Questions

While I was in Amsterdam, I had an amazing conversation with a nice couple from England who were probably in their early 30s. The one thing that really struck me by surprise was when our conversation drifted towards their perceptions of America. One of their first and most emphasized beliefs was that the American police force is “scary”. They were convinced that police in America had way too much power and that they were incredibly strict and controlling. This perspective came at a complete surprise to me, as I never before really questioned the practicality and implications of the police system in America. Was there any merit to their beliefs? I don’t think so, but then again I haven’t really been paying much attention to the police force here. In fact, there are very few times where I even recall seeing Switzerland’s police force. Is that a sign of any societal difference, or simply the lack of personal attention to my surroundings? No, I don’t think it’s due to any lack of attention on my part.  Maybe Switzerland’s crime rate is a lot lower than that of the U.S. If that were the case, why does such a disparity exist in the first place? Is it because of the economy? Cultural differences? It could very well be both, but perhaps it has to do with our laws. I know a large part of the U.S. law enforcement budget is spent on the war against drugs. Switzerland has a much more liberal stance on drugs and doesn’t waste nearly as much resources on the matter. Even so, that alone shouldn’t account for these differences. Are the police in America really that scary to begin with? They aren’t really allowed to encroach upon us in any way that would come across as unfair—too many restrictions from the law. And even if they were somewhat “scary” or “strict”, would you even notice unless you were doing something wrong? It’s amazing how such a small comment from a stranger can evoke so many interesting thoughts and questions about a society that I previously unquestioningly accepted. The fact that this semester has been full of thoughts and experiences similar to these only makes my return the United States that much more exciting, as I look forward to personally examining the society that I had lived in for 20 years for the very first time.

Getting Around

It’s been at least 3 months or so that I’ve now been in Europe, and I’ve just realized that I have yet to enter a car since. What makes that so strange, is that I don’t think I have ever went 3 months in my entire life without being in a car at one point or another—and ironically I’ve been doing, by far, the most traveling that I have ever done throughout this time period. I also find it pretty interesting that I’ve managed traveling to dozens of foreign countries and cities with ease, and that the lack of an automobile was a concern that never crossed my mind. In fact, I think it would be somewhat of a burden to use a car in most of these cities. The roads in Europe are usually incredibly tight and complex, there is a lack of convenient parking spaces, and the gas here is ridiculously high. The European railway systems, however, are an entirely different story. The railway and metro systems here are so much more practical and convenient than any of those that I have encountered in America. It almost makes you wonder why the U.S hasn’t yet invested in advancing its subpar railway system. It may be due to the effective structural planning of most American cities which allows for more efficient use of automobiles. It may simply be due to the fact that American culture puts such a strong emphasis on people owning a car. Whatever the reason, I can say that I’m really enjoying this alternative mode of travel and that I’m really dreading the day that I’ll have to once again start paying 4 bucks for a gallon of gas.