Yesterday I had a 500+ mile trip and one of the destinations was a hospital in Elkhart County in Indiana. Elkhart County is heavily populated with the Amish and Menonites. Amish reject the corruption of the modern world so it was quite amusing to see a horse driven carriage in the parking lot among cars. Fortunately for the horse, the weather was quite pleasant even though s/he was wearing a jacket.
Elkhart County was made famous about a month ago when the President pitched his stimulus package in a speech there. The county has a double digit unemployment rate nearing 20%. Above is a picture I took with a cell phone - usually these signs say 'Now Accepting Applications'. They have changed the 'W' to 'T' and the sign now says 'Not Accepting Applications'.
Another stop was in Lake County, Indiana. The town of Gary always reminds me of Kirovakan (or any decaying post-Soviet industrial town) with its crumbling infrastructure and industrial districts. This time it looked festive and bustling at first. That is, until I realized that the festive atmosphere was caused by the plastic bags flying in the wind (the area is known for windy weather hence the nickname 'The Windy City' for the nearby Chicago).
Elkhart County was made famous about a month ago when the President pitched his stimulus package in a speech there. The county has a double digit unemployment rate nearing 20%. Above is a picture I took with a cell phone - usually these signs say 'Now Accepting Applications'. They have changed the 'W' to 'T' and the sign now says 'Not Accepting Applications'.
Another stop was in Lake County, Indiana. The town of Gary always reminds me of Kirovakan (or any decaying post-Soviet industrial town) with its crumbling infrastructure and industrial districts. This time it looked festive and bustling at first. That is, until I realized that the festive atmosphere was caused by the plastic bags flying in the wind (the area is known for windy weather hence the nickname 'The Windy City' for the nearby Chicago).
There truly are very few jobs, and they're disappearing at an alarming rate. On a personal note, which I usually avoid, my husband lost his about a month ago. And so far, not even a nibble, and he's actually good at what he does :(
ReplyDeleteԸնկեր Նազարյան,
ReplyDeleteՉեմ հիշում թէ ինչպես եմ հայտնվել ձեր կայք էջում, բայց այն փաստի առաջ ենք կանգնած որ երկուսս էլ «հուժեռ» նահանգում ենք ապրում:
Քանի որ ձեր էլեկտրոնային պոստի հասցեն չեմ կարողանում գտնել, ստիպված եմ բլոգում գրել:
Ինչ արած, հուսամ ձեր գործն էլ չեք կորցնի:
Ես Բլումինգտոնում եմ: Իսկ դու՞ք
The only thing Indiana has going for it is that it is next to Illinois.
ReplyDeleteWiki says that the history of Indiana can be traced, through radio-carbon dating, to 10,400 BC. Except there is apparently no activity between then and 900 AD.
Nothing goes on in Indiana for truly long periods of time. Shoot yourself or move. That seems like the only logical solution to being there.
Come to think of it, maybe Lonesome Jim can explain about Indiana life:
http://tinyurl.com/96sgov