Ten countries and Sixteen US States

All American, but one more American than the others.

I just worked out that I visited sixteen states  of the USA, (plus DC), in the 4 months I was there.  I'm missing it a little, but not sure why yet.  England is warm, yet wet, seems less vibrant, less like a land of opportunity.

The trip included ten countries in total.  I visited each one from Canada down to Panama.  It's often said that people all round the world are the same.  I can report that that's nonsense.  They're different as can be, and it's mainly down to education and/or belief systems.

USA: I didn't manage to understand the mindset of the American people.  America is obsessed with race to an unhealthy and insane level.  There's racism coming from all sides, and it's a politically troubling place, so much more divided than ever before.  It's common to come across anti-white rhetoric on the internet these days, and I experienced it in New York.  And there's a huge proportion of white america who hate Obama for no reason whatsoever.  They would deny that it's because he's viewed as being black (he's neither black nor white but both!), but it's pretty obvious the republicans hate him a lot more than they would a white democratic president, because their arguments against him or so flimsy.  They choose to believe ridiculous things, even when they are easily verifiable as false with a little research.  In that regard they are similar to conspiracy theorists.  Very few of these people have any real education.

It's often said that the UK is ten or twenty years behind the US in regard to many things.  Perhaps this was more accurate before the technological revolution and the advancement of the internet.   Let's just hope it's not going to follow the contemporary political route.  It's plain that Bernie Saunders is the correct choice, but America can't see straight.  Their view is largely obscured by a largely culture-less and inconsistent world obsessed with itself, eclipsing all others.

As of the morning of May the 10th, I'm back in the UK.  So, it's the latest chapter.  Always going to be a comedown after seeing so many amazing sights.   As usual, nothing's changed, and people haven't moved on much.  Especially those that really should have.

But there are still things I want to do here - and in Europe.  Despite all the troubles, if I could move to the US, I would.  Or maybe Canada.  Not a single country in Central America inspired me to return, but never say never.  The reason being: space.  The outdoors. The language.  And despite all the insanity, the majority of people I met were laid back, (not uptight like the British), welcoming and generous.  I met more amiable people in four months in the US than I have done in years in the UK.  There are so many walls, so many closed doors and minds here.  I guess it's up to me to over-ride that now.

Lazy

Well I've been extremely lazy and not blogged about my recent trips through the Southern States, DC, Philly, NYC, Ontario and Montreal in Canada and now Boston.

Nobody has commented on anything I've written to date, so it didn't particular feel as though it's worth continuing with.  But then the US isn't as interesting as Central America.  Of course, there's plenty to complain about here, (mostly confined to politics and commercialism), but I've not done much that anyone would be excited to read about either.

I've birded a lot, and I enjoy that.  I choose not to bore the world with it though.  Even most birders would skip it.  Birding is often a personal journey except when touching upon the more worthwhile scientific edge of bird ecology.  I really hope to contribute to that in the near future both during and after my upcoming stint with the RSPB in Northern Ireland.

So for now, my American travels are almost at an end, with just one week left before I fly to England.  This final week will be spent in Massachusetts, primarily on Cape Cod, and the coastal regions, birding.  Spring migration is here, so it could be a productive and interesting time, especially for a relative newcomer to North America.

Anyway, I will be starting a new blog detailing my two to three weeks working on Rathlin Island for the RSPB.  That should be more relevant to the wider world than this extended "holiday!"

It's been great to finally see the USA and Canada after many years meaning to come.  Recently, I've been trying to do a great deal things that I've pined for but not found the time for until now.  Perhaps I'll be able to settle down once I get the remaining curiosities out of my system.  

As for Canada: that was a lot more mellow than it's southern neighbour as you can imagine.  Colder at times, but a hell of a lot more relaxed.  I could see myself living there.

And Boston seems a much more civilised city than the other "big ones" I've visited; New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami.  The smaller US cities are a lot more attractive to my mind.  Chatanooga is a nice size, and with a variety of things to do and places to visit.

Montreal and Toronto were both nicer than any of the large US cities.  San Francisco is out on it's own if you can get into "the bubble" but the wider metropolitan region is still too over crowded for my liking.

I look forward to returning to visit Seattle, Portland and Vancouver on the West coast, although it's well known to rain as often as it does in the British Isles.

I'll post the link to my new blog here once it's been created.  So long!