I'm on a 13-hour flight from San Francisco to Tokyo, connecting through Seoul, and I'm holding it. This is not because of lack of access - I'm sitting in the emergency exit row directly behind a bathroom - but rather to decrease the suspicion of the two other people in the emergency exit row with me, who have not gone to the restroom once yet in the first three hours of the trip. What's wrong with her? I imagine they'd think, their judging eyes trying to count just how many times so far. I imagine at this point they're starting to believe I'm smuggling mass quantities of hallucinogens out of the US, or that I have a small plant in my pocket that needs water every fifteen minutes. Or worse, I have some sort of bladder infection that makes them wonder about switching seats. I want to comfort them and tell them I'm just a normal kid who chugged two waterbottles before passing security, but I'm afraid I might burst in the process. (Talk about your emergency exits, am I right??)

My small bladder has always been a troubling affliction, particularly on long international plane trips and also on cross-country road trips. I spent the last week driving from Boston to San Francisco with my boyfriend CV, who just graduated and has a much greater stamina for holding it than yours truly, so you'd think I'd have picked up a little more endurance. Instead of that, I've picked up a few interesting observations about this country:

-It is a very long drive from Boston to San Francisco.

-At night, they light up the Niagara Fall with all the colors of the rainbow. This is so they can remind you that even though you are experiencing one of the most fantastic natural wonders of this world, things are still better in the technicolor world of Oz.

-The hottest part of our trip was, surprisingly, in upstate New York, on our first day of driving. The day that our air conditioner also broke down the most was, not surprisingly, in upstate New York, on our first day of driving.

-There's a place in Ashland, Ohio, called Grandpa's Cheesebarn. (One word.) It sells a variety of cheeses, meats, pickled garnishes, and a wide collection of John Deere memorabilia. Stop by if you're ever around, and say hi to the Amish kids selling baskets on the lawn for me.

-Eating at a Steak 'n Shake in Indiana as a minority is a lonely endeavor, save for the one Filipino guy working the grill. (He gave me a high five on the way out. In my head.)

-CV has a built-in coffee maker at his house. Right in between the microwave and the food warmer. I plan to propose this for the next renovations of Burton-Conner's kitchens.

-"The Grand Canyon may not be the longest or deepest or widest canyon in the world, but many people would agree it is the grandest.": A direct quote from a plaque at the Grand Canyon museum. Which leaves one wondering: who is many people? How did they get to be on this grand decision-making committee? What kinds of requirements are there for becoming a canyon with the "grand" denomination? Also, why is CV driving the car away from me?

-The boundaries for where sweet tea is acquirable: somewhere in Ohio to approximately New Mexico. Someone fact check this. It is probably about as accurate as stating "Out of all the canyons, the Grand Canyon is the grandest."

-Things that we only have in California: toilet seat covers, carpool lanes, special carpool lane privileges for hybrid cars, special parking spaces for hybrid cars, guaranteed acceptance to MIT if you drive a hybrid car. Just kidding on the last one. You also get a full scholarship.

I'll be spending my summer in Japan, so it was a good chance to fully immerse myself in American culture, eat as much diner food as possible, and see the great midwest. The MISTI program (MIT Science and Technology Initiative) is paying for my flights, housing, and general life in Tokyo, as well as lined up a sweet job for me working as a research technician at RIKEN Brain Science Institute, so I'm pretty excited to declog my arteries and eat a meal that doesn't come with fries. I'm also pretty excited to get totally and completely lost on the Japanese Railway, discover my four semesters of Japanese have not nearly prepared me for surviving a foreign country, and celebrate my 21st birthday in a country where the drinking age is 20. Summer 2K9, guys; it's gonna be a blast. AND I PROMISE TO BLOG IT! For realsies!

In the meanwhile, I'd love to answer any of your questions about junior year (most of which I did not blog), MISTI, where to stay for cheap if you're stopping through Kingman, Arizona, or who I am. Since I haven't blogged since approximately before the time most of you were born, I might need to reintroduce myself: I'm Jess, and I need to go to the bathroom. I'll see you from the other side of the international date line!

Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)

"First"

Posted by: Shiv on June 2, 2009

Oh and have fun in Tokyo!!!

Posted by: Shiv on June 2, 2009

"The Grand Canyon may not be the longest or deepest or widest canyon in the world, but many people would agree it is the grandest.": A direct quote from a plaque at the Grand Canyon museum. Which leaves one wondering: who is many people? How did they get to be on this grand decision-making committee? What kinds of requirements are there for becoming a canyon with the "grand" denomination? Also, why is CV driving the car away from me?"

-Woah, you're totally ready for the argument question in GRE.

Posted by: Little Peonies on June 2, 2009

"I'll be spending my summer in Japan...The MISTI program (MIT Science and Technology Initiative) is paying for my flights, housing, and general life in Tokyo... working as a research technician at RIKEN Brain Science Institute"

wow, you rawk.

"I'm also pretty excited to get totally and completely lost on the Japanese Railway"

learn the difference between shiteiseki and jiyuseki. it helps. :D

Posted by: Oasis '11 on June 2, 2009

Oh my...research technician @RIKEN Brain Science Institute!...That's really amazing..More than many people get out of their college careers.

Aside though, I must agree with LITTLE PEONIES...you really are ready for the argument question on the GRE..That will score top marks. Which leaves me really jealous...

Posted by: Little Boots on June 2, 2009

Ahem...you're now a SENIOR.

Posted by: Rosenthaal on June 2, 2009

"The boundaries for where sweet tea is acquirable: somewhere in Ohio to approximately New Mexico."
Haha, forgot pretty much every state south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Posted by: 0 on June 2, 2009

you all are lucky...studying in a good college...bored of this useless life where no one understands you...i wish i die. :(

Posted by: 0 on June 2, 2009

You can get Arizona Sweet Tea in PA, but that probably doesn't count for 2 reasons.

A) It says its from AZ in the name.

B) It's not legitimate Sweet Tea. Now in Alabama, they have FANTASTIC Sweet Tea. (Hi Marie!)

Posted by: JB '13 on June 2, 2009

Calling the Grand Canyon the grandest is like calling Niagara Falls the Niagarest.

Posted by: Chris on June 2, 2009

Yay, JKim is back! Excellent entry and have tons of fun in Japan!

Posted by: :D on June 2, 2009

OMG!!!
Hav FUN IN TOKYO!!!!!!!!
THATS #1 on my next "Places to Visit" list.
Make sure to visit Akihabara!!
lol.

And good luck with the internship to!

Posted by: TorffickA on June 2, 2009

that's hilarious
gluck

Posted by: 0 on June 3, 2009

I saw that you were going to work as a research technician at RIKEN Brain Science Institute. Was your major Brain and Cognitive sciences?? I'm really interested in neuroscience and was hoping to hear how the program at MIT is from a student.
Hope to hear from you soon.

Posted by: Sparky ('14?) on June 3, 2009

Ah! Don't forget to go on the NOZOMI Shinkansen if you can. It's amazing! :D

Posted by: yuki '12 on June 3, 2009

@Oasis: Haha yeah I already wasted 300 yen when I was taking JR instead of local. I tried to use it again later when I was taking local, but apparently it only worked for that specific line. BLERG.

@Rosenthaal: not. yet.

Posted by: Jess on June 3, 2009

Hybrids can drive in HOV lanes in the Northern Virginia/Greater Washington D.C. Area

Posted by: Arfa '13 on June 3, 2009

Awesomeness!!! I'll be in Japan for STeLA this summer. It's connected to the MISTI program, but it's a science/tech conference. LOL Can't wait.

Posted by: Judy '12 on June 3, 2009

Oh, and now you're officially a senior..

Posted by: Kate on June 3, 2009

Apparently frosh and seniors are conserved, but sophomores and juniors aren't - so, according to some upperclassmen, JKim's a junior until the seniors graduate...

Man, your summer sounds incredibly exciting :D

Posted by: Piper '12 on June 4, 2009

"The hottest part of our trip was, surprisingly, in upstate New York, on our first day of driving. The day that our air conditioner also broke down the most was, not surprisingly, in upstate New York, on our first day of driving."

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO UPSTATE NY!!!!!!!!


>>>where everything in the world goes to die.

Posted by: Cathy on June 4, 2009

actually, the coffee maker is to the right of both the food warmer and the microwave. =)

p.s. at grandpa's cheesebarn, go for the $5 cheesebag.

Posted by: cv on June 4, 2009

sick blog post. seriously, really enjoyed it.

Posted by: '13er on June 5, 2009

Yo, you're not online right now (SO I'M ALL MAD) so I'll just say this here - some Harvard undergrad from Mollie's lab is also working at RIKEN in Japan. Irony! I'm rikin that.

Posted by: Christina on June 7, 2009

WHERE'S THE PART WHERE YOU TRIED TO VISIT ME IN OHIO BUT I SUCKED???

WHERE'S THE PART WHERE YOU TRIED TO VISIT ME IN OHIO BUT I SUCKED???

<3,
B.

Posted by: Ben on June 9, 2009

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