Washington Dulles Airport

My return trip itinerary has left a six hour gap between connecting flights, submersing me once again in the portion of American culture that is the C and D terminal of Washington Dulles International Airport. It's something of a wierd culture shock. I miss Europe.

Getting off the plane, we, with a number of other flights, were herded through the bottle neck of baggage claim, customs, and TSA inspection where angry, frustrated travellers, worried that they'd miss their next flight, started yelling (in English!!!) at others who were cutting the mass of bags and people otherwise called a line. I turned and asked one of them when their flight was and then let them cut in front of me being that they might indeed miss it. I don't think it helped the guy to calm down much, but his wife seemed happier.

The fact that I had forgotten American culture simultaneously put the biggest smile on my face and a huge weight on my heart. My habits are still probably undoubtedly American, but I can see how Europeans must see us. I'm not used to seeing anyone else using a laptop or not getting stares for using one myself. I look around and see so many people talking on a cell phone... constantly. Many are carrying (fast or junk) food or huge cups of soft drinks while they're walking. It's all seems so post-modern and soulless. I smiled because I got away from it for two months... because I gained a better perspective on it. Most Europeans have cell phones, but only a few in a crowd will be using theirs at any one time. And I never saw one walking somewhere while eating or drinking (plenty of tourists do, though, myself included). As far as I noticed, they always sat down for their snacks, drinks, and meals.

But that's all the superficial crap. What really bothers me about being back here is the vibe that comes from everyone here. It's a subtle "I'm not going to let you screw me over by getting in my way" feeling everyone seems to have. I didn't witness that kind of anxiety in Europe. There's the same uncaring oblivion towards anyone the European didn't know but no fear that vulnerability shown today would come back to bite him tomorrow. I'm amazed I lived like that...