Sixteen hours and approximately 7,000 miles after departing from my homeland in South Africa, I was greeted by the red, white and blue of the United States of America, and the American way of life. Upon arrival, I was overwhelmed by the patriotism shared by the American people, and the differences and similarities between my fellow countrymen and the people of America.

My first realization was that—like South Africa—America is a huge melting pot of ethnicity and race. The key ingredient is patriotism, and the spice that seasons it: variety.

In contrast to my homeland, when it comes to automobiles, U.S. drivers seem to live by the adage “bigger is better.” In the days before camp, I heard V-6 and V-8 engines roaring their way up the streets every morning, with the iconic symbol of pride being American “muscle” cars.

After some time in the country, I came to the conclusion that variety is the spice of life in America. From at least one aisle in supermarkets dedicated to cereal, down to the fascinating idea of cherry-flavored Coke—U.S. citizens are never short of choices.

In this country, everything is in abundance. This has resulted in the creation of opportunities, which have led to innovation and advancements. I have come to appreciate sports such as American football and softball—games indigenous to the land of America.

I have also experienced firsthand the admirable qualities shared by Americans. Among these is a sense of independence, which stems from the extraordinary—and now rare—ability of the American people to be unique.

One incident that really stood out in my mind when I arrived in the U.S. was when I saw a person riding a motorcycle without a helmet. I was amazed at the fact that the roads were considered so safe that a person could afford to not use such an important piece of safety equipment. I cannot speak for every state, but from what I have seen in Ohio, the roads and traffic control are in tip-top condition.

Another thing that surprised me was that I did not see any accidents. This is in contrast to my homeland where the high accident rate can be attributed to the large number of taxis, which usually drive in an unruly manner. This perception, however, could be mostly due to the fact that where I stayed was not a high traffic area.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in the U.S. and have an even more positive view of America and its people. Every second was packed with fascination and awe, and my senses were overwhelmed by my surroundings. Even if I were to search the depths and recesses of my brain, I could not think of a better way to have spent two weeks of my life.