Friday, July 2, 2010

In between activity, there is...

...Inactivity.
I wish I could say that I have been using the extra time to write, journal, and work, but generally I have been wandering aimlessly around for 4 days, exploring. I've found my way onto the Roaches (from Old French Roches" meaning Rocks), which lie at the edge of the peak district (where England ceases to be nice rolling green hills and gets a little rockier and wilder). I've explored the little town of Leek, with its delicious crepe-like oat-cakes, and explored the museum of ceramics at Stoke-on-Trent, learning the fascinating history of the five-town city from a French woman who was wonderfully gracious! I stayed with an group of students from Staffordshire University (also in Stoke-on-Trent), and talked to them about humanism vs. determinism, a theme that I find suspiciously emerging whenever socialism vs. capitalism is involved, which was echoed in an interesting conversation today in Preston. Preston is a decently nice little town, and the people I am staying with are funny and kind. Tomorrow I will go to 'Pagancon' a conference devoted to paganism, with speakers and everything! I also might have an interview with a strange occultist (that is, if I get the transportation!).
I've discovered that English really like talking about Texas, and I am uncovering all sorts of amusing stereotypes about us gun-totin' cowboys!
Thinking about these conversations, I realize quickly that I have an odd stance; I have a foot in Texas, and a foot over here. I was surprised to discover that the English are not aware of any common prevailing sense of culture between America and Britain, even though I've always felt that I belonged to a continuing Anglo-American cultural tradition where I lived! Although I doubt many Englishmen feel this way, I feel that a part of me belongs here, and a part of me belongs on the prairies.
Yee-haw.

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