veryone told me it would happen, and I expected it. But it took the bus system of Cape Cod to really bring the culture shock home. After a leisurely ferry ride over from the Vineyard, I found out that my ride from the ferry drop-off was no longer coming. So I decided to brave the US public transportation system to get to my intended destination, a mere hour and a half away by car from where I stood. I had walked across the border to Nepal. I had camped throughout Tibet. I had deciphered the time-tables of India and spent two unexpected days bumming around Bangkok alone. I had spent the last five months living in South Asia. I figured I could handle the buses of Cape Cod.

Or should I say the trolleys of Cape Cod, for public transportation on the Cape is more treat than necessity, a tourist attraction almost. In many cases it costs more than the gas it takes to drive to the same place. I was elated to be back on my own, traveling around without a car, without a plan, just like in Asia. Only it was on the Cape, and the trolley dropped me off in front of the local WalMart. My morals started grumbling, my mind raced to make a list of reasons why America sucks more than India.

The people are fat, I started. The kids are bratty, I continued. The buses drop you off in front of WalMart, I added, leaving the list open. By the time I boarded my next ride, this time a cushy shuttle bus (with seat-belts!), my list was longer than I can remember.

Not that riding public transportation is a piece of cake in India either, but at least the buses don’t drop you off in front of WalMart.