Whether on the road or on the street generally people in the US are ignorant of others. It seems to have gotten worse of the the years, we weren’t like this 5+ years ago. Why do:
- people merge into traffic without looking, expecting others to move or brake for them?
- people never look in their rear view mirror?
- people not open or hold doors for others?
- people sit in a lane of traffic versus moving over as the slower lanes are empty?
- people drive at a slower pace in passing lane?
- police talk on their phone while driving?
- police not ticket people for talking on their phone while driving?
- police not force people to move over a lane versus going around them?
- people not remove hats/caps when sitting for a meal?
- men not stand when a lady comes to the table? Or leaves the table?
- people not turn on their lights when there’s severe rain or snow?
My Travel Today/Yesterday
from a camp near Cement Airstrip, Botswana => Maun, Botswana => Jo’burg, South Africa => JFK Airport, NYC => Home
27 hours of travel time, 20 hours in a boat/plane/car
finally home, with little sleep, a sore back & forced to stay awake to adjust to local time.
For years my family would venture off for an extended holiday weekend. Mostly it was Cape Cod (East Orleans), sometimes Maine & few times the New Jersey shore. In the last 10 years families have grown & dispersed, thus sadly we no longer partake in these journeys. July 4th, like Thanksgiving, is a true American family/friends holiday. I find it best to stay home (in the US) if you’re not going to visit/stay with with friends elsewhere, as it can be quite lonely not going to the holiday parties.
I have traveled a few times, outside the country, during the July 4th holiday. Which is quite an odd feeling, traveling on a major US holiday & having no acknowledgement of it whilst away.
A few years ago, I was in Lake Placid, NY for a surprise birthday party. We had some drama (as expected), the weather was miserable & I wasn’t near the beach (which I prefer over lakes & mountains) nonetheless it was a fun trip & a total surprise for the birthday boy.
For American’s who have a strong bond with America & it’s holidays, traveling to distant places without the company of family/friends is hard to plan & uncommon. [I’m invited every year at Thanksgiving to a cricket tournament in Sarasota, Florida; but as most of the local team are newer citizens they don’t have any connection to the holiday.] Though those who live in expensive cities, namely NYC & San Francisco, tend to have people who don’t want to spend the money to travel home on these holidays - which is odd as it’s probably cheaper or equal cost to going local summer spots & partying.
These are also major traveling holidays, it’s worthwhile to extend your travel days by 1 day on either side. Philadelphia to Cape Cod is a 6-7 hour drive (360 miles or so). I once returned on the 5th which was a 15 hour drive, I won’t do that ever again.
For the 4th last year, I was planning a road trip starting on the 6th. Where I went to Hanover, NH & Tenants Harbor, ME. Visiting places I hadn’t been to in 10+ years. This year, I’ll probably spend at the shore reading, with nightly swims in the Atlantic.
(Over the years with my grandparents & older friends having skin cancers cut off; I’ve become wary of spending too much time in the sun. I’d love to sit on the beach all day, & do so when friends are around, but won’t on my own)
