When the magazine asked ARE THE SWISS FORESTS IN PERIL?, I was pretty sure I needed to know.
-- Amanda (Chapter 1 paragraph 31)

Importance: This quote came from Amanda's early infatuation with National Geographic. It was this magazine that made her begin to dream of the possibility of traveling to other countries.

These people were looking at me – with my harmless ponytail and jeans and battered blue backpack, with my hoop earrings and eager-beaver smile – and seeing some sort of threat.
-- Amanda (Chapter 6 paragraph 43)

Importance: Amanda had tried to check into several hotels in Bangladesh but was repeatedly turned away because she was a woman traveling alone. She was initially just angry and so tired that she wanted to resolve the issue and get some rest. It wasn't until she'd been turned away several times that she realized that these people were serious on their distrust of her. For Amanda, this was a moment of cultural awareness, but it wasn't...