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Dear Canada,
America has a few changes since we last were together.
I've noticed that some of the American TV shows have influenced daily
life, such as traffic lights. They have a new game that you play right
on the streets, or crosswalks called "Fear Factor" It's fascinating.
You know how at home we have the old school system of a red hand for
stop and a white man that lights up for walk, well here they have added
the adrenaline pumping count down.
So when you enter the crosswalk you have EXACTLY 10 seconds to cross and you watch the clock count it down as you heart races as fast as your feet. I have been sprint training on the weekends to get better at this. It's exhilarating.
And speaking of traffic, or transportation, you can take your bike on the subway, or as the hipsters in San Fran call it BART. (I'm guessing that's the name of the guy who invented it) This idea really appealed to me as a cyclist, so I tested it out last week taking my bike on the train for the first time. Well let me tell you, it was as smooth as maple syrup to start out with, I wheeled my vintage cruiser onto a spacious car, found myself a seat and settled in for the ride. Everything was peachy until we pulled into a stop that must have been near a stadium as TEN THOUSAND drunk, rowdy American teens singing some sort of sports chant overran my car. I was pushed up against the side of my seat with my handle bars digging into my ribs, I tried to make eye contact with the civilian across from me to signal for help.I had no idea how I was going to part the red sea of Yankee Youths to exit the train and again my heart started to race as I was approaching my stop and no one was getting off. I thought about calling BART police as the number was displayed on the wall of the train, but funny, cell phones don't work in tunnels. Well I tell you I was one lucky Canuck, as we pulled up to my stop half the masses spilled out onto the platform with me and my bike along with them like a barrell going over the Niagra falls. I still have the imprint of my bike chain on my leg but the locals here have said it looks cool. So that's two of the three "Fear Factor" Challenges down, and one to go. I guess we shall see what's for lunch. Next stop fish tacos. - Liisa Liisa (with 2 eyes) is from Vancouver but comes down to the Lower 48 every few years to perform with Killing My Lobster - catch her in this summer's KML and the Wonderful World of Science.
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