To be able to spend time away from the daily grind of work and take time to enjoy a respite with family is certainly one of the greatest blessings one can have in this time starved world we live in.
Well, 3 weeks into our family's extended break, I certainly am feeling blessed, cherishing the opportunity to have this (probably) once in a life time chance to spend so much quality time with family in beautiful locations.
We spent sometime on the west coast of California and I will be heading over to France next week for the school orientation workshops. That will be followed by a quick pop into Bologna and then back to Los Angeles before we make a stop in Tokyo en route to Singapore.
California is really different than the eastern part of the US where I was more familiar with. I shan't go into the details, lest I create a cyberspace war between those living on Eastern standard time and Pacific standard time, *grin*, but regardless of the number of times I return to this country, I am forever perplexed by its numerous anomalies.
For example, the United States remains the leading superpower in the world. This is regardless of China's rise. Geopolitically, militarily and economically, the US continues to hold strong clout over the world. Yet, many of its citizens do not have basic health care insurance. That means a visit to the doctor to confirm that you have a fever would set you back US$80, without medicine. (In Singapore, a visit to the doctor with medicine dispensed to you would set you back about $20 to $30 for the same ailment). And with the recent push for better health care, the majority of the American people are not looking forward to changes put in place to help get affordable health care. Perhaps it's the fear of change; perhaps it's because the peoples' huge mistrust in their President (Americans have an in-built mistrust for government). But sentiment is such that the people would rather fight against change and remain in the status quo. Someone once told me, "Perception is reality".
Well, 3 weeks into our family's extended break, I certainly am feeling blessed, cherishing the opportunity to have this (probably) once in a life time chance to spend so much quality time with family in beautiful locations.
We spent sometime on the west coast of California and I will be heading over to France next week for the school orientation workshops. That will be followed by a quick pop into Bologna and then back to Los Angeles before we make a stop in Tokyo en route to Singapore.
California is really different than the eastern part of the US where I was more familiar with. I shan't go into the details, lest I create a cyberspace war between those living on Eastern standard time and Pacific standard time, *grin*, but regardless of the number of times I return to this country, I am forever perplexed by its numerous anomalies.
For example, the United States remains the leading superpower in the world. This is regardless of China's rise. Geopolitically, militarily and economically, the US continues to hold strong clout over the world. Yet, many of its citizens do not have basic health care insurance. That means a visit to the doctor to confirm that you have a fever would set you back US$80, without medicine. (In Singapore, a visit to the doctor with medicine dispensed to you would set you back about $20 to $30 for the same ailment). And with the recent push for better health care, the majority of the American people are not looking forward to changes put in place to help get affordable health care. Perhaps it's the fear of change; perhaps it's because the peoples' huge mistrust in their President (Americans have an in-built mistrust for government). But sentiment is such that the people would rather fight against change and remain in the status quo. Someone once told me, "Perception is reality".
How true.
I recently asked my class whether they would rate the US as a conservative or liberal country. Not one of them rated the US as a conservative country. The reason? They cite Hollywood; high profile divorces and scandals; and the ability to own guns. Yet, the US remains relatively more conservative than most European countries, and perhaps, even some Asian countries. This is attributed to a strong Christian base in the country --- giving way to many politicians playing the religion card to sway voters. Recently, Katy Perry's performance with Elmo on Sesame Street was removed from TV because she was wearing an inappropriate piece of clothing --- a gold bustier.
I recently asked my class whether they would rate the US as a conservative or liberal country. Not one of them rated the US as a conservative country. The reason? They cite Hollywood; high profile divorces and scandals; and the ability to own guns. Yet, the US remains relatively more conservative than most European countries, and perhaps, even some Asian countries. This is attributed to a strong Christian base in the country --- giving way to many politicians playing the religion card to sway voters. Recently, Katy Perry's performance with Elmo on Sesame Street was removed from TV because she was wearing an inappropriate piece of clothing --- a gold bustier.
Have you recently seen what clothes Barbie is wearing?
I am utterly confused.
As the US promotes its tenet in the right to freedom of speech and religion, you have the recent case of the inter faith religious centre uproar (it's actually not a mosque, folks). CBS recently asked one of its producers to dress up in the hijab (tudung) and the burqa (covers all of the body except the eyes) and walk in public at 3 locations --- New York City, Houston (Texas) and a suburb in New York state. The result was that the cosmopolitan areas did not even bat an eyelid. The same cannot be same for locations that are more homogeneous in ethnicity.
Another area that the US promotes aggressively is their fundamental belief in gender equality and equal opportunity. I recently had a chat with a knowledgeable person about the presidency of the US. We also talked about equal opportunity in the US. This person was basically saying that it would not be possible in the foreseeable future for the US to have a female Head of State, due to the old boys club. New Zealand, Germany, Finland, the UK and even Indonesia have shown the way in this aspect. The US?
We all know about the financial challenge facing households in the US. However, I also found out that fresh produce can be gotten for a fraction of what you pay in many countries, including Singapore! I could get a can of soup, 8 heads of corn, slippers, t-shirts and underwear for US$ 99cents each. A bag of about 20 to 30 oranges costs US$5. Compare that to the same price per orange in Tokyo! And yet, according to USA Today newspaper, almost a quarter of Americans are living below the poverty line (calculated as an annual household income of less than US$22,000 for a family of five). Of course, the household savings rate is hovering around 3%, up from 2+% in the boom years before the recession. It is so affordable to have a decent standard of living in this country. Yet, many are impoverished.
Well, this post is not a complaint, it is simply an observation of this country. Talk to The Wife --- she will simply wave her hand at me and run off to the Factory Outlet Malls.
I am utterly confused.
As the US promotes its tenet in the right to freedom of speech and religion, you have the recent case of the inter faith religious centre uproar (it's actually not a mosque, folks). CBS recently asked one of its producers to dress up in the hijab (tudung) and the burqa (covers all of the body except the eyes) and walk in public at 3 locations --- New York City, Houston (Texas) and a suburb in New York state. The result was that the cosmopolitan areas did not even bat an eyelid. The same cannot be same for locations that are more homogeneous in ethnicity.
Another area that the US promotes aggressively is their fundamental belief in gender equality and equal opportunity. I recently had a chat with a knowledgeable person about the presidency of the US. We also talked about equal opportunity in the US. This person was basically saying that it would not be possible in the foreseeable future for the US to have a female Head of State, due to the old boys club. New Zealand, Germany, Finland, the UK and even Indonesia have shown the way in this aspect. The US?
We all know about the financial challenge facing households in the US. However, I also found out that fresh produce can be gotten for a fraction of what you pay in many countries, including Singapore! I could get a can of soup, 8 heads of corn, slippers, t-shirts and underwear for US$ 99cents each. A bag of about 20 to 30 oranges costs US$5. Compare that to the same price per orange in Tokyo! And yet, according to USA Today newspaper, almost a quarter of Americans are living below the poverty line (calculated as an annual household income of less than US$22,000 for a family of five). Of course, the household savings rate is hovering around 3%, up from 2+% in the boom years before the recession. It is so affordable to have a decent standard of living in this country. Yet, many are impoverished.
Well, this post is not a complaint, it is simply an observation of this country. Talk to The Wife --- she will simply wave her hand at me and run off to the Factory Outlet Malls.
