Serrenity

Back at school I took part in an international student exchange scheme and for one year attended a secondary school in the US. I stayed in an american family, who were fine ' well educated, cultured ' had stayed in different parts of the world. But apart from that it was a huge culture shock. Towns with no people on the streets ' everyone locked in their cars or barred homes. No real food. Wanna buy flour? Forget it! You get all kinds of pre-mixed baking powders and stuff but nowhere a normal flour. Very poor choice and very poor quality. Most people I met there led a joyless gloomy life. The american dream perhaps? And what also shocked me a good deal is how oppressed they are. The police are everywhere, carrying a joint is almost as serious offence as a murder and in some US states it's illegal to have oral sex!!! Ridiculous? Yes. And very sad. I'm glad I've seen it.