Back on the grid

Thank you to the Verizon installation guy. I'm posting courtesy of Mullen's and my very own wifi!!!

Hello TV and internet - I missed you, old friends.

More adventures to come soon.

Adventures in Apartment Hunting

All of those cliches about finding an apartment in New York are so irritatingly true!

Craigslist is a labrynth of listings. I especially love the trick where the EXACT SAME APARTMENT is listed three times in one day, each time with a slightly different description. I have found a few possible places, both of which were promptly rented out from under me before I had a chance to see them.

Hey, it's life. It's part of living in New York and I accept that. No one is twisting my arm, I don't HAVE to live here. But I want to - I really, really want to.

I passed an Indian textile and gift shop this evening and stopped in for a bit. The owner boasted that she had over 200 Buddha figurines for sale. She enthusiastically pointed out which ones were lucky for business and love and health. I found myself wondering, "Which is the Apartment Finding Buddha?"

Hello?

I haven't posted anything (original) up here in months. Mostly because I didn't think I was up to anything sufficiently extraordinary.

Then tonight, while looking up an old post about my limited knowledge of Korean, I discovered that some people are still reading (as recently as January?!).

Well, internet, hey! It's been awhile. I took a super long vacation from you - now I live away from California again, and consequently have rediscovered (wasting time) facebook, skype, etc. etc.

So here I am. Still adventuring - only now my adventures are of the domestic travel and job-seeking sort. I live in Brooklyn. I sell books - for now. I'm a walking cliche and I have embraced that. If you have a problem with it, then I will sick the hipsters on you. (Because there are a lot of them, and they can be nasty when they're not busy being cooler than you.)

A Note to Bill Plashcke:

You should really read Dodger Thoughts.

Another gem by Jon Weisman over at the LA Times:

Manny Ramirez, 'Sports Night' and family

CASEY

It's not like you don't see this in sports all the time.

DANA

I don't see it in my family all the time.

CASEY

The guy's a 240-pound linebacker dealing with a 350-pound pulling guard, Dana, who's probably also souped up. Kyle's just trying to keep himself in the game. He's trying --

DANA

Don't defend him, and don't tell me how to be. He was part of a conspiracy to buy steroids that God knows what side effects and long-term damage could cause. He's gonna get suspended for eight games, so there goes the postseason. He's making just over league minimum, and he's going to get hit with probably a $50,000 fine. And, if the local DA feels like running for something next year, he could also go to jail -- to say nothing of the fact that his name is now also synonymous with everything that's bad about sports.

CASEY

And all I'm saying is, he's got enough people telling him that right now. Papers, talkradio, agents, lawyers, the league, his teammates, his sister's own television show -- and maybe he doesn't need any more guests at that party. And maybe, the best role that you can play right now is as his sister now, Dana. That's all I'm saying.

(pause)

That, and don't be so edgy.

DANA
(walking away)

I'm not edgy. I'm not edgy.

Door slams, window breaks.

-- "Sports Night" ("The Reunion," written by Kevin Falls and Aaron Sorkin)
December 21, 1999

I've been mulling over the frustration that Bill Plaschke has over the fact that it isn't looking like Dodger fans, by and large, are bringing out the hatchet for Manny Ramirez as he returns from his suspension. I don't dismiss that frustration -- but I'm hoping those who share it might see the other side.

Plaschke (and others, certainly) believe that the Dodgers and their fans are rewarding cheating behavior by letting Ramirez off easy. That's a big-picture view, but I think there's an even bigger picture he is missing.

I touched on this in a May 7 Dodger Thoughts post:

For those who choose to cheer Ramirez because they love him, there's no mystery. They love him. When love is involved, it's not easy or even logical to expect that people will use that person to send a grandiose moral message. That's why Andruw Jones gets booed and Ramirez doesn't. And since Ramirez is still part of the Dodger family, at least through the end of the 2009 season, it makes sense that some members of the family will want to help him back on his feet after he has done his time.

Ramirez is going to get it with both barrels almost everywhere he goes, starting Friday in San Diego. He is going to get ripped up, down and sideways. He is going to be subject to taunting wherever he goes outside his home base -- consider this, for example -- and will have the duty to ignore it. It simply doesn't make sense for Plaschke to be so shocked and appalled that Ramirez's adopted family in Los Angeles won't do the same.

Plaschke, obviously, doesn't think of Ramirez as family -- in his mind, Ramirez isn't worthy of being the family doormat. But whether Plaschke likes it or not, thousands in Los Angeles do. And thousands have made their peace with him.

It's not that we can't get angry. Speaking for myself, if proof emerges that Ronald Belisario did drive drunk, you can bet he's going to be in my doghouse and then some. And yet, eventually, I might forgive him, just as I've forgiven DUI two-timer Rafael Furcal. Why? Because a) I'm an irrational Dodger fan, and b) I'm kind of into the whole forgiveness thing, after someone's done their penance.

In other words, I'd be angrier at Ramirez if I thought he were getting away with something. But despite Plaschke's preoccupation with cheers and limousines in Riverside -- as if being suspended from major-league baseball means you should have to travel by Greyhound -- Ramirez didn't get away with anything. He lost millions, he lost time off his career, he probably lost his chance at the Hall of Fame, and he lost whatever peace of mind he might have had in 29 other major-league cities. He was humiliated and will continue to be mocked, perhaps for the rest of his life. The main problem I have with Plaschke's columns on Ramirez is his lack of acknowledgment of this.

And so I ask, does it really matter if most people in Los Angeles don't bring the tar and feathers to the ballpark? If the message being sent is that hometown fans will cheer heroes who screw up -- well, that's a reality that began long before Manny Ramirez came on the scene, and one that he isn't going to change. (Reminder: Barry Bonds was booed in Los Angeles more because he was an insufferable, Dodger-killing, never-suspended Giant than because of steroids.)

If a family member of mine got in trouble, and got disciplined for being in trouble, and was going to be reminded of that trouble almost everywhere he or she went, I wouldn't need to pile on after it was all over. Bill, a lot of us were upset over Manny, but a lot of us got over it over the past seven weeks.

It's fine to think Ramirez wasn't punished enough, but don't try to sell the idea that he hasn't been punished or won't continue to be punished. The world will still have a moral compass even if, in this case, the people of Los Angeles aren't the ones pointing due north.

"Remember that you are unique. If that has not been fulfilled, then something wonderful has been lost." – Martha Graham

Update

So I didn't take out an ad in the LA Times, but I did write a "Letter to the Editor" in witty tirade fashion. I found out it will never be published and may not be read because it is over 150 words, but whatever .... I feel better. If your curious what I wrote, it's basically the same, but if you like I will post it in a comment.

Jin-jah?

It has been nearly six months since I completed my contract at SLP. It has been nearly six months since I had a job. I hate this economy. I am annoyed ... I am whining ... and I think I have earned the right to at least whine. Now, granted, I have not been home or unoccupied for six months ... I have been busy with, you know, life things (and I don't just mean my trip - other things for other people too) ... and I am happy to have done them or helped out or whatever ... but COME ON! If I get one more poorly worded, misspelled, generic follow-up e-mail from joeschmoe@thebestcompanyever.net I might go off the deep end and wind up baracaded in my room Howard Hughs style; only in my scenario I will be muttering about temp agencies and cover letters instead of planes for the US Army and wire taps. But the most frustrating thing is that it's not just me going through this, it's all of my friends too. And not only my fellow globe-trotters trying to adjust back to life sans kimchi ... it's practically everyone I know!! I mean, really ... my friends and I are all well-educated, enthusiastic, creative individuals ... somebody, for the love of all things good EMPLOY US!

I've run the gambit from temp agencies to craigslist to resume posting websites and it's all seriously graining on my last nerve. I know everyone is going through this, and you have to make looking for a job a job in itself and that it's tough for everyone blah blah blah ... AND I also know that I have been lucky in the past in that I have come into work very quickly and easily... but even in knowing all of that, it doesn't make this all any less annoying.

I am not kidding - I am seriously considering taking out a full page ad in the Sunday edition of the LA Times showcasing myself and my generic BS cover letter and all that jazz. I believe that I am at what is commonly referred to as my wits' end.



In other news all of this time spent scouring the internet (and pounding the pavement too - no employment seeking cliches have been spared in this job search!) I've spent some time looking into what I actually intend to be my career (and not my just my j-o-b) and reflecting on the preverbial question that presents itself to head-y actors like my friends and myself: Grad School: to go? or not to go? ... more than ever I am leaning towards going, or auditioning at least (not for a year or two of course!) especially since doing my research and getting the details on this program. Never mind that it is likely the most competitive program in the country: I-want-to-go. No small ventures for this sometimes globe-trotter, adventure extraordinaire. Clearly...

Stuff White People Like

The latest addition to SWPL definitely hit home for some friends and me. Nothing like a little internet humor to knock you dow a peg or two when you're feeling accomplished! haha.. If you haven't heard of this blog, first crawl out from under that dusty rock you're clearly living under, and then, click here: Stuff White People Like

#120 Taking a Year Off

January 11, 2009 by clander

When someone goes through a stressful experience they usually require some time off to clear their head, regain focus, and recover from the pain and suffering. Of course, in white culture these experiences are most often defined as finishing high school, making it through three years of college, or working for eleven months straight with only two weeks vacation and every statutory holiday (”they don’t count because I had to spend them with family.”)

Though you might consider finishing school or having a good job to be “accomplishments” many white people view them as burdens. As such, they can only handle them for so long before they start talking about their need to “take a year off” to travel, volunteer, or work abroad.

It is most common for the person taking the year off to use this time to travel (see Post #19 for reasons why). Generally, they will start off with a set amount of money that will use to travel for as long as possible. This explains why a white person with an $800 backpack will haggle with a poverty-stricken street vendor about a $2 dollar plate of food.

If you work with this person, be sure to give them a FAKE email address on their last day on the job or you will be inundated with emails about spiritual enlightenment and how great the food is compared to similar restaurants back home. Also, within the first five days following departure, this person will come up with the idea to write a book about their travel experience. Sadly, more books about mid-twenties white people traveling have been written than have been read.

Some of the more enterprising white people will extend their time off by working abroad as a bartender, ski lift operator, or english teacher. Their stories, emails, and publishing plans will be identical to the previous white person but will include additional stories about working and complaints about “tourists.”

Finally, there is the white person who takes a year off to volunteer at home or abroad. Though they are equally likely to write long emails about their experience, these people are often using the experience as an excellent resume pad for their application to law school. This way they are able to put off real life without the crippling derailment of a career or education.

Regardless of how a white person chooses to spend their year off, they all share the same goal of becoming more interesting to other people. Sadly, the people who find these stories interesting are other white people who are politely listening until they can tell their own, more interesting story about taking a year off.

Thankfully, there is an enormous opportunity for personal gain. You see, whenever a white person takes a year off it opens up a valuable apartment, job opportunity or admissions slot. Consider it to be the most pretentious form of affirmative action.

photo by Alex Steffler

Rainy day thoughts: Accountability

I heard recently that we are more likely to remember painful or frightening experiences over long periods of time than we are likely to remember joyful ones. For example, ask a room full of people in their fifties and sixties to clearly recall a happy memory from first grade, a moment of pride or achievement, and maybe half of them will raise their hands; but ask them to remember a traumatic experience, and chances are that every person will have something (or many things) to share. Why is that? Does it go all the way down to our primal fight or flight instincts? Do we hold on to things that hurt us so that we won't let them happen again? How is it possible that over time our minds linger, caught in unhappy memories while letting the pleasant ones float away. Try it yourself. How often do we forget the sort of Sunday afternoons of life? The trips for ice-cream or to the movies.. We lose the simple joys of our life - the times where things maybe weren't perfect, but they were good - we let them melt into a collage of almost mythic happiness locked away in our past, like some perfect summer of memories, while on the other hand we hold onto those things that pain us most, and let those experiences shape us as human beings. I think about this, and can't help but feel that the details of those happy memories are so important. The jokes you told while stuck in traffic on the way to a baseball game, or the rules of the make-believe game you invented with your friends at recess... they are the details that ground our good experiences in reality. Can you remember all the details of a good day in school? ... Can you remember all the details of a bad one?

In addition to that, I feel like we often discredit the opinions of people who care the most about us. How often does it take a complete stranger to tell us something our friends and family have been trying to tell us too before we truly believe it? That bit of objectivity offered from someone who doesn't have to have our best interests at heart allows us to finally accept whatever it may be we need to hear. Again... Why is that? I don't know. But I think it's true.

Of course that's one reason I think we all need friends, and people to care about us. At least, I know why I value mine. I think a friend can hold you accountable for who you are. A good friend tells you when you're being a schmuck as easily as they tell you when they're proud of you. Well, no, maybe not as easily - it's never easy to criticize someone you care about, is it? But they do it anyway, because they do care. I would always hope that the people I have in my life would know when to let me be and when they need to call me out on something. It's those people who know and love us best that can help us avoid hanging on to the painful memories, because we trust that they'll push us back in the right direction if we're wandering off. Of course, then you also have to trust that they will be able to recognize when that path changes. Because it does, doesn't it? Life is constantly changing. (Oh wow - that sure sounds emo... But seriously.) The lesson I am always re-learning is that we don't all of the sudden grow up and have our act together, the growing up part is in being able to handle things when they don't go as planned. To set goals for yourself, and then go about accomplishing them. But there is something to be said for living life gracefully. It's not easy to maintain one's integrity and I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that those who are able to are courageous, honorable people. Life happens in the little moments and it takes a patient, self-sacrificing person to do it really well.




I've been lucky lately to realize that I have many of these people in my life, so thanks.

I did exciting things with my life once.. I swear

For all of you out there who might still be checking up on my adventures... Hello! I have loads and loads that I want to share with you all. But it's not going to be in this post, sorry.. I have been back from my year abroad and my round the world trip for about 5 weeks. Coming home has been a trip in and of itself! I have to shout out my kudos to Mullen for saying what I'm trying to with more brevity and eloquence on her blog.

As for what I have left to upload and share with you .. if anyone still cares .. I had planned to devote a week or so of posts to each country I visited to give everyone a chance to see what I was up to. But unfortunately when I was in DC around Halloween I somehow lost my camera along with a memory card full of photos from Cambodia, India and Egypt. Then when I finally made it home I discovered that a few of my packages had been opened in transit and some of my things stolen. Because of that, I haven't really been in the mood to get my few remaining pictures and journal entries in order... As silly as it might sound, but I find it puts me in a pretty grumpy mood to try and deal with it all sometimes.

I am doing well though. I am still unsettled, but doing my best not to stress out and enjoy this time of year. Life continues to throw its curveballs my way, and while I may not be hitting them out of the park I'm not striking out either. I don't want to give up and let this last year disappear as a mythical part of my life. Something that I "did" once, but now I am back to life as usual. I want the experiences I had to continue to be life as usual. As unreal as it all feels to me right now, I recognize that I have a lot of opportunity and potential in front of me.. I know I have options and I want to chose well. It gets tempting to put off all the decisions I have to make and find a new place to live or go teach ESL, or even go back to Korea, just because I would have something to be and something to do every day. But I have (and have always had) goals set for myself and I have to face them sometime. I won't say that I have a concrete plan that can't ever change... but I feel I need to hold myself accountable to the standards I've set for myself. It's strange to think that after all I've been through, that coming home could be this challenging.. but it is. It's just going to take time for everything to play out.

But what about the chronicles of my extravagant (but shockingly normal) voyages?! If you want to read about them I'll just ask you to wait!

Same ol' Bums

EDIT: It is now October 27th and I am in Washington DC. This blog, for some reason, never posted .. but I never had the internet to realize that! I will have a massive update once I am back in California next week and I have my computer back! For now, here's what I wrote two weeks ago....


I should have figured that the minute I posted about the Dodgers doing well in the playoffs that they would slump immidiately and go down 3 games in a row to the Phillies in the NLCS. Game four is Tonight (in the states) but even if they win and send the series back to Philly... the franchise has never come back from a 3-1 deficite. But there is still SOME hope! So I will think blue.. until we lose. And then I will BE blue. (bahdum-chh! haha) As they say, there's always next year. And the next. And the next.... For the record, if we get eliminated, I will be rooting for the Phillies. I sort of like the Cinderella story that the Rays have been this season ... but I have always liked the Phillies. They are a good oganization ... at least, as good as any cn be when they elimnate your team. Hmmph.


As far as my world travels go, Rome has been great! I went to the Papal audience today and hung out with Benedict XVI. I wasn't ever lucky enough to be in the presence of John Paul II, and I wish I could have. So seeing and hearing the Pope with my own eyes and ears was an experience I won't EVER forget!! Kirsten, Liz and I had a lot of fun trapsing around the city together, enjoying lots of fabulous food whenever we could afford it. We learned to tell the good Gelattorias from the bad ones. If you check the color of their Pistachio Gelatto, it should be an ochre green. If it is, it's good! If it looks like something our of a Craylo box... then stear clear beacuse they aren't making the good stuff!

Seeing the Pope and visiting St. Peter's Basillica are definitely a favorite memory of mine fom Rome... but they are sort of in a class of their own and it may not be fair to compare the rest of the city with them... PLUS the Vatican is a sovereign state, so it counts as another trip!! Haha .. but the highlights of the week have defintely been the Forum and the Musee Borghesse. The Borghesse Museum and Gallery is one f the most popular in Rome and is housed in this family's provate Villa. Because of this you have to reserve tickets ahead of time for a two hour block during the day. It houses some of Bernini's most famous sculptures and an impressive collection of portraits and other paintings (not all of which are necessarily Religious) on the second floor. My favorite was Bernini's sculpture "The Rape of Persephone" ... google it. Now. ..... There, finished? Impressive, right?! Okay ... even if you didnàt look it up .. it is incredible. It is hard to believe that the sculpture is made of marble and that your eyes aren't actually looking at really still people ... flesh nd bone like you and me. There are others of his famous works there ... including his depiction od David from David and Goliath ... that was a favorite of mine too.

Of course you can't come to Rome without visiting the Spanish Steps, or the many MANY piazzas, or even tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain; all of which we did and enjoyed! Kirsten and Liz left this morning for Florence and I leave tomorrow to meet Rachel in Paris!! I can't wait to finish off the last leg of this incredible trip and get back to share my stories with you all... IN PERSON!!

Till then .. Ciao.

THINK BLUE!!

I may be enjoying life as a globetrotter, but that could never change the fact that deep down I am still (and always will be) a ravenous sportsfan. This leaves me at an ethical crossroads of sorts. My team ... my BOYS ... the Los Angeles Dodgers, play in game one of the National League Championship Series tomorrow. They are enjoying the franchise's first successful appearance in the post season since 1988. And I am not there to see any of it....

Of course .. it's not as if I am exactly on hard times either .. I am ernjoying the trip of a lifetime!

But, I can't help but lament the poor timing. I of course do not have it in me to root AGAINST my team. I think I am certain that I would spontaneously combust were I to root against the Dodgers. It just isn't in my nature... But I can't help but wish that they would have picked ANOTHER season to finally stop choking.

Whatever the case may be ... or whichever country I happen to be in ... I will always Think Blue. And I encourage you to do the same. I will do my best to find SOME American Sports bar in Rome so that I might be able to see even ONE of the games against Philly ... and hope that my boy pull it out in Philly and make it to the fall classic, THE series!!!!! (The World Series that is.) Whether I am there to witness it or not, history is being made and I am loving every second if it!

Just another day...

...in the life of a Globetrotter like me.

For the record, I have officially been traveling for over a month!

On Friday I left Cairo with Kirsten and Liz. We flew to Athens and got into the city and to our hostel without much hassle. The next day I spent the morning and early afternoon touring the Acropolis and exploring a few of the surrounding markets before catching my flight to... Rome!

Getting to Legends (our hostel in Rome) was pretty simple as well, and I was glad to finally reach a bed. I crashed as soon as I arrived! That next morning I found the closest church, went to Mass, and spent the day getting lost in Rome. On purpose of course. I walked a lot and saw a lot too ... not sure what I saw of course because I wasn't paying too much attention. haha. After a delicious lunch, I headed back to the airport for my flight to Dubrovnik! I was only supposed to have one layover for about a half hour in Zagreb ... but apparently most flights from Rome to Zagreb have a stopover in Split to go through immigration and to fill up the plane. with other international arrivals to Croatia... so I was startled by the 40 minute detour. The cool thing was that John Paul II flew on the same plane I was on when he visited Zagreb in 2003!! There was a plaque on the plane and everything! So that was awesome... I finally arrived in Dubrovnik and was greeted by the daughter of my host (I am staying at a guesthouse called Villa Elly) and we made the drive from the airport. It was a nice drive, and a clear night! I enjoyed seeing the coast at night and getting to see stars for the first time since I was in the Philippines. It is defnitely fall weather, so after walking the city walls today I will go out and buy a few warmer additions to my wardrobe. The Old City is nice. It is crowded with tourists from cruise shios and souvenirs stores are crammed onto the main street. But escaping into the alleyways for coffee and a sandwich is wonderful... there are a lot of small stores and coffeshops to keep me occupied. I'm off to walk the city walls and then ... we'll see. Mostly I am just enjoying my free time and taking a chance to reflect on the last month of travel!

Haha!! Still in Cairo

Wow .. you can tell that my last post was typed during my last 5 minutes at an internet cafe... haha. Sorry about that.

To clarify... Everyone involved with our trip to Egypt has been a wonderful. It is clear that this country is proud of their history. Our guides have been informative and and enthusiastic at each sight. Of course ... seeing the Taj Mahal and the Great Pyramids (aka the Pyramids of Giza) within 3 days of each other is mind blowing in itself. We drove around and saw the pyramids from every possible angle, climbed down into one of the smaller ones (it's much quicker than in the main three, and all of the tombs are the same .. and empty, haha) and admired the sphinx up close. It was a shame how crowded it was near the sphinx, though. People got a bit pushy and no one could get a very good picture of it... Still though -- we got to be right up next to it! And forget all of the legends you've heard.. he lost his nose when an Islamic ruler smashed it years and years and years ago. He did it to show the people that it was just a statue, not any kind of true deity. Our last night before heading to Luxor we took a sunset camel ride around the pyramids ... but not before we ate at the Pizza Hut with a view of the Sphinx and second largest pyramid! ... they love their American fast food here ... and because it was still Ramadan (just ended today) the touristy places were the only ones open for lunch! The camel ride was fun. Just another exotic animal I can cross of my list I guess.

Luxor was much calmer than Cairo. We had a lot of free time there so we took a few strolls up and down the Nile riverside. It was all quite pleasant, except for the constant taxi offers and boater's cat-calls... we just learned to say "La shokran" or no thank you in Arabic. That usually impressed them enough that they left us alone. We got a big kick out of the Mc Donalds that was across the street from Luxor Temple, and then of course went in for ice cream. (It was hot!!!)

We made it back to Cairo without any problems; spent the day at our hotel to take everything in, and then ended the night with a Nile dinner cruise. It turned out to be better suited for travelers a few years our seniors... but we had a nice time anyway. Andrea had to leave for a gnarly early (4:30 am!!) flight home. So we stayed up watching bad movies on Egyptian TV until she got picked up to go to the airport around 1:30.

And then there were three.

We'll miss Andrea ... and we are all a little bit jealous of the comforts of home that she is so close to enjoying!! But we have had today to entirely map out our plans for Europe together, and our feet are getting itchy again and we are all excited to get to Greece!

Greetings from Egypt!!

Hey everyone! I don't know how to say "hello" in Arabic .. so sorry. We have been in Egypt for the past 4 days and have been super busy! I really really love Egypt. :-) After arriving we were whisked away to our hotel (which has a Nile View!!) and left to recoop overnight. The next day we wasted no time and saw Memphis -which houses the largest statue of Ramses II in all of Egypt, Saqqara - which is the olsdest pyramid in existence and the Giza pyramids. You know all in a days traveling, right?

There is so much more to write about. We are in Luxor right now waiting for our train back to Cairo. Our tour group has been wonderful! Props to Memphis tours ;-). And we are all very relaxed and enjoying ourselves.

I will write more as soon as I have a chance!

Love to everyone!!
Erica

Namaste!

We have just arrived back in our hotel in Delhi after our week long stay in India. After our trek from Thailand, we spent a day and a hlaf touring Delhi before heading off to Jaipur and Agra. Delhi is definitely a world away! I told my family in an e-mail, it was definitely the first time I have gone somewhere and felt turned on my head. Everyone eased up a bit as we hit the rode with our driver for the week and drove to Jaipur. We stayed in a beautiful guest house and saw the Amber Fort, The City Palace(where the Maja Raja still lives) and Jantar Mantar (which is a massive observatory/astrology center built in the early 1700s), and The outside of The Wind Palace (a famous honeycombed building in Jaipur - it was built so that the women of the court, who couldn't go outside, could look out on the street and see what was going on). Jaipur is called the "Pink City" because at somepoint the Prince of Engladn told the Maja Raja he liked pink .... so everything was ordered to be painted pink! And it still is ... every building is a rusty pink color in the front!

After two days in Jaipur we drove to Agra. We left early in the morning and stopped off at Fatephur Sikri. Fatephur Sikri is old abandoned palace. In the 1500s Akbar the Great moved the Capital there, but was forced to leave around the time of his death because of water shortages. Because the palace was virtually abandoned, it is remarkably well preserved. After exploring the grounds of this Indian ghost town we visited one of India's national bird sanctuaries. We had a very kind guide wo showed us many birds indigenous to India. We were unlucky and weren't able to see any monkeys, and saw only one antelope, but the gorgeous cranes, owls, egrets and even a bird called the "snake bird" that looks like a reptile when it swims for food. After some lunch we arrived at our hotel in Agra and took a break to rest up for the next day. We woke up early in the morning and went staight to the Taj Mahal. I can't begin to try and sum up the enormity of that experience. So I will just say that it made all of the struggles of getting thius trip organized, dogding scammers in India left and right ... and not to mention the past year ... worth it. It was beautiful. We hung out around the grounds for awhile enjoying the scenery and people watching and relished in thr beauty of the Taj Mahal! It was wonderful.

After that we toured around the Agra Fort, which is the most spectacular of them all, supposedly. It was very confusing, so that impressed us, haha. The building was actually converted to a palace, and then a sort of prison when the Maja Raja's son took over and locked him away. You can go see where he stayed, locked away with a view of the Taj, where his wife was burried. The architecture was stunning and the ornamentation of each of the rooms was impressive - especially considering how old it all is, and how little restorations have been done. We were pretty wiped after all that, so we took it easy and ate a quick lunch near our hotel, and bummed around a local mall until dinner at one of the many cheap rooftop restaurants wiwth a Taj view. The entire day felt like a fairy tale!

This morning we got up early again, and stopped off at Sikandra (Akbar's Tomb) to enjoy the natural gardens and to get our last taste of Indian architecture before coming back to Delhi. Tomorrow morning we leave for the airport at THREE AM!!! Our flight to Cairo leaves at 7:30, and they recommend arriving three hours early in India. So that's that, and we'll get to the airport by 4.

A note to all who have been keeping up, India is sorely lacking in the post card department, so I doubt if I will be able to snag any at the airport. I am so sorry! But know I have been thinking of you all this whole time and wish you could be here to enjoy this with me!!!

Much love!

Japan, Thailand and Cambodia - Oh My!

Well I have been quite the globe trotter (as my brother would say) the past few days. Right now I am at our hostel in Siem Reap. Andrea and I left Tokyo on Thursday, had an overnight layover in Thailand (from our original trip, before we were forced to cut out our island adventure to Ko Phangan) and left for Cambodia the next day.

The rest of our stay in Tokyo was incredible. We took in a lot of the major sights, and revelled in the lush shopping! It is truly an international city and Andrea and I enjoyed finding some of our favorite things from home iterspersed with the Japanese items. Tokyo also seems to host a pastiche of world monuments... their tower is modeled identically after the Eiffel Tower (but is painted red and white), their most famous bridge is called the "Rainbow Bridge" and is a grey version of the Golden Gate in San Fransisco. But strangest, would have to be the miniature Statue of LIberty that they house on a small man-made island in Tokyo Bay calle Odaiba. The story goes (as we heard it from other tourists) that a few yeas ago the French sent their original on a tour of major World cities, and Tokyo liked it so much that they asked for one of their own. I have to say it was pretty surreal to see Lady Liberty holding her torch high above the Tokyo skyline - but hey, that's just me. haha.

We stayed in Ginza - the shopping district, haha - kind of the 5th avenue of Tokyo - and were next to two great subway stios, so we didn't have much trouble getting around. The Kabuki-Za, which is the most famous kabuki theater in Japan, was right around the corner from us! So we visited it often, and took in two kabuki performances. It still blows my mind that I saw it all first hand! The cool thing about both kauki actors and noh actors in Japan is that it is sort of a family business. All of the actors come from acting families, and the art is passed on from father to son (of course, in traditional Japanese drama there are no women on stage... but there are plenty of women acting in contemporary, western style plays). It is not rare for a young Japanese boy to debut on stage with his father while he is still a toddler! Kabuki dramas developed after Noh dramas and were intended for a more of the common audience than Noh, which were meant for the elie classes. Kabuki dramas typically involve themes of the average man while Noh dramas address eternal themes, such as spirtuality and the afterlife. Even today, Kabuki and Noh actors are regarded with high esteem and celebrity, and according to the information at the Kabuki-Za, are treated similar to the way Hollywood TV actors are treated by the Japanese public.

This past Thursday we flew to Bangkok and met Kirsten and Liz. It was so great to finally meet up with them! We left the next morning for our seperate treks to Cambodia. They swugn flights direct to Siem Reap (which I reccommend doing!!!) while Mullen and I flew to Phnom Penh and then hired a car to drive us. The car should normally cost about 50 US dollars and the drive can take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. The rode was smooth and I imagine had the sun not set so early it would have been nice scenery. So if you have the time it isn't your worst option, I would have just preferred the conveince of getting here -- for future reference.

Siem Reap is incredible. Cambodia is definitely one of my favorite places to have travelled. In general the people have been very kind. We are staying at the Siem Reap Hostel. It is a fabulous place to stay on a budget. Aside from the dorm-style rooms, you would think this place was a 4 star hotel. They cater to backpackers and laid back travelers, so they do a lot to make the place comfortable. They show movies, offer game-boards, have a swimming pool and a stocked kitchen... PLUS they have free internet! A Major Plus :-) Not to mention they are affiliated with a great group of Tuk-Tuk Drivers who have carted us around Angkor Wat the past two days. There is a variety of restaurants within walking distance and it is a short ride to the ruins.... so all in all ... it's perfect! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone coming to Cambodia. As they say in their advertisements, it is a five sandal resort ;-)

I am off to take a swim and wash of the dust and grime from our day .. then it is out for Mexican food for dinner!! Cambodia, sa rang hae yo!!!

Happy Birthday to Me! ... Still in Tokyo

Andrea and I have been in Tokyo for a week now and are both sufficiently in love with this city! Everything is organized and clean and well-presented... and mostly just overall welcoming! Tokyo, well done. We have been very busy, but I have to fill you in on how I spent my birthday last Thursday. I really doubt if there is any better way to turn 23... for me at least.

I of course spent the day at Tokyo Disney. Being a Southern California Native I have a super soft spot for anything Disney or Disneyland related, and going to Tokyo Disney was the closest to home I was going to get! The entire day felt like a dream for ... well, a ton of reasons. But mainly because evrything about the place was just so familiar! My mind had a hard time accepting it was actually in TOKYO and not ANAHEIM. Andrea was very patient with me as I would pause and just let my jaw hang open in complete disbelief that I was where I was. My first prority after entering the park was to pick up my mouse ears - of course! Tokyo Disney is celebrating their 25th Anniversary, so I chose a pair of special anniversary ears. Japanese Disney-goers seem more interested in odd sorts of hair accessories than they do traditonal mouse ears and ball caps, so they were the best ones. We rode all my favorite rides, and Andrea was, again, extraordinarily patient as I schooled her on the entire history of each attraction. (Or at least its counterpart in Anaheim) We took lots of pictures (that I will post here as soon as I find a good way to upload them) and ate lunch at Tomorrowland Terrace. Sadly ... The Haunted Mansion and Star Tours were both closed for rennovations and there wasn't time for the Jungle Cruise or Space Mountain because we had a dinner reservation at 6 pm.

My parents are amazing and for my birthday I got to eat at Club 33. It was incredible! In Anaheim, Club 33 is located in New Orleans Square, above Pirates of the Caribbean and Blue Bayou, but in Tokyo is in the World Bazzar (which is the same as Main Street, USA at home). We had were seated near the window and could see Cinderella's Castle from our table. (Yes, they have Cinderella's Castle, not Sleeping Beauty's like at home.) The staff were all very kind and were doing their best to speak English. We were surprised, because we assumed a place as nice as Club 33 would have an English speaking staff, because so many other places in the park did. After our first course, the head waiter told me that my "Birthday Ceremony" was ready, and asked Andrea and me to follow him. We went into a side lounge and sat down. Not gonna lie - it was a little creepy - even though I knew what was coming next. The whole wait staff came in and greeted me in Japanese. They took some pictures of Andrea and me and gave me a huge schpeal ... which was in Japanese too .. so I have no clue what they said. Then they sang and I blew out the candles on my small but sweet Birthday Cake. Then of course, the guest of honor arrived: Mickey Mouse! I felt pretty silly considering it was my TWENTY-third and not my THIRD birthday, but it was still fun. The Japansese teenager that was likely playing Mickey popped his (her?) head into the room in perfect Mickey fashion and we posed for a whole slew of pictures ... and then blew my birthday candles out again. Then Mickey had to leave so that he could get to the parade.. haha .. and we went back to our table. While we were gone, they folded our napkins to look like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and put a rose on my plate. We enjoyed a DELICIOUS meal and were just waiting for them to kick us out when all of the sudden the lights dimmed, they pulled back the curtains, and I saw the Blue Fairy wheeling straight towards me! For those of you who are not Disney-Literate; the Electrical Light Parade began and went directly beneath our window. We could hear the music and watch the parade with the castle in the background! It was so perfect. They let us stay to watch the fireworks too, and gave us some souvenir Club 33 sticker books (well, match books that had stickers inside) that had our names and the date on them. Not to mention the souvenir photos with Mickey Mouse - those were great too! haha.

We left, rode Peter Pan, the Tea Cups and It's A Small World ... and then had to leave to go home (always the saddest part of any Disney day)


It was the most relaxing and happy birthday I think I have had .. in recent memory anyway! And what a wonderful way to kick-start my trip! I of course was thinking of all of you - and wishing you could have been there too. We've been keeping quite busy in Tokyo, and I will update soon if I can. We leave on Thursday to make our trek into Cambodia, and I am sure this is the last reliable internet connection I'll have for a while... so pleae be patient and check back often!

I made it to JAPAN!

Konnichiwa! (Yes, I am *that* lame and predictable.) I have finally made it to Japan and my vacation/adventure has begun!!

On Tuesday morning Andrea and I flew from Seoul to Hiroshima. Hiroshima is probably the quietest place I have ever been. The airport was practically abandonned.　Ｗｅ　ｃｏｌｌｅｃｔｅｄ　ｏｕｒ　ｂａｇｓ，　ｃｈａｎｇｅｄ　ｏｕｒ　ｍｏｎｅｙ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｒｉｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｆｉｇｕｒｅ　ｏｕｔ　ａ　ｗａｙ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｉｔｙ．　Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ｎｏ　ｏｎｅ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｉｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎ　ｄｅｓｋ，　ａｎｄ　ｚｅｒｏ　ｓｉｇｎ－ａｄｇｅ　ｉｎ　Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ　．．　ｓｏ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｏｏｋ　ａｗｈｉｌｅ．　ｈａｈａ．　Ｗｅ　ｆｉｎａｌｌｙ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｏｕｒ　ｈｏｓｔｅｌ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｉｇｈｔ，　Ｊ－Ｈｏｐｐｅｒｓ，　ｈａｖｉｎｇ　ａｌｒｅａｄｙ　ｄｅｃｉｄｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｃａｎｃｅｌ　ｏｕｒ　ｒｏｏｍ　ａｎｄ　ｈｅａｄ　ｆｏｒ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ　ｔｈａｔ　ｅｖｅｎｉｎｇ　（Ｓｏ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｉ　ｃｏｕｌｄ　ｓｏｒｔ　ｏｕｔ　ｓａｉｄ　Ｖｉｓａ　ｐｒｏｂｌｅｍｓ）．　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ａｔ　Ｊ－Ｈｏｐｐｅｒｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｈｅｌｐｆｕｌ　ａｎｄ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　ｕｎｄｅｒｓｔａｎｄｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｈｅｌｐｅｄ　ｕｓ　ｆｉｇｕｒｅ　ｏｕｔ　ｏｕｒ　ｗａｙ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｒａｉｎ　ｓｔａｔｉｏｎ．Ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｗｅ　ｈｅａｄｅｄ　ｔｏ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ　ｗｅ　ｔｏｏｋ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｊｏｒ　ｓｉｇｈｔｓ　ｏｆ　Ｈｉｒｏｓｈｉｍａ　ｆｏｒ　ｏｎｅ　ａｆｔｅｒｎｏｏｎ．　Ｗｅ　ｗａｌｋｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　Ｐｅａｃｅ　Ｍｅｍｏｒｉａｌ　Ｐａｒｋ　ａｎｄ　ｓａｗ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｎｕｍｅｎｔｓ　ａｎｄ　ｍｅｍｏｒｉａｌｓ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｏｓｅ　ｗｈｏｓｅ　ｌｉｖｅｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｌｏｓｔ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｔｈｅ　Ａ－Ｂｏｍｂ　ｗａｓ　ｄｒｏｐｐｅｄ．　Ｕｎｆｏｒｔｕｎａｔｅｌｙ，　ｗｅ　ｄｉｄｎ’ｔ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｔｏ　ｖｉｓｉｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｕｓｅｕｍ．　

　　Ｔｈｅ　ｐａｒｋ　ｉｔｓｅｌｆ　ｉｓ　ｂｅａｕｔｉｆｕｌ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈｔｆｕｌｌｙ　ｐｌａｎｎｅｄ，　ａｎｄ　ｉｓ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　．．ｗｅｌｌ．．　ｐｅａｃｅｆｕｌ．　Ａｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｌａｑｕｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｄｅｄｉｃａｔｉｏｎｓ　ｍａｒｋ　ｔｈｅ　ｄａｔｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｍｂｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ａｒｅ　ｅｎｇｒａｖｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｈｏｐｅｆｕｌ　ｍｅｓｓａｇｅｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｓｏｒｔ　ｏｆ　ｄｅｖａｓｔａｔｉｏｎ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｎｅｖｅｒ　ｏｃｃｕｒ　ａｇａｉｎ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｗｏｎｄｅｒｆｕｌ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｈｏｗ　ｕｎｉｖｅｒｓａｌｌｙ　ｈｏｐｅｆｕｌ　ａｎｄ　ｏｐｔｉｍｉｓｔｉｃ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｅｎｔｉｍｅｎｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｎｕｍｅｎｔｓ　ｗｅｒｅ；　ｗｈｅｎ　ｔｈｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ａｎｄ　ｏｐｐｏｒｔｕｎｉｔｙ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ｕｐｓｅｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｎｎｅｒ　ｉｎ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａｔｔａｃｋｅｄ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｍｂ　ｅｘｐｌｏｄｅｄ　ｄｉｒｅｃｔｌｙ　ａｂｏｖｅ　ｉｓ　ｐａｒｔａｉｌｌｙ　ｓｔａｎｄｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｈａｓ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｎａｍｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　Ａ－Ｂｏｍｂ　Ｄｏｍｅ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｕｔｔｅｒｌｙ　ｂｏｎｅ－ｃｈｉｌｌｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｉｎ　ｐｅｒｓｏｎ．　Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｏｆ　ａｒｇｕｍｅｎｔｓ　ｏｖｅｒ　ｗｈｅｔｈｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｈａｖｅ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｄｅｍｏｌｉｓｈｅｄ，　ｒｅｓｔｏｒｒｅｄ　ｏｒ　ｌｅｆｔ　ａｓ　ｉｓ．．．ｂｕｔ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｎｄ　（ｓｏｍｅｔｉｍｅ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　６０ｓ）　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｄｅｃｉｄｅｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇ　ｗａｓ　ａｎ　ｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔ　ｒｅｍｉｎｄｅｒ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｐａｉｎ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｊａｐａｎ　ｓｕｆｆｅｒｅｄ　ａｓ　ａ　ｒｅｓｕｌｔ　ｏｆ　ａｔｏｍｉｃ　ｗａｒｆａｒｅ，　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｍｅｓｓａｇｅ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｕｔｕｒｅ　ｓｏ　ｔｈａｔ　ｈｏｐｅｆｕｌｌｙ，　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｎｅｖｅｒ　ｅｓｃａｌａｔｅ　ｔｏ　ｔｈａｔ　ｌｅｖｅｌ　ａｇａｉｎ．　

　　Ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｓｔ　ｔｏｕｃｈｉｎｇ　ｐａｒｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｐａｒｋ　ｗａｓ　ｐｒｏｂａｂｌｙ　ｔｈｅ　Ｃｈｉｌｄｒｅｎ’ｓ　Ｐｅａｃｅ　Ｍｏｎｕｍｅｎｔ．　Ｗｈｅｎ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｉｒｄ　ｇｒａｄｅ，　Ｉ　ｃａｎ　ｒｅｍｅｍｂｅｒ　ｍｙ　ｔｅａｃｈｅｒ　ｔｅｌｌｉｎｇ　ｕｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｏｒｙ　ｏｆ　ｏｎｅ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｇｉｒｌ，　ｗｈｏ　ｗａｓ　ｄｉａｇｎｏｓｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｌｅｕｋｅｍｉａ　ａｓ　ａ　ｒｅｓｕｌｔ．Ｓｈｅ　ｗａｎｔｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｆｏｌｄ　ｏｎｅ　ｐａｐｅｒ　ｃｒａｎｅ　ｆｏｒ　ｅｖｅｒｙ　ｐｅｒｓｏｎ　ｗｈｏ　was　ｋｉｌｌｅｄ　ｏｎ　Ａｕｇｕｓｔ　６，　１９４５．　Ｓａｄｌｙ，　ｓｈｅ　ｗａｓｎ’ｔ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｆｉｎｉｓｈ，　ｂｕｔ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｈｅｒ　ｄｅａｔｈ，　ｈｅｒ　ｃｌａｓｓｍａｔｅｓ　ｆｉｎｉｓｈｅｄ　ｆｏｒ　ｈｅｒ　－　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｎ　ｐｅｔｉｔｉｏｎｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｉｔｙ　ｔｏ　ｂｕｉｌｄ　ａ　ｍｏｎｕｍｅｎｔ　ｉｎ　ｈｏｎｏｒ　ｏｆ　ｈｅｒ　－　ａｎｄ　ａｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｃｈｉｌｄｒｅｎ　ｗｈｏ　ｄｉｅｄ　ａｓ　ａ　ｒｅｓｕｌｔ　ｏｆ　ｒａｄｉａｔｉｏｎ　ｐｏｉｓｏｎｉｎｇ　．．．Ｈｅｒｅ　ｉｓ　ｈｅｒ　ｓｔｏｒｙ　ｃｏｐｐｉｅｄ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　Ｈｉｒｏｓｈｉｍａ　Ｃｉｔｙ　Ｗｅｂｓｉｔｅ：

Sadako was two years old when she was exposed to the A-bomb. She had no apparent injuries and grew into a strong and healthy girl. However, nine years later in the fall when she was in the sixth grade of elementary school (1954), she suddenly developed signs of an illness. In February the following year she was diagnosed with leukemia and was admitted to the Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital. Believing that folding paper cranes would help her recover, she kept folding them to the end, but on October 25, 1955, after an eight-month struggle with the disease, she passed away.

Sadako's death triggered a campaign to build a monument to pray for world peace and the peaceful repose of the many children killed by the atomic bomb. The Children's Peace Monument that stands in Peace Park was built with funds donated from all over Japan. Later, this story spread to the world, and now, approximately 10 million cranes are offered each year before the Children's Peace Monument.

Ｓｅｅｉｎｇ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｍｏｎｕｍｅｎｔ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｃａｓｅｓ　ｏｆ　ｐａｐｅｒ　ｃｒａｎｅｓ　ｓｅｎｔ　ｉｎ　ｆｒｏｍ　ａｌｌ　ｏｖｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｏｒｌｄ　ｗａｓ　ｓｔｕｎｎｉｎｇ　－　ａｎｄ　ｅｘｔｒａｏｒｄｉｎａｒｉｌｙ　ｆｕｆｉｌｌｉｎｇ！　Ｉ　ｃａｎ　ｒｅｍｅｍｂｅｒ　ｌｅａｒｎｉｎｇ　ａｂｏｕｔ　Ｊａｐａｎ，　ａｎｄ　Ｈｉｒｏｓｈｉｍａ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ｍｒｓ．　Ｃｏｂｌｅ　ｓｏ　ｃｌｅａｒｌｙ　－　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｉｎｋｉｎｇ　ｈｏｗ　Ｉ　ｗａｎｔｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｓｏｍｅｄａｙ．Ａｎｄ　ｎｏｗ　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ！Ｉ　ｄｏｎ’ｔ　ｋｎｏｗ　．．．　ｉｎ　ｍａｎｙ　ｗａｙｓ　ｉｔ　ｆｅｌｔ　ｓａｃｒｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ｓｔａｎｄｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅｒｅ．　

Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｓｅｅｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｐａｒｋ　ｗｅ　ｃａｕｇｈｔ　ａ　ｔｒａｉｎ　ｔｏ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ　ａｎｄ　ｗｅ　ｂｏｔｈ　ｐａｓｓｅｄ　ｏｕｔ！　ｈａｈａ．　Ｉ　ｈａｄ　ｂａｒｅｌｙ　ｓｌｅｐｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｐａｓｔ　ｆｅｗ　ｎｉｇｈｔｓ，　ｈａｖｉｎｇ　ｌｅｆｔ　Ｋｏｒｅａ　ｉｎ　ｓｕｃｈ　ａ　ｗｈｉｒｌｗｉｎｄ，ｎｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｍｅｎｔｉｏｎ　ｈａｖｉｎｇ　ＷＯＲＫＥＤ　ｔｈｅ　ｄａｙ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ！　Ｗｅ　ｆｏｕｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　Ｍａｒｒｉｏｔｔ　ｗｉｔｈｏｕｔ　ｔｏｏ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｔｒｏｕｂｌｅ，　ａｎｄ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｃｈｅｃｋ　ｉｎ　ｏｎｅ　ｎｉｇｈｔ　ｅａｒｌｙ．　Ｉ　ｄｏｎ：ｔ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｉｆ　ｔｗｏ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｈａｖｅ　ｅｖｅｒ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｈａｐｐｉｅｒ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｃｌｅａｎ　ｓｈｅｅｔｓ，　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｈｏｔ　ｓｈｏｗｅｒ！！！　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ａｌｌ　ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈ，　ｓｔａｙｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｗｅｅｋ　ｈａｓ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｓｔ　ａｍａｚｉｎｇ　ｖａｃａｔｉｏｎ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ａｒｅ　ｋｉｎｄ　ａｎｄ　ｈｅｌｐｆｕｌ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｃｉｔｙ　ｉｓ　ｅｘｔｒａｏｒｄｉｎａｒｉｌｙ　ｃｌｅａｎ．　Ａｎｄ　ｏｆ　ｃｏｕｒｓｅ，　ｔｈｅ　ｆｏｏｄ　－　ａｎｄ　ＶＡＲＩＥＴＹ　ｏｆ　ｆｏｏｄ　－　ｈａｓ　ｂｅｅｎ　ａｍａｚｉｎｇ．　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｅｖｅｎ　ｈａｖｅ　ｏｎｅ　ｏｆ　ｍｙ　ｆａｖｏｒｉｔｅ　ｃｏｆｆｅｅ　ｓｈｏｐｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｈｏｍｅ　（Ｔｕｌｌｙ’ｓ　Ｃｏｆｆｅｅ）　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｎｅｘｔ　ｔｏ　ｏｕｒ　ｈｏｔｅｌ！Ｔｈｉｓ　ｉｓ　ａ　ｓｐｅｃｔａｃｕｌａｒ　ｗａｙ　ｔｏ　ｂｅｇｉｎ　ｏｕｒ　ｔｒｉｐ！




Ｔｈｅ　ｄｏｍｅ　ｙｏｕ　ｓｅｅ　ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈ　ｔｈｅ　ａｒｃｈ　ｉｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　Ａ－Ｂｏｍｂ　Ｄｏｍｅ







Ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｍｂ　ｅｘｐｌｏｄｅｄ　ａｂｏｕｔ　160 meters / 490 feet away and 580 meters / 1968 feet above　ｔｈｉｓ　ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇ．Ｔｈｅ　ｄｉａｇｒａｍ　ｓｈｏｗｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｒｉｇｉｎａｌ　ｓｔｒｕｃｔｕｒｅ，　ｔｈｅ　ｄａｎａｇｅ　ａｆｔｅｒｗａｒｄｓ，　ｔｈｅ　ｒｅｉｎｆｏｒｃｅｍｅｎｔｓ　ｍａｄｅ　ｔｏ　ｋｅｅｐ　ｉｔ　ｓｔａｎｄｉｎｇ，　ａｎｄ　ａｎ　ａｅｒｉａｌ　ｖｉｅｗ　ｆｒｏｍ　ａｐｐｒｏｘｉｍａｔｅｌｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｘａｃｔ　ｐｏｉｎｔ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｉｔ　ｅｘｐｌｏｄｅｄ．


Ｔｈｅ　ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇ　ｗａｓ　ａｎ　ｉｃｏｎ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｉｔｙ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｍｂｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｗａｓ　ｕｓｅｄ　ａｓ　ｂｏｔｈ　ａ　ｔｅｍｐｏｒａｒｙ　ｍｕｓｅｕｍ，　ａ　ｃｕｌｔｕｒａｌ　ｃｅｎｔｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ａｎ　ｏｆｆｉｃａｌ　ｇｏｖｅｒｎｍｅｎｔ　ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇ．　Ｔｈｉｓ　ｉｓ　ａ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅ　ｏｆ　ｉｔ　ｎｏｗ，　ａｎｄ　ａｓ　ｉｔ　ｌｏｏｋｅｄ　ｏｒｉｇｉｎａｌｌｙ．



Ｃｈｉｌｄｒｅｎ’ｓ　Ｐｅａｃｅ　Ｍｏｎｕｍｅｎｔ

Murphey's Law

I'm not sure why I expected everything to go smoothly ... b/c when you're taking on a trip as ambitious as we are, there are bound to be a few hang ups. SO - long story short - I am leaving Korea on Tuesday morning without a tourist visa to India. This means I need to ammend my itinerary and stay in Japan long enough for my visa application to process there. Which means ... I have to say annyong to Thailand. Not gonna lie, I am more than a little bit disappointed. But I have fumed, and complained, and accepted it, and now I am over it. I am grateful for the perspectove top recognize that ... poor me... I have to spend a full 8 days in Japan. boo hoo.

Other than that, work has been - work. And I have been trying to ignore it and enjoy my last days with my students. Their mother's are extraordinarily generous and I have received very kind notes and gifts from them saying they'll miss me and wishing me luck on my trip. Some of my kids are pretty bummed - and in a strange way I am grateful for that. I was so worried that they wouldn't care when I left. But Niki, my replacement, is wonderful and I know she will do great with them! I think my students will warm up to her in no time. She has the same hair color, so my kids are glad for that too. haha. :-)