IR Blog Post 3

Connections & Questions- "My Finger! My Finger!" as I discovered that I had gashed my finger on the zipper and was dripping blood in a lively manner." (Bryson 249)

I too, had something very similar happen to me just as it did to Bill. I was packing my bags to get ready for my trip and when I was done I tried to close one of the pockets by zipping up the zipper. When I tried it refused to move and wouldn't give at all. I pulled as hard as I could until I was able to get it to jiggle a little. To help pull I put my finger on the zipper to get a better grip. Once I pulled I felt a tight pinch and then my finger start to throb. At first I was in shock that I had no clue what happened and continued to try and close my bag until I saw blood getting all over my bag. Apparently I caught the tip of my finger in the zipper part and yanked and had a good size gash in my finger. I had to go to the hospital and got a couple stitches, leaving with everything being alright.
This quote was perfect because it was something that I could relate to personally. My experience was very similar helped show a connection to the book. There were other quotes that could have been used but this one stood out to me more. Many people go through the same thing as me and Bill did and I felt this captured all of what happens when something like this does occur.

Now that Bill is back living in America does he intend to explore more? travel again?

Will he continue to write stories like this or does he have any others that are fiction and somewhat based off his life or in any type of genre?

IR Blog Post 2

Events & Places- Airport- Bill flies so much that he joined a frequent flyers club and wanted to try and use his miles. When he went to get his card at first he couldn't find it. He looked every where, in every pocket, and in all his bags until he found it in a pair of pants at the bottom of his luggage. When he hands the man behind the counter his card and I.D., the man looks at it for a minute then calls for Bill's attention. Apparently his card was under the B. Bryson and his I.D. said W. Bryson. Even though it was the same name and Bill tried to explain it he would not let him fly. After arguing with many managers, Bill and his family are able to get a couple free flights.

Television- When Bill had first lived in America his television only had 4 channels which everyone knew what was on and watched it at the same time. Now that he is back in America he realizes how obsessed we are with T.V. by seeing how many different channels there are. His television now has over 150 channels which when he first had one was unheard of. There are about 10 or more channels for just one type of topic. People get channels for things they are not even interested in. He felt that this was the reason that so many people get hooked on T.V, you get hundreds of channels of something that if you don't like one thing there is a channel out there you will.
Memory Loss-  When it comes to remembering things Bill said his wife can remember everything up to the last detail. He talks about how his memory is so bad that if he was ever arrested and asked where he was at a certain date and time he would have no way of ever remembering and would have a better shot at just sticking his hands out and accepting his arresting. When talking to his wife about people he met at a place called Big Bear Lake, he can't remember a single one. After spending an entire week with them his memory is shot about ever meeting them.
Symbols- Stupidity- Bill and his family bought a flat in London using a leasehold, which gives them up until the year 2061. For the entire time Bill must maintain it by keeping it clean and making sure everything works. The thing about it is that by the time the lease is up Bill expects to be gone leaving the bank and realtor in a bit of a dilema for what will happen is he passes before 2061. This just shows how easy it is to lease a house and find a way to never have to worry about it again. 
Rules for Living- Bill comes up with sort of a list of rules that if followed would make the world a much better place. He talks about certain things that are needed to be done and certain things that should be avoided. He also talks about different things that will help make your life easier and things that will make things crappier. The last rules are to help whoever is reading understand how things work and how you should use them.
The Town- Bill talks about how his town that he moved to follows how most little small towns run. They have a library, school, and little stores in the town. Bill talks about how the library does its annual town report to check up on how things are going. He also says about how it can be up to 132 pages and is just filled with whatever is happening in the town. It talks about all the incidents that the police were involved in and all the calls the fire company had to take. This is a very big thing for the town and plays a big role in how Bill looks at the town and community.

IR Blog Post 1

People- In this last section of the book Bill does not bring in any main characters, but does touch base on a few mentioned and past instances with people. 
Rental Car Man- Bill talks about how he has been back in the United States for around 2 years and still can not get used to life here. He brings up about one time when he tried to rent a car while at an airport and all the trouble he had to go through to get it. When talking to the car person they ask him if he would like certain kinds of coverages for things he has never heard of in his life. Then when he tries to get the man to explain, Bill doesn not know a thing and just agrees to get everything the man tells him to end the conversation. At the end he tells him where the car will be, while Bill has to search and hopefully pray that he can find the car in time.
Flight Attendant- Bill talks about how airlines still use 1955 ways to fly. He talks about how flight attendants will continually do the demonstration of how the life vest work even though a 5 year old would be able to do it without being explained to. One flight Bill saw that the plane had a life boat for a plane of 150 people. When Bill ask the attendant about them she angrily explains they are there for safety reasons and she has no control over it. This causes her to be angry and not help him out ignoring his complaints.
Coffee Man- He goes to a coffee shop to order a regular cup of coffee but ends up having a wonderful trip. After waiting behind 20 people, when it was Bill's turn he ordered a regular coffee which caused the man behind the counter to look in awe. After fighting for 10 minutes the man hands him a coffee to which he took the coffee and left due to other customers complaining about him taking too long.
Themes & Ideas- Bad Luck- One time Bill dropped his 14-ounce can of tobacco while trying to organize things. At the same time he cut his finger on his zipper and it started to gush blood. This came after he was on a plane and went to tie his shoe. As his body was down the person in front of him put his seat back and trapped Bill in a tight spot causing him to hurt his head and body. Later while on the plane he ordered a drink, but quickly it spilled onto the lady next to him. The flight attendant cleaned it up and then brought Bill another drink. As soon as the drink was put down it some how spilled again onto the same lady causing her to start a scene with Bill and the flight attendant. This leads to Bill getting switched to another seat and having to sit around 4 littles babies all crying. 
Play on Words-  He talks about how so many words used in the English language are used as they sound. When certain words are said you can picture what is being described. Haggis is a food but any person who does not know what it is would think it is some type of disease. This is just like the words globule and scrapie.

R.A.F.T Peru

Role- Me
Audience-Teacher
Format- Op/Ed
Topic- Wild Card (Obstacles/ Challenges)


When the guys had gotten to Peru, things started to get worse. They ran out of money and still had no bike so they were forced to find their own way around. This led to them not having any place to go to avoid the cold or even get something to eat. The way they are able to overcome their coldness is very smart in finding any twigs or materials that will burn to make a fire before they became completely frozen and died. When the fire didn't work they took the next option of trying to walk in the cold wind and continue to find somewhere warmer. With the hunger, they were able to make it until they found someone who gave them bread and cheese. Another obstacle/challenge they have to face it making it to the top of Machu Picchu. It takes a while to get to the top and reach Machu Picchu so anyone who tries to make it faces a very tough challenge. The biggest obstacle Ernesto faces now is finding himself. He is in the middle of becoming the Che we know him as today, while still fighting to stay as Ernesto the boy who began his trip as an adventure with his friend.