This Is Nothing

Insane Graduate School Edition

Saturday, June 15, 2002

ALOHA

I didn't really wake up until the clerk at the ticketing counter pointed to my gate number, D88, and said "'D' as in 'Dave'" It's a crazy coincidental world isn't it?

I got searched right as I was trying to board the plane, for reasons unknown. I even had to take my shoes off! But it's ok, the folks were nice and very excited once they learned where I was going and why :) They held the plane for me, and I had to walk in last all by myself. Demoralized, I sat down in my seat, and fell asleep.

Chicago O' Hare was very modern, and beautiful, but not too horribly busy in the morning hours. I sat down at my gate and soon after I made friends with an electrician named Wes, who reminded me of Boner in 15 years with a sort of fu manchu mustache and beard. I guess once he figured out I was MUCH younger than he was, he decided he should be on his way :)

On the plane, I thought I had no seat, only to find a Professor Goldbergh look-alike had taken my seat by mistake. No worries. I sat down next to a couple from Raliegh, NC and quickly made friends with them. They were around my parents age, so I had a great time pretending to be their kid for awhile, instead of my all by myself.

Landing in Honolulu was amazing. The water somehow manages to be these impossible shades of turquoise, aqua, and grey-purple-blue. Folks applauded when we neared touchdown, and my new parents agreed you really shouldn't applaud until the plane is LANDED. oh well.

Everything I loved about Malaysia is here, somehow--the food, the weather, the plants, minus the scariness, so far. Cheryl, the lady I'm staying with, is very nice, and has a little studio with a lanai (patio) that overlooks the ocean. She also has a labrador named "buddy" who I found next to me when I awoke this morning. Reminds me of my dog Pepper. . .so it makes me happy.

The lab isn't as slick as the biotech dept. at OSU, but hell, the office window show's THE OCEAN and people SURFING. Can't beat that. There is also a little black cat named "Spooky" who is the official lab cat. She greeted us upon arrival. Welcome to my summer!

I'll try to keep everyone posted how it's going, and PLEASE E-MAIL ME BECAUSE HOMESICKNESS IS LIKELY regardless of how beautiful it is, and how much good food I can eat :)