White picket fences and two point five kids
Posted on 06. Jun, 2010 by Simon in Concerts, Politics
Is there anything more American than an amusement park? I went to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio over the weekend and it’s really the prototype in terms of a cultural hegemonic ideal, often imitated in other countries as the most iconic of American experiences.
I was thinking about the semiotics of my environment when I strapped myself into the Millennium Force coaster. Like everything in America, it’s just bigger than anywhere else. Being in a party of uneven friends, I rode alone, and a middle aged Indian dude ran up and plopped down right next to me.
The guy was clearly a tourist, also riding with two other friends further up the train. He was at least 40 years old. Also, he was by far the most excited guy on the platform. I asked him where he was from, expecting him to say Cleveland or some other larger city relatively nearby. He just beamed the hugest smile I’ve ever seen and said: “India”.
Before the train started moving, he already had both arms up and was screaming excitedly in his native tongue — a ballsy move considering xenophobia seems as latent in Sandusky as fried food is at the park concession stands. As if on cue, the teenage girl behind him responded by asking aloud: “What the fuuuuck?”
I enjoyed the ride, but no where near as much as the friendly middle aged guy from the other side of the planet sitting next to me.
It’s strange, but until that moment I had legitimately forgot that saying you rode Millennium Force carries cultural currency I can’t even fathom in many parts of the world.
In Toronto… not so much.
Jef
Jun 7th, 2010
Fantastic.
Simon Yau
Jun 7th, 2010
I just remembered he wasn’t beside me, but actually one row behind, diagonally beside.
Writer’s dramatization!