In The Witch of Blackbird Pond, what are Kit's first impressions of America and what do they reveal about her background and character?

Kit is initially unimpressed with America. She finds the towns of Saybrook and Wetherfield to be small and dreary. She had expected to see established and bustling towns, with large buildings made of stone. Instead, she finds unpaved streets and small wooden structures. Kit is disappointed in America, which reveals that she came from an older and more established area. In Barbados, life had resembled the lifestyles of England, and things had been more "civilized." The culture in Puritan America is rigid and serious, while it was much more relaxed in her island home. Back at home, Kit swam in the water and walked around barefoot. This also reveals that Kit has more sophisticated tastes. In Barbados she wore more expensive fabrics, such as silk and satin. In her new home, most women wear homespun dresses. Kit's lively personality and free spirit are at odds with the rigid Puritan lifestyle.