Thursday, May 22, 2008

Is that an offensive name?

I love Weekend Sherpa, even though I'm not sure how I feel about its name, because doesn't "Sherpa" refer to an ethnic group, not the vocation of guiding trips? In any case, this website rocks - every Thursday it emails a list of outside-y things to do over the weekend in the Bay Area.

Its suggestions this week include a hike in wine country, a kayak trip in the largest estuary in the lower 48 states, a bike ride in "Little Tuscany", campgrounds still available in Yosemite (!), and the best place to BBQ on Treasure Island. I heart weekends - and sherpas, apparently.

2 comments:

nicole m therese said...

Sherpa with a capital S refers to the ethnic group and can be male or female (though the female derivative is a different word). sherpa, lower-case s, refers to mountain guides through the rough terrain of the himalayas. They are male. They may or may not be members of the Sherpa population. I don't think it's offensive. But I might just be saying that because I know I've used it in the last twelve months in a thank-you letter to a teacher. Oy.

GGB said...

Did you compare the teacher to a sherpa? As in, they guided you through the mountainous terrain of learning?