Before I came to Wisconsin, the most common use of the word “packer” in my life was for these little dudes. Not so much anymore. Even the local gay bar is showing the game tonight. I find myself more cautious around the subject of football than of Christianity.
I have not seen any live music that wasn’t jazz, classical, or world music. No punk, no alt, & definitely no pscyhobilly.
I find myself talking about the envelope of warm air I can create around my head & face with the clever use of a large hat & my coat’s hood. I have actually thought, “Oh, 15’s not so bad” when getting dressed to walk to my office.
For the first time in my life, when people find out my name is Kramer, they assume I’m German — not that I’m Jewish. Similarly, this is the first year I was not wished a Happy Chanukah.
After speaking with a woman from Chicago visiting this past week I realized I have not had a conversation with a woman in dreds and/or mudcloth since I moved here.
I have considered invitations to go snowshoeing (but haven’t yet).
I found out that ducks eat fish. Who knew? I thought they ate bread/grasses & assumed they were vegetarians.
I’m sure there will be more, but it really is a pleasure to discover that life really isn’t the same elsewhere, despite mass commercialism, cable, & the internet.
I could make a similar catalogue of intriguing differences living in Belgium…not the least of which is that if they’re up a creek, we’re up the same one. At least in principle they agree that they should all pull together, vs the current trend in the US towards “every man for himself”