(no subject)

[ru]

Well, I am BACK. I am beat, but nowhere near as beat as I was when I did the northern crawl. I can attribute that at least partially to getting decent sleep and partially to not having to drive.

Taking a train is interesting. On one hand, it's somewhat fretful, as if you miss the train you want, it's incredibly difficult to make an alternate route, as there's not exactly several trains going the same way at once. And because the freight trains have right of way on the tracks, it's more often that not that you'll end up late to where you're trying to get, because you have to stop and wait on the tracks. On the other, it's much more relaxing than trying to drive or take a plane--the train folks are much more relaxed, you don't have to go through twelve hours of security, and you can move about at will. And you can get somewhat decent food too. Not anything fancy, mind you, but hey, it's better than just getting peanuts. Erm. Pretzels. And you get to see things you normally don't see when you're driving. We went through tons of tiny towns (like Micro, NC) and saw all sorts of neat things. Like cotton fields! Cotton fields when they're ready to harvest are neat--they look like they have snow on them.

Oh, and some crazy signs. Like "Terminal Discount Drugs". And "Jimmy's Premades and Explosives".

Anyway, I have returned! I spent much of my time in the storage room of the Charleston Museum with circa 1820's, scientifically priceless specimens, trying to take measurements and pictures while simultaneously not touching them, because I was terrified I might break something. It was pretty awesome working where I was, though. I was working amongst whale fossils and old harps and museum displays.

And I did get a teeny bit of time to poke around Charleston, so Eien-chan and I went to the aquarium. I saw SEA TURTLES! And JELLYFISH! And OCTOPI! (I love the octopi. <3) I got a little too excited over seeing sea creatures, I think. On the other hand, I had been staring at grasses all day, so it was a nice change of pace. We also happened to go when the Charleston Library was having its annual book sale, so we made off with armfuls of books. Like we need more.

And I ate at a crab shack! It featured having what was a shrimp and crab bucket, which was shrimp and crab legs and corn and potatoes cooked altogether in a bucket and piled on a plate. It was like a variation on frogmore stew.

Overall, I think it went well. <3 I returned with books, 9 rolls of film, measurements, a book of Charleston restaurant recipes, and an octopus plushie which will grace my desk and scare undergrads. XD

Comments

[aneles.livejournal.com]

OMG sounds awesome! Charleston is a totally great place. Did you know they have a tea plantation?? :) And the room you worked in at the museum sounds very cool...you should put it in a story. I got to see behind the scenes in Pittsburgh's museums, and they're really interesting too, with lots of preserved animals and artifacts and weird little corners.