A letter from America - #051
Life in New England
“When you go will you send back a letter from America”
As foretold in my coat buying missive, you find me in the United States of America. Boston to be exact. And what a time to be here in these early days of Trump’s second presidency. A time of noise, threats and confusion. A multitude of soundbites and menace perhaps best described as “weapons of mass distraction”1. Bluff or truth? Time will tell.
Before I disappear down a political rabbit hole, in true Brit style, let’s talk about the weather. Look, I’ve been skiing before. I’ve been caught in a white out atop an Apline mountain in a freezing wind. My fingers and feet have been numb. But, I have never experienced the raw coldness that is Boston in early February. Last Saturday night the temperature was minus 10 centigrade. Cold, even in a car. Thank goodness for heated seats…
Let’s talk Trump
I have been to the US on several occasions. Boston a few times in the summer. American’s are famously super friendly. I’ve been made to feel extremely welcome. Right now conversation seems to pivot around politics.
There is a curiosity with the people I meet as to how we Brits are viewing the US at the start of this new administration. I’m clearly not speaking for a nation when I explain we are perplexed at how this has happened (or maybe not, I was interested to hear the views of the 3 white males in this Steven Bartlett Emergency Diary of a CEO podcast). And how the apparent strength of the stock market since Trump’s election is a proxy for wider ‘good’.
I can feel the uncertainty of those working in academia or any form of DEI as federal grants are frozen or axed. The intelligentsia, experts and ‘others’ seemingly marginalised. But where’s the opposition?2 How will this play out? Fascinating times.
Similar yet different
What I find curious about the States is a sense of familiarity juxtaposed with difference.
Overhearing conversations in a café, I sometimes feel like I’m in a sit-com. A phrase used I don’t quite understand is “of course” when I say “thank you” to a waitress or bar tender. Of course what? Of course I should say “thank you”? or a derivation of “you’re welcome”?
Another bug bear of mine “Thank you SOOOOOOO much” - which to be fair, I hear in the UK - sounding like praise for a treacherous act of bravery rather than a small incidental act of service. Am I sounding like a pedantic old bag? Maybe. Time to move on.
Where do I begin…
When mention is made of Boston, many think of the long running comedy show Cheers. Not me. I never watched it.
For me, Boston is the setting for one of my favourite films, books and soundtracks, yep, you guessed it Love Story. How can it possibly be 55 years since it’s original release? As I wandered around Boston Common watching the skaters on the outdoor rink I couldn’t help relive the scene with Oliver (Ryan O’Neal) ice skating, lovingly watched by Jenny (Ali McGraw) just before she was hospitalised and (spoiler alert!) died.
That and the oft quoted line spoken by Jenny and Oliver at separate times and for different reasons “Love means never having to say you’re sorry”…
Attitudes, culture and you
I didn’t intend this post to be a diatribe of politics, weather and language (thank goodness for the distraction of Love Story!). Normal service will be resumed next week.
The US, or New England at least, remains a place of optimism, entrepreneurialism and opportunity. Boston is a seat of learning and progressive liberalism. Of a stunning natural harbour. Great seafood and beaches. Close proximity to snow fields in Vermont. As well as the Cape in summer. And good manners. When it snows, locals get out in their four wheel drive trucks, huge shovels affixed to their ‘bull horns’, to clear the streets and residents shovel and salt the pavements outside their homes. How public spirited is that?
I’m interested in you.
What are your experiences of the similarities and differences of attitudes and culture between Brits and Americans? Have you been to Boston, what should I check out before I leave?
Rustle up a bowl of Chowder and drop me a line, I’d love to hear from you.
Last week’s blog and chat – Sound Baths – Embracing the woo #050
Thank you all you lovely 1KW-ers who wrote to tell me of your deeply calming and meditative sound bath experiences! Can’t think what I was doing wrong in mine…off to try some Reiki instead 😘.
Until next week my friends,
And remember, you’re never going to be any younger than you are today, so what are you waiting for?
Ruth x
Oh, before you go, if you enjoy my words, it’d be lovely if you choose to like, share, subscribe or comment - buttons 👇🏼thank you
A phrase I heard from Scott Galloway on the Pivot podcast which he co-hosts with Kara Swisher.
To be fair I hear there is much hard work and planning happening with little coverage in the current media channels.
Look forward to hearing all about US. Xxx
Oooh this was a frosty one😁 maybe it’s the cold 🥶 weather. It’s interesting to note how things that we read actually make us feel.