The USA, in the爀yes of a visitor

Sept.1 - This past summer I visited my friend in the USA and was amazed by the abundance I saw everywhere in Los Angeles, a city not shy about conspicuous consumption. I was awestruck by the miracles that Mother Nature has bequeathed upon the American landscape. But, the true character of that country was revealed to me in small details I couldn't help making a mental note of: greetings from waitresses and other service workers who actually seemed to enjoy their jobs; the sweetness of feeling totally comfortable smiling at total strangers, who look you in the eye and return the smile. One might attribute such encounters to the fact that USA is an "economically developed country," while I believe it is not wealth that produces such genuine open-heartedness in a society.

During my visit to the US, I was frequently moved and inspired by seemingly inconspicuous things: parking spaces for the handicapped are always located nearest to the entrance of the building; in almost every phone booth, an information guidebook is attached right under the phone for free reference; in theme parks like Universal Studio and Disneyland, you can find an enclosed area for parents to park their baby strollers; and emergency buttons are set next to the escalator to make it stop, just in case. None of these thoughtful touches entail great investment; they are all simple, self-assistant services, yet they show the great consideration taken for every citizen in public life. The humanism in American society is not something one needs to boast about. It's just there. It speaks for itself.