1. There’s ice in everything. EVERYTHING.

Your taste buds haven’t been this freezing for years. Is it refreshing? You’re not sure. It’s actually kind of annoying, your drink being watered down before you even get to the bottom and all. But, hey — at least there are free refills! You bet your bottom dollar you’re going to take advantage of it. Only three cubes of ice this time, please.

2. Two words: free bathrooms.

Nope, the Louvre doesn’t cost €16 and it won’t take six hours to wander through. It’s actually €17 if you include the price for the bathroom and another 30 minutes spent waiting in line for the toilet, at least if you’re female. In your travels, you needed at least 20 to 50 cents wherever you went, whether you were gazing at a masterpiece or at a bucket next to a hole in the ground. But not anymore, suckers! You’re back stateside wandering into every restroom you can for free. You’re using wads of the supplied in-stall toilet paper, you’re using the toilet seat covers because there are toilet seats, you’re sometimes washing your hands with conveniently placed plush towels, and it’s great. Ah, America. 239 years and you’ve finally gotten something right.

3. The cereal aisles are endless.

Before you venture into the cereal aisle, you’d better prepare yourself. A lot has changed since you’ve been gone. They now have cereals in any shape you desire and in any color or nuance of flavor you can imagine. There’s gluten-free, low-carb, high-protein, high-fiber, and high-everything to consider. There’s even “smor’z” and “toast” in cereal form, too (both of which are totally necessary and an improvement upon the real thing). The options are there whether you want them or not, and it’ll make you feel strangely powerful.

And if you find yourself asking, “Why?” the answer is simple. In the words of the ever-patriotic John Green, “The essence of democracy is the freedom to choose among hundreds of brightly colored breakfast cereals.” You’re welcome, founding fathers. We’ve truly put your ideas into action and created a more prosperous union.

4. Fast food is at your fingertips.

McDonald’s. Burger King. Wendy’s. Taco Bell. Hardee’s. Arby’s. KFC. Long John Silver’s. Pizza Hut. Jack in the Box. Sonic. Chick-Fil-A. If you’re lucky, you may find all of these in one place like some sort of commercialized utopia for American pride and accomplishment. The ultimate back-home challenge: How many Starbucks can you manage to get in one picture?

5. All of a sudden you can understand everything going on around you.

Sensory overload, man. You spent the past weeks, months, or maybe even years tuning everything out because it was gibberish anyway. It was kind of nice being able to be in a semi-meditative state at all times. You traipsed about in your own little world, drawing your attention to whatever you decided deserved your focus. And then BAM. You’re back home, and the world has opened up again. There are conversations everywhere, there’s music that has actual words, there are signs begging to be read on every street corner, every building, and even on the road distracting you while you’re driving. Hell, menus take days to read. How do you choose which signs to grace with your stare, which conversations to accidentally overhear, and which music to sing along with?! You didn’t understand First World problems until now.

6. For once, nobody’s staring at you.

Ahh, bliss. You blend right in. What a relief! But you can’t really blame your not-American friends for treating us like zoo animals — you’ve been gone so long you find yourself staring at white people yourself. You stare at people who are shades of tan, too. You just stare at everyone. Huh. Weird. That’s not okay in America, is it? You might want to drop that habit. People might get offended or think you’re up to something. Are you?

7. Everyone just got a little fatter.

Depending on where you are, they’re either slightly fatter or much, much fatter. And yes, that’s the only scale you have to work with.

8. Your waitress is upset you’re at her table for an hour and a half.

All you wanted was a Coca-Cola and some freedom fries, geez. She’s been over there huffing in the corner sending you the evil eye for a solid 15 minutes. How does anyone drink 44 oz of soda in less than two hours? keeps wandering through your mind.

9. …And you even have to tip her.

Why? Because it’s your moral duty as a good American. Even though that waitress is huffing and puffing, you’ve still got to make sure she gets a livable wage. It’s a good thing you remembered, too, or next time you might’ve gotten a “special” milkshake. Man, it was so much simpler before when less math was involved. Move the decimal, divide in half…

10. The portion sizes are bigger than your head.

The fries are the size of baseball bats, and the milkshake comes in two containers: a glass one and a tin one, because by “one chocolate shake,” Americans know you actually meant two. In fact, everything is bigger, come to think of it. Your table is bigger. The chair is bigger. The parking spot your oversized car is in is bigger. Your butt feels a little bigger, too.

11. There are gyms on every corner.

And yet you still can’t find an open treadmill.

12. People don’t like Obama anymore.

It made you feel kinda sorry for the guy. And global warming? That’s now not a thing. Unless you count the heat emitted from the muzzle of our rifles, of course.

13. Kids are belligerent with their parents again.

Your Polish grandmother slapped you with a pierogi every time you stepped out of line. It got to the point where you cringed a little whenever you saw a plate of cabbage rolls. But it was nice to see that not much had changed when you went overseas. Kids were respectful and didn’t need to be begged and bribed and told three times to get their act together. Maybe you’ll take your future kids overseas from ages 2 – 8 to get them in line.

14. Senior citizens are NOT outside being active and healthy.

Your grandpa’s doppelgänger biked to the market every day or could be seen doing tai chi every morning at 6 AM in the local park. Here, grandpa and all his friends can be found eating waffles and playing poker. Not that you don’t love waffles and playing poker, too, you just wonder if grandpa would be better off and feel younger if he got moving despite his trick knee. It makes you wonder, what kind of grandparent am I going to be?

15. History just got wayyy shorter.

Your apartment building is 50 years old? Yowzah. Alert the presses! In terms of history, your stomping grounds have, like, seen almost a quarter of all “American” history. That’s insane. Remember that feeling you got when you walked into that 2,000-year-old castle? It’s like that, but reversed now that you’re back, right? It makes you want to take your age and figure out what percent of “American” history you’ve lived. Big fish, reacquaint yourself with your small pond.

16. People are lined up in beautiful, straight, sensical queues.

Watching certain cultures “line up” to board a plane, a train, or obtain something is like being in a world full of nothing but YouTube comments — it’s just plain hard to fathom. The balloonman got trampled again? Not in America. You can’t get off of the elevator because of the crowd clamoring to get on? Not in America. And what’s more, you’ve got your bubble back. When you leave two feet between you and the person in front of you in line, everyone knows that’s not an invitation to cut in. You’re just respecting the art of personal space.
And it’s a beautiful thing.

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Featured photo courtesy of the World Bank Photo Collection.

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MY OWN SPIRITUAL JOURNEY BEGAN when I picked up a copy of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. It wasn’t the first “New Age” book I had read, but for the first time, I felt open to receiving the guidance within those pages.

I don’t know whether I was just in the right frame of mind when I came across this book or whether it was Coelho’s parable about life that spoke to me, but from then on, I felt compelled to take Coelho’s words to heart, and look inside myself.

Similarly, the following twelve books have been largely influential for spiritual seekers all over the world. While some are more timeless than others, each will likely inspire to further your own spiritual journey.

1. The Secret

Written by Melbourne television producer Rhonda Byrne, and based on a film she created in 2004 of the same title, The Secret tells of the laws of attraction: Asking for what you want, believing in what you want, and being open to receiving it.

With a historical basis in the 19th century New Thought movement; Byrne’s book has proven to be a cultural phenomenon, making the number one spot on the New York Times bestseller list.

While some consider the book little more than slick marketing and the re-packaging of many other spiritual beliefs, the book’s cultural significance cannot be denied. It remains to be seen whether Byrne’s The Secret will stand the test of time.

2. The Celestine Prophecy

In 1992, author James Redfield wrote and self-published his first book, The Celestine Prophecy. Since its initial publishing, it has gone on to become the most successful self-published novel ever.

The book is part adventure story (think The Da Vinci Code) and New Age spiritual novel. The book details one man’s journey through Peru as he uncovers nine spiritual insights.

While many have found the plot corny, the insights within captivate the reader into shifting their perspective.

3. The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist tells the simple tale of a shepherd who journeys to the pyramids of Egypt to find his treasure is truly timeless. The lessons told of the discovery of your personal legend, being your one true purpose, and of understanding omens, are ones that speak to all people regardless of religion.

4. The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living

Inspired by the Dalai Lama’s joyful nature despite the political situation in Tibet, author Howard Cutler wanted to write a spiritual book focused towards a Western audience.

The Art of Happiness talks about the importance and attainability of happiness in everyday living. The purpose of life is to find happiness, which is determined by one’s mental state, despite outside circumstances.

This is a book likely to stand the test of time because it speaks to people without the use of spiritual rules or religious guidelines.

5. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose

In spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth, the author talks about reducing the ego as a means to feeling the abundance of life, because the ego is the source of all inner and outer conflict.

Tolle’s New Earth gained in popularity after Oprah selected it for her book club. Since then, Tolle’s book about the awakened consciousness has influenced millions.

6. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

In his classic book, Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Chopra discusses the importance of success in life. For Chopra, success is defined as happiness and the realization of goals, although success is not limited to wealth.

Chopra lays down 7 laws found in nature used to create spiritual success. These laws include karma (cause and effect) and dharma (purpose in life). Chopra’s popularity lies in the way he is able to take ancient Vedic teachings and present them to a Western audience.

7. The Road Less Traveled

Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck’s 1978 The Road Less Traveled book takes his ideas from his background both as a psychiatrist and as a born-again Christian.

His book details the attributes that Peck feels make a fulfilled human being. Split into three sections, his book talks about discipline (as a means for spiritual evolution), love (as a force for spiritual growth) and grace.

Though this book remains popular, some may find the psychological ideas of the book to be somewhat dated.

8. Jonathan Livingston Seagull

The tale has captured readers’ imaginations for nearly 40 years. Richard Bach’s novella reveals the story of Jonathan, a seagull whose passion for flying makes him different from other gulls.

Jonathan’s wish to perfect his flying results in being outcast from his group. At first devastating, the experience culminates in him moving to a “higher plane” where he meets other gulls like him, and his subsequent return to his flock.

Jonathan is a symbol to all those who refuse to conform for the sake of conforming, instead teaching love, forgiveness, and how to reach your true potential.

9. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

After a bitter divorce, author Elizabeth Gilbert took a year off to travel. She visited Italy, where she ate copious amounts of good food. She went to India to learn about spirituality. And finally, ended her journey in Bali, where she was able to discover a balance between the two: love.

Gilbert’s book Eat, Pray, Love details the spiritual journey of someone in a tremendous amount of pain, to a balanced, loving human. Her story has resonated with readers everywhere, landing on the New York Times bestseller list, and eventually being made into a movie starring Julia Roberts.

10. Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson

Mitch Albom’s book, Tuesdays with Morrie based on a series of interviews with Morrie Schwartz, his former professor who was dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease, has sold countless copies and inspired a TV movie starring Hank Azaria and Jack Lemmon.

Even after his death, Morrie has continued to touch people as he relates his ideas of love (both accepting love and giving love), shunning popular celeb culture in favor of more nurturing values and non-attachment.

11. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is yet another gift to the world from Oprah: Ruiz’s four agreements are based on ancient Toltec wisdom and are provide a relatively simple (but effective) formula for living well. The four agreements (spoiler alert!) are to 1) be impeccable with your word, 2) don’t take anything personally, 3) don’t make assumptions, and 4) always do your best.

Ruiz’s formula for a happy and successful life is surprisingly simple and easy to remember. Easy enough, at least, that Ruiz later decided to add a fifth agreement: Be skeptical but learn to listen.

12. Siddhartha

Herman Hesse’s classic Siddhartha should be required reading for the spiritually inclined: it follows the journey of a young Nepalese man named Siddhartha during the time of Buddha, and his quest to find spiritual enlightenment. Along the way, he makes several attempts at enlightenment (including under the Buddha himself), but finds spiritual fulfillment in a much simpler way than the way proposed by all of the world’s wise men. 

What books have inspired your spiritual journeys? Share your favorites below.

This article was originally published on October 27, 2008.

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1. A meal is not a meal without bread.

2. You now say bof instead of meh when you’re unimpressed.

3. You know the chorus of “Voyage Voyage” by Desireless even though you’ve never even heard the song.

4. You get people’s references to Les Inconnus.

5. You can keep a straight face while pronouncing movie titles in English with a thick French accent so that the theatre attendant understands you.

6. You don’t call it Paris; you call it Paname.

7. You can honestly taste the bananas in a glass of Beaujolais.

8. You’ve embraced the Tooth Mouse and have come to accept that it’s not the Easter Bunny that hides chocolates in the garden, but UFO-like flying bells that rain down chocolates when they toll.

9. You find yourself saying bon appétit to strangers picnicking in the park.

10. You are no longer daunted by the thought of giving la bise to every single person at a party, and you’re even prepared to do the rounds at the end of the night… That’s a lot of kisses.

11. You also know which regions require one, two, three, or four kisses per person.

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1. A normal friend will give you sufficient time to recover from illness to go drinking again. An Irish friend will encourage you to drink while on antibiotics because they’ve heard it gets you jarred in half the time!

2. A normal friend will offer a shoulder to cry on when you’re having a personal problem. An Irish friend will question any issue you’ve raised and claim you’ve been watching too many movies where people have things called “feelings.”

3. A normal friend will buy a carton of cigarettes and identify themselves as a smoker. An Irish friend will scrounge cigarettes off strangers on weekends while still demanding they be regarded as a non-smoker on weekdays.

4. A normal friend becomes an atheist and stops attending any religious festivals they may have attended as a believer. An Irish person will stop believing in God, but still attend mass at Christmas and Easter “just in case.”

5. A normal friend will keep in touch no matter what the distance is between you. Irish folks struggle to keep in touch with good mates within walking distance of their own house, relying on Facebook statuses to find out the latest details of your life. A common example would be “Deirdre heard on ‘The Facebook’ that Dermot’s getting married!”

6. A normal friend will offer you endless amounts of food and drink upon entering their home. Asking an Irish friend for a snack is more likely to end up with them calling you lazy and scoff, “Sure, you know where it is, get up yourself and get it.”

7. A normal friend attends all of your GAA games and cheers you on through thick and thin. An Irish friend plays for the rival club and hopes you get knocked out of the championship in the group stages so you have little option but to attend the rest of their matches for the rest of the summer.

8. A normal friend passes on the latest trends in music so you can share the music together. An Irish friend criticizes your taste in music and has no interest in adding to his established playlist of Radiohead and Muse.

9. A normal friend goes by the motto “bros before hoes.” An Irish friend might be kind enough to ask you if they can try for a shift. If they don’t ask, you’ll get the excuse, “Sure, I was locked, I didn’t know any better!”

10. A normal friend will pull you to one side and have a word if they think you’re causing a scene. An Irish friend will allow the scene to go on as long as possible so they have an arsenal of ammo to slag you with for future reference.

11. A normal friend will cease any mischief the second any sort of authoritative figure enters the scene. Your Irish friend will continue with their rambunctious behaviour, but stop just shy of getting in any sort of trouble that might stop them going on a J1 this summer.

12. A normal friend praises your success in life. An Irish friend begrudges any good news that will ever come your way and questions why they haven’t received the same fortune.

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IT’S BEEN 70 YEARS since the liberation of Auschwitz, the largest concentration camp utilized by the Nazi regime during WWII. To visit this historic site on the ground is sobering; watching this drone footage, produced by BBC News, depicts the compound from an entirely different perspective. This innovative use of drone technology is an example of how we can take travel film to the next level, while creating emotional, thought-provoking footage that helps preserve the world’s history and culture.

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THE STRANGE THING about maps is that much of them are taken up by countries with relatively small populations: Canada and Russia, for example, are huge countries, but their population together makes up less than 3% of the world population as a whole.

Reddit user TeaDranks put together this cartogram of what the world map would look like if we sized the world’s countries in terms of their total population rather than in terms of their total land area.

A map with higher resolution is available here.

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