Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Shocking... part 1 (possibly)

I have spent the past half an hour reading about traffic.
It started with one simple article about parking issues and in the way that news sites often are, I was constantly a click or two away from countless related articles.

One article after another detailing parking, traffic, and carpooling.
The price of gas, carbon footprints, road rage.

I feel disconnected.

For three years I have been outside the world.

Two years in a chilly place of occasional taxis, more frequent snow-goes, and millions of footfalls for short distances. I had a car the whole time, but that car resided in sunny Florida, a long way from my Alaskan home.

I have now been in Korea for one year. One year, yesterday.
I have my motorcycle, it’s fun and almost fast. I can drive along country roads to country destinations.
Out in the boondocks there is little traffic.

When we hit real cities, Ilsan, Geumchan, even Seoul, we rely completely on public transportation. Buses are routed to every place a person might go.
A spider web of subway routes cover the city and many outlying areas.
Trains snake across the country.

You don’t have to drive. There is no need.
Except for the actual feeling of driving, there is no want to own a car.

Sometimes, I think to the future. To that moment when I move back to the States. To a city. To a seemingly normal life. I think about the culture shock that three years away has prepared me for.
I think about driving and parking and traffic jams.
I think about gas prices and carbon emissions, and road rage.

With 6 months left in my fairytale world those thoughts of the future has become more frequent. Will I survive re-entry?


Holy crap, two in one week. This is nearly a freaking record!

Comments:
I have a very wonderful suggestion for you... do not come back.

You don't miss all this and you know it. I am sure you can find another remote country in need of some sort of education... perhaps Borneo has tired of their diet of tourists and want to lean how to slather them in white gravy, which you happen to know how to teach.

Besides, if you move back I will be forced to find another friend that travels the world in search of obscure stories... and I think you are one in a million.
 
heaven forbid that you join the world of driving again. you were insane enough the first time around, i'm not sure if we can handle you relearning
 
Just for that, Shell, I will make sure to re-learn in evansville.

So there small children and animals of Indiana!
 
well most people actually know how to drive in evansville. except dan of course. i'll teach you. LOL
 
Post a Comment



<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Site Meter