on the upside...

Woah. Talk about a guilty conscience. I went to bed late/early thinking about how I should not have douched on the USA so much the other day. So here's my top 10 list that I wrote while living overseas of stuff I missed about America:

1. Freedom. In the US, I am allowed to say what I want, do what I want (within reason) date when I want, go where I want. I'm not limited to places because of my race or because I am a woman. I can wear what I want. I am totally free of cultural hindrances that prohibit me to befriend a man or someone of a different race. It's not like that everywhere...

2. Fast food. Ok, so it's not the most healthy thing, but that depends on what you order. Besides, I've worked around fancy restaurants and I KNOW they slather soo much butter on stuff to make it taste good, so that's not exactly the best thing to eat either. All I know is, I have a big Arby's craving, and MacDonald's ice cream is awesome. As is Wendys. And DQ...sigh. (sadly even on Mackinac Island, fast food is not here...I'm still in with drawls)

3. Lots of choices. This is always overwhelming to return to the consumerism. But I love having lots of choices when it comes to where I will live, what I can eat (super grocery stores!!!), what I will wear... I think too much choice is not so good, and it takes much personal restraint to NOT buy things you don't need. Which is why I am glad I've always been cheap as hell; it keeps me from overspending, weather or not I have the money.

4. Artists. I mean music, paintings, photography...etc. The US has alot to offer, and most museums are free, or not so expensive. Love that. Wish there were more art museums in the world.

5. Democracy. I think our system is great--for us, that is. I do not agree with thrusting democracy on the rest of the world, because it is not what is best for them. But it works for us, well when it's utilized fairly.

6. Individualism. By this I mean the way people in the US express themselves. It is not always accepted openly, which is frustrating, but we are free to be who we are, or while we try to figure out who that is...We can keep our last name when we marry, and we are finally starting to be fair on allowing people to marry the person they love, that marriage isn't for heterosexual people only.

7. Pretty landscapes...we have a big country compared to other places.

8-10...will have to think more on it...