sado island

Hi all. I can't wait to get to boston, rachie! Me and Romain still have to move in (obtain and somehow transport furniture?) and find that pesky third roommate (heh..) but then we'll be sailing the golden seas, or something. i just got back from a lab trip to sado island, which is a bit north of here, on the other side of japan (west siiiiiiide) and full of beautiful lagoons and jungle gyms of artificial rocks on the coastline. with vending machines that pop out any icy cold drink imaginable and rice balls at every convenience store and people handing you free fans on the street to combat the wicked heat. i lit some pretty sweet little fireworks (hanabi), we checked out some cool conservation habitats for the locally extirpated in japan but then imported from china Crested Ibis, and some rice paddies, but we mostly just swam in the ocean. i am still the only woman i have ever seen in japan in a bikini. everyone else was in a full on outfit (like in the 1800s). i saw a few women in one-pieces. modesty sucks, and while i sort of felt like a ho, i also felt like samantha from Sex and the City 2, when she takes on religious fundamentalism by screaming "I am a woman, I have SEX!" I never saw this movie, nor will I ever, but this review is possibly the funniest thing I have ever read, so please have a look: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/burkas-and-birkins/Content?oid=4132715
hugs and kisses from across the ocean xoxoxo