The American dream I never had

As is it getting colder and colder, I know have to face the truth: summer is over. However, I try to somehow put myself off until the next warm period will arrive. There is one memory that very often comes to my mind: my travel to the United States in July. My best friend is working in Pennsylvania for one year as an au-pair and I have been allowed to stay with her host family for three weeks. This was my first time to ever travel to America and even the first time to travel all on my own. I had found a very attractive offer: I started in Klagenfurt, changed the plane in Vienna to Frankfurt where I finally had a direct flight to Philadelphia. On my very first day in the USA I went to a Taylor Swift concert with Ed Sheeran as opening act. There were 50.000 people in one huge stadium!!!

My friend’s host family lives in a mansion in a very rich area. I kind of felt like I was in the Wisteria Lane: Mexicans as gardeners, skinny mothers who dress like their daughters and hardworking businessman. One thing I really struggled with was the Americans madness with air conditioners. It is FREEZING COLD in all houses and public buildings like shopping malls and restaurants.

During my time in the USA I visited all the important tourist attractions in Philadelphia and its environs (Liberty Bell, Rocky stairs, I ate the famous Philadelphia cheese stake, Love park …). My highlight during that time was definitely the weekend in New York. My friend and I slept in a hotel near Wall Street with a fantastic sight at the Brooklyn Bridge. Over the course of the two days in “the city that never sleeps” we scurried from one sight to another. Madame Tussauds, Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty, Hard Rock Café, China Town, Little Italy, MoMA, Guggenheim – just to name a few!

Pennsylvania has the second largest population of Amish people and therefore, I visited Lancaster County where we booked a tour. This was undoubtedly the most interesting afternoon of my time abroad.

 If you ask people in which country they would like to travel to most of them name the United States. I have never dreamt do visit this country one day. It never has really radiated a magic attraction to me. However, if I have the chance to travel, I don’t refuse it – no matter where the journey is heading! I must confess, that a lot of the clichés I had of America have been confirmed. Nevertheless, I don’t regret flying to America, as I now know what’s all the fuss about.