The last few posts were epic, so to toss some brain candy your way, here are five lists of five for you.
Five Things I Wish I Brought, But Didn’t
My plastic hotpot from college – which I repeatedly added and removed from my red soccer bag before leaving it in a bedroom in NJ;
My black soccer shorts – which would have been handy for at night after I’ve showered (I’m currently writing blog posts in a slip and a Yale crew t shirt – classsssy)
The Forestry Suppliers stuff I didn’t order in time – mostly a transect tape in metric (I have one in English) which is used for laying out research plots or sampling areas, a DBH tape for measuring the diameter of trees at breast height, or 1.37 meters from the ground, and dial calipers, which are used to measure the diameter of very small herbaceous plants, like the size of the stems of young seedlings
My tape recorder – I got lazy and didn’t try hard enough to find tapes to fit it
My super long computer cables for connecting with wires to the internet – I had them on the list, but overlooked them in the final moments of packing
Five Things I Am Already SO GLAD I Brought
Ciproflaxacin – Enough said.
My Forestry sweatshirt – It’s home in a hoodie.
The coffee Cristi gave me right before she left – that she brought back from Costa Rica. I haven’t found a way to grind it or opened the package yet, but I’m thinking of putting it in with my clothes so the smell will rub off – it’s that good, and that pungent.
My quick dry towels - I don’t care if you never go anywhere – go buy one. They will change your life. MSR makes them and I recently got a full-sized one to match the small backpacking one I have. I use ‘em in the airport, at Kanchan’s, wear the big one into the shower – they are brilliant. Hello, smart design. They make me want to invest in MSR. Actually, maybe I should…
My topographic maps of Nepal – I just used them while still rolled up to evict a three-inch-long cockroach from my room/building without having to touch him. Highly technical manipulation of a topo map. Go us.
Five Things I Wish I Could Send Home Right Now
(Luckily, this one is hard – I am actually learning to do this part well)
About 10 of the 20 lbs of books I brought – although I don’t want to give up any of the books themselves, just their weight.
My fleecey half zip shirt thing – apparently I don’t understand temperature ranges in Centigrade.
My Alaska sweatpants – ummmm, ditto.
My faux dress up jacket – huh? When exactly did I think I would wear this?
My Merrill shoes – I love them but Lordy do they stink!
(Ed. Note: I will use all of the above more than enough to justify their presence…but…still)
Five Things I Wish I’d Done Before I Left New Haven
Seen ‘Death of a Salesman’ at the Wharf Theater – which I’ve never been to
Gone to Sleeping Giant State Park - Like, ever.
Gone camping – I miss it.
Had a beach day – I had an emotional attachment to the idea, and now it’s just an emotional void. Helloooo, land-locked montane country. Goooooood-bye, beach.
Visited the Peabody – I can’t believe I haven’t been back since MODS. Pretty lame.
Five Things I Wish I Was Going to Have Time, Guts, or Money to Do in Nepal, But Know I Won’t
Bungie Jumping – (no guts)
Jomson Trek – (no time)
Teahouse Trek – (no time/money)
Annapurna Circuit Trek – (no time/money)
Everest Flight – (no money)
Five Cool Things I Just Might Do in Nepal
Become fluent in Nepali – god, let’s hope so!
Hang-glide across the Pokhara Valley – For sure.
Visit the Godanari Botanical Gardens – because I love Botanical Gardens
Learn to ride a motorcycle! – With a helmet, which I’m gonna have to buy, unfortunately.
My very own research!
-M-
