America

From late 2002 I lived in America for three years – or maybe I should say I lived in Texas – “it’s a whole other country” as Texans would say, still proud of the fact that Texas was an independent country for nine years after it broke away from Mexico. More recently I have been spending time in other parts of the US with friends.

I have divided my reflections on the time I spent in Texas into two strands: memories about what it was like – the countryside, wildlife and so forth – and critical observations that relate to communication issues – the impact of size on newspapers, radio and television. How do companies promote themselves? Why was Obama’s use of social media far more significant than what was used in the 2010 UK election?    

Living in Texas was very was very different to what I had been used to in many ways and whilst I started as somone from the UK living in America I went home somewhat changed. I learnt to network – something that US schools do well; became confident at presenting and acting on a large stage before hundreds of people. I also confronted with the vagaries of the English language and coped sucessfully with both culture shock and reverse culture shock. I know I can adapt.

So memories and observations of a professional nature.

The countryside around Aledo was rural despite being only 17 miles from the centre of Fort Worth but outside the 820 highway it was untamed territory - not land ploughed and nurtured for a thousand years; the cactus and mesquite that took settlers around ten years to eradicate is returning with both present in the 4 acre ‘yard’ attached to the our house. The wildlife will bite you, it could kill you; the weather can be extreme – it could kill you as well. Happy memories.