Vacation, All I ever wanted
Published 5 April 2005
Hi! You've stumbled upon a blog post by a guy named Ryan. I'm not that guy anymore, but I've left his posts around because cool URIs don't change and to remind me how much I've learned and grown over time.
Ryan was a well-meaning but naïve and priviledged person. His views don't necessarily represent the views of anyone.
I haven't written for a while, but don't fear, I haven't contracted the consumption or been abducted by aliens (or else they've adjusted my memories enough not to bother me). But here's a run-down of what I have been doing.
Vacation, all I ever wanted
How would you like to drive past this every day? My most adventurous highschool friend does. I recently returned from a 9-day visit on Oahu, and Hawai`i (no that's not a typo) is incredible. The none of the locals I met seemed to know where a good place for nightlife was—it seems that staying out late and sleeping in is an anathema to life in paradise; you miss the best surfing waves after noon.
Hawaii has a fascinating cultural past. The Hawaiians are
probably the most oppressed native group in the U.S., having a homeland as raped
and pillaged by the East as other Native Americans, but without the casinos and
free college. They are the most disenfranchised voting demographic now, and
there is even an underground Hawaiian separatist movement. Hawaii wouldn't
even be a state now if the American government had recognized the sovereignty of
the Hawai`ian state (as Britain, France and others did), and American colonists
had not overthrown their queen. So I learned a little while I was there as
well.
Some brief highlights: jumping off of a waterfall, snorkelling in 5-7 foot waves and drinking Mai-Tais in a hotel hot-tub. And of course, seeing the friends that are now half a world away surpassed them all.
First-Time Donor
As an infrequent NPR listener, I've always been a little annoyed when they started their fund raising. I know they need it, but it is wearing to listen to only half of their usual programming in lieu of a lot of begging for money. This year, however, it's become part of my morning routine (of course, without Carl Kassell and Stardate I'd probably get to work on time). After making my first time donation, the radio hosts at WCMU gave such flowing thanks that two people have approached me, commending me for the gift.
Goodbye, Alma Mater
It's officially official, RC will not be returing to jungle, grove and campus faire. It's been a good run, but since I've been here longer than our current president, I think it's time for me to get out—before the College swallows up all of my mid-twenties.
The rest of my time has been spent on unpacking, doing my taxes (hooray for starting work in mid-year!), and trying to squeeze every ounce of good times out of my undergraduate friends before I'm left in a barren and vacant Alman desert, filled with obnoxious pre-pubescent cheerleaders.
Oh, there is also that small issue of a secret project…