When i was a kid growing up in the Philippines, i get wowed when i watch those American movies showing, well, America. Everything just looks so big, so beautiful,... so clean. I never fully grasp the fact that i'm now living in the US 'til i take my car out for a drive.
I was driving to Olathe earlier today and i was excited. First, i get to see my dad. Second, i get to see what driving through E I-70 is about. Up until yesterday, i've gotten as far as Manhattan and i remember not liking the drive at all. Everything was brown and it smells vaguely of smoke. Of course that can be contributed to the field burnings that was going on at that time. Minute details, i know.
It was a mighty fine day, (i also turned on the airconditioning because it was 85 degrees in my apt. when i woke up), the sky was a picturesque baby blue with thin wisps of clouds that dotted it every so often. There was a constant breeze (that decided to ignore coming in through my open windows), and the trees had a luscious green color on them. I decided to drive with my windows down and see how far i can go through without rolling them back up and turning the car a/c on.
I merged on the highway and pressed the gas pedal like a have a kilo of cocaine strapped on the bottom of my car (l-o-l Talladega Nights reference). The wind was blowing east-ward, making it an easy drive. What with the windows open, it felt like i was floating on the hot cemented road. The scenery was different from what i expected.... Green! I'm seeing green!
East of Kansas is very different from West Kansas (or so i'm told. Favorite Western Kansas Joke- Q: What's the official tree of Western Kansas? A: Telephone pole). There is more to see on the Eastern part of KS and of course, it holds the "coolest" cities in KS like Manhattan, Topeka, and Lawrence. Hills dot the sides of the highway. Rolling green hills... sorta the Sound of Music type, but not really; these are small hills. Once i passed the Manhattan exit, the road wasn't the straight-flat type that i was expecting... there were some turns, ups, downs.
It was wide, big, spacious... You could've seen for miles and miles and miles (*insert The Who song*). There were the occasional trees that line a stream but apart from that, it's just one big spacious green. It was beautiful. How can anyone not think so after the sight that i just witnessed? America is beautiful. And if i thought so just by driving through Kansas for crying out loud, what would i think when i see all 50 states? People that live in this country are so lucky to be living here, but i think most take it for granted. I guess you'd never really appreciate something until you've seen something completely different from your "usual" view.
I'm a proud non-American. I'm blessed and thankful to say that i live in such a marvelous place. From my kiddie eyes being wowed at the American films, to actually get to see them in person. You people need to like your country more, if not the government, love the place... is all im sayin'.
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