What makes us American?

As we get ready to embark on our month long sojourn to Central America, where my team and I are going to present ourselves as representatives of our Rotary district 5450, of Colorado, and of the United States, I'm asking myself, who are we?  And how do we differ from our soon-to-be hosts in Central America?  My desire to grock who I am in relation to the people of Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, countries I have never traveled in, amongst a language of which I am not fluent, stems specifically at the moment from one thing.  Our presentation.  OK, not exactly our presentation, which seems rather together, but the post presentation, talent presentation.  What little show, act, or action can we do that is culturally specific to the United States, or maybe specific to Colorado?  As a group, we have talked about it, stewed on it, joked about it, and ruminated to no avail.

So after talking with Molly last night, I thought I would post some ideas that the two of us came up with, along side of others that my prodigious team mates came up with during our meetings:

• Each of us five read an impromptu or written stanza of a poem to commemorate our experiences to date.  Straight version or Julie Andrews, "My favorite things" version.
• Before leaving, create a short 3D animation, JibJab style, with our heads superimposed on the characters, dancing about on the screen.
• Stage an old style Wild West shootout, complete with cowboy hats and cap guns.
• Get the audience singing a rousting round of Row, Row, Row Your Boat, in round of course.
• Compile a little music medley of typical American Music that we play and each dance a bit to.  Including Jazz, Country, Motown, Rock and Roll, Rap, Blues...  Heck, we could throw in the Chicken Dance!

So what do you think team?  Did reading this grease any wheels, or cause a commotion?  These ideas may all be too silly to consider.  Or maybe one of them could break down any cultural barriers left and give our audience a presentation to remember.

Naomi