I explained why I don’t like living in the U.S. anymore to the manager of Hostel Val in Piran: the work, work, work; money, money, money; buy, buy, buy mentality that has become so pervasive in American culture. She reflected on my comment for a moment before replying, “But it is becoming the same for us.” Later, after dealing with a sneering woman in the Slovenia tourism office, who might as well have thrown brochures at me, I fled…