Friday, April 9, 2010
A Funny Thing Happened: Travel Anecdote
Travel often leads us into funny or humorous situations. Write about a time something funny happened to you while travelling. Keep it very short (no more than 200 words) and use story telling style: have people talking in dialogue, for example. Brad intends to offer a fresh anecdote from his computer in Europe. Make sure your anecdote is submitted before class on Wednesday, April 14.
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Is Someone In There?
After a long trip through the Chunnel on the Eurostar, we got on the local Belgian train to Leuven (where my daughter is studying French). The train car was mostly empty and had a convenient WC (washroom) with an automatic door. Across, sat a young woman dressed in the "hippy" style with mismatched gloves, sensible looking shoes that closed with a button rather than laces and a long scarf knotted around her neck. Beside her was younger dark-skinned man dressed in track pants and a polo shirt. When not talking on his mobile (cell) in a rapid fire mix of Arabic and French, he fidgeted and, at times, laid down on the seats with his hands behind his head. I'd already tried the WC door, but it appeared to be occupied. Soon, a steady parade of people came to try the door, but none were successful. Finally, the man got up, banged hard on the door, kicked it once or twice and yelled, "Il y a quelqu'un? Il y a quelqu'un?" (Is anyone in there?) The young woman across from me smiled and rolled her eyes. The man returned to his seat, but, oddly, did not appear to need the WC (he didn't search for another one). Perhaps he was trying to help us out, but who knows? --215 words
Are you designers?
In the fall of 1995, I went to Paris with my boyfriend for a two-weeks trip. The most impressing memory is the day of visiting Fondation le Corbusier. We took metro and then walked into a quiet green alley. When we arrived at an iron gate, no sign on the wall, so we were unsure if it was the right place. I thought to ask for help. A young policewoman and her Harley just stopped on the left corner of the alley then. "Bonjour!" my experiences told me that travelling in France should greet in French first, or they might ignore me. She was nice, but she had no idea where exactly it was. Just then, an old gentleman- about eighty with stick in straight white shirt, black suit and classic hat- walked toward us. "Excusez moi!" I pointed to the picture on my guide. "Are you designers?" he asked in English. "Graphic designers." He took one step back and bowed his respect, and then showed us the directions. Before he left, he bowed to us again. Later I got to know that designers get greatest respect, as much as doctors, in some countries. I'm wondering how about in Canada?
--200 words
Sorry, but I can not switch my mind to any travel story after I heard what happened with Polish President and his team in Russia this weekend.
Plain crush killed president Kaczynski and 95 others including his wife, a lot of polish political, military and religious leaders. It was a dense fog; but passengers were afraid to be late to the ceremony of a World War 2 massacre (15000 polish officers were killed), and probably put pressure on a pilot for landing.
How it could happen that all the government leaders were in one plane? It is nonsense.
If the elite are not in safe hands, what we can say about others?
When we start weighing the things based on the risk?
I can not understand how people can put an advertisement on the same page of crush. (This money for sure will not work for them)
I feel so sorry for all these things happened. My heart is with polish people to share their tragedy.
Where is My Bollywood Movie?
A funniest thing that ever happened with me was when I was coming to Canada. It was happened with me on the way in the plan. I was very excited to meet my grandparents, aunts, and uncles after such a long time. My first flight was Dehli to Hongkong. In the plan, I was watching bollywood movie and enjoying my first time ride on the plan. After a 9 hours flight, I had to change my plan from Hongkong to Vancouver. This flight was 12 hours long. It was not very pleasant. Well! When I turned on the television, there was not any bollywood movie palying. I was little bit disappionted. I ask person which was sitting beside next to my seat, “that could you help me to find bollywood movie.” She said, “Press the channel button.” Then there was a fighting start between me and remote control. Remote control won this battle. Suddenly, my mind said, “Oh wait, this is not the same plan where i was before.” After that I realized that there were no more bollywood movies. It was a funniest thing that ever happened with me on any long trip.
---186 words
One of the funniest things that happened to me when traveling was the time my family and I went to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This is a famous vacation spot in the Smoky Mountains where there are lots of wild animals and strange looking insects. Some days we could see bears, deer, rabbits, raccoons and I would get out the video camera to start filming. They would just stand there and let you film them as thought they enjoyed being watched. One day as I left the hotel room I saw a praying mantis. It’s an insect that is bright green, with a very thin body and big red eyes. As it sits, the praying mantis will put it’s hands together to look like it is praying. They look scary, but they are harmless. I thought it would be fun to capture this moment on film. As soon as I began to film, I looked through the lens and the praying mantis turned it’s head and looked directly at me. I thought “Wow!” It knew I was filming it. I zoomed closer to get a better look. I guess he wanted a closer look too, so he jumped onto the camera lens. That was too close for comfort. Needless to say I stopped filming.
213 words
Arrival at YVR in September 11th,2001
I guess everybody remembers September 11th, 2001. I was on the aircraft from Inchon to Vancouver. It had been hard to stifle tears in my eyes to leave behind the family; however, as the airplane approached YVR, I was wearing pink colored glasses and quite excited about a new life. I heard a routine announcement from the speakers, “Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landed shortly in Vancouver International airport. ” The “SHORTLY” took us for 5hours to land. We didn`t get much of information why we had to wait. After killing the long time in the limited space, I thought I would be set free. In my surprise, I encountered with armed officers before I pass the immigration office. All the passengers were treated like prisoners. One of the offices said, “Raise your hands, and stay still against the wall.” It was just like a war. I was so scared why all these things happened. When I escaped the crucial moment, I was exposed many flash lights in the waiting area. There were reporters, cameraman, and worried waiting people. Finally, I landed in Vancouver airport amidst hearty cheers. 196words
This incident happened to me while traveling the first time to Canada from Saudia. It was funny and scary at the same time. The plane I was boarding was heading to Germany from Jeddah, Saudia. When I reached Germany I had to switch to another plane, so I had to go to the check in. The man at the check in asked me if I have ever been here before, he was speaking in German so I didn’t understand what he was saying; I kept looking at his face. He kept repeating the same thing several times. There was a woman behind me that knew both German and Arabic language, she translated what he said. He told me I had to take the train to go to the gate to my plane. When I reached the gate I found a lot of people in a line up, some of them were speaking Arabic. When I was waiting in line a lady asked me where are you going? I said Canada. She said I think you are in the wrong line. I said why is that? This line will take you back to Jeddah the same place that you came from.
-201 words-
I have never traveled to other countries and I was first time to visit Canada with my family in 2001. We directly flew from Taiwan to Vancouver about 11 hours. Our tour guide’ responsibility was to translate language when we passed through Vancouver Customs. Even though we could not take our time to enjoin, we still visited Vancouver, Victoria, Banff National Park, Columbia Icefield, and Lake Louise. In my impression, I saw attractive the reflection of the colourful mountains in Lake Louise, and we ate lunch in Chateau Lake Louise. Also, we went to on the top of Sulphur Mountain by gondola, and saw Bow Falls which are famous for Marilyn Monroe in the film "River Of No Return”. Besides, we were surprised to see deers and bears when we went to halfway of Banff National Park. Moreover, we saw extensive Icefield Parkway by Snow Coach. Furthermore, we saw a variety kinds of flowers in Butchart Garden, visited Chinatown, Provincial Assembly Building, and Victoria harbour. Evening, we stayed in Empress Hotel. Finally, we saw steam clock in Gastown, took horse-drawn vehicles around Stanley Park and saw Totem Poles there. (189 words)
With a two years old child, I could not imagine how weary my journey-the flight of 15 hours with two times transfer-would be. In January 2009, I went back to China with my son. The two carry-on bags were stuffed with his favorite toys, books, food, and drinks, in case his bore or panic. First, he was frightened to cry by the toilet loud sudden flushing. Second time, curiously, he stared at the water speedily twirling down along the toilet wall, suddenly sucked away with a lid click closed the drain tube in a second. Later on, almost every half hour, he claimed to pee. I knew he just wanted to experience the flushing. I distracted him from the toilet by the toys, books, food, or drinks, however, they all failed. He cried or screamed, demanding to washroom. In order not to disturbing other people’s sleeping, I accompanied him to the tiny smelly space again and again. Finding the abnormality, a thoughtful attendant approached us. ”Does your child have diarrhea?” she cared, “We have medicine.” I was embarrassed to tell her what made my son such restless. The long flight was exhausting but refreshing. My son made it memorable.
199 words
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