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I'll have to say, I never thought I'd end up running an English language camp in the middle of Transylvania. But, there I was. It was picturesque, and for a little village of 400 people there was plenty to do and see. The kids were awesome and were better behaved and more appreciative of life than their American peers. They were very curious about our country (especially music) and we taught them baseball, though in hindsight I think the first rule explained should have been "do not, for any reason, throw the baseball bat." I got it in the face. Go figure.

My fellow volunteers made the week even better. I give a shout out to Mogdi, Pisti and Jaja. (those were our Hungarian names; they speak Hungarian in Transylvania) Mine was Janos. We drank the local spirits (palinka) and porched it by the town bar with the town goat. The cows come home every day at the same time through town. The food is always fresh, and grandmothers carry scythes down the street.

So, this is not my first 4th of July away from the states. Last year I was in China for the 4th, and in years past I have been in Mexico as well. But it is always a strange feeling to be out of country on this day. You go outside, and there is no red, white and blue commercialism. There are no fireworks at night or patriotic movies on television. People on the street go about their day without that American 'gleam' in their eye. You realize how very different you are in the face of a different culture with different days of celebration. To me, it makes the day more special. I have the opportunity to think about the reasons I love being a U.S. citizen without the propaganda distracting me.

I love the U.S. because I can hold liberal green party politics and not be killed for them. I am able to vote in elections and directly elect my representatives (they do not have that here). I was able to go to school and receive a good education almost free of discrimination. I can recycle and invest in alternative fuel technology. I can volunteer, and am encouraged to do so. I have access to libraries and newspapers, and can study what I want when I want. I can have Chinese food one day, and Mexican the next. I can own a house. I can have children. I have the opportunity to make the world a better place.

I realize this sounds like utopist drivel. Sure, you can find many problems with the U.S., but there is always the capacity to change. More so than many other people or nation around the world. The problem with the freedoms we enjoy; they make us lazy. We take for granted what we have, and think it is our God given right to have it. The truth is, much of it needs to be worked for every day. It needs to be fought for and pushed forward, not only for ourselves but for the people around us. Because until all people enjoy our freedoms and understand the responsibilities that come with them, there will always be the threat of somebody wanting to take them away.

Hence my volunteerism. Through it, I continue to try to understand and take responsibility for the freedom I am given being a U.S. citizen. It's not so much that America is losing traditional morals and values; it is that modern American citizens forget the awesome responsibility we have to others around the world. As we become more egocentric and narcissistic, we lose sight of what is important outside of ourselves. I miss my country, and will celebrate our independence in my apartment, dreaming of fireworks and apple pie.

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