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Word of the Episode: Kitschy
- The hosts discuss the word "kitschy," prompted by a recent family trip where their child asked what it meant.
- They define "kitschy" as describing objects or art that are in poor taste due to excessive gaudiness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated ironically. Examples include overdone souvenir items like "I ❤️ NY" merchandise, snow globes, or Statue of Liberty trinkets.
- The word comes from the German "kitsch," meaning worthless or trashy art, and entered English in the late 19th century. It’s often used to describe things that are unsophisticated, excessive, or garish.
Trip to New York City
- The family recounts their recent whirlwind trip to New York City, focusing on their experiences as tourists:
- They bought various classic, kitschy souvenirs (e.g., plushies, figurines, novelty glasses, snow globes).
- The hosts debate whether iconic items can also be kitschy, noting that utility (like a mug) might make something less kitschy.
- They reflect on how NYC embraces tourist culture and kitschy items, and how their large family stood out compared to fast-paced locals.
Travel Logistics and Challenges
- The trip lasted just over two days, with the family carrying only backpacks to avoid baggage fees and logistical hassles.
- They changed hotels each night and navigated the city with careful planning, but still faced frequent delays, unexpected waiting, and timing mishaps.
- The hosts express frustration with trying to find accurate, up-to-date information online, sometimes encountering outdated or AI-generated errors (like a flight delay being misread as a 25-hour layover due to time zone confusion).
- The trip began with heavy traffic and unexpected changes to airport parking, forcing the family to walk a long distance in cold weather with children to save money.
Conclusion
- The episode blends a discussion of the word "kitschy" with anecdotes about navigating New York as tourists, the challenges of travel planning, and the humor and chaos that come with family adventures. The hosts highlight how kitschy souvenirs and logistical hiccups became memorable parts of their experience.
This is the first of a two-part series, with the conclusion of our trip to New York City in next week's episode.
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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.
Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.
