Oklahoma, 1994–1995: my best experience of America.

I come across as an eternal lover of California, don’t I? And I dislike Florida and Texas, the “red” states. I don’t dislike them because they are red, though there is a possible connection. In general, how I’ve experienced America, through the years, has nothing to do with politics. I simply share my life experiences and my impressions.

Well, on this journey of experiencing America, of all places, Oklahoma has a very special place in my heart. I often catch myself being nostalgic about my year in Oklahoma.

The nostalgia has little to do about reminiscing about my younger years. It wasn’t a carefree stretch of my life. In fact, I was extremely stressed out and insecure, having come to the middle of America all the way from Russia.

But, God, did I experience America at its best! Welcoming, cozy, hard-working, humble, and down to earth.

I moved to Oklahoma after spending two months in Kansas, where I attended a language school.

A Russian kid in Kansas (Chapter 1)

Here’s an abridged draft chapter from my yet-be-completed book.

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Kurt’s assistant and I met Rick at a roadside restaurant halfway between Wichita, Kansas, and Enid, Oklahoma, the town…