She was in Japan when Bush refused to sign the Kyoto treaty, just one example of his multiple offenses that were embarrassing for Americans living abroad. She visited South Korea and Vietnam while there, and she also went to Africa immediately before she returned home. She said she feels lots of rage about our consumer society, having seen many places where people are lucky if they own just one pair of shoes.
It was all the same sort of stuff she stewed about when I saw her a few months ago, but watching her try to rationalize what she sees as the wastefulness of having 2 winter coats was a bit of a shock. It can be rationalized�there are standards of attire for business, or at least the sort of business in which she�s trained, that must be met in order to have a chance to secure gainful employment. She would not, however, probably want to wear these things to go camping.
Yeah, it did make me uncomfortable when she spoke of poverty vs. excess, particularly since she�d just said lovely complimentary things about my apartment, adding �you have so much new stuff every time I�m here.� I am part of the problem.
Where was I going here? (Nearly 80.) Oh yeah. It�s been so hard that she�s been advised she needs to stay in the country for a year in order to confront her issues and to get back to feeling okay about herself, family, community, etc. But this. She said she�d really like to move abroad, probably London, and that since she has no debt and few earthly goods, she should do it now, before she must buy a car and clothes and furnishings, etc., since it�d be easier. Sensible. But also, she reports that once you turn 30, it�s far more difficult to get a work visa.
Is it true? I dunno. It�s scary.
But then, I suppose when one is firmly in a career path, it�s always possible, if the company will send you there. But she�s in need of a career of some sort, so we told her to go. Forget assimilation. The present administration makes it hard to assimilate. Maybe later.
I do, however, intend to participate in Boxing Day this year.
A somewhat-related link about an anthology from the State Department.
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Yesterday M. Kat�s grandpa asked her to move into his part of the house, since he acknowledges he�s permanently in the nursing home. She intends to do so, perhaps when her husband is home for the holidays. I realize it is appropriate and nice and all of that, since they now intend to �settle down.�
That bodes ill for me.