Culture: Growing Up American

Jack and I were asked to do a presentation at The American Corner, a facility sponsored by the U.S. State Department, and housed in the college library here. We decided to describe the contrasts in where and how we grew up (respectively urban New Orleans and rural Iowa), and to discuss the differences in those places from the time of our childhoods until now.

One thing we have connecting our home towns is the Mississippi-Missouri river systems. This was an interesting geographic feature that helped to frame some of the history and commerce that have connected these two areas.

A group of American Studies students listened as we compared and contrasted the regional differences in our families, educational experiences, religion, and occupations. We also described local culture including music, food, and population demographics of the regions. Commerce, occupational, and trade issues, provided images of the big changes that have taken place over our lifetimes so far. Hurricane Katrina, and descriptions of the cyclical floods in the Midwest, also connected the importance of weather events and climate change possibilities to both regions.

The Hungarians were more familiar, naturally, with New Orleans, than with small town Iowa. However, they, like many others, know only the stereotypes of New Orleans. We were able to tell them that New Orleans indeed has great food, great jazz, and is a tourist mecca for 'good times'. But it is also an important American city that has had many difficulties, especially in the past few years. We showed some photos from pre- and post-Katrina New Orleans and discussed demographic differences that have resulted from that disaster.


My photos, taken on the farm, and in Modale, Iowa, were less well known. However, they provided the group with proof that, as I continue to say every time I'm riding a train in the countryside--Hungary looks like IOWA! And as Spring has come, I find so many of the same trees, flowers, and plants. The fields are beginning to be planted, but--one big difference--very little corn here.

We discussed a similarity in the shrinking of small towns, in the USA and in Hungary. As jobs have left, much of the commerce has left the villages. Tesco (here) and Walmart (there) draw all the shopping, and those without cars (many, here) may be stranded. However, there is one institution that seems to stay alive after most others have left--the local pub. So I'll end this with a photo of the local pub in Modale, Iowa, taken in Summer, 2008.