The strangeness of everyday things
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Years ago I had to go to Salt Lake city Utah for a week to take a telephony training course. Aside from the whole world capital of Mormonism thing, I found it particularly odd when waiting in line at the Subway (a chain of subway sandwich shops that is North America wide at least) about half the people in line ahead of me were paying for their sub by personal cheque. No ID was requested, the staff didn't bat an eyelash, just took the cheque and gave them the sub. This was extremely weird to say the least. The same line up in Canada would have about a quarter of the people paying cash and the other three quarters paying by Debit Card which is probably the most popular form of payment in Canada.
"A dope trailer is no place for a kitty..." - BubblesJohn Cardinal wrote: a telephony training course I need my eyes checked. The first time I read that I though you said "a telepathy training course"! --Colin Mackay--
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Owing to our extreme climate here, there are a few things I suspect that strangers would find odd. For one, no one goes anywhere - not even to the store - without a jug of water. Air conditioning in cars is taken for granted, as it is in homes. You die here without it (literally) and after a time you take air conditioning completely for granted. Paved streets turn abruptly into dirt trails, and no one pays much attention - or slows down appreciably. Jaywalking isn't illegal here, nor is carrying a pistol on your hip. It's not unusual to see people crossing the state highway anywhere they please, while in more populated places that's good for a hefty fine. No one notices, either, that the guy ahead of you in line at the grocery store has a Glock on his belt, and the cashiers aren't a bit nervous about it. They know that they're actually much safer because of it. Seeing rattlesnakes and scorpions is a daily occurance for many of us, and few are troubled by them or would go out of their way to harm one. Aside from gnats in the early spring we see very few insects, and at night a newcomer is always startled by the early evening sky being filled with bats. Coyotes routinely snack on pets, but few get upset by it - free kittens are plentiful. Few people here have backyard pools, those ubiquitous appliances common in other states, but most have a boat or two, along with some jetskis parked in the yard. Every place has unique features that the locals take for granted and tourists find surprising; we're no different, just a heck of a lot hotter than anywhere else in the US. "Another day done - All targets met; all systems fully operational; all customers satisfied; all staff keen and well motivated; all pigs fed and ready to fly" - Jennie A.
I was a water/powerade/coke junkie when a friend and me drove through new mexico, nevada and east california. The sun and dryness is just insane! However, it was quite a contrast compared to where we started our journey - Lafayette, LA (hot and humid to the point where you don't know if it's the humidity or sweat that's causing the sticky feeling on your skin) However, I never saw anyone carrying guns on their belts (lucky me, cause I'd probably have freaked out), nor did I see any live rattle snakes. :sigh: -- Seraphim Shock. Gold for your ears.
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You too, eh?? X|
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](http://www.canucks.com)Sonork 100.11743 Chicken Little "You're obviously a superstar." - Christian Graus about me - 12 Feb '03 Within you lies the power for good - Use it!
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I actually did that drive over two days. I found the day after I left Roger's place when I crossed the mojave desert to be a lot worse. damn that was hot!! This coming from a guy that finds anything over 30 celsuis to be too hot to handle:cool:
[
](http://www.canucks.com)Sonork 100.11743 Chicken Little "You're obviously a superstar." - Christian Graus about me - 12 Feb '03 Within you lies the power for good - Use it!
