SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM!

Ok, so looks like updates will be at the mercy of fate, so you can guess how regularly I'll post.

So, here's a whirlwind tour of my first weekend in Hawaii:

Saturday afternoon I spent my time wandering the outlet malls of honolulu whilst Cheryl finished up some beta-gal assays--which would take alll day. I was very pleased to find being a pedestrian here is a much nicer experience than in Columbus. Stupid Columbus. Nobody bugged me here, or really even paid any notice of my presence, except a mentally deficient young man in Borders, but he was nice and just wanted to know what country I was from. Why me? I don't know. I finished my tour of shopping heaven with a smoothie at Jamba Juice, where I sat and admired local fashion, which is oh-so-comfortable and casual and yet very pretty. Girls with a flower behind one ear.

Saturday night was a great feast of sashimi (raw tuna dipped in soy sauce and wasabi) and also some grilled tuna and zuchinni. . . made my tummy very very happy, because I'm addicted to raw fish and seafood in general. Cheryl and I sat down and watched "The Princess Diaries" which is VERY CUTE and girly. Actually rather quirky indeed. I fell asleep content on my air mattress.

Sunday morning we got up bright and early to meet Cheryl's cousin for breakfast--This is the person who's house I'll be house-sitting. So we were off the manoa valley, a lush, cloudy locale more inland. At the top of a hill (most houses in hawaii seem to be perched on hillsides) we met up with Cousin Anne and her son Sean. We hopped on bikes from there, and careened down the hill again for a breakfast of banana pancakes, mushroom omellete, bacon, and french toast. Delicious again! My neighborhood is really cute, very quiet, and even has a farmer's market! We visited the latter after chatting and eating. There were people selling everything from orchids to lychee fruits. Neat! Then came the grand tour of the house--absolutely gorgeous with dark wood floors and windows overlooking a lush garden with gardenia and ginger and a million other plants---and also a stream. JOOOYYY!!

Soon we were off again for a hike to the manoa falls, where I was transported to Malaysia, in my mind. It's pretty much the same again. Even smells the same, again. Crazy. I discovered that having a dog is a great way to make friends, as Cheryl brought Buddy with her, and started many conversations with fellow hikers that way.

Then we went to beach! I forget which one. But the water IS turquoise, and warm as bathwater. I sneak over to a group of old ladies and just bob in the waves with them. It's a good way to spend some time. I didn't even get sunburnt.

Back home, and I am soooo tired. We have chicken enchiladas and I am again thankful for being able to stay with someone who loves to cook. We have another girls night watching "Bachelorettes in Alaska"--a great show for vicarious dating and just all around entertainment. It's nice to be staying with a friend of sorts.

Monday comes too fast, and it's time to be in lab. But that goes quite alright, because the first week will be a slow one. I cram my brain full of information, reading scientific papers until my little cranium reaches critical mass. And then I get some e-mailing done, and then I go home. Day done--Oh! had Shoyu chicken and brown rice and ceasar salad!! delicious again! As you can see, food is important to me :)

Today was also a good day. I helped patching out colonies for Cheryl, and also met Kenneth, the master of squishing squids for research. I wasn't sure how to feel when he asked me if I was completing my masters degree or doctorate. . .turns out I'm only a year older than he is. Oh well, such is life. Kenneth is a laid-back kinda guy, but he always goes around looking for more work to be done. I admire that, but I can't follow his example especially well. I was amazed that he wanted to know what was "happenin'" on the mainland. Compared to Hawaii, I don't know what there is really. But I guess it's all a question of perspective.

The afternoon brought the first lab meeting of my witnessing here. It was very informal, but extremely productive. These ladies of science mean business, and I as so pleased just to be there. I like the sense of humor this lab has, from the bucket for collecting golf balls found on squidding trips titled "The Golf-Ball Shrine: offer golf balls in the hopes ye will find more squid!" to jokes about hovering over the squid and waiting for them to die so you can take their retinas!!

ok, you'd have to be there for that one.

The point is. . . it's really nice hear, and I'm so glad. Nothing could be worse than to be far from home in an unwelcoming place. And so far, I've been welcomed. So huzzah!

I want news of home, though, so keep it coming!