Retrospect: Some Of My Travels
By Kevin J. W. Driscoll (c) 2024
I‘ve been around the block more times than a city bus, mostly due to my stint as a computer trainer, a job that seemed to require me to be everywhere but home. The US, of course, was my stomping ground, a vast and varied landscape that never failed to surprise and disappoint in equal measure. But it was my trips abroad that really opened my eyes.
Japan, for instance, was a revelation. I mean, I knew it was clean, but it was like they had a secret army of tiny ninjas whose sole purpose was to sweep up every speck of dust before it even had a chance to settle. And the food? Forget the sushi, I’m talking about the salads. I had a salad in Japan that was so fresh, I swear I could hear the lettuce giggling. And the people? Well, let’s just say they weren’t exactly waving “We Hate America” flags. In fact, they were so polite, I half expected them to apologize for the weather.
Then there was England, or as I like to call it, “The Land of Fish and Chips and Endless Apologies.” London, in particular, was a fascinating melting pot of cultures. People from all over the world, living side by side, mostly getting along. It was like a real-life episode of “Friends,” but without the annoying ones.
I remember one particularly memorable experience in London. I was walking down the street, minding my own business, when a complete stranger stopped me and said, “Excuse me, but I believe you dropped your wallet.” I thanked him profusely and checked my pocket. Sure enough, there it was. I couldn’t help but laugh. In the US, someone would have probably picked it up, kept the cash, and then donated the wallet to charity.
So there you have it, the shortened version of my global adventures. From the cleanliness of Japan to the politeness of England, I’ve seen a lot. And while I’ve certainly had my fair share of mishaps and misunderstandings, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. (Ha ha.).
After all, what’s life without a few good stories to tell?
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Kevin Driscoll(Mostly) Vegetarian, Politically Progressive, Daily Runner, Spiritual, Helpful, Friendly, Kind, Warm Hearted and Forgiving. Resident of Braintree MA.
Thanx for your lovely tale of foreign travel Kevin.
I lived in London for a year and remember the Brits as polite, and relatively formal. In fact until I asked new acquaintances and classmates to call me Dana, I was invariably called Mrs Lehrman.
“You Americans,” they would say, “you get on a first-name basis rather soon!”
Yes, we do I realize, but I like it!
Where I learned the importance of the ‘Queue’.
I have been to both Japan (fascinating experience – so foreign in the truest sense of the word). And, with our kids and grandkids in London, we go there frequently; in fact, we fly again overnight on Wednesday, arriving Thursday morning, as we have a new granddaughter (we saw her when she was days old, but now she is 3 1/2 months old and turning over). They are very polite and the culture is so rich. My kids live in a Georgian town house that is older than most of the housing stock here. David bought Anna her first mircowave and clothes dryer, both rare in the UK, but now with two young children, both are very practical. She balked at first, but now can’t live without either.
Bon voyage
Would LOVE to hear more about those mishaps and adventures….It seems you saw the people of these countries with an open-heart, and they saw YOU. Thanks!