! As a family, we have travelled in the United States quite a bit. In 2002 we drove from Lethbridge, Alberta to Washington D.C. and New York City and back. In 2003 we drove to Reno, Nevada and back over the Oregon coast. And, as is true of many Albertans, we have been known to make trips to Whitefish and Kallispell in Montana. In all of our travels, we have had such positive experiences with meeting people! It has often bothered me to hear Canadians make generalizations about Americans that are very negative and often derogatory. I don't like any particular group of people to be stereotyped or denigrated ( I am a social worker, after all!) but this one has always bothered me a lot. I think it is because the people that I have noticed doing this often surprise me. They are often people who are quite open minded and accepting in many other ways, but for some reason have developed a prejudice in this area.... Anyway, it bugs me. So, I thought it would be good to share the positive experiences we had on this particular trip.The "random acts of American kindness" started very shortly into our trip. We flew out of Great Falls, Montana to go to Las Vegas. We made a quick stop in Shelby, Montana on the way to Great Falls. While there, the clerk at the gas station gave us free food! For no particular reason, she told Darrin that she noticed our boys and that she has to throw the taquitos out every two hours anyway, so would we like them? Ummm... we have teenage boys.... duh! Oh yeah, they gratefully devoured them! We had a very delayed flight out of Great Falls and the staff at the airport was very kind, accommodating and helpful. It was beyond their control, but they tried to help us be as comfortable as possible while we awaited our flight and they kept giving us updates so we could know what to expect. This was the first time we noticed being called "sweetie", "honey", or "sunshine" by a waitress, which then became something we experienced from waitresses, store clerks, etc. throughout Vegas and California. My kids thought that was pretty cool.
We arrived very late (3:30 a.m.) in Las Vegas to pick up our car rental. We had booked a mid-sized sedan for the trip. The young guy who was working that night seemed to take pity on these exhausted travellers and gave us an upgrade to a very cool yellow jeep at no extra cost!
Darrin was thrilled! After leaving the -30 degree temperatures behind in Canada, the thought of driving across the de
sert or along the California coast in a yellow jeep with the top down was perfect!
Darrin was thrilled! After leaving the -30 degree temperatures behind in Canada, the thought of driving across the de
sert or along the California coast in a yellow jeep with the top down was perfect!After driving from Vegas to Carlsbad, California to meet my parents, we had some time to consider what sights to see there. On our first day, we were sitting in a Jack-in-a-Box restaurant (you know you have to have the experience of American restaurants while there...) discussing our options. We were discussing Sea World as one of the options. A man standing near our table waiting for his order approached us and told us he works at Sea World part time and was wondering if we would like some complimentary tickets? Again... ummm.... duh! Would we? Of course! No strings attached, this fellow just gave them to us! Those tickets are worth $65 US each! So, we went to Sea World, and it was a great day! 
The lady at the ticket booth when we purchased the two remaining tickets we needed also asked us if were were AMA members, so we could get an extra discount. She didn't need to give us that information, she just did. It was a great experience.
The lady at the ticket booth when we purchased the two remaining tickets we needed also asked us if were were AMA members, so we could get an extra discount. She didn't need to give us that information, she just did. It was a great experience.We spent a few days with my parents and enjoyed the California coast. We drove back i
n the yellow jeep back across the desert and back to Vegas before flying home. Everywhere we went, people would say "hello" on the streets, speak in friendly tones, ask us where we were from, and of course call us "sweetie" or "honey". It was refreshing, and well... nice. :-) As glad as I am to be home, I will always remember those experiences and appreciate the kindness of some (American) strangers.
n the yellow jeep back across the desert and back to Vegas before flying home. Everywhere we went, people would say "hello" on the streets, speak in friendly tones, ask us where we were from, and of course call us "sweetie" or "honey". It was refreshing, and well... nice. :-) As glad as I am to be home, I will always remember those experiences and appreciate the kindness of some (American) strangers.
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