Hi-jack

Khilid and Racheal are awesome

Shopping around Hartsville

Weekend Trip to Hartsville, SC

This weekend I will be traveling with one of my best friends to Hartsville, SC.  Khilid and I are going to visit our friends Rachael and the Hartsville crew for the weekend.  Its about 1.5 hours to Hartsville where we can hang out at the Midnight Rooster, mosey about Walmart, and probably get some McDonalds.  That's about the extent of the available excitement in 'Small Town,' South Carolina.  Yet with good friends, you can always find a great time!  I'll get into the story about how Khilid and I met the Hartsville kids when he and I get bored over the weekend.  I need his memory for it anyways, haha!  

I definitely remember one part: 

"-get off here! -Ok, which way?  -I dunno, take a left. -Ok"

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Hungry, Thirsty Americans

Today's post is mostly about the pictures. Last night I was shopping with my good buddy, Shawn Donahue. We went to the BiLo near his apartment and bought some beer. I found myself laughing about the huge selection of domestic beer and small selection of imports.

I remember seeing Budweiser in China and hating it. I see it all over the American grocery shelves. The wine selection has become better over the past few years and many grocery stores have "wine cellars" near the beer section. In my state, hard liquor is not legally sold at convenience stores like this. We have "ABC" stores: Alcoholic Beverage Control. Its not like this everywhere in America. Florida has drive-thru liquor stores. But here in the South (as many like to call it, "The Bible Belt,") we're super uptight about controlling alcohol.

Sadly for the longest time, we could not buy alcohol on Sundays. I've had interstate travelers leave my restaurant because they couldn't buy a beer and watch the football game. Only a couple of years ago did a law pass (pushed by the business owners) to allow frosty brews to be sold by restaurants on Sundays. The gas stations and grocery stores still are not allowed, and every Sunday there are ropes or bars closing off the alcohol selections.

I also took pictures of the frozen food section and the deli. The frozen food consists of pizza, microwavable meals (Hot Pockets are amazing, and whole dinners are available too), frozen chopped vegetables, ice cream, frozen drink concentrates, and seafood to name a few. The deli has 'fresh baked bread' available. I say it like this because most of the bread is made elsewhere and delivered daily. Also the deli makes meals and side items to buy and take home for immediate consumption. We Americans like everything fast and now!

The American Experience

My name is Bobb and I live in Rock Hill, SC. I was born at the hospital in the center of town and we lived 10 minutes out of town for the first 16 years of my life. Then we moved into the city; my neighborhood is marked on the map (taken from Google Earth). Rock Hill is about 20 minutes south of Charlotte, NC and has a population of around 70,000.

If you ask anyone local to Rock Hill, generally you fill find that there is never anything to do around here. Kids are always bored and looking for something to do. While I used to feel this way, my experiences in China have taught me to come to that decision a little slower. Rock Hill has only a population of around 70,000.

Within 5 minutes of my house is a movie theater, a mall, a book store, 2 ABC stores (where you go to buy hard liquor), a bowling alley, a few bars, and two interstate on-ramps. It takes about 20 minutes to drive across 'Rock Thrill' and the trip will pass numerous activities of past and present. I have very many memories dotted across this area. Rock Hill is my hometown. I think that I will not miss it while I am gone, but like last time, I will have a new and profound appreciation from home when I return from my semester in Germany.

Thinking Ahead

Its the new year, and its almost time for a new semester. While many American students will be returning to school in a few weeks, I will be attending the Sommersemester in Munich. The Junior Year in Munich program will be my second semester as an American student studying abroad. School will begin in April and end in August, so currently I am in my longest break for this year. My time is being spent hanging out with some of my best friends and enjoying my hometown.

I'm looking forward to my trip. I will be in Europe for almost 6 months, studying, drinking, meeting new friends, being a tourist, learning to be a local, and perfecting my German language skills.

But now is the pre-departure adventure. Upcoming is the tie-dye party, a night out to the Chinese restaurant, Shawn and Emma's wedding, and many more good times with great friends.