A Metal Horse

Triet Phan

ESL 100

Lost in translation

A Metal Horse

            Cars and freeways had the biggest impression on me when I first came to America. Cars are everywhere such as on the roads, parking lots, and along the metered street parking. Cars run on the road and on freeways, one behind another. I could never imagine such a sight when I was in Vietnam. However, after spending almost one year in America, the thing that I want so much is not having a car in The United States. I just miss the moments when I used to a motorcycle in my country, Vietnam. That sounds funny, but it is the truth. It is impossible to have the exact feeling driving a car or a motorcycle in the United States. In my memory, when I drive a motorcycle in Vietnam, there are three things that make me miss it so much: the feeling of fresh air and the open road, the flexibility of motorbikes, and the feeling of closeness.

            The feeling of fresh air and an open road when I ride a motorbike in Viet Nam is incomparable. The way that the wind blows in my face is very exciting. In addition, the wind touches me smoothly as a hand gently rubs my skin. Moreover, riding on a motorbike is as if the world opens everything in front of your eyes. However, compared with driving a car in Chicago, it feels like I am driving in a metal box. Every space around you is full of metal, buttons, and glass. Furthermore, sitting in the car makes me feel as if I am separate from the outside world, and I cannot connect with the fresh air. On one hand, I ride my bike traveling to the Lake Michigan in Chicago. It is certainly better because I can see the beauty of the Lake and feel the fragrant smells from flowers along both sides of the road. In addition, it is sunny, and the cool wind blows gently, making my life enjoyable. On the contrary, jumping back to drive a car is a different experience. In fact, controlling a metal box in a crowded street and enjoying a beautiful view together is an impossible mission.

            In fact, a motorbike is smaller than a car, so it is easier for a motorbike to go around town because motorbikes are more flexible. Especially, with small roads or alleys in the downtown section of big cities, motorbikes are the most useful in traffic. Furthermore, in a big city such as Chicago, it is very hard for me if I want to find a parking space downtown or in popular neighborhoods. Nevertheless, with a motorbike, I can easily find a parking spot because it does not need more space. In addition, there are a lot of small diners and shops with only street parking. They are very common in Vietnam, and I just can stop by and eat without worrying so much about finding parking. Furthermore, if the road was too small or marshy, motorbikes can prove that they are more flexible than cars. For example, my friend drives a car and I ride a motorbike in a marshy road, and unluckily, my friend’s car and my motorbike was trapped in a muskeg. Definitely, my motorbike will easily get out of that trap with a little help. However, my friend’s car needs more time and more people in order to get it out. Hence, flexibility is another forte of motorbikes.

            Another reason that I love riding a motorcycle in Vietnam is the feeling of closeness, and riding a bike together with a friend creates a feeling near and dear with me. When I ride a friend with me on a bike, I can feel the stronger connection between both of us. The fact that a bike’s saddle is usually small, means there is not much space between two people on a bike. As a result, the space of our conversation is smaller, and the small distance between two people makes us friendlier. Especially when I go with my girlfriend, I can feel her warm breath on my back. Moreover, I can feel her arms around my waist, and her head rest on my shoulder. We drive together and have fun talking under the sky with million of stars shinning. It is the moment that I can never forget in my life. On the other hand, comparing with driving a car in Chicago, the distance between a driver and a passenger is farther. Therefore, the warm arms, the warm breath on my back, and the leaning against my shoulder disappear. Furthermore, all the stars disappear because of a car’s roof. As a result, my feeling of closeness disappears.

            Coming back to America, it is a country dominated by cars. It is so hard to find again the beautiful time when I drove my bike around town.  Sitting in a metal box and driving, they are enough for me while I live in America. When I go back to Vietnam, certainly, the first thing I will do is go ride my motorbike to catch that feeling again: the fresh air, the flexibility, and close feeling with my friends when sitting on a motorbike together. In Vietnam, a motorbike is nicknamed a metal horse.