Damien Cave, our Australia bureau chief, shares insights on global news, local recommendations and feedback from readers in this weekly newsletter. To receive it in your inbox, sign up here.

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One of my favorite things about living abroad has always been the way that distance adds a fresh perspective on wherever it is one calls home.

In my case, I often feel as though I never see the United States quite so clearly as I do when I’ve just returned after a long time away, which was the case last week. I was home for a wedding, a bit of work and a little vacation, and at every stop, I found myself marveling at the sheer American-ness of conversations and experiences.

In my last newsletter, I shared a few of my impressions about Australia. What you’ll find below is its American counterpart — what I noticed in one small corner of the U.S. after months away, and what stood out more clearly in part because of my experience in Australia.