Usa on wegotoelevenhttp://blog.wegotoeleven.xyz/tags/usa/Recent content in Usa on wegotoelevenHugoen-gbSat, 04 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000Coming to an endhttp://blog.wegotoeleven.xyz/travelling/coming-to-an-end/Sat, 04 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000http://blog.wegotoeleven.xyz/travelling/coming-to-an-end/<p>Coming home in 3 days. I always knew I’d feel like crap about now, but man - do I. I think travelling changes you, maybe. I’m not sure I want to go back to an office job, doing the same mundane crap day in and day out. I know the last 5 months have pretty much been the most exciting and happiest months of my life, and the thought of not being able to just get up and grab a train or bus to anywhere on a whim really makes me feel quite suffocated. Meh. At least I’m looking forward to my first paycheck, whether I’ll be working in an office or not.</p><p>Coming home in 3 days. I always knew I’d feel like crap about now, but man - do I. I think travelling changes you, maybe. I’m not sure I want to go back to an office job, doing the same mundane crap day in and day out. I know the last 5 months have pretty much been the most exciting and happiest months of my life, and the thought of not being able to just get up and grab a train or bus to anywhere on a whim really makes me feel quite suffocated. Meh. At least I’m looking forward to my first paycheck, whether I’ll be working in an office or not.</p> <p>I am utterly skint.</p> Culture shockhttp://blog.wegotoeleven.xyz/travelling/culture-shock/Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000http://blog.wegotoeleven.xyz/travelling/culture-shock/<p>Being in the USA for 5 minutes; the first thing I notice is the difference in perception of time from the east. People in the west adhere to strict schedules and want to get the most of of their days by minimising “wasted” time (travelling etc). Highway displays, showing times to other routes and cities, drive-thru EVERYTHINGs, the phrase “for your convenience” is used a load. The east, people seem to appreciate their time they have, taking life at their own pace rather than feeling a pressure to be as productive as humanly possible. I always knew that we in the west squeeze every ounce of value out of the time that we have on this planet. Our drive thru chemists and Starbucks, the “time is money” ethic, doing things “better, faster and cheaper” and delivering a <strong>level of professionalism that replaces all human character in favour of robotic efficiency</strong>. I’m in a cab where the americans are arguing with the driver over a 5 minute difference, from taking one highway over another. Who cares how fast you’re going? It’s 8pm, you have no kids to get home to, at the worst, you’ll miss the first 10 minutes of “America’s Got Talent” but you’ve no doubt got TIVO, so just chill out, relax and enjoy the ride.</p>Being in the USA for 5 minutes; the first thing I notice is the difference in perception of time from the east. People in the west adhere to strict schedules and want to get the most of of their days by minimising “wasted” time (travelling etc). Highway displays, showing times to other routes and cities, drive-thru EVERYTHINGs, the phrase “for your convenience” is used a load. The east, people seem to appreciate their time they have, taking life at their own pace rather than feeling a pressure to be as productive as humanly possible. I always knew that we in the west squeeze every ounce of value out of the time that we have on this planet. Our drive thru chemists and Starbucks, the “time is money” ethic, doing things “better, faster and cheaper” and delivering a level of professionalism that replaces all human character in favour of robotic efficiency. I’m in a cab where the americans are arguing with the driver over a 5 minute difference, from taking one highway over another. Who cares how fast you’re going? It’s 8pm, you have no kids to get home to, at the worst, you’ll miss the first 10 minutes of “America’s Got Talent” but you’ve no doubt got TIVO, so just chill out, relax and enjoy the ride.

Frankly, if the communism and socialism of SE Asia’s only difference to our capitalism is the value of time, I’d rather be a commie.

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