Have a Coke and a Smile

            Living half way around the world and in a time zone seven hours ahead of Kansas made it nearly impossible for us to watch the Super Bowl, which based on the score, it may have been a blessing in disguise. But despite the fact that we didn’t watch the game, I did make a point to get online the following day and watch some of the Super Bowl’s infamous commercials. Of course I fell in love with the puppy on the Budweiser commercial and like most of America, I wanted to take the puppy home with me. I found humor in the humming Heinz commercial. But it was the Coca-Cola commercial that truly moved me, which is why I don’t understand the backlash from it.

            I understood the commercial to be a creative way to show that our country is more than just a large piece of land. We have substance as well. I am young, which means that my life experience and knowledge is limited to just twenty-seven years. But my marriage and life-changing move to Africa have given me the opportunity to see past so many obstacles in life that I hope many other Americans get past in their lifetime.

            As portrayed in the commercial, America is a “melting pot” or “salad bowl” where people from all over the world who speak different languages, have different beliefs, and practice different religions sacrificed something to be the fresh ingredients that make our country so special. But based on recent Facebook posts, media coverage, and various other comments that I have come across since the airing of the Coca-Cola commercial, it seems as though many Americans want to forget about our roots and the fact that immigration is one of the special ingredients that made our country what it is today.

            I understand that Americans want everyone to speak English and follow the popular norm because that would make life much simpler. But I ask myself, what is the norm and why English? Everyone has different faiths and beliefs as well as different views on what the norm should be. For example, Miley Cyrus recently made headlines with her risqué performance at the Video Music Awards. Some people believed that her performance was inappropriate while others found it to be a beautiful expression of art and emotion. Whether you believe it was inappropriate or not, it shows that we don’t all have to agree, and we certainly don’t have to have one set of norms.

            As for the language, why English? Many people speak multiple languages, which is quite a relief considering the United States of America doesn’t have a national language, something many people failed to consider when making their mind up about the commercial. And when we claim to speak English, how many people actually speak correct English? Over the years I have listened closely to a language that has changed so drastically. The word ‘whip’ use to refer to an instrument used for striking; however, now it is a term that teenagers and young adults use when referring to a vehicle. It seems rather hypocritical to ask everyone to speak English when many of us don’t do a very good job of it ourselves.

            Watching the commercial and reflecting on my own life has given me the answers that I needed to understand why not everyone understood the commercial or accepted its meaning. I grew up in a small town in the middle of the United States. I didn’t experience a lot of the diversity and cultural differences that America has to offer. It wasn’t until later in life that I got my first taste, and let me just tell you, it kept me wanting more. I not only moved halfway around the world to a continent that I had never stepped foot on before, but I also married into it.

            Many people may not realize that my husband is half Lebanese. Adam's father Jamil was born and raised in Lebanon before moving to Kansas to pursue an education in engineering at Wichita State University. I hadn’t met anyone from Lebanon, been friends with any Muslims, or even heard much Arabic before marrying into this wonderful family. Over the past few years I have been fortunate enough to learn about the Muslim faith, get to know more about the Lebanese culture, eat DELICIOUS Lebanese dishes and pastries, while feeling a part of something much greater than I could have ever imagined. Not only have I been so blessed to have married into such an amazing family that has taught me so much about life, but this has also been an eye opening and educational experience for so many of my family members and friends. I am still hearing about how much fun everyone from Atchison had while learning and participating in the Dabke, an Arabic dance, at our wedding.

            But aside from all of that, I have also had the unique experience of traveling to foreign countries as well as moving to one. Living in Angola has been quite an adjustment for me as my blogs have painted a very clear picture for everyone. I’ve been making an honest effort to learn Portuguese and adjust to life here, and let me tell you, it certainly hasn't been a walk in the park. And although learning the language, culture, and way of life here has helped me to feel more comfortable, the people here have also made a huge difference in the way I perceive my new home. It has made realize just how much more this world has to offer.

            Of course I am not suggesting that everyone pack up their bags, book a plane ticket, and move halfway around the world because that would be completely irrational and unnecessary considering diversity is already in our own backyards. But I do hope that instead of closing the doors to an opportunity of a lifetime that Americans choose to keep the doors open and experience just what the United States has to offer. I think that the Coca-Cola commercial is absolutely beautiful and amazing because it allows us to see the diversity within our own country. This makes the United States unique because very few other countries have this to offer their citizens. Instead of people being upset or offended by what they think Coca-Cola is trying to portray in their commercial, I wish that everyone could see just how lucky they are to live in a country that has so much to offer.  

1-800-NO-AAA

            One of the most common questions that I hear from people when they learn that I live in Angola, Africa is whether or not I feel safe in my new environment. Many people are shocked when I tell them that I often feel safer in Luanda than I do in the States. The headlines and all of the media coverage of the violence in the States over the past few years have certainly heightened my uneasiness in the States making adjusting to life in a foreign country a bit easier.

            Africa is a huge continent. And yes, there are some countries that are in complete turmoil right now, but no, Angola isn’t one of them. Just because it isn’t in turmoil doesn’t mean that there isn’t any crime. A routine trip to the grocery store was all I needed to remind me that like any other country, it still comes with certain risks and safety hazards.

            Adam and I were cruising along the soggy roads on the way to the store when our car took a dive into one of the many manholes along the road. Our tire fit perfectly into the round hole almost as if the hole was made for it. Adam talked a few guys into lifting the car up and out of the hole. We may have survived the mishap, but our tire didn’t have the same luck. Considering calling AAA isn’t an option in Luanda, we decided to try to make it to the factory to have one of the employees change it there.

            About five minutes into the drive to the factory we knew that we weren’t going to make it. Adam saw a small shack on the side of the road with a leaning tower of tires indicating that they perform tire changes. Did I mention that advertising varies slightly from the States? Since we didn’t have much of a choice at this point, we pulled over. I stayed in the car while Adam got out and talked to a few of the men. I was suddenly reintroduced to the feelings of fear and nervousness. 

            Just as my mind started to create a million different versions of how the tire change might go, I heard the back door open. Being able to see Adam and knowing that he was still standing right outside my car door, my head immediately jerked in the direction of the creaking noise of the door. I was shocked when I noticed that the door was opening slowly but no one was there. Sounds like something out of a horror film, right? Then suddenly our eyes met. A strange man was trying to sneak into the backseat to steal whatever he could find. His deer in headlights expression told me that he was just as shocked to see me in the car as I was to see him trying to sneak into the car. I reached hastily into the backseat and grabbed our camera, the one item worth taking. Before I had a chance to get Adam’s attention, the man shut the door carefully to avoid anymore unwanted attention on him and started to walk off. I watched him as he got further and further away from our car. He turned around and gave me one last look before disappearing into the crowd of people.

            My heart was pounding and the blood was racing through my veins as I sat there frozen in fear. Someone had just tried to get into our car while I was in it and Adam was standing next to it. I locked the doors and waited for thirty minutes while the men changed our tire. Adam barely had a chance to get back into the car and buckle his seat belt before I was spouting out my version of events that had just taken place. After our rough beginning to our trip, we made it to the store and home safely without any more problems.

            As scary as the entire situation was, I am glad that it happened because it reminded of a valuable life lesson that I learned early on in life. We need to always be aware of our surroundings and never take safety for granted. And even though I can go to a movie in Luanda and have peace of mind knowing that a man in a costume won’t open up fire during the showing, or go to the mall and not look over my shoulder worried that the guy next to me is about to go on a rampage, or that I can see the children playing on the playground at school and know that the chance of one of them bringing a gun to school and shooting his or her peers and educators is slim, I am still aware of the fact that Luanda has crime just like every other country.

Supermarket Sweep: And The Super Bonus Is Dried Fish

            Once a week Adam and I put together a grocery list and make a trip to the store, but just like much of the rest of my experience here in Angola, it isn’t just an ordinary shopping trip. The grocery stores in Angola are a lot different than those in the States. As mentioned in my previous blog, many food items have yet to find a home on the grocery store shelves here. And if they do have a spot in the store, it is often the last place you would expect to find it.

            In the States it is easy to locate the milk and egg aisle because it is found in the refrigerated section of the store. However, the milk and eggs aren’t located in the refrigerated aisle here, but instead are found at room temperature on an ordinary shelf. I was extremely surprised and a little concerned about my finding, but the fact that Adam has been eating the eggs and drinking the milk off of the room temperature shelves for the past five years without any problems offered a little bit of comfort. 

            The milk and eggs are not only located in a different section of the grocery store, but they also look very different from the milk and eggs consumed in the States. The milk comes in cardboard boxes with dotted lines outlining the flap that must be cut off to open it. A pair of scissors is my weapon of choice when opening the milk, while Adam chooses a more manly approach with a sharp knife. The eggs are also very different. They are slightly larger and brown in color instead of the typical white eggs found in most grocery stores in the States. They are also sold in cartons of six, twelve, fifteen, and thirty. 

            We refrigerate the boxes of milk and eggs before consuming them, but the differences in appearance and location on the shelves is still a very weird concept that I have yet to fully grasp. The milk and the eggs here haven’t made me sick, so the fact that they are stored at room temperature is hardly reason enough to remove them from my diet.

            Besides the milk and the eggs, there are other items that seem rather out of place such as dried fish. I don’t think that I have ever seen a section at the grocery store in the States that is for dried fish. Fresh fish and frozen fish, yes, but dried fish, no. I am not even sure if it is healthy to eat dried fish, let alone how one would go about eating it. And although I haven’t checked, I highly doubt that there are too many dried fish recipes on Pinterest.

            As if the sight of the dried fish isn't bad enough, I can’t even begin to describe the absolutely nauseating smell that it emits either. I don’t usually mind the smell of fish or seafood, but the odor that seeps out of the stacks of dried fish is enough to knock a person over. And if the smell isn’t enough to keep you away from the dried fish aisle, the swarm of flies that surrounds it will certainly do the trick. 

            Trips to the grocery store are always an adventure. Each time we go, there are new products on the shelves and more items that I find are out of place. And even though I have adjusted to room temperature milk and eggs, I don’t think I have the cast iron stomach necessary to handle the dried fish. Not yet anyways.