Thursday April 30 2009

marks the Vietnamese "Reunification Day", or "Liberation Day" (or also "The Fall of Saigon" - depending on which country you're in....as you can tell by the differences in length of wiki articles...) - it's a national holiday that marks the day when the National Liberation Front and the North Vietnamese Army captured (what was then) Saigon in 1975. It signaled the end of the Vietnam War (or "The Resistance War Against America", again depending on where you live)...and at the nearby American consulate, the last helicopters departed from the rooftop with the last US soldiers and citizens, and many people tried to get on the helicopters or send their babies onto them.

It's been 34 years.






A tank crashed through the gates of the (now called) Reunification Palace, where the barely 44 hour-old new President of South Vietnam gave up his power to the North Vietnamese Army. The story has been told that after the President said he was ready to give up power, a officer replied, "There is no question of turning over power - you cannot give up when you do not already have"...

The original tank that brought down the gates sits on the lawn of the Reunification Palace, as a reminder of the past. I can see it from the street but there is not a good camera view with all of the trees. I hope to tour the Palace in a few days and will report back, apparently much of the it is left as it was in 1975...

This was the start of the transition period toward unification of North and South Vietnam, which occurred July 2, 1976.

In HCMC, you can tell that something is definitely in the air. The streets were more frequently cleaned this week, and the road in front of the Reunification Palace was power washed with water. The national flag and the corresponding "hammer and sickle" flag (both in vibrant red and yellow colors) have also popped up on most major streets, stores, and even some cars.



There is a parade sometime this weekend, and I hope to attend. I think it will be an extraordinary display of military, power, and reflection. Although because I am in south Vietnam, many people here were originally not supportive of the communist government, maybe the celebrations will more subdued and related only to the parade and other public events...where as in the north, I'm sure the celebrations will be more intense and frequent.

In the US however, the celebrations are a bit different for the Vietnamese community, where my mom tells me they call it "Black Day"....

Okay that ends the history lesson! We have no school tomorrow because of the holiday and also Friday (International Labor Day), so it's going to be a fun extended weekend!

Historical Tour - Monday (thứ hai)

Today after school, I asked my xe om driver Anh Ni to take me around to the center city area so I could see some of the sites (descriptions taken and edit from the HCMC Department of Tourism):



- Building started in 1886 and was completed in 1891 under architect Villedieu's design, this magnificent building was located on a high hill by the side of the Notre Dame cathedral with Hai Ba Trung avenue in the back. The building's front side is adorned with rectangle squares inscribed with the names of telegraphic and electric inventors together with figures of famous men and women wearing laurel wreaths. A big clock hangs over the dome of the building . Inside the building, visitors can see two historical maps, one is "Saigon and its environments" created in 1892 and "Telegraphic network in South Vietnam and Cambodia" created in 1936.

Post office = buu dien
Address: 2 Cong Xa Paris





Looks like a European railway station no? It was surprisingly beautiful inside...and Uncle Ho as always watches over us.



Inaugurated in 1880, Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the oldest and biggest Catholic churches in Vietnam. This neo-Romanesque architecture, built with bricks and tiles imported from France, is remiscient of the cathedrals in Paris, Chartres or Reim. Visitors can attend mass held three times on weekdays and six times on Sundays.

Address: Cong xa Paris Square, Dong Khoi & Han Thuyen Streets, District 1, HCMC
Open: Daily, Sunday Mass 9:30am

And finally, I also visited the Reunification Palace:


The Unification Hall, laid out on wind-water geometric principles, is the most beautiful building of Vietnamese architecture of the 1960’s. The building is preserved almost as it was (previously the South Vietnam presidential palace) under the old Saigon regime with the interior decorated with fine Vietnamese art and crafts. Among its 100 rooms and chambers are president's reception room, credentials presentation room and banquet room.

Address: 106 Nguyen Du Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Open daily: from 8am to 11am and 1pm to 4pm.
Entry: VND15,000

There is a lot of history here with this building, and the upcoming April 30th holiday, "Liberation Day"...so I am going to save that for another post. Again, more photos on Picasa.

Sunday (chủ nhật)

Sunday was a relaxing, fun day. I met Chuong and we went out to another little cafe, one right next to Khuc Ban Chieu/Serenata Cafe, called Cafe Soi Da. It looks very similar, even with the same set up, but I like Cafe Soi Da more because it is more open and you can get a better breeze on the second floor. Both cafes are kept cool by huge trees, fans, and large breezeways, and both offer live music and a variety of drinks and food.

And both have super cute steps and sitting areas:




Then the rain clouds started to come in, and we didn't want to get stuck without raincoats, so we left.

After dinner, I went out with Chu Dung and his friend Cindy to Casbah, a Moroccan themed Cafe and Lounge. We parked near the Opera House and walked along the streets, this area is very fancy and has many high end stores and hotels. (Picassa photos - find the one with the Louis Vuitton store!)

Then down a little alley...through a doorway...up the stairs...and there we are! Casbah! Complete with Arabic writing on the walls, Moroccan music, rooftop garden, hookahs, and belly dancers! Though this didn't stop Chu Dung from ordering french fries and chicken wings ^_^



We left at midnight but there were still people in the lounge, and even more people outside eating at the sidewalk restaurant (apparently one of the best, and only about $2 a meal, but we'd just eaten so that'll be another day). And I saw more and more people on the roads and sidewalks as we drove back to the house, prompting my post about the nightlife in Saigon. Even on a Sunday night, people are still eating, talking, and getting together - what a vibrant, active city!

(Picassa photos updated)

high alert: pig flu

In my class of 12, I was the only one who also spoke some Spanish. So let's hope that the Vietnamese population (or maybe Asians in general?) doesn't do a lot of traveling to Mexico...

Vietnam was hit by the avian flu in 2003, but had less than 100 deaths. Not like China...but with the sheer number of people in HCMC and the amount of contact that you have with people every day, it's scary to think about.

Good to hear that the country is taking precautions to protect against an outbreak. I didn't bring tamiflu with me, but I do have medical insurance. And maybe I'm going to start wearing those high-end infectious disease masks now...

yay Philly

Next Day Air, release on May 8, takes place in Philly!

Screen shot:



Wissahickon Ave is in Manayunk, where Drexel Med is!

Yaaaaaay what a great example for the City of Brotherly Love.

Saigon at midnight

is very impressive. It's a Sunday night and still some restaurants are very full and there are many people still on the street. It's incredible! I suppose 6 million people here in the city allows for restaurants and bars to be open pretty much around the clock!

Having lived in Chicago and visited NYC, Ho Chi Minh City is truly the city that never sleeps! Simply amazing.

yeaaaaaah football season has started!

sorry, not Vietnam related, but hey, this really makes me happy =D I was there for the spring game 2 years ago when Pryor was not officially even on the team yet. And the roar of the crowd when he came on the field was awesome!! (Unless of course you were Todd Boeckman and knew your job was in danger) And of course, we go to see the marching band too...ya, big OSU dork here.

Pryor puts on show for record crowd



A record crowd of 95,722 turned out at Ohio Stadium to watch the Gray defeat the Scarlet 23-3 in the Buckeyes' annual spring game.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A national spring game record crowd of 95,722 came out to enjoy the high temperatures and watch Terrelle Pryor throw two long touchdown passes in 30 seconds, leading the Gray over the Scarlet 23-3 on Saturday at sun-drenched Ohio Stadium.

The 80-degree weather played a big role in the attendance, which topped the 92,138 Alabama drew for Nick Saban's coaching debut in 2007.

Ohio fans paid $5 per ticket, with the bulk of the money going to local charities. Many showed up in tank tops and shorts to soak up the sun on the warmest day of the year while watching Pryor strut his stuff.

Pryor broke open a close scrimmage with touchdown passes of 44 yards to Taurian Washington and 42 yards to Ray Small late in the second half. Pryor started as a freshman for last year's 10-3 Buckeyes team.

more food pics!

It's raining again, so perfect excuse to post some more food pics and do some internet searches on swimming pools...

Finally on Wednesday was able to try something I've been wanting since my arrival: fresh coconut juice!



10,000 D during our banh xeo meal #2. It's very watery and plain tasting, but refreshingly cool. And very fun to scoop out some tasty coconut bits!

For dessert?? Frozen yogurt! Yes, the craze has hit HCMC and there are many froyo places in the area. Still very cheap! Sorry, no pics of the actual dessert because we all finished them before I remembered to take a picture...guess I'll just have to make another trip!



And today?? Crab! I was doing some research online about good places to eat in HCMC (probably when I was supposed to be studying physiology, oops!) and ran into this website: http://gastronomyblog.com/saigon-top-10/

Top on the list? Soft shell crab, yay my fav!!! So of course I asked to go there for lunch and ohhh my goodness, it was amazing


mmmm I'm going to eeeat you!!

Located just down the road from my school and the business district, Quan 94 looks like any other restaurant in the city: Large opening with the makeshift kitchen up front, small tables and chairs, fans running and spinning...They specialize in crab, and some of the dishes are more expensive as they are very popular, but everything is chock full of crab and it's delicious!!!



The crab-stuffed egg rolls (cha gio cua) were served with vermicelli rice noodles, herbs, and lettuce.



But my favorite? Soft-shell crabs with tamarine (cua lot xao me - 120,000 D) - soft crab with a sweet and sour sauce made from the popular tamarine fruit. We also had crab and shrimp soup, with the large white noodles and crab pieces seriously the size of my thumb!!

Just a few more pics posted on Picassa today, but the special ones I posted already.

Xin chao cac anh chi!

also, it's a small world

Okay so this is for all you people that
a) laugh that I talk so much about Ohio, and
b) think it's crazy that I have so much pride in my home state, in the middle of nowhere.

Okay so there are 12 people in my Vietnamese Class and today I was talking with two women before class started. One woman, Jane, is Korean but lived in San Francisco for some time and has two sons, one of whom went to Ohio Sate University for Business.

Today we were talking with another woman, Emma, a Chinese woman who is married to a German who works for Siemens, a global company, and so she moves around a lot. And where is the only place they lived in the US??

COLUMBUS, OHIO!!! (Well, more like Dublin, Ohio, just a suburb of Columbus, but you get my point...)

Hollaaaaaaaaa, I almost started laughing. And Emma said, "Yes well usually I say, 'Oh the middle of nowhere, a place Ohio', and no one recognizes it"...and there we were, there random people from across the world who had heard of Columbus, Ohio.

Apparently there is a big Siemens group in Bellefontaine, OH - about 30 minutes away in the countryside...

Whawhaaaaaaat!!!!! Moral of the story: it's a small world out there, and Ohio ROCKS!

and on the 7th day...

it was a Day of Beauty!!!!

It's been one week in Vietnam! After a long week of school, I walked around the area and treated myself to some spa services right on the same block as the house. Ahhhh!!

Full body massage plus hot stones, 1 hour = $20 + 100,000 D tip
- At Kim Spa: the table is large so that the women can hop on and really work the back and shoulders. The lotion/oils were nice and the stones hot; there were actually two women working at the same time, so it was like my whole body was humming. Wow, very nice - Better than the one I had 3 years ago where the woman cracked every bone in my body and also walked on my back. And a good scalp massage is heaven on earth.

Pedicure - 30,000 D + 20,000 D tip
- At KON: not a spa pedicure because I'd already had treatment on my feet from the massage, so this was very simple and cheap. Ummm this was in total less than $3, I'm going to do it every few weeks, cause even in Philly I went often and it was $25! Or in DC, it's $40!

Haircut - 60,000 D + 40,000 D tip
- At KON: went to Hai, who was recommended by my host's wife. Just a haircut, layered and styled and got to practice some Vietnamese. Hai speaks English though so it was kind of cheating but I need to know that I'm pronouncing everything okay! Wow, so I'll go back here before I leave...

Hen gap lai....see you again!

It's 6:35 pm and raining heavily - a very welcome break from the exhaustive heat. Every day around 3 to 5 pm, it gets cloudy and cool. Sometimes it rains, depending on what district you're in, but not for very long. Yesterday it rained for less than 20 minutes, but on Monday it rained for about an hour. The rain, however, does not stop the traffic, as everyone busts out rain ponchos that cover basically the entire motorbike except for the wheels.

Classes have been really nice, I'm learning slowly and the tones of the words hard for me to catch onto. It's a diverse group of people, there's 12 of us: I'm the only American, there are a handful of Koreans and Japanese, and one Frenchman. Young and old, some students and some who've moved to HCMC because of their husband's job. But we're having fun right now and laughing at our mistakes. I like it, but also wish that I had more than 80 hours of class time.

Yesterday I made some friends, a slow moving process since I don't really know anyone here on my own. Anh Phuc is a graduate student who is studying molecular biology at the University of Natural Sciences, and my host's wife Co Hao introduced us via email (as she and her son live in Columbus, Ohio, which is how my family knows them). Anyways so Anh Phuc showed me around his school and laboratory, which involved full covering and sterilization because of the cells that they are working with.



More pics on the picassa web album

And then three of us went to dinner:



banh xeo (big rice cake - like Indian dosa) tom thit (with pork and shrimp)
and banh khot (little rice cakes) with shrimp
plus three che (Vietnamese sweet drink with coconut, jelly, sweet beans)
-- click on the picassa link for pics of the che
whole meal with three drinks was 129,000 D is about $7

So that was really nice to talk with students and people my age, and we are going to meet every week. He wants help with English, and I want to practice Vietnamese. But being friends with someone that doesn't have a work schedule and that is able to spend time shopping, showing me around etc, will be really nice. Anh Phuc already helped me buy my own mask for the road! Hooray!

Video!: my route from school to the house

So after a weekend of getting used to riding the xe om, I was confident enough to record during my ride from the school back to the house. It's a bit long at 10 minutes, but I didn't want to cut a whole lot because you can really get a sense of everything that I see in this video, especially the traffic patterns and the crazy things that people are carrying.

Hint: someone has a mini-fridge! Which is honestly probably the best thing I've seen being carried by motorbike...I've also seen a family of four, those huge water jugs, even blocks of ice! But I think mini-fridge has been the best so far.

What you will see:
- My school is near the downtown Ho Chi Minh City area, and very close to department stores and high-end hotels. You may be able to see some familiar names in the store windows...
- Then we go around a traffic circle where my driver, Chu Ni, points out the Ben Thanh Market. It's a very big and popular marketplace in HCMC, and at night there are more food stands for a cheap dinner on the streets. I've actually been there many times and in 2004 our hotel was right next to it, but Chi Ni wanted to point it out since I just bought postcards that have a picture of the market.
- Eventually we make our way down to Trần Hưng Đạo Str and then just head down until we reach my block, and then into the little side street for the house entrance.


(click to enlarge)

- Upper, far right: Vietnamese classes at University of Social Sciences, District 1
- Middle: Ben Thanh Market, District 1
- Bottom, far left: Home at 844/3 Tran Hung Dao Street, District 5

FOOD!!!

BREAKFAST!


Banh bao (steamed bun) with pork and egg = 15000D = less than $1 (using 18000D = $1)
strawberry and orange shake = 17000 = less than $1
At Nhu Lan, a popular place with the locals.
- Also, tip is not necessary.
- Chuong's coffee with milk (ca fe sua da = coffee milk ice) in the background? 10,000 D

LUNCH!


At the very popular Quan An Ngon. It's in the Lonely Planet Guidebook and also across the street from the famous site of the rooftop helicopter, last one to leave a falling Saigon...It's more of a tourist attraction than these other places that I've eaten at, but still relatively cheap and good, but there are cheaper and better places.

Bun Thit - Vermicelli Rice Noodles with Pork and egg rolls
Bottled Water
Coconut ice cream
Wet Napkin (around 1000 D at most restaurants)
= around 70,000 = less than $3

DINNER!


At Saigon Cafe, right across from the house where I live.
Strawberry shake (34000) + Pasta with beef (37000) = 71000 = $4
(more expensive than these other places because it does not have as many customers).

**

Non food stuff pricing that I found out today:

woman's hair cut = 100,000 D
manicure = 25,000 D
notebook = 20,000 D
Flight to Australia (sign didn't say city) = $154
Flight to Hanoi = $45 (both through Vietnam Airlines) - it's cheaper to buy flights in Vietnam through an agency than to book online in the US due to taxes, etc
driver on motorbike rental for one week = 300,000 D = about $17
I was a guest speaker at the Medical School's English Club and they gave me 200,000

Food and services are very very cheap. Things like electronics, name brand clothes/accessories though are going to be around the same price as in the US. Still, you can get off-brand items for cheap, though the quality varies. I got one of those huge camping backpacks for $15 when I was in Hanoi in 2005. Not for camping (clearly) but to fit all the other things I bought...and it's still good!

Moral of the story: Asia is the place to travel and get your money's worth!!

Good Morning sunshine!

It's 7:04 am but I've been awake off and on for the past hour or so. I can already hear sounds on the road even though it's a Sunday morning. And it is still very hot...already feels like 91F according to weather.com

Okay time to wash up and go get some coffee!

Sat Apr 18: pics

Ready to ride, not forgetting the helmet of course! Did a lot of riding around today with Chuong, as he delivered things to friends. I bought some deodorant, 60000 D = about $3, when I am more comfortable I will bargain down, I'm sure I paid too much for this...because Chuong got an oil change for his xe om that a) cost only 65000 D and b) took less than 10 minutes. (exchange rate varies, but about 18,000 D = $1 USA)


Posted my pictures onto Picassa

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

[click to enter album]

here are some highlights:




Lunch at Khuc Ban Chieu: Chuong ordered steak and fries, I ordered Bread (banh mi) with pate, pork, egg. About 30,000 Dong each = less than $2.




"French-style bathroom" - sink (hiding in corner) with large mirror, toilet, and shower. No different compartment for the shower, so all of the water just runs into a drain that is right in front of it.

This is almost a luxury bathroom because it's large enough that other things stay dry (the towels, toilet paper, etc) because the water just flows down not out. Chuong's bathroom is very small and so when he showers, everything gets wet. Makes a difference!

So it's weird in US standards but it is actually very comfortable and nicer than the other private homes that I have seen and stayed at.

I can't believe I'm here...

After a full day of sitting on airplanes, I have made it to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam!!! Things have really changed here and it's incredible! I don't have pictures to load right now as I don't have the cable on me, but will load some up asap...as well as a video of the road traffic!

My first flight, United from Baltimore to San Fran, was horrible. One hour sitting on the plane at the gate to wait for papers, a maintenance man, and then a food cart (WTH?)...then a really bumpy ride...then sitting on the runway after landing to wait for another plane to leave our gate. People are freaking out because they have connections to make and start yelling, I'm sweating bullets because I have an international flight to check-in = craziness all around. Well I've just gotten an email that I will get $150 credit for my next ticket, nice!

I check into my international Asiana flight (San Fran - Seoul - Saigon) and the lady tell me that my carry-on luggage that I took on the domestic flight is too big for the flight. And checking in the bag means that it's my third bag (46 lbs, 42 lbs, and now 22 lbs) which would cost $110. Oh craaaaap. I tell her that I checked the online website for checked-in luggage restrictions but there were no carry-on restrictions, and that I just had this bag on a domestic flight. Well I think she saw the sweat from me running across the airport plus my utter anxiety and let me check my bag for free. Sweeeeeet!

So it was just me and my 26 lb backpack...the 2 international flights are fine. I watched a lot lot of movies (Yes Man, HSM3, Twilight (x2), 4 Christmases, Bedtime Stories), got a good "night's" worth of sleep, and had 3 square meals. And the international flight was 20 minutes early!

The international wing of the HCMC airport is very new and big, and so there are more lanes and less waiting. And people are wearing helmets now on the motorbikes! (Though not the kids, ironically, and generally no kids will be wearing them unless a law is passed). Cafes have internet, homes have wireless, there are internet phones that can call make international calls for very cheap - it's all very incredible. So it feels very different than my last visit 4 years ago.

I am living with a close family friend (we have no immediate family members in Vietnam) and it is a very nice, comfortable house. Chu Dung, my host, has a driver for his car (mainly to park the car) and a housekeeper, and he has also hired me a xe om (motorbike) driver to take me to and from school every day. Nice set up, indeed!! I have a room, my own bathroom, and wireless internet set up. I will post pictures later tonight...

Meanwhile I am sitting in a cafe now drinking cold tea and an orange juice. It's about 95F here, very very hot and I think I have already tanned from riding around all morning. I already have a mask that covers my nose and mouth to protect from the dust, and I will probably be buying some long gloves to protect my arms from the sun. 2.5 months of riding, I'll have plenty of time to tan and don't want to get too dark too fast!

So life here will be comfortable for the next few weeks, I just have to get used to the area and get to learning some Vietnamese!

Williaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam!!!

We went to Target today for last minute items and passing the checkout lanes, I saw "A Knight's Tale" for just 5 bucks. 5 bucks!!! I stood there and took it all in. I remember seeing in the theaters twice, buying it at first release, and then months later realizing that someone never returned it, and the loss that I felt. Standing in the store, I felt compelled to just buy them all there and then - start a "Knight's Tale" mad rush.



What a great movie. Totally worth more than $5 for that scene alone!!!

once a week...

in vietnam, i will eat pho and go to the spa! because i can and it will be wonderful!!

last US post?

11 pm EST (US) = 10 AM HCMC, Vietnam time

apparently it is mostly cloudy and feels like 101.
don't be too jealous though, the 10 day forecast reads like this:
"scattered thunderstorms"...times 10! =(

riding on a motorbike (xe om, see learning!) is no fun in the rain!!!!

flight leaves at 7 am!!! aiaiaiiiiii
but i am in San Francisco until 1pm so can still do some last minute things on the West Coast before Seoul--> Ho Chi Minh City!!!

rivals the phelps ad

awwww they are so cute! haha

Features NCAA Coaches Bobby Knight, Roy Williams, Rick Pitino and Mike Krzyzewski. And also Metallica...

3 days away!

So I leave for Vietnam on Thursday morning (yay!!) and have lots to do before then...packing, getting things settled on the US end (insurance, payments, etc), and making sure that I have things ready to go when I am away (Mother's Day cards, etc). Wow, lots of "thinking ahead"....I have yet to pack though, just did a ton of errands today to get READY for the packing.

First on my To Do List: return a pair of jeans at Nordstroms, which has a famously relaxed and generous return policy. I bought some jeans at Nordstroms about two years ago and also had them altered at the store. Nice & expensive. And Yes, a bit over two years ago. And then like all my other jeans, one of them got holes in the leg. But there is no Nordstroms in Philly so I waited awhile to take them back - and VOILA! They took them back, and I had a receipt to make the transaction super easy. Wow, it's my new favorite store.

So do I buy cheapo jeans that will wear out in a year? Or buy really nice jeans, wear them out, and then get a refund? WHOA. Now I've worked in retail and we'd always fight with people who were trying to return worn items. That's not the case here, I don't feel as if I'm cheating the system or stealing money because 1) that is their policy and 2) I'm buying all my jeans from there from now on.

They keep this policy because they somehow don't lose money off of it. Otherwise they'd have changed it long, long ago. AWESOME.

But then all that money I got back, I had to spend again (and then some!) on three months worth of medication at CVS. Sheeeeesh!!

Second on to do list: go through all the clothes that I brought from Philly and decide if I take to Vietnam or give away. It's going to be hot there but I want to dress a little more conservative over there, so am not going to be loading my suitcase with tank tops and such.


It's going to be 92 degrees when I get there!!! YAYAYAY!!!! =D

Okay off to create a hurricane mess on the whole lower level!!!

weekend in detroit

Visiting jdp's family is like going to my second home. No big plans have to be made, we just all hang out, have fun, and share each others company. It's always a fun time and I'm always sad to leave and eager to always plan the next get-together.

On this weekend's schedule was quizzo (first place, aiai!!), egg decorating, seeing JDP's friends, and catching up on movies and fun things.


Cooking with Jordaniel.

Jordan also drove me out to Ann Arbor, where we visited another friend at my rival school:

SCHOOL PRIDE!

hahaha! It was a great time, catching up and just hanging out!!

the hardest working woman in music

everything she does it amazing

whoa

I just realized that in the last three weeks I have been to the following states:

Pennsylvania
Nevada
Maryland
Virginia
DC (not a state as defined by the Constitution, but hopefully will have a vote soon!)
Michigan

I may have tried to cram too much into my schedule but I've lots of things to do and people to see!!

And I leave for Vietnam in less than 2 weeks!!

The Greatest Living American

is Stephen Colbert!!

Made an overnight trip up to NYC to see the March 30th episode of "The Colbert Report" with some friends.

Bus ticket to NYC: $35
Subway pass: $7
Coffee and snack while waiting in line: $4
Front row seats to Colbert Report: PRICELESS

No Joke. Divya and I got there a bit before 3 pm. Sydney and Brian got off work, rushed to the studio, near Columbus Circle, and we were let into the waiting room by 5:30. Security check included a bag search and metal detector. There were some pep talks, reminders, and then we were led into the studio - smaller than expected and therefore more intimate! Only 107 seats total!!

An opening comedian warmed us up with a few jokes, and then Stephen came out to do a rare thing in front of the audience: A live taped toss with Jon Stewart!!!! Then the comedian came back while apparently SC and Co finished the edits for the show...then SC came back out to answer questions "au naturale" and then on to the taping!! It was an intense 22 minutes of laughing, clapping, and trying to internalize and remember everything that was happening.

At the end of the taping, Stephen came by and shook the hands of the people in the front row. Yes, I shook the (incredibly soft) hands of Stephen Colbert; he said "Thank you so much for coming" and I replied, "Thank you!"...and then it was over..

Amazing!!!!!



Sydney is wearing a dress and she is right next to the staircase, Bryan sitting next to her. Across the staircase from her is Divya, and I am sitting next to her, with a woman crossing her legs next to me.

Yes we waited in line for a very long time but it was totally worth it to have the amazing seats of the taping and the handshake!!!!

March Madness!

While it's been a crazy tournament for men's and women's basketball, March is mad for each of us as well. I had a batch of finals, moved back to DC, and also traveled to Las Vegas and NYC.



Las Vegas is incredible. The first night in Las Vegas always overwhelms me, the extravagance of it all: money, sex, alcohol, food. They water everything multiple times a day to have the lush green lawns and plants. Ads for Chippendals or "Women Direct 2 U" mix in with the Sponge Bob Square Pants ride or a preview of a Magic Show.



My third time there, but I am in awe everything I step onto the Strip, walk into the Venetian or Bellagio, or witness scenery of the lights, mountains, and vast space that surrounds Las Vegas. Mom and I visited a few apartments and condos and I think I found a place to live next year, roommate TBD.



Just off the Strip, the area is close of the most beautiful natural scenery that I've ever seen. Lake Mead, Valley of Fire...and this time we made a trip out to Red Rock Canyon, home to impressive, snow-peaked mountains, hiking trails, and even pictographs and petroglyphs made by Native Americans.

It seems like this Las Vegas is full of surprises, and I look forward to exploring the city and the area for the next four years!