#even if it means more limited food options in my area of campus

[carpathxanridge]

won’t comment this on the same post because it’s probably not what they want to hear rn but i know that some people HAVE “cured” their CFS, or rather have been able to manage it and return to moderate activity levels, by essentially “gradually building stamina.” but the approach and mentality behind the pacing approach is SOOO different than what the average person assumes “gradually building stamina” must look like, and always errs on the side of MINIMUM activity because of the seriousness of PEM. like it sucks to have the 3 mile walks you were once accustomed to suddenly make you bedridden the next day. that’s why pacing would mean, for a very long period of time, going on… a five minute walk, if that’s where you’re at. a one minute walk around your living space a few times a day. or ten seconds of standing, if completely bedridden. but if you’re not bedridden and are doing things around the house, even just if sitting up to work at a computer, pacing ALSO means laying down flat and having a full body rest multiple times a day, scheduled throughout the day. it means not just allowing rest, but ENFORCING it. the barrier to people with CFS slowly building their stamina back up is usually this idea that part of that endeavor involves willpower, that if you can just will it hard enough, try harder, the CFS will go away. how could you possibly need MORE rest when you’re doing nothihg? when this mentality is the opposite of what CFS needs. people who’ve successfully gotten their old lives “back” after CFS have done it by respecting PEM, erring on the side of caution, being so gentle with themselves and careful not to send themselves into a flare-up.

[nickgerlich]

iBurger

We have spent a lot of time this semester talking about labor-saving opportunities in retail. While this may not seem like a marketing issue, and certainly not one addressed directly in text books, it is very much a marketing issue. You have to convince consumers to use them, and sometimes it is not an easy sell.

From self-check to smart carts, as well as a robotic food trailer and robot deliveries, we have pretty much covered them all. Except for one. Say hello to the RoboBurger, a fully-automated burger frying and flipping machine that just made its campus debut.

Essentially, it is a downsized version of the Automat we also discussed earlier. Whereas the former was almost like a cafeteria in terms of options, RoboBurger is take-it-or-leave it. Burger. Bun. Condiments. Think Ford Model T. If you want it in black, you’re in luck.

Designed to fit handily in dorms and other high traffic areas where people congregate, it takes up only 12 square feet and needs a single standard electrical outlet. It’s the soft drink vending machine of burgers, the Red Box video of late night snacks.

And I know if they had one of these in my college dorms, I would have been all over it. We often found ourselves wandering on foot to Dunkin Donuts after midnight to take a study break. The Burger Chef had already closed, and unless one of our study group had a car and could haul all of us to the Waffle House more than a mile away, donuts were our only option.

RoboBurger is a minority-owned business, which garners even more attention. Bravo for having the wherewithal to create something unique, not to mention assuming the risk of trying to sell an innovation. That is always chancy.

Of course, there are limitations. I could not find anything telling me otherwise that this is a strictly linear process, and that only two burgers at most can be prepared at a time. With burgers taking between four and five minutes to cook and assemble, that means there could be long lines in the dorm. You and your pals would be eating in shifts. Imagine having the patience at a restaurant to wait like that. I don’t think so.

And then there is the issue of limited menu. Not everyone is going to want a beef burger. Maybe some want chicken, while others want a veggie burger. For some reason I have visions of the Soup Nazi in my mind while I write this. Don’t you dare ask for something different. Special orders will upset them. I get it, because it’s a tiny machine. You can’t do very much in 12 square feet. Oh well.

Clearly, these machines will have to be serviced often. And heaven forbid there should be a power outage, because then the freezer within will allow meat to thaw. Worse yet, an order in process could be stuck in limbo. While the odds are slim, it could happen.

I am intrigued by RoboBurger, just as I am with all the other labor- and time-saving conveniences being launched. Students at Texas A&M now get Amazon Prime Air drone delivery within an hour. A growing number of universities have robot deliveries of their fast food. And all the grab-and-go stores opening make it so easy to just get what you need and be on your way.

Where will all this go, I wonder? While it is technically feasible to put any packaged good into a vending machine, even alcohol like they do in Japan, when something has to be prepared it is an entirely different proposition. And then there is the matter of consumer trust, even though we don’t have to worry about sick or careless employees screwing up the order. Is the beef safe? The buns not moldy?

These are all things for RoboBurger to consider, as well as line extensions into other sandwiches. Maybe fries. As long as it can be prepared safely and consistently in a metal box with a couple of delivery bays, there is a lot of upside potential for this concept. Making things available where and when people happen to be, and when there is demand, makes perfect sense.

Tell me how it is, though. I’ll probably still gravitate toward Red Robin. At least I can build it my way. As long as the kitchen is open.

Dr “Not Trying To Be Impossible“ Gerlich

Audio Blog

[everybodyscupoftea]

Ooo yes a part 2 for that new pike Jj

for sure for sure, gonna fix it!

(i know i said it’ll be up “in a bit” hours ago but time isn’t real anyway)

5 times she makes him suffer and 1 time they talk it out

same warnings as before :)

so you were pretty hurt, understandably so, jj had invalidated your feelings and, in your eyes, showed you exactly where your friendship ranked on his priority list. not a stellar night for the frat boy.

one:

sunday mornings were for brunch. jj picked you up and the two of you drove to a diner near campus. you’d been doing it for so long that all the workers knew you both by name and your normal orders. it started as a hangover thing freshman year but quickly turned into just a normal event.

that sunday, you got a text at the usual time, that read outside.

normally you’d go downstairs, but instead, you texted him not hungry and left it at that. your feelings were still pretty hurt and you’d rather have some space than possibly yell at him if he tried to push it under the rug or ignore that it happened all together.

before you had time to reconsider, he sent back i said i’m sorry

that strengthened your resolve and you put your phone down with an eye roll. he still seemed to be missing the whole fucking point.

two:

studying or doing homework in your room was never really the best option for you. for one thing, your desk was full of clothes and random shit, so anytime you wanted to do work, it had to be done on your bed. secondly, everything in your room became infinitely more interesting when the other option was homework.

so, you really tried to move around between the library and some coffee shops in the area to do your work and study. unfortunately, jj knew all of your study spots, and you still didn’t really want to see him.

it wasn’t even really about revenge, you really wanted to be the better person, rise above, all that jazz, but you were so scared you’d lash out and ruin things more than they already felt. plus, you wanted to make him suffer a little, and the dorm was the only of those places he couldn’t get into.

you’d told jj that you weren’t going to be in the library that afternoon, but he called you anyway.

“hello,” you answered, a little coldly.

“hey,” he sounded hesitant, “i got coffee and our table.”

“i cleaned my desk off so i’m just going to do the last bit of my homework here.”

“oh.”

“yeah, so i’ll talk to you later,” you said, trying to end the conversation.

“see you in class?” he asked, hopefully.

“yeah, sure.”

three:

so maybe you were still feeling a little petty. but to be fair, it was still fresh. you always beat jj to class, it was your first of the day and he had one before. the girl who sat directly across the room from you was sitting in the hall when you walked up, and you got an idea.

sliding down next to her, you cleared your throat, “hey, um, are you particularly attached to your spot in the room?”

she gave you a weird look, “i mean i’m not ready to marry it, but i like it fine enough.”

you laughed, “yeah, i was just wondering if you’d be willing to switch for the day.”

her eyebrows shot up, “depends on why. aren’t you and that blonde kid really good friends?”

with a sigh, you answered, “yeah, but he kinda blew me off the other day and it hurt my feelings. just trying to get back at him.”

she nodded, look of understanding crossing her face, “got it, we’ll switch for today.”

“god, you’re a lifesaver.”

reaching out to squeeze your shoulder, she said, “anytime.”

it was actually kind of nerve wracking waiting on jj to show up. you watched his look of confusion at the girl sitting in your normal seat next to his and then him scanning the room to find you. his face absolutely fell when he saw you sitting and you averted your eyes, not wanting to be caught staring.

the entire class you could feel him staring at you, and every time you looked up, he was pouting. you had a class across campus right after that one, so as soon as the professor dismissed you, you were packed and gone before jj could get across the room.

four:

since you’d pretty much locked yourself in your dorm room outside of class and jj couldn’t find you, he’d resorted to blowing up your phone.

hey we still on for lunch today?

guess not about the lunch...library later? i need some help with finance

wait, what problems do we have to finish for stats

want me to bring you some coffee tomorrow morning, i can swing by dunkin on the way to class

eventually ending with one that pulled on your heartstrings a little.

are you ever going to talk to me again?

you typed how’s it feel asshole into the message before thinking better of it and deleting it without sending. 

five:

about halfway through the week, doing homework in your room just wasn’t cutting it anymore. you couldn’t focus and every time you sat on your bed, you immediately grew tired. eventually, you decided to just face the music and head to the library.

you were kind of hoping jj wouldn’t be there and that your table would be empty, but it wasn’t and he was. freezing, you ducked out of view before he could look up and see you. your options were very limited of places you could go without having to actually walk past him.

with lack of better plan, you sank to the ground and leaned against one of the stacks of books, pulling your stuff out to get some work done. it wasn’t comfortable, but you already felt more productive than in your room.

and then he found you, sitting on the ground, crouched in a weird position, trying to do some history work. he cleared his throat, arms crossed in front of him, “comfortable?” he asked.

“yes.”

he rolled his eyes, “you’re really going to sit on the floor instead of sitting with me?”

“for the time being.”

“come on, just give it up.”

you cocked your head, glaring at him, “give it up? give what up?”

jj sighed loudly, “you know what i mean, this is getting ridiculous.”

straightening your shoulders, you ignored the pain in your back, and glared at him, “my feelings aren’t ridiculous. i’ll see you around, maybank.”

+ one:

you finally decided to air things out four days later. jj was sitting at your usual spot outside the chick-fil-a, not paying attention, when you sat down across from him. he looked up, clearly ready to say something, and froze when he saw you.

“haven’t seen you in a while.”

“i’m ready to talk about it,” you told him, unwrapping your food.

he nodded, “okay, i’ll start with an apology. it wasn’t cool of me, i’m sorry.”

you raised your eyebrows, “not cool of you seems a little understated.”

with a little laugh, jj added to the apology, “yeah, i got distracted and i forgot what day it was.”

“it happens i guess,” you told him, “but i was mostly upset because it made me feel like an inconvenience to you. i know your life doesn’t revolve around me and i know studying on a saturday afternoon isn’t as fun as a party, but a little heads up would’ve been nice.”

“it’s not that,” he defended, “you know i love spending time with you right? no matter what we do it’s fun because it’s us. i’ve never had a bad time. and by the way it took me five hours to do my finance homework without you.”

you laughed, “yeah, it was hard. and look, i don’t want you to lie to me, it’s okay if you didn’t want to come. just tell me next time.”

“i know this seems like a cop out, but my phone was in my room charging, it died around when we started drinking and by the time i was drunk, i’d forgotten i’d moved it in the first place.”

“i believe you,” you told him with one last sigh, finally letting it go.

“hugs?” he asked, standing and holding his arms out.

you smiled and stood, walking around the table to hug him. he squeezed you close, burying his face into your neck, and whispered, “there, best friend position restored.”

“yep, my best friend,” you responded weakly, heart sinking a little at the last word.

[raleighliving]

Pros and Cons of College Life in Raleigh

Last time I wrote about colleges in Raleigh generally and how it’s not like other college towns. This time, I’m gonna be speaking a bit more about the pros and cons so it should be a little more specific.

Before that, however, I wanna make this clear: Raleigh is not somewhere you should move to for college unless the school you’ve applied to is your dream school.  

In terms of academics, there are better choices than NC State or WPU. If you wanna study biology or medicine, schools like UNC-W or Duke would probably be a better fit for instance. If you live in Raleigh, don’t pick a school just because it’s close; if you live in another part of the states and you want to attend an east coast school there are options all along the east coast that you should consider.  

Raleigh is a great place to live and work, and there are plenty of friendly people here; but a degree from the right university can make or break your career (depending on the field and other aspects of course).

As a person suffering from anxiety, the question “Do you want the good news or bad news first” has always been a terrible one for me. Up until I hear the bad news, it could be literally anything regardless of what the person asking was doing or how much of the task they were on I’m familiar with.

Similarly, living in Raleigh (or really anywhere for that matter) is going to present a lot of subjective pros and cons. Please keep in mind this is gonna be super subjective, but I hope you enjoy reading this even if we disagree.

But you didn’t come here to read three paragraphs of disclaimer. So lets start by listing the good stuff.  

Raleigh is a city full of vibrant color, culture, and cool shit. You can find cool things almost anywhere you look, regardless of where you are in Raleigh. I mean, all of the pictures (including those in this article) I use for this blog I’ve taken in Raleigh or nearby it. As a result, the first pro has got to be the beltline highway system.  

The beltline is a highway system composed of I-440, I-40, and parts of I-540 that encapsulates all of Raleigh. It connects north and south Raleigh while having downtown in the center, letting travelers easily reach nearly any part of Raleigh. 

I’ve lived on the border of Durham, Cary, and Rolesville at different points in my life. I’ve had to make trips to Garner and Apex for various reasons. At no point in my 20+ year stay have I ever had to make a city trip that lasted longer than a half-hour (one way). It makes working in Raleigh especially easy, since the abundance of highway access points and the convenience of the loop design means I’m never too far from that loop. 

It even helps with adjusting to your new environment if you move here (for school or other reasons) since if you’re ever lost, the highways can act as a point to re-orient yourself by. I know I’ve had to do it plenty of times in the past, and it can really save you from looking like an idiot if you excuse your lost-ness by just saying “Oh yeah mate, I was just tryna get on the highway. Saves so much time.”

Does this mean Raleigh has the best transportation network of any city? Hell no. Does this mean that Raleigh has the best highway system? Not even close. But it’s still super nice, especially for students. You’ll run into the problems any urban place has like rush hour or crash delays, but this is mitigated by the fact you’ll be using it for our second pro: Everything happens in Raleigh. 

Well, not EVERYTHING everything but as I’ve ranted about before; there’s plenty to do and see in the city of Raleigh (even if you’re a student). 

For instance, according to raleighnc.gov, Raleigh is home to over 200 public parks. Not a fan of parks? Into more electronic entertainment? Then visit our very own “Arcade of Thrones” downtown and get your game on with your fellow nerds

Boring stuff like restaurants and night clubs aside, Raleigh is home to literally thousands of businesses and social clubs for you to partake in. Farmers markets, gun and knife shows, fishin’ holes and public church barbecues are available for that classic southern charm; but don’t forget to make use of our barcades, art festivals, concerts, comedy clubs and sport centers. 

The only reason why I’m not going into more detail about examples like First Friday, the downtown cultural festivals, PNC arena or other more specific events is because I want to write about them in-depth in the future.  

Of course, students having things to do and places to go is only part of the college experience. If you’re gonna come to Raleigh for college, the best pro I could possibly mention is the support network.  

Not to say that we’re exactly all one big happy family here, but in Raleigh you get that nice blend of metropolitan city life with your rural state. Orgs like the LGBT Center, Goodwill, Raleigh Missions, and more support locals in need constantly and provide for the many different groups around here.

Libraries and civic centers share the same city as mosques and churches which neighbor women's shelters and LGBT+ advocacy groups. If you’re a republican or democrat, that’s fine but be prepared to meet the other members of the political spectrum since groups like the Democratic-Socialists of America (DSA) are active downtown as well.

If you need help or want to help others, there’s a 98% chance that you’ll find someone or something out there that meets your needs. Join a community through Facebook or Nextdoor and you’ll see every diaper drive, garage sale, and community recommendation pop up whenever one is needed.

Of course, this brings us to our first con. Raleigh may be home to some of the nicest people I’ve ever met but it doesn’t mean you won’t run into some problem people sooner or later.  

There’s of course the typical collegiate douchebags, the upper-middle class young scions of no import who fumble through life with no regard for others because mommy and daddy will perpetually care for them, but being a red state you’ll also run into the more colorful republicans.

Every year there’s an anime convention called “Animazement” downtown and every year there’s a small herd of fundamentalist Christians warning all the otaku who’ll listen that they’re going to hell. Drive around town long enough and you’ll find a few different businesses that have made their opinions on things like masks and social distancing clear, not to mention there’s no shortage of QAnoners and alt-right sympathists. 

Of course, you shouldn’t let others dictate the quality of your life or the area you live in but you should be aware that these people exist. Raleigh is more liberal than other parts of North Carolina for sure but it’s not the leftist paradise those other parts would say it is.

Other than the coinflip that is neighbors, Raleigh is kind of a pricy place to live. The cost of living is on average higher than other cities in the US, cheaper still than New York of Californian cities, but pricey nonetheless.

Rent in Raleigh for a one bedroom apartment is on average $975 according to bestplaces.net and can go as high as $1200 depending on the complex and location. 

That, with a federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, means you’ll need 

>Multiple jobs >Multiple roommates >A good paying job

or any combination of the two to be able to afford rent, utilities, and food beyond cup ramen. There’s housing programs like Section 8 and military housing initiatives to help, but for students you’re looking at some pretty steep housing costs for anywhere that’s not student dorms. 

You can get a good job that pays decent, of course, nothing’s impossible. However, finding one that won’t require roommates would demand full time hours (which might be difficult to make on student scheduling) or a degree (which you’re probably at college to get). Most living spaces require you make at least 3x the advertised rent to even be considered as well, which may limit students to seedier student living complexes like University Village or The Proper (Formerly Vie, formerly wolf creek).

Finally, if you move to Raleigh for college be prepared to drive. A lot.

As I mentioned earlier, the beltline is a god send for students and people looking to explore; but it’s also practically mandatory for moving around Raleigh. Public transit in Raleigh isn’t non-existent but it’s pretty damn close.  

Live between 10-15 minutes from your desired destination? Taking the bus is gonna be anywhere from half an hour to a full hour, and that’s if you even live near a bus route. If you’re like myself and habitually on the edge of Raleigh, be prepared to drive for a bit before you even see a GoRaleigh bus let alone a stop. 

The buses do at least run pretty late (Closing normally around 11PM), but the lack of public transit lines and bike-able roads means that you’ll be adding to the urban congestion more likely than not.

Okay with driving? Hope you’re okay with paying another arm and a leg, because at most schools down here tuition doesn’t cover your parking pass. 

NC State prices range from $105 to over $400 depending on your credit hours and where you’re staying at. Other schools like William Peace only charge a flat $130 for their parking decal, but most of the schools require you throw them an extra Apple Pencil or two for the privilege of being able to park your own vehicle close to the actual campus.

There are workarounds, like parking off-campus nearby, but those carry risks and penalties that can add up over time. The audacity these schools have to take thousands in tuition and then demand that you pay and additional fee to just use the parking lot.

Hopefully, though, regardless of my thoughts if you live in Raleigh or North Carolina in general and you’re considering attending one of the fine establishments here; I’ve provided you some food for thought. 

College can be a scary experience for many, and the area around it can really make or break your experiences. We don’t have the biggest party schools or the most glamorous cityscape; but if I had to go through the collegiate system again I honestly couldn’t imagine doing it anywhere else.

Next time I’ll be talking about some alternatives to College though, so stay tuned for that.  

Special shout out to the DSA of Raleigh as well. They didn’t help write any of this or communicate with me during the production of this article, but they’ve been doing some amazing work downtown with the homeless during the pandemic.  They are some of the most amazingly hard working individuals who care immensely for the community and you can check them out on dsanc.org.

[elvendorkinfinity]

Anxious University Advice

Around this time of year, every year, there are floods of people giving advice about starting university. A great deal of it is published or endorsed by the universities themselves. The overwhelming majority is aimed at extroverts.

Here are some pieces of advice I wish I’d heard eight years ago, when I was just about to start my undergraduate degree, because then it wouldn’t have taken me so long to figure out that actually no, there’s nothing wrong with doing things differently, and you are not somehow “failing” if you don’t feel comfortable with the endlessly sociable side of Freshers’ Week, or any other week at university.

This is not an exhaustive list. There is a lot of good advice out there. This is really just the first ten things that came to mind when I thought, what would have been helpful for me to hear when I was in this position?

1. You do not have to prop your door open and greet everyone who walks past. This one is a real pet peeve of mine. For those who want to do it, go ahead and enjoy it, really. If that’s not you, don’t worry. It’s not compulsory. It is perfectly okay if you want to spend a few days (or indeed however much time you need) adjusting on your own. There will be time for introductions later.

2. You do not have to dress up, drink alcohol, or go to any social event which makes you uncomfortable. Freshers’ Week should be about you settling in and finding your feet in whatever way suits you. Many people will be getting drunk and partying all week. Many people will continue that trend throughout their university life, and they will enjoy it. Good for them. You do not have to do that. You do university in whatever way you are most comfortable with.

3. If you live in catered accommodation, as I did, I strongly advise arriving early for breakfast and late for dinner. These are the quietest times. While arriving towards the end of the allotted time for dinner does mean your options are more limited as some food will have run out, it may be easier to handle if you dislike crowds. 

4. Feel free to explore campus/the surrounding area on your own. Be sensible and safe, e.g. not wandering around unfamiliar areas alone in the dark, but don’t feel like everything has to be a group activity. Take some headphones if you like; they’re great for blocking out external noise/controlling your own sensory input if those things bother you, and frankly they discourage unwanted talking from strangers. (Do make sure you can still hear enough to be aware of your surroundings, however. Stay safe, people.) Wander around by yourself. Find the quiet areas. Find your way around; it will give you more confidence to know where everything is, and how long it takes to get there.

5. There will be plenty of time to join societies later. While Freshers’ Week is when the societies are advertising and when they hold their “meet and greet” events, you don’t have to throw yourself into everything straight away (and if you don’t ever want to join a society, that’s fine too). It’s okay to take your time and get the feel of the place first. Plus, after Christmas a lot of societies have a second round of meet-and-greets that you can attend if you’re feeling more up to it after a term of settling in.

6. Stay in contact with home. Don’t cut yourself off from your support network, whether that is family or friends or whatever. Visit them, or have them visit you, if there’s time. Email; write letters; text; call. Whatever works for you. Remind yourself that you’re still connected, even if they live a long distance away. University is hard, and Freshers’ Week is - if you’re anything like me - the hardest part of all. Don’t feel like you have to face it alone unless you want to.

7. Arrive early to lectures. (And maybe scope out the locations in advance; see #4.) You obviously don’t want to be walking in late, but it can be daunting to arrive early as well. Remember, it’s okay to be waiting in the corridor for a few minutes before the doors open, or even arriving nearby and finding somewhere to hang around inconspicuously until it’s time to go in. Chances are other people will be doing this too.

8. Early on Saturday morning is a good time for grocery shopping. I tried shopping on Sundays as I thought it would be quieter, but honestly early on Saturday seems to be the quietest time in supermarkets. You may have to sacrifice a lie-in, but you get to avoid crowds. Pick whichever suits you best. Alternatively, late evening in 24-hour supermarkets works well. Plus, at the end of the day there are lots of things on discount from the fresh foods/bakery sections.

9. Seek help if you need it. Whatever form this comes in. It could be talking to new friends at university - even if it takes you a while, you will probably make them - or old friends/family at home, or a doctor or lecturer or student union rep or someone online or anyone or anything. Look after yourself. If you’re feeling homesick or stressed or scared or ill, do something about it. You are not alone, and it is okay to need help. Everyone needs help sometimes.

10. In short, be safe and be comfortable. Don’t feel like you’re doing it “wrong” because you’re not out socialising at all hours, or not doing things as most advice blogs and media representations would have you believe is “normal”. You are not the only one, I promise you. Take your time. Find your feet. In the bad times, remember that it won’t last forever. Find out what makes them bad, and when you feel up to it try and make a plan to avoid or manage that thing in future; e.g. if there was a specific trigger then how can you deal with that if it comes up again? In the good times, enjoy them. Celebrate them. Remember them. Find out what makes them good, and seek it out in future.

Good luck. I really hope it goes well for you.

Also, what the hell, message me on here if you want to talk. 

[awake-not-today]

Namkook The Gifted Hands / Psychometry au:

Detective Kim Namjoon is investigating the case of a child disappearance. When the child's body is found, Namjoon finds himself trailing a murderer.

During his investigation he remembers a run in he'd had with a graffiti artist one night, and the artwork he'd done depicting the scene in which the child's body was found.

The graffiti which had been painted a month before the discovery of the child's body.

Jeon Jungkook is a small time graffiti artist with a secret, the power to see the memories of any living thing he touches. He hides himself away from the world, ashamed of who he is, that is until he's thrown head first into a murder investigation and becomes the prime suspect.

Part 6 of ?

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Namjoon didn’t exactly have a lot to go on.

He couldn’t access the evidence, not while it was still being processed at least, and it’s not like he could ask for any details regarding the case. Gwon wouldn’t tell him shit, and Seokjin was determined Namjoon should let it go and take some time off. Anything that could be of help was off limits. Useless.

But what he did have was a paint can, some less than helpful pictures of the graffiti, and the knowledge that the killer had a gash on the back of his neck from the fight they'd had earlier. It wasn’t much, but at least it was something. Namjoon pondered on it, giving Taehyung a small wave as he left the apartment. What could he possibly gather from what he had?

The paint can seemed to be the most crucial thing he had so far, and the knowledge that the very brief time he'd seen the guy's face, at least partially, was that he was young. A student perhaps? There was an art school not too far from him. It would make sense. But then that posed another problem. How many students used spray paint? How many males? Namjoon groaned, closing his eyes and leaning back in his seat. His head was fucking pounding. The hit he'd taken was pretty hard, but at least the ice had taken down most of the swelling. Small mercies.

Getting to his feet, Namjoon wandered to the bathroom, taking a couple of painkillers from the bathroom cabinet. He moved to the kitchen area, grabbing himself a glass of water to swallow them down. He kept his eyes on the paint can sat on his coffee table as he downed his water, debating the next step. He supposed he could go to the university and ask, but then they’d probably ask for a warrant and Namjoon had no way of getting one of those.

The other option he had was going to the art store the paint came from and hope the had a list of names on record. There was so many art stores in Seoul though, and it could have come from anywhere. He didn’t even know where to start, where do students buy their materials. Namjoon frowned and worried his bottom lip, a habit he had when he was deep in thought. Who would know where to go? Who knew the ins and outs of Seoul? Only one name came to mind.

Hoseok.

That little bastard knew everything about this city, constantly looking for new ways to make money. He lived for the hustle, of course he'd probably have some knowledge of the students in the city. Easy targets, young and dumb. Exactly what Hoseok liked. Namjoon moved quickly, grabbing the first shirt he could find that smelled vaguely clean, and threw it on before grabbing his jacket and the paint can to go find his roommate.

The streets were busy at this time, late afternoon. People leaving their jobs and stopping for food and drinks, exactly the right place for Hoseok to be with his latest venture. He heard Hoseok's laugh before he saw him, bright and cheerful as he joked with the customers at his food van. He stood in line, waiting until the customers dispersed, and approached quietly.

“Welcome to Hobi's food van!” Hoseok hadn’t looked up yet, tucking away the money he'd recieved. “What can I- oh! Namjoon!”

“Hoseok.” Namjoon smiled, leaning against the counter. “I need your help.”

“What’s up?” Hoseok handed Namjoon a fish cake, smiling. Namjoon took a bite and almost groaned, as much as Hobi was a little shit, he sure made some good food. Namjoon swallowed, setting the wooden stick down on the side, and looked at Hoseok again.

“I need you.” Namjoon thought for a moment. “And your van.”

Hoseok didn’t reply, instead laughing. Namjoon didn’t laugh, keeping his face serious. Hoseok blinked, mouth closing. “What? No! This is the busiest time, Joon-ah. I’m making money here!”

“Hoseok. You owe me.” Namjoon smiled now, or more grimaced. Hoseok just looked confused. “I sold my car for and put all of my life savings into that fucking pyramid scheme of yours.”

“Network marketing was a great opportunity, Namjoon.” Hoseok looked affronted. “It’s not my fault.”

“You can trust him, Joon-ah! He's a great guy!” Namjoon mocked Hoseok's voice, making the other swat at him. Namjoon took a step back to avoid it. “Give me your van, Hoseok.”

“No.”

“Fuck. Fine.”

Hoseok rolled his eyes as Namjoon walked away, turning to apologize to the customers who'd lined up behind his friend. He picked up a cloth, wiping down the counter, and opened his mouth to speak when the customers were suddenly moving away. It took him a moment to realize what was happening, the people looking smaller and smaller in the distance. The van was moving. Someone was driving it away. Fucking Namjoon.

Ten minutes and a busted nose later, Hoseok sat in the passenger side of the van, holding a napkin to his face. Namjoon shot him an apologetic glance, and Hoseok huffed.

“You know if you had just let me use the van this wouldn’t have happened.” Hoseok pouted, actually pouted like a petulant child, and slumped in his seat. “I’m sorry about your nose.”

“Yeah?” Hoseok glanced at him, tossing the bloody napkin down by his feet. “At least we match. Where are we going anyway?”

“Uh.” Namjoon chuckled nervously, not wanting to piss Hoseok off anymore than he already had. He suspected giving his friend a punch to the nose was a bad move. “Well. I was sort of hoping you could tell me?”

Namjoon reached into his jacket, pulling out the paint can and handing it to a very unimpressed and impatient Hoseok. Hoseok rolled it in his hands, looking at the label, before giving Namjoon a bewildered look.

“What am I supposed to do here? Paint arrows to direct you?”

“I need to know where it came from.”

“What am I? Fucking psychic? I’m losing profit here, Namjoon. And a friend if you don’t stop fucking around.”

“That paint can belongs to the murderer.” Namjoon mumbled as they stopped at a red light, he turned a little in his seat. “I think they're a student. I need to know where students from the art school get their shit.”

“And you just assume I know that?” Hoseok sighed heavily, passing the paint can back to Namjoon who slipped it back into his jacket pocket.

“I mean I thought you could help.” Namjoon faced front again, waiting for the light to change. “After all there’s a cash reward for the person who helps find him.”

“How much?” Hoseok was interested suddenly. He'd set up the van tomorrow.

“A half a million won.”

“Take a right here. I know the place.”

The store was small, tucked away in an alley. It made sense, it was right by campus and the prices were sufficiently lower than the larger chain stores nearby. Namjoon approached the counter, pushing Hoseok who seemed set on trying a good cop bad cop routine on this innocent store owner. Not happening. The owner was a stout man, late fifties. Thinning hair and round glasses. Friendly. A welcoming smile.

“Good evening, gentlemen. What can I do you for?”

“We need some information regarding a potential customer of yours.” Namjoon showed the man his badge, earning a curt nod. “We believe he's a student at the art school.”

“I’m sorry, detective. Students make up most of my clientele here.” The old man looked almost sad.

“He uses spray paint. He's a graffiti artist.” The old man opened his mouth again to speak when Namjoon handed him the paint can. “Can you tell us anything?”

The old man frowned a little, looking down at the can. His eyes lit up then, moving the can closer to his face to read the name of the shade on the lid. Namjoon looked at Hoseok, sharing the same hopeful expression. The man knew something.

“There’s only one person who uses this shade, I have to order it in.” The old man explained, grabbing a heavy book from under the counter. He opened it, flipping through the pages. “He has it delivered to his house. I sent the wrong shade once and he came by here. Real eerie kid. Made me nervous.”

“Do you have his name? His address?” The old man shook his head as he flipped through the book, squinting. Finally he stopped, running his finger down the page.

“The delivery boy has the address but he's visiting family back in Busan.” Namjoon's shoulders visually slumped, defeated. “What I do have is his name.”

Hoseok was practically vibrating in his seat as they drove away from the store, excitement brimming inside him. In another life Hoseok would have enjoyed being a detective, Namjoon thought to himself. But he chose the other side to get his kicks. Crime pays more. Namjoon held his phone to his ear as he drove, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. The second Taehyung answered he spoke, ignoring Taehyung's greeting.

“Taehyung, are you at the precinct? I need you to run a name for me.”

“What’s the name?” Namjoon could here the clicking of Taehyung’s mouse faintly.

“Jeon Jungkook.”

“Okay, hold on.” A clacking of his keyboard and a few moments of Taehyung’s breathing later he came back on the line. “Alright. Jeon Jungkook, twenty one years old. Pulled in on a misdemeanour a few years back. I’m sending his address to you now.”

“Thanks, Tae.” Namjoon beamed, Hoseok giving him a thumbs up. “When this is all over I'll make Seokjin hyung promote you.”

Namjoon ended the call and handed Hoseok his phone, telling him to pull up the address Taehyung had sent him. Hoseok was bouncing in his seat, thrilled with the turn of events, or more thrilled with the prospect of having a half million won in his wallet. Either way Namjoon was grateful for the enthusiasm. He set the GPS in Namjoon's phone and sat back, settling in for the drive.

“So. Taehyung.”

“No, Hoseok.”

“He’s got a nice voice.”

“He’s a nice guy.” Namjoon shit him a glare. “Too nice for you. And you are going to stay away from him.”

“We’ll see.”

The apartment block they pulled up to was empty. Not a single light on in any of the windows, the whole place vacant. Namjoon huffed in his seat, frustrated, pressing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. Another dead end. Unsurprising. That was just Namjoon's luck. Hoseok stepped out of the van and backed away from the building, squinting. Namjoon watched him for a moment, quirking an eyebrow when Hoseok turned to him, pointing a finger toward the rooftop.

“There’s a light.”

Getting out of the van, Namjoon took a breath to calm his nerves. He hadn’t thought this far ahead, and the kid could be dangerous. He looked to Hoseok and motioned with his head, making his way toward the steps that led up to the roof. “You stay behind me, alright? Don’t do anything until I give the go ahead.”

The look on Hoseok's face let Namjoon know that Hoseok wasn’t about to try anything, he looked terrified. Probably because he was realizing that he was about to come face to face with a child killer. Namjoon was scared too.

The rooftop was empty, a small brick building standing in the centre of it. There was nobody around, and a quick glance through the window revealed the building was empty, lived in, but empty. Pressing a finger to his lips, Namjoon waved to Hoseok, telling him to stay put as Namjoon dared inside.

The place was a shack. A kitchen come living space with a small bedroom and a tiny bathroom. Someone had been there, or was still there, steam still rising from the kettle on the shitty stove. Namjoon kept low, creeping through the place with his hand on his gun, ready to pull it out if needed. There was nobody inside, but the sound of tins clashing together told Namjoon there was someone outside. Namjoon followed the sound, careful not to let his presence be known. Through a doorway, Namjoon could see him, or at least the back of him, messing with paint cans on a wooden shelf. Namjoon mentally prepared himself, reaching out to pull himself up, and knocked over a glass. Shattering it.

For a beat there was nothing. Namjoon stopped breathing, internally berating himself for being such a clumsy asshole. Footsteps headed toward him, getting closer and closer, and Namjoon made a snap decision. He stood upright and charged, gripping the guy's shirt and shoving him back hard. The guy stumbled back, rubbing his chest where Namjoon had slammed his hands against him, curling in on himself.

It was him, Namjoon told himself. Certain. He couldn’t forget those eyes.

“Remember me?” Namjoon dared a step closer, watching as the kid looked up at him curious. Confused.

“Pu-public urination?” Namjoon had forgotten about that, fighting the flush of embarrassment threatening to rush over his cheeks.

“Detective Kim Namjoon. You are Jeon Jungkook.” Namjoon moved closer still, Jungkook backing up. “And I've got some questions for you.”

Tag list: @yoongi-bearr @triheartedhero @doriadoo @rosybabytae @spookidema

[harwardcenter]

New Life Abroad: First Impressions

The land of fondue, top-tier chocolate, and endless adventures; these are just some of the several traits that make Switzerland what it is. There are so many picturesque points, and whether it be the beaches on Lake Geneva or the mountains visible in the distance from your apartment, there is something for everyone to marvel at and enjoy.

Lake Geneva/Lac Leman and the Swiss/Geneva flags

To start off, I actually had no idea I would be coming here. My original off-campus study plan involved me going to Serbia for a semester program focusing on transitional justice initiatives in Southeastern Europe. However, due to low program enrollment and the public health crisis, that was not possible. Luckily, I was offered the option to go to Switzerland for a program focusing on international relations and multilateral diplomacy, which is not only directly tied to my politics major, but also allows me to explore various topics within the realm of international relations.

The first week was the typical honeymoon phase. I was (and still am) amazed by how clean the country is. There is almost no trash on the sides of the road, and there is actually a robust waste management program that incentivizes people to produce as little waste as possible. Unlike water sources in the United States, many water sources here are very clear, such as Lake Geneva. I was pleasantly surprised to see it.

Another thing that impresses me is the public transport. Of course, public transport in Europe will generally be many times better than that of the United States, but seeing it myself in action is quite neat. For instance, my classes are in Geneva, the largest city in the western part of Switzerland. I live in a small town outside of Geneva called Nyon, which is a 15-20 minute train ride from Nyon. There are trains running each morning on 10-15 minute intervals, and more often than not, the time on the departure board is the time it leaves. Essentially, be on time for your train because the train system here is robust and efficient. While it usually is expensive to use the train for long-distances, my program gave all of us a Swiss travel pass to use on public transportation. I'm not sure how much it costs but my guess would be a few thousand CHF (local currency) because the pass is for unlimited use until our last day here. In other words, I can go from Nyon to Bern or to Interlaken as many times as I wish at any time of the day/night. Just make sure to have your pass as train staff checks for it. Otherwise, you could be fined in addition to paying the full train fare.

Train Network and Routes of the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways)

Being in Switzerland also means being in the land of incredible tasting chocolate. When I arrived, I was impressed by how much chocolate I saw at the stores. There are so many different brands, some local, and some national ones. When you travel around different towns, and even in the major city train stations, such as Geneva and Lausanne, you will find a chocolate store. Any chocolate fanatic must try the various chocolates available here.

Before coming here, I thought that Switzerland was a German speaking country (which it is to an extent). Much of it depends on which part of the country you are in. For example, where I am, which is in the Geneva area, is the French speaking region of the country. This would be most of what is west of Bern, the national capital. The north and central parts of the country are the German speaking parts, such as Zürich, Bern, Basel, and Luzern. Towards the southern tip close to Milan is the Italian speaking region, which includes cities like Lugano. In the Southeast, there is a fourth language spoken called Romansch. However, it is the least spoken out of the four and there are only a few thousand speakers of the language, which means it is unlikely you will encounter it outside that part of the country. When you travel, you will mainly hear French, German, and some Italian. Most people here know English, but it helps knowing a bit of the regional language so that when you order at a restaurant, you will know how to explain the portion size you want, whether you want carbonated water or standard water, or in general, greeting and thanking people. In my case, my Spanish has helped to an extent, and it has made French learning easier.

Swiss Breakfast at my homestay (lots of bread!)

In a new country, one is bound to have cultural shocks, being exposed to something that may be out-of-the-ordinary back home, or just general adjustments to a new life. One of these has been with my homestay. While I have not had bad experiences so far with my homestay family, the new rules and cultural norms have definitely been an adjustment. My family lives in an apartment in Nyon walking distance from the train station. There are lots of people living here but each apartment has lots of space inside. This means that quiet hours are precious! No showers after 10pm (with limited exceptions). No flushing the toilet in the middle of the night! The shower rule has not been too bad as I already showered around that time anyway, but I'm still mindful of not using it too late. Also, make sure to follow dining etiquette, including waiting for everyone to be seated, using and placing forks and knives correctly while eating, and taking the right amount of food as being respectful to this will go a long way. Dinner is always at 7pm at my house, unless mentioned otherwise. Most of my day is spent in Geneva, so this is not a problem for me. I want to note that these are the rules at my apartment/homestay. I have spoken with my peers on the program, and at their homestays, there are similar expectations. However, each household is different, so some may have more leeway with shower rules or dinner hours. When in doubt, ask your homestay parents about their expectations.

Another major shock in Switzerland (even when knowing about it before arrival) is definitely the cost of living. Lots of products, including food, dining out, utilities, houses, and apartments, are all more expensive than that of the United States. It is said that Geneva and Zürich are among the most expensive cities in the world to live in. From what my host brother has said about renting and buying property here, that is not a surprise. Apartments the size of an average home in the United States can reach high six-figures and into seven figures easily! Also, my host brother mentioned that here, one can make monthly payments on an apartment (similar to a house) and eventually pay it off. From what I'm aware, in the United States, you can only rent an apartment and that is that. However, salaries are much higher here, which offsets those costs. Luckily, my program was aware about these costs, so they gave us a generous stipend of a few hundred CHF for lunch. What I have done is limit going out to only the weekends, and on weekdays, I go to the local supermarket chains (Migros or Coop) to get a sandwich, some snacks, and a drink, which is around CHF 6-10 (about $7-$12). I end up spending about CHF 30-50 a week.

Nyon, Vaud

One of the main things that has kept me a bit uneasy is the constantly-changing list of public health requirements. On September 13, all individuals are required to have a Swiss COVID pass, which is a QR code showing that you are free from COVID and/or have been vaccinated. You need it to visit museums, bars, restaurants, and libraries, no exceptions. Fines are a heavy penny. To get a pass, you need to submit an application with your vaccination information, Swiss phone number, an ID (such as a passport) and your homestay address. You then answer a few questions. Because everyone has to do this now, application processing times are now several weeks long. You can get a temporary pass by taking a COVID test and having it be negative, but it is more convenient to just get the actual pass. The Swiss federal government became aware of these long waiting times, so it provided more guidance. Until October 10, you can enter venues, bars, restaurants, libraries, and museums using and ID (passport) and your vaccination card. This has relieved many of us as we can temporarily use this as we wait for our actual passes. Otherwise, many of the requirements on-campus at Bates are similar here: masks required in indoor areas and public transport, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken 72 hours before entry, and adherence to these guidelines.

Castle on the French side of Lake Geneva (Yvoire, France)

On a similar note, the paperwork for the program (and arrival procedures) has been a lot. It is not as bad now, but in the beginning, I had to go to the local immigration office to register my arrival, fill out homestay paperwork, and then pay to process the information. We would be reimbursed that amount as long as we had a signature from the immigration staff confirming we went there and the receipt. Well, there were some issues with getting the signatures not just on my end, but with many of my peers as well. Our program staff realized this and instead made it so that if you only have the receipt, you can still get the reimbursement. If you have both, great, but for many of us, this was a tricky situation to navigate.

Swiss regional festival with lots of cows, traditional music, and awesome views

All of these things aside, I have definitely enjoyed it here. Even in my hometown, I can go to the lake and relax there or take a boat that goes across the lake to France. It is easy to move around here and to access lots of picturesque places. The photos above are from a regional festival 3 hours away where local farmers bring down their cows as the fall starts. It is very cool to witness. Afterwards, there is traditional music and lots of local food, such as sausages with fries, raclette (melted cheese), and of course, chocolate. I will close off by leaving you with one of my favorite moments of the trip so far: enjoying some Toblerone with the Matterhorn in view!

The iconic Matterhorn on the Toblerone chocolate!

[asreoninfusion]

Ffffffffffffff---

Hit a slight snag with the international year. The original plan was go to San Diego for first semester because they had some amazing courses I was really interested in doing, then go to Japan for the second semester and do all language there.

Everything is underway, I’m all signed up for San Diego, it’s time to register for classes and guess what? Those fantastic courses I really wanted to do and were the sole reason for me picking San Diego at all? They’ve moved them to the spring semester instead, even though they were in the fall semester in all the previous years!!! :D

It’s too late to change where I’m going for first semester, because I’ve already been accepted and all the deadlines for applying everywhere else have passed. So I’m just going to have to pick some other courses instead that are okay but not that interesting to me.

But second semester. Now I’m super torn about whether to go to Japan as planned, or stay in San Diego and actually get to do those frickin’ courses I wanted. I had my heart set on Japan this whole time, but let’s be honest the only reason I want to go to Japan/learn Japanese is because FFVII and dickbooks. >>;;

San Diego

Pros: 

- the courses!!! There’s stuff there (in fucking spring now) that is a) super interesting, and b) directly relevant and in fact gives you a qualification for the area I’d like to go into, which is also the area that I probably have a temporary job in over summer because there’s a family friend who runs the pathology lab in a hospital and I did a work experience day there before and she was like ‘come back whenever I’ll give you a job’, so. I’d have a 100% relevant qualification, work experience (in a pretty well-known big hospital), and a reference, so although I wouldn’t want to work at family friend’s place permenantly (too far away, commuting would be hell) I’d have a major foot in the door for doing stuff after I graduate. In terms of being a rational adult and employability prospects, it makes the most sense.

- I’ve been looking at housing options and decided the best thing to go for (because there is no way in hell I’m doing the roommate thing - it’s bad enough sharing a house but not even having my own room?? some stranger there all the time?? are you off your gourd) would be to get a little studio apartment or something. The tiny apartments are so hecking cute and I’d have an entire place to myself for the first time ever and not have to worry about ‘ugh I need food but housemates are in the kitchen’ and it’d be as if I were a functional adult! :’D

- There are still Japanese courses at San Diego so I could do those too, I wouldn’t be completely missing out.

- I get a grant from the government here that covers visa costs, flights, the health insurance etc. so at least I don’t have to worry about that.

- More chances for stalking I meant what *cough*

Cons:

- Expensive af. Accomodation, unless I get super lucky, is probably gonna be like £1000+ a month. (Having my own room on campus costs the same as a studio apartment anyway, so might as well go for the ‘away from student accomodation crap’ option.) Where I am at the moment in the UK is £320 a month. That is one hell of an increase and the student finance ain’t gonna cover it. I do have enough in savings that I’m able to cover the whole year straight up by myself, but I don’t reeeeeeeally want to throw away my savings like that. (Job options would be pretty limited on my visa, and also the wages and way America treats its workers - from what I’ve heard - is pretty crap, so I’m not sure if getting extra income in would be feasible.)

- Don’t get to go to Japan. :( :( :( 

- Also America scares me.

Japan

Pros:

- There’s a scholarship I could get that would be enough to cover my living costs in Japan and cover some of the shortfall from America, which means I wouldn’t have to use any savings up at all. But it’s not guaranteed.

- Probably the best/only way I’m ever going to get really good at Japanese, because being immersed in a language is so much better for learning it than sitting in class or reading textbooks, especially since I’m rubbish at teaching myself shit.

- I could buy so many dickbooks. I could go to the doujinshi events. All the Square Enix merch. IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF PROMO SHIT IF THEY MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE REMAKE WHILE I WAS OVER THERE. Hnnngh.

Cons:

- I would be isolated as fuck. I’m not the best at talking to people in freakin’ English, if I had to try and converse in Japanese I just plain wouldn’t. I’m too scared of messing up and making a fool of myself. In fact, I don’t particularly care about speaking the language that much at all, I’m more interested in (and infinitely better at) the reading and writing. >> 

- The intensity of nothing but language courses might be a bit much to keep up with.

- It’s not reeeeeally relevant or useful to my course/area of study. I’m just doing it for funsies and dickbooks. Which may not be the best reasoning, but in the end all I want is to be a hobbit anyway and any career I have after uni will just be for the purposes of getting enough money together to get the hobbiting set up so what do I care really. Funsies is fun.

This is all a moot point anyway for the time being because I don’t actually need to make the decision until it’s time to apply for next semester (which will be while I’m out in America, and my uni have said people regularly do and are welcome to change a split year to a full year placement or vice versa at that point), but eeeeuuuuurgh. It’s just super annoying and I hate having to make hard decisions.

[caratdreams]

lunar

aka “who the fuck is my secret santa???”

Member: Vernon

Word Count: 2.5k

You stared at the paper-filled bowl in front of you, silently hoping the Financial Gods (who had seemingly ignored all your prayers for the past year) would bless you with a name that would be kind to your pockets.

As a group of broke college kids, Secret Santa was your only shot at getting a Christmas gift from a friend, as well as the most feasible way of getting you to buy a gift for a friend. God, when did you become such a stereotype?

“Come on, Y/N, pick a name already!”

The whines and moans of your friends did nothing to speed up the process, in fact, it had the opposite effect as you paused to glare at them.

“Patience is a virtue, guys.” You rummaged among the names, gliding the pieces of paper around each other before you finally made your choice. There was an internal sigh of relief when you unfolded the paper to see Wonwoo’s name. He was probably the most low-maintenance person you knew. Maybe you’d get him some cat food for the pet he was illegally keeping in his room.

When the group began to disperse, everyone setting off to complete their duties for the rest of the day, you gently tugged at Hansol’s jumper. It was the forest green one you had bought him for his birthday, and you didn’t expect him to wear it more than once, let alone practically live in it the way he had done the entire month of December. He leaned against the wall outside the lecture hall, having already shoved the name he drew from the bowl into his pocket.

“So,” an impish smile crept up on your face as you began. “Who’d you get?” Hansol simply shook his head at you, one of his brows raised slightly higher than the other.

“That’s just for me to know.”

“Come on, Sunshine!” He broke out into a grin at the nickname, or perhaps it was your frustration that amused him so. The non-stop stream of students that had passed between you in the vital moments between the ending of one lecture and the beginning of another finally slowed down. Quiet fell amongst you. “It’ll just be between us.”

“Nah, I’m keeping quiet about this one.” He peered around, as if anyone cared enough to eavesdrop on your conversation, before speaking again. “I will say though, I do already know what I’m gonna get them.”

“Since when did your brain work so quickly?” This was the guy who routinely started assignments two days before they were due, at best. You still remembered the night you watched him conjure up a 3000-word essay out of nowhere, with references, and he still did better than most of the class. Well, you guessed that was just his brilliance.

“Shut up!”

“It was a genuine question!”

“You know what, if you don’t stop, I’m not getting you that donut I promised you.” You pressed your lips shut, pretending to zip them up and even throwing away the key for emphasis. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” The two of you finally set off, walking in sync as you stepped out into the cold.

“Not that you asked, but I got Wonwoo. I was thinking of just taking out a book from the library. At least it’ll be free.” Hansol stopped walking to look at you, his lips curled upwards in a disbelieving smile.

“You are consistently the worst.”

“I’m not gonna lie, I was hoping you were the gift I ordered.” Hansol pouted at your greeting, standing in the hallway of your apartment building holding a brown bag you recognised as being from the bakery down the street. You said you’d only agree to movie night if he brought along gingerbread cookies. He said he’d only agree to movie night if you watched Home Alone. The first movie, of course, the sequels weren’t worth his time.

“Excuse you, I am a gift.” He responded, kicking his shoes off before setting the bag on your kitchen counter. He was so used to your apartment, the movements came naturally, without a second thought. His mouth dropped open, a small gasp escaping when he noticed two mugs on the table. “You made hot chocolate? With marshmallows?”

“What kind of host would I be if I didn’t?”

After putting the gingerbread biscuits on a tray (much to Hansol’s exasperation, as he didn’t think it was necessary), you led the way to your couch. You had pushed your centre table, which had been decorated with tinsel since the end of November, further backwards. Your laptop was set in the middle of it, mimicking a TV. Next to the table was a mini Christmas tree, adorned with the smallest baubles and tinsel Hansol had ever seen. He wondered if you had to buy the decorations separately, or if the tree came like that. The thought dissipated once you hit play and sunk into the couch next to him, the two of you comfortably sipping on your drinks and feasting on the biscuits.

Hansol was on his second cup of hot chocolate when he suddenly felt weight pressing down on his arm. He looked to see you had fallen asleep against him, your head forcing his arm to be your pillow. His heartbeat quickened as heat pricked the back of his neck. Tentatively, not wanting to wake you up, he moved his arm, snuggled you into his chest, and placed his arm around you. You groaned, sensing the movement, but not waking up.

The rhythmic rise and fall of your chest let him know that you were in a deep sleep. Brushing some hair out of your face, he couldn’t help but notice how peaceful you looked, especially juxtaposed against the chaos in the movie. Holding you against him like this was something he hoped for but didn’t expect, especially not anytime soon. Now that it had happened, he knew he wanted it to become a regular thing. Alas, wishful thinking only led to disappointment. His hot chocolate was getting cold, but he didn’t care.

The day of the gift exchange had arrived. The scene was Mingyu’s apartment, purely because his was the cleanest. The last time he had so many young adults in his apartment, the night ended with a broken door, two broken windows, and countless complaints. Yeah, he had to beg his landlord not to kick him out.

Once the gifts were all placed on the table, you eagerly scanned the items to see which one was labelled with your name. When you saw the box, wrapped up with a perfect bow on top, your eyes widened in anticipation. You weren’t going to open it just yet though, you wanted to see what everyone else got.

“Okay, seriously?” Seungcheol stood with a hand on his hip, frowning at the group. This wasn’t an unusual sight. “Who got me whiskey-flavoured lube?” You threw your head back in laughter, catching eye contact with Hansol, who seemed to find it just as funny. You had sent a thank-you text to him that morning for getting you into bed the night before, and you felt bad for (literally) falling asleep on him during your movie night. He was too kind to say or do anything other than assure you that it was okay.

You watched Wonwoo from a distance, waiting to see his reaction to his gift. You remembered him saying something about a limited-edition version of a book he loved, and you stayed up until 2am trying to find it – not that you were ever going to admit that out loud. When he unwrapped the gift and saw what it was, his eyebrows shot up; the most emotion you’d seen from him in weeks. in his defence, you’d had finals, and it was hard to be anything but dead inside. Satisfied that he was happy with his gift, you turned your attention to the box in your hands and opened it up.

The wrapping was neat, which made you instantly suspicious, since you were sure no one in your friendship group was particularly great at wrapping gifts. It was unmistakably a jewellery box, and you bit down on your lip in excitement as you lifted the lid. Inside lay a necklace, its pendant in the form of a crescent moon. It was simple, but it was perfect. You looked at the note that came with it, seeing that it was printed instead of handwritten.

‘For the moon to my sun, I wish you nothing but happiness this Christmas. I love you. – your Secret Santa.’

When you looked up, everyone seemed to be showing off their gifts to each other. You searched their faces, wondering who it was that got you such a cute gift, and wrote such a sweet message. You were the moon, who was the sun?

“Need help with that?” Hansol’s voice made you jump. It took you a second to realise he was talking about the necklace. You nodded, and in true gentleman fashion, he stood behind you and put the necklace on for you. You turned to thank him, and for a brief second you wondered … nah, that wouldn’t make sense. Hansol was probably the one who got Seungcheol the lube.

You took your bottom lip between your teeth, deep in thought. The Christmas break began in 2 days, meaning you had 48 hours to figure out who your Secret Santa was.

“Stop lying to me, Mingyu, I know you know!”

“Lower your voice, people are looking!” Mingyu warned, his eyes darting around the study area. He wasn’t sure if you were specifically looking for him (you weren’t), or if you just happened to see him on your way around campus (you did), but he didn’t have the answer to your question. “I really have no idea who your Secret Santa was. Will you let me live now?”

“Fine.” You sighed as you walked away, your fingers instinctively flying to the crescent on your chest. You played with it, fingers tracing the small object over and over again. Everyone you asked so far had given you the same response, they all claimed they didn’t know who got you the gift. Wonwoo told you that he would have bought you something much cheaper than that, and Seungcheol told you he would have bought you something much more extravagant. Running through the options in your head was useless, you were clueless.

It was hours later, right after you had just finished dinner, when you finally realised. It was so obvious, you could have kicked yourself. You had the read the note over to yourself one more time, and it hit you.

It happened during the summer. It was a relatively warm night, the sky clear enough for you to see the stars that had gathered above you. At this point, you had drunk so much that you could barely differentiate the stars, they all blended in together, specs of white pressed against the night sky.

The buzz from the alcohol kept you warm even when the temperature dropped slightly. You were comfortable as you were, not needing your light jacket, sat in the back garden with Hansol by your side. Well, he was lying down, but you knew he was there. The two of you had escaped from the chaos of the party, taking a moment to yourselves. God, you knew the hangover would be brutal, but in the moment you felt light as a bird.

“You know something?” You spoke, turning to look down at him. He looked so content, laying on the wood and basking in the natural glow of the night. You ran a hand through his freshly-dyed hair, softer than it had any right to be. You had no idea why he dyed it, but it really suited him, and had you looking at him in ways you hadn’t before. “The blonde hair makes you look like the sun.”

“Does it?” he raised an eyebrow.

“Yup.” You nodded. “I’m gonna call you Sunshine from now on.” At first he didn’t respond, and part of you thought he hadn’t heard you. Then he sat up, and said something that made your heart quicken its pace and threaten to burst out of your chest.

“Well, if I’m the sun, then you must be the moon.” He laughed to himself. “What’s that corny quote? The sun loves the moon so much that – shit, I forgot.” The two of you giggled towards each other. That wasn’t even the alcohol, just Hansol being Hansol. “My point is, the sun loves the moon, right?”

“And the moon loves the sun right back.”

Hansol pretended he wasn’t disheartened by the fact you hadn’t realised he was your Secret Santa. It wasn’t the end of the world, of course, but he thought the note would have been a dead giveaway. Ah, he knew he should have wrote the message by hand instead. It would have been more personal that way.

The ringing of the doorbell interrupted his thoughts. He dropped the jumper he was holding into his suitcase before stepping over an unfolded pile of clothes to get to the front door.

“Oh, Y/N!” he stepped aside, letting you in. “I – uh, I wasn’t expecting you.” He rubbed his hand against the back of his neck. From the state of the apartment, you could tell that Seungkwan had already gone home, there was no way he’d let Hansol have his clothes everywhere like this. You looked at the half-full suitcase in the middle of the room, briefly wondering how he was going to get everything home.

“Yeah, sorry I came here out of nowhere.” You played with the necklace again. “I realised something, though. You were my Secret Santa, weren’t you?” You could tell from the reddening of his cheeks and the aversion of his gaze that you were right. He nodded slightly, the movement so small you almost didn’t notice. “It was really thoughtful, I love it. Thank you.”

For a second, there’s silence.

Then you both begin to speak at the same time.

“I really did-”

“I don’t know-” A nervous laugh escaped Hansol’s lips as he gestured for you to finish what you were saying. “I don’t know if I’m reading too much into it, but your message reminded me of that one party we went to in summer, right after you dyed your hair.” You stopped yourself, realising now that you were saying the words out loud that you must have been mistaken. “Sorry, it’s stupid. Never mind.”

“No, it’s not stupid!” Hansol was quick to shake his head. “it’s what I was referring to, actually.” He paused. “I really did mean what I said, and I’m glad you like the gift.”

You didn’t know what to say. At that point, you weren’t even sure you could form a coherent sentence.

But words weren’t always necessary, were they?

You reached behind him and pulled him into a kiss. It was hesitant at first, the two of you being new to the feel and taste of the other’s lips. The hesitance lasted for only a few seconds as the kiss deepened, with months of repressed yearning unloading onto each other.

He smiled against you when you pulled away.

“I think we should do that again.”

How wonderful it was, for the sun and the moon to finally embrace.

[italicwatches]

My Hero Academia, season 2 - Episode 15

So the car’s dying again. Such seems to be its lot in life. Anyways, it’s My Hero Academia, episode 15! Here we GO!

-Opening!

-Episode 15: Roaring Sports Festival

-So we get a super condensed version of the stuff from last time, right up to where we left off. And Deku really processing the idea of what this sports festival is going to mean. And a very brief form of the tournament format; basically all the first-years get mashed together into one big pool that’ll round-robin their way to the top.

-Also Deku is already having an anxiety mess. I know that all too well. And No Might has to pull him out of it, though time will tell if Deku can get his game face on…

-Later that day, after everyone’s next class…They find the doorway out of the classroom totally impossible to pass because of the massive crowd here. Katsuki tries to put on his mean face, but that leads to this one purple-haired guy coming through the crowd…Who reveals that those in the support or general-studies sections have one final lifeline. They can get transferred into the Hero course if they do well enough at the sports festival, and take someone’s place…This isn’t coming to scout out the enemy, this is a declaration of war.

-And there’s other more traditionally hot-blooded types. And Katsuki continues to be an asshole to everyone and doesn’t care about how many people hate him if they hate him from below. He’s a fuckin’ stubborn ass.

-But it also gets Deku realizing that he’s got to shove the anxiety aside, and make himself move forward. And he realizes what he needs to do, where he needs to go…

-Soon, he’s upping the exercise regimen, running through that beach he cleaned up last year, doing pushups every night, and generally trying to push his body to a new level…And he’s not the only one. We’ve got Tenya doing engine-boosted laps around the campus. We’ve got Tsu snatching little robot fish out of the pool as a moving target. The four-armed guy pumping tons of iron. Invisible girl trying to do one little pull-up. You get the idea. Some of them even do teamwork, like Ochaco helping put together floating targets for some of the ranged types, or learn to really try different shit, like earphone-girl putting some actual strength into her cords…

-Two weeks pass in a single montage, and then it’s the morning of. Deku’s packing up to get to school, and his mother’s got that unique mix of deep worry and intense excitement that any parent feels when their child’s about to embark on something truly ambitious. And of course the media’s already here in force…There’s tons of vendors all around the facility…And tons of people are talking about class 1-A after the attack.

-Also, Mt. Lady shamelessly uses her body to get free food out of a vendor. She’s a terrible person and it’s hilarious.

-In the locker rooms, everyone’s getting dressed and trying to put their game faces on…They don’t get to take their costumes out there, they’ve got to go in just their PE uniforms. This is going to hinder some folks more than others, but it’s the closest thing to a level playing field. …And that’s when Shoto corners Deku up. On paper, he thinks he’s stronger than Deku. But All Might sees something in you…And he wants to see what it is. They’re going to encounter each other during this. And when they do…He intends to win.

-Everyone gets a little freaked out at him going so ferocious within the class, and Deku admits that of course Shoto is more skilled than him. Shoot got in on raw skill and training. He knows it. But…Make no mistake. He’s not going to fall behind. He can’t. He won’t be holding back either, when they meet…

-And now it’s showtime! Class 1-A pours out into the stadium, as Deku steels his will and prepares to show the world what he’s capable of…! Oh god there are thousands of people here. Oh god this is real. Oh god panic.

-And we’ve also got their counterparts, over in 1-B, and the general-studies, support and business courses! It’s the whole damn mess of people, and some of them have very different levels of motivation…But now, they must pledge honor and respect for this most noble of sports, as led by…

-You know I didn’t expect them to be so explicit about it.

-The R-Rated hero, Midnight. She is a dominatrix. A dominatrix superhero. And she calls Katsuki up as a representative of the students as a whole to lead them…

-But as soon as he gets on the mic, Katsuki just pledges one thing. That he’s going to win, and be number one. Yet, Deku notices something. He’s known Katsuki for a long time. The guy he knew would laugh while saying something like that. Would make it part of the game. This time…He’s serious. He’s too serious. This is eating at him.

-Now it’s the first game, the big place that’ll define a lot of what’s to come…It’s an obstacle course race! Set up around the outer circumference of the stadium, roughly 4 kilometers…And you can do whatever you want so long as you stay within the course barriers!!! Get ready!

-Deku’s in his head, trying to figure out a plan. With a very limited ability to regulate One For All, he’s not going to be able to risk popping off right now. Standing out is going to be hard if he has to still be able to survive the results…And then it’s go time, as the first test is getting through the incredibly narrow passage. Anyone who can’t make it through in time, is on a disadvantage! And Shoto freezes the entire area around him, locking up the entire crowd as he sprints ahead…!

-But he’s not alone! Several of the 1-A heroes manage to burst through in their various ways, while the others are forced to do it old school…But even they dodged the actual wave that locked up most everyone’s feet. Hell, even trashball managed to get through, using his orbs to bounce around and avoid having to actually navigate the ice and get into the early lead…Whennn he eats a robot punch to the face.

-The course has the same robots from the entrance exam, the Robo Inferno squad! The gigantic zero-pointers…

-Shoto starts pouring on the ice, building up a field around him, and kicks up a massive wall that locks the first zero-pointer up cold before it can reach out to him! In the confusion, there’s a moment where some can get through…But with him having frozen the crowd with them unbalanced, the huge zero-pointers start falling over, turning into chaos! The others start pouring in, and what options do they have…?

-As back home, Deku’s mom watches with horrified tears in her eyes oh god those robots are going to tear her baby boy apart!

-But in the field, Deku’s trying to think, trying to focus…The last time he faced these things down, he locked up and panicked…But he’s not that man anymore! Come on, focus, figure out a plan and execute…!

-Credits!

Oh shit, we’re getting real right away. Also Shoto is clearly carrying some hefty baggage. I assume we’ll be learning more about that as we go on. Possibly even next time, in episode SIXTEEN of My Hero Academia! Wait for it!

[1spoonatatime]

Tips for getting through college w chronic illness?

Hey, friend!

Being in college as a spoonie is rough. Looking back, there are some things I would’ve done differently, but I made it through. Here are some tips (and followers, please feel free to add on!):

-Talk to your Office of Disabilities (ODS). You generally need to provide some sort of note from your doctor saying you require accommodations, but from there, you can discuss accommodations. If you’re undiagnosed, this can still be done—explain what symptoms concern you most to your doctor and they can write a note saying you need ‘x’ accommodation.

-Some helpful accommodations may include: an accessible dorm room (note that these may be single dorm rooms, but that may be a benefit if you need a lot of sleep/down time), early registration for classes (especially if your symptoms are worse at a certain time of day), extended time on exams, being able to sit when doing presentations (I’m prone to passing out if I stand too long, but if you think you’d use less energy standing, still can be helpful), having someone take notes for you (helpful if you have brain fog/chronic pain), take electronic forms of your books to class (especially if they’re super heavy books), etc.

-Talk with your professors. Some of them will want to meet about your accommodations so they understand your needs. Legally, you don’t have to tell them about your condition(s) if they ask. I was happy to educate them, but if that’s not you, just say ‘I’d rather not discuss it, thanks,’ or ‘I’m still figuring out my conditions myself.’

-In regards to your profs: if they challenge you about your accommodations, go to the Office of Disabilities. I had a professor ask me “how long CAN you stand???” It wasn’t her business, and she should have followed my access plan (list of accommodations) without questioning it. Baby Spoonie Emily was baffled and muttered something about only being able to stand for a minute or two without getting dizzy. I ended up sitting ON TOP OF A DESK in A DRESS because the prof insisted I need to look “natural.” This was BS and I should’ve gone to ODS. I will say this was the only prof who questioned me, thankfully, and you may not have this experience. Hold your ground.

-When you read, take notes. If you’re like me, I couldn’t remember details of what I’d read without it, which meant SO MANY NOTES as an English major.

-Socializing is part of college. I’m assuming you’re on-campus and doing things in person, so apologies if that’s not the case (though I’d suggest making sure you socialize as well if you’re online; volunteer, meet up with others online, etc.). A reason I mention this is because a) I had a single dorm room, which got me through college, but it meant I didn’t have a roommate and b) even when I lived off-campus, I couldn’t drive and relied on the bus, so I was limited in where I could go or what I could do. I isolated myself big time my sophomore year and got lowkey depressed. I had one extracurricular activity I did, and that was too much at times. If you’re lonely, reach out. Ask people to come to your place to watch a movie or TV show while you lie in bed, say you just want some company when folding laundry, or meet up when you’re eating lunch/dinner.

-On the other hand, don’t let others push you. Well-meaning friends have pushed me to go out, stay up late, and drink, and while I wanted to spend time with them, I knew my body would suffer. Though I do wish I had been able to do more in school, I graduated, and getting an education came first. Learning to listen to your body can be hard, especially when your able-bodied friends don’t always get it. Do your best to explain things to them (the Spoon Theory is very helpful in explaining chronic illness and my close friends will wish me spoons and it makes me want to cry)—you want to spend time with others, just not at the expense of your school work.

-Get a meal plan and/or if you’re off-campus, see if you can have your food delivered to your apartment. I had a meal plan throughout school, which was super helpful when I didn’t want to think about cooking, and but when I moved off-campus, I couldn’t eat every meal on-campus. There was a service that delivered groceries to you, and yeah, it was probably mostly for seniors or busy parents, but it helped me immensely.

-If you’re living off-campus, look at the proximity to stores (my apartment was a three minute drive to the grocery store, which helped until I couldn’t drive) and make sure a bus runs to your apartment complex/area! I befriended a bus driver and if he saw me on campus with my cane and knew I was headed to a stop, he’d honk and save me the steps to getting to that bus stop. He was the best. Maybe you can drive and will park on-campus (though this can be super expensive and parking is sometimes hard to find if you don’t have a placard, which is something I’d also recommend getting), but there will be days where you will want/need a bus service. Most big colleges have these, and if yours doesn’t, they may have buses specifically for disabled students. Look into your options.

-Look into scholarships and financial aid. There may be something for your major, and sometimes there are disability-related scholarships, too. This is something I wish I had done more of, even though it takes energy and time.

-Talk with a career counselor. I did this the semester before I graduated to ask about how to field questions if an employer had questions about why I had taken a break between graduation and getting a job. I graduated in May, spent time to focus on my health, and am looking for remote jobs now. The counselor was very reassuring and told me lots of people take breaks before applying for jobs, and saying you were spending time on yourself (without being specific about your health, which you don’t have to mention) and making sure you were prepared to work. Overall, this can just give you some peace of mind if you’re concerned or have any questions or just want some reassurance.

-Go at your own pace. You may not graduate in four years, you may have to take breaks, and all of that is okay. There is no “right” pace. You deserve to not sacrifice your health altogether for an education, and if that means taking a few extra semesters or years to graduate, that’s okay.

Best of luck! 💜

[frankmwilliams25]

Denver Needs Nurses: Here’s How You Can Help

  The demand for nurses is increasing all over the country, particularly in Denver. Even with cases of coronavirus slowly declining, health facilities are struggling, and this is especially the case in care homes for the elderly. As the average of the population increases, the need for healthcare professionals increases making healthcare one of the fastest growing sectors in the country.

We all know how important it is to take care of our nurses, but what can you actually do? Here are some options.

Feed The Fight

Feed The Fight is a charity started by Dr Matt Montgomery, who is an anaesthesiologist at Rose Medical Centre. The idea is that the money donated will provide food to hard working health care staff who are doing long hours on the front line, and often find themselves working long hours without food.

Since its inception the movement has grown, and Feed The Fight have enlisted the help of local restaurants to help them provide food to even more well deserving health care professionals. Nurses have said that the initiative has been really helpful to them, as not only has it made sure that they don’t go hungry, it has given them one less thing to worry about when they come into the hospital for an already overwhelming day of work. It has also helped staff to feel that their communities are rallying behind them.

Denver Health Foundation

Another organization doing good work is the Denver Health Foundation, who were founded in 1998 to support the work of Denver Health. They found that federal funding was insufficient to cover all the work they needed to do for their threefold goal of patient care, education and research, so they decided to set up a way for donors to help. Denver Health joins forces with donors to provide social innovations for the growing city, such as:

Health care delivery

Health clinics for children in schools

Social and community support 

Economic development through workforce development

If you would like to support the work of the Denver Health Foundation, they accept donations, or alternatively, you could offer your time as a volunteer. Volunteers are vital in allowing the professional staff to have more time to provide quality care to patients. 

All volunteers begin as pathfinders, helping patients find their way around the huge and sometimes maze-like campus at Denver Health. Once volunteers have completed 32 hours of volunteering as a pathfinder, they can specialize in areas and do things like:

Book Cart – visit patients on medical surgery floors and provide a trolley of books, puzzles and games.

Medical Surgery Floors – restock rooms, meet patient needs, answer call lights and help support staff.

Clerical Volunteers – welcome people, put together educational materials and provide administrative support.

My-Chart Sign Up – help patients to sign up for my-chart, which allows them to access medical services such as repeat prescriptions and appointment booking online.

Pediatric Volunteers – help organize events and care for the littlest hospital residents.

Spiritual Care – working in the spiritual care department to help patients with matters relating to their spiritual well-being.

Emergency Department – support patients, run errands and restock rooms in the fast paced trauma center

Pet Therapy – provide comfort and joy to patients in the hospital if your furry friend is certified as a therapy animal.

Train as a Nurse

Training as a nurse you will not only be directly supporting your fellow nurses and helping to ease their workload, but you will also be making a great career choice.

Healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country, so training as a nurse is a good way to ensure that you will always be able to find work. It’s also well paid: the median salary for nurses in 2019 was $73,300.

Nursing is also an incredibly rewarding career choice, as you will directly be working with people to improve their lives and there are plenty of opportunities for progression. Nurses work in huge city hospitals or small local health clinics, and once you have gained some experience you can take the opportunity to specialize in the branch of nursing that most appeals to you. Specialization usually comes with an increase in salary, too. 

It’s getting easier all the time to retrain as a nurse. You can study online accelerated BSN programs for non nurses, which means that if you are unable to relocate, this doesn’t have to stop you from pursuing a new career. 

Look After Yourself

Looking after yourself is probably the most powerful thing that you can do to help support nurses in Denver. By looking after yourself and encouraging your friends and family to do the same, you are easing nurse workloads and improving your own life into the bargain! 

According to Web MD, there are a few simple things you can do to look after your health.

Becoming flexitarian is a great way to get a lot of the benefits of a plant based diet without having to cut out meat and dairy completely. Studies have shown that people who eat more plant based foods may keep their weight in check and lower chances of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.

Varying your veg is important because by eating as many varieties of fruits and vegetables as possible, you are getting a much wider variety of vitamins and minerals. A great way to do this is to make sure that at least half of your plate is made up of veg and that it has as many different colors as possible. It sounds a little simplistic, but this tip genuinely helps you to get varied vitamins into your diet!

Cutting out sugary drinks and replacing them with water means that you will be getting far less empty calories, and you will be better hydrated. Sugary drinks have been linked to heart attacks, gout and obesity, and some studies have shown that a soft drink or two each day can increase your chances of developing type 2 diabetes by 26%.

Move around more and it will benefit you by helping you maintain a healthy weight, keep your joints from stiffening, and keep your heart and lungs healthy. The recommended amount of exercise is 150 minutes per week, but anything is better than nothing, so even if it’s just making a point of walking around the block it’s well worth doing.

Sleep is not only lovely, but it is a must for good health. Sleep deprivation raises your odds of heart disease, diabetes, strokes and obesity, and won’t help your mood either. Make it a priority to get to bed early enough that you wake up well rested.

Commit to managing stress by finding an outlet for it, whether it’s talking with friends, meditating, yoga, or taking up a high intensity sport. If that doesn’t work, then talk it through with a therapist or counselor to find a solution.

Wash your hands as it really is the simplest way to prevent the spread of disease.

Limit your drinking to one drink per day for women, and two for men.

Don’t smoke, it’s bad for almost every part of your body and has no benefits. If you are struggling to give up then speak to your doctor.

Attend regular checkups as they will help prevent serious illness, and give you a better prognosis if you do become ill.

It’s a good idea to focus on just one area at a time when trying to make your life healthier, as if you try to do too many things at once then it is likely to become overwhelming. You may also find it easier to make positive changes if you talk to your friends and family about what you are doing. Not only will they be able to provide you with support, but seeing the good work that you’re doing might inspire them to do the same!

Read More

[tamboradventure]

28 Things to See and Do in San Francisco

Updated: 03/24/20 | March 24th, 2020

I loved visiting San Francisco from the start. It’s a city home to hippies, techies, artists, immigrants, students, and everyone in between. There’s incredible music, wold-class food for all budgets, some of the BEST Asian food in the country, parks galore, and amazing bohemian vibe to it.

With so many diverse influences, it’s no surprise that San Francisco has evolved into a world-class city that has a ton of amazing things to see and do.

Personally, I love visiting San Francisco for the food. It’s home to some of the best Asian and Mexican food in the country (as well as some incredible cafes).

But there is also much more to see here too. And just because it’s an expensive place to live doesn’t mean a visit has to break the bank either.

To help you plan your trip, here are the best 28 things to see and do in San Francisco  

1. Take a Free Walking Tour

The first thing I do whenever I arrive in a new destination is to take a walking tour. It’s the best way to get the lay of the land, see the highlights, and ask your questions to an expert local guide. Free Tours By Foot has a few different FREE options available covering different areas of the city. (Just make sure to tip your guide)

If you want something more in-depth, there are also plenty of paid tours you can take. Take Walks is my go-to walking tour company and they offer some interesting tours around the city. If you want to really learn a lot (while having fun), book a tour with them!  

2. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge

There is no question that the iconic Golden Gate Bridge is one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks. Opened in 1937, it’s arguably the most-photographed bridge in the world. At its inception, it was both the longest and the tallest suspension bridge in the world, spanning 4,200 feet (1,280m) long and standing 746 feet (227m) tall.

You can walk across the bridge (which I recommended) or just stare at it from every angle and snap your own iconic photos. If you have time, make your way to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It has a waterfront promenade, sweeping views of the bridge, and a few easy hiking trails.  

3. Visit Crissy Field

This park is located near the bridge and makes for a nice follow-up. It has a beach, some restaurants, piers where you can see locals fishing, and plenty of green space to relax. It offers some sweeping views of the harbor, making it a laid-back place to come in the summer to have a picnic, lounge in the sun, and watch life go by.  

4. See The Palace of Fine Arts

The Palace of Fine Arts is a Roman-style remnant of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition (a world’s fair held in San Francisco). The outdoor rotunda and its lagoon are another one of the city’s most photographed sights. It’s also a fun social destination where you can bring friends to play giant Jenga, cornhole, ping pong, and other games. The city often has events here.

601 Lyon Street, +1 415-608-2220, palaceoffinearts.com. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm. Admission is free (some events charge admission).  

5. Wander Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39

The wharf was originally dominated by Italian immigrants who helped popularize the city’s fish market. To this day, you can watch fishermen at work in Fish Alley (the main street where the fishermen work). If you want to try some of the mouthwatering seafood that San Francisco is famous for, I sugged Waterbar and the Anchor Oyster Bar.

Pier 39 is touristy but it’s also a fun way to spend an hour or so. There are buskers, tacky souvenir shops, arcades, an aquarium, and tons of overpriced restaurants (so avoid eating here).  

6. Explore Alcatraz

Alcatraz is probably the most famous (or infamous) prison in America. From 1934-1963, it housed the country’s most notorious criminals (criminals like Al Capone). In its 29 year history, not a single prisoner successfully escaped (or so they say). After its closure, it became a national landmark. Visitors can explore the island, learn about the prison and what life was like as an inmate, and tour the interior. It gets very busy in the summer so be sure to book ahead.

+1 415-981-7625, alcatrazcruises.com. Tours run daily year-round and cost $39.90 USD which includes an audio tour.  

7. Take a Day Trip to Berkeley

Located just 20 minutes across the bay by car, Berkeley is home to music, hippies, students, and the University of California – Berkeley (30% of the city’s population go to school here). You can take a tour of the campus (self-guided or guided), hike up the Berkeley Hills, or shop on Fourth Street (the main thoroughfare). You’ll also find lots of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, street performers, and eclectic shops to browse.  

8. Hang out in the Mission

For an amazing view of the city, head to Dolores Park in the Mission District. If you’re a history buff, don’t miss the Misión San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores). Founded in 1776, it’s the oldest surviving structure in the city and home to the only cemetery within city limits. It’s the structure that gives this part of town its name.

The Mission District is also a fun place to spend a night out. The district has tons of great Mexican restaurants as well as lively bars and clubs. Grab a burrito at Taqueria Cancún or Papolete, or visit one of the cocktail bars on 16th (Dalva is good).  

9. See Lombard Street

This is the world’s windiest street. Surrounded by gardens and flowers, it’s made up of eight hairpin turns because, during the 1920s, people in San Francisco were beginning to drive around in automobiles. However, many of the city’s famous hills were too steep to navigate. The idea of using a curved street to help vehicles move downhill was embraced and the hill’s slope went from 27% to 16%. Now you can watch the cars and bikers navigate the sharp turns as tourists gawk at them.  

10. Visit Coit Tower

Perched atop Telegraph Hill, this art deco tower was built in 1933. Standing 180-feet tall (55m), it’s home to over 25 murals and offers a panoramic view of the city. The murals here were painted in 1934 by local artists and depict life in San Francisco during the Depression. The tower became a San Francisco Designated Landmark in 1984 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

1 Telegraph Hill Blvd, +1 315-249-0995,sfrecpark.org/destination/telegraph-hill-pioneer-park/coit-tower. Open daily from 10am-5pm (6pm in the summer). Admission is $6 USD for city residents and $9 USD for visitors.  

11. Eat in Chinatown

This is the biggest Chinatown in the United States (and it’s the second most famous, after New York City. Chinese immigrants first came to the West Coast in the 1850s and set up shop in San Francisco. Due to racial segregation, this neighborhood became predominantly Chinese and remained so even after segregation ended.

It’s one of the best places in the city to eat and you can find some incredible dim sum here. There are also lots of great teahouses, bars, souvenir stalls, and fortune cookie makers.

To really learn about the area, its history, and its people, take a walking tour with Take Walks. They’re my go-to walking tour company because they use expert local guides and their tours are always fun and educational.  

12. Ride the Cable Cars

No visit to San Francisco is complete without riding on a cable car. The cable car system in San Francisco is the last manually-operated system in the entire world. Of the 22 lines that were originally created in the 19th century, only three are still in operation. Since there is limited seating (and since they are one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city) waits can be long. Make sure you plan ahead (try to go during a weekday when there are fewer visitors). Tickets are $7 USD.  

13. Go on a Harbor Tour

For a completely different look at the city, take an afternoon cruise of San Francisco Bay. You’ll get to see some wildlife, snap some great photos, and learn about the bay and its place in San Francisco’s history. Around 40% of California, drains into the bay and the area is home to all kinds of snakes, rays, otters, sharks, whales, sea lions, and more. A budget-friendly way to see the bay is to take the public ferries for $7.30 USD.

You can find prices and routes at sanfranciscobayferry.com.  

14. Hang out in the Castro

San Fransico has been the de facto gay capital of the US since the 60s and 70s. The gay hub in the city is the Castro, San Francisco’s famous gay neighborhood (Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, had his office here). The neighborhood has a number of ethnic and modern restaurants as well as a bunch that serve locally-sourced organic food. On top of that, there are a plethora of wild and fun clubs that cater to both gay and straight crowds. If you’re looking for a fun nightlife, this is the neighborhood for you.  

15. Explore Haight-Ashbury

The birthplace of America’s counterculture, the Haight was ground zero during the summer of 1967, a.k.a. The Summer of Love. Hippies used to live here but, eventually, all the colorful Victorian homes were bought up by more well-off residents as the area gentrified. It’s now home to high-end boutiques, hip cages, and chic restaurants. That said, you can still find some record stores, dive bars, and vintage clothing stores here.

If you really want to learn more about the area’s hippy past, take the Flower Power Walking Tour. It’s just $20 USD and will walk you through the neighborhood’s vibrant and eclectic past.  

16. Rollerskate in Church

The Church of 8 Wheels is a former church that has been converted to an old school rollerskating arena. They have DJs and live music so it’s essentially a party on wheels. Admission is $10 USD and you can rent skates for $5 USD. It’s a cheap (and unique) way to have fun and meet people. There are times for both kids and adults too and they even organize lessons for people who have never roller-skated before.

554 Fillmore St., +1 415-752-1967, churchof8wheels.com. Open Friday-Sunday. Check the website for times as there are both all-ages and adult-only events.  

17. See Muir Woods

Named after famed naturalist John Muir, it’s located just 16 miles from downtown so its an easy place to visit. The place is home to over 240 acres of towering old-growth redwood trees. While the trees here are not as big as the sequoia trees in nearby Sequoia National Park, it’s nevertheless a relaxing place to visit. There are plenty of walking trails and it’s family/kid-friendly too.  

18. Visit the Beat Museum

Dedicated to the Beat Generation (the 1950s counter-culture), here you’ll find original manuscripts, rare books, letters, and more from authors like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Founded in 2003, the museums has over 1,000 pieces of memorabilia including Ginsber’s typewriter and a first edition copy of Kerouac’s novel The Town and the City. They also hold regular events so check the website to see if anything is happening during your visit.

540 Broadway, +1 800-537-6822, kerouac.com. Open daily from 10am-7pm. Admission is $8 USD.  

19. Learn at the Exploratorium

This interactive science museum has all kinds of exhibitions covering biology, gravity, light, animation, and much more. It’s very hands-on so it’s the perfect stop for anyone traveling with kids (though there are also adult-specific exhibitions too).

Pier 15, +1 415-528-4444, exploratorium.edu. Open Tuesday–Sunday from 10am-5pm. Admission is $29.95 USD.  

20. Hang Out in Golden Gate Park

This massive park covers over 1,000 acres, making it 20% bigger than Central Park in NYC. Inside, you’ll find a Japanese garden, an arboretum, a museum, and lots of hiking and walking trails. Walking from end to end takes the better half a day. In the summer, it’s a popular spot to picnic, go for a stroll, and soak up the sun. Even though it sees over 24 million visitors each year, it’s never too hard to find a secluded spot for yourself.  

21. Catch a Game

San Francisco locals love their sports teams, especially the Giants (their baseball team). If you’re in town during a game, be sure to head to Oracle Arena and take in the spectacle — it doesn’t get more American than this! The team is one of the longest-established and most successful in the league and you can get tickets for under $10 USD.  

22. Visit the Cable Car Museum

When the cable cars launched in 1873, they were hugely popular and they changed the face of the city. To learn more and see all kinds of photos and relics from a bygone era, including some of the original cars, head to this museum. It’s not huge but it’s fun and insightful.

1201 Mason Street, +1 415-474-1887, cablecarmuseum.org. Open daily from 10am-5pm (6pm in the summer). Admission is free.  

23. Tour Wine Country

If you love wine and have time to leave the city, visit the world-famous Napa and Sonoma wine regions. Napa is one of the world’s leading wine-producing area and every year over 3 million people come to taste their way around the region. Located just over an hour from the city by car, there are plenty of companies that organize day trips to Napa Valley (usually for between $99-150 USD per person). However, day tours are usually a bit rushed. If you have the time, rent a car and stay overnight.  

24. Enjoy the View from Twin Peaks

For another panoramic view of the city, drive or hike up to the top of Twin Peaks. Standing 925 feet high, you’ll get a sweeping 360-degree view of the city. Come for sunset and enjoy the view. There are also lots of trails weaving around the mountains so you can hike for a couple of hours here if you wanted.  

25. Take a Food Tour

This city is known for its food. If you want to cast a wide culinary net and try a lot of different foods, consider taking a food tour. Here are a few companies worth checking out if you’re considering:

Wild SF Tours – A tasty food crawl of Chinatown and Little Italy where you can try dim sum, pizza, craft cocktail-inspired boba milk tea, and cannoli. Tickets from $69.

Secret Food Tours – Sample the best of the Mission District, including burritos, oysters, ice cream, and more! Tickets from $79 USD.

TasteBud Tours – A culinary exploration of Little Italy that stops off at 7 different local restaurants. Tickets from $68.50.

  26. Day Trip to Oakland

Just across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco is Oakland. It’s considered the “Brooklyn” to San Francisco’s “Manhattan.” In recent years, Oakland has developed a niche for and craft beer and specialty restaurants. There are tons of bars and breweries, and they even have their own “Ale Trail” if you want to wander the city and sample its best drinks.

You can also visit Oakland Redwood Regional Park, Lake Merritt, or catch a baseball game at Oakland Coliseum. There’s a lot you can do in Oakland and you can easily spend a day or more here!  

27. Visit the Asian Art Museum

This is one of the most comprehensive collections of Asian art in the world. The museum houses almost 20,000 items in its collection and you can get a free guided tour to walk you through all the highlights and special exhibits that the museum has to offer. There are both modern art exhibitions as well as historical artifacts and artwork. Check the website to see what temporary exhibitions are available during your visit.

200 Larkin St., +1 415-581-3500, asianart.org. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm (9pm on Thursdays). Admission is $15 USD.  

28. Take a Quirky Tour or Visit a Weird Museum

San Francisco is an eclectic city to say the least so it should come as no surprise that there are a lot of unique tours and museums here. Some of the more fun and interesting tours options are:

San Francisco Love Tours – Explore the city in a hand painted VW bus and learn about San Francisco’s counter-culture icons while listening to hippie music from the Summer of Love. Tours from $45 USD.

GoCar Tours – Whip around the city in a go kart and see the sights as you bomb down hills (including the winding Lombard Street). Tours from $120 USD.

And, for weird / offbeat museums, visit:

The Antique Vibrator Museum – See what sex toys from the 1800s looks like!

The Gregangelo Museum – This “museum” is bursting with all kinds of weird decorations, themed rooms, secret passageways, hidden rooms, and all sorts of weird art and interior design.

The Peephole Cinema – Watch short silent films through a tiny public peephole in the Mission District.

Musée Mécanique – A collection of over 300 old arcade games from the 20th century.

***

While San Francisco may be known for its high cost of living, there are tons of fun things to see and do in the city that won’t break the bank. With a little planning and creativity, you can enjoy your time in San Francisco without going over budget.

And whether you’re looking for museums, nature, food, or nightlife, this city will not disappoint.

Book Your Trip to San Francisco: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. My suggested place is the The Green Tortoise. It’s the best hostel in the city. It has free breakfast, pub crawls, and dinners three times a week.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Need a Guide? San Francisco has some really great tours on offer. For an in-depth walking tour, check out Take Walks. They use expert local guides and have a super insightful (and fun) tour through Chinatown.

For something more hands-on like a segway tour, use Fat Tire Tours. They have a few different tours around the city and are a great alternative to a standard walking tour.

Looking for More Information on Visiting San Francisco? Check out my in-depth destination guide to San Francisco with more tips on what to see and do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!

The post 28 Things to See and Do in San Francisco appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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[studylifeusa]

Wushuang Yang from China, is a Junior studying Biology and Biomedical Engineering at Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana

1. Why did you decide to study in the USA?

I went to high school in the USA. So, when I graduated from high school, I started looking for universities in the USA. Also, I am interested in the medical and healthcare field, so the USA was a good option.

2. Why did you choose Marian University? What attracted you to the school? What is special about Marian and the Indianapolis area?

When I was looking at schools, I was looking for a small university that was located in a city. I wanted to have small size classrooms and really get to know my professors rather being in a lecture hall with 100 or even 200 students. When I was doing my research, I learned that Marian University is a ten-minute drive from the downtown area of Indianapolis. The average class size is around 20 students, and it has the dual degree engineering program for me to study both Engineering and Biology.

3. What do you like best about your Biology and Biomedical Engineering programs, or Marian University overall?

I really enjoy the class size. In my classes, I personally know my classmates and professors and feel comfortable to stop by office hours for any questions. I also really enjoy the program that I’m in. Marian University has a partnership with IUPUI for a five-year Dual Degree Engineering Program. So, in five years I will receive two diplomas, one from Marian University, and one from Purdue University. Within this program, I am a student at both Marian and IUPUI, so I am able to make personal connections and utilize resources from two very different universities.

4. What do you miss most about China?

The number one thing I miss from home would be the food. Today’s technology is advanced enough to make connecting with families very easy. But nothing is like a good home-country meal after a stressful week. Luckily, there is enough international markets in the Indianapolis area that I can get a quick fix that is similar to my home-country food. But I still miss the environment and the authentic dishes compared to my home-country.

5. What was your biggest surprise about U.S. life and education?

One big thing that I realized was the amount of workload for different majors. I have friends who are majoring in all kind of different fields. But for me personally, I know as a student majoring in Biology and Biomedical Engineering, there is an expectation of my academic performance, I spend hours and hours outside of classes to work on homework, reports, or design projects.

6. ... your biggest disappointment?

This would depend on the location. But I was disappointed in the public transporting system when I first started college. It is very easy to take the train, bus, or taxi in my hometown if I needed to go to places close or far. But the local transportation system is still developing and not as efficient as I was used to. During my time in college, there have been more options in the past few years; shared bikes, shared electric cars, and shared scooters are all additional options.  

7. How have you handled: ... language differences?

I personally didn’t experience as bad of language differences as most international students. When you don’t use a language often, the word bank gets a little rusty. But it definitely got easier in couple of weeks with basic communication. If there was any word, phrase, or slang that I’m wasn’t sure of the meaning, I would always ask people around me or just do a quick search on Google.

... finances?

It is very expansive to study internationally. From tuition, travel, books, and cost of living. Personally, I applied to many scholarships (private or from the school) to help with tuition and other expenses. I’ve worked regularly on campus since freshman year and applied for internships during breaks to gain extra income, but also for the experience.

... adjusting to a different educational system?

No matter where you are from, the transition from high school to college is very different. Secondary education is required to attend classes from around 8 am to 3 pm and often would have homework regularly. However, in college, it is very self-managed. Going to classes or deciding whether or not to study is up to the student. So, it requires more self-discipline and organization skills.

8. What are your activities?

I have been working for 10-20 hours weekly since freshman year (depending on workload and class schedule) with various on campus employments (university library, admission’s office, and student tutor). I am involved in student organization, the international club, the honor society for math and science, and service base club. And I received a grant and participated in a summer study abroad program in South Korea.

9. How easy or difficult is making friends in the USA?

There is no definite ‘easy or hard’ for making friends. It depends on your personality and the people that you meet. From my experience, most people are very friendly and approachable. Also new friends are not limited to USA students, I have decent relationships with my professors, advisors, and fellow international classmates.      

10. What are your career goals? How is your U.S. education relevant to your personal goals and to the needs of your country?

My ultimate career goal is to work with something that I enjoy doing. As of now, I am very interested in the medical field, problem solving, and how things work. So, with my education in the USA majoring in Biology and Biomedical engineering, I believe that I can contribute my knowledge in the future no matter if the job position is in Asia, Europe, or the Americas.

11. What is your advice to other students from your country who are considering a U.S. education?

Know yourself. Know your plans and goal. Time as an undergraduate student really goes by fast. Before going to college, decide on a major. Explore the major or the field that might interest you, so you don’t have to change majors so many times and risk not graduating in four years. Be dedicated. If you choose to study in another country, it means a lot of self-responsibilities in financial and social aspects. Don’t be shy, people are very nice. Branch out and meet new people, from other countries or from the USA. Don’t just make connections with people from your home country. And most of all, enjoy it. College is short, so study hard but also slow down to smell the roses.

Download Study in the USA ® Magazines

[amst-223]

Caitlin (Jiaozi)

Interviewer: Do you feel culturally isolated in the area of your college?

Caitlin: (pause) ...That's a hard one, but I would say no because, there's communities like, CASO around. That-- give you a place to interact culturally with other people. And you get to share your culture, especially like, as an international student.

Interviewer: Does it feel any different as it would back home?

Caitlin: Oh, definitely. Because Vancouver is very much-- ethnically Asian. And those people there know what it's like to be, Chinese-Canadian or grow up, y'know, Chinese-American, or grow up in that environment. Whereas here, most people... Most people don't understand, so you have to explain.

Interviewer: Do you feel isolated with the lack of food options available, in a way that might relate to your last answer?

Caitlin: Actually, in the sense of food, it's a lot more isolating. Because, ordering out is definitely not an option all the time, because, we do have a food plan. Like, I would not be able to afford eating out every single day. It's just, y'know, being able to go back to comfort food and I guess, cultural food is very important. And, although we get it very occasionally, you mostly don't see it on campus. And even if you do see it, it's not very good cultural food.

Interviewer: Have you been able to get food from your home culture?

Caitlin: ...Sort of. In dining hall options, but it's very limited. Or it's very much an imitation, that's, westernized. A westernized take on a plate, that, usually doesn't carry the same cultural value or cultural association that you would want to get from it. But I have gotten it from places like CASO. But it's still very limited in that sense.

Interviewer: Do you have a favorite restaurant in the area?

Caitlin: No. I haven't eaten out, really, in the area... Blue Mango's mostly the only place I've been.

Interviewer: And do you feel about Blue Mango?

Caitlin: Blue Mango's okay... it's, acceptable.

Interviewer: And what does that mean?

Caitlin: Uhm... I would say it's somewhere I would go occasionally, but personally I'm okay with eating dining hall food. So, if I'm really desperate for something that reminds me of back home then I would go there, but otherwise no.

Interviewer: Does Blue Mango remind you of home?

Caitlin: Not really. Because, back home, my family ate a mix of Western and Chinese food. For me, it's because the dining hall food is very... very overseasoned in terms of salt, but the flavor itself is very lacking.

Interviewer: How has your dining hall experience been?

Caitlin: I want to say it's been not horrible but it's not been something I particularly enjoy eating sometimes? Because, it's just very different from what I had back home. And not necessarily in a positive way. So back home, we put a lot less salt in our food. It's more simple. And there's a lot less greasy and fat-rich foods and suddenly, I'm eating a lot of these things, these high sodium, high fat, high carb... Like, it's really a shock, and it's really not healthy. And that kind of affects moods sometimes.

Interviewer: How do you think your eating experience can be improved?

Caitlin: I think for food wise... Just, adopting healthy dining options? So, although they do have things like, salad, that's enough to compensate for kind of, main course options? So for example, healthier protein options or healthier just, grain or wheat options-- is really helpful. Because, you can't just eat salad. But once I walk into a dining hall, you see it's a lot of friend foods. It's a lot of carbs. And those are basically the only things I see as options. I would like to see more like, vegetables. Or even, less salty, less friend, less oily foods. In general. And even if they were to have ethnic food, with proper ethnic spices, and authentic ingredients, rather than just... imitations. Especially their ramen bowls. They made ramen using spaghetti noodles.

Interviewer: Do you have anything else you want to say?

Caitlin: Uhm, I heard they made bibimbap once, but it was very much not bimbimbap? And it would be nice of them-- If they want to experiment, to not call this particular cultural food that, when it's not.

[bravehardts]

Day 2 - Now having slept, Dublin again

As predicted, we were awake at 3am, but only because some party started in the room next door and apparently these hotel walls are as thin as the vellum pages of the Book of Kells! (That's a mediocre joke but will make sense as we get further into today). After calling the front desk to get our neighbors to keep it down, it seemed like we were going to be up for good. But we powered through the night, fell back asleep, seemingly for just a little bit. That was until Allison turned over and saw the time: 9am. We had slept for about 12 hours, Alex for 14. That would usually be great, except that we had booked tickets to see the aforementioned Book of Kells exhibit at 9am. Oops. All was not lost (by "all" I mean 20 euros), as we grabbed a continental breakfast at the hotel, and wandered over to Trinity College, the location of this famous book. With true Irish charm, they honored our late tickets and we headed inside, bypassing an enormous waiting line. This ancient book is amazingly detailed in its artistry and I won't pretend to try to describe it (just Google it already). The exhibit itself features a few hallways with large, illuminated copies of various pages, showing off the colorful inks, decorative designs, and history of the time (we flew through this crowded area so again I will pass on being the expert). The final room featured the actual "book" (or series of books?) on display in a glass case, which was swamped by crowds and nearly impossible to see. It seemed like a bit of a bust, at least for our rushed tour--until we went upstairs to the "long library". This was an insanely long arched, wood paneled hallway, lined by marble busts of famous writers and Irish historical figures. 200,000 books from centuries past line the shelves on both stories, any one of which could be checked out by a student at the college. It felt like Indiana Jones had probably done a bit of digging here in his heyday. The hall even featured the harp of Brian Boru--the origin of the harp symbol, so important to country and adorning your Guinness glass. Satisfied that we had achieved our one goal for the morning, we set out for some bonus points and wandered around Trinity College. The quiet campus is smack in the middle of Dublin, yet packed with tourists grazing the lawns and viewing the architecture and statues. Wandering north, we crossed the River Liffey and quickly found a donut shop for a little coffee and sweets. This was a popular and crowded part of town that felt somewhat reminiscent of the touristy crowds around fisherman's wharf. Crossing back over the river, we hiked up the slope of Ha'penny bridge and back in the general direction of the Temple Bar area. As we learned, there is in fact a pub called the "Temple Bar", but the entire district is also called "Temple Bar"--a series of shops and pubs on narrow walking streets. This was super touristy area, yet quaint and lively. We settled into a hotel-recommended dining option for lunch, called Oliver St. John Gogartys. We were immediately greeted by the band when we walked in (calling out little man Alex right away)--two young guys, one with a guitar, and one with an accordion. There were loads of people at the bar, and just as many at the tables. It was difficult to tell if anybody was a local, or if they were all tourists (probably the latter). But hey, we are tourists and it was kind of perfect at the moment--the terrible food (fish and chips, cocktail shrimp, both instagrammable but hardly edible) did not deter us from having a great time, enjoying another Smithwicks, and perhaps singing along to a couple of songs we recognized (Wagon Wheel and Whiskey in the Jar). We left Temple Bar and stumbled upon the statue of the fictitious Molly Malone ("The Tart with the Cart"), then we headed back to the hotel for a little break. We had one goal for the afternoon and that was to visit the Guinness Storehouse, a modern museum in tribute to what one would take from the experience was nothing less than a pint of divine liquid from the Gods. Boarding a hop-on hop-off bus, we ventured out, a little ways away from the city center to St. James Gate, where the brewery (off limits to the public) and Storehouse reside. If one would consider being allowed into the Book of Kells two-hours late a minor miracle, then the wonderest of wonderful miracles occurred at the Storehouse. Upon arriving, we saw a huge line out front, and had not purchased any tickets at all. We were informed the line would take 50 minutes to get inside--and it had just rained and the wind was picking up and I was honestly about to show off my version of a donnybrook. Almost before I had a chance to formulate all the swear words I could muster, an angel from heaven, wearing a Guinness jacket and headset, walked up to us and asked how old Alex was, followed by "it's terrible to wait in line with a baby" (not sure I would call Alex a baby anymore, but...), then promptly escorted us DIRECTLY into the building. Within 5 minutes, we were on the self-guided tour. I felt a little bad for all the people we skipped in line, but it seemed like karma we earned for something good we had done in the past. Hopefully we still have a little left in the bank. The Storehouse itself was very entertaining, and way over the top. Every square inch of the building, architecturally quite stunning, felt like a monument to celebrate what could only be the single greatest beer in the world (one might think upon leaving, that maybe it is the only beer in the world). Every step of the brewing process was presented in bold-lettered exhibits (FERMENTATION) with highly produced videos and colorful displays. It had the feeling of waiting in lines at Disneyland with dramatic lighting, waterfalls, escalators, all leading onwards and upwards to the holy grail of tasting experiences--your very own pint of Guinness (or if you are a kid, a soda)! At the very top of the building rests the "Gravity Bar", where your ticket earns you a pint and a 360 degree view of Dublin, to the soundtrack of some loud rock band. It was absolutely packed and people were getting toasty, but the views were really phenomenal, enhanced by a rainbow in the distance--a special effect or real? We won't know. It was the first we had really experienced a great view of the city from high up, seeing the sea to the east, and mountains to the south, and everything in between. To end the experience, we descended about four million steps, past regal advertisements that instruct you to "Take the Legacy Home" by visiting the gift shop for your merch. It was an incredibly manicured experience--not much in terms of authenticity, but entertaining and memorable nonetheless. It's hard not to walk out happy with a beer in your stomach. How was the Guinness you ask? Allison said she thought it was better here, as lots of people say in Ireland (apparently it doesn't travel well). I thought it was just fine, but stout isn't really my bag. No complaints though, I'll have another. We taxied to our restaurant for dinner, Fade St. Social, and had an excellent meal to end our day. Allison had a salad (as Alex would say, "Bo-wing!" and I shared an Irish beef stew with the little guy. It was fantastic, and Alex claimed it was the best thing he ever had--perhaps it was the Guinness laced sauce? I guess that was his first taste of beer. We have one more full day in Dublin tomorrow--and many adventures left on the table.