Right away they talked about the differences in eras. Marina asked what Les thought about her generation in general.

He spoke about AI and the revolution that is coming and how we’re going to be affected. Having AI companions and humanoid robots like human assistants.

Education and growing up

Less grew up in west end Vancouver in English bay and his parents had bought a 3- storey house and they had it into stores that they rented out,
His dad was an artist who travelled Canada and were landlords. He went to school in west Vancouver.

Teenage life for Les and Marina

Quite different teenage life, had a lot more freedom. Could go play in Stanley park and the beach and parents rarely worried about them. Could go watch movies for .25$ and go bowling on Granville before all the high rises.

Nowadays Marina states that she has to check in often when it comes to moving around and checking in constantly. Less commented on today’s parents as being “helicopter parents” and that back rub the day they just had to be back for dinner. Les thinks that parents may be afraid of perceived fears rather than real ones. And we may not give kids enough freedom to grow up on their own.

Tree climbing

Marina was climbing a tree recently and half way up and then heard a kitten and had to come back down and fell and hurt herself.

Managing risk

Les advised Marina to go for it! For life! Don’t always say no. You have to manage risk but you can’t sit in the sidelines forever.

Less shared the story of his daughter that has battled addiction of cocaine.

Passing on family wisdom

Less spoke about his parents being poor but teaching him to respect his elders. A and reject and live to be happy and that money isn’t everything.

If you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.

Summer jobs and online courses

Marina commented on her ability to be taking an online course through another school district, in this case, Grade 10 science, in French. Les was impressed and said that he didn’t have those opportunities, and for Marina to take advantage of them.

Marina expressed it to be a challenging summer job market this summer. Hard to get as job anywhere like McDonald’s,

Physical spaces

Marina thinks it’s important to hand them in our society. Home is for chilling, school is for focus, work is for work, etc.

Historical moments

JFK assisination and Martin Luther king ands Robert F Kennedy. TheVietnam War, being a travesty.

To Marina, COVID was a bit of a big deal. The Trump presidency, being a disconcerting time.

Volunteering and Community Service

Marina spoke about her volunteering for her swim club as an assistant coach for the summer ands Les suggested she volunteer whenever she is able to ands how it feels so good to give back.