Yellow legal pad lined paper
Dear Mom,
I got my jacket – thanks. Even though I knew a black jacket was essential to a wardrobe in CA, I didn’t know it would be for Saipan as well. The eternal night time attire. My black pumps are shot – another favor please? This one is harder but I need another pair of black pumps. Please? Thanks.
The rain was driving us crazy so the women went on the town Sunday night. We were quite a sight – all white, and dressed in our finest hair and makeup – a very rare sight. We had Japanese food where we sat on the floor and drank sake. They had a fish tank filled with fish that you could pick for your sushi – on the way out, one jumped out of the tank onto the floor – talk about suicidal fish! We went to a bar and ordered drinks, and then the manager brought us 2 bottles of champagne. He wasn’t dumb. It’s good for business to keep women in there, then men will hang out, drink and watch. We tried to get into a new disco but the $10 cover for a local female was high. We went to the Hyatt (owned by a Japanese company) to their night club. We all danced together. It was fun.
I think I’ve been injured most out of all of the clubmates. Last Monday the waves were huge because we had a typhoon off the coast. I had never been so close to waves so big. They were breaking up the cliff and were still 40 feet above us. That’s when one knocked me off my feet and dragged me across the coral rock for a good distance. My hands (palms) are cut up, my thigh has a 4×4 bruise, is swollen and cut up, my knee is the same as the thigh. I think I have a bone bruise on my shin. It’ll be a few days until I’m normal. The entertainment coordinator said if I injure myself again, she’s going to take me out of the shows. Unfortunately my back started hurting again too.
The articles were good. Surprised to hear about BF Skinner dying. All the famous psychologists are dying and there’s few big/new names establishing themselves.
Saipan is only a ⅗ hour plane ride from Japan. That’s about the same distance as from LA to Chicago. If you could take a 3.5 hour plane trip to paradise, wouldn’t you? It’s equivalent to going to the Caribbean. For the Australians, it’s a long trip…they usually stay 7-10 days whereas the Japanese stay 3-4 days. The Australians who come here are “tired” of Fiji for vacations and want to try something different. I don’t know how I’m going to survive freeways and smog ever again.
The 10-year reunion stuff was good but weird to get. I was surprised by some of the people they couldn’t find. In writing what I’ve done the past 10 years: I got my BA from UCR, my MS from SJSU, worked on my license and am now an MFCC. Travel wise, I’ve traveled the country several times by plane, 2x by car and one of those by myself. To cap off the 10 years, I left civilization, went to a resort in the Pacific and am working recreation. Not a bad 10 years.
The food at PIC day in and out could be described as abundant. It’s probably a lot like your cruise (except the wine sucks.) It’s buffet style. Breakfast has hot American food, and Japanese cold miso, a fruit buffet, cold cereal, and several kinds of bread. Lunch is the best with sushi, salads, fruit, hot dood, taco bar, sandwiches, and desserts. Dinners are themes according to the night. The best are Italian and Mexican. Even at these meals, rice is served. At breakfast, clubmates can eat together since many are hungover (I’m just my usual morning self) and wouldn’t be too good with guests but at lunch and dinner, there are only 2 clubmates per table to promote interaction with the guests. We have a dress code after 7pm and we have to wear collars (although the women can get away without them) and closed shoes (again women can get away with nice sandals we haven’t worn in the day time.) If you’re in a show, you arrive at 7pm, have time to get into costume, eat in costume, then set the props or do last minute rehearsing for the 8:45 show. We have to go out into the dining area, buoy bar, and game room to “recruit” for the show – gotta fill up the audience. Sometimes we’re scheduled for an extra hour after the show to dance with the guests and do karaoke (there’s a video with the words written on the bottom, music with no words so you sign to the music.) So we’re basically paid to keep people in the tether and to keep the party going. Since most of us were greek and are extroverts, it’s no problem.
I want my body to heal because I want to exercise again. I feel icky as well as in pain.
Got a letter from M*** – he and Linda moved to Pacific Grove (near Monterey), S**** is fine being my friend and might go to Eastern Europe. I finally got my package Diane sent on June 20th. Although I now have an AT&T Universal Card, it doesn’t work from Saipan. Sigh. Didn’t go to Tinian to dive due to the typhoon. Maybe later. Love.
