Before we left for Nigeria, Jim gave me some stuff to read about adjusting to other cultures, culture shock, and how to live with other cultures. One of the articles I read was about what to do when the foreign culture starts to get to you and you begin to get unsettled by it. The writer recommended bringing along some items from your own culture — books, magazines, photos, etc — and finding some solace in their familiarity. I thought that a two month trip into Africa wouldn’t be too big a deal, and generally I was right. We were in good company. Our hotels and food were decent. There were even comfortingly auspicious “Internet Cafe” signs in almost every town. But, two months is a long time. And cultural realities began to sink in when I heard people saying “Internet Calf” and realized they were referring not to WiFi enabled baby cows, but someplace to check their hotmail accounts (provided the electricity was on). We had to buy water. Every bit of food was suspect — we dared not eat anything local unless it was prepared by “foreigner friendly” cooks.

We drove many miles during our stay and as the weeks drew on, I became more and more thankful I had my (usually) trusty old iPod with me. While we were driving for hours at a time I listened to some good American music. AMERICAN. Yes, with all it’s problems, America, sorry, “the United States”, is a really great place. As I gradually began to believe what my eyes were seeing in Africa, I also began to contemplate some of the positive aspects of America. It might be the best country in the world. Seriously, anyone who lives there, don’t take it for granted. Actually, there is nothing sacred about the USA. But — but — it was founded on principles of respect for God and Man by people in whose political history stands the Magna Carta and who’s spiritual heritage shines with the light of John Wycliff’s Work. Those principles have had a wonderfully lasting effect. There are people who this week risked their lives and people who’ve labored their whole lives for a chance to get in. So, I guess I was glad to have a little bit of home with me.

Beneath or above all the rubbish that passes for popular music in American there swim or fly a thousand beating hearts. These are musicians that have left the cliches of the past and the tunnel-vision fixation on the tv and radio and are boldly going where only a few have gone before. They are the songwriters and bands typically called “indie” as in independent. When I hear what some of them are coming up with I can suffer a little secret American pride. The highlight of my experience with these fine folk is undoubtedly the man from Michigan, Sufjan Stevens. Sufjan (Soofyan, I think) and his crew of musical accomplices were great to have along with me during those long drives in Africa. In addition to Stevens, I also listed a lot from Ester Drang and The Magnetic Fields. So just in case you’re interested (you read this far, so… ) I thought I’d give you a few links. Sufjan is one of those incredibly creative and productive people. He made available a song just for a radio show on NPR. You can also download The Henney Buggy Band and Saul Bellow from me — these are songs that were CUT from his latest album called Illinoise because they didn’t fit in with his vision for the record. Ah, and here is Christmas favorite (actually I’d never heard it afore) Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming. One cool United States of American guy is he.