Chris Blattman

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Vancouver notes

The taxis are electric. Airport wireless is free. The Sunday New York Times cost me $10 (there is no Globe & Mail on Sundays–whatever did I do with my Sunday mornings?). I cannot get used to the dollar at par. The cheap sushi restaurants are miles better than New York’s. I had excellent Japanese tapas at Guu, each dish announced by a yell, in unison, from the entire wait and bar staff. That got old fast. CBC news has gone lowbrow. I smelled marijuana on the street twice in two days. Canada, which had nary an international studies or public policy program when I left 10 years ago, has two great additions: the Liu Institute at UBC and the SIS at SFU. I conquered my seasickness. (OK–my inlet sickness. We’ll test out seasickness another day.)

6 Responses

  1. The NYT seems a bit pricey but I haven’t bought a paper copy of the Sunday edition in years; perhaps its up there (in Canadian dollars) by now. But the comment on taxis and the airport is revealing. An airport (and transport away from it) are the gateways into any country in this globalized world. In comparison to most European and East Asian; and now even Canada, the US is far behind. The airports are confusing and congested, there are few options for public transport away from it. If the US wishes to maintain its edge in the 21st century it must address rather simple issues like this; but political realities may prevent our advancement

  2. Glad we could help you with that inlet sickness thing Chris. Next visit to Vancouver we’ll actually get you out to sea and see how you hold up.

  3. Did Mr Mack, my former supervisor got you into Guu? He stole that idea from me!! Great you are loving Vancouver, I wish I had been there to attend your lectures.
    Marlieke

  4. Nary a what? What is the Munk Centre? Chopped liver? You’ve become an ethnocentric American before you even have your green card.

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