20 pounds of rocks in a 10 pound bag

After nearly 14 months of working in Singapore, I returned finally to the United States for much needed reintegration! At times, I feel content that I’ve absorbed most of the Singaporean milieu, but I have also felt my own culture start to ebb after being away for so long. In that sense, it was good to go home and familiarize myself once more with the red, white, and blue. Although some might convulse at the suggestion, I really think we have so many cultural merits about which we should be proud. It’s easy to overlook them when you’re awash in America each and every day, but I’ve found a new perspective from a distance.

I usually listen to NPR’s Morning Edition on the way home from work at night, and I hear a lot of commentary about change that is urgently needed in the U.S. People are lobbying to reform immigration, foreign policy, defense, and our reeling deficits. Many have valid concerns about these problems. There are  aspects of American society that need to be critically addressed. However, I think it’s beneficial to recount the good features of American life while  pursuing such solutions to tough issues, lest we become too scathing towards our neighbors offering a different perspective. Almost every day, I look fondly towards the U.S. and reminisce about certain aspects of our lifestyle. I admire our overall optimism, can-do attitudes, and open-minded approach to work. As Americans, we have access to so much business innovation, social outreach, artistic expression, and community development that would make people in other countries jealous. The U.S. is literally a place where you are limited only by your own ambition, and that is truly something to celebrate. I encounter many American tourists that speak ill of our home country, but I’m sure they don’t appreciate the unattractiveness of the alternatives. It’s important to realize that the foundation of our society is correct. We’ve got a good thing going here! Yes, we need to adjust some facets of our political, economic, and social lives. I just hope that, in the middle of partisan divisiveness and economic recovery, we reflect on the inherently positive nature of the American dream. We might achieve something at the bargaining table if we appreciated that our motivations in the debate are actually the same – to make a good thing better.

As you might guess, I look forward to my next chance to visit my home again. Although it’s exciting to work abroad, it’s altogether good to remember where you come from. I will, however, make one adjustment on the next visit. I admit that I was zealous, and I planned the vacation a little too ambitiously. We drove over 2,400 miles and visited a dozen cities. As one friend put it, “It sounds like you’re trying to fit twenty pounds of rocks in a ten pound sack!” Still, looking back, it was completely worth all of the effort to reconnect with so many friends and family. My girlfriend, Jui, and I had an unforgettable time.

Montpelier, OH

Grand Rapids, MI

Berea, KY

Savannah, GA

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

My sister, the bride!

Corbin, KY