#It's a good thing he has other qualities or he'd be intolerable

[tswwwit]

Bless that trophy wife anon because they’re right. There’s no way mindscape citizens see whatever dipper does in the real world as a real career and he has no job in bill’s realm either, whether he likes it or not he’s entwined with bill’s world and his people and he can’t blame them for thinking his job is being bill’s husband.

That’s what pisses him off, the fact that they’re right.

No matter how Dipper protests that yes, he DOES have a job, the beings in the Fearamid don't believe it's 'real', or worse - humor him, then give Knowing Looks to the other demons in the room.

Meanwhile, Bill knows it's real - but sometimes he plays along like it isn't just to piss Dipper off.

[trailblczed]

[ sunglasses ]　/　"what a coincidence. just who i was looking for." the early morning sun catches stoneheart and nameless just beyond the steps of the quaint row of catered villas that came with the tickets' promised package. this planet didn't adhere to system hours, but heat hasn't risen yet to intolerable levels with the daylight still young. and just his luck, mister stellaron looked to be on his own — taking a leave of absence for himself this time? he remembers he'd explicitly extended his offer to the rest of the astral express too when this one'd accepted the deal.

anyway, that's not what he'd wanted to say today.

"it looks like you just keep rolling high, friend. i was hoping to find someone to gift something truly remarkable, and you're in the right place at the right time. here, take this."

without preamble, he presses a sleek, velvety grey case into the young man's hand, declaring quality from its clean edges to the soft cashmere fibers against the fingertips.

"top of the line, the newest generation VITA-series frame eyewear, running at three-hundred-seventy-eight grand. the products they sent us are good, but i still prefer the ones i'm using. so, enjoy. i think the navigator style will suit you, and you're in luck — this color should fit you too. titanium rims and diamond-pressed detail. and, of course, ultraviolet protection and anti-reflective coatings. try them out while you're here ; protecting your vision is still important even on vacation."

Caelus makes a mental note that if the Express ever goes to another planet that has a semi-tropical climate, or has a temperature rating above 80Fahrenheit / 27Celsius that he is sitting that trip OUT. Most might not find it too awful a heat, but that does not include the silver-- to be fair, he's naturally hotter thanks Stellaron so his opinion may be a tad of an outlier.

At the sound of a familiar voice, lad turns to the source and is blinded both by sun and by bright blond locks. He was about to make a comment about how bad Aventurine's dice pun was ( teasingly of course, he loves a good pun and thought it was quite a Chef's Kiss one ) when something is ushered into his hand. Caelus stares at it, befuddled, before registering it's something he can physically open and that what the blond was referring to was inside.

A moment as he inspects the gift, curious as to what is so familiar about the specific style when it clicks- a roaring laugh unrestrained as he pulls the shades out of the box, quickly putting them on.

❛ I see I see! Is it part of a Brother Hanu collection? I must say the accuracy is fairly on point! ❜

Lad has to hold back jokingly giving a "hmph" and other grunting sounds instead of actual words when his brain seemingly catches up, or fully processes, Aventurine's words that came with the pair of sunglasses. Sputtering and frantic as Caelus takes the shades off, disbelief and concern etched on his every feature.

❛ T---Three-hundred-sev--------- Aven--- WHAT? I appreciate the thought, really I do! There's---- There's just no way I can accept something so fancy or expensive! I would likely get them broke within a week--! ❜

There is a reason he sticks to finding his goods in garbage bins. Can't break something that's already damaged. Still in a panic, Caelus glances around before looking at the ground, swiftly placing the shades back in their case before reaching into his pocket and pulling out all kinds of random things he's been collecting ( including but not limited to: cool looking rocks, a flat pale looking disk he was told was called a "sand dollar", and some shark teeth ). Through crazed rummaging he's able to feel the item he was looking for-- a very unique and gorgeous looking shell he had found earlier that morning. The silver wants to give the sunglasses back, but something tells him that Aventurine won't let him ( if their past interactions in Penacony's Grand Hotel were anything to go by ), so at least Caelus could give what he deems the most worthy item he has on him as thanks. Nameless yoinks it out, similarly shoving it into the other's hand in a way that leaves no room for argument, nor returns ( you ain't got a receipt to do it with! no take-backsies ).

❛ I know it's not nearly on the same level to be considered a fair trade but-- Here. ❜

[nyxelenios]

OMG have you though about escort Sage through a open market in your home country? Him trying all the tradition Filipino foods and drinks and has an wholesome experience in general? What's your favourite Filipino food? Is it lactose? Would he eat it anyway? I think he would absolutely adore the cultural fashion attire, especially with you in it.

💖hope you have a nice day and may the best come your way 💖

note: i'm sorry anon i rambled and before i knew it it got long :(

NO BECAUSE- BECAUSE BECAUSE BECAUSE-

because i never thought about this but now that you brought it up i'm vibrating from excitement Sage would have so much fun here i-

*inhales*

ok look i already have so much fun going around my city and the municipality just a drive over and my dad's hometown and- and having the honor to tour Sage around and spend time with him on a road trip and enjoying the great things the city and my culture have to offer??

tw // food, mentions of butchering livestock, and bile

— open markets!

there are a lot of markets! they're not really that aesthetically pleasing because of the big crowds and the not-so-nice people, but the goods!! the quality! of the goods!! i bet he'd love to sample all of the fresh produce and the meat and the fish! it would be fun to go to the market with him because i just know the vendors would strike up good bargains because he's handsome lmao

also speaking of bargains, he would definitely be great at that. he just is and i will not be explaining further because i have no idea how to explain it. anyways! it would be fun to teach him some tips on how to get the best produce and meats too! :D or he could do it by smell ig :/

oh the treats and the pasalubong too! (note: pasalubong is a term for the gifts you bring home after going on a trip to another place! sure you can call them 'souvenirs' but 'pasalubong' sounds much better and gives a feeling of warmth. there's another definition to it if you break down the word but my brain isn't braining enough to explain it lmao)

you don't have to come from another city to be qualified for pasalubong here at my place :D there are a lot of stalls that sell so many cool knick-knacks, souvenirs, and treats! there's also this one big building where you can get pasalubong in the lower ground floor and the basement. Sage would definitely get a kick out of the man in the barrel souvenir and the penis-shaped paper weights and countertops

LMFAO I HAVE BEEN BAFFLED BY THOSE AS A KID AND WHEN I REALIZED WHAT THEY WERE I NEVER WENT TO THAT SECTION OF THE FLOOR AGAIN

— culinary experiences!

hmmm about the food and drinks here... there are plenty of meat dishes and so many places to get drinks like alcoholic beverages and the classic Filipino coolers! by coolers i mean iced drinks-

speaking of the iced drinks, they have dairy in them so i rarely buy a cup or two :( i'm lactose intolerant :( but that doesn't stop me from enjoying those drinks>:]

Sage would enjoy the food here (*´꒳`*) while the city's restaurants do serve good food, the locals who own diners and small restos have way better menus! the meat and vegetables are all fresh so the dishes taste amazing!! i personally think Sage would like the blood sausages and blood pie :D also the dinuguan!!

there are some dishes here too that make use of the bile from the livestock they butcher for food, and those dishes are really tasty! we call one of the dishes 'pinapaitan' or 'papaitan', which is roughly translated to 'bitter stew'. the bitterness is mellowed out by ginger, salt, and spices! it's great on it's own or with chili oil, ground black pepper, a bit of vinegar or calamansi, and rice! most tourists would try it and the rest would chicken out but i know Sage would try it, and even like it! also this dish (which is my favorite) doesn't have any lactose, so Sage is safe! :D

— cultural fashion!

uh i don't wear the cultural attire often... i only wear it on special occasions or performances, as do other people :") there are old folks who wear them tho! you'll find them wearing the actual attires or modern pieces that have accents inspired by the attire :D

also, the attires that you might want to know about are the 'bahag' and the 'tapis'. the bahag is sometimes called a g-string, which has weirded me out ever since i searched it up and another type of g-string showed instead, and the tapis is a wrap-around skirt. in my province (where you base the style and colors of the attires) the tapis has no belt and it's rather plain-looking compared to the others, but there are patterns weaved into the skirt and the patterns are simple but still beautiful ^^

hmm Sage might like wearing the bahag because hey his tiddies are free and he doesn't get to wear pants!! at present, there's a vest to go with the bahag when the guys don't want their tiddies out in the open, and there's a cool bandana-like headpiece that they wear too!

as for the tapis, the ladies today wear a leotard for the top or a white shirt/blouse that goes with the style of the tapis. the ladies get accessories too, from intricately made necklaces to beautiful headpieces that add to their beauty and grace!

the footwear doesn't really matter because you usually perform or walk around barefoot but the ladies and the dudes get to wear whatever they want lol but they opt for slippers or flip-flops :D (note: you can usually find students and members of cultural organizations wear this during festivals and grand occasions for the city or municipality, and they perform cultural dances for the audience. for small occasions like the cañao [pronounced kan-yaw], you don't need to wear the attire but it's beautiful to see when someone wears the clothes with pride.)

you can find the attires displayed in museums with all the information written down, or you can get them at special stores that use looms to weave them!

if Sage ever wants something woven for him i'd get him a wrap-around belt with the pattern on the bahag. also it would match with his outfit! red/maroon and black! do you think the headpiece would go with his style too or would it be too much?

THANK YOU FOR THIS ANON AAAAAAAA maybe i should make a post about this! but with the M4! hopefully i go through with that idea because it's been so long since i posted anything decent shdjshd

luv u sm anon!! 💛 take good care of yourself and stay hydrated! 🍪🍪🍪 some sweet cookies for you too!

— cain

[teacherintransition]

The Ugly American...who? Me?

My wife an I have become avid travelers and the closing of countries due to Covid-19 has hit us in the heart...

The time at home has given me chance to read about travel and given me pause to re-evaluate my behavior while abroad in the past and for the future...

The Ugly American, a novel written in the late 1950’s and which was a The New York Times Best Seller, was written by political scientist Eugene Burdick and writer and former U.S. Navy captain William Lederer. The book took a much needed look at the behavior of Americans traveling abroad; from the rugged backpacker hiking India to the field State Department personnel actually presenting the “official face” of our country in the international community. Prior to World War 1, most international travel by Americans was done by the wealthy elite among society. The “common” man through the tribulations of war, was given the opportunity to experience European culture and a yearning for seeing the world was fostered. If fact, there was a saying after WWI, “how you gonna keep Johnny on the farm after he’s seen Paree (Paris)?” The travel bug... wanderlust was born in the hearts of the middle class and gave rise to this phenomenon in film and in books written by Jack Kerouac, Cheryl Strayed, Ernest Hemingway up to contemporary writers like Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Sean Greer and Elizabeth Gilbert. Even Rick Steves who has become a knowledgeable source of traveling information with his travel guide series, has presented an informative open minded view of travel abroad.

All of these written treasures of traveling the world unveils to readers the magic that is to be found by stepping out your front door. The Ugly American presents a scathing look at how the “American” while overseas, displays an arrogant , intolerant, dismissive view of cultures far older and in many cases, more refined than ours. Burdick and Lederer’s book is set within the intrigues of international diplomacy and how that uniquely American view creates failure in the establishment of effective foreign policy. The authors listed and many more besides, instruct their readers to varying degrees to take more note of the intricate nuances a traveler should pay attention to and to show respect and admiration for the centuries of history and culture that exists all around us and that is not American. There is a common thread throughout all their works about what is missed when we stand outside and dismiss the uniqueness of every nation we might visit, instead of immersing oneself and appreciating it in a culture not our own. The “ugly American” has become a mythos of how Americans respond critically to anything that is not “MURICAN!”

Several other factors besides short sighted American foreign policy have contributed to the yoke placed on Americans traveling: cutthroat business practices while dealing with European, Asian and African countries; missionaries whose demonstrate a dismissive view of spiritual practices that have existed for millennia and, quite honestly, the behavior of tourists while abroad. Many experienced travelers draw a clear distinction between the tourist and the traveler. Kathryn Walsh differentiates the two in the following way:

Tourists

It's usually easy for locals to spot a tourist among them. A tourist may carry a camera, guidebook and map at all times and wear the same clothing he'd wear at home. Tourists tend to stay in their comfort zones a bit; they may speak only English instead of trying to learn phrases in the local language; stick to major cities instead of venturing to smaller towns or off-the-beaten-path locales; and stay in areas where the amenities are similar to what they have at home.

Travelers

Generally speaking, someone who considers himself a traveler will try to immerse himself in the local culture rather than standing out. If you're a traveler, you may try to explore the less-traveled areas and explore locations where tourism doesn't drive the economy. You'll interact with locals. Your goals for a trip will be to learn and experience new things, rather than to take a relaxing break from everyday life. A traveler may consider a trip a journey rather than a vacation.

The traveler presents a deferential, respectful and admiring view of the nations they are visiting and adopt the wise phrase from antiquity: “when in Rome do as the Romans.”

There is nothing wrong with being a tourist, often it is the less expensive approach to travel, unless you become the arrogant American tourist then perhaps you need to reassess. Travel is a big part of my retirement plans and goals, but you know what they say about the best laid plans. Two highly anticipated trips with two years involved in planning were rescheduled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a disappointment we shared with thousands of tourists and travelers alike; and further postponements may continue to confront us. Perspective is needed in such a situation as being denied travel is far below other struggles this event has presented all of us. That being said, it has been a terrible disappointment down to my bones. We’ve missed much needed fellowship time with great friends, the excitement of seeing new places, the immersion in the culture and history of the locales, and, for me personally, our yearly travels have been my muse and inspiration for so much of my art. It’s akin to being very thirsty and having only a few drops to suffice. Introspection is the course of action when hopefully contemplating the possibility of the trips occurring.

To satiate the urge, we’ve read and watched travel programs in the interim and have evaluated our connection to the Ugly American concept? Are we ...them? In our past travels, have we appeared at all dismissive of the people and practices of the places we’ve visited? My wife and I have always been in awe of our travel destinations, so I feel fairly confident that we have not displayed the aforementioned arrogance of many American travelers. The thought that then arises is how much we have not allowed ourselves to be immersed in the culture; which, in the long run, is a detriment to us more than anyone. Our minds are open and willing to become part of the places we visit, but if we eliminate the brusque nature of so many Americans while overseas, what is the stumbling block that draws such distinctions when traveling? I fully concede that most Americans feel they have little to learn from many places on this planet, more is the pity, and there is much flawed thinking that goes into this mindset; but what fundamental differences exist between the cultures? I came across a very enlightening blog article written by Alain Veilell that was spot on in identifying the differences. Veilell simply observed that we run on different clocks. Not literal clocks but a “clock” obsessed with structure and deadline.... hello Americans! Veilell notes that Europeans start late and end late, while American and many Asian cultures start early and end early. Americans tend to view the un-regimented approach as being akin to laziness. I coached soccer and baseball for many years and many of my Latino players would not be as punctual as my other players. They were as talented and competitive, but their homes weren’t ruled by the seconds on a clock. Dinner started later, lasted longer, the dishes could wait... the priority was the quality of interaction with the people your with... ah, there it is ... sort of.

The average American meal last twenty minutes, while the average meal in Spain, for example, lasts two hours. They certainly don’t eat as much as Americans so why all the extra time? Why should time even be a factor so often? It’s the conversation and fellowship that is the priority not timing. While without question, the structured regimentation is a contributing factor to the American commitment to financial success, it also contributes to hypertension, stress, anxiety, depression and conflict that might be avoided with having an extra glass of wine and talking and not worrying if dinner is on schedule. Taking a little more time, enjoying the moment, letting serendipity reign may not be part and parcel of the Puritan work ethic; but it plays a helluva big part in realizing “La Dolce Vita.” This perception of time throws the rhythm off for many American tourists and makes us the ones to call the front desk complaining that the folks in room 210 are just too loud at 9:30 pm. The local population may just be getting ready to start dinner at that time. Remember, “when in Rome do as the Romans?”

While traveling, often American tourists view differences as a personal affront. “ I have to ask for ice?’ “What, no air conditioner?’ “They call the restroom the toilet?’ “Ugh how vulgar ... and a bidet? You must be kidding?” Truth to tell, Americans also suffer from mischaracterization from travelers from abroad as well. If I had a nickel for ever foreign exchange student who thought that all of Texas was a giant ranch with everyone riding horses and wearing cowboy hats. I think though that visitors to our country more often than not allow themselves to be pleasantly surprised than to have their feathers ruffled. It seems that we allow the “ours is better than yours” mentality to outweigh the magic of the unknown and the different. Every spiritual guiding ethos advocates living in the moment, treasure what is happening right now, greet the unknown with hope not hostility. The ugly American leaves no room for such an upbeat approach. Superiority mentality leave very little to treasure in this magnificent world other than what is yours and that limits learning, excitement, growth and just the pure joy that comes from trekking this world.

Is this assessment of mine a blanket judgement? No, not at all but there is some truth to it and there is something to be learned. As I self analyze, I found that I may harbor some of these traits and it’s good that I have time to stand back and look ...to learn. The worthy goal of being an affirming member of this global community is a purpose that I seek; and the rewards are far beyond just being intrinsic but rewards the cultures you visit with an admiration and respect they deserve. As these thoughts have been put down, it reignites the hopes that the planned journeys come to realization with the anticipation of more to follow. No more ugly Americans, British, Japanese or what have you, just eager travelers wanting to see and experience all that this world has to offer. Happy travels my friends.

Burdick, Eugene Lederer, William; The Ugly American ; Norton Publications; 1958

Veilel, Alain; “Why don’t Europeans Travel to Cancun?;” Quora; October 8, 2020

Walsh, Kathryn. "Differences Between a Tourist and a Traveller" traveltips.usatoday.com, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/differences-between-tourist-traveller-103756.html. 5 April 2021.

Photo from https://www.myheritage.com/

Photo from https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL13640A/Ernest_Hemingway