Just short of a year after my adventures in Australia began, I realized that the adventure that my heart really needed was a trip back to Beantown. For all the amazing technology - cheap international call rates, video chat, and Skype to Go - nothing compares to sitting across from your loved ones with a glass of wine and a year's worth of stories.
As I boarded the plane for the two week trip, I was thrilled, but anxious. What would it be like to take a visit home? Has my perspective changed? After spending six months in London, I remember cursing the slow-moving, slovenly-dressed American students as I fought my way through the sidewalks of BU. What if it wasn't just a college campus phenomenon? What if I found that Americans do live up to their somewhat damaged reputations?
Luckily, this wasn't the case. On the plane, I sat next to a young man from West Virginia, who was studying on the Great Barrier Reef. In back of us were two women and their mother, returning from their Australian Holiday. Myth #1: American minds don't reach beyond America. False.
When we reached LA, the first, most noticeable change was the diversity of the United States. I can count on my hands the number of black people I've seen in Australia. In LAX, the majority of employees were minorities, and announcements were read in English, y en Español. The black stewardess, the hispanic secretary, and the eastern-European dentist that I visited only represent a fraction of the ethnicities and cultures that call America home. Myth #2: America as the melting pot. True.
Sadly, in LA, Americans lived up to their reputations for being rude, rushed, and loud. As an American I know this isn't always the case (even Bostonians can be warm and friendly - if the Red Sox have won), but I would hate for someone's first impression of America to be the bombardment of landing in LAX. Myth #3: Loud Americans. Oh too true.
Everyone knows Americans do things big, and this was crystal clear after being gone for a year. The roads are wider, the trucks are larger... even ice cubes and coffee mugs seem supersized in The States. Myth #4: In America, Bigger is Better: True.
As I visited home, I was reminded not to take it for granted. It is amazing to see Australia, and travel the world, but I was honestly surprised by how impressive New England is. Boston is a charming city, full of parks, and brownstones... what other city could spawn a classic like Make Way for Ducklings? The rivers and hills that snake through new England are stunning, and there is simply nothing more beautiful than watching the sun set over Lake Winnipesaukee. Until you spot a shooting star.
