mike carey

Projection?

And at the start of last century you were allies, but it seems there were some disagreements after that. The world appears to have righted itself now. But neither that nor inscrutable humour and manners is the topic of this thread, so we move on.

Perhaps you could have left it, others' opinions, even when they repeat things that have already been said in different words, can be helpful. Especially in this case, when coming from an Argentine. But your recommendation of the other view is still recorded here.

They are, and on the Argentine side you are in among them, winding between cascades on the paths. We did a jet boat trip from a bit downstream, worth it, but it adds to rather than creates the experience, and it may not even been an option now. The Brazilian side gives you a grand vista of them. Whatever you are able to see, it's an experience of a lifetime. But in reality, it's one of many, not the defining one.

It would seem he succeeded in casting himself off, the final stitch removed from whatever needle he was using. Casting off is a closure of sorts, a completion.

And throughly worth a visit.

@BSR I hope you enjoy Iguaçu, it was one of the highlights of my trip to that part of the world. It's worth going across the border to see it from both sides, but border formalities might make that impossible.

I had been about to object to the part about not rewriting menus, but I realised it was more nuanced than it had first appeared. Some of their menus are narrow and restricted, others are far broader, but each menu is a set of boundaries. Some boundaries can be pushed, others are set in granite. You may find a pizzeria that sells sushi, but don't count on it.

It was great to see you in April!

Some years ago, there was a brief discussion here comparing McDonald's with In and Out Burgers, with McDonald's coming off as the one with surly uninterested staff, tacky locations and a generally unattractive experience. Shortly after reading that, I was in one of their stores in the western suburbs of Sydney, not a prime area, immigrant and working class kids working there, and the US description was not what I saw. Clean, engaged staff, there was a line to order and it was shortly after they had begun to instal the automated ordering screens. A young staff member, South Sudanese at a guess, offered to walk me through the ordering process on one of the machines (I could have worked it out myself, but I let them show me). I selected 'table service' and another cheerful teenager brought me my meal. I've seen stores in the US that match the 'tired' description portrayed here back then, and more recently many newer ones with the cleaner decor that Australian stores have, and generally good service. Even table service at one in South San Francisco. A couple days ago I saw the video below, and when the last few comments here were posted, I thought it would be interesting to post it here. I had known that the McCafe concept was one that started here - we take our coffee seriously - but some of the other things the video shows came as something of a surprise. The narration is in an Australian accent and it reflects the views of someone here looking out rather than an overseas observer looking from afar, so you should allow for that in watching it.

You have the directness of Steven Draker, late of this parish. But similarities abound, and they are no indication of connection.

The guy had class. Or at least consideration.

Yes, but you had the pull of a home country as well. Even the idea of Christmas in winter is foreign, and it draws us back to the south, where that holiday falls in what for us is its appointed season. Moving from the US to Canada doesn't bring that sense of dislocation.

Oh. Yes, it is. For some of us that's such basic knowledge that it didn't occur to me that it wasn't obvious. My bad. And in a play on that name, the national football team of Aotearoa is the All Whites, and the basketball team is the Tall Blacks.

I can understand that for some Americans, the idea of Canada is enticing. Less drama, the idea of a friendlier life. But moving is not easy, there are hurdles to jump, and no guarantees of being able to move. If you could move easily it may be a simpler choice, to move for now hoping that the things you think you need to escape might cease to be an issue and you could go back. Your own country always has a pull on you, emotionally, practically, families. Five years ago, I was disillusioned by the way I saw Australia going, and in the glow that New Zealand held across the ditch, there was the kernel of an idea to move. For us, moving there is far easier than it is for Americans to move north. We can simply move, no questions, 'register' as a resident, and in five years obtain a passport. It's more complex for Kiwis to go the other way, but for us it's easy. The pandemic snuffed out any idea of doing that, neither of us could at all. Five years later, the tone of Australia has changed. If I had moved, the pull of home would have been strong. I may not have regretted the move. But I do not regret now that I couldn't. But I could never, ever, ever have cheered for the All Blacks. Canada may have an allure now, but today in America is not forever. Escape may feel urgent in this moment, but whatever has changed, much remains the same. There is a rhythm of life, moving will disrupt it, the idea of change may promise something better, but it will be different in ways that you will not know until you try it. That can be a caution as much as an objective.

How absolutely ghastly!

Sark, one of the Channel Islands/Îles Anglo-Normandes.

I think both @Jamie21 and I knew exactly what the other was saying.

No big deal, the thread was gradually shifting to the same conclusion. it needed a gentle reset.

BaronArtz, I think you may have misread the situation. As I read what has been posted here, @charmasianman is not in the US on a student visa, he's there by right as a US citizen, but he sees some of his situation as being the same as being an international student because of the time he's spent in his other country of citizenship. Despite being a US citizen, that he feels as if he is something of an outsider there. My apologies if I am the one who has misread things.

How interesting!

Brutal, Jamie!

Some potential clients appreciate such a contact even if it's random. It's nicer if there's more than a 'Hi'. If it's friendly that's even better. If they say 'Hello Handsome' and you've seen them somewhere else, even if you can't know that they had seen you in the same places, it can be enticing. It's happened to me. It can progress. I've had conversations that confirmed that it could work. That doesn't mean I've had a professional meeting with those men. Yet.

Perhaps, but is will he be visiting a series of places or in parallel.

Perhaps alternating is current now.