Went for a long walk yesterday. Walked all over town. It really is the only way to get to know a city. Walking gives you a completely different perspective on a city. Every blemish is visible, at the same time that every hidden gem is revealed. Sydney continues to impress me. The only thing that is less-than-desirable is that the Sydneysiders (that’s what the residents call themselves) are so reserved that I seem to only be able to “meet-n-greet” with immigrants and travelers.
So yesterday I met some immigrants: a white guy from Zimbabwe, a Korean who grew up in both the US and Dubai, and a dark-skinned British Arab. (I mention his skin color because it is important to the story.) I’ve decided that all British find it great sport to attempt to “wind up” us Americans – especially when there is a pint of beer to be enjoyed, but I don’t fall for it anymore. This former Brit tried to wind me up by attempting to tell me that Thomas Jefferson had black Arab ancestry in his immediate/recent familial chain. I simply wasn’t playing along the way he would have liked, but we did have a good laugh about it all.
I’ve also found myself in more than a few political discussions. I’ve described how the electoral college works; I’ve been asked to explain how and why Arnold won the governorship, I’ve even been in the unenviable position of attempting to explain how it is that someone could be in favor of gun ownership rights and still be a sane, logical person. And many people have asked me who I think the presidential candidates will be. As a result of these conversations, I’m more convinced than ever that, despite their view of America as being of being full of arrogant lemmings, citizens of every other country are absolutely riveted to the minute exigencies of our system of government. It is weird to be simultaneously so desired and yet feel the sting of such repulsion.
Labels: travel