During my last trip to America, I didn’t know that much about the country besides what my brain soaked up from Friends episodes, Super Size Me and the countless other films and TV programmes which consist of gratuitous shots of Times Square. The first identifiable thing I saw from the plane as we descended to JFK was a Pizza Hut- I think this says it all.
Four years later I am no expert, but I do know a lot more. Many of the people I communicate with the most are American. The only programme I re-watch as much as Doctor Who is the American version of The Office, about to start its seventh season here.
Words and phrases have entered my vocabulary and memory which were not there before. I know what IHOP (International House of Pancakes) is, and I suggested we have breakfast there this morning. It was amazing, and there should be a photo below of hash browns, (inspired to eat these by The Duke’s adoration of them in the John Green story of LET IT SNOW) sausages and eggs. The pancakes – which incidentally were like those pancakes the young Matilda makes in the film of the Roald Dahl book and not like English pancakes – were eaten by me too quickly to think of taking a photo.
We went to a mall earlier (I am Kelly Kapoor always) and I bought a cup of Pepsi from Taco Bell. Medium (which is probably UK large) was $2.03. I have no idea if this is reasonable or extravagant; somebody tell me please? I then went to a book shop and bought a paperback copy of LOOKING FOR ALASKA with the proper original cover, complete with golden Printz Award sticker. I’d like the hardback but I’m not sure it’s in print any more. It was great to see this cover, along with a smaller edition, sitting next to the hardback WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSONs and a little in front of 13 LITTLE BLUE ENVELOPES. You just can’t find them like that in the UK, and it was exciting. If you are reading this and don’t live in America, it probably would excite you too.
Going to eat in our hotel now. There is a Pizza Hut built in! Mental.
Nearly finished my first IHOP:
Matilda makes some pancakes:
