Culture Shock

My time in the States is winding down. And when I get back, I'll likely no longer have time to write creatively. So let's add to the list while I'm still thinking about it.  4. Halloween. Ok, I've spent most of this trip in Massachusetts (where I lived for many years) so I'm not surprised to see traces of Halloween in October. But I was stunned to see a yard in Quincy decked out like this in September - more than a month before Halloween.  Quincy, MA Nor was I ready for the extent that some home-owners go to in decorating their yards.  Ipswich, MA Quincy, MA Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn, NY I began sending these pictures to my family WhatsApp thread (with messages like "Isn't this crazy?!"). Worcester, MA But this one in Worcester, MA takes the cake as far as I'm concerned. The next three pictures are from the same yard.  I think I've gathered enough data to support the thesis that, for many Americans, Halloween is one of the most important events of ...

It's now been 20 years since I lived in the United States. And over those 20 years, my visits have become fewer and farther between. In fact, this visit marks exactly three years since the last time I was on this side of the Atlantic. So reverse culture shock still hits. It's sometimes just as shocking, if not more so. Here are the top three things I wasn't expecting in the first 10 days of stepping off the plane in Boston. Kenmore Boston 1. Commercials.  I shouldn't have been surprised by this because... I've still lived more than half of my life in the U.S. there are commercials in Croatia I'm still plugged into American culture by listening and watching baseball games and podcasts.  But still.  As soon as I started listening to my podcasts after arriving, I was greeted by a prelude of unexpected commercials. In Croatia, podcasts start with the voice of the host. There are no commercials automatically inserted because it’s a different market. I know this is ol...