So the U.S. turns 228 today. Of course, that’s pretty young by European standards, but who cares anyway. I mean, we have tradition. You know, like drinking excessively and setting off fireworks, and eating traditional 4th of July foods, like hamburgers cooked to the consistency of hockey pucks.

I mean, what can an American in Britain do on July 4th that isn’t in some way rubbing it in the Brits faces? My professor suggested our entire group get t-shirts that read “1776: We kicked your ass!” With cutoff sleeves and a bald eagle busting out of an American flag perhaps? I’m not sure that’s the best idea.

So, not knowing what exactly to do, most of us were basically content to do nothing. I was planning to watch the Euro 2004 Final, then have an uninteresting evening of doing nothing. Good thing that idea went away.

But the people that organized our 4th of July cookouts weren’t Americans. A couple of Cambridge students suggested we have a little get-together, and as simple as that, we went to the store, bought some sausages (European), kebabs (Middle Eastern), a case of Foster’s (Australian for lukewarm bat piss), and had our very American celebration.

Honestly though, it’s nice to have an unplanned holiday. Refreshing even. The way we hype up holidays and holiday planning in America, it’s easy to feel burnt out from even relatively modest holidays. Martha Stewart and her culture of perfectionism remind us incessantly that if we don’t plan meticulously for weeks ahead of time, we too could have a tragically inferior Flag Day celebration, and where would that leave us?

But no, this was none of that. Just a group of college students hanging out, downing a pint or two, cooking out and having a good time. The way summer holidays are supposed to be.

Besides, I got to play my professor at asshole. Beat that!

Posted on July 4th, 2004 by Lee
Tagged: Cambridge, College, Society, Studyabroad