Americana

As I was grading papers tonight, I had a bit of an ephiphany. My AP students were writing on the role "identity" played in three Langston Hughes poems. His poetry provided much commentary on race relations throughout several decades spanning from the 1920s to the 1960s. While reading one of their papers, I began to realize that my identity as an "American" is most likely something that is going to be more relevant in my life. Realistically, how often do I think of myself as an American living in a country called the United States of America. I guess I really don't...as I think about moving overseas and being immersed in a new culture, defining myself as "American" would probably be one of the first descriptors I would use. It will be weird to be watching news and activity in America from another country, particularly in this pivital year.

The other day, I was thinking about what things I would miss about Orlando (aside from family and friends), but then I started thinking about what I would even miss about being in America. Wow, the perspective of this move just got bigger....and a wee bit more overwhelming. Perhaps the overwhelming part comes in the open ended return date. 2010 seems far away at present, although I'm sure the calendar months will start flying off the pages.

I'll probably be ready to consume major amounts of apple pie and baseball games when I return. After all, isn't there a saying about apple pie and baseball being staples of America?