At the end of the day, when all is said and done…

In this new career I’ve found my way into — teaching English to speakers of other languages — I learn something new every day. I might have finally learned to be an active listener!! I’ve done a deep dive into the intersection of language and culture. But I’ve especially learned about the English language itself. What a silly, aggravating, useful, maleable tool (except for English spelling. That’s just stupid).

The other day, a student asked me for the top 10 most important idioms to know in English. Well…, I had the same thought you just did: ChatGPT. Now I find I can’t say anything without it sounding cliche.

So to sum up this 2-month journey, get comfy. We’re going on a trip down memory lane (of English idioms): It’s etched in my mind that all good things must come to an end. I’ve come full circle, but all in all, you live and learn, and there’s no going back.

Just kidding. Here are some photos.

National Parks: I get to scratch 3 national parks off my scratch-off poster when I get home: Olympic, North Cascades, and Mt. Rainier, all in Washington State. I’m glad I was able to see them before more nonsense in the other Washington closed them to the public (click to enlarge):

Two photos from North Cascades National Park and one of Mt. Rainier. Rainier was making its own weather up there. There were no other clouds in the sky except those atop the mountain.

Canada: How many things can I say that I love about Canada? That they call their coins loonies and toonies. That the Canadian flag is hands-down the best flag in the world. That I saw Canadian geese flying in formation for what I would like to estimate was a mile wide (was probably only a kilometer??), honking away, and then flying in the opposite direction a few minutes later. Back and forth, honk honk (different groups, I know, but it was all geese to me). Or that this sign exists, near where I was staying just before crossing back into the US. There were several versions of it, because the city of Hope really is to the east and the border really is to the south. So I finally had to grab a photo of it.

Oregon: Some of you have probably already heard my argument for wanting to be admitted into the club of native Oregonians. Alas, I was not born there. But my son was. I lived there for 10 years. My daughter is a Duck. I want to be an honorary Oregonian (if I can’t be Canadian). I love the Oregon Coast, the Oregon mountains, the Oregon vibe. (I don’t like rain, though. So that’s a problem.) Here are some photos from my journey south through central Oregon, finally heading home (click to scroll through):

(a) Multnomah falls. (b) An excellent state motto (wait, is it the state motto?). (c) A gorgeous sunset over the Columbia River Gorge, with Mt. Hood in the background. (d) The best-named bridge (which is also part of the Pacific Crest Trail).

It’s all relative. A big lesson I learned about half way into this journey is that I was FAR less lonely when I parked in a remote grassy field with nobody around than when I parked in a full campground. Beginning on Salt Spring Island, about 45 minutes by ferry from Vancouver Island, I began a series of parkups in empty grassy fields that people rent to campers at minimal cost. There are absolutely no amenities (except for beautiful moon rises and deer wandering by and peace and tranquility) and no other people. And I felt so much less lonely! I attributed it to “relative deprivation.” When I saw happy campers with friends and families on their camping vacations, I felt relatively lonely. When I was alone in a grassy field and knew nobody was going to ask me with a sad face, “Are you traveling alone?” I wasn’t lonely at all.

The end. My next crazy adventure is around the corner. I’m going to call it a day as I turn the page on this one. Thanks to those who read this far!

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