although i don't remember much from my only trip to the USA, something that's always stuck in my mind is the enormous expanses of wilderness between cities. we would drive out of town and within an hour be out in the middle of nowhere on an enormous flat expanse with no evidence of human life in sight besides the road. it was such a world-expanding experience from me coming, like you kleeder, from one of the most population-dense parts of europe. it makes home feel so claustrophobic by comparison. on the car journey from london to manchester, not once are you out of sight of a man-made building. even in my favourite nature spots, you can usually hear the distant roar of traffic.
i understand exactly why you found it revelatory to step out into a patch of wilderness and hear nothing at all besides the rustling leaves and birdcalls.
i'm glad you put this up - lying on the sofa right now recovering from my ankle surgery & with all the hospital's noises still swirling around my head, this is exactly what i needed.