Spring 2015 - Day 33

I was so tired all day. So, so tired. 

 

I woke up at 8am so that I could go down to the clinic and get more malaria meds. They were 10.50 a pill and I needed 13 of them. Ouch. 

 

But Dr. Jeff gave me a high five for figuring it out on my own and knowing exactly what I needed. 

 

Then I took a nap. 

 

Then I went to lunch, which was amazing because there were tiny sandwiches and I am a fan of tiny sandwiches. 

 

Then I took another nap. 

 

Then I went to class. We did a cool collage project where we were given a red piece of paper and a white piece of paper. The red represented China and the white whichever place you call home. We had to use the papers to compare and contrast the places. There was a lot about dirty vs. clean and organization vs. disorganization. 

 

Then I went to the store and bought a large journal. 

 

Then I got crafty and glued all of the tickets and brochures that I collected in Japan and China in the journal. I watched Contagion while I did this, good movie, I recommend it. 

 

Then I went and got a cup of noodles. 

 

Then I went to the Explorers Seminar, which was amazing. Two of the professors are Vietnam vets and spoke about their experiences. 

 

The first speaker, Phil Colby, did many things during the war including helping process refugees coming off the planes at the end of the war. He experiences extreme hostility back in the states when the war ended. 

 

The second spent almost his entire time off the coast of Vietnam and in Japan. He had a much different experience but experienced the same feelings when he returned. 

 

Then a third professor spoke who was in college during that time but managed to avoid being drafted because of the student exemption. He talked about what it was like to receive a draft card and how to felt to be in school but feel the vulnerability get greater and greater as they gradually got rid of the exemptions. 

 

The entire seminar was incredibly powerful. Especially Professor Colby, whose story was especially moving. I wrote a lot down that he said but when it came time to write this blog I felt like it wasn't my place to share such a personal story. 

 

I could not even imagine what it would be like to experience what he did, and how it would feel to revisit the place where it all happened. 

 

Hearing their stories made me look at he Vietnam war differently and also made me realize that I know very little about the war. 

 

While in Vietnam I will be going to Cambodia but I will be able to go to the Chu Chi Tunnels, a place many say is really powerful and one of professors said that we must go there if we get the chance. 

 

It was the first explorers seminar I have been to and I am so glad that I did. 

 

After the seminar I was going to go to the gym but I felt horrible so instead I went with Tory to her room where she gave me some melatonin and a few movies to watch. Then I blogged and went to bed. I only have one day until Vietnam and have only written about one day. Not good. 

 

So much blogging to do.

 

At least we gain another hour tonight, hopefully I can get enough sleep and not be exhausted tomorrow, that's the goal.