Scene:
- Calgary Airport
Cast:
- Scott, a naive American business traveler in Canada for the first time
- A Canadian Customs official, a woman who was possibly not hugged a lot as a child
- A Canadian Immigrations, a woman whose suspicions are too often confirmed
Act 1, Customs desk
Scott: (smiling, handing over customs declaration form) Hello!
Customs Lady: (unsmiling) ...
S: (still smiling, less certain) ...
CL: (frown deepening, tone of weary annoyance, as if talking to a small and not very bright child) What do we need when entering a foreign country?
S: Um...
CL: (immobile, her face a Noh mask) ...
S: Oh! Passport!
Act II, Immigration desk
Scott: (smiling, handing over passport and stamped customs form) Hello!
Immigration lady: (appraising glance) And what brings you to Canada?
S: I'm attending a workshop in Calgary and in Cold Lake.
IL: What is the workshop for?
S: I'll be telling a group of high school science students about innovation.
IL: In what?
S: Innovation in what? Well, I guess it's better stated as I'm telling them about how to think like a designer.
IL: Why?
S: (taking a deep breath, smiling, but giving her a look like Do you really want to get me started?) It's like this. In school, we're mostly taught a certain style of thinking. It's linear, it's rational, and every problem has one right answer. But the world isn't really like that. Designers tend to be people who solve problems using a more intuitive, random, and creative approach. This is a good thing to learn, not just for school, but for your whole life.
IL: Hunh. And the high school is paying you to do this?
S: No, a Calgary company named Osum is sponsoring the event. They are an oil company doing work at Cold Lake and I believe this is a way to show a commitment to the communty by providing an inspirational lesson.
IL: (stamping form) Well, that sounds fun. Welcome to Canada.
