Liae Blog

I lived in Lincoln MA for about 2 years with an American Family. Back then, I used to ask to my family, i.e. with my broken English (as it is today still, sillly me!). The question would be; “Why do you leave you front door open ?” and the would reply, “It’s okay.”

A week ago, I had the pleasure of squeezing and bumping into a Tiny van, where my soon to be Boss had taken all the workers on a journey of a life time. He had some kind of a device (i guess it used to beep when cops were around, but when it didn’t beep, he would drive like crazy; for speed was his fun or habbit, may lord know!)

The deal was to find the cheap-as* place to rent for a new office he was going to start. The line of business would be in Home Improvement Areas such as painting and Renovations.

Everywhere he drove,  there were signs on the buildings; walls and what not on everything!  One particular note was pretty funny and the entire van filled with four guys and their laughter made it jerk. It was a full blown laughing out loud, and I think I had to tell myself to stop laughing so much. Here is a muk up of the signboard.

I think I could smell the tires burning, the boss drove off. We went everywhere, and there they were, no trace passing. Even no parking. But we did find a few phone numbers that we could read from 10 yards a way or may be 20. Wait! Wait! 20 yards away. I think.

Will that house be rented ? I hope so. I never wish bad for anyone. With this tough economy, rent is surely a good way to get some cash. If you were low on money, wouldn’t you let  the half of your house go for rent ? Hey, it might help you pay for phone bills, internet and what a few more like that GAS for a

Hungry Truck you bought a long time ago.

It’s easy to write to blame. But things must have changed back and now. Perhaps there is less of a vibe between neighbors, more homeless, rising unemployment, excessive drug use in towns. Could crimes to be blamed for it. I did a bit of a research and found this figure:

Crime Chart for USA by year from 1996 to a few years. I read, you can read it here, http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm

Progressive nations will always have to deal with many social issues. Crimes are pretty much the same whether you live in UK or USA or Australia. Could the crimes be the reason why there are so many NO TRACE PASSING BILLBOARDS ?

Back in 1986 or so, coming from Nepal, a poor and developing country, we didn’t have any billboards at all. The only billboards we read were, “Warning! Dog inside” and those billboards usually belong to rich ones. I thought they had lots of money in their home instead in banks. But things have changed even other there, people don’t leave a house empty. Doors are to be locked. Period. Someone will surely take some materialistic items off your home if you leave your doors wide open. But really ? What about the neighbors who have no jobs and all they  day is sit in the balcony looking around ?

I’ve learned a lesson here. Fear sells in developed country more than in others. Fear is a business for TVs to make money. Turn the news channel, first story is probably of killings and robbery. It’s so sickening, I just close my eyes and often wonder if just listening to music will help. It does. But only a handful of  them. Others take me to a place where anything is possible, like you can still hear the HE**s BE**s (AC/DC, my fav song of all) Writing on a blog like this one helps. and playing games like FIFA 10 (which I’m fan of), I seem to be escaping from the FEAR. Am I normal ?

A couple dinned, I was their waiter. He served in military and had lost one of his legs.  He told me a line, upon giving me a gift that I like (a US Army pin, looks cool on my black shirt and kind of uplifts me higher) I will never forget what he told me:

American culture was damaged by Hollywood. I hope your country remains the same. I was confused. I asked him, did you visited our country ? He replied, “Yes”

Then he got my message and and I could see his face going from fully bright to dark. I said, “It’s too late, MTV and everything has taken over the kids back in Nepal. Things aren’t as they used to be now.

Nepal too has changed by western culture. More and folks here in the cities enjoy English movies more than others, although Hindi movies might come in second. Nepali movies aren’t to their taste either.

I believe much has changed in this great land of opportunity. But who am I ?
Just another foreigner. I hope no matter what mini segment of the population face hardship, America is still the superpower.

Your desire to protect your family and your property is your right. It’s your right to defend. But is it getting more and complicated to do so. Are home Alarm systems the next billboard for NO TRACE PASSING. Even if so, a family will want protection no matter; indoor or outdoor.

Will there be a turning point in this land where neighbors share a meal instead of putting up the signboards ?

Will you goto work leaving your front door open ?

Welcome!