Lived and traveled extensively in America and love the country. I'm patriotic to a fault at times. More than likely a product of the people from different countries I've interacted with over the last twenty years. Not to get off topic but let's just say many are extremely infantile with extremely short memories or lack perspective. In the end, as a whole, we are all basically the same at the core.
O.K., now I can savagely trash America! Not going to happen but America does have a control complex. Everything needs to be ordered and “SAFE”. This is not the norm in all the countries I've visited, regardless of economics or government structure. Life is more of an adventure and much more social compared with Americans sanitized daily life’s.
People in other countries interact with people they know on a personal basis throughout each day. The local food shop, hardware store, and all the other business owners are a tangible part of the community. In America, it is solely a business transaction and no more in most situations. We are left with a shallow understanding of the areas we live and move through each day. Gone is the “Leave It To Beaver” community and in with the efficient and sanitized save zones.
Families in America now live a sheltered life and at the same time are petrified of the unsafe community surrounding them. Most American's seem to think that we live in dangerous times where evil is around every corner. They pick up their kids from school because of what might happen if they walk home. The kids are shuttled around to structured activities, and whatever happened to Halloween? Dangerous times we live in today or are Americans just ridiculously paranoid?
Statistics don't tell the whole story but do Americans really think the anecdotal stories heard through the grapevine and the media do? So what do the statistics say? Shock, America is much safer looking at the murder rates compared to 10, 20, 30 ,and 40 years ago. It is not in the interest of the media to tell the true story of a safe and more monotonous America. I wouldn't even waste my energy on this news. In lieu, we get what we cherish– drama.
It is Sunday here today in a village of about 300 people in North Eastern Thailand. I've been here now for 2 weeks and have probalby stayed here in total, 100 days over the last 12 years. The social atmosphere hasn't really changed even with the introduction of technology and inflow of wealth. 12 years ago the town was buzzing from 7am until 8pm at night. People walking, biking, scootering down the dirt roads that bisect the village. Everybody interacting with each other as they performed their daily activities. Now 12 years later it is the same socially even though the roads are all now paved, most the houses are western style, and cars are part of the mix.
The kids play soccer, fish, or find other activities of interest and in most cases their parents don't have a clue what their next activity will be. They make their own fun and at times make their own trouble. Yesterday we had to take our adopted son to the hospital to get his head stitched-up. A girl through a big sharp edged rock and tagged him behind the ear. The girl felt bad, the stitches stopped the bleeding, and life went on. They were just being kids! The girl probably learned a lesson or two and I would hope Din is more wary of chicks with rocks.
Last night we had a barbeque Thai style. Similar to a Korean barbeque with Thai spices. They bought the meat and vegies at a local market. The type you see on Travel Channel with people chaotically shuffling between hundreds of vendors selling everything from fried insects to Tulips. It is loud and fun with everybody yammering to no end.
They prepared the food in-front of the house and we setup the barbeques. Sometimes we have 15 people join the dinner but last night there were only 5 of us with the occasional straggler that would jump in for a quick bite. A fun time and everybody constantly talking and laughing up to the point I went to bed. Some of them apparently went to the karaoke bar in the village to wrap up the night.
Americans need to just chill much more often and let life happen. Not all the time but letting the guard down most of the day is a much more pleasant experience. The kids will still grow up and life won't be a monotonous affair.
