D e s e r t E x p o s u r e 
January
2008
Around the World with Desert Exposure
Page: 4
Also visiting Japan was Berma Matteson, who wrote: "My Desert Exposure was passed around among the English language teachers at the NOVA Schools — but only after we posed in front of the Sacred Bridge at the Nikko Shrine, registered as a World Cultural Heritage site. About 1,200 years ago a high priest came to Nikko. It was so beautiful he thought it must be the home of gods. He wanted to climb the mountain but couldn't cross the wide, swift river. The priest recited the Buddhist Sutra and a bearded old man appeared. The old man hurled two snakes across the river. They joined to form a bridge for the priest to cross."
Yes, that's the Great Wall of China. Janet Wofford of Hurley wrote: "In June I took a vacation to China, and of course I couldn't leave New Mexico without taking a part of my great state with me. So the Desert Exposure was tucked into my suitcase. This picture is of me standing on the Great Wall with the Desert Exposure. I enjoy reading your paper."
Antarctica
Carol Brandon and Rich (Stretch) Vaitonis wrote: "The mail is slow arriving down here at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, but it does eventually arrive. That's why our photo shows the January issue of Desert Exposure. We work the summer season (that's October to February down here) in McMurdo, a US National Science Foundation research station. I am the postal clerk, and Rich operates heavy equipment building the ice runway. We'll be home to Silver City and our Wind Canyon house in a couple of weeks, but wanted to send you this photo showing that Desert Exposure travels even to the bottom of the world."
Australia
Tyrone readers Sally Stewart and Gary Emerson wrote: "No worries, mate! We're in the Australian Outback town of Andamooka, population 100, having wandered from Sydney, Canberra, Darwin, Alice Springs, Adelaide and Tasmania, the gem of Australia. This country's got it right: universal health care and social security, an enlightened electorate (non-voters are fined $200), civic pride in its well-maintained and beautiful parks, and a healthy laid-back attitude reminiscent of our own Silver City. When we want to brag a little about the US, we pull out our treasured Desert Exposure, which says it all."