Jeffrey’s Journey

David just left for the airport to go back to Japan. Our last meal in Thailand was McDonalds and I gorged myself on a big mac, large fries, a double fish fillet (they have those here), 6 piece chicken nuggets, and the McScraps of David’s meal. Battling food coma and the grease thats now seeping into my coronary arteries, I’ll attempt to gather myself and squeeze out a short entry.

I think one of the biggest things on my mind right now is the issue of pride. I’m not talking about pride in the Seven Sins context, I’m talking about pride for one’s country and for what the people in it stand for. Right off the bat I’ll say that I’ve never had this sort of pride in where I’m from. In fact, the more I learn and the more I see, the more turned off I am of where I’m from.

But when I travel, I see so many people glow when they get the chance to explain where they are from and what their culture is like. The Thai people absolutely love their King, and I know they don’t love him because they have to. Being here, you can’t help but feel that their love is true and unartifical. I have no idea what it’s like to love a government official or a public figure from my country, not because I’m incapable of it, but I don’t believe there are any figures in our public arena to love and be proud of. 

 When I come across someone who is genuinely proud of where they are from, I think that’s the coolest thing in the world. When a person’s eyes light up telling you about a certain aspect of their culture, or how they can’t help but speak with a little more gravity when they tell you how friendly their countrymen are, those converastions always catch me a little envious because I’ve always wanted to brag about the place I’m from and what it’s about.