Meticulously trimmed bright green hedges.
Swarms of 4x4 vehicles meandering their way from home to outdoor malls on the widest roads.
A slight obsession with Motorola flip phones.
Of course, people who know that I've fled the London scene, will know it's the USA brief I'm describing above.
The journey so far has been a nice mix of sedated suburban life and a potent cocktail of alcohol and ADHD based shenanigans.
Saturday was pretty relaxed; I arrived in Philly circa 2.45pm and faced a barrage of questions, dipped in a 'I've just had a heavy late lunch' breath, by the Homeland Security border control officer sporting a maroon brown shirt and thick framed glasses. And the Answers of which I provided, I wanted to elaborate to do them justice but was obviously constrained by the possibility of being deported.
The Boring Answers:
"What is your full name" - "Adrian Yiu Hung Fan"
"How did you get to know your friend?" - "We met whilst she was on a term-abroad scheme at my university in London"
"Why are you here?" - "She goes to Swarthmore College"
The Heart-felt Answers:
"What is your full name" - "Adrian Yiu Hung Fan. And tonight Matthew, I'm going to be, Celine Dion"
"How did you get to know your friend?" - "We met in ULU whilst I was drunk and stoned because I thought I was being offered a cigarette which clearly wasn't the case in Freshers Week. She kept calling me Alvin and I said to her I was going to attack her vigorously if she didn't stop miscalling me"
As for "Why are you here?" - "I don't really know my purpose as of yet. I'm just 19 y/o and finished what can be summed up as an emotionally tumultuous 2nd year at school. All I know is that I have a penchant for being cynical, un-pc and trying to self-improve in a world as such.
After being approved for entry and collecting my bags, I paced myself to the arrivals area where I found Meagan and Freddie clinging to the chrome rail in anticipation and it was nice to feel the warmth of their smiles on my face. As I hugged Meagan, we were both making ridiculous noises...I think it resembled something like a chipmunk being drowned in a huge swamp of bubbles. Of course, mine and Freddie's embrace was less symbolic as I'd seen him the Sunday before as he was slurring his words and oblivious to the fact my flatmate Jo was on the sofa wearing a bright green SOAS hoodie.
They say you can never find happiness when you search for it, but I came over to see Meagan and this happiness I feel with me, her and Freddie being in the same place is precious. As Jon Lo described us, we're a very animated 'television show'.
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