I found my old journal entries on my computer, amidst an unseasonal organizational binge, and present some excerpts for your enjoyment and mockery:
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9 December 2004
7:47 PST (en route from Ireland to California)
First, a note about the appalling state of airline food. I know it’s developed quite a reputation over the many years, and I like to give things the benefit of the doubt, but by gum, how it did suck today. A gigantic roll, a sliver of ham, a sheet of dehydrated lettuce, with mustard—mustard! As the only condiment. Not even a smidgen of mayonnaise. And to top it off—an Atkins (only 3 net carbs!) bar as dessert. Vile abomination.
Anyway, I know now as I knew then that I would enjoy Ireland the most after I had left it; that is, I gritted my teeth and “had a cultural experience” with the knowledge that it would be far more fun to remember it later. In the case of Ireland, the Cultural Experience ® involved a lot of crappy weather, grumpy Irish, grumpy sheep, expensive food and inefficient public transportation. And many, many smokers and drunks. God, Europe is really not my cup of tea at all. Always an American at heart…I like the inexpensive “ethnic” food, cheap and efficient transportation, and the general antipathy towards smokers and public drunkenness and urination in these United States of America. Is there anything that we can learn from Ireland, however? Let us ponder the hypothetical fruits of cross-cultural comparison. And the answer is a clear, resounding NO. To the 3rd or 4th or 5th generation Irish-Americans, I bid thee, stop yearning for a place that does not exist.
Still, I am glad to have the experience under my belt. Character is not formed in peace and quiet and apparently not in the United States, either.
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22 March 2005 10:33 PM Tuesday
Lord 110
Just watched Ghost World. Depressing, depressing movie. But have come to the realization that Steve Buscemi is a sexy bastard. He is what Kelly would call “ugly hot.” I think his grossness/pathetic factor increases his hotness factor. You would think it would be an inverse function but it’s not. I was never any good at math anyhow.
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I was rather obnoxious as an undergraduate, no? And how much I was bored by my FSP while I was there, and yet so nostalgic about it now…interesting how things develop. I love me some cultural chauvinism. How young and foolish was I? I may click through a few old entries for further mockage in a few days’ time.
Ooh, I read a really great line about this recently… Zora O’Neill wrote in Gastronomica about her all-consuming tummy troubles in Cairo, but “in the cab on the way to the airport, I was seized with intense, revisionist nostalgia.” I totally recognize that brand of nostalgia. That’s why I’m glad for my journal! It helps me remember how I really felt at the time.
I don’t think your old entries are so awful.
You’re just looking at them through the lens of a matured self.
Have you spoken with David Wong Louie yet? One of my classmates said his voice sounds just like Steve Buscemi’s. I’ve never seen him in action so I can’t say.
Comment by lisa — September 11, 2008 @ 9:49 am |
“revisionist nostalgia”; I like that! very accurate. Frankly, I don’t think that I would choose now to remember Ireland as I really experienced it; in all honesty I was probably more unhappy than usual, although there were sparkling moments of happiness and excitement. The imagined Ireland is much, much better, so much so that I’ll probably be back there in a few years.
It’s funny, but that seems to be the way Ireland’s famous expatriate writers felt about Ireland, as well (Joyce in particular).
I haven’t spoken with DWL yet. If he sounds like Steve Buscemi, I may just have to flirt with him. (I kid, I kid.)
Comment by apricot — September 11, 2008 @ 10:00 am |
I watched “Ghost World” too and was mostly annoyed with Enid’s self-absorbed naval-gazing “no one gets me” shtick. I am not even slightly attracted to Steve Buscemi but even he deserved better.
And I do not think you need to apologize for bagging on airline food, or public urination
Comment by Lindy — September 12, 2008 @ 11:31 am |