beentouring's Guestbook

I might have missed it, but how many CUSOs were on the bus? What an ordeal! But you seemed to retain your sense of humour and perspective admirably well. I particularly liked the bit about "seeing" teaching techniques being used on you for Hausa, and adding them to your repertoire for French.

So fun to read your letter to grandparents, who were probably then about the age we are now. I'm glad that at least parts of your Canadian-culture showcase went over well. I wonder if there's some general rule that newbies to any musical genre prefer up-tempo variants. I believe I see that in myself.

Culture and smells
I'll be interested to hear what you did to illustrate/represent Canadian culture. I'm drawing a blank, I admit. I could more easily identify some of the regional cultural influences, I think, than any national one. I was interested in the smell. Guatemala had its own smell too - in the cities, at least, most things (and people) smelled of cooked corn mush/mash. I expect we, collectively, have an odor associated with eating so much meat and sugar. And in Alberta and Saskatchewan, whatever the smell of dryness is, except when there's actual rain.

Ah, to be an expert. Delightful! You sound like you're doing well, despite (assumed) jet lag. I'd have been a wreck for several days.

Wow again. The in-the-moment nature of this is vivid. Who was it that said we're all like ducks, seemingly serene on the top of the water while paddling madly underneath it?

What a fabulous idea - and what a trove of memories!

Icefields Parkway
Never fails to amaze. I have posted this and other pics from you in TB's "Follow that Road" thread in the Photography Forum. Check 'em out!

I've done the subway-in-&-out whirlwind "tour" of Washington DC - your report makes me want to spend enough time there to visit the various museums.

I feel your heat-stroke-style pain. Touring in 97F temps is tough - but what are you going to do? You're there. I fell in love with your photo of the Metro Central Station, but couldn't find anything online that spoke to the street-level portion. Quite justifiably, everyone talked about the vaulted design of the underground bits.

Happy you came along!
It was a pleasure having you join us for the long weekend in the Green State!!