Jones' speech is hot, rapid, and intense, her voice animated by the feelings that were part of the experiences she relates. Rossi offers his accounts in a cool, uninflected, factual tone. I fell off a boat with my backpack on. I fell off a camel. On the way to the killing fields.
Bus rides play a prominent role in the stories they like to tell.
She tells of a particularly harrowing ride on a high mountain road with no guard rails. The bus was driven by a boy who looked to be about 15 years old, maybe younger. I'm like this the whole way. She curls into the fetal position draping her arms across her face. Her husband did his best to allay her panic, pointing out that the local drivers do this all the time, that it's not a big deal and everything is fine.