The "Meeting & Gaining New Friends All Over The World" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Wondering when Carol and I will actually have the chance for just one more visit to our favorite island in the Caribbean, Sint Maarten/St. Martin.  Over the past 20 years we have made quite a few visits to the island and during those visits have made many new friends; both from the States as well as islanders.  Often wondered what someone from St. Martin would think if they visited the USA for the first time.  First of all they would be astonished with the size of our country in relationship with their country of 34 Square miles.  It would take days before they would be comfortable driving on our highways in comparison with their two-lane roads and at times one-lane roads where you pull over to allow someone coming the other way to pass.  And, in the United States you have to drive just about everywhere, since the transportation infrastructure isn't always the best.  If they visited New York City, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C., the subways would be able to help them go from point A to point B, but in smaller cities and towns, they would be on their own to navigate the landscape.  A car would be a necessity and for some not used to driving on four-lane highways, it could be a challenge.  For others who drive on the left side of the road, it would be an even bigger challenge.  When they visit the grocery store they would have to get used to paying a bit more for what they want than what is marked on the tag on the shelf due to taxes.  A soda that is marked 99 cents on the shelf in Pennsylvania would be $1.05 when rung on the cash register.  They could expect to pay anywhere from 5 to 10% more depending upon what state they may be in at the time.  And, while in the grocery store they will be swamped with so many different options that are probably not available in their country.  You want peanut butter?  There is not just one can or jar on the shelf, but one that is creamy, one smooth, one peanut-free, and maybe even one with jelly mixed in.  How about a box of cereal.  I have never seen a store on any Caribbean island that has as many choices as we do in the USA.  And, most of the time, you can find a sales clerk that can help you with your choices if you need that service.  Most stores in the Caribbean have the same person running the register that stocked the shelves and perhaps owns the store.  In the USA it seems that everything is bigger than life to a visitor from a tiny Caribbean island.  The roads are wider, the houses larger, most of the cars are larger and the one thing I notice most when visiting a Caribbean island is the size of the portion that is served in restaurants.  It is condensed from what we are used to in the USA which explains why we Americans are mostly overweight.  But, one thing I think you will find in the USA, as you find in the Caribbean, is the friendliness you encounter no matter where you may go.  If you are a visitor to the states and someone finds out about it, you may be asked to talk about your country and how it differs from the USA.  That's how many people who don't get the chance to visit other countries can learn about far off places.  And, if you encounter a stranger that is not interested in talking....well, I have found those types all over the globe.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.