Bill Bryson says: “I am, in short, easily confused'. What examples has he given to justify this?
The author states at the beginning of the story that of all the things he was not very good at, living in the real world was the most outstanding. He quotes an example that many times he goes looking for the lavatory in a cinema hall and ends up standing in an alley on the wrong side of a self-locking door. He also states that it is his speciality to ask for his room number at the hotel desks two to three times a day.
What happens when the zip and his carry-on-bag gives way?
The zip on the author’s bag was jammed so when he tried hard to open the bag it abruptly gave way. The side of the bag opened and articles like newspaper cuttings, loose papers, tobacco pipe, magazines, passport, English money, film etc. came raining down like a fluttering cascade.
Why is his finger bleeding? What is his wife's reaction?
Or
How did bill break the Zip of his carry on bag?
While pulling the zip forcefully in order to open the bag, his finger was gashed which is why his finger started bleeding. He was utterly confused and panic-stricken. His wife looked at him with an expression of wonder and said “I can't believe you do this for a living”
How does Bill Bryson end up in a ‘Crash position’ in the air-craft?
Bill Bryson’s airplane journeys have always been a catastrophe. Once, when seated, he leaned over to tie a shoelace and the person in front of him threw his seat back into full recline. He managed to get himself freed by clawing the leg of the man seated next to him.
Why are his teeth and gums navy blue?
Once while travelling on a plane, the author was writing some important thoughts in a note-book. He was sucking thoughtfully on the end of his pen. Just at that moment, he saw an attractive lady and started talking to her. He didn’t notice the leakage in his pen. It was only when he retired to the lavatory did he discover that his teeth, gums, chin, tongue and mouth were in navy blue.
Bill Bryson 'ached to be suave'. Is he successful in his mission? List his unsuave' ways?
Yes, to a certain extent Bill Bryson has succeeded because now he travels alone he neither eats nor drinks, neither ties shoelaces nor puts a pen anywhere near his mouth. But this is just temporary. He is his usual self- unsuave- when with his family or otherwise. He says that he would love to rise from the dining table without looking as if he had just experienced a seismic event or get into a car without leaving 14 inches of his coat outside, wear light colored clothes without staining them with chewing gum, ice cream or cough syrup. His other ‘unsuave’ ways have been described with reference to his journeys on the airplane.
Why do you think Bill Bryson's wife says to the children: “take the lids off the food for Daddy?”
Bill Bryson would create a mess every time he did something. To ensure that no mess is created, she asked her children to open the food container. There’s a possibility that he might strike things or spill the contents of the container if he opens it himself.
What is the significance of the title The Accidental Tourist?
“To get confused and behave “in unsuave “ways like Bill Bryson is normal and human.” Tell your class about any similar situation that you found yourself in.
The entire chapter describes funny situations in which the author creates a complete mess. Any of us can be caught in these situations and such a behavior is absolutely normal.
Yesterday while boarding the metro, I fell on a passenger. However, I apologized and moved further. I had travelled for about 30minutes when I realized that I had boarded the wrong metro. I got down and went back to the nearest interchange and waited for the metro.
When I got down from the metro and took an auto, I confused the driver with my weird directions. While returning home, I argued with the person at the ticket counter and asked for a ticket not by the name of the station but by the name of the market it was famous for.
It was only after five minutes of argument that I realized my fault and apologized to him.
I had behaved strangely the entire day but then it was not intentional.