Pictures of St. John's

The Drunk Woman Who Knocked the Sign In: A Bonanza Story

So,  I am going to Newfoundland as a Fulbright Student.  There's this awesome folklore library at Memorial University in St. John's where they have been collecting folklore and family stories since the 70's from people on the island.  My plan is to write a novel set in the area that incorporates this folklore. 

As part of this project (and because I am trying to learn iMovie) I decided to collect some regional and family stories on my way to Newfoundland (sometimes partial stories, anecdotes, jokes with no punchline).  My process goes like this: I wait until everyone has had a glass of wine or two, then I bust out my camera, turn it on, and ask annoying questions. Because I am a guest, people are usual polite.

This first movie is about Bonanza, Colorado where my friends are building a house.  As the movie explains, the population is 14. I met up with their son (and my former roommate), Noah, in Minneapolis where he is going to college and he told me this story:

Orientation

My dog, Moya, and I were separated for three days in Ottawa. I had to go and get oriented with the other Fulbrighters in Canada, and Moya had to go to a kennel (because she can't participate in conversation or fill out forms). It was a whirlwind of activity, and I can't really say what either of us did, but when I picked her up we were both exhausted and hoarse. We are currently in New Brunswick at a cottage by a river while we wait for Friday when the last ferry will cross from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland.

The Midwest

I'm planning to post some exciting videos of things I've seen while driving like mountains, cows, bugs biting it on my windshield, cows and mountains as seen through the entrails of bug-matter on my windshield, etc. etc.  I am leaving Minneapolis today and heading to Wisconsin.  Then on to Chicago for the weekend.