Reflecting on Life in USA

It's been 7 months since I abruptly returned to the US with a broken shoulder due to a traffic accident in Turkey. That was not at all how I envisioned my Peace Corps service ending. As it turns out, my injury didn't end my service because I've been medically cleared to return to Azerbaijan. Regardless, these few months of recovery have given me a chance to muse about life in the US.

Returned PC volunteers often mention reverse culture shock, and I've had mine. Most incidents involve either a supermarket or Target - just feeling overwhelmed by all the items and choices. Most memorable was overhearing an adult whine on her cellphone that she couldn't find a certain trinket at Target. Really? Can't live without it? I cringed.

Another thing I've noticed is the fast pace - including rapid speech. It took several times for me to understand a clerk saying, "Doyouwantcashback?" How was I to know that some stores now allow you to put cash on your debit card. Guess I should have been thankful that I didn't need to dodge traffic on my way to an ATM.

Watching television offers another insight on American life - especially the advertising. I didn't realize how many American men have either low testosterone or erectile dysfunction thanks to an abundance of drug ads! It's the American way to see a problem and create a solution. No effort made to discover the cause or if there's really a problem, just sell a pill directly to the consumer. Anyone else notice the proliferation of drugstores?

My weakness is kitchen gadgets - things I sorely missed in the Peace Corps. Here I treasure my jar opener, garlic press, rubber scraper, pastry cutter, rolling pin, baster, zester, thermometer, aluminum foil and so much more.

What else have I noticed that's changed in the past 2 years? Cameras on cellphones mean people taking pictures of restaurant meals. I snapped this breakfast meal just before I dug into it at the Uptown Diner. I'm heading back to Azerbaijan and already missing a hearty breakfast with hash browns and sausage!

But dreaming of Novrus treats like these to come.