Before going to Montana, people told me I should get a cowboy hat to fit in. As stereotypical as that notion may seem, it would have worked – though I also would have looked quite foolish and probably a bit like this guy. When I covered the rodeo in Montana, I really felt as though I was taking advantage of my surroundings. Every bucking bronco reaffirmed that I had fallen into cowboy country.
In London I had the opportunity to cover several football matches. That’s soccer, obviously. Nothing felt more British than watching a bit of “footie” as thousands of angry fans made passive-aggressive remarks when Liverpool
These are three fairly location-specific experiences, which started to turn the wheels in my head.
Let’s say I was from the Midwest or the West Coast and landed a reporter job in Albany or anywhere in the Northeast for that matter. I’m racking my brain and really can’t think of anything that the reporter could cover to have the quintessential “Northeast” experience.
In part, I think that’s because when you are from a certain place, nothing about it stands out. It’s just part of who you are. To pull a few highlights from your hometown seems too introspective, too limiting. It’d be like picking between your mom and your dad or your brother and your sister.
It’s easy to assign associations with a foreign land. The quintessential experience is really just a stereotype based on limited information. It’s an easy jump from A to B.
Of course, now I’m trying to think of what I would “need” to cover if I took a job in the Midwest. Farming? Na, too vague. Again, my mind is blank.
Maybe that’s how it should be. I’ll just go and cover the sled dog race and chalk it up to experience. Or do I mean Alaskan experience?
Comments welcome,
Andrew
Hi Andrew, I think that should be very cool seeing the dod sled race I saw it on TV and it hard. But when you watch that way don't see hard hard they work maybe you can try it one day. Alan
ReplyDeleteNothing like the farm beat...
ReplyDeleteHave fun.
Some of the experiences I miss: apple picking, cross-country skiing, good bagels and pizza, fall colors that last for awhile . . . Are you going to fill us in on the race?
ReplyDeleteJackie
I feel at times that Albany is one of those places that seem " different". I believe that when your surroundings change it is 1/2 of the equation. Your friends that change and family comprise the balance. The longer you stay, and as the relationships build you actually fit in (even without buying that cowboy hat).
ReplyDeleteI was in NY City with your Mom this past weekend and being gone for so many years.. interesting for both of us, we would no longer want to live there. For Jackie regarding the pizza and bagels.. you do miss the flavors of your past, but even they change. We saw a "Kosher, chinese vegerarian restaurant" not a Kosher Deli, as we were walking through china town in the midst of the Chinese New Year celebration.. so even the pizza and bagels can change over time. Maybe that is what this is all about. Your experiences bring to the forefront changes for you, and they inspire and impact all of us as we think about your adventures. People are talking about Alaskan vacations, visits etc. how exciting it is that you are reporting and experiencing so many new facets of life.
I hope your knee is doing better, and protect that body... I didn't do as well on mine it is catching up to me.
Sarah did a school project following the sleds for the duration of the run. Maybe we could have a "march madness" pool on the different sleds, points for each checkpoint.
Take care.. enjoy covering the beginning of the Iditarod race. Just think, if your Mom brought coconut out there maybe he could have been lead dog-- (NOT). :-) Be careful, enjoy. Howie
Here's an experience I'd like to have... reading a new blog post! =P
ReplyDelete