Less Afraid of America

My sister and I have officially been road tripping across the country for one week, and have also officially begun our super-duper-mega-off-route-route to South Hamilton, Massachusetts! So far, we’ve covered 11 states (CA, NV, UT, WY, SD, WI, IL, MO, KY -kinda, TN), and still have to drive up the East Coast from Charlotte, NC, to Boston, MA, meaning we’ll cross through I-don’t-know how many more, and be sleeping in at least three. It’s been an amazingly odd route we’ve taken, but I wouldn’t change any of it for a second, because it’s been incredible, and I’m so grateful! I’m especially grateful for all the things it’s teaching and showing me, as all travel does. But this trip in particular has been eye-opening, because it’s showing me a lot about “my own country”. Primarily, that I don’t really need to be afraid of/in the United States!

I feel very strongly that we grow up in a fearful culture. On the news you constantly see depressing, scary, death-or-crime-induced reports, and really, I don’t blame anyone for thinking they’re going to be shot, robbed, stabbed, raped, massacred, or kidnapped when they step out their front door! How can you not be afraid of what’s out there when all you’re delivered all day are negative new reports? It’s hard to remember it’s all propaganda, designed to make us feel fearful of everything and everyone out there, and dependent on our governments for protection and support. Heck, it’s almost impossible! Because, this information has to be true, right?? And this is why I have always felt a little afraid of the American people and what goes on within her borders.

With all the shootings, robberies, homicides and stories of psychos, I have kinda always figured the United States was made up of a lot, but was essentially a place where… in the middle of the country, you have nothing. Literally, nothing. Just a bunch of farmland and fields. In the south, you have swamplands and wild[ly awesome] southern accents. (As well as gumbo and charming, hospitable people, who likely are sitting on their porch with a shotgun and some lemonade.) In the north, well, it’s basically a frozen tundra-like place where you can’t do much because the world you live in is buried in snow all year long, and is full of a lot of the states everyone forgets about or misplaces. On the East Coast, you have snobs and hipsters (except for all the tan guidos living in Miami and retired people inhabiting the rest of Florida), lobster, New York, baseball, and lots of Polo shirts with Easter-colored sweaters tied over your shoulders (much like Sevilla). And on the West Coast (Best Coast, as they say), you have a variety of it all. You’ve got the plastic-y people in Southern California, with the super awesome surfers and artsy-kinds scattered about, chilled out people and heavy stoners in Northern California (except for all those super-whiz Silicon Valley folk), and a blend of desert, forest, beach, and whatever else in between. Quickly, and forgetting entirely about Hawaii and Alaska, this is how I thought of the United States before this trip. And do not even dare to judge me most of you out there, because I think this is a pretty accurate summary of the stereotypes and preconceived considerations we have about the different parts of our country.

But not anymore!

Now I feel I have such a better grasp on what the United States are actually made up of, and while many of the stereotypes hold true in many ways, all the ones related to fear and the likelihood of being raped, kidnapped, or murdered if I wander around have been completely squashed! (Though I have yet to step foot in the deep south, on the East coast, or in New York, a country of its own. Of course.)

There has not been one point in this entire trip that I felt like I was somewhere I shouldn’t have been! Not an instant in which I was worried I was about to lose my life or my belongings by being on the sidewalk or in the street. And even though the first couple nights I was nervous about someone breaking into the car, and I did move my hat into the trunk last nigh to avoid offering up temptation to potential thieves, I’ve realized that this was an entirely irrational concern. (One that I’d say, is unavoidable if you come from certain places. Say for instance, Stockton.) Oh, and I’ve even decided I TOTALLY would hitchhike here! That’s how drastically my feelings have changed about the United States!

Instead of encountering mad people waving guns around to get their way and/or prove a point, we’ve encountered incredibly kind people, who are willing to answer whatever questions we have, point us in the direction of good food or that which we need, and really, just interact with us as if we were neighbors encountering one another outside the neighborhood. Truly, I have been amazed by the kindness of everyone we’ve encountered, and also, the feeling of ease and comfort I’ve (we’ve? I’m not sure if I can speak for both of us here or not) had everywhere we’ve been [so far].

The United States of America is a vast, amazing place, full of millions of people and places, and I daresay, far less dangerous than we are all (in the entire, whole-wide world) lead to believe!

So, I discourage all those abroad from seeing things about our country on the news, and automatically assuming that everyone is walking around with a gun. I encourage you not to trust what you hear and see on the TV, and instead come on over and experience it for yourself; because while we may not allow many people to get too deep into the inner workings of our minds and emotions, we are very open, friendly, kind and helpful people, who would just love to talk to you and do what we can to help you out!

And, I encourage my fellow countrywomen and men to not be fearful of those overseas, or within our own American realms (from South to Central to North)! I 110% understand how hard it is not to be afraid of this country and what happens, but honestly, most of the people we really need to be worried about are the ones running the place, not each other. We’re all in this together, trying to do the best we can to be happy and make a life for ourselves, and it’s a far less-mad place than we are meant to know.

I am so proud and happy to be able to share this, for me, ground-breaking news and realization, honestly! I think it’s so amazing that just by stepping out of my comfort zone and going out into the country, I’ve gotten to see that actually, most of it is farmland and fields (our country is corn, btw. It’s actually a country made-up of corn. My gosh!), not fighting and fear!

I hope you are having the most wonderful time being alive, and that you are filled with special energy as we head into this weekend!

I love you so much Earth Fam, and am so honored to be able to share this time on God’s great Earth with you!

Blessings, Love, Light & Wonder from Above reigning down on you and yours,

-Allie-Sun <3