Having had the pleasure of visiting the windy state of Virginia for the last three weeks i thought i would my muddy and somewhat beersoaked thoughts of the city of Norfolk with the Asylum.
I arrived with all the ingrained misconceptions and firmly intrenched stereotypes of what Americans would be like and boy they did not let me down!! Well sorta...
The Good
I know you guys joke about the poor quality of the food we serve and sometimes it IS justified, but even the best we have to offer doesn't even come close to the sheer value for money eating out ststeside offers. I ate everywhere from McDonalds, Applebee's, the "It's 3am and it's the only fastfood joint left open ropey chicken joint", and a classy joint called "Kincaids" that i am half sure is a chain restaurant but can't believe that a chain place would produce food THAT good. While the service varied the food was always better value than it would have been from a like for like in England.
The people where invariably friendly, often going out of thier way to engage in conversation, total contrast to the French on my last stop.
The sport was easily availible and inexpencive to watch with great atmosphere, i got in 2 baseball games and three Ice hockey, plus i got to watch the draft coverage which was a major bonus! While i did enjoy the baseball i'm not sure why is is such an obsession beyond how easy it would be to set up a game as a kid. That said the Norfolk Admirals now have a travelling support of over 20 british sailors.
The Bad.
I thought that maybe it was just Gbaji and Virus, but damn there are some REALLY stupid people in the states, some of the mindboggling reasoning following the V-tech shooting was frankly insane.
Cars, guys i know it's a culture thing, but does EVERY car HAVE to be a freaking V6? In three weeks i saw 3 hatchbacks, every single other car was a Coupe, Saloon or SUV mostly driven by single drivers probably travelling less than 10 miles to work. I had a converation with a lady complaining that she could only afford one night out a month and then proceeded to tell me, that her V8 SUV was ESSENCIAL to drive her the 100 yards to the store...
The Ugly
Eat less, excersise more, come on it's not difficult.
Overall i really enjoyed my stay, it ranks very highly on my list of great places to visit. Not only that, it restored my faith that America is, (dispite it's commander in chief) a great country.
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Quote:
Cars, guys i know it's a culture thing, but does EVERY car HAVE to be a freaking V6? In three weeks i saw 3 hatchbacks, every single other car was a Coupe, Saloon or SUV mostly driven by single drivers probably travelling less than 10 miles to work. I had a converation with a lady complaining that she could only afford one night out a month and then proceeded to tell me, that her V8 SUV was ESSENCIAL to drive her the 100 yards to the store...
I would have thought most cars would have been 4 bangers. Smaller trucks even have 4-cylinders.
What is a Saloon? I'm assuming it would be a Sedan, but I'm not sure. While I won't defend SUV's, however trucks have a lot of utility and I can certainly see why someone would want one. Hell, I want one.
Either way I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. If the opportunity ever comes to be, visit San Diego, San Fransisco, Las Vegas, or Colorado. Absolutely awesome places. If you like outdoor stuff, mid-state Minnesota is absolutely gorgeous.
Us americans often have to move large buildings with our personal vehicles, requireing the use of a V8. happens all the time. Semi truck shortage and all you know?
Arch Duke Kaolian Drachensborn, lvl 95 Ranger, Unrest Server
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Dread Lörd Kaolian wrote:
Us americans often have to move large buildings with our personal vehicles, requireing the use of a V8. happens all the time. Semi truck shortage and all you know?
I regularly have to move things roughly the size of the Sydney Opera House, and I'm presently stuck with just a Ford Focus.
True story.
I regularly have to move things roughly the size of the Sydney Opera House, and I'm presently stuck with just a Ford Focus.
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i think he covered your issues with your wife here.......
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Eat less, excersise more, come on it's not difficult.
hehehe, jk.
its true. when i went to visit my inlaws in pensylvania, they called tomatoes mangos, and called me a hill billy because i told them i have 5 mango trees in my yard and everyone knows mangos grow on vines, not trees.
EVERY fish that comes out of a pond that is not a bass or pike is a blue gill. doesnt matter if its a perch, brim, whatever, its a bluegill. silly me. trying to rename their fish, im such a hill billy.
fox news is the ONLY tv station that comes in clear. all the rest are static. sooo, thats their entire perception of the world, fox news.
yep, there really are some ignorant people in this country. aparently alot of hill billys too.
I regularly have to move things roughly the size of the Sydney Opera House, and I'm presently stuck with just a Ford Focus.
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i think he covered your issues with your wife here.......
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Eat less, excersise more, come on it's not difficult.
hehehe, jk.
its true. when i went to visit my inlaws in pensylvania, they called tomatoes mangos, and called me a hill billy because i told them i have 5 mango trees in my yard and everyone knows mangos grow on vines, not trees.
EVERY fish that comes out of a pond that is not a bass or pike is a blue gill. doesnt matter if its a perch, brim, whatever, its a bluegill. silly me. trying to rename their fish, im such a hill billy.
fox news is the ONLY tv station that comes in clear. all the rest are static. sooo, thats their entire perception of the world, fox news.
yep, there really are some ignorant people in this country. aparently alot of hill billys too.
If you enjoyed yourself in Norfolk, VA, the rest of the country would be paradise. Norfolk is a pit.
A friend of mine had occasion last summer to drive across country from New Hampshire to the SF Bay area. She ended up spending nearly a week in Nebraska because she was having so much fun with the people she met there. Nebraska! I've only ever flown over it.
There are good people pretty much everywhere, though rural Americans are not well served by the media, I think.
And you're right, we need more exercise overall.
A friend of mine had occasion last summer to drive across country from New Hampshire to the SF Bay area. She ended up spending nearly a week in Nebraska because she was having so much fun with the people she met there. Nebraska! I've only ever flown over it.
There are good people pretty much everywhere, though rural Americans are not well served by the media, I think.
And you're right, we need more exercise overall.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
You should have driven over to West Virginia in a rented pick up. Then you'd have a real taste of America.
Disclaimer:
To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.
To make a long story short, I don't take any responsibility for anything I post here. It's not news, it's not truth, it's not serious. It's parody. It's satire. It's bitter. It's angsty. Your mother's a *****. You like to jack off dogs. That's right, you heard me. You like to grab that dog by the bone and rub it like a ski pole. Your dad? Gay. Your priest? Straight. **** off and let me post. It's not true, it's all in good fun. Now go away.
I drove across Nebraska once. (Part of a San Fran to Boston trip. Driving a v8 Camaro, Yep, some things American DO rock)
Anyway, Nebraska, The whole state looked like the worlds biggest golf-course.
I didn't realise til just now that there were any people in Nebraska....
Anyway, Nebraska, The whole state looked like the worlds biggest golf-course.
I didn't realise til just now that there were any people in Nebraska....
"If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're gonna get selfish, ignorant leaders". Carlin.
Norfolk is not necessarily representative of the country as a whole. I spent a good deal of time in that area when I was in the Navy, and it seemed to me then (mid 80s) that everyone in that area fell in to a few categories.
-Military (active/retired, Navy/Marines etc)
-Bikers
-Fat Chicks
-Bible Thumpers
-Idiot hicks
People may fall into one or more of these categories, ie: Fat Biker Chicks, Bible Thumping Idiot Hicks etc.
-Military (active/retired, Navy/Marines etc)
-Bikers
-Fat Chicks
-Bible Thumpers
-Idiot hicks
People may fall into one or more of these categories, ie: Fat Biker Chicks, Bible Thumping Idiot Hicks etc.
Considering I live in Norfolk, I think that I am the resident expert on it.
We've got a diverse cross section of the population here, with the largest naval base in the world bringing in people from all over the planet. We've got a rather troublesome illegal alien problem (not as bad as the border states), along with more than our fair share of gang issues (MS13, I'm talking about your).
We have some government funded ghettos, and quite a few lazy asses, but there are some of the best looking neighborhoods in the state here as well, that look like smaller versions of New York or San Fransisco (Ghent, for example).
We do have a fair share of drunks (I used to be one of them, now I just drink occasionally), and excellent destinations within a short drive (which I would have taken Tarv to, had he responded to any messages ;.;, though I was able to get down there and see the ship, just not board it and hide to flee the country).
He does make a point about idiots and their cars though. We've got so many here that have no business on the road, and they're driving the largest vehicle they can afford, thus scaring those of us with smaller engines off the road and better drivers. Seriously, it's not as bad as West Virginia, but oh my God, a lot of people here couldn't drive to save their reproductive organs.
Shame you weren't able to come down during the terrorist season, aka summer tourist season, and see the oceanfront in full swing. Glad you enjoyed your stay, and I do wish that I could have gotten my oldest daughter out to actually visit the ship, but ER visits and other illness kept me away, in addition to a miscommunication. S'ok, though, next time you're in town, the drinks are on me.
We've got a diverse cross section of the population here, with the largest naval base in the world bringing in people from all over the planet. We've got a rather troublesome illegal alien problem (not as bad as the border states), along with more than our fair share of gang issues (MS13, I'm talking about your).
We have some government funded ghettos, and quite a few lazy asses, but there are some of the best looking neighborhoods in the state here as well, that look like smaller versions of New York or San Fransisco (Ghent, for example).
We do have a fair share of drunks (I used to be one of them, now I just drink occasionally), and excellent destinations within a short drive (which I would have taken Tarv to, had he responded to any messages ;.;, though I was able to get down there and see the ship, just not board it and hide to flee the country).
He does make a point about idiots and their cars though. We've got so many here that have no business on the road, and they're driving the largest vehicle they can afford, thus scaring those of us with smaller engines off the road and better drivers. Seriously, it's not as bad as West Virginia, but oh my God, a lot of people here couldn't drive to save their reproductive organs.
Shame you weren't able to come down during the terrorist season, aka summer tourist season, and see the oceanfront in full swing. Glad you enjoyed your stay, and I do wish that I could have gotten my oldest daughter out to actually visit the ship, but ER visits and other illness kept me away, in addition to a miscommunication. S'ok, though, next time you're in town, the drinks are on me.
Lincoln, Nebraska, birthplace of yours truly, is one of my favorite cities to this day. It encapsulates the midwest, with it's major draws being the local cuisine(sloppy-joes and fried chicken served at the decades old local restaurants) and, of course, the people. The peoples is good peoples. Oh, and they have lightning bugs, or fire-flies, depending on what you call them, and those make any place better.
Not to impune your description of Norfolk, but...
You do know that "Fox News" is a cable channel, right? Not sure how static and getting a "clear signal" have anything to do with it.
Now, maybe you were thinking of the Fox TV network? It's not the same thing. Also, as amusing as your statement might be, it's unlikely that it comes in perfectly while stations that have had the ability to choose ideal frequencies for each area 50 years before Fox came along somehow magically picked the ones that have static while leaving that clear one for Fox to come along and take...
But other then that, yeah, Norfolk is pretty much the ***-end of the US.
Edited, May 7th 2007 1:42pm by gbaji
shadowrelm wrote:
fox news is the ONLY tv station that comes in clear. all the rest are static. sooo, thats their entire perception of the world, fox news.
You do know that "Fox News" is a cable channel, right? Not sure how static and getting a "clear signal" have anything to do with it.
Now, maybe you were thinking of the Fox TV network? It's not the same thing. Also, as amusing as your statement might be, it's unlikely that it comes in perfectly while stations that have had the ability to choose ideal frequencies for each area 50 years before Fox came along somehow magically picked the ones that have static while leaving that clear one for Fox to come along and take...
But other then that, yeah, Norfolk is pretty much the ***-end of the US.
Edited, May 7th 2007 1:42pm by gbaji
King Nobby wrote:
More words please
Glad you had a good time over there tarv. I've always been made very welcome, and I still think the proportion of Nice Folks : ********* isn't much different to UK.
As for your 2 observations about cars and exercise. . . I'm sure there's a direct correlation. (I fear I'm agreeing with a point gbaji made to Nobby a while back)
Apart from the centre of big cities, in the USA it doesn't seem possible to walk anywhere the way we do in Europe. In England, (for most of us), it's often quicker to walk to a store, restaurant or bar than drive. Safe pedestrian crossings, plenty of sidewalks. . .
As for Norfolk, VA. . . well they did name it after the inbreeding capital of the UK
As for your 2 observations about cars and exercise. . . I'm sure there's a direct correlation. (I fear I'm agreeing with a point gbaji made to Nobby a while back)
Apart from the centre of big cities, in the USA it doesn't seem possible to walk anywhere the way we do in Europe. In England, (for most of us), it's often quicker to walk to a store, restaurant or bar than drive. Safe pedestrian crossings, plenty of sidewalks. . .
As for Norfolk, VA. . . well they did name it after the inbreeding capital of the UK
Yes, yes there is that, but we moved the capital to West Virginia...it is THE capital of inbreeding for the entirety of western civilization.
Edited, May 7th 2007 6:01pm by Metastophicleas
Edited, May 7th 2007 6:01pm by Metastophicleas
Metastophicleas wrote:
Yes, yes there is that, but we moved the capitol to West Virginia...it is THE capitol of inbreeding for the entirety of western civilization.
Damnit...that's what I get for talking on the phone. /facepalem
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