mad_maudlin (![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} mad_maudlin) wrote,@ 2007-08-20 22:02:00 |
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'Cause stealing bandwith from LJ is more fun than repacking my bags...
First off, the Sooper Sekrit project I mentioned a few times last week.
lofro is in the SCA, and this is his device. It's not perfectly period--the white fabric is a linen/cotton blend, and parts of the trees were satin stitched to save time and sanity--and the greens don't all match, but he seemed pleased. Inside was an incredibly sappy mixed CD I made just for him. (How can the Spiderman theme be sappy? Dude, it's us.)
Then, a picture I'm very proud of:
This is the St. Louis Arch, emblem of our fair city, as seen from inside the Eads Bridge, a 130-year-old span. I got this shot from the Metrolink station in/under the bridge, and later saw the exact same shot on a postcard in the Arch museum. Booyah.
And now, a couple PC-relevent things:
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My hotel room at the Holiday Inn Georgetown, before chaos descended. The dark figure to one side is my roommate, J, a local who is going into business development in Kazakhstan.
A blurry shot of the room where our orienation went on. They actually split us up for most stuff because, with 74 volunteers, it's hard to do any kind of useful discussion.
Yesterday, after orientation, some of us went to a Thai restaurant. There was much chatter, toasting, and shenanigans with a fish head (not that I'm naming names.)
За нашем будущее в Казахстане!
Today, for breakfast, J and I found a neat little Mexican bakery and I had a pineapple empanada. There was a lot more practical discussion, basically reminders not to leave your common sense at the border--don't go out at night alone, don't be too quick to trust strangers, do what the medical office tells you. Women have to accept that we're at a lot greater risk of sexual harassment and assault, and act accordingly. Also, the PC has a blog policy--don't talk smack about the Corps or the country, don't reveal your or other volunteer's exact location, and use a disclaimer. ::points at userinfos:: We went to lunch at Einstein Brothers, which I'd never had before, and got pep talks from several VIPs. Apparently there's a good chance I'll be assigned to a school for ethnic Kazakhs when I get in-country.
I kind of wanted to go sight-seeing, but the weather and another long walk for food conspired against me. I did get to talk to a volunteer from Hawaii (loooong ass flight!) and a Chicagoan who was as excited about Cubs and Cardinals as me. Apparently we were more excited about sports in general than most of the guys in the group, according to the one sitting with us. Dinner ended up being at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, one last huzzah of American cuisine, and then I came home and set up Skype. A test call to my parents went well, so if I can find high-speed Internet in-country, I can call home for fairly cheap!
Tomorrow I need to develop some photos and buy candy (for my host family) and something for the bazillion freakin' bug bites I have on my arms and legs. See, somebody walked around the Grand Basin with her boyfriend a few nights ago while wearing a skirt...
First off, the Sooper Sekrit project I mentioned a few times last week.
lofro is in the SCA, and this is his device. It's not perfectly period--the white fabric is a linen/cotton blend, and parts of the trees were satin stitched to save time and sanity--and the greens don't all match, but he seemed pleased. Inside was an incredibly sappy mixed CD I made just for him. (How can the Spiderman theme be sappy? Dude, it's us.)Then, a picture I'm very proud of:
This is the St. Louis Arch, emblem of our fair city, as seen from inside the Eads Bridge, a 130-year-old span. I got this shot from the Metrolink station in/under the bridge, and later saw the exact same shot on a postcard in the Arch museum. Booyah.
And now, a couple PC-relevent things:
My hotel room at the Holiday Inn Georgetown, before chaos descended. The dark figure to one side is my roommate, J, a local who is going into business development in Kazakhstan.
A blurry shot of the room where our orienation went on. They actually split us up for most stuff because, with 74 volunteers, it's hard to do any kind of useful discussion.
Yesterday, after orientation, some of us went to a Thai restaurant. There was much chatter, toasting, and shenanigans with a fish head (not that I'm naming names.)
За нашем будущее в Казахстане!
Today, for breakfast, J and I found a neat little Mexican bakery and I had a pineapple empanada. There was a lot more practical discussion, basically reminders not to leave your common sense at the border--don't go out at night alone, don't be too quick to trust strangers, do what the medical office tells you. Women have to accept that we're at a lot greater risk of sexual harassment and assault, and act accordingly. Also, the PC has a blog policy--don't talk smack about the Corps or the country, don't reveal your or other volunteer's exact location, and use a disclaimer. ::points at userinfos:: We went to lunch at Einstein Brothers, which I'd never had before, and got pep talks from several VIPs. Apparently there's a good chance I'll be assigned to a school for ethnic Kazakhs when I get in-country.
I kind of wanted to go sight-seeing, but the weather and another long walk for food conspired against me. I did get to talk to a volunteer from Hawaii (loooong ass flight!) and a Chicagoan who was as excited about Cubs and Cardinals as me. Apparently we were more excited about sports in general than most of the guys in the group, according to the one sitting with us. Dinner ended up being at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, one last huzzah of American cuisine, and then I came home and set up Skype. A test call to my parents went well, so if I can find high-speed Internet in-country, I can call home for fairly cheap!
Tomorrow I need to develop some photos and buy candy (for my host family) and something for the bazillion freakin' bug bites I have on my arms and legs. See, somebody walked around the Grand Basin with her boyfriend a few nights ago while wearing a skirt...