Hello Teaneck! From ... Abroad

Hi folks,

Remember me?

It's been a while, and I'd understand it if you didn't. I'm Ben, son of Ted and Laurie, of Sherman Ave between Queen Anne and Palisades.

I've been gone a long time, but I'm coming home.

It has been more than 10 years since I graduated from Teaneck High. Not without coincidence, it has also been more than 10 years since I have lived in Teaneck.

Most of my last few years have been in Asia. Taiwan, Thailand, and backpacker trails. I've worked abroad, started 2 businesses, fled a violent military crackdown, loved and lost. It's been great, but it is time to go home.

It is time for me to return to America, return to Teaneck, return to my roots. For good. It has been so long that when I phoned my parents to tell them, I'm not sure even they believed me.

But, it is true. I am. I have a one way ticket home. I depart Bangkok on Nov 22, and 30 hours later I arrive at JFK on Nov 22nd. Funny world, heh?

**

I'd like to share with you how growing up in Teaneck led me to persue adventure elsewhere. It may sound oxymoronic (wouldn't be the first time I was accused of that), but it is true that Teaneck shaped what turned out to be my future explorations. 

Think for a moment about Teaneck's wealth of cultures. One of Teaneck's finest attributes in my personal opinion. How has this contributed to how you think?

In high school I was friends with a turban wearing student that went by the name of Div. During an entralling chemistry lecture, I acted stupid and decided to touch his turban. I can't remember why, but like I said, I was acting stupid.

Naturally Div told me to stop. Then he warned me that he'd punch me. This proved to be too much for teenage me, and after I touched his head again he did punch me.

The pain waned, but the memory stood. What gives, I thought. It is just a piece of cloth, isn't it?

It's ironic that since Teaneck has so much diversity, that we sometimes remain ignorant of what words or actions generate strong cultural backlashes. Or maybe I'm just a schmuck for provoking a nice guy for no reason.

Div and I became friendly again, but not like before.

This was not an episode I wanted to relive. But I do hope it made me a more culturally aware person in the long run.

**

Thanks for reading.

In case you were wondering, I'm now only involved with one of the businesses I started, and that's Tour Company Reviews