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I was quoted in this interesting article about why more Americans don't get passports.
Among the reasons: travel opportunities within the U.S. and North America, the passport application and lack of vacation time.
Let's start a movement: More Vacation Time for Americans. Who's in?
M's comment was: "welcome to the civilized world". Britain had health care reform in 1889, or so says this plaque on Dean Street.
"How can a woman be a whole empire to a man?"
I came across this quote from Wallis Simpson, the American for whom England's King Edward VIII abdicated the throne.
Relationships amongst expats do sometimes have higher stakes. Assuming the partners are from different countries, one or both partners will always be "giving up their empire" - at least for awhile.
In the past few years, I've had a few friends (or friends of friends) who have moved abroad for a relationship that didn't work out. As if break-ups aren't hard enough, add to that being away from your friends and family and possibly facing the onerous task of an unplanned international move back home.
Don't worry, everything is fine with M and me. An expat friend and her boyfriend just broke up, so it got me thinking about how hard an international breakup must be. But on the positive side, if you leave the country, you're unlikely to have any awkward unplanned meet-ups at the grocery store.
One thing I didn't miss about America was those incessant check mailings from the credit card companies. You know, the ones which enable you to pay nearly 20% APR on things like rent.
Come on, this is America! Buy it even if you don't need it! Live beyond your means. Rack up huge debt that spirals out of control until you have to declare personal bankruptcy. Then you can have all of your debts forgiven and start again. Just like Wall Street.
