“Oh, so you’re from Colorado? Do you ski?”
“Sometimes. But not well.”
“What about mountain climb? You must do that?”
“Well, I’ve rock climbed before and I’ve hiked some fourteeners.”
“Like an outdoor backpacking expedition?”
“No. Like a hike.”
“So, I’ve met a true Colorado native and I have no stories to pass along to friends?”
“Well, no, I guess not.”
“So what DO you do?”
“Umm, I run and bike and go on vacation. Generally to areas warmer than Colorado.”
“Oh. Well, what about ice climbing? Have you been ice climbing?”
“No. What about you? Certainly you must have done some of these things?”
“No dear, I’m Canadian.”
And that was my first conversation after crossing the border last week. I post it not so much because it’s telling of my trip but because it’s telling of the assumptions we make about people. And, it’s sort of funny.
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Vancouver was wonderful. Here in the CO, you tend to forget about the diversities of the world. While we do have multiple races and cultures living together, we’re not what I’d consider to be “international.” Vancouver is a little like the Western crossroads of the world. It was refreshing and also, very good dining.
—————–
I want to post pictures, really I do but, you see, I do not have my camera. In my Major Dumb Move moment (of which I make about one per year) I left the camera in the rental car. Luckily, I realized it before my flight departed. However, I did not have time to go out of security and then go back through so Mohammed and the lovely staff at Alamo Car Rental in the SeaTac airport are returning it via FedEx. Then, assuming all is intact, I will post pictures. Because really, you gotta see it.
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