to look at the world slightly differently but also to create. And it shows that there is a place for everyone; for everyone’s art.
And when you are done with art or with cities, it is such a wide country that there is left plenty of space to roam around. There is a national park on every corner with astonishing nature and so much space to do nothing but be. So much of it is untouched. So much of it is waiting to be explored. Today we live in the Netherlands where there is almost no space where you are alone or where there is untouched nature that can be itself. So, to be in a place where there is always a sea, a lake, a waterfall, a mountain to explore is a bit magical.
And that’s the reason why we will come back to America over and over again. And here are few glimpses of that.
The Bad
While there is some magic, there are plenty of things that are less than great and that make me happy to live in Europe where humans and a life actually matters. While the place encourages to create, it also glorifies cut-throat capitalism where bottom lines matters more than environment, communities and life in general.
It encourages to do three other jobs, because that’s the only way to live and move forward. This place celebrates struggle and spending which means that you work more than you have to live and enjoy everything that you have bought. The concept of moderation does not really exists; you really go big or go home. There is never enough. Everyone and everything has to be more – a bigger house, brighter lights, more things (to store in that bigger house). The place focuses so much on more that it sucks the joy out of living or rather sucks the time out of life. There is no time for rest or holidays, no time for breaks, no time for self-care. But there is always time for working and shopping.
So, when is the time to enjoy that culture and nature if you don’t have time to actually enjoy? Or even money? Those blinding lights, tall buildings and wide wide picket fences make you forget that there are things beyond having. There are people and experiences waiting for you. There is a planet that needs to be cared for but all one does is focus on producing, littering no matter what. But will there be land to live and enjoy when everything is either ruined or concrete?
The Ugly
All that need to have and own more creates a divide between those you can and cannot, those that have and have not, those who are and are not. Be that color, believes, education, houses, things. There are camps for everything. You see houses with confederates flags and then drive few hours to land in a city that celebrates Black Lives or LGBTQ+ communities. You see skyscrapers and riches and next to them you see homelessness. You see good and healthy food but with a very high price tag and everything that is trash food is cheap and available for everyone. And yet most Americans adore the country and defends no matter what. Or rather their version of the country and each group has a slightly different version.
And because of that, there is a very clear divide between different versions of a reality; there is a camp for everything. The sad part is – people are willing to do anything to defend their version. Given the recent events, I would say they are even willing to kill. And yet, they turn around and pretend that the country is brilliant and everyone should subscribe and celebrate it. The same country that is one of the worst offenders when it comes to gun violence, suicides, maternal mortality rates, one of the worst places to raise the family. Oh, and while we are at it, it’s one of very few countries that doesn’t have legal maternity leave and there is only one other country that offers less PTO than US in the whoooole wide world. And yet, some people believe it’s paradise and is supposed to be glorified.
So, here is the ode to the (old) glory days. And a bit of history.
America is a country filled of contradictions. There are plenty of things to love it and there are quite few things to hate it or at least strongly dislike. And that’s my relationship with this country – I like it enough to come back and continue exploring but I don’t love it enough to even remotely consider living. I am happy that we went but maybe the great saying “You shouldn’t meet your idols” is true. That American dream is not a dream anymore; it crashed with a painful reality. I would still recommend to go (I know I will) as there were plenty of things that we loved. And one day I will share places that we liked for a bit of inspiration / recommendations. However, today is not that day. So, until the next time.
Over and out. For now.
Life in Analog 