The Way I Saw It

Foreign but not a foreigner?

2005-01-15T15:11:00.000-08:00

I’m not sure how I expected to feel in the US, but I was surprised at how foreign I felt. I thought I’d blend in easily with everybody else; after all, I look like at least half of the population there, and I speak English the same as the majority of them. I’ve been a true foreigner in a foreigner before, when I lived for six years in Indonesia, and there I truly did feel foreign. I didn’t look like anybody else, and in fact I was taller than about 99% of the population; I didn’t speak the language at first, and even later when I was quite fluent, I only ever felt that I had a flimsy grasp on it; and I didn’t understand the culture in spite of a certain superficial knowledge of the main taboos. What surprised me in the US was how similar my feelings were to those I had in Indonesia. In spite of blending in in appearance, I felt off balance, never sure exactly how some things worked, frequently unable to understand what people said, and often afraid that I might have unwittingly offended somebody because of some cultural nuance that I’d missed.

One of the first and most frightening areas where I found adjustment very difficult was the switch from driving on the left to driving on the right. Not that I myself did very much driving; a couple of short excursions around the immediate neighbourhood was all I was game for. However, I did do a lot of walking, which necessarily involved crossing roads with traffic on them, and here I had a problem. I could never quite be certain just where a car might appear from, making me paranoid about checking in every possible direction several times, and even then, sometimes having an unnervingly close encounter with a car in the middle of the intersection I was crossing. I felt that the law which allows cars to turn right on a red light made things unnecessarily dangerous for unwary foreigners such as me! Even in Indonesia, where hardly anybody drives by any recognisable road rules, the law says they are supposed to drive on the left, so I felt that I had some grasp on what they should be doing, even if they weren’t. In the US, I just felt disoriented most of the time.

My sense of direction was also thrown off by the change in position of the sun in the sky. In Australia, if you live below the Tropic of Capricorn (which I do), the sun is always slightly to the north of you, whereas in the US, most of which is above the Tropic of Cancer, the sun is always somewhat to the south. Until I spent some time north of the Tropic of Cancer, I took for granted the fact that I have a good sense of direction, and it was very disorienting to find just how much my sense of direction relies for accuracy on the position of the sun. In the US, I had to stop and make complicated mental calculations to work out which direction was which, and that’s a thing I rarely have to do at home.

Money was another thing which disconcerted me. All the notes look the same, although luckily they each have their denomination marked in clear large figures in the corners. And the 25 cent and 5 cent coins (“quarter” and “nickel” as I had to remember to call them) were extraordinarily hard for me to distinguish. Many times I found myself fumbling embarrassingly for the right amount, and quite often I simply tendered a $1 note instead of bothering with trying to count out change and keeping everybody behind me waiting. I don’t remember having the same problem with coins in Indonesia. The notes there were easy, being different colours and sizes, as ours are in Australia, and I think the coins must have had greater size differences as well.

The topic of money brings me to another area of confusion. How chatty was I expected to be with cashiers, toll booth operators, check out clerks and the like? In my own country, I would not be considered rude if I merely held out the money, accepted any change and receipt, and said thanks, but I had the impression that more is expected in the US in the way of some kind of verbal exchange between customer and clerk. Of course, here in Australia some people are chattier than others, and a transaction between, for example, a check out operator and customer in a supermarket could include pleasantries about the weather, working hours, health and more, but none of this is obligatory. I heard my companion greet people in toll booths or behind counters, ask how much she owed, and say “Here you go” as she gave them the money, none of which would be expected here, so when I was alone, being a naturally very untalkative person, I often forgot to say more than “Hi” and “thanks”, and then later wondered if I’d been considered terribly bad mannered.

This chattiness extended to people on the street or fellow customers in shops or waiting in queues. Strangers seemed to have no hesitation in offering directions if we seemed uncertain which way to go, or in offering opinions or comments about events. I was browsing in Good Will one day when a woman near me suddenly held out a small vase towards me and commented on how attractive it was and what a nice gift it would make. Things like this do happen in Australia too, but they seemed to happen more often in the US, and at more unexpected moments.

The readiness of strangers to speak to each other ties in with the difference between the concepts of public and private space in the US and Australia. Something that I really leapt out at me was the fact that almost nobody had a fence around their house, at least in the parts of the US where I spent most of my time. This would be almost unheard of in Australia. We don’t always have a front fence, but we do almost invariably have back and side fences. Our backyards are private, and nobody except family or very close friends goes there uninvited. It seemed to me that I would feel very exposed living in a house without that private area away from the eye of all and sundry. It seems that Americans may have a veneer of openness and friendliness, a public persona of “hail fellow well met”, but in fact they are just as private as anybody else behind the friendly façade. Many, although not all, Australians tend to be more reserved in public, and to want to keep their home life somewhat private behind fences, but once you get past the more reserved façade, they are as friendly as Americans.

In Indonesia, everybody you meet speaks to you and asks quite personal questions as a matter of course, and as a foreigner, you come to accept that this is just how Indonesians are. However, when you’re mixing with people who look more or less the same as you do, there is a certain underlying assumption that they will have the same mores as you, and therefore it’s more of a shock when they don’t. I think it’s easy for an Australian such as me to believe that because Americans are so apparently outgoing, they really do look on you as a friend, and then it comes as a surprise when you come up against the barrier that they have around their more private selves.

Along with the cultural pitfalls, I found that I did not always speak the same language, even though both Americans and Australians speak English. Pronunciation differences and differences in word usages meant that quite often I came up against a complete breakdown in communication. This was most worrying in public places, where I often found announcements over loudspeakers incomprehensible, and worried that I might be missing something I really should know.

Something that I found frustrating was the little “taken for granted” pieces of information which make everyday life smoother if you know them. A couple of times I had to ring an 800 number, which I did by dialling 800 to start, only to hear a recorded announcement that “your call could not be connected as dialled”. I was baffled, and checked and double checked the phone book to make sure I’d got the number right. Eventually my American friend told me that I should have dialled 1-800; it’s taken for granted that everybody knows this, so the “1” isn’t always included in the phone number as it’s printed in the phone book. How was I supposed to know that I needed to dial 1 first?

I was interested to note that my companion did not seem particularly “American” when she was alone with me, but when I saw her with a group of her friends, suddenly she seemed much more like them than I had expected. Like them, she tended to talk fairly loudly and certainly expansively, and the American accent seemed more noticeable. There seemed to be something indefinable that made them seem different to me than a group of Australians would have seemed.

Although I loved the time I spent in the US, in a way deep down I felt a sense of relief to be back in my own country and culture. In spite of the high, harsh sun and the hot weather, here I feel at ease. I don’t have to be on the alert all the time in case I do something wrong and offend somebody inadvertently; when I’m crossing a busy street I can take a risk because I’m reasonably sure that I can anticipate what any oncoming vehicles might be going to do; I can understand most public announcements, and I can pay for things in small change without even thinking about it. I know how to navigate my way through my days and through all my public encounters and necessary transactions without even thinking about it, because I have stored in my subconscious all the necessary pieces of information, even the unwritten and unspoken ones. Oh yes, and here I can tell which direction I’m going by where the sun is in the sky.

Plumbing, and History

2004-11-11T16:48:00.000-08:00

How do I turn on the tap? Let me count the ways...
1. Pull the little lever towards me
2. Pull the little lever upwards
3. Press the little lever downwards.
4. Press a button, either obvious or concealed
5. Turn a handle
6. Hold my hands under the spout and hope something happens
... and I'm sure there are more I've missed. In Australia we more often just have simple handles which have to be turned, so I've been having a fun (and often confusing) time trying to work out just how to get the result I want, ie. a stream of water.

And then we come to toilet flushing. Sometimes there's a lever on the side of the cistern. Well, although I've never seen those before (we mostly have buttons set into the top of the cistern), they were easy enough to figure out. However, then we come to toilets in public places, which have myriads of flushing devices. Some have a lever at the back of the seat, which is easy because we have those at home. Some have a button in the wall, which we also have at home. One I was in had a foot pedal, which I've never come across anywhere else. Many, most disconcertingly, flush automatically, which I am not used to. They're fine if they wait until you've actually finished and stood up, but today I was in one which was a bit over eager, and flushed when I just moved sideways slightly. So now, whenever I go into a toilet which is new to me, I carefully suss out the flushing arrangements before I do anything else.

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I have a tendency to play the "tough guy", so although I will wear lots of layers and gloves when it's cold, I really don't like to wear a hat. However, the other day when we were at Harper's Ferry, it was much colder than either of us had expected, probably under 10°C. Luckily, I had taken a jacket which had a pair of gloves in the pocket, and S had included a hat for me, but I was reluctant to wear it, thinking that I would manage to be warm enough with just the jacket and gloves. However, she persuaded me, and I had to admit that it increased my comfort level.

We drove back from Harper's Ferry mostly in the dark, leaving there at around 5 pm so that we were faced with the commuters travelling home from work in or near DC. I was once again amazed at the sheer numbers of Americans on the road. For at least 40 miles there was a constant 3-lane-wide stream of headlights passing us.

Speaking of cars, something which has struck me quite forcibly since I've been here is the dearth of small cars (and older ones). Almost every vehicle I see is big, chunky, muscular, powerful looking, and fairly new and shiny. Where are all the young women and older women, who typically drive smaller cars in Australia? Where are the poor students, who can only afford to drive a 20 year old, rusty, beat-up 4 cylinder hatchback or small sedan? Where are the young guys, who like to drive large but old-and-being-souped-up sedans? Maybe none of these groups exist here in the US. Maybe everybody just wants and can afford to drive a large, powerful, status symbol car that says Look out, I'm coming and nobody is going to stand in my way.

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Today I visited Old Town Alexandria, in Virginia. (The states I've visited or passed through so far: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, California, and I think Delaware briefly. That's pretty impressive for someone who comes from a country where it takes two days to drive through her home state). Anyway, I took the Metro to Alexandria, and wandered through the historic section, sort of following a walking tour guide and noting places of interest. Forgetting that it was November 11th, and not realising that there would be memorial services being held, I blundered into the Museum of Black History to find myself intruding on a service which seemed to be attended only by African Americans. Feeling very conspicuous, I quietly browsed through the brochures on display, discreetly used the bathroom, and snuck out again.

The Torpedo Factory Art Gallery was an interesting place and yes, it used to be a torpedo factory. Visitors can watch artists working in small individual studios in which they also display and sell their work. I was very impressed with one display of photos.

In a t-shirt shop I saw on display t-shirts with a photo of GWB and proclaiming his inauguration in 2005. They didn't waste any time putting those out.

Today I encountered yet another tap option: pull the knob upwards, after turning it left or right to adjust the water temperature. Weird. And in my previous post on this subject, I didn't even mention the many ways that shower taps work. On the subject of showers, it seems to be relatively uncommon here for the shower to be in a separate recess from the bath, but instead it's usually over the bath, meaning you have to climb in and out over the bath side, which can be dangerously slippery. In Australian hotels and motels you'd be likely to have only a shower and no bathtub, while in private homes, especially newer ones, bath and shower are separate from each other (but in the same room). And the main toilet in the house has its own room separate from the main bathroom, although ensuite bathrooms include a toilet.

Making Someone's Day at Harper's Ferry

2004-11-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

We drove to Harper's Ferry yesterday. It was a perfect day to be there: there was hardly anyone else visiting, so we had peace, quiet and privacy, all precious commodities. It was a bit too cold for my taste when we first arrived, but after our picnic lunch we went for a walk alongside the river to warm up, then climbed the short but steep hill up to Jefferson's Rock, where we sat quietly in the sun for quite a while. In spite of the noise from the traffic on the busy highway just over the Shenandoah River, it was very peaceful up there.

The historic part of the town was of course very picturesque, and when the sun came out, its light on the few trees which still had gold coloured leaves was beautiful. The only shop we went into was a bookshop, where I think I made the young girl clerk's day by being from Australia. However, when she realised I wasn't a local she said to S, "Oh, is she not from here?" (Even though I'd been speaking in English about the coins I was trying to sort out to pay for my purchase).

Museums, and Metro Madness

2004-11-04T10:50:00.000-08:00

On Monday I visited the National Air and Space Museum. I spent most of my time in the air section, because I just enjoy looking at old aeroplanes. I was particularly interested in the exhibit about Orville and Wilbur Wright. At school, we were really only told the bare facts, that they were the first people to fly a self propelled aircraft, at Kitty Hawk, for a few seconds. It was really interesting to read about their family life and how they had been encouraged to have enquiring minds right from childhood. There was also information about their different personalities, and a lot of detail (of course) about all the work that was behind that first momentous flight.

I also loved Amelia Earheart's red aeroplane. I would have loved to learn to fly, but finances and poor eyesight prevented it.

Wednesday I went to the Musuem of the American Indian. I had thought that just meant the North American Indian, but actually it included those of South American as well. There was a lot of stuff I was already aware of, about the decimation of whole populations by introduced diseases and about the exploitation and marginalisation of various tribes, but also a lot of information about the resiliency of many of the people and the preservation of their cultures. In some ways, they weren't treated quite as badly as the Australian Aborigines - mostly they weren't forced to work as slaves for the whites - but they certainly weren't treated well either.

On my way home yesterday I got embroiled in the aftermath of a 2 train collision in the subway. The train I was on, and all others on that line, had to be stopped at Dupont Circle and the passengers taken by shuttle bus a few stations up the line to reconnect with trains on the other side of the accident. However, one bus does not equal one 6-car train, so the numbers of people waiting for shuttle buses was huge. I was lucky in being on one of the earlier trains, and only had to wait about half an hour for a bus. However, the bus took more than half an hour to cover the distance the train would have travelled in about ten minutes, so it took me an hour and a half longer than usual to get home.

The crowds of people queuing for buses were amazingly good natured, and there was a lot of joking amongst the African Americans which kept most of us amused. I felt a bit nervous when I first realised my train was not going to take me all the way home, but I soon realised that nobody else knew what was going on either, so I adopted a policy of following the crowd which worked well.

Halloween

2004-11-01T15:52:00.000-08:00

The evening was balmy, dark and mysterious, with the sounds of voices coming from various directions as we crackled through the mounds of dead leaves at the side of the road. Ahead we saw lights and the strange shapes of children in Halloween costumes: little devils, witches, fairies, a miniature footballer and an even smaller crocodile, a very tall Frankenstein. All carried large bags for collecting the treats which they knew would be handed out at any house they visited.

Through the darkness the lights from the houses gleamed through the trees, and at most front doors the light of a candle glowed dimly through a carved pumpkin face. A few homes were brightly lit with strings of orange lights, or had rows of lit up pumpkins along the sides of the driveway or up the steps to the front verandah, but a few had outdone themselves to create the Halloween atmosphere.

From one house, eerie sounds emanated, and although there weren't many lights on, we could see a dim light from the front room. Along with many other people, we crowded up the steps and into the house, but it took a while to be able to work our way to the main attraction. The room was filled with some kind of smoke and kids and adults jostled for position, but eventually we filtered through to the back corner where a grey haired figure with a white painted face and blood red lips was slowly raising itself to a sitting position in a coffin. This elderly man, whose own kids are now adults, has been recreating this scene since at least 1988.

A few houses further along the street, coloured lights outlined the arch over the gate and some other objects in the garden, beckoning us to investigate further. We found a body in a shallow grave just inside, and above us, on the verandah, a ghost illuminated with ultraviolet light. Along the verandah, a man-sized hairy monster with huge clawed hands sat in a chair, moving its head up and down, opening and closing its claws and giving out treats to any child brave enough to come close. We weren't sure if it was a real person, or a remote controlled robotic figure as the lady of the house claimed. Many of the plants in the garden were draped with enormous cobwebs, and carved pumpkins and other suitable accoutrements were dotted about.

At another house, many pumpkins decorated the verandah, while above the steps was a row of blinking lights in the shape of large eyeballs. Around the corner in the next street, we found what we thought at first was a party because of the loud music playing and the number of people moving around. However, large signs proclaimed it to be the "Garrett Traylir Park", and another sign directed us to the "Manigmint Offerse". In keeping with the "trailer trash" theme, guitar pickin' music was playing, accompanied by a real guitarist sitting on the steps, barrels of hooch were off to the side, and piles of laundry were piled up in front of the older man slouched in a chair. Meanwhile several people danced to the music.

Most other houses weren't so extravagant in their decorations, but nearly all displayed at least one carved and lit pumpkin, and without doubt, all had plenty of chocolate bars to give out as treats to everyone who came knocking.

Boston - October 26th - 29th

2004-10-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

Tuesday:
We started out at 6:30 am in the dark. The roads were very crowded even at that early hour. It was basically city for the first couple of hours, but then we got out into slightly more open country, rolling, green in places. The autumn colours of all the trees were spectatular, green/gold/orange/red all mixed together in a patchwork effect. Boston's outskirts remind me a bit of Albany, hilly with winding roads and not well signposted. The drive, of about 565 miles, took about 10 and a quarter hours. S had to do all the driving because I foolishly didn't get an international driving permit before leaving home, and although my local motoring association website only said an international permit is recommended (not required) for the US, we didn't want to take any risks.

Wednesday:
Spent the day downtown. First we visited the Skywalk on the 50th floor of the Prudential building, which gave us an impressive view in all directions along with an interesting pre-recorded commentary (on personal headphones) which gave a short description and history of what we were seeing from each direction. Coming down again in the lift, I was struck by how loudly the other people in the lift were talking. I think the tone would have been more subdued in an Australian lift.

We're staying in a motel on the outskirts of Boston, not too far from a terminus of the T (subway system), and on our first foray into the city we were taken aback to discover that it costs $3 to get into the city, but only $1.25 to get back. We thought we were being ripped off, because none of the token machines were in operation and big notices informed us that the cash fare would be $3, but we've since learnt that that's just the way they work it here.

We got off at Copley Square, and even before heading off to the Skywalk we went into the Boston Public Library (because it has bathrooms!) and spent some time browsing around because it's such an amazingly beautiful building.

Later we walked on to the Public Gardens for lunch, where the very bold squirrels hung around begging for food. One climbed right up onto my backpack, which was on my lap, but wouldn't stay long enough for me to take a photo. From there we went over to Boston Common, where we really liked the Frog Pond and the Tadpole Playground. I couldn't work out why all the ponds and fountains were empty of water, and when I asked S was amused that she hadn't thought to tell me that they're drained for the winter well before the first frost is expected.

From there we retraced our steps until we reached Newbury St, which although it is full of shops didn't feel like a shopping area to me because all the shops are in what used to be houses so you don't get the shop fronts right on the footpath; they're usually up or down steps and inside what look like private doors. Everywhere there was a backdrop of turning leaves in all shades, and again I've been struck by how lush the vegetation is. I thought it might be a bit less so here than in the DC area because it's slightly warmer there. I think the train line is about the most attractive I've seen, simply because of the amount of greenery all along each side of it.

Boston, especially the central touristy part, seems very compact and walkable so far. We concentrated on the area to the south/west of Boston Common today, and we plan to visit the Freedom Trail and other north/eastern parts tomorrow or Friday.

Some of the architecture is similar to that of DC - heavy, solid, massive granite blocks, fairly austere and unadorned on the outside - but some is more similar to what I'm used to in Perth: red brick with ornamental flourishes in contrasting colours around windows and corners, and with more decoration on the outsides of the buildings.

Our motel is really nice: Near the reception area is a computer with free high speed internet access (which I'm using right now) as well as a breakfast area where we can get free breakfast of coffee, fruit juices, tea, bagels with cream cheese (I've never had bagels before - very nice) and sweet pastries, and in our room we have a self contained fully equipped kitchen with fridge, stove, microwave oven and even a dishwasher. There's often a bit of a queue for the computer but so far I've been able to get some time on it to check my emails every day.

Thursday:
A glorious, cold, clear, sunny day. We went to Minute Man Park, the historical site of Paul Revere's ride and the start of the Revolutionary War. We walked along part of the Battle Trail, noting markers of significant moments and places as we went, until we reached the Hartwell's Ale House or Tavern (I hope I've got the name right), where a couple of men dressed in period costume gave a talk about the war and the use of muskets, then showed us through the Tavern. It's the original building which until recently had been lived in and considerably modernised over the original materials, but has now been stripped back and restored to its original condition.

After sitting in the sun by the side of the trail to eat lunch, we drove to Walden Pond, walked around it and then sat basking in the sun watching all the other people also making the most of the perfect day. One particular tree was being extensively photographed because of its very startlingly red foliage. In spite of the cold, several kids were actually wearing bathers and going into the water, though we noticed they weren't spending too long in there.

I was amazed by the contrast of the sheer numbers of interstate and state highways intersecting and intermingling just minutes from beautiful woodland and the peaceful Walden Pond. Both Minute Man Park and Walden Pond were within about ten minutes' drive of our motel.

Friday:
Today we went back to Boston on the T and walked along the Freedom Trail, which is an approximately 2.5 mile long historical walk marked by a red line, mostly red bricks set into the footpath but sometimes red paint on the road, commemmorating the Revolutionary War. Due to the Boston Red Sox winning the World Series, we were somewhat hampered when we reached Government Centre by crowds gathered there to watch the lowering of the Red Sox flag. Everywhere in Boston all week we've seen signs both big and small congratulating the Sox.

As I found the other day, Boston is a very friendly and compact city in which to walk, with a lot of life taking place on the streets, including vendors selling souvenirs, t-shirts and food from carts. I had my first real American burrito (filled with rice, cheese, and black beans - very delicious) followed by a maple/walnut icecream. As we got into the North End, suddenly there was hardly any traffic, although there were cars parked nose to tail right along each side of the road. These were residents' cars, and there was practically no through traffic, which made walking much more pleasant.

Although the Freedom Trail is less than 3 miles long, we didn't get to the final section of, on the other side of the river, until mid afternoon, having begun at about 11:15, because we stopped so often to look at things and take photos. When we reached Bunker Hill and found people are allowed to climb the Bunker Hill Monument, which is a smaller replica of the Washington Monument, we at first thought we were too tired to try the climb, but we eventually decided we didn't want to miss the view from the top, so we climbed all 291 steps up and found it was well worth it. While we were up there still admiring the view, a family of husband, wife and son of about 12 arrived. The husband was in a really bad way and sat down on the floor gasping for breath for a few minutes, making me feel quite worried. Meanwhile I suddenly discovered that when I stood on the 3 ft wide grating in the middle of the floor I could see right down the central shaft to the bottom of the monument, and announced this fact out loud. Immediately the father told his son to stay away from there! The boy was already too scared to even look out of the windows.

After sitting down for a while to let our legs recover from the climb and descent, we walked the rest of the way to the end of the Trail and had a quick look at the USS Constitution Museum. If we'd been half an hour earlier we could have gone on board the USS Constitution itself, and I was disappointed that we missed it, but it had already been a full day and we were reasonably happy to just look at it from the wharf.

By this time it was after 5 pm, so we found our way back to the nearest T station (with difficulty - they've been renovating and the directions were less than clear) and managed to fight our way onto a very crowded train which just kept getting fuller and fuller for the next several stops until we finally cleared the city. We had to stand for about the first half of our trip, which would have been fine except that my legs and feet were quite sore by then.

The Metro

2004-10-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

I made an abortive attempt to visit the National Air and Space Museum today. When I got to the Metro I found there were major delays. The train that was at the station when I got there was so crowded that people were almost hanging out the doors, and many more people were waiting on the platform. The next train was slightly less crowded, so I got onto it thinking I would have to stand up, but a very nice younger man gave me his seat. (He got off a couple of stations later so I didn't feel guilty about him standing for that short distance). After sitting at the station for several minutes, I had almost decided to get off, when we left. Meanwhile there had been an announcement that after the 3rd stop down the line, we could expect delays of up to 10 minutes at each station, which would have meant an approximately 25 minute trip would take probably an hour and a half. If I'd had a book with me, I might have just sat it out; after all, it was still only just after 10 am and I had all day, but I very shortsightedly didn't think to put a book in my bag, so I decided I couldn't be bothered with all the waiting around, and got off and came home again. I feel rather frustrated by my inability to work around the situation because of my lack of local knowledge. In my home city, I'd probably have managed to find a local bus to get me downtown, but here I didn't feel confident enough to try. I'm also conscious of being hampered by the fact that I'm not quite game enough to drive anywhere, even though there is a car at my disposal. Probably in an emergency I could do it, but not otherwise. Anyway, I'll definitely have to get to the Air and Space Museum another time, because it looks really interesting.

On the train I picked up a copy of the Express which somebody had left on the seat, in which I read an interesting advertisement headed "Tim for President". His major ideas seem to be: a. Eliminate all weapons of every kind fromt he world; b. Bring home all the troops so they can concentrate on protecting the US from terrorists and illegal aliens who are taking jobs from US citizens; c. A flat tax for everyone; d. A nationally sponsored health care system for everyone; e. Public servants, including Congressmen, should work for the America because they want to serve their country; f. All individuals will be judged by God when the time comes so there is no need for man to judge them here on earth; g. It must be up to the individual to decide if taking any drug is advantageous to their well being. The only drugs that must be forbidden are those that cause birth defects. I wonder if he'll get any votes. Actually, I don't know enough about how things work here to know if this is genuine or just a joke of some kind. I know nobody in Australia could try to become Prime Minister without first becoming the leader of a political party, then if that party got elected he (or she) would automatically be Prime Minister.

National Postal Museum

2004-10-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

Another still, misty, grey day today, not actually raining while I was out. The nieghbourhood is starting to take on a glow in some places where a particular type of tree (of course, I don't recognise any of the trees) is beginning to turn yellow ahead of the rest. The majority of the background still looks almost overwhelmingly lush and green, but here and there are patches of other colours. There's one place on the walk between here and the Metro station where, if I look east, nearly all of what I see is green, while if I look west from the same spot, I see almost all yellow.

I was at the National Postal Museum today. The restored lobby is just magnificent. I can't describe it without using cliches. Words like imposing, grand, lofty, ornate, come to mind. Inside the museum proper, it was much quieter than the History Museum, and also smaller, so I spent more time looking at the various sections in detail. In some ways the development of the postal system parallels ours in Australia because we were taking on the various new technologies at around the same time, but the major difference is that communications had a much harder time spreading across Australia because it could not be densely settled in the same way the US could. A lot of our cross continental traffic of all kinds was either by sea (and obviously therefore not directly across the continent) or later, by rail.

It was interesting to see the rural mail box art, because people also put up decorative mail boxes in country areas in Australia. I remember my father making a mail box in the shape of a covered wagon. In the case of my family, the only mail delivered to that mail box was carried by the school bus, but in other parts of the country there are still rural mail deliveries by the postal service to people's boxes at the side of the road.

From the postal museum I went across the road to Union Station, which is even huger, more ornate and more imposing than the museum. (The museum was actually built in a style designed to be complementary to Union Station). I couldn't get over all the restaurants, cafes and other eating places in there, not to mention the many boutique-y shops. If you keep walking long enough, you eventually manage to penetrate through to the station.

I've been fnding the Metro very disorienting because it's underground. Our much smaller, simpler electric train system in Perth runs above ground, so I'm used to having external cues to tell me where I am (and I know my way around pretty well anyway). Luckily the Metro is very well signposted, and so far I've always managed to be on the right platform to catch the train I want. However I often feel as if the train is taking off in completely the opposite direction to where I want to go.

Museum of American History Again

2004-10-18T16:37:00.000-07:00

Wow, there's so much to see at the Museum of American History. I could probably have stayed twice as long today and still not have seen everything in as much detail as I would have liked. Unfortunately I was all "museumed" out after a couple of hours. The displays reinforced the view I already had of the US as priding itself on its advances in all areas over the years. This doesn't express exactly what I mean, but no doubt all Americans will know what I mean anyway. In many ways Australia's history has followed similar paths, but in a much quieter, less ostentatious way, and always a few years behind the US.

I've been reading "Consumer Reports" magazines over the last few days (the equivalent of our "Choice"), which have also given me an interesting insight into the local culture. Some products have different features, some are marketed differently and many have different types of names than I would expect at home. For example, foods and products used in the home tend to have what I think of as "homey" or "down home" names that they wouldn't have in Australia, such as Safeway rolled oats which is called "old fashioned oat cereal". I think in Australia it would just be called "rolled oats". And I love the fact that toilet paper is sold here as "bathroom tissue". We just state the obvious and label it "toilet paper" or perhaps "toilet tissue". (I should not here that I'm having trouble remembering that I should not mention the t word in public.) Oh, and that reminds me: yesterday at Great Falls, the public toilets (sorry, bathrooms) had heating!
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Great Falls

2004-10-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

The other day I was in Safeway and I noticed that several of the check out operators were older men. That is something I don't remember ever seeing at home, where it's usually very young guys or women of all ages who have those jobs.

We went to Great Falls yesterday. What a beautiful place, in spite of the crowds of other people also enjoying perfect weather on a Sunday afternoon there. I'm constantly awe inspired by the multitude of trees and the lush greenery everywhere here.

In the evening we were invited out to dinner, where the hostess made a point of cooking quintessentially American food for me: chillie, cornbread, salad, apple pie. All extremely delicious.

And now I'm just about to leave for my second foray into the National Museum of American History.

Downtown Washington DC

2004-10-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

I finally ventured downtown on my own, which of course turned out not to be a big deal as far as finding my way around was concerned. As long as I'm carrying a map and there are streets signs, I don't usually get lost.

I got off at Union Station and walked back towards the Mall and my objective for the day, the National Museum of American History, along E Street because that seemed like a sort of American thing to do: streets aren't named by letters in Australia. I was looking for roadside stands selling t-shirts, which I'd been told I might find at F and 12th Streets but didn't, but instead right outside the museum on Constitution Avenue (I think). 3 t-shirts for $10 seems like a pretty good deal to me, and I got some really pretty ones for all my immediate female relatives.

What most impressed me as I walked along these streets mainly lined with businesses/hotels/govt offices (not many shops in evidence) was the solidity of the buildings. They're not particularly tall - mostly around ten storeys I'd say - but boy are they massive. I think their plainness makes them look more solid too. The equivalent buildings in Perth are in quite a different architectural style, more ornate and with a lot more decorative brick and stone work.

The Museum of American History was very interesting, but after an hour and a half I was sated and exhausted. When I got home I looked through the information booklet I picked up at the information desk and realised just how much I'd missed. I think I'll have to go back at least once more. I found the layout very confusing, with spaces kind of opening out into each other, and even with a map in hand it took me ages to find my way to a bathroom. I kept walking past the same sections again from different angles.

When I emerged to have lunch, some kind of rally was going on in the National Mall, so I made a point of sitting close enough to it to listen while I was eating. It was some group called "Marriage Under Fire" with lots of ranting about how American society is under threat from people trying to redefine marriage. One speaker said trying to redefine marriage is like trying to redefine the law of gravity! (Because it's a law of nature set out by God just like the law of gravity is, don't you know).

The Trip

2004-10-12T13:05:00.000-07:00

1st Leg - Perth to Hong Kong
5/10/04 - Lots of long boring queuing for check in, security, customs, boarding. I didn't sleep long enough last night and now (midday, 20 minutes before take-off) I'm starting to feel tired. I was too tense until now to feel the tiredness. When I went through the security check, I set off the alarm. Someone told me to take off my shoes and put them on the X-ray conveyor belt while I walked through again in my socks. This time no problem. Rosemary picked me up right on time but wanted me to plait her hair and have another look at her tax assessment before we left. I was feeling quite tightly strung but I was able to remain calm while I did what she wanted.

On board, awating take-off: considering this is an international flight, the seats are very small and cramped.

Disappointing not to have a window seat. I'm in the centre block, 4 seats across but on the aisle which could be either good or bad. Not sure what I think about these little screens on the backs of the seats. Bit hard to watch if you have a fidgetty person in front of you.

Take-off plus 10 minutes: I love the moments of take-ff, when the ground drops away, tilting at crazy angles, and you see your city spread out below you.

Now we're flying above strangely solid looking clouds.

Next to me in the other 3 seats is a Chinese family of parents and one little girl. The father fell asleep within the first half hour, after eating some food he'd brough onto the plane with him. I don't feel as if I'll be able to sleep at all because the conditions are so cramped, but I suppose by the early hours of the morning I'll be tired enough not to be able to stay awake. I certainly hope so.

I can't believe I was so nervous about getting to the aiport and being passed through the various procedures. Oh well, next time it will all feel like a piece of cake.

Jen was at the airport to see me off. She told me about missing a plane in the US because of ignoring the request to be at the airport 2 hours before take off. They had to queue for ages and just as they'd nearly reached the head of the line the doors were shut in their faces: "No, sorry, we told you to be here 2 hours ahead of time."

It's cold in here. I might have to put on my spare top as well as wrap up in the airline blanket.

1 pm. Have to remember to do leg exercises every hour or so. Rosemary told me she got very bad leg aches when she went to Japan. The airline shows a video of exercises supposedly for passengers to do to help avoid DVT, but they're shown being done by a man in an open air park, not on a plane, and some of them would not be possible in a plane.

My legs are definitely too long. How ro really tall people cope?

Thank goodness they've turned off the TV for the time being. Though it was interesting seeing the map of where we're going and where we are, and seeing the statistics: altitude, speed, outside temperature etc.

They've been around with drinks and little packets of peanuts (which I didn't eat). We've been given a lunch and refreshments menu, so I wonder what time lunch will be?

The guy next to me keeps sniffing. Euw! I have to put up with another 6 hours of this!

No wonder it's cold in here. By watching the video on the seat next to me (because I didn't want to turn on my own TV) I learnt that it's -47C outside. We're at 36,000 feet, flying at something over 800km/hour.

Sniff - sniff - sniff - Aargghh!

2:30 pm - The departure gate at Perth airport is something. First you see all the fancy shops, duty free etc, then you go around a corner and come to a bare, stark looking, strictly functional door which could just as easily be the entrance to a prison. Once through there's a sort of no man's land (customs), before you go up to the actual departure lounge, which has more shops and is quite comfortable looking, although I was only in it for 10 to 15 minutes and didn't even sit down.

Lunch - not bad, although not generous. I had chicken Provencale - very tasty - with mashed potatoes and very well done carrots and broccoli. I didn't like the starter of shrimp cocktail, but the dessert of chocolate marble cake with a flavoured syrup was delicious.

5:30 pm - watched The Terminal, with Tom Hanks, a warm fuzzy movie. It passed the time. I'm feeling very tired and headachey now, not at all looking forward to the next leg (Hong Kong to LA). I'm still not relaxed enough to sleep.

Hong Kong Airport - 8 pm to 11:25 pm - by the time I got off the plane (not hurrying) and wandered along to my departure gate via a security check, it was after 8:30 so a bit less time to wait.

I'm feeling a bit weird. The adrenalin and tensions of the past few days has worn off, but I'm not quite relaxed enough to sleep. I think I was feeling some motion sickness by the end of the first leg: as we started to descend for landing, I felt hot flushes plus nausea which lingered for a while after I got here. I should probably avoid writing, reading and watching the TV on the next leg. (I did enjoy seeing the Kath & Kim episode the The Sketch Show after the movie, though).

A bit earlier, while I was sprawled out trying to relax, I felt a sort of spasm of depression at the though of the 14 hour flight in front of me, but it's passed now. If only I can sleep for a good part of it.

All that worry turned out to be for nothing. HK airport was a breeze to navigate, and now I'm right at the departure gate. It's a huge airport but all the signs are really big and you get pretty well shepherded along where necessary. Of course, it's late at night so there aren't huge crowds of people around.

Here's a weird thing: if Sally is waking up around now, she can be thinking she'll see me today, but for me our meeting is still not till tomorrow.

LA, Wednesday morning: Ironically, our pilot from Perth to HK was British, possibly Scottish, while our pilot from HK to LA was Australian.

Unreal day yesterday. They kept all the cabin lights turned off all day, or until about 9:30 HK time which was 2 hours before we landed in LA at 8:30 pm local time, so we just didn't really have any day. Nobody near me even opened the window blinds until one woman opened hers an hour or 2 before landing (I would have if I'd had a window seat). The flight was far more comfortable than I'd expected, because there were a lot of spare seats and I had a spare seat beside me to spread out over.

I'm kind of dazed about being here. Managed to get a few hours sleep on the plane in spite of a baby screaming every hour or so, and then a few more hours here, mainly between 5 am and 8 am here when it would have been latish evening in Perth. Avoiding reading, writing and watching TV seemed to solve the motion sickness problem.

Getting on to the flight from LA to Dulles proved about the most stressful part of my trip so far. We kept having to stand in long queues for baggage checks and security checks. I was pretty much leaving everything to Sally which wasn't really fair since she hadn't had to go through any of the procedures before either. We had just caught the shuttle bus from our hotel, thinking there was one every ten minutes, but it turned out they only run half hourly. If we'd missed that one, we would have missed our flight, because by the time we got through all the queues it was only about 20 minutes before the flight.

Washington DC, Sunday 10th October: Today we went downtown on the Metro and walked the length of the National Mall. We intended to go up the Washington Monument but it's closed for renovations until early 2005. We walked along to the Lincoln Memorial past the World War II Memorial. We had sort of planned to have a look at the Vietnam Memorial but there were really long queues and in view of the fact that I've had a few episodes of faintness since arriving we decided standing in a queue wouldn't be a good idea.

From the Lincoln Memorial we walked all the way back to the Capitol, stopping to have a ride on a Carousel half way along and finishing up at Union Station where we caught the Metro for home. It was a glorious clear sunny autumn day, very much like a fine winter day at home.

I drove for a couple of blocks this morning. The car was automatic which was easier than having to change gears with my opposite hand, but even so it was hard. In the evening I drove the manual car, which was much harder. The instinct to reach for the indicators with my right hand and the gears with my left is incredibly strong.

After getting back from downtown we went for a drive out into the country. It's really beautiful - green, rolling, lush forested country which reminds me in places of Marysville or Walpole/Denmark, or even of Collie.

Countdown

2004-10-03T14:59:00.000-07:00

The day after tomorrow I'm on my way. In fact, in 48 hours time, I'll be in the air on the way to Hong Kong, and 24 hours after that, I'll be in LA.

2004-09-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

Things are really falling into place: yesterday I sent myself some money (ie. transferred it to a US bank account) so I don't have to get travellers' cheques or carry much cash on me.

The Best Places to See Fall Foliage

2004-09-05T14:59:00.000-07:00

Walden Pond State Reservation (Concord, Mass.): Walden Pond is hidden from the road by the woods where Henry David Thoreau built a small cabin and lived from 1845 to 1847. When the leaves are turning and the trees are reflected in the water, it's hard to imagine why he left.

Bash-Bish Falls State Park (Mass.): Head from the comely village of South Egremont up into the forested hills of the extreme southwest corner of Massachusetts. The roads, which change from macadam to gravel to dirt and back, wind between crimson clouds of sugar maples and white birches feather-stroked against banks of black evergreens. The payoff is a three-state view from a promontory above a 50-foot (15m) cascade notched into a bluff, with carpets of russet and gold stretching all the way to the Hudson River.

The Litchfield Hills (Conn.): Route 7, running south to north through the rugged northwest corner of Connecticut, roughly along the course of the Housatonic River, explodes with color in the weeks before and after Columbus Day. Leaves drift down to the water and whirl down the foaming river.

I-91 (Vt.): An interstate? Don't scoff (the traffic can be terrible on narrow state roads). If you like your foliage viewing wholesale, cruise I-91 from Brattleboro to Newport. You'll be overwhelmed with gorgeous terrain, from the gentle Connecticut River Valley to the sloping hills of the Northeast Kingdom.

Route 100 (Vt.): Route 100 winds the length of Vermont from Readsboro to Newport. It's the major north-south route through the center of the Green Mountains, and it's surprisingly undeveloped along most of its length. You won't have it to yourself along the southern stretches on autumn weekends, but as you head further north, you'll leave the crowds behind.

The MV Mount Washington (N.H.): One of the more majestic views of the White Mountains is from Lake Winnipesaukee to the south. The vista is especially appealing as seen from the deck of the Mount Washington, an uncommonly handsome vessel that offers a variety of tours through mid-October, when the lake is trimmed with a fringe of fall color along the shoreline.

Crawford Notch (N.H.): Route 302 passes through this scenic valley, where you can see the brilliant red maples and yellow birches high on the hillsides. In fall, Mount Washington, in the background, is likely to be dusted with an early snow.

Camden (Maine): The dazzling fall colors that cover the rolling hills are reflected in Penobscot Bay on the east side, and in the lakes on the west. Ascend the coastal peaks for views out to the color-splashed islands in the bay. Autumn usually comes a week or two later on the coast, so you can stretch out your viewing pleasure.

Boston - Things to See & Do

2004-09-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

Boston is so compact and walkable that you can see and do most everything you want on foot. To guide you in your travels, here's our list of can't-miss attractions:
20. Boston Public Library

A library disguised as a museum disguised as a park, the BPL (America's first lending library) draws bibliophiles, art snobs, and Internet addicts alike.
19. MIT Museum

A quirky, well-executed collection of robots, holograms, and other things that go "blip" in the night.
18. New England Aquarium

Children of all ages will delight in the Aquarium's array of Technicolor denizens of the deep, not to mention its 4-story shark tank and IMAX theater.
17. Arnold Arboretum

One of Boston's largest parks, the Arboretum's rolling, lilac-blanketed expanses are the perfect escape from the cramped confines of the city.
16. Haymarket

The sheer chaos of Boston's multi-block farmers' market---right in the heart of Downtown---must be seen to be believed.
15. Faneuil Hall & Quincy Market

The world's only shopping mall pretending to be a historical landmark, these twin colonial buildings are the most visited spots in the city.
14. Tremont St

It may not be as chic as Newbury St., but for great gourmet food and fabulous shopping, the South End's main drag can't be beat.
13. Sam Adams Brewery

All you ever wanted to know about beer and beer brewing, brought to you by America's winningest brew. Plus free beer! Oh, did we mention free beer?
12. Beacon Hill

The city's oldest and snobbiest quarter is classic Boston, with winding cobblestone streets crammed full of cute shops, gas lamps, private parks, and quaint brownstones with purple windows.
11. Christian Science Plaza

An epic expanse of grass and concrete, dominated by the ornate Mother Church, centered on a dramatic reflecting pool, and home to the fascinating Mary Baker Eddy Library.
10. Harvard University

Prestigious Harvard is more than just a place to pahk yah cah. With a historic campus and several world-class museums---showcasing the work of everyone from the Mayans to Mondrian---the country's wealthiest university is well worth a visit.
9. Old State House

An informative, interactive museum of the early history of Boston---the highlight of the busy Freedom Trail.
8. Museum of Fine Arts

Impressive to the point of exhaustion, the globetrotting MFA features every artistic and artisanal tradition known to mankind, including Japanese samurai armor, medieval musical instruments, and the largest Monet collection outside France.
7. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Well-maintained. Breathtaking. Extravagant....and that's just the atrium courtyard. Housed in a lavish turn-of-the-century mansion, the most delightful museum in Boston features the work of some of the past few centuries' most impressive artists and authors, from Dante to Rembrandt.
6. Public Garden & Swan Boats

A lush, beautifully manicured park smack dab in the middle of the city, the Public Garden offers year-round flowers, Boston's most beloved statue (Make Way for Ducklings), and quiet sunset trips aboard the famed Swan Boats.
5. Fenway Park

Tourists may think Boston revolves around the Freedom Trail, but Bostonians know the city's heart lies just inside the gates of storied Fenway, America's oldest and smallest baseball park.
4. Newbury St

The exception to the Puritan rule, chic Newbury St. is an 8-block parade of everything fashionable, form-fitting, and fabulous---although the high-priced attitude belies what is actually quite a diverse lineup of shops and trendy outdoor cafés, with everything from sleek luxury boutiques to musty used bookstores.
3. North End

Signs in the North End point to Genoa, Roma, and Napoli, but the fastest way there is through the doors of one of the many Old World bakeries, eateries, and caffès that line the streets of this charming Italian-American enclave.
2. Harvard Square

Where else can you find awestruck tourists, angry teenagers, over 300 registered street performers, the world's densest collection of bookstores, and countless current and future yuppies---all on the same block?
1. Freedom Trail

300 years in 2mi.?! It's funny because it's true. Just follow the red brick road (and the camera-wielding tourist hordes) on this trip back in time to the country's exciting revolutionary beginnings.

Boston, Massachusetts travel guide
Boston, Massachusetts - a traveler's guide to the best sites and tourist attractions in this historical city that is America's birthplace.

Boston, Massachusetts is one of the best cities to visit in the United States not only because it holds a lot of America's history but also because it is a "walking city." There are a lot of exciting things to see and do and many sites are centrally located, within walking distance of each other.

One way to view this historical city that is America's birthplace is to take a sightseeing tour by trolley or walk along the Freedom Trail. This popular tourist attraction is actually a red line painted on the sidewalk which meanders through Boston covering many important historical places such as the Old North Church where lanterns were hung "one if by land, two if by sea" during the famous ride of Paul Revere and the site of the Boston Massacre.

Boston's Freedom Trail has several burial grounds along the way in which there are some signers of the Declaration of Independence laid to rest as well as the woman who was known as Mother Goose.

The Freedom Trail also passes through the Boston Common and Fanueil Hall -- which has served as a meeting place since the 1700's when Samuel Adams and other patriots were moving towards the Revolutionary War -- and is now also a fabulous place to both shop and dine. Food stations have almost every kind of food imaginable including delicious bakeries and ice cream. There is also a large number of stores to choose from including pushcart vendors selling all sorts of unusual things as well as your basic Boston souvenirs. If you want to experience Boston, Fanueil Hall should definitely be a stop on your list.

While near the Boston Common don't miss the Public Garden across the street (ask a passerby in which direction to walk). There you will find the Swan Boats (which you can ride on for a few dollars) in warmer weather and a very beautiful setting all year round. A ride on the swan boats is ideal for the kids (they love feeding the ducks in the pond and are usually amazed by the entire concept of the swan boat). However, romantics visiting Boston should not miss the Public Garden either as it is the perfect place to sit, chat and do what couples do and is a frequent place for proposals and even a wedding now and then.

If you didn't do enough shopping at Fanueil Hall, a side trip to Boston's Dowtown Crossing is recommended. Here you will find the famous original Filene's Basement department store where the automatic markdown program ensures bargains galore!

The best way to get around in Boston is by public transportation which is run by the MBTA better known as "The T" to most Bostonians. The T sells visitor passes at fair prices and taking advantage of this will allow you to see even more sites. To venture outside of Boston, take the T to Cambridge and visit Harvard Square. In addition to the prestigious school located there, Harvard University, there is always something interesting to see and do in Harvard Square.

Lastly, I would recommend skipping the John Hancock Building observatory. It can be disappointing. An alternative insider tip: for a really great view of Boston's skyline, check it out from Logan Airport. Harborside Drive at Logan Airport is a great place to view the city and take photos of the skyline against the water of Boston Harbor. At night it is especially breathtaking. Enjoy this fine city!

More things to do before I go

2004-08-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

Some very boring, mundane stuff I should do before I leave:
- defrost my freezer
- leave my house clean(ish) - because my daughter who is going to house and pet sit says I have to
- buy Australian chocolates for my hostess
- make sure I'm able to do next term's unit online (have asked the lecturer but she - hasn't told me definitely yet that it's arranged).
- I'm sure I'll think of more

Things to See and Do in Maryland

2004-08-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the places I would like to visit in Maryland; I'm sure many more will come to mind or I'll find them on the internet. This list does not include the many places right in DC, nor does it include any of Virginia.

Eastern Shore Region
Attractions

Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum - Delightful exhibits concerning the history of the Life-Saving Service, Aquariums, Dolls' house replicas of hotels which once lined the boardwalk, shipwreck artifacts, a mermaid collection, bathing suits from the past and our Sand From Around the World exhibit.

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum - The Museum features nine exhibit buildings on 18 waterfront acres in scenic St. Michaels, step back in time as you enter the fully restored 1879 Hooper Strait lighthouse and feel what it must have been like to be out at sea alone, guiding ships to safety. With a working boatyard, an impressive collection of decoys and a new interactive waterman's shanty, there's something of interest for everyone.

Ocean City Pier Rides - The Old Town section of the Ocean City Boardwalk brings back the magic of care-free fun-filled days of the past while being emerged in the excitement of the people, rides and finger foods of this traditional sea-side resort town. come, relax, get wild, and smell the salt air!

Western Region
Attractions

Spruce Forest Artisan Village - Experience the traditions of Appalachian folk life, observe artisans at work in restored authentic log cabins, or treasure hand-crafted works of art and take home a piece of yesteryear.

Canal Place - Visitors can ride a steam train, hike or bike the towpath, tour a full scale Canal Boat Replica, learn about canal history at the C&O Canal National Historical Park's Cumberland Visitor Center, enjoy unique festivals like the annual C&O CanalFest and, in the near future, take a ride on a canal boat on the rewatered terminus!

Thrasher Carriage Museum - This collection of early 19th and 20th century horse drawn conveyances, once privately owned by local resident James Thrasher, is noted as one of the most unique in the United States.

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad - The trip covers a 1,300 foot change in elevation. You'll see tunnels and bridges and catch glimpses of scenery hidden for decades. More than three hundred years of American history are tied together by a ribbon of steel that thrills riders of all ages.

Central Region
Attractions

USS Constellation Museum - The last all sail warship built by the US Navy provides a spectacular view of Baltimore's historic waterfront. As the only civil war era vessel afloat, USS Constellation invites guests to step back in time and explore the decks of history. Interactive presentations and demonstrations by the ships crew.

Cascade Lake - Spring-fed lake nestled among rolling hills and woods. Visitors may swim, fish and picnic. Roped-off swimming are includes waterslides, high-dive platform, & floating rafts. The facility also features a Petting zoo.

Historic London Town and Gardens - Historic London Town and Gardens is a 23-acre park located on the South River in Edgewater, Maryland. London Town has within its boundaries part of the late-seventeenth and early eighteenth-century town of London, which is currently being excavated by archaeologists from the Lost Towns Project.

B & O Railroad Museum - Through programming and exhibitions, the B&O Railroad Museum seeks to explore many new facets of American railroading and offer a wide range of experiences to its visitors.

Southern Region
Attractions

Annmarie Garden on St. John - Sculpted out of nature and enhanced by the hand of man, thematic rooms emerge from various paths and trails that wind through this garden paradise. Each has its own ambiance, message, and character.

Sotterley Plantation - It is the only remaining Tidewater Plantation in Maryland that is open to the public with a full range of visitor activities and educational programs. Sotterley's significant architecture features the early 18th-century Manor House, a rare slave cabin, and a full array of outbuildings set amidst seventy acres of rolling fields, gardens and riverfront.

American Chestnut Land Trust - Nature trails, organized bird, flower and tree hikes, picnic facilities, canoe trips, an arboretum and more.

Patuxent River Naval Air Museum - This museum is the nation’s only museum dedicated to naval aviation research, development, testing, and evaluation. Exhibits include the 'Iron Maiden', the rubber airplane, the unmanned 'Pioneer', and 17 pieces of aircraft.

MISCELLANEOUS

Crisfield (Eastern Shore) - because I'm a fan of Cynthia Voigt, who wrote several books set in and near Crisfield.

Harper’s Ferry

2004-08-19T16:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am pretty much ready to go! Today I picked up the tickets, now just have to make arrangements about money. (And of course finish as much of the work for my course as possible).

Tickets

2004-08-17T23:38:00.000-07:00

My tickets are awaiting collection at the travel agent's - I'm probably going to get them tomorrow afternoon.

Yesterday I got a prescription for sleeping pills from the doctor, to help with overcoming jet lag. It's also been suggested to me that I could get from a particular chemist conveniently close to my job, a jet lag remedy which is not an aid to sleeping but instead reduces or eliminates the symptoms of feeling terrible.

Insurance and accidental deletion

2004-08-12T16:59:00.000-07:00

I went to the travel agent to fill out the insurance form, and worked out that I needed to pay for one more week's insurance, which I did. Before I left, I asked the guy to email me a copy of my itinerary so I can easily pass it on to others who need to know. Unfortunately, when it arrived, I didn't recognise it in my mail checking program, and told the program to delete it. I felt so stupid! I was able to retrieve the first 20 lines, but that wasn't nearly enough, so I humbly emailed the travel agent to ask them to send it to me again.

Insurance & other matters

2004-08-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

My final payment has been received, and now I need to go to the travel agent to fill in an insurance form, which I should be able to do tomorrow. Yesterday I received from Sally US$23 in small denomination notes, just in case we can't find each other at the airport and I have to go to our hotel by taxi. I'm planning to take some traveller's cheques and also to just use my Visa card to get money while I'm there.

I have an interesting list of things to see and do in Washington DC as well as in Maryland. I'm thinking I should also do a search for things of interest in Virginia and perhaps Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Today I made a small purchase towards the trip: a travel pack of baby wipes. I also came up with the idea of tying small strips of fluorescent yellow material to my luggage handles to make it easy to pick out in a crowd, although being green (rather than the ubiquitous black) should make it fairly easy.

2004-08-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

I am about to make the final payment for my trip, and should be able to pick up the tickets by the end of the week.

The Background

2004-08-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

29th July 2004
4:26pm: Anxiety attack
Very bad night - couldn't get to sleep because I was feeling very anxious about various things I have to get done before I leave on my trip, which is suddenly looming closer. When I did fall asleep I woke up less than an hour later, then again after a dream which was superficially very ordinary but had undertones of menace, less than an hour after that. I lay awake for a while, then rang my lover (midnight here = midday there - one of the very few advantages of our twelve hour time difference). After talking for a while, I still took a very long time to get back to sleep, and woke at about 5:40 am. I'm feeling a bit tired now. However, I went to the travel agent this afternoon and paid half the outstanding balance, and will pay the rest next week. At the same time I asked a couple of questions that had been bothering me, about relatively simple things that I just don't know (and therefore feel stupid for having to ask). Now, if I could just get started on the study (still waiting for the lecturer to send out the necessary information and post the stuff on the website), I'm sure my anxiety levels would go down dramatically.

30th July 2004
I think my passport has arrived, as I had a note in my mailbox saying the PO is holding a registered article for me, and what else could it be? I'll go and pick it up tomorrow.

1st August 2004
Oh yes, that registered letter was my passport; I picked it up from the PO yesterday morning.

Getting ready - Early July

2004-08-08T17:12:00.000-07:00

Today when I went to submit my passport application, I expected everything to be straightforward: I had all the necessary documents, and had used them to apply for my previous passport, so I was under the impression that they would be acceptable this time around. However, it seems the rules have changed since I applied for that previous passport after getting married back in 1978. The man in the Post Office who was checking the documents informed me that my marriage certificate is not acceptable because it isn't a certified copy from the Registry of Marriages, showing a registration number. (I have to show a marriage certificate as proof of change of name). The irony is that I've been divorced for nine years, yet I have to fork out $40 to apply for a certified copy of my marriage certificate to prove that I am entitled to use my current surname rather than the one I was born with. The alternative would be to pay $140 to change my name back to my former name. Women just can't win. If somebody had told me back when I was getting married about all the hassles associated with name changes, I would have insisted on keeping my maiden name.

Well, the passport application is not yet submitted, so I can't cross that off my list of "Things to do to Prepare for my Trip", but I did buy an expensive and I hope, long lasting and waterproof pair of leather walking shoes at last, specifically for the trip. (I might add, the most expensive pair of shoes I've ever bought in my entire life). For the first time in my life I bought men's shoes for the extra width (I'm sure my feet are getting wider as I get older), but they're not too big and chunky looking. I do have big feet and no pair of shoes is going to disguise that fact, but I don't think these shoes emphasise it, unlike some men's shoes I've looked at.

Travel Diary

2004-08-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

I think I'm going to keep this as my travel diary, if I can work out how to post easily.

Another new blog - just what I need.

2004-08-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

Goody, a new blog.