As some of you know, I'm away this week for a work conference. A couple nights ago I posted about a very nice welcome dinner we had. Yesterday was a long day with a working lunch and a working dinner. Today another long day but with a team building function this evening. We all went to a "rodeo"!!
I put that in quotes because the very concept of a rodeo is just so far outside this Boston girl's life experience. Who knew people still dressed up like old west cowboys and road bulls and roped little cows and did all that stuff????? Crazy, huh?
The dinner spread at this rodeo function for us was a short buffet including three different kinds of BBQ meat and one side choice: mac 'n cheese. No salad. No veggies. Meat and carbs. I'm not saying it wasn't delicious, but wow did I feel far from home! I feel closer to home sitting at a sidewalk cafe in Prague than I do in this foreign country known as Texas! 🤣
As for the rodeo ... well, I'm not quite sure what to think. I'm very much someone who tries to respect local cultures and I know that rodeo is very deeply ingrained in the culture down here. But, with that said, I couldn't even watch, never mind take pictures of the calfs being dragged, sometimes thrown, to the ground and then tied up. Not saying it's right or wrong, it's just way outside my comprehension. 🤷♀️
But, when in Rome, right?
Anyway, I've now been to my first rodeo ever. Are you doing anything interesting this weekend?
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I feel a rodeo would be interesting to see once. But like you, not my thing. You can't tell me that this is not some sort of animal abuse !! Not making that statement to start a debate, just my opinion.
@Teslin Yup. I'm with you. To me, having zero experience with farm animals, it all seemed a bit cruel.
Buuuut ... I've traveled a lot in the last few years and seen a lot of "things" that just weren't my thing, sooooo, I'm not ready to condemn them for liking it. My Texas friends, in PMs, are explaining to me how the animals are cared for and stuff.
I'm just going to drop this into my "when in Rome" box and leave it to Texans to decide if it's a good thing or not. It's just not my thing.
@Teslin That is so true. I had a few travel experiences with my family when I was a teenager and those trips infected me with the travel bug. I credit those trips with the career choices I've made since and now I'm in Europe for work on average twice a month.
Humanity, with all its shortcomings and imperfections and despite its capacity for cruelty, is actually quite beautiful. Each and every one of us, Republican and Democrat, American and Mexican, Russian and Ukrainian, Arab and Jew, each of us is a critical part of that mosaic.
@Teslin I'm very careful. Situational awareness, threat assessment, resource management ... At one point I was a mission planner ... that job leaves you forever "aware".
