Readjusting to life in the U.S.

[Kevin]

I lived in Ecuador from '99 to '02. Upon returning and still today, I find that I am changed forever. I have a totally different view of the U.S. Everything here is so "planned" and stressful when things fall out of the parameters of the "plan". Down there, life is more spontaneous. My Ecuadorian wife says that American parties are not "parties", because no one dances. We just stand around and talk until we're too drunk to talk anymore. Therefore it's a reunion. I have to agree. I could add a chapter on parties to Bryson's book.