some pictures from my trip

Well, I'm finally posting the pictures that I promised! I think the task of writing a post about each place I visited seemed a bit daunting (which is probably why I put this off for so long). So to try to simplify things for myself, I've decided to condense all my trip into one long post, attempting to stick to the highlights only(whatever that means...). I visited 4 states and 1 district on my trip, so I've tried to divide my post and photos accordingly...

Part I: California -- Long Beach

Joanna doing some serious work on her car. Actually, she's trying to find out where to add coolant.
Jo took me to Vanguard, where I saw some of her classrooms, and this, the counselling room where she and other students see patients. Here's a nice timer photo: that's her in the chair looking wise and counsellorish, and me lying on the couch with a box of tissues.

At Jo's house in Long Beach.
Can we help you?


Part II: Maryland

On my first day on the east coast, I took the train from DC to Baltimore, "the greatest city in America" (see below), to visit Laura, who I hadn't seen in 4 years!

Laura showed me around Baltimore, where she's been working towards her MDPhD at Johns Hopkins (!!) for the past four years. Here she is standing in front of a building which is supposed to be the Baltimore police station in a current police drama (the name of the show eludes me right now...). Anyway, it's not really a police station at all... but don't ask me what it really is.

Here's Laura on top of Federal Hill, a spot that affords an excellent view of the city (and incidentally, also happens to be where her husband, Aaron, proposed!).

Laura and Aaron in their apartment.



Here we are after a nice breakfast and right before parting ways. Laura headed to her lab, and I made my way to the train station.
On the train back to DC.

Part III: Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia

I came back from Baltimore and met Kristi at Dupont Circle for lunch. Then we walked to the Japanese embassy, where she works.
I spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the embassy area. It was a beautiful day, and I loved looking at all the interesting old town houses. I also saw a lot of flags that I didn't know -- it's time to brush up on my vexillology.
Dinner with Kristi, Tom, and Kristi's parents. Kristi's posing with a bottle of Coke Blak, a drink that we discussed at some length, but that I still don't understand... coffee and coke together?

Tom and Kristi at Kristi's new place. Great placemats!

Part IV: Southeastern Virginia -- Williamsburg

Ji and I took a weekend trip to the place that we spent four idillic years -- Williamsburg, VA! Our visit began in a very fitting way -- with a delicious lunch at the Cheese Shop. Sandwich, chips, and an ice-cold bottle of Cheer Wine (a cherry flavored soda I was pleasantly surprised to find for sale, because I'd heard it was only available in North Carolina. I'd wondererd about Cheer Wine for a long time, and was concerned that I'd never get a chance to try it. Now that I have tried it, I know that it tastes quite a bit like cherry-flavored cough syrup... but in the best way possible...).

After lunch, I enjoyed a scoop of Gold Medal Ribbon at Baskin-Robbins. It might not be visible, but there's a "Help Wanted" sign in the window. It was tempting...
Statue of Lord Bortetourte (sp?), an early governor of Virginia.

Ji and I in front of the Wren building, TOABSIU (The Oldest Academic Building Still In Use... but how many times did it burn down? I forget...).


Another view of the Wren Building. Just looking at this picture makes me want to break into song... "William and Mary, loved of old, hark upon the ... gale?... hear the thunder of our chorus, alma mater hail!"
Me and TJ. We both went to William and Mary, but only one of us actually graduated. I'll let you figure that one out...


Camping next to water, near Jamestown.

Mr Biscuit, resident of the Chickahominy House (restaurant and shop) in Williamsburg. We enjoyed a nice hearty pancake breakfast there after our night of roughing it in the tent.


Before we headed back north, we were able to soak up some rays at Colonial Beach. I came here a few times in college, but mainly for classes. I remember collecting specimens here for an invertebrate biology class... those were the days!
Part VI: DC... again

I took the Metro into DC one day while Ji was at work. I went to the National Gallery and the Museum of Natural History (great Lewis and Clark exhibit!), and just wandered around the Mall a little bit too. Here's a view of the Capitol.

Part VII: Oklahoma

Here are Ryan and I at the Cowboy Hall of Fame. This was actually in the "Kid's Corral," where, in the words of a very nice old lady, "adults often have more fun than the kids." We never really figured out what she meant by that, but obviously we were very enthused about warming our hands by this artificial camp fire.

Jazz flute (or maybe "blues flute" would be more accurate) at the Hillbilly Cafe. This guy was part of a band called "Big Daddy."


My meal at the Hillbilly cafe -- the best BBQ ever!
On a somber note, we visited the Oklahoma City bombing memorial.
A shot from the Chihuly glass exhibit at the OKC Museum of Art. This picture brings back painful memories because I took it while running through the exhibit right at closing. I think I could've easily spent hours in this exhibit alone. Well, maybe an hour... at least half an hour... it was really fascinating stuff


Lisa with the Trivial Pursuit DVD menu. Yay for the pop culture edition!

Lisa's dog, Joey, resting after a hard day.

Part IIX: Back to Northern Virginia (for a day!)

Newly-married Andy and Norma (my sophomore and junior-year roommate who I hadn't seen in 4 years!). Norma's now teaching 1st grade in Reston.

Roommates reunited.

A farewell dinner with Ji at Potbelly. Great sandwiches and an amazing vanilla malt! Is it just my imagination, or are a lot my captions (and photos) focused around food?


Part IX: Back to California

I noticed this license plate while waiting for my ride (Becky in her red Miata!!) at LAX. I thought it was very creative, and not surprisingly, the owner of the car was Chinese. (For anyone who might not be aware, the number 8 is very lucky in Chinese culture).
Lunch at In-N-Out with Athania, Chris and CR. Animal fries are crazy!

Steve at Biola. It was nice to finally see his school!

Here I am with Becky at her new place. On a meaningful side note, we took this picture at this angle because the boxes in the background are ones that I helped her pack almost a year ago. It was good to see them being unpacked, and familiar things decorating her lovely new home!

Athania and I with two kitties (I was going through cat-withdrawal...) at a special pet accessory store and bakery (yes, bakery) in Whittier.

Curtis and Cristy Rose at the farmers' market in Whittier, where we all had dinner one evening. I like this picture.

Furniture shopping with Chris and Athania at Ikea. The three of us were speechless when we got to the pick-up area of the store -- I think it was the largest room I've ever been in.


This is Steve and I with our cousin, Mike, who's studying at Talbot now. I was glad to get to introduce him to Chris, whose also doing a program there.

At Chris's surprise birthday party. Like our tasteful, well-executed decorations?
My last night in the US, with the Keddys and Bakers.

One more picture: this is a polaroid Curtis had that we took our senior year of highschool. Hard to believe that that was more than 8 years ago!
As you can see, it was a wonderful trip! It was great to reconnect with old friends, and to see for myself what everyone's been up to. Thanks to all who took time out to show me around, drive me places, entertain me, etc. -- you made it truly enjoyable!

The end.