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August 28, 2007
blog inspiration
I know I said I was too tired to blog but that was before I read all of my email. Greg (see previous post on my BSF) is our next house guest scheduled to arrive from Scotland in just 9 days. Here is the list of things he's interested in seeing during his Seattle stay:
Nice things I'd like to do (in no particular order):- Splodging.*
- Visiting cool and interesting Seattle places/events deemed so by cool and interesting by Seattlites.
- Doing domesticky stuff. What's it like living in America? This obviously means visiting Walmart, firing doughnuts, and eating guns from drivethrus. Or was it the other way round? ;-)
- Going on a tour of the Boeing factory (was recommended). Hey, you get to visit the largest building in the world by volume - what's not to like?
- Being cultured.
- Potential doing high-powered physical activities (if I get the correct travel insurance..)Basically, I'm easily pleased and will try anything at least once. It'll be fun.
Since I am a Seattle native I am finding it difficult to parse out what anyone would really find interesting here, especially foreigners. Richard and Farida left this morning. I felt I owed them a trip to Walmart but sadly we did not make it. Richard did get to see guns in a sporting goods store though so he was quite pleased with that sighting. Farida got to experience first-rate customer service while shopping at Nordstrom. Everything is pretty much self-serve in Holland.
I had not considered ever taking anyone to seeing Boeing. Alex, can you get us in? I think Karsten may like a Boeing tour too. Heck, I've never been on a Boeing tour. The thought never occured to me.
I love having foreigners visit for the cultural exchange. Richard and Farida live in the most liberal city in the world. They told us about the clown who has a clown photo for his id card, the mob boss who was gunned down in Amsterdam and the Prime Minister who presented himself as Harry Potter.
...and because I can really no longer type I'm off to bed with this warning:
Readers be warned, if you email me it may just end up on my blog!
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*Splodging refers to "hanging out" but I'm not sure if that is just a Scottish saying or British as well.
Posted by jana at August 28, 2007 9:52 PM
Comments
You can just call Boeing up to arrange a tour:
http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/aboutus/tours/ And if you're going to Everett and want to show them a Wal Mart you can take them to the casino/walmart/outlet mall complex a few miles north on I-5...
My out of town visitors are always impressed with the rural drive through espresso stands.
Posted by: Laurel at August 29, 2007 10:19 AM
Come to think of it, a tour has never crossed my mind. I think it's a symptom of growing up in an area where Boeing is so entrenched.
I also found this site that has a bit more detail about the Everett tour.
http://www.futureofflight.org/planavisit.html
It would be fun just to say that you visited the largest building in the world.
Let me know if you guys decide to go.
Posted by: Alex O at August 29, 2007 2:48 PM
Here are some thoughts from someone who'se entertained a bunch of foreigners and who is missing some American/Seattle specific stuff:
My Mom, who is used to the alps where there's a bench or a village or a cow with bells every five minutes, was fascinated by a drive to the Olympics where there are just mountains for miles around and nothing human anywhere. Or if not into a long ride, and the weather is cooperating with views, I love taking guests to Rays on Shilshole when the Olympics are out (substitute for some other restaurant with great views - Space Needle is a cheesy alternative)
Boeing factory is cool - I haven't been but my husband went on a field trip. Museum of Flight was cool too.
I actually like the locks when the Salmon are in full swing - and so did my German cousins - but its not the right time of year I think.
Many friends used to more conservative work environments also liked looking around a genuine dotcom company with nerf guns and foosball tables and dogs.
Other stuff that folks have found culturally interesting - depending on the persons interest - access to a yellow school bus and an american school with lockers in corridors that may look similar to schools you see on sitcoms exported around the world .. usually more of a hit with asian friends than europeans.
Very Seattle specific - get a canoe out onto Lake Union and paddle by the houseboats and up the Ship Canal.
I'm really missing a good American/Seattle sunday brunch place with Juevos Rancheros. Its different from a good old English Breakfast fryup.
More ideas if I think of them...
Posted by: nadine at August 30, 2007 1:47 AM
I remember when we had our Norwegian cousins here visiting in the 80's, the best thing we did was rent rollerblades and cruise around Green Lake. They had never done that before so they were in hysterics the whole time. We also rented canoes from the UW crew house and paddled around the little estuaries and even got to see a flasher. Good memories!
Posted by: katie kleitsch at September 1, 2007 10:38 AM
This is terrible timing... :-(
My mom is coming over to Scotland for the same two weeks that Greg will be visiting you, so it looks like I will be losing a tour guide.
Anyway, hope you have a great time and I'm sure you'll come up with plenty of cool things to do.
Posted by: Robert Cottrell at September 3, 2007 8:28 AM