Orlando

Today's first interview would be at 9:30am. Being prepared to the max with printed maps (thanks Google) I got lost in a detour (thanks Google; but regular maps are still needed!) and arrived at the doorstep 10 minutes late. A warm welcome awaited me. A family with four kids, aged 17, 11, 10 and 8. Mom homeschooling the whole bunch, except the 11 year old girl. I always feel so humble, when people share their home and their life with me. It makes no difference whether I am in China, Sao Paulo or Orlando. People are so in and in good. I had a lot of fun with the girl. More or less similar to what I am used to with Nika. East or West Coast, so far not a lot of differences..... What I was surprised about was the amount of TV's in the house. 6! One in each room, each with DVD. What I also was surprised about was the amount of freedom the kids have to switch the TV on or off to their own liking...... The girl falling asleep in her bed in front of a TV and waking up, while the TV was still running..... New concept to me! Reminds me of readjusting my perceptions, over and over and over again...
Second visit, guy 20, student, works, did not turn up. I sat in my conspicuous, too bright white Hertz car for about an hour in front of his house, like a novice detective, not knowing how to hide, when right in front of me a police man stopped a motormouse. I could not but overhear the conversation and started to bug in. Don't get me wrong, everything in a nice and friendly manner. The policeman said he noticed me sitting out there already for a long time (see, there goes my cover) so I had to explain my roundabouts. Oh well, never a dull moment. After contacting the local agency we finally gave up on our second respondents and I was on my way to the third lucky guy. The distances are far, but fortunately not a lot of traffic jams.
Meeting the 30-year old bachelor chef sounded promising. This third respondent required some re-adjustment of my perceptions as well. Details too complicated to jot them down here, but summarizing; the first half hour, he was holding the fort, saying this was his house, and his mother living in the back guest room. Until the mom walked in and took over the kitchen. Turned out he was still living with his mother, and she definitively was the boss in the house.
All in all a fun day and lots of learnings!