Text 7922, 51 rader
Skriven 2010-05-20 01:07:53 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
   Kommentar till text 7920 av Ross Cassell (1:123/456)
Ärende: Re: The Greek Misery
============================
Ross,
 
RC> Just because you visit that country every year, does not make you an
RC> expert on that country anymore than Ward would be an expert on the USA,
RC> because he spends time in Montana each year.
 
I beg to differ because you can hardly say I visit the way the average tourist
does. As a matter of fact, I take part in social life and I simply do know a
lot about the US ... that's not equal to sitting in a tourbus and listening to
the guide.
 
For example I'm very wel versed in the history of Glacial Lake Missoula (and
now everybody clicking "www.wikipedia.com/.... to figure out what it was).
 
 
For example "2" I know what "Egg Mountain" in Montana is as I helped excavate a
Maiasaura nest. Still have fossilized eggshell from that time.
 
I descended into the Grand Canyon, visited Wrangell-St.Elias national park 3
times ... getting there is an expedition in itself. Glacier National Park is my
second home. Had a congressional tour of the White House in 1977 courtessy Max
Baucus.
 
I was introduced to Chief Earl Old Person and via him got in touch with a
great-grandson of someone who fought with the indians at the Little Bighorn.
Visiting that battlefield with someone knowledgeable through oral history was
really something. I met the grandchildren of people who survived the Baker
massacre ...
 
I've lived for quite a while on the Blackfeet reservation, nearly even got
married there, during the time of the upheaval at Wounded Knee in the 70-ies.
Getting that angle was priceless...
 
I walked the High-Line Trail for a portion, I extensively visited Donner Pass,
looked for the Anasazi dwellings, became a researcher for the US Holocaust
Memorial Museum in DC, worked in the computer center of Washington State
University at Pullman WA (My office was in the "D. French Administration
Building"), I worked as a volunteer firefighter for the Service ....
 
This is not your ordinary type of tourist, Ross. I've seen more of and done
more in the US than the average US citizen ever does.
 
RC> If I visited Sweden every
RC> year, I could not be considered a expert on Sweden.
 
That depends on the nature of your visits.
 
 \%/@rd

--- D'Bridge 3.54
 * Origin: Many Glacier -- "The Lord of the Pings" (2:292/854)