Living and Dying in LA

So here I go again, back to the South Pacific.

Welcome old friends, new friends, family, girlfriend. As always, please feel free to share with others, unless they are registered psychologists or government agents investigating my background.

I get asked a lot just what I am doing in Fiji. I have been accused of “giving vague answers” and “dodging the question”….. maybe I don’t really know what I am doing

............ I plan on backpacking through Fiji, based out of Suva. I will pursue my interests of exploring the culture, language, and food of Fiji.

OK, so I don’t really know exactly what I will be doing. But whatever, there is always a beach to go lay on. Languish in stuffy DC offices fellow interns, languish in stuffy DC offices.

Currently, I am in LA. You can imagine what a kid from the mountains of Alaska thinks of LA, so I will not stoop to swearing and derogatory comments in my first posting….much.

Let me tell you about my day in LA. I arrive late last night from Anchorage and three hours later, accounting for sitting on the tarmac at LAX, I show up at Four Corners by Sheraton Lax.

Clue number one that Expedia.com lied about the quality of the hotel: All the hotel shuttle guests get off at the Hilton, and you are left with the Air Mexicana flight crew to hold hands with as the shuttle bus turns into the back alleys of LA.

I was really hungry. Oh how I long for the days of crappy airplane food. We were wrong to ever complain about the quality. I would sit in sackcloth and ashes, if the free food would return.

Clue number two that Expedia.com lied about the quality of the hotel: The smoke alarm goes off during your hot shower, and moments later your room is invaded by security and a maintenance crew, while you huddle in the corner in a wet towel. The hilarity of the situation is compounded by the fact that the maintenance man is only 4 ft. tall, so you have to stretch to your full extent to take down the wailing alarm, mooning the scared midget with a tool-belt in the process.

I am finding it is hard to save the world while living in poverty. Stuffing my face with leftover trail mix doesn’t satisfy my daily recommended nutritional intake.

Clue number three that Expedia.com lied about the quality of the hotel: The free shuttle to the “mall” drops you off at Target, with a Burger King in the parking lot and a Ross Fashion Outlet across the street.

I shouldn’t complain too bad… there is free wireless internet. And ESPN on the TV.

My flight leaves tonight at 11:30 PM. Air Pacific. I get into Nadi, Fiji 10 hours later on Monday, as they are a day ahead, and a season behind. Please feel free to email me.

Sori i go long ol jif mo bigbig man from ol rabis fasin. Presem Masta Jisas Kris.