Differnces Among Similar Things

"...I am struck by a sign hanging from the ceiling that announces the ways to the arrivals hall, the exit and transfer desks. It is a bright yellow sign , one metre high and two across, simple in design, a plastic fascia in an illuminated aluminum box suspended on steel struts from a ceiling webbed with cables and air-conditioning ducts. Despite its simplicity, even mundanity, the sign delights me, a delight for which the adjective 'exotic', though unusual, seems apt...If the sign provokes such pleasure, it is because it offers the first conculsive evidence of having arrived elsewhere." -De Botton

This passage could not have been written better for me because this is exactly what I think when I enter a new place. I remember the first time I arrived in Europe. I landed in Dublin and it looked similar enough to home at first. Then I enter the airport and see signs for the 'WC' and very tall 1,5 litre bottles of soda, including an extensive collection of Fanta flavors. Even yesterday as I was riding on the bus to the castle and concentration camp I was lost in thought staring out the window, especially because the surroundings resembled West Virginia, I see a road sign and my heart jumps in excitement because it reminds me that I am in a different place.


Last week myself and a few friends crossed the river to Germany and even this short trip you see different things. Signs spelled with an odd B like letter in the middle of a word and even different marketing styles. This may sound too deep in thought or even odd, but when I see a sign like De Botton did or taste a burger that has a different taste than at home to suit the taste of Europeans I think about the history of the country and all that has happened to lead up to this burger being this way while my burger at home tastes different. It is almost like the reflection of the people of this country.

As the world become smaller I hope I, and other travelers, can always have these small joys at seeing a sign in a different language other than English and tasting a similar food from home and seeing that even that is different.

-Tyler Underwood