title: I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After Twenty Years
author:  Bill Bryson 
description: Getting reacquainted with America.<br />Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  Bill Bryson - I'm A Stranger Here Myself
  
  
  NOTES ON RETURNING TO AMERICA AFTER TWENTY YEARS AWAY
  
  
  ## INTRODUCTION
  
  
  In the late summer of 1996, an old journalist friend from London named Simon
  Kelner called me in New Hampshire, to where I had lately moved after living
  for twenty-some years in Britain. Simon had recently been made editor of Night
  Day magazine, a supplement of the Mail on Sunday newspaper, and it was his
  idea that I should write a weekly column for him on America.
  
  
  At various times over the years Simon had persuaded me to do all kinds of work
  that I didn't have time to do, but this was way out of the question.
  
  
  "No," I said. "I can't. I'm sorry. It's just not possible. I've got too much
  on."
  
  
  "So can you start next week?" "Simon, you don't seem to understand. I can't do
  it." "We thought we'd call it 'Notes from a Big Country. 