Happy New Year!

Coming to cold comfy Sweden where the days are short and the laze time long, feels much like stepping off a Tilt-a-Whirl ride at the fair. Spinning round round, watching life whiz by, laughing breathlessly. And just before you know it, the red circle twists to a halt. Take that first shaky step, blink twice to set your world upright. There you stand. In a place with a slower pace but is altogether foreign and stoic and...

not London. Not home. Not anything you have ever experienced.

At the dinner table understanding five words of what was said. Walking everywhere cause gas costs ten crowns a litre. Being 'The American'. This American conundrum has caused a mini upheaval in my belief system. I am all at once patriotic defender and liberal protester. The criticized and the glorified. I hear all sides of the story,

Americans are all fat and use too much oil. Do you drive a car?
You are from America! That is soooo cool! Have you been to L.A.?
I can't understand why your country voted such an evil man into power. Can you explain why?
Where is Minnesota?
What is with all the guns in the US?

You name it, the under 20's of Avesta have asked about it. I am okay with the asking, but am made uncomfortable with hate America accusations above and beyond me. To these I want to say,

Hey! Take a step back assumption maker and mind your karma and hold your thoughts. Let's talk. Realize that not one person or event or government makes an entire culture. I did not ask to be born into the USofA, the giant violent powerhouse you hate. Still, we have have given good to the world and still, not everyone is a Bush loving cowboy and still, there are those who realize that change is possible. So lay off. And have a nice day.


These people have taught me to hold judgement when thinking of culture, people, events, anything really. To wait for all sides of the story. To take a step back, to see things from another one's reality. But okay. I hope you had a good new year night.

Here's to a happy and healthy 2007!