Pink, White and Blue

All the colors of hair one could find in Gothenburg.

When I disembarked in Gothenburg, Sweden from Stockholm, I sensed I had made a wrong turn. On the train platform were groups of folks ornamented with numerous piercings, colorful tattoos, and Mohawks in various styles and every shade of the rainbow. Come to find out I had arrived just in time for an Iron Maiden concert on Friday night and Metallica concert/rave on Sunday night. None of these choices and events is bad, and in fact, they actually add personality to the world. It’s just not my cup of tea? When I met my couch surfing host, I smiled with relief. “You’re hair is a natural and tame.” So despite a growing apprehension for this new experience of couch surfing, traveling with limited contact possibilities with the outside world, and two bags on my back, my nerves soon calmed down and enjoyed the “natural” though not quite “tame” weekend on Sweden’s “Westside.”

What do tourists see in America? I can guess at the obvious ones: no dominant public transit and thus a drive-thru establishment on every corner, big malls, XL people, wide open spaces and very few green statues of heroes dating back over 300 years. I wonder about guests’ experiences of American hospitality, diners, the Christian country, and a drive toward innovation and independence. Each of these representatives of America has their positives qualities as well as negative.

Does America come across as honorable Red, White and Blue?
Where are there shades of pink?