Culture Shock (7.5 on the Richter)

[judecorp]

We returned from San Francisco. She slept on and off while I puttered around the house. And then we decided to go to the Ohio State Fair.

Crap on a cracker, talk about a culture shock.

It occured to me only /after/ the man serving us our meat-on-a-stick called me 'sir' twice that not once, not one single solitary time, did anyone in SF call either Jennifer or myself 'sir' or any such thing. It was always 'you ladies' this and 'you ladies' that. Wow. What a difference. I wore the very same clothes!

Sometimes I really like passing. But during the entire time in California, I wanted to be a girl. I guess part of it is that my lack of hair makes me feel girlier than my suave previous haircut, but it might be more than that. I don't know. Regardless, I wasn't passing there, and I didn't mind at all. But I didn't realize it until tonight, when I wasn't even the slightest bit amused or giddy about being mistaken for a boy.

We've been home less than 24 hours, and already I'm crying inside to go back. It's not even that we didn't get stared at there. It's that the only people staring were the tourists, and well, they assumed we were locals, and tried to hide their interloper stares. Clandestine rudeness - what a concept! And I'm already missing decent public transportation, lack of humidity, the smell of the ocean, busydirtycityness, and personal speed. Le sigh.

Jennifer and I had a couple of good, long talks about what we want as individuals, and where we'd like to live next. It's ironic that one of the 'goals' of the trip was for her to entice me into falling in love with San Francisco so we would move there, but in actuality, I think I convinced her that Boston might be a better choice for us. I love everything about California except the obscene distance from my family. Unfortunately that's a really /big/ con, especially when I already lament being too far in Columbus.

So watch out, Bostonians - we might be neighbors. I guess we'll have to visit first and asses the Stare Factor and the Gender Determination Quotient.

Comments

[cappucinogrrl.livejournal.com]

If you move to Boston, you can take a train to visit me.

And Paul is playing in Boston. Try to visit Boston when he is visiting. (My mom is going to that concert. Of course.)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Heck, if I moved to Boston I would probably drive to visit you. Provided that I could stay with my Jodie and park in her neighborhood. :)

[auntiesiannan.livejournal.com]

You're not a sir! Little boys don't get called sir.

How wude.

And yes, SF is a very Safey Place.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

It's such a fun and beautiful place. And the weather! *sigh*

[shadist.livejournal.com]

It would lessen any city to have you leave it.

:)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

Boston?

[pantsie.livejournal.com]

Sure, I'll take Boston for $500, Alex!

;>

Re: Boston?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Gosh, getting to see all of you lovely people on a semi-regular basis would be worth the crappy weather! :)

:)

[jadefu.livejournal.com]

Nah, I still picture the two of you in Northampton. But then, I hate big cities.

Re: :)

[hope-persists.livejournal.com]

yes, I do believe y'all should move to Northampton (that's where I live) :D

Re: :)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I love Northampton. To visit. In the spring, summer, and fall.

I don't love snow. And N'ton gets lots and lots of snow. But I love it there. I joke sometimes that I will retire there.

But if we lived in Boston, we could visit Northampton lots and lots, which would be wonderful. (I love cities, though.)

[michael622.livejournal.com]

I would like to take a moment to expound on you the joys that can be found in beautiful, sunny Raleigh NC.


*laugh* *snicker* *snort* Well, even though it is Satan's waiting room, I still want you to move here. It's good to want things, right?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Hee!

I haven't been out that way in so long. I was supposed to visit for Okracoke, but that just didn't happen. Maybe someday I will revisit the sprawling glory of Raleigh!

[mayna.livejournal.com]

So what's the SF and GDQ for Columbus? :-)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Depends where in Columbus. Columbus is so odd in that there are a million other towns inside Columbus and they're all so different.

I don't feel like I'm wearing eye-magnets in the Short North or the Villages, and usually not in downtown. But the minute I go to Easton, or toward 270, or Polaris, I feel very self-conscious. Jen and I get stared down at Easton all the time.

What baffles me here is that people don't seem to understand that it's /rude/ to stare. They don't stare covertly, they glare right at you. Didn't these people have parents??!?!

[glowbug3355.livejournal.com]

You get stared at because your HOTT!!!!!!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

If that was true, they'd all be staring at YOU!!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_epiphany_girl_/]

Is there anything we Californians could do to lure you back?

*predatory stare*

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

That predatory stare makes me all hot and bothered. Perhaps you Californians can do more of that.

In all honesty, I would loveloveloveLOVE to live in California. And it's still a consideration. I just got to thinking a lot when I was there about just how far it is from my family, and what a hassle/expense it would be to come home in an emergency (my grandparents, who raised me, are 85 and 81 years old)... and I just don't know.

[kat-chan.livejournal.com]

One thing that a number of my friends and I have observed. If someone is trying to puzzle out your gender, especially in the Midwest, they'll assume you're male simply because a woman misidentified as male is less likely to take offense and/or become violent than a man misidentified as female. I'm pretty sure that this is what happened at the State Fair.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a great observation. I'd never thought of that! (Especially the violence. Since I'm non-violent, I never think about that.)

You're a smarty.

[00solstice.livejournal.com]

Maybe they wouldn't stare at you if you stopped wearing clothes like }these (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,94435,00.html){ ...

:-p

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

At the thrift store we went to, there was a hooded sweatshirt (pink) that said 'princess' across the boobs. I kept trying to buy it for Jen, but she wasn't having it. :(

[jeffholton.livejournal.com]

We've been home less than 24 hours, and already I'm crying inside to go back. It's not even that we didn't get stared at there. It's that the only people staring were the tourists, and well, they assumed we were locals, and tried to hide their interloper stares. Clandestine rudeness - what a concept! And I'm already missing decent public transportation, lack of humidity, the smell of the ocean, busydirtycityness, and personal speed. Le sigh.

you're pining for me?
i knew i was good but i
didn't know THAT good!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

oh my darling jeff
you know that i'm overcome
with my love for you!

Ohio State Fair?

[dorsai.livejournal.com]

You didn't by any chance run into a redhead selling Icees at the fair, did you? She's been storing her junk in my house for five years now...

Re: Ohio State Fair?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Heh. There were a couple too many people for that. But if I see her, I'll let her know. ;)