It's been fun for me to see if I recognize some of you in all the recently posted photos (nice photos, Michelle, Tierra, and Tiara, but was that you, Jeff?!), and I enjoyed "going along with you" on some of your road trip adventures. Fascinating stories. . . While reading Kyle's detailed post about his southwestern trip, I was also struck by the challenge of describing in words rather than relying on photos. Both are good, but sometimes one doesn't have the photos!
OK, what I started to post here is that I did online research into Rock Creek Lodge and the Testy Fest. It's easy to find; apparently this lodge is known far and wide for that event! Besides the lodge's own website, it is listed on one called Legends of America: A Travel Site for the Nostalgic and Historic Minded, which strikes me as hilarious. However, I also found information on the lodge itself on a Montana state site: halfway between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, it's used the rest of the year by people who go there to hunt, fish, etc.
Now, going way back with your posts, I wanted to respond to a few:
Dan, I also like Eustace's speech about us living our lives in boxes. It reminds me of the folk song from the 1950s or 1960s, "Little Boxes."
Rob and Jeff, I also especially like Chuck Palahniuk's essays -- including the introduction -- about writing and writers. It strikes a chord for me as a writer and serves a good introduction for non-writers, I think.
Jeff, I like the way you combined Roosevelt's and Columbia's slogans into "Just watch me. . . create change." It works.
Finally, in responding to Jeff's question about why so many Asians and so few Hispanics in downtown Chicago, I want to remind you to look for questions at the end of your classmates' posts and to respond to as many of these topics as we can (although I know that Joe has discussed some of them with you during your afternoon sessions). So anyway, Jeff, this is my theory about so many Asians: I wonder if you notice them more around the South Loop, where we have so many colleges. For example, Columbia has specific summer courses for ESL (English as a Second Language) students, so I've noticed quite a few Asians, too. As far as Hispanics, I've heard Hispanic students lament the fact that they sometimes feel isolated, at least here at Columbia. What do the rest of you think?
