America

I didn't post last week unfortunately because I was in NYC! But I am now back. Being in America, it made me think about Americanisms and the things, we think about other countries stereotypically. The Americans were lovely. People often make Americans out to be rude or self obsessed but this was not the case at all. Yes, they are very patriotic and proud of their country but while I was out there, there were many mentions of the Turkish earthquake that had struck on the news. As for their customer service in shops, they were very polite, welcoming and always happy to share knowledge, information and anecdotes. It was like being in Waitrose the whole time! No, but seriously, the UK could learn a lot from them, not only in terms of how good customer service is or how nicely they welcome visitors but in the general proudness for being american. They are not proud in a snobby sort of way like we are here but in a way, that they realise that their country is their own and they ave an influence on how it does and how it works. Especially at Ground Zero, it makes you realise that the events of 9/11, traumatic, sorrowful and painful as they were really helped to pull the nation together and realise the true spirit of America and their ancestors' dreams and hopes for a united nation.