This is not for the any ultra-nationalist Americans, and if you don't like people saying bad things about Americans, I suggest you not read further. I would love to say that I take great pride in being American, and that I get along with my fellow nationals, but let's let the following take you through a couple of experiences I've had since coming to Switzerland.
On the train to Switzerland-
(After boarding I met a Bostonian and two Georgians)
B: So where are you guys from?
Gs: Georgia.
B: You aren't Republicans are you?
G: Umm, no, but we're not republicans either... You can't totally put off either side...
B: That's what they'd like you to believe!
M: (Where the hell did this guy come from, and why's he being such an ass right off?! Aren't we all here on vacation to relax?!)
(Later on...)
Gs: Whoa, we totally need some beer or something man... Got any of those shrooms left?!
M: (Okay potheads, stop talking like a pothead and it wouldn't be annoying... :P)
The scenery changed in the morning when I woke up from my beered up sleep. I left the cabin once the train went on a longer run and went to get myself a beer. The smoky dining cabin was filled with all sorts of people, loud and louder than each other. It was especially great hearing the Korean group continually out shout all others there, but I think eventually they saw that it wasn't a shouting match, but that people were just trying to hear each other over them :P. The scenery is definitely great in Switzerland. I could hardly believe that a country could be so beatiful, except that I had just been to Alaska so some points are shared.
The glacial milky blue water flowed through rivers and rushing rapids, and drifted idly within the lakes. The mineral rich liquid might look even radioactive if one didn't know that that's what glacial meltdown makes. The swirls and bubbles hushed and rushed along as the train went on its way. We also passed by smaller streams of cloudy brown water, the result of farming areas is my guess. At least it didn't smell like cow manure (which it does in Eindhoven, Netherlands :P). The landscape also jumped up and down, with random houses and phallic churches shooting straight up, a Swiss phenomenon in church architecture at least, but perhaps extending to other areas...?
I took the long route to Interlaken as I wanted to see the recommended scenic route from Luzern to Interlaken. I wasn't let down at all. Hiking up the mountain, the fields and farms walked off into the distance and the lakes opened up their mouths to swallow more space. The clouds were few so the sun was strong, opening up more sites to view.
As I sat in my seat, a group of people walked in and sat in front of me. They spoke English, and I finally learned that they were from the US. An old couple, and their three grandkids. I dozed off to sleep looking at the great scenery, and was awoken by giggles and a camera pointed at my face. Of course I always fall asleep sitting up with my mouth dropping open, but I can be pretty cranky when awoken so. I eventually got up and shot a picture of the kids, and said, "And Americans wonder why people think they're asses."
Grandma: "Typical Asian sense of humor, hmph!"
Me: silent.
I expected that my accent would have given me away as American already, but I'm sure that any of you reading this would also expect that someone would take my comment as if I was not American. But would you think the same if it was a white person saying that out loud in an American accent? I actually felt bad about the asses comment, but grandma's reaction totally shot down any hope of me going to apologize for calling them asses. Can't the damn Americans just let me enjoy my goddamn trip? Get off the know everything politics, pot headed musings, and racist reactions...
I watched the rain pour as I was stranded in a gazebo type place. Couples danced through the rain, friends talked while running for cover, and birds twitted about. I hugged my backpack to keep my front warm and listened to Jay-Z, Zhou Jie-lun, sappy Chinese loves songs, angry Fuel songs, and depressing tunes mixed with up beat hip hop and soul...it turned out to be a nice quiet evening among the mountains and rivers...
Oh yes, I accidentally erased all my photos from my trip up to this afternoon so you'll have to come see everything for yourself :P
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
yeah, i usually hate running into other americans when i'm overseas... just jerks, usually, or really embarrassing. the term "ugly american" was coined for a reason, y'know. :P
I'm not from the U.S.A. like you, but I'd think that Grandma should have realized you were American too. However, if you were REALLY American In Your Spirit, as in, someone who Loves and Respects the President No Matter What, wouldn't you have said "And we wonder why people think we're a nation of asses" instead of that "Americans/they" stuff you actually said?
Or maybe Grandma realized you were American, but wanted to diss you right away and the only thing she could think of on the spot was "Oh yeah, well, you're Asian" which is not quite all there as a diss, but that kind of ameriperson can actually be that stupid. It just sounds like her "asian sense of humour" comment was a pathetic fartbag kind of ineffective and unwitty retort. If I could rewind time and direct the video with all the players merely actors so that no actual grandmas would be harmed in the making of the film, I'd have you turn to her after her comment, shooting snaps of her with your camera, saying, "That's right grandma, nothing like a good old Asian sense of humour mixed with a bit of Asian respect for the elderly... these pics are going up in my Facebook in my 'Lame Bitchy Old Ladies of America' album! Fk yeah!"
PS. You shouldn't call those rude and stupid drunks "potheads" anymore because they really don't sound as compassionate, kind, caring, and open-minded as people who smoke pot. Didn't you learn anything in Cascadia?! ;-)
Post a Comment