How I hate da mainland!

"People are much easier to take when you don't speak their language. Otherwise when you're shopping you think ... damn these people are idiots!" - DaLeiLei, April 8, 2009

So today was the day I realised my culture shock. I hate white Americans ... at least on the mainland. And yes, I am indeed, a white American. Luckily, with a good tan I can pass for all sorts of other things so no one really knows what I am. I blend!

After spending the last 6 months in Asia and then on Maui, I didn't realize it, but I wasn't ready to go back "into the fray."

I spent the day in Marin, CA running errands and trying to do a little shopping. During the course of the day, I was: snubbed, shoved, sneered at, ignored, condescended to, argued with, cut-off, complained to, cringed from and avoided. This all happened in Marin, in the little areas that pride themselves on being all hippie-dippy ... well let me tell you folks ... free-love is dead. Unless you look like a wealthy marin-ite, these people have no love to give. Since I wasn't driving my Acura and wearing $500 yoga leotards, I wasn't part of the club.

Asia was so polite, even if they thought you looked like a goof or an under-dressed person, they would allow you to save face by being polite and trying your best to be a person that could be accepted into polite company.

Maui was so "island" that no one cares what your look like or do, as long as you aren't infringing on their ability to enjoy the cool breezes.

I can tell right now, I'm going to be island bound in a short amount of time. If not Hawaii, maybe somewhere in the Caribbean. Anyone know of a sail boat that needs a sitter?

What a long strange trip it's been ...

Sorry that I haven't posted more in the last while.

DaLeiLei and I returned from our travels in Asia and were in our California home for 3 days before we got a call from her father. It seemed her mother had suffered a heart attack while they were staying in their flat on Maui. We caught the next plane from Sacramento and headed over as quick as we could. Before I go any further, let me say that her mother is doing very well now and has a shiny new defibrillator that is ready to bring her back if any more of this tachycardia decides to rear it's ugly head again.

We spent the last month with D's parents and younger sister and her husband, doing what we could to make the situation easier. During the course of the visit, it became apparent that D's father wasn't feeling up to snuff either and so after he was examined by their doctor in Hawaii, we were informed that he has been diagnosed with Acute Leukaemia. It was a horrible shock and we all reeled a bit when we first found out. He is now at Stanford Medical Center and is starting treatment immediately. I hope you'll all join me in positive-thinking / praying for him and we'll hopefully report back soon that the family is in good health and our travels are underway again!

Peace to you all and fair winds in your sails!
KStJ