Job Discussion Forums

[zaneth]

Well, let's see how long we can keep two totally unrelated conversations going.

Really guys, can't you keep it to some other thread? The CS/BD Comedy hour or something? I realize it's entertaining and fun for you and all......

Will! You a dumpster veteran, too? I wasn't sure what kind of reaction I'd get out of that comment. I never actually tried the thrift box sleeping, though I'd read about it (i was nerdy bum). I had this great book by Ed Buryn called Vagabonding in the USA. I think I still have it somewhere. I liked the plans for turning a volkswagen beetle into a camper. He took out the back and passenger seats and built a wooden platform that was actually big enough to sleep on.

As for liking school, that team spirit stuff isn't school. It's everything that happens outside of school, largely. I think for a lot of people the whole school thing really is their whole social life, so they are into it.

As for camp, there are some good movies. The second Adams Family, and there's an old one with Bill Murray, forget the name right now but it was great. Typical American response - name movies. The real experience is something else.

Among other things that we share, we and the Russians share a summer camp culture. Though they had to do things like help harvest potatoes in theirs.

Some (many, I guess) summer camps are religious based, run by an association of churches. Post-return rituals included getting up in front of the whole church on Sunday to share how much God touched your life during camp and how hopeful you are that you will be able to hang on to that feeling of love as you return to school with all those non-christians. Bible study, evening prayer, the whole nine yards. I went one year. Came back all fired up. Volunteered to teach Sunday school, and very shortly burned out of Christianity all together.

[Will.]

Hey Zaneth,
It looks like we are the only two people on the post who really appreciate culture from street level up.
Yeah I did the thing for a few years, grew up quickly but never forget the lessons learnt. Never spend a penny when you don't need to, why pay when you can get it for free. Stay with the Sally Anne. It started out as one night stuck in hitchhiking hell looking for a warm protected place out of the wind and well you know the story...
Strange though it may seem. I was involved with a high level meeting at the university recently and while awaiting the outcome I was fortunate to spy some students placing pizza packs in a bin close to where we were sitting on the grass. I had also watched longingly as they ate and left some. Well of course I did, even in a suit and tie you get hungry. My colleagues were offered some, still hot. waste not....and ate. Nobody made a comment to the origin.
I read a book about the life too... years later and years ago.
I lived in a VW camper for a while and a trailer. I visited some 30 or so states over the period of 4 years moving around and stopping here and there and experienced a whole variety of ways of life different from the city life I knew at home. Very little of my time in the US was in cities so I got to meet some really interesting types and stayed with some very different communities, including back to the landers and survivalists. I knew and was befriended by many mountain folk, I think, in retrospect, their view was more a case of an extra pair of hands than anything else. On one occasion I spent 3 weeks without seeing another person and that was in the distance in a car. I too was impressed by Mennonites and their way of life as I was with the native Americans who brought me into their space. I spent time with quite a few religious groups, it never changed my attitude much though. The bums in the parks or the hostels always had a story to tell and had more effect and left a greater impression on my young self. A bottle of Gallo and you have friends, tobacco brings even more. I used to return with said on the odd day I had made a profit, you know... payback.
I guess we don't really appreciate culture until we see it from the outside.
most of our posters here would not recognise this form of culture as relevant, viable or even worthy of mention, but it is the way a nation treats its needy that is a sign of its progress towards humanity, not the nation itself but the members therein. I saw and experienced much in the short time I spent there that remains with me to this day and still plays a key role in determining my reaction to the people who claim to be representatives of the greatest nation on Earth. Note the previous reference to welfare and foodstamps that nobody posted a response to.
The religion thing is hard to understand for many students. over here, the variety of forms of essentially one religion. the most notable religious inference here is towards Northern Ireland. this to is linked to Us culture too.
I wonder if there is a religious camp in Idaho for visiting Russian teenagers.
Wow! Saturdays used to be just another day. This work thing, on a regular basis, has its downfalls.

[moonraven]

This entire thread has become pointless. Let Tony invade the US. What do I care? I'm not there.

[Bindair Dundat]

[Communist Smurf]

[Bindair Dundat]

[AsiaTraveller]

Lector scores ONE big point for the following dangling modifier:

[Snoopy]

I am so awfully sorry to be English, but I regard "American culture" ever so slightly difficult to comprehend. Toodle-pip!

[Communist Smurf]

So by implication, all other cultures must be an open book to you?

CS

[Will.]

(Yawn)
Wow! A week in absentia, what a place!
I see from the absence of information that there has been little contribution to the updating of the cultural improvement section of the American section. It looks like Zaneth will be totally zapped into culture shock upon his return to civilisation.
What has happened to improve the cultural aspects of USAnia since you left? Are there any changes you find disturbing or perturbing? Has "Missing you already" which replaced "Have a nice day! " been replaced by another such innocuous vacuity? It is these little things which we hardly notice, on a day to day basis, that make the biggest impresion upon us when we return. we now something has changed but it is hard to put your finger on it.
So regular leavers and returners...
What was it that caught your attention as being different the last time you returned stateside?
NO!! I don't mean new cheerleaders in the line up.

[moonraven]

The last time I returned stateside, which was a year ago, I was horrified by repeated public address system announcements in the Houston airport to the effect that any passenger who complained about the security measures in the airport would be arrested and jailed.

Apparently this was not news to other passengers, as I seemed to be the only one standing there with my mouth open.

Welcome to the USA, huh? Go directly to jail--do not pass Go, do not collect 200 dollars....

[Communist Smurf]

[moonraven]

I find it fairly unbelievable that a guy like you with nothing to do but write infantile comments on this site has never played Monopoly. I guess it's because you can't play it by yourself....

[Communist Smurf]

[Deborann]

For a real insight into American culture - during your travels do not move out of the hotel room, but instead tune into the most popular television show in each state - "reality" TV etc etc - for what large proportions of Americans truly see as interesting, relevant and good.

Also try playing Monopoly or arcade games with adolescents - you'll quickly catch the latest vernacular, and gain insight into their values, hopes and aspirations.

Scientific reporting eagerly awaited on your return.