It’s Friday. We have a Grade 3 hurricane heading directly towards us. Or so I keep being told. In actual fact, the sun is shining, the crickets are chirping and the birds are singing. So, while I’m sure you’re all desperate to hear about living through a hurricane, those dreaded things that wipe out cities and send small girls to far-away lands with witches and talking scarecrows, I’m afraid I’ve got nothing to give on that just yet. So, for now, I think it’s appropriate to mention some stereotypical Americanisms that I just can’t seem to escape from.
Firstly there are sooo many fast food restaurants. I know it’s the home of fast food and obesity etc but seriously?! In particular Dunkin Donuts and Subway seem to be the top two appearing on every other road so I suppose I can’t really complain as I am partial to a lovely subway wrap. Mostly because I’ve fallen into the trap of believing that it’s really healthy and not at all bad for me. I am happy in my ignorance. I have to say though that I am slightly disappointed with the lack of Chic-fil-a and Hardy’s curly fries, two fast food restaurants that I discover in Virginia a few years ago, but I will keep searching!
Post (sorry 'Mail') boxes at the end of drives, yellow school busses, massive pick-up trucks there really is a plethora of stereotypical American sights. Despite being told to think otherwise, America really is how it appears in the films (sorry ‘movies)! But most hilarious of all are the drive thrus (throughs?). During our hour or so journey to the coast yesterday we passed several drive thru fast food restaurants, a drive thru pharmacy, post office, supermarket, bank and the list really does go on. Initially the feeling is of utter horror and abhorrence at the complete laziness of the system. But then you look around and notice the enormity of everything. If you were to park up and walk between all of the above it would probably take you about 5 hours and so really, in the same way that Internet Banking is so much easier and more convenient, so too are drive thrus.
In fact considering the massive parking costs that have recently been inflicted on Salisbury's residents (my home towns), drive thrus could be the option for those of us who simply need to pop in to deposit a cheque or to pick up some milk without acquiring an extortionate parking fee... although I can’t really see it happening in the small market town of Salisbury, but you know what I mean there is logic there somewhere!
I’m just about to set off on a trip to Walmart after lunch at the student union. A student union which I would just like to mention has several food shops, a minimart, ice cream parlour and our very own bowling alley!!! I’m pretty sure that my shopping trip to Walmart is going to be one of the highlights of the week so I’m getting fairly excited. Not least because we’re getting a kettle and I will be able to get my daily top up of decent tea (yes I did bring out a massive box of earl grey. Don’t judge). Haven’t quite thought out how we’re going to get everything back to campus on the bus but I’m sure we’ll figure something out...
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