Coming to America

Hello Dear Reader,

The epic journey to America was completed about two weeks ago, and I'm still recovering. We took planes, trains (Amtrak, metros & subways), and automobiles from DC to Chicago to NYC and back. There were museums, lots of cheese cake, Christmas tree decorating, Times Square, ferry rides, plays, movies, Target, monuments, memorials, friends, family, and much, much more. Mind you, I've visited (and even lived in two) these three cities multiple times throughout my life, but I saw them through new eyes because of my lovely Ethiopian tourist.

Conversations we had about America's complex past, the definition of success and progress, and every day life helped to reshape my ever evolving perspective on being an American and life in America. Out in the world, America is the icon, a physical manifestation of success/glamor/glory/freedom. Out in the world, people either loath it, love it, fear it, hate it, idealize it and/or want to be a part of it (and sometimes all at once). Hell, throughout my lifetime, I've had all of those feelings. Whilst in America, I struggled with its complex history and attempted to understand how exactly I fit in. Since living abroad, my understanding of who I am, as an American, shifted in a direction I never would have expected. I've actually become rather patriotic. My appreciation for the struggles we've collectively been through has grown tremendously. The freedoms and liberties we have as individuals is a unique gift which is often times taken for granted when they are not routinely called into question (clearly a blanket statement, because there certainly are Americans who continue to be marginalized).

For my lovely Ethiopian, his first trip to the US of A was an overwhelming experience. He literally woke up dancing with excitement. Although he would never admit it, this trip was a dream come true. I had to pinch him to reassure him that this was not a dream (along with having to explain the expression after I actually pinched him). Periodically during our trip, I or someone else would ask him one of two questions: "How do you compare the US to Ethiopia?" and "What stands out the most on your trip thus far?" Because his responses didn't change much over the course of the three weeks we were there, I'll fill you in from what I remember (and add in my own thoughts and feelings...of course).

1. In Ethiopia, there are only a handful of ways food can taste. In the US, there are so many different tastes that one could spend weeks without overlapping culinary experiences.

2. Options. There are so many options for everything- from food, to activities, to information, ways of accessing information, ideas, etc.

3. Tall buildings. He attributed the tall buildings and the well-ordered infrastructure of the US as a testament to the hard work and forward thinking of the American people. (He took pictures of just about each one of the; and went to the tops of the Empire State Building, Sears Tower & the John Hancock Building).

4. Cheese Cake. I know I already mentioned 'foods' in general, but cheese cake deserves a special mention. My Ethiopian had never had cheese cake, only having heard of it from his favorite show "Friends". One bite of my brother's red velvet cheese cake from The Cheese Cake Factory had him hooked. We.ate.cheese.cake.all.the.time.and.talked.about.cheese.cake.all.of.the.time.

5.The Statue of Liberty. I've been to NYC a number of times, but never made the effort to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. For me, Lady Liberty represents a story of migration (by choice) that excluded people who look like me. She is the story of liberty and equality for some, but not all. At the same time, she reminds me of how far we, as a people, have come. My ancestors reached American shores as shackled cargo, and considered as 3/5 of a person. Today, we are in boardrooms, business owners, families, farmers, ~Commander & Chief~, and complete citizens. We have come so far...from fear...to acceptance of difference...always redefining and reshaping what it means to be American.

For my beautiful Ethiopian, however, she is a symbol of America's dynamic past, present and future. She is the hope of a better future, an opportunity to be part of the intricate American fabric. She represents possibilities, of which both me and my Ethiopian are a part.

6. Family. I love, love, love my Ethiopian's family. At least once a day, I am in communication with at least one member of his immediate family. Each one of them embraced me with open arms. His family has become my family, with no distinctions between the love of my brother and his sisters. Equally, my Ethiopian blended so well into my family, that it feels like he's always been present. Routinely, my lovely guy remarked how loving my family is and how happy he is that he has been fully accepted. This, Dear Reader, is a dream come true for me.

7. The Washington Monument. We took gazillions of pictures at every angle possible.

8. The abundance of accessible information. My guy literally spent hours each day in museums. Unlike me, who would read a few display descriptions and move on, he studied the words and things he saw. We debated the theory of evolution vs creationism. He saw the fossil of Lucy, his great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great (throw a bunch of 'greats' in) grandmother (if you believe in evolution, that is). In the Smithsonian, Lucy was standing up and full of life. In the National Museum in Addis Ababa, she was an archaeological find.

For Christmas, my guy got an iPad and iPod, which immediately brought him into the world that Apple is trying to take over. "Apps", "smart phones", "touch screens", 4G Internet (I was impressed), "iCloud", and digital TV. Wow!

To say the very least, our trip home was nothing short of amazing. The best and most meaningful trip home to date. Together, and as a family, we were brought closer through this shared experience. It made him excited for the next trip, and stimulated my interests in, one day, moving back.

Until next time,

Dani