child devil of tuna

Nothing exciting to report right now except that I have the world's largest mosquito bite on my arm. It actually hurts when I walk because it's so laden with fluid and other mosquito-bite-goodies that the slight jarring my body gets everytime I put my foot down causes it to ache and itch simultaneously. It's feverish to the touch and I can actually feel my pulse in it. Just thought I should share.

And on an equally not-so-exciting note, this is my 200th post. 2 years and a month's worth of memories contained neatly in one blogtastic site. Could you ask for any more?

Currently Playing: Tell Her Tonight - Franz Ferdinand
Currently Reading: Disposable People - Kevin Bales

posted by Grace @ 5/31/2005 01:26:00 AM 0 comments

First order of business. As some of you know, I was accepted by Imperial College in London a couple of weeks ago and as nearly all of you know, I had already accepted the offer of admissions from Manchester University in March, thinking that Imperial College had lost my application or it never got there or something. I spent the last two weeks pulling out my hair trying to decide between a school that REALLY wanted me and a school that had ignored my emails but is nevertheless the #1 school in the UK for biochemistry. Be a big fish in a small pond or be a small fish in a big pond? After much careful thought and a lot of “listen to your gut instinct” pep talks from family and friends, I have decided to stick with Manchester. I just mailed my “no thanks” letter to Imperial this morning. Deep breath…

Second order of business. This doesn’t really affect me all that much, but it’s unquestionably important to someone close to me. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith came out last week and Bryan’s long wait is finally over. He still hasn’t updated his blog, which leaves me to believe that he is recovering from 7 weeks worth of little or no sleep. Congrats to you for being the #1 fan in the States, Bryan. You are one crazy bastard. For those of you who are (even remotely) curious about what he’s been up to these last few weeks, MTV has given Bryan a blog to document his line-waiting experience. The video is kind of cute, too.

Third order of business. The last installment of vacation photos from Vietnam. Here they are:




Jenni and Shannon snorkeling.


Self-portrait.


Our scuba instructor. I don't remember her name at the moment, but she was Japanese and from Kyoto.


Ditto. All of these photos turned out really blue. I promise that the coral was more colorful in real life.


Jenni "smiles" for the camera.


A big squishy magenta sea anemone.


Shannon (left) on her first dive ever.


It looked almost (not quite) like Finding Nemo.

posted by Grace @ 5/26/2005 12:20:00 AM 0 comments

Thanks for being patient everyone. I've had the craziest couple of weeks. As some of you know, my JET supervisor at Kuwana BOE passed away last week and things have been hectic at the offce and at school. I'm OK, but it's upsetting because he has left behind two young children.

But enough of that. I'll move on to happier news. Here is the 2nd installment of photos from Vietnam. Enjoy...




A non-gnarly photo of Shan posing with "postcard" water.


These wetsuits are hot hot HOT. You know you want us.


When we were scuba diving, there was a Russian group who came on our boat. Needless to say, they have different views on swimwear ettiquette and modesty.


Jenni and Shannon with "the Kid." Such a cute little young 'un. We made him really nervous when we first met him. He works with the diving company.


More gorgeous postcard water.


Cham Towers in Nha Trang. I'm not sure of the significance of these temples except that they're Buddhist and they're old.


Jenni and an an AK.


Meet my lobster.


Jenni, me and Shan enjoying some tasty seafood.


We met some other JETs from Gunma-ken who had happened to run across two other JETs from Mie-ken while they were up in Hanoi. Let's sing together now, "It's a small world after all..."

Currently Playing: Hells Bells - AC/DC
Currently Reading: The Shining - Stephen King

posted by Grace @ 5/20/2005 10:34:00 PM 0 comments

I've been back for a couple of days now and work has been hectic (I'll save you from listening to my complaints; suffice it to say that I'm surrounded by seriously disorganized people) but I'll get on with what you've been waiting for. I bring you the first installment in my "Vacation Photos To Make You All Jealous" series:


Inflatable airplane pillows are HOT.


When I think of HCMC, I think of communism and motorcycles and vaguely French architecture.


Lunch while touring the Mekong River Delta. Elephant-eared fish. Straight from the murky brown waters of the Mekong. Mmmmmmm.


Tasty, isn't it? Shannon and Jenni making a meal of the previous photo.


So, this is what pineapple trees/bushes/cacti look like! I've been to the Dole plantation in Hawaii, but for some reason, I think this one looks totally different. I can't remember.


An open-air market near the Mekong Delta. Yes, that woman is selling frogs. They are tied into bundles of 6 frogs, or a dozen legs. I felt compelled to buy them all and then release them, but then I figured that they'd only be caught again or trampled. Poor frogs.


This is Mr. Binh, our tour guide at the Cu Chi Tunnels. He was an officer for the American army and he was absolutely NUTS. Had the crazy Vietnam War vet gleam in his eyes and everything. According to him, Americans didn't win the war because we have "fat asses" and Vietnamese people have "small asses." At first I was skeptical, but we had a chance to crawl through some of the tunnels that the VietCong used during the war, and I realized just how much more maneuverable a "small ass" would be.


Me in the tunnel. This is the wide part, too. At its narrowest point, I had to crawl through practically on my stomach. To think that the VC actually LIVED underground in these things!


Shannon and a local. They use fobby fingers, too! I'm not sure if this is a generic Asian thing, or if the locals just do it to humor the Japanese tourists.


Jenni and I opt for the thumbs up thing. Needed to give my index and middle fingers a break.


Jenni and Shannon on cyclos. There's probably no better way to attempt suicide then to get a ride in one of these things. Super-fun, though.


Disco Buddha. The Vietnamese really like neon lights and strings of blinking Christmas lights. The mausoleum in this temple was totally decked out like it was the holidays.


Time for bed. Still kind of jet-lagged and whatnot. Tomorrow: Nha Trang photos.

posted by Grace @ 5/10/2005 04:55:00 AM 0 comments

Good morning, Vietnam! It's hot and sweaty. The food is good and cheap. The shopping is fun (and dangerous). Crossing the street is to battle for right-of-way with the 2 million motorbikes that are constanting cruising through Saigon each day. I'm having a blast and I thought I'd rub that all in. We're heading to Nha Trang tomorrow for some scuba diving and some fun in the sun. I bet you're all jealous. If not, then you should be!

posted by Grace @ 5/01/2005 07:51:00 AM 0 comments