American Impressions

Travel inevitably brings with it a load of unique and shared experiences – so I wont attempt to cover 2 weeks worth of hectic travel in The States with a blow-by-bow  here – just the bits which got my attention.

Having ventured over there before I knew what to expect in terms of consumerism  - yet this time I think it has been quite firmly cemented in my mind the fundamental differences that America posses when compared to Australia and the UK. I recalled after my last trip some 4 years prior that my personal tolerance for consumption practices such as these boiled over after about 10 days. So how did the latest fare?

Returning after the GFC, I expected things to be of a different order, but alas In hindsight I was clearly sheltered on my first visit. For a country apparently in the grips of crisis It is tough to comprehend the sheer volumes of retail operations staying afloat – New shops everywhere, car dealers holding onto literally hundreds of vehicles in stock. But I guess this mass consumption is the American dream….

Reading the in flight magazines on my flight over, and being drawn in by seemingly endless infomericals on TV, one is almost convinced that they could be suffering from any range of ailments –for which the advert generally proposes a solution – be it a product or service. As a foreigner it is difficult to be drawn in on such hype and therefore one must conclude that The States is suffering a mass dose of hypochondria.

Next down the tree of strange impressions is sales tax – in the civilised world this is incorporated on the ticket price of items. Not in the states – which for me is somewhat difficult to comprehend for 2 reasons. First Americans are generally down on arithmetic in my experience – I was nearly mistaken for 21 in an ID check when I was 19 because the guy couldn’t calculate the years - how the hell are they supposed to work out what 8% or 7.5% extra is – it isn’t even a round number! Then there is the change – being that they still have pesky 1c pieces, getting it wrong results in a delay to sort the change, or a hand full of shrapnel. So much for a land of convenience.

While we are talking about transactions, I have always been prepared for tips when dining out – it makes sense given the low wages waiting staff are paid, and the service is generally superior. This is fair enough, but when other industries start to expect it, I think the limits might be being pushed a bit too much for my liking. For example when a taxi driver who is driving during regular hours on a regular route, and gives no special treatment complains about having the fair rounded up to the nearest dollar, something is a little wrong! I certainly have a tip for folk like that – earn it!  This, I believe, is part of a wider problem in The States – where customer service can be summed up as a game – to win it – and receive good service – one must be seen to tip or make a positive  comment regarding a member of staff to the management .

As somewhat of a conclusion, as I have said in the past – the quality of life Is usually directly proportional to the quality of regularly available coffee – so you can see where I am going with this one -  we all know that The States has a reputation for bottomless cups of the drip filtered variety – An abundance of readily accessible quantity, but lacking in terms of Quality. This was also evident in the espresso varieties where porcelain was few and far between, and the abundance of flavours and copious amounts of milk far too suffocating for my liking – Emphasising America’s desire for not just quantity – but demand for quantity of options –of which many are not even realistically complementary! 

Starbucks Coffee traveler - a whole lotta coffee!

 At the end of the day, you might think that I have an overwhelmingly negative opinion of the states – maybe have spent too much time in a nation of whingers? It aint really that bad, and I tell you I will certainly be back. If there is one thing I have learned from previous travels there are friendly people and aresoholes everywhere, and if you look hard enough you can find a good coffee. The American wilderness is just too dam good for photography and mountainbiking!