Part Two -- Packing for Roanoke

When packing for Roanoke, I made a TON of lists, but here are the simplified ones. I had decided very earlier on that I didn't want to run through the airport with a carry on, due to the sheer hassle -- and my ankle, and I stand by this choice. The $25 each way was 100% worth it.

First, I had my list of what I would wear for the airport. I did a pretty good job of this, if I do say so myself.

I wore:

• Black boots (rainproof, for Roanoke).
• Soft pants 
• My MIT mystery hunt shirt 
• Bra 
• Underwear
• Jacket (around my waist)
• Trench Coat
• I decided against my tiny bag from the last trip, and it worked out well. 

The only problem I ran into with this set up was that I had to POWER WALK through Charlotte and as a result, when I arrived in Roanoke, my clothes were soaked with sweat. I had to change my clothes, wash my hair, and shower, before I could do anything. Luckily, I had brought a spare dress. 

I also never wound up wearing the sweatshirt. 

I also initially wished I had brought flats. But, as the rains continued, I realized I was quite fine without them. 

Second, I had a list of stuff I wanted to go in my personal items backpack, which is pink and giant, with perfectly placed pockets. I've repaired it numerous times, but it's still my #1 choice for an airport bag, especially since my only regret from my trip up to Mills was that I had a bag that didn't close! 

In my pink backpack, I had: 

• Notebooks (3. A sketchbook, Fancy Notebook, and Plain Notebook). Of them, I used one, once, for poetry. But I was glad I had them all. 
• Books. I packed 6. I read 2. Next time, I'll try to stick with the 5 that I told myself I'd bring, especially since I only finished one, Candymakers and only read a few pages of the other: Everless. I packed: Everless, Chasing Vermeer, The Gods Themselves, Candymakers, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and City of Saints and Thieves. 
• Boarding Pass
• ID 

I always try to keep this where I can reach them, for fast access

• Wallet. Includes backup ID (I have a State ID and a Driver's Licence), Debit Card (of which I've notified my bank that I'm traveling), backup credit cards, just in case, cash, just in case, and anything else I might need. 
• Pens. I brought an entire case full, plus colored pencils. I used one pen. It's how it goes sometimes. 
• Snacks. 4 Luna Bars each way, and goldfish on the way over and cheese its on the way back. They held me over. This was something I did well. 
• Headphones. Always a must. 
• Phone 
• Charger. 
• Toothbrush
• Toothbrush cap
• Toothpaste (mini)
• Mini deodorant 
• Plastic bags for the toiletries, electronics, and (a new rule) food. I got my Goldfish swabbed on the way over, I'm not sure if it was because they weren't in a bag or if the scanners were giving them a hard time. My pens also caused trouble. 
•  I also kept a small bag with my earplugs and sleep mask. These came in very handy this time indeed. 
• Chapstick times 3. My lips get so easily dried out! 
• Soft headbands
• Hair ties. 
• Hollins ID, just in case.

I also may have had other items, that I have since unpacked, but this is a fairly close list. I did not bring jewelry because it is a hassle, and I don't want to lose it, but I did miss it. 

For my suitcase, a rather ordinary looking purple bag but with a new pink tag, I packed the following items. Here is where I really began to go wrong.

For starters, I packed neither raincoat or umbrella. Big mistake. Big Rookie Mistake, because I failed to check the weather and it rained almost every day I was there.

I also had no cosmetics bag, which meant they all cuddled together in my laundry bag, which meant, you guessed it, no laundry bag for my dirty laundry.

I also wished I had a pair of flats the first day, and I think in future I'll always bring flats just in case.

But here's what I did pack.

• Two towels. Not a bad idea, but my hostess already had them. I could have saved valuable space by simply asking ahead what was available on hand. 
• Two wash clothes. Admittedly, even though my hostess had these, I liked having my own. 10/10 would pack again. That said, it was awkward to ask to dry them and it was tricky to remember I had them on hand. 
• Neosporin. I was super glad I had this. 
• Bandages. Not only did I use them, but one of my hostess's friends did too. Always good to keep these on hand. 
• Small Purse. Not to be confused with my tiny bag. This one can fit my wallet, phone, and headset well. It's always good to bring a spare bag (one that not all your stuff is in!) on trips. I was super glad to have this one with me, but I wish I had a bigger one that could bring a book! That's one of my biggest regrets! 
• Nail clippers. I HATE my nails long, and whenever I've forgotten these (which is often) I get very angry at myself. 
• Benadryl + other anti inch cream. I didn't use it this time, but going on a trip without this is just foolish. 
• Q-Tips. Don't leave home without them. 
• Razor. ALWAYS, if it's a trip longer than two or three days. 
• Laundry Bag (for dirty clothes) 
• Plastic bag for some of the smaller items, to make sure they don't open and spill. 
• Beat up shorts. We didn't go hiking or anything, but it's always a good thing to have on hand. 
• Shirt to go with it. 
• Bras - 3 plus a sports bra. One for every two days. 
• Pants. This was in case I needed long pants for hiking. Not a bad idea, but I think in future I'd like to invest in those two in one transforming pant/shorts things. 
• Grey Sweater. I love this sweater and nearly live in it. This trip was no exception. 
• PJs, one pair. I thought that would be good, but I wish I had brought more. I had to borrow from my hostess. 
• Swim suit. Didn't use it. Was glad I brought it just in case. You should always pack a swim suit just in case. :) 
• 5 regular dresses. I regretted this so much. They were all too short and impractical. I really wished I had something different 4/6 of the days. 
• One Fancy Dress for graduation. My dress wasn't fancy enough. And I had no makeup or jewelry. I didn't think it would bother me, but it did. 
• Shampoo
• Conditioner. These were worth their weight in gold, especially the first night when I'd run through the airport. I taped them both shut, put them in their own little bag, and it was perfect! 
• Soap and soap holder. I am so glad I got the holder. Otherwise, as per usual, it would have been misery. A very good investment indeed. But it still got its own little bag. No regrets. 
• Face Masks. Also worth their weight in gold, I used two out of the three I brought and it stopped my face from seriously breaking out. 
• Ibuprofen. Never leave on a trip without it. 
• Dental Floss. Same. 
• Lotion (must have)
• Face Wash (kept my face from hating me)
• Birth control. I take it for my presumed Endo (only one way to diagnose it - surgery - but 9/10 odds are I have it) and in this case, I used it to skip my period for this trip! It was a SUPER move but you obviously have to check with your doctor first. 
• Hairbrush. 
• I also brought stuff for PB and J but I think in future, I'll just buy stuff there. It really wasn't too hard and I didn't wind up using it until I came back. That said, it made me happy to know I had stuff I could eat. Still. I wouldn't want to do this again. Instead, I would want to pack oatmeal, which carries and holds extremely well.

I'm sure there's other stuff that I'm missing, but that's all I can remember for now. 

Hope that's been helpful! 

Oh -- and some last words. I created a "pack later list" that was very helpful. It included: Driver's License, Boarding Pass, Wallet, Hairbrush, Birth Control, Razor, Lotion, Pens, Headphones, and Phone and Charger. 

Happy Traveling!

~ Emery 

Comparing and Contrasting airlines

This is a brief post that's spent years in the waiting.

The following are some of my thoughts on which airlines to take -- and which airlines I wouldn't fly with again, even if they paid ME.

(I am 100 percent serious)

So here, without further ado, are the airlines I've flown, from the ones I like the best, to the ones I can't stand.

Domestic Airlines

First up -- my absolute fave. Delta. If you can afford them, by all means, take them. They are the single ONLY airline that doesn't make me crazy. They leave on time, offer all the creature comforts, and even manage food that isn't completely inedible. But for me, the biggest factor is that they keep their word. They don't push back or cancel their flights, they don't make you check luggage they promised you could carry on, they ARRIVE on TIME. I cannot overstate how important this is. If you have one job -- carry passengers from one place to another in a safe and timely manner -- you really need to do it, and Delta does it. This is why they are my number one. However, them actually doing their job well has a steep price, which usually comes in at several hundred dollars more than other airlines. OUCH!

Second up -- Spirit Airlines. Let me preface this by saying I would not use them EVER on a long flight. But for a short flight, and for the cheap price they offer? I will absolutely be using them again. They are comparable to a regular airline in terms of what they offer, different only in that they actually charge what they are worth, and make life easier for everyone by making you pay for what you use. They way I see it, you are getting what you paid for, which is very little, and that is fine with me. They were about 40 minutes late on their flight, which is impressive, considering we weren't going anywhere with weird weather conditions, but I've paid triple the cost and have had flights be three hours late or more, so I don't hold this against them too much. Will definitely be flying with them again.

Third -- American Airlines. I always phrase it like this -- they're OKAY. They're not good, they're not bad, they're okay. They will get you where you're going at a reasonable price.
They may make you want to tear your hair out, especially on longer flights, where they don't seem to understand how baggage works, or people work, or flying works, as there is always a delay, and always something about an overbooked flight, but unlike an airline that will be mentioned further down, they don't boot their passengers. They boot the excessive carry ons. And their delays, while incredible irritating, do seem to have good reason, and don't exceed an hour. They also seem to be willing to work with the passengers if a missed connection is their fault. That said, the flights have 0 in flight entertainment, and not nearly enough leg room, and are delayed enough where there is fear of missing one's connection. I had to POWER WALK (I can't run because of my ankle) through the Charlotte airport (one of the literal worst for a short connection) and got their with 20 minutes to spare before boarding, (I had originally booked an hour and a half connection. They shortened it to 40 minutes, without giving me an option to reject this, and then were LATE on top of it) and then found out my flight was delayed. First it wasn't. Then it was 5 minutes. Then twenty. Then a whole hour. I was not pleased, but at least it was because of the weather, unlike delays I could talk about later. But I got there. They didn't lose my luggage. I didn't have to spend an arm and a leg. And so, American is OK.

US Airways and UNITED. I am putting them together because I hate them both with a fiery passion of my soul. I will never fly with either of these airlines again. They put me through hell, and honestly, I get them mixed up, so in my mind, they are one and the same. My favorite example was when they were incredible late, so late that I missed my connecting flight and I had to BEG the counter lady to put me on another flight -- which proceeded to be nearly 4 hours late, when the flight itself was only an hour. They also routinely booted passengers without care from their flights, when they (always) overbooked.

They also made stops that made no sense. They would take a route that went in a circle, then double back. They would have insane layovers, either 50 minutes -- which is impossible or 4 or 5 hours. They had no inflight entertainment, insanely long flights, that made no sense, and issues with timelines. I would talk on, but it's been 4 years since I flew with United, and I will never ever ever do so again.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

International Flights are in general, far superior than domestic. That's just the way it is. It's been a long time since I've flown international, but from memory, here are the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

LAN PERU. Possibly my absolute favorite international airline. I love them dearly. Huge planes, logical route, amazing in flight entertainment, good food, blankets -- I could go on. But they are a super airline. But, to be fair, I haven't flown with them (because I haven't been down that way) since 2010, so things may have changed. I don't know. 

Air New Zealand. 

I don't remember when I flew with them. I just remembered that they were good. 

Air France 

I remember that they were solidly good. I don't, honestly remember if I flew up with them or Delta, but the airport ladies were kind to me, and the flights in both cases were nice, though I remember thinking I preferred the Air France Flight over Delta, so take that as you will. 

British Airways 

They were fine. I honestly have very little memory of them. 

Delta/American

I've flown both internationally, and all I have to say is, don't do it. The international airlines are so much better, why would you put yourself through all that pain???

And that's all for now folks! Hopefully more to come soon! 

~ Emery 

Packing, Mills and Roanoke, what I did wrong and what I did right. Part One, Mills

First off, let me just say that I'm not feeling too well, so I apologize if this post sounds a little loopy. Planes, plus travel, plus stress and time zone differences and lack of sleep wreck absolute havoc on my body. But on we go.

Here, I want to compare two trips that I packed for -- one where I had everything I needed, and the other one where I wanted to shove my head in my suitcase and not come out again.

The first trip was to Oakland, CA, about an hour flight away from where I live. I had decided to take Spirit Airlines, to try and save some money, and knew that if I overpacked, they were going to add on some insane fees. So, I underpacked. Rather than take a backpack, I actually took a small purse, that fell several inches under their tiny guidelines. You could call it a handbag, really. I was only going for a little over 24 hours, so I figured I could afford to travel light. I was right. It was the best bag I ever packed, and I flew through security. It felt amazing not to be tied down.

Here's what I packed.

Boarding Pass, printed out, just in case.
ID

I kept these in the pocket of my Trench Coat.
Around my waist was my favorite Sweatshirt.
I also carried a small traveler's bag with Chapstick in it, and my phone, after I'd gone through security. Actually, of all the things I wound up bringing, this was my least favorite. I had forgotten that it was missing a button, and so all of my things kept trying to fall out. I wound up moving them to my trench coat pocket instead.

I had been unsure of the sleeping situation when I got to my friend's dorm, so I had packed the trench coat and the sweatshirt as a 'in a pinch' blanket and pillow, for sleeping on the hardwood floor. Luckily, I didn't have to use them, as my friend very kindly gave up her bed for me, and made herself a blanket bed on the floor. She wouldn't move no matter how I begged her, so I gave up and borrowed her bed.

It was comfy.

I wound up using the trench coat as I was out and about as it was so lightweight and I appropriated the pockets. It also stopped me from getting as sunburned as I could have, as I sat in the California heat at Mills and rotated the burning (putting the jacket on) and the heat (taking the jacket off). Moral of the story: Trench Coats are fab.

But onwards.

I packed my wallet, of course, as well as my phone, charger, and headphones, all in one bag.

In the last minute, I threw in some Luna Bars and my birth control, which I take due to my likely Endo.

I figured I could just wait until Saturday evening to take it, but decided it was better to do it in the morning so I wouldn't forget.

I had no regrets for either of my last minute items.

In a makeup bag, I put these Luna Bars, the BC, 3 Chapsticks, a hair band, a sleepmask, and ear plugs. I didn't use the latter two, but it's always good to have them, just in case!

I had my toothbrush, plus it's cap, and some travel sized toothpaste and deodorant, which I put in a plastic bag together.

I hadn't tried the travel sized deodorant before, and frankly, no one needs to because the regular one is under 3 oz, but I was glad I had it. It saved me from last minute grabbing my regular deodorant, so I had more things packed. Same with the toothbrush and paste. 10/10 would do again.

In the makeup bag, I also put a small comb, since a brush wouldn't fit. Also a good choice.

The bulk of the bag was filled with a fancy dress for the graduation, which was rolled with its bra and underwear.

I decided I would sleep in my clothes that night to save space. I dressed in comfy pants, a comfy shirt, and flats. It worked very well.

Lastly, I packed my friend's grad gift, a necklace, into the bag and put a hair band around it to keep it from opening in the flight.

The only thing I wished I'd brought was a small book. It would have totally fit, and the time before my flight took off was boring. But, you live and you learn.

And that's it!

My master packing list for a super short trip!

Until part two --

~ Emery 

Top Ten Reasons to Date a Girl Who Travels

1. She will keep her sh** together.

You can't catch airplanes, buses, and trains, and not know how to keep the time.

2. But she's also going to be incredibly flexible and spontaneous.

When traveling, things will always come up, and you'll have to bend your plan. You'll also have days when it will just be the perfect day to do something that wasn't on your schedule -- you'll take an unplanned trip or have a great conversation with a stranger.

3.She has a love of life.

 If you travel, you love people and the world, and you always want to see more, breathe more, and experience ever bit that life has to offer.

4. She knows where she's going next.

Travelers always have a plan, and they always know what countries or places they want to go next, naturally, this seeps into their home life too.

5. She's independent.

Especially if she's ever traveled alone.

6. And adaptable.

When you are in a different culture, you *blend*. End of story. This is a pretty useful life skill.

7. She has a great love of home.

It was Jodi Picoult who said that: 'Maybe you had to leave in order to really miss a place; maybe you had to travel to figure out how beloved your starting point was.' For most travelers, the only thing they like more than seeing new things, is being reminded of all the beloved things at home. 

8. She is curious.

She wants to know you -- and the world. And she wants to learn and learn and learn. 

9. She keeps an open mind.

 You can never have expectations when you travel, because they'll always be changed. And the best adventures and stories are the ones you never saw coming.

10. She'll take you with her.

The only thing better than traveling alone (because there is a lot to be said for that) is traveling with someone you love.

Quick update

Hey all,

Sorry for the delay in updating -- I got quite sick and then quite busy.
I'm still pretty busy, so this update will be a quick one. I thought that instead of a traditional blog post, I would give you guys this list that I made while in Tintagel (posted in a second post).

Normal content will resume next week.

Best,
~ Emery

Jamaica Day 3 part 2

Hey guys! Here's part two! Hope you enjoy!


After this, we came to our next stop -- the rainforest! After lots of piddling around we took a tour thing that felt like a ride at Disneyland. 

 Tram Ride. That's what I'm thinking of! I am so tired right now. Cramps plus serious exertion has left me dry! 

Commentary: at the beginning of the trip, everything really did feel Disneyland-esc. There were a lot of lines, a gift shop, a tram, and everything just felt really polished and commercial. And then, we got further into the rain forest, and it felt more authentic then. Still. It was nothing like Peru and how wild it felt there. Sometimes, after all these travels, I can't help but wonder if the Amazon is one of the last wild places on earth, or if I'm simply not traveling off the beaten path enough. I think the later, possibly. After all, Hollins takes the safety of its students very seriously. 

Anyways. Tram ride was fun. But dusty! Then we got into the gift shop and sorta looked around. Honestly I was too busy following Jeri to make sure I didn't miss the zipline and it was just so easy to get separated. [. . .] Then, after lots of to and fro, talking and changing money, we got to ziplining!!  

Commentary: 

I was brave -- or dumb -- enough to bring my phone with me and take pictures and videos (though not while on the zip itself) so here are some below. I didn't get any of myself though, so all those with me in them were thanks to Jeri (and one I bought). 

You go a lot fast than you expect! And you bounce! 

Coming down the zipline course!

The guys (sorry Jeri) [on staff] were really cute. Thought as G put it, they were flirting with *all* of *us!*

Commentary: Jeri made it very clear that she didn't want to hear about how cute or hot or sexy any of the guys were, but I had to note it here. 

They were super professional and funny too! I felt totally at ease. 

It was nerve-wracking even for me though -- and I made myself put on a brave front -- I went first. I knew otherwise I might chicken out - and I had already put my contacts on (in my sand-filled eyes. Ouch!). But my stomach was filled with butterflies and my breath was shallow. And we kept getting higher and higher! We could see pools (of water) and people faaar below us. And there were wooden steps and platforms. I felt like I was in a dream, one where things would crash down! And then we were there. The guy (Maro?) went first. He went a lot slower than I expected. I felt a little better. Then it was my turn. I faked bravado: some of it real -- I do like heights and wanted to zipline -- and went for it. Dimly I heard G say, 'If Emery can do it, we can.' Still not sure if it was an insult or a compliment. I choose compliment. Anyways. I whizzed over the ponds and heard people below cheering for me. I loved that. And ziplining was fun. Though not as exciting as I imagined. Too slow. The second one was funner -- we constantly went from platform to platform (about 7 times) -- because the guy bounced the line. The third time was cool too though. It was super long and over everything. Loved that! Super high and looking down was awesome -- that blue water! -- the rest was straightforward and we were all hot when we were done, so after tipping the guys, we went swimming! It was so beautiful! I almost wished we'd just stayed and hung out! So much water! R and I walked together and I couldn't help but be amazed at how surreal it all felt! She agreed. 

Commentary: It still feels surreal, even now. Memories from abroad are strange like that. There's a certain disbelief of "that was me???" 

And then, we jumped in the water -- freezing to the other girls, cool to me --

Commentary: Most of them were east coast girls, and I'm told the water is much warmer there. I have the icy waters of the Kern and the California Beaches in my blood though, for good or ill. And I have a little brother, and we've always played "I'm not cold, are you cold?" game when getting in freezing water. 

and swam into a mini cave and under a waterfall. 

M jumped off a rope into the water even! It was so picturesque! But at that point, I was exhausted so I opted out of the swimming at that point. 

R and I walked back. The rest was a little crazy as I darted around searching for photos both one of me ziplining and photos in general, of which I had [. . .] none. I achieved both, though I made people wait on accident. I was happy about [the photos]. 

Commentary: 

Here are some of my hard earned photos, for your viewing pleasure. 

It is *so* late here (10) and it is raining -- tin roof. Sounds like hail (or feet) and I am dead tired, so here's what I'll write about tomorrow. 

-- Bus/Snacks

-- Lunch and Boat Ride (4 PM)

-- Bus

-- Dinner

(Return with Allrivra (?))

Chating.

But for now, must sleep! 

~ Emery 

Hey guys! Thanks for reading! I'm trying to update every Tuesday, so check back then! I know there wasn't a lot of commentary this week, but I felt like the journal and pictures spoke for themselves and I didn't want to ruin the flow. 

Don't agree? Leave me a comment and let me know what you'd like me to write about. :) 

See you Tuesday! 

~ Emery  

   

Jamaica Day 3

Jamaica Day Three

This blog entry will follow the adventures chronicled in the Jamaica Journal, with photos and commentary added for clarity and extra details. 

Journal has been edited for clarity.

03-20-16

[. . .]
Anyways, onto Jamaica stuff. 
I'm finally starting to feel like I'm getting the hang of it and starting to notice stuff -- not just in myself: like how addicted I was to technology -- but also things about how poverty works. (For example) stuff like Netflixs* that I have such easy access to, is hard to get here. 

*Or a library

Commentary: I know it's a weird example, but if you think about how luxury items and the entertainment industry shape the American reality it's not as bizarre. Also, since there was no wifi accessible to us -- I learned later that Miss H's  son-in-law or something had installed it, but she wasn't sure how it worked -- it was one of the things that popped into my head the easiest. Without internet, how you spend your free time really does look tremendously different and I think - as much as I love the internet - that it does damage personal relationships. Without the internet, you're forced to spend time with those around you for entertainment, which fosters connection and understanding. With it, while connections to people and news far away is at your fingertips, which I think is good, you become far too stuck in this endless blackhole and you miss everything around you. It's a shame in a lot of ways, really.

Also how we really overuse water. Like, it's just not necessary. And (...) water is def. an issue! I'm starting to feel like myself again. Both the activist side of my myself and adventurous side.

Commentary: One of the major changes I've experienced from studying abroad is a significantly increased interest in politics and international studies. I've additionally become much more interested in issues such as resource management, global hunger and thirst, and human rights throughout the world. I think it's critical that we acknowledge the vast differences and values that each culture has, for good and bad (how we react to issues is much more cultural that we realize), But it's also equally, if not more important, to recognize that each person is an individual, and just like our society, just like everywhere, there are good and bad people. And they are themselves and themselves alone.

And I'm letting go of a lot of anxiety. But there's still a lot to work through and I'm starting to realize how many issues I bring to the table*. Just can't believe it took me so long to adjust. But the day didn't start feeling that way at all! 

*As opposed to the issues being everyone else's. 

Commentary: The journal entries were written in the evenings after the day, of course.

We wound up having to get up earlier than the alarm because Miss H didn't want food getting cold. C woke me up and I basically -- no, I did -- bit her head off

Commentary: I'm so sorry C! I was really really tired! But it's a running joke now, so . . . it works? But the thing you start realizing when you travel is that food, sleep, and bathroom can make or break a trip. Lack any of those, and the stress of getting everything perfectly (catching your plane on time, asking for a sandwich in understandable French, being on time to your class, going through your entire lesson plan, remembering to bring your swimsuit or metro card) will get to you and sooner or later, you're going to meltdown. The best cure for this is prevention, obviously, but that's basically impossible, so the next best thing is to know your signs and know when you're getting close to that point. Or experiencing culture shock, which is more real that you can ever imagine (more on that in a separate post).

and I wasn't a fan of breakfast. But mostly because my stomach hates me in the morning. But honestly, I don't want to talk about how much of a brat I was anymore. 

Commentary: Jamaican food was definitely very different from what I was used to. It was very fresh and very unusual. My host mom was a pretty good cook (and an amazing baker) but I often forget that I am *VERY* picky with food, which is a trait I really don't like about myself.

 After food we went and waited for the bus with the other girls in HG (our part of town).There were dogs and a lot of goats. It was both fun and funny. 

Commentary:
In case you don't believe me, here's a both picture and video of the numerous goats.

T (normally very quiet, smart, and sweet) made the following statement about goats, as we watched them go by.
T: What do you call a bunch of goats? (silence) Curry.
None of us expected that from her. At all. We laughed for days.

We got on the bus. It was a long drive, full of twists and turns. Thankfully I didn't get sick. But I didn't have to stare ahead a few times. After driving through many things -- including sugarcane! -- we stopped for a break.

Here are some of the pictures (plus a video) of the scenery.

Next, we happened upon the sugarcane fields. Some were high, startlingly so

 And then, we got to see where the sugarcane had been harvested as well.

And here was an old sugarcane factory.

  

Commentary: Sugarcane is one of the main crops in Jamaica, but it is not without its troubles. Not only is sugarcane notoriously invasive, but it's also incredibly hard to harvest, one of the most difficult and backbreaking crops, in fact. But oh man, is it good . . . 

Here are some final pictures of the way up there:

And [we stopped for] a swim. Even though at first I didn't want to due to my legs hurting (they did so all day), I decided I would regret it if I didn't, and (after a quick change) dove in. It was marvelous and I don't regret it one bit. Plus, Jeri looked like a seal or a mermaid. She was so happy! And the water was sooo blue! 

We hopped back in the car soon enough though and drove some more -- often seeing the oceanside. It was really pretty! 

Commentary:

The water in Jamaica is really warm comparatively to the water in the Pacific -- though not as warm as the Atlantic, apparently-- and it has less waves, so it's really easy to float. This beach was pretty perfect. It's funny how when you're traveling there are these perfect moments that you remember forever, but you isolate them from the context they were originally in. You don't remember the pain, or discomfort, or agony over choices, you just remember the moments in of themselves. Not that there was agony here, but there was plenty of indecision as I went back and forth trying to decide if it was worth it to go in the water or not.

Hey Guys! Emery here! The day didn't end here, but for the sake of post length, I've decided to put the rest of the day's content into another (maybe two, depending) post, and so ends this particular one. As always, thanks for reading and have a wonderful day! I hope you've enjoyed reading! Best!

~ Emery