The Northern Lights Are On But Nobody’s Home

I work at a tourist site in Alaska at an information desk.

Tourist: “What time do the northern lights come on?”

Me: “Well… they don’t come ‘on’ like a light switch. It’s dependent on lots of conditions, such as—”

Tourist: “Where does the sun go when it sets?”

I’m thrown by the sudden change in query.

Me: “Same as it goes anywhere else: beyond the horizon.”

Tourist: “I thought it would be different up here.”

Me: “No, same sun as what you have back at home.” 

Tourist: “Oh… Do you take American money?”