"Mexico!" Not surprised, no. But self-proud at matching the place to the country. "Sounds about right. I haven't been, but it's hard not to know people who have. California and Mexico share a border, you know."

Somehow, clinging to geographical facts was just about the safest and most acceptable coping mechanism. Back-home knowledge was a comfort. None of this awkward Luceti-and-its-surroundings junk.