Andrew J. Lederer

american guy comes in and is a little annoying, maybe.

after he leaves, the egyptian owner starts telling me and elise about americans and how they always announce themselves as american without first being asked and are a little arrogant and whatever. i don't know why he doesn't seem to realize i'm an american, but even though i want to, now i can't identify myself as american or i'll prove he's right about americans always announcing themselves, so i just listen.

he's not a bad guy and his point is to take people as they are, not because of national origin.

but he told an interesting story -- he's lived in england for 25 years, his kids have been raised here and he has relatives in america. a nephew, i think, came to visit him and was, in every way the guy could identify, an american. the nephew went out to a club and made a big deal about how he's american and got punched in the head. so, the cafe owner told him, just say you're egyptian.

but that shows how immigrants here are different from immigrants in america. people come to america to be americans. people seem come to places like england and, to a greater extent, stay what they were.

of course, my father says not as much americanizing in america anymore but i think he's mistaken.

and brits will prob tell me i'm wrong about here.

(i wish i was invited to the avalon party tonight.)