The two cornerstones of the American Way: Food and Cars

Dear friend,

I can't believe it's taken me five days to find a chance to sit and write. It's been a bit of a whirlwind and I feel like I have been in the U.S. for so long! The friend I've mostly been staying with in Seattle only just recently moved into her current apartment so has yet to set up internet. Every so often I feel a pang in my heart at the thought of emails cluttering up my Inbox unfetted for more than 24 hours; but then I calmly remind myself I'm on holiday and really, the world will not end should they go unanswered for a week or two. This is good for me, I think. :)

So Surgery ended on a high, with incredible (and humbling) feedback from each of my surgeons and my team, finishing my Surgical Essay a few days before leaving for Elective (yay!), and, most significantly, with an amazing sense of peace and certainty that Surgery is what I want to do with my life. On Friday (the last day of my run) I assisted in Theatre in the morning then sneaked off early to meet my Dad who had flown down to Dunedin. While we were at the mall, having lunch and running errands, I saw one of the Plastic Surgeons I worked with randomly talking to a guy selling woodburners. I walked right past him and thought to myself, "Man, I wish I could talk to him about Plastics and my being interested in pursuing it!" Then I thought, why the heck not? He's lovely, and just a human being like me. And what's wrong with asking for his advice? So I did a 180 and walked back to him, apologised for interrupting his conversation with the salesperson, thanked him for having me on his team and ask him if he had any advice for me since I was keen to do Plastic Surgery. His response was amazing; it was genuine, helpful, encouraging, and ended with his telling me to keep in touch. Wow. I am just continually blown away by the incredible people I meet in my life, and the way in which they shape who I am, and who I will become. A real blessing.

Which, I think, is becoming the theme to this trip. Blessing.

Saturday was crazy, with packing for my trip, packing up my apartment, all within the span of a few hours! It was an incredible help having Dad there. We went out for lunch before leaving for the airport -- quality Father-Daughter time. :) It's awesome to have their support in this crazy, very un-Asian trip I've planned to Africa. They had their concerns initially, and did their fair share of "Why can't you go to the Europe? Or the States? Or even South America??! Why Africa?!?" But actions speak louder than words, and they have been nothing but supportive. It was nice to chat with Dad and get some more of his wisdom as I head on this adventure.

Then, I embarked on the looong trip over to North America. The flight from Auckland to San Francisco was okay, but I missed Qantas. Australians and Kiwis have a healthy jokingly competitive relationship, much akin to Americans and Canadians, but one thing those Aussies do better than us? Qantas. For sure. They're so much friendlier (surprisingly so!), and I just love their little packs -- toothbrush, socks, eyemask, waterbottle, snacks... So the 13hour AirNZ flight was alright. Tiring. But that was to be expected.

As I got off the flight in San Francisco, I had this visceral emotional response. A tugging at my heart, a sense of being... Home.

Don't worry, Kirsty, it didn't last long. LoL. Which was the other surprise. Having lived in the U.S. at, what I believe to be a really influential time in a young person's life (aged 11 - 15), there's always been a part of me that felt more American than I did Kiwi. And living in America long-term has never really been crossed off the list of possibilities for 'The Anna Show.' Until now. I think. That tugging at my heart was quickly replaced by an overwhelming and distinct feeling of being an Outsider. Like tuning into an old T.V. show -- a sense of familiarity, yes, but I was very aware of the fact that I was on the other side of the screen, watching, rather than being part of the show itself.

Growing up with three very different cultures, I've never really felt rooted in any of them. Like a stranger peering in. And as I get older, it doesn't seem to change. What has changed, however, is that I begin to meet people every once in a while who can relate (Exhibit A: chinese by ethnicity but born in Ireland, studying in Glasgow; Exhibit B: a Peruvian-born asian kiwi). Our own unique subculture; a subculture of having no distinct culture or, on the flip-side, an amalgamation of many different cultures. Products of Globalisation.

And the bottom line? I no longer feel a rooted-ness in the U.S. That has gone. Wow. What a change. What a learning curve.

What's more, not only do I feel un-rooted, but actually like a complete foreigner. There is so much Noise. Constantly. Everywhere. You're constantly bombarded with Talk, with Noise. Maybe it's because I'm in a big city and I really shouldn't generalise to all of America, but their culture and way of life so often feels like one that has lost the meaning and importance of Silence. Of the Quiet. (Or maybe it's just the Kiwi in me. LoL)

But I have to admit, I'm having a blast. There is so much to do, and BUY, AND EAT. Oh, boy, is there a lot to eat. And I'm really embracing the idea that I'm on vacation. I can't seem to stop eating. I love and enjoy food -- one of the most basic forms of pleasure -- and in that sense, can't seem to get enough of America. I think I had the best meal I've had in a long time when we went out for dinner in Vancouver. And bread baskets. Need I say more? [I DREAM about bread. No jokes.]

The service is amazing too. Granted, servers have a vested interest in keeping people happy so it's an unfair comparison to make, but still, I can't believe the difference in service. The food comes out SO quickly, and the portions, oh my goodness, the portions are GINORMOUS. How does anyone ever finish anything?! America definitely has a difficult relationship with eating and food. Either one of too much, or one of wastage. It is hard to see a middle ground. As a visitor I am enjoying it, but only because I know it will only be for two weeks. A real vacation -- vacating my life -- and my usual eating habits. It will be strange once I get to Africa, to see the comparison between the World of Too Much, and the World of Not Enough.

So I should probably stop talking about food and actually tell you a bit about what I've been up to (other than eating! LoL). My flight from San Francisco to Seattle was cancelled, and they put me on another one three hours later. This meant I had to kill six and a half hours in San Francisco airport with no laptop. But I started writing my second book, which is exciting. My flight didn't leave until 9pm, but the night flight was really lovely. I love flying over the U.S. at night -- the lights as you fly over various cities are breathtakingly beautiful, with hues of orange, gold, and green illuminating a canvas of black.

I spent some of the weekend with an ex-Science teacher of mine (from 8th and 9th grade! LoL) who has since become a dear friend. Her family has opened up their hearts and home to me these past ten years, and it has been such a Blessing to have them in my life. It was awesome to see them again and spend time with them. The weather was beautiful and warm, and we spent an afternoon sitting on their porch in the backyard, chatting. They're real kindred spirits. And she remains an inspiration and role model -- a strong woman who has mastered the art of being a beautiful, lovely woman, mother and wife, as well as a leader. I respect her and her husband so much. And as I played with their young children (ten and eight), spent time with them as a family unit, I found myself wanting a family of my own. Not now, not for a while because there are other things I know God has in store for me first, but, for the first time I got an insight into the beauty of having your own family. And what an incredible thing that is. Walking by the harbour after lunch with their family, God gave me a taste of what that would be like, a vision of what he has planned for me, and an acknowledgment that he knows the desires of my heart. And with that, I felt a real peace and joy. :)

My ex-Journalism teacher also had me over for dinner at her place and I got to meet her husband, Roy. They too are amazing, and it was lovely to catch up with her again. The conversation was great, and it was interesting to get their perspective on President Obama (the two of them being African-American). Later that evening, her husband came down with a piece of paper folded into quarters on which was written "A Note for Anna." I opened it up and it was a letter Roy had written that began with "Yo, Anna." Hahaha... It went on to say how I was now officially their Step-daughter, and I had an open invitation to stay with them anytime, they being my Godparents. Wow. So humbling. Another incredible Blessing. And it's just so cool cos I don't have any Godparents. Growing up with relatives all over the world most of whom remain strangers at best, I am continually blown away at how God provides Family in the most unexpected but awe-inspiring ways.

The next day my two good friends and I did an overnight trip to Vancouver, Canada! Even when I lived here for four years I never made it to Canada, so it was great fun. Going through the border was cool (having double-checked I would be able to enter the U.S. again, cos it would be a massive fail to be stuck in Canada!). Vancouver itself was alright, LoL. Big city, a skyline lacking a point of focus (I've seen better, Sorry, Vancouver), but our hotel was amazing -- our room on the 31st floor had a balcony with an epic view over the Bay and it was in Vancouver I had the most incredible meal I've had maybe ever? Not an overexaggeration at all! It was a fun trip. Tiring but fun. One of my friends who did all the driving got pretty unwell though (her tummy revolting against something she'd eaten? +/- all the driving and lack of sleep). Hopefully she'll feel a bit better today.

We had an early night last night, which was much welcomed. I have been averaging 5 to 6 hours the past couple weeks, so eight hours felt absolutely gluttonous! Took a looong shower this morning, and snuck out while my friend slept in, and found a cafe with free Wi-Fi. *Huge metaphorical breath in and OUT* A few hours holed up in a cafe, the quiet... time to myself... all is right with the world again.

On the menu today? Tourist-y Seattle fun, finding some Africa-appropriate clothes which I didn't get a chance to do back home, and dinner with my two friends, their respective significant others, and some other old Junior High friends. A nice end to my time here.

I can't believe my week in Seattle is almost already over. A real whirlwind. Leaving at 5am tomorrow for my flight to Boston which, crazily enough, will take the ENTIRE DAY. But the flight should be beautiful. And I'm sure I'll have a healthy dose of nostalgia -- six years since I was in Boston for Harvard Summer School. Whoa.

SOOOO... I am well. I have truly "vacated" life. And enjoying not having a schedule or any decisions to make... and being a foreigner in a place once my home. I'll see you in Boston!

Always,

-A

Thought of the day: Culture is a strange business.