日剧跑！！！

 Episode 4 - the one where Asou-kun sprints for love (Jk)

This is one of my favorite episodes just because of the scene in the zoo, when the music Konayuki kicks in ahhhhhh all the feels!

Anyway here we go:

- Aya starting to lose her basketball skills... sad :'(

- Dr. Mizuno keeps talking about meds- what meds exactly? I'm not really aware of any meds that are used to treat SCA... 

- rehab makes sense

- Aya and senpai, for a second there, are kinda cute together! 

- the girl who likes Asou-kun is actually really pretty, she's like a model! It's so cute that she came to the hospital to see Aya.

- to this day I always wince when I watch the fireworks scene where she falls. That looks SUPER painful.

- so sad what happened to Asou's brother. Tragic accident. Watching his parents cry and Asou looking on made me tear up. I can't imagine what that's like as the sibling left behind. Craving your parents' love and attention, and at the same time guilty for being the one still alive. I want to give Asou a hug!

- I love love love the scene where Aya jokes to Asou about her disease, the callback to their earlier interaction! It's sad because we all know what she has but it's also a little funny and cuteeeee. Also, the way Asou smiles at her, boy you got it bad!

- I wanna punch the senpai's friend 

- it's sobering, the way the older basketball team members talk about Aya, like they're gossiping and maybe even making fun of her. Everyone else in the drama is so loving and kind, you sometimes forget there are assholes in life. But there totally are. 

- OK KONAYUKI SONG when that guitar starts strumming you just know it's going to be amazing

- I love watching Asou run!!!

- He is totally in love with Aya at this point, but doesn't know it yet! Look at him running like there's no tomorrow because he cares that she'll be sad or disappointed or lonely because he wants to be there for her gahhhhhhhh

- Asou, who doesn't give a damn about people since his brother died! (or so he thinks)

- the umbrella scene is SO GOOD! Look how he doesn't even mind he's drenched in the rain! He ONLY CARES ABOUT HER!

- the penguin story!!! trying to cheer her up/distract her!!!! but the penguin story is so symbolic! ASOU YOU'RE THE DADDY PENGUIN!!! 

- And Aya!!! she tells him about her disease for real! THIS IS THE FIRST PERSON SHE TELLS, other than her parents who already know!!! SHE TRUSTS ASOU!!!

Favorite scene: no question about it. The zoo, the rain, the penguins, the umbrella, everything.

Close runner-up: none, I really can't think of one, the zoo scene just stands out too much!

1 Litre of Tears (Ep3)

Now the waterworks begin.

I can't stand watching Aya's parents cry. Especially her dad. He's such a goofball but his eyes are so full of genuine emotion, I can't.

...

Last episode was Asou's brother's first appearance, but we see more of him in this one. I really love this character too even if he only shows up in a few flashbacks. He's got some nice quotes. "I love animals, but I love humans more." He's a doctor for the right reasons. I'm more like that random guy at the anniversary service who gets called out by Asou... >.>

...

Dr. Mizuno is so freaking handsome. He's too young and good-looking. They shouldn't have picked this actor because I get confused when I watch the scene with him and Aya. I almost start thinking this is a typical love triangle drama.

...

Another episode where I feel SO bad for Ako. Come on! If I were her, I'd run away from home. She's so misunderstood! I just want to give her a big hug.

I sure hope the mom apologized to Ako!!!

...

Aya and Asou - their "fight" scene is so good. It's such an important one! Before this, Asou starts to thinks of Aya as a nice girl who also likes stray dogs, maybe a friend. But it's AFTER this scene - when she cries and gets angry at him for saying that stuff about life and death - when she asks him, "Will you really not care if your friend or loved one die?" (so sad knowing what's to come) - THIS is when he really sees her under a different light. She's not just a classmate. She's someone dealing with some powerful and dark emotions. She's in pain. Asou's in pain all this time too, mourning the loss of his brother. That's why he gravitates towards her.

I must praise Sawajiri Erika's acting in this scene!!! 

And I love how a few scenes later he's like "YOU'RE the weird one." It's so adorably childish. They're really just teenagers!

Favorite scene: the singing competition at the end - so memorable, so iconic

Close runner-up: when Asou's dad asks him, "are you dating her?" I know he's asking cuz he's worried his son is involved with a sick girl, but the awkwardness of this scene just made me laugh

1 Litre of Tears (Ep 2)

Episode 2

Her mom goes through all the denial... 😢

Like last episode, I thought the diagnosis seemed a little too rushed, but maybe there were parts they didn't show on-screen (like bloodwork, LP, genetic testing - if that was a thing back then). 

It's understandable that her mom would want to seek out a second opinion. That first doctor she went to find a second opinion was awful, though. He basically was like "yeah spinocerebellar degeneration? Straightforward diagnosis." WTF. 

Also, wow, is this just how Japanese healthcare works - her mom was able to make an appointment with the O.G. neurologist in the field like late in the evening, presumably outside his regular office hours? Seriously impressive.

I have conflicted thoughts about the fact that her parents kept her from her diagnosis for so long.

On one hand, I get it, her parents are so worried what it's going to do to her psychologically. How DO you explain this to your teenaged child? They're old enough to understand the implications of what an incurable disease means. They also don't have a fully developed frontal lobe yet so like, how will they process this? 

The western perspective has always been one where we, as providers, feel the patient deserves to know the truth, all about patient autonomy, etc. So maybe it has biased me. But imagining myself in Aya's shoes, I think it's also really, really hard to decide if I would want to know or not.

If you don't know what's coming, you can live in blissful ignorance.

But it'll be stressful still, not knowing what's going on when you do sense things are off. Not having closure, not having that certainty.

I think ultimately, I would want to know, even if it's really painful. Because you'd have some kind of preparation, emotionally, for what's to come. And like that doctor says, you need time to process and accept something like this, and that's one thing you won't have on your side. Time.

But I'm sure once I know, I'll have thoughts like, "I wish I didn't know."

Sigh.

This episode was really hard to watch.

"Why Aya?"

I don't know, why bad things happen to some people. They just do.

...

The only little tidbits of fluff and warmth that can buffer the pain in this episode - adorable doggo, Asou-kun and Aya grow closer, protective Aya's dad with his hilarious expressions.

On a side note, poor Ako (the sister). She obviously feels that her parents are playing favoritism. She's jealous and hurt. Little does she know what's lying ahead for Aya and the whole family. Ako's one of my favorite characters in this show and I already remember that the turning point of her arc will hit me so hard in a few more episodes.

Also - is this the first time we hear Sangatsu Kokonoka?? ♥♥♥

Favorite scene: Aya's dad's reaction when she brings Asou home

                                                    

                                                        literally his face

Close runner-up: Aya's reaction when she's talking to the doggo about her crush and Asou sneaks up on her and she's like... I'm outta here 😂😂 so relatable

1 Litre of Tears rewatch (ep 1)

 

1 Litre no Namida (2005)

Rewatching possibly one of the best TV dramas in my opinion. This left such a strong impression on me growing up. Not gonna lie, it may have had some influence on me ultimately choosing my career path, but obviously you'll never catch me admitting this in an interview 😝

Episode 1 - ""The Beginning of my Youth"

I'm just enraptured by the warmth of this drama. Her family is so loving and colorful. Love how they quickly and smoothly introduced us to Aya, the eldest daughter, responsible, smart, kind, pretty, the "perfect child" "perfect student" like her younger sister so grudgingly calls her. She had it all going for her. Which makes the story so heartbreaking.

Her mother is a physical therapist (?) - I didn't notice this on my first watch. That makes sense that she would have been the first to notice the symptoms, then, because she's not only a mother, she's also in the medical field. 

I'm impressed how much attention to detail the makers of the drama paid to her disease - during the examination with the neurologist, they even got the nystagmus and saccadic intrusions right! The finger to nose dysmetria! So good!

My only critique is the diagnosis happened a little too fast- one MRI? No labs? No spinal tap? The doctor just took a look at her and the shrinkage of her cerebellum and decided it was the neurodegenerative form? 

(Also wow, not only did they get to see the neurologist without a wait time, the MRI brain happened the SAME VISIT! Is it really how things be in Japan???)

And, lastly, I have to gush about Nikishido Ryo's character - our totally emo/punkish/rebel male lead. I'm all about character developments and he has one of the most beautiful character arcs. As well as his relationship with Aya.

"Enemies to friends" trope here - sort of. He's a jerk to her at the beginning, but he's a good kid at heart. Or he'd never have offered to take her to the school on his bike! Awwww.

She's put off by his reaction when she tries to thank him. She has a terrible opinion of him, hahaha. Yeah, he does seem like a weirdo.

(He had GUNS on his bedroom wall, like WTF?! lmao... thank god for Aya, I'm scared to think how he would've turned out otherwise)

Aya's little speech at the end - I get a little cringe watching this, can you imagine if she tried to say this in an American high school, she'd get crushed. But it's a sweet and inspiring little speech and because it's a warm and gentle drama with warm and gentle people (for the most part), she wins over her classmates. Awwww.

Favorite scene: any scene with her family in it, especially her dad

Close runner-up: the scene with her and Asou-kun at the hospital. It's the first time they really talk outside of class!

This thanksgiving I binged on...

Tbh I only watched this because I ran out of Black Mirror episodes to watch. I guess also because I have two friends at school absolutely obsessed with this show. So I gave it a chance.

And my verdict is: not bad (I mean, I did feverishly finish 18 episodes in the span of 3 days).

Its major flaw is probably that the stories and characters are "too perfect."

The reason why I love The Wire, Black Mirror so freaking much is their "rawness" and "ugliness" which is always refreshing. Too many TV shows play it safe, making things cute and happy and all that which is definitely fine if it's a comedy (like Modern Family, Friends, 30 Rock- my big loves as well) but when it's supposed to be a realistic drama... that's where it can fall as a bit corny and cliche.

This is Us veers on that line between heartfelt and cheesy just slightly. Mostly it still stays in the realm of heartfelt, warm, loving drama about family-marriage-life-death, all that goodness. It certainly does a good job of making you care about the characters (I have sobbed like a baby at a couple episodes), and *ahem* making you keep watching (one of my irritations in fact, explained below). By the end of S1 though it started to feel a bit dry (although, I still can't stop thinking about it and hence this post...)

I confess I ran out of time and patience around episode ~14 or so. I started doing that thing where I skip forward just to watch the bits that interest me (*covers face* not proud of it). I started getting obsessed with just finding out one thing...

SPOILER ALERT 

Musings while bored at work

"You can have either a negative or positive outlook, and it won't change the results. What it does change is the experience."

This is a quote I heard recently from a story told on one of the Moth podcasts. It's from a lady who was in remission for breast cancer and got pregnant. Even though I'm not in a scenario anywhere close to that, this quote really stuck with me, and I feel like I needed to hear it.

I love analyzing myself, especially picking out all the stuff that's wrong with me. Obviously low self-esteem is one of them - I know, I need to work on that, once I'm done obsessing over all the other character flaws. Maybe related to the low self-confidence, I don't know - a problem I recently realized I have is that I'm so, damn, insecure.

It's so ironic because a lot of people tell me I'm so easygoing, so cheerful all the time, and how they envy me. Ha. Wait till they get inside my head.

I worry and I get super anxious about some things that I can't foresee in my future. It's usually about the things I dread that will happen, and the things I really want to happen, but I'm so scared to hope for because I'm even more frightened of disappointment.

There's 2 types of people. There's the control freak - they plan out everything in their lives and they're so naive and sure of themselves, that nothing will go wrong as long as they do everything in their plan. Then when something goes wrong, it's awful and hits them like a slap in the face, but at the very least they weren't miserable for the whole time leading up to that event.

Then there's the "go with the flow" hippie person who knows you can't control everything and that's exactly why they're also on their guard and chewing down their nails the whole time. Then when something goes wrong, they still get let down in the end even though they told themselves they saw it coming.

I would choose to be the first type in a heartbeat. But I'm the latter.

Usually, people who act like me are people who have been hurt or traumatized at some point, and so they've built this armor and don't trust anything - not God, not other people, not themselves. I've never gone through anything like that, though. I led a sheltered, protected life. Strangers have never hurt me, my parents have never hurt me, my friends have never hurt me, my boyfriend--- Except I didn't have one until now.

That's exactly why I am scared, maybe. Because I've never lost someone in that sense before, to a break-up. I'm so afraid of being "heartbroken."

Back before I had a boyfriend, I was afraid of getting into a relationship. I would be the most passive person in the WORLD when it came to a member of the opposite sex. If I was interested in him, or had a crush on him, or even liked him to the point of daydreaming about a future together - yes I'm that creepy - I would never, ever make the first move. Or make a move at all. I'd take my secret to the grave, or less dramatically said, I'd wait till enough time passed and I moved on. That, from my experiences, either meant I turned down the guy despite actually liking him (yes, facepalm), and/or, he got a girlfriend. Yup.

I guess it's a miracle then that some remarkably thick-skinned guy barged his way into my world, and I was able to open up just that LITTLE bit to get close to him. And I should be happy. I should be content at last, because something I've been terrified of for a really long time - both terrified of and secretly yearning for - finally happened. I shouldn't have anything else to worry about, right?

WRONG.

Now it's just new worries. Are we right for each other? Will we stay together after blah-blah-blah happens? Where will we be, a year from now, two years from now, three? Will we be able to last through long-distance? Will "fate" keep us together or break us apart?

I really do think my anxiety in part has to come from my overactive imagination. I am *so* imaginative. It lets me pass the time standing in line without resorting a smartphone - I just switch on my mind. It gives me awesome dreams at night that unfold like soap operas and feature films. It gets me absorbed in the books I read and the movies I watch, so much that I'm laughing and sobbing from one minute to the next. But, when it comes to projecting futures that get me either immediately hopeful or crushed, my imagination sucks.

You'd think: isn't it better to have low expectations, and then be surprised when hey, it turns out to be not that bad? Like when I thought I got an 80 on this test but I actually got a 93. Or I thought that movie is gonna suck, but I leave the theater just amazed and giddy. Happy surprise feels loads better than cold disappointment right? So isn't it ALWAYS better to have low expectations?

But I don't know. I think the quote really does have a point. Why expect something bad to happen when it hasn't happened yet? What difference does it make? Whatever happens will happen. But dreading about it just ruins the days leading up to it.

I've never realized before how brave people going into relationships are. I mean, it's a fairly common thing, people dating other people. I never realized how much of a risk it is - you pour in a lot of hope and expectations and feelings, and you might come out with hurt and disappointment and nothing.

Welcome to life, I guess.

I know I gotta try, to not look so far in the future - because I already KNOW that won't change anything. I gotta live in the present, and just focus on what I have right now, not what I can potentially lose.

And I also need to learn how to accept losses and disappointments better. I'm still so much of a kid in that sense. I need to grow up. Sigh.

Films of 2016 (that I can remember)

I'm starting to think it's a good idea for me to keep track of all the movies I watch. 'Cause I always blank out when people ask me about what films I like...

On the pursuit of Hirokazu Koreeda 

Maboroshi no Hikari (1995)

Wanted to watch this for Esumi Makiko, and was not disappointed. However, definitely on the artsy side (think Su-ki-da, Kids Return): quiet and long, still shots (lots of them!), very little dialogue, very little action. Showing, not telling. But it's so beautiful. It plays out like an Impressionist painting with the natural light and wide landscape shots. Poignant, beautiful themes too that sort of haunt you afterwards. Oh! And the music. I'm very tempted to buy the soundtrack since I can't find it anywhere online. A very special film.

Still Walking/Aruitemo, aruitemo (2008)

I liked this less than Maboroshi, but I still liked it. There were some parts that made me bored but then a few parts that unexpectedly made me cry (the scene with the butterfly made me straight-up put my head down and sob.) Again, not much in terms of a plot, but it's a really nice realistic portrayal of a family. Shadows of a ghost lingering in all their hearts, some things go unsaid. Beautiful soundtrack as well. As always, I love Abe Hiroshi.

After Life (1998)

I heard all the rave about this one but I actually didn't like it as much as the other 2. Maybe it's the interview style and the set. All of it pretty much takes place in one boring building, so aesthetically it isn't as pleasing. I also didn't really understand the "climatic" scene with the character's epiphany. Ah well, I tried. Still give points for originality and theme. A bunch of the actors and stories here weren't actually scripted but real people and their stories. I think I cried in this too, but not from a scene that you'd think.

In addition to these I've seen Nobody Knows and Like Father, Like Son :) So that's 5 checked off the list of Hirokazu Koreeda! 

On my to-watch list: Air Doll, I Wish (Miracle), After the Storm

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Les Actions

Hateful Eight (2015)

What a crazy movie. I don't think this was my favorite from Tarantino (can't beat Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs or Kill Bill) but it was still good old entertainment, although on the long side. I rooted for Samuel Jackson even though he played an asshole in this movie. (I think that's the point, all of them are assholes). I wish I'd seen this in theater though for the special film quality.

To-watch list from Tarantino: Jackie Brown

Sword of the Stranger (2007)

I was really skeptical going into this movie because the name of it sounds like a dumb stereotypical samurai anime. But I was surprised at how much I loved it! Tight editing, good pacing, BEAUTIFUL soundtrack (I downloaded this one straight away), and actually really impressive animation. Not on the level of Satoshi Kon ingenuity or anything but this movie was solid. I even watched it twice. I'm so upset at myself that I never knew about this movie. Oh right, BEST part is the fight choreo. Beats most of the newer kung fu movies I've seen.

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Les (Other) Anime

Your Name (2016)

Well there was SUCH a fuss made over this movie. And ok, I did like it, even though I totally dislike Makoto Shinkai's other works (I find them sappy, with poor writing and only pretty pictures to carry the film). This one was greatly improved in writing and plot. Some twists I didn't see coming. As always, it IS gorgeous animation in that super-polished, almost CGI-smooth way. But guess what, Makoto Shinkai is still a sappy romantic and this showed. Call me bitter but I still don't see why he's being compared to Hayao Miyazaki (hello? not even close!) while no one knows who Satoshi Kon is. Excuuuse me? Satoshi Kon, always the daring mastermind who actually pushed boundaries! Sigh. Congrats to Shinkai, he's made lots of moolah with this one.

A Letter to Momo (2011)

Aww, now this was an anime film to remember!! I have never heard of this director or this movie, but I randomly got it from the library and watched it on the Greyhound. Adorable, touching, funny little story. The animation is VERY nice, like quirky and charming. I loved Momo's character and her freaky friends. That one scene made me seriously tear up too. This was so offbeat and unique and perfect to my taste. Perfect! Just perfect.

Memories (1995)

Obviously by now you should know I'm obsessed with Satoshi Kon. I think he's one of the MOST underrated anime directors ever. This one he didn't direct, but he wrote and animated. It's a collection of 3 short films: Stink Bomb, Magnolia Rose, Cannon Fodder. Stink Bomb was my favorite; just downright entertaining and hilarious. Magnolia Rose was an interesting, sort-of-tragic sci-fi. Cannon Fodder was a steam-punk dystopian kind of thing, he had a crazy animation style for that. These aren't as classic as his long features (Paprika, Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers) but still do Satoshi Kon justice. Recommend!!!!! (Wow, I've actually seen ALL of the films he's directed now... )

On my to-watch list: The Boy and the Beast, Summer Wars.

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Movies I actually saw in theater...

Arrival (2016)

I wanted to watch this film MONTHS before its release. I was so worried I wouldn't catch this in theater (like I'd missed Kubo and My Name is Not Madame Bovary). Buuuut, luckily I got to watch this! And came away satisfied, although not blown away - but still pretty happy. I always like my plot twists and this one was a thought-provoking one. The cinematography and music ambience were great. My major beef is the Mandarin (or what they tried to pass off as Mandarin). Geez, either train Amy Adams so that her Mandarin is decipherable or get someone to dub her. 

Fantastic Beasts (2016)

Now being a Harry Potter fan I was gonna watch it but I wasn't expecting much. I mean, clearly this was a highly commercialized Hollywood film with its usual gimmicks. But I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Eddie Redmayne was adorable but actually it's the guy who played Jacob who stole my heart! All the scenes with him made me laugh my arse off. I'm still kind of annoyed at the ending (can Ezra Miller just never catch a break?) but overall, this was quite good for a commercial flick. The sequels are probably gonna drag and suck, but just based on this one, I might give them a chance.

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My return to Miyazaki Aoi craze

Harmful Insect (2001)

I might have seen this already in high school, but I rewatched it recently. I just love coming-of-age stories whether books or films. Plus Miyazaki Aoi was so young and fresh in this. This is before she moved into doing more commercial and mainstream films. I liked this a lot despite the weird jumps the film seems to do and the parts that don't make too much sense. But I guess the director just wants you to try to interpret on your own. It's not the best film cinematography and there's barely a soundtrack, but the writing is good. I like raw, stark realism, muhahaha. 

If cats disappeared from the world (2016)

... this was a waste of my 2 hours, honestly. It's your typical man-is-dying so reflection-on-life mandatory tearjerker. Aoi's role is super one-dimensional, and she does her Oscar-crying scene but I was just like, um, why are you even crying?!! So lame. I DID cry, but it was for the friend in the film shop and then the part with his mom and dad. Psshhh. Movies like this so do not impress me. I guess this was adapted from a novel, and the novel probably was just so stupid you can't fault the director... Meh...

My SO has got depression (2011)

Um... so this was recommended to me from a friend but I don't even know if I should put it here since I technically didn't even FINISH it. It was that bad. Alright, it wasn't terrible and I get what they're trying to do. But the way they went about it was so... cutesy and fluffy. Doesn't seem realistic enough for depression at all. Aoi's role is again, pretty substandard. She's a cute housewife who lurves her hubby. Yawn. Ok, so I didn't even get to the climax (if there is one) so maybe I'm not being fair. Will probably finish this movie when I take the Greyhound again later this week.

To-watch list: Vancouver Asashi, A Chorus of Angels.

2 months mark!

After being in medical school for 2 months, I still don’t really feel anywhere close to being a doctor. That’s probably expected though. I mean, all we’ve been doing is study our asses off for exams. We did have some clinical-themed workshops (like the ultrasound session) and practices with SPs, but when I do that stuff, I feel like a kid playing the part. 

In my classmates, some of them, I can see who they will be in ten years. Their confidence and professionalism is just already there. Whereas for me, I don’t know exactly how I come off, but I definitely do not have the same “assuredness” in my mannerisms and speech. I took a gap year where I worked hoping to improve on this— but honestly, I don’t think much changed…

I guess I have to accept that growing up and maturing really varies for person to person. Some people get it, and they’re just independent and sure of themselves at 15, or 18, or whatever. Some people like me, might really be a lifelong process.

Several friends who are not in med school have asked me what med school is like. And I usually answer more or less, “a lot of studying, but it’s interesting.”

Well yeah, that’s pretty much it, but I suppose I can dig deeper.

Med school is, for sure, draining. I kind of knew that coming in — the analogy of “drinking from a fire hose” used to scare me — but it’s not unmanageable. A person can grow used to anything. So yeah, it is a long stamina race, because you’re going to be studying every single day (with maybe exception of Friday and Saturday) as much as you did in undergrad for finals. And it’s not because the teachers are mean, and not because they have pop quizzes every day that if you get less than 100% you will be forced to drop out of med school. No, nothing like that. It’s just simply because there’s an immense volume of information, the pace is super fast, and the teachers aren’t going to be doing that much of the teaching. You have to be your own teacher.

Maybe this varies depending on the school, but here we start with Anatomy. Something that you could teach in a year-long class is compressed into 7 weeks. Yup, 7 weeks! We start the unit off with dissection, but we switch between two dissection teams, so you will only dissect every other day. On your day “off” you self-study or prepare the non-dissection material, like clinically relevant questions and so-on, that you’re supposed to then teach to the other group and they teach you what they dissected. There’s no lecture beforehand on what the material is. Afterwards, there’s something called a conference, which is helpful but the teacher is quizzing you things they expect you to already have learned. It’s more structured like a review than a lecture.

We do have real lectures several times a week. But of course, like in undergrad, in a huge auditorium with 200 students and one teacher with a Powerpoint, it’s not super effective. I go to lecture but I still have to learn much of it on my own later. Plus, even if the lecturer is clear and organized, these lectures are only meant to supplement our main material.

People have talked about studying styles changing. Yes, it’s going to change. You can’t read the notes/textbook straight because the notes are massive and dense, and there’s a lot of info in there that we won’t “have to know” (it’s just not that important so they don’t test us). It’s all about being able to pick out what’s important and making the connections.

The good thing is I like anatomy and how visual and practical it is, and I like this kind of learning — really forces you to be active. So even though yeah there are moments when I’m super sick of studying and I’m sometimes so wistful of all the free time I had before… once I get really into it time just flows. (Like, wow there goes 4 hours in lab!!)

I still do take my breaks (like play guitar for a bit, cook, go for a run sometimes or a swim), and don’t worry, I still make sure I get my human interaction… Actually, most of the time I stay on campus till 5 or 6 studying with my classmates. And lunch hour is always a part of the daily routine where we eat and chat.

So. The people in med school… hahaha.

Everyone’s really smart, that’s the first impression you get. Well obviously that makes sense. But it’s not like I was ever the smartest kid in my class and I definitely don’t like to be. I enjoy this atmosphere actually — everyone’s hard-working, everyone’s motivated to learn, makes you focus too. Still… there are a few people that are kind of annoying (loll) no offense. You’ll still have those competitive people, those who come off a bit arrogant (cough - “guys who want to be orthopedic surgeons”), those who want to go over every freaking question on the exam we took 5 minutes ago…

But on the other end of the spectrum you also have people who you get the sense are struggling. And even though our class average on the past 2 exams were in the high 80’s, there are people who have failed and get remedial review sessions from the teachers. So, whoever out there thinks you aren’t smart enough for med school, puh-lease. You will be fine. Everyone learns at their own pace and everyone’s got their strengths and weaknesses. I truly believe ANYONE can be a doctor, it’s just because of limited spots that they make the application process so awful. Obviously, some people will take less work, some people will need more work, which is why if you wanna be a doctor, you better be sure.

Also, I DID find a circle of friends. See, and I was so worried I was going to hate everyone in med school. What do you know, there are people like me and there are people I find really interesting and best of all there’s a ping pong table in our lounge, and it’s like undergrad all over again… hahaha. Ping pong brings people together. My life motto.

Am I happy? I think so, for the most part, I am enjoying med school. Sure I miss a lot of things: I miss those lazy days when I could go to the library, check out manga, and sit outside and just read for a few hours. I miss drawing and sketching (I just got a membership pass to the museums though so I’m definitely going back there, maybe this weekend, just to draw). I miss my friends in Pittsburgh. I haven’t talked to some people in a while, not seriously talk anyway. I’ve become friends with some of my classmates but it’s not the same. There’s something about hanging out with people in your profession ALL the time… Sometimes I need to get away from that, haha. 

Then there’s always the good stuff right? It’s always a mix. I’m glad to be mentally stimulated again. Sometimes, not gonna lie, I’m impressed with myself on how I can crush so much info into my brain… Also, the teachers are funny and cute and sweet, the material (like I said) is RELEVANT to exactly what you will eventually do - and yes, exactly, medical school is professional school. You are trained to be a doctor, trained for a career. At the white coat ceremony I got that feel for the first time. Sure, I don’t even know what kind of doctor I will be… nor can I picture myself doing the role as naturally as some of my peers seem to… But I’m a part of the whole deal now. I’m not just lost in a haze and figuring out what to do with my life, you know? At this point, the end of the tunnel is THERE, you just gotta keep moving.

Something else to remark at the end here- the cadavers in anatomy lab. Before starting school l’ve been to cadaver labs before just to view, not to dissect. I remember feeling so squeamish and uncomfortable in there, even though I never fainted or vomited or anything. But now? You know how I mentioned I can stay in lab for 4 hours without realizing? It’s just second nature now to be near one, to look at one, to dig your hand in one. (It does help that our school have a nice ventilation system and windows in the lab). I’ve read a book by a doctor who talked about the emotional weight of her first cadaver session. Well… for me, I don’t think I reacted emotionally at all. I don’t think many people did, or no one’s mentioned it. I wonder if we repress this or is it just that having a task in hand pushes everything else out of our head. Like, several times I’ve seen my labmates rest their hands on the face of our cadaver, and once I even caught myself doing it before quickly removing my hand. Oops, this cadaver used to be a real human. You really forget that.

If the cadavers have taught me something about mortality, it’s just the stark truth: when you die, your soul leaves, and your corpse is just flesh, bones, muscle and fat. (There was a quote or something like that in Jiraishin Diablo, this manga I read). You’re an object, and there’s no point being sentimental or weird about it, I guess.

Still, there’s a reason the cadaver’s face is still covered while we dissect his trunk and extremities. 

Also, there are moments when I get sad, just picturing the kind of life this man had. He’s got CHF, he’s got renal failure, and had this disgustingly huge cyst in the right side of his abdomen for who knows how many years. How long did he suffer with all these issues? Why didn’t the doctors do something about the cyst?? (He had a kidney transplant, so I assume he’s got insurance?? Or is he just one of the really lucky uninsured who got a transplant…)

Anyway, that’s it for reflection now. Cheers to 2 months down, uh… let’s not count how many months to go. 😄

Utah-大提顿-黄石 road trip！

很愉快的一趟旅行，而且是我第一次跟朋友走那么远！不是跟父母呦！！嘿嘿，难忘的一次！见到了野牛，黑熊，银河，还有第一次“犯了法”…（see below）

这次旅行是三人行：我，小郭，和小郭的好基友李喆。Note：我没见过李喆，连他长什么样都不知道，所以另外“有趣"，对嘛，我跟两个小伙子旅行还不说，有一个还是个wild card嘎嘎嘎嘎嘎！嘻嘻嘻

Day 1 （6/29/16）

下午5:40本该起飞的飞机，上了后pilot才发现轮胎的什么问题，所以耽误了1个多小时，8:05到了Phoenix，转机可是8:18起飞！！gates还隔得他妈的远😂这500m我是喘不过气的奔跑, 幸好最后还是赶上了…… 当时真的已有一晚睡在机场的心理准备。

当地时间的11点多我们到了盐湖城，去租车，正排队一个小帅哥过来，我朝他礼貌的笑了笑正要说“Go ahead" 他拍了小郭的肩膀，喔喔原来是小郭的朋友！（嘿嘿嘿嘿 果然挺帅嘛 不错郭儿 没让老娘白期待😝😄）

那天晚上我们住在了盐湖城外面的Hampton Inn，条件很好，黑夜中我几乎能看到旅馆背后高山的轮廓…妈呀，内心开始激动！

Day 2 （6/30/16）

早上起来吃了Hampton的早餐，然后开往了Antelope Island State Park (据说是男神特意推荐的！不愧是男神啊！）好。美。

早上还有点阴天，有雾蒙蒙的感觉，梦幻中的那种，很喜欢。

下午我们爬了个trail，李喆说等于60几层楼呢（两个Cathedral那么高！！）有一个尽头太远，主要是我们水不够，只好去了更近的Dooley's Knob，oh well还是很满意！坐在那石头上，一望是蓝天蓝山，底下是盐湖，风吹着，太阳大大的，美呆了。

我们还去了个bison ranch，回来的时候路上过来个大野牛… 然而antelope无处可见😂 ah well...

离开了公园，在Ogden吃了晚饭（Smokey's BBQ and Grill)。实在是饿昏了。。。点了牛排！

然后我们向往了Portabello, Idaho，这一程可都是老娘自己开的哦～ 景色非常美，我以为爱德华就是土光光的土豆地，没想到还是有很多高山的（至少挨Utah的这边）高高大大的山，蓝绿色，我最喜欢的那类，那时候正好还是夕阳，光线特别美，但也有一段路下了大雨（+闪电！！）我竟然都开过了，got us to the hotel in one piece...

Day 3 （7/1/16）

下楼去吃早餐在电梯里遇到了一对匹大Alumni的夫妇（G那天穿了皮大的衣服嘛 卧槽后来我也穿过好几次的匹大衣服没有人却跟我打招呼呀！）夫妇很友好，跟我们聊起来，当年和我同一个本科系！好有缘！尤其是后面，当我们提到了要去黄石的时候，夫妇说他们刚刚去了，门票是一个星期的所以还没过期，给我们吧！哇哦哦哦哦真是好人（＾∇＾）票包括大提顿和黄石，50美元（虽然后来其实我们还是会买票的，see Day 7，可是当时还是嗨皮～～“省了”50刀呢）

在Target补了补食粮和水后，开往大提顿。路上路过了一片油菜花田，“风光狗”的这几位必须停下照个痛快。

到了Jackson Hole的时候是下午3－4点吧，我们饿了就去吃了顿饭，去了Liberty Burger, 我点了什么Apple and almond salad还蛮好吃…

也去了下国家公园的Visitor Center，那里有个小博物馆，看了个讲公园里野生动物的片子，然后！出发至大提顿！！

大提顿，法语“Grand Teton” (a.k.a. “big tit” 2333), 是一座高雪山。男孩子们看到了雪山就直喊”硬了硬了“，我能理解。。。我！爱！雪！山！！

拍完了后我们去Jenny Lake周围稍微的走了走，因为太晒，觉得今天就不hike了。湖边很美，风大，浪也不小，水里还有人划船。

之后我们沿着Teton Park Road开，过了Jackson Lake Dam（必然停下来照几张）：

到了一个有名的旅游景点，Oxbow Bend:

仙！

接上的是Snake River Overlook，据说这是名家Ansel Adams在1942年拍过的，这照片当时造了大影响。

站在同一个角度，我们也想emulate，可是。。。他妈的太多树😂

晚霞背光的时候蛮难照的，晚霞能照到可是前景就照不了 :/ 

只好用眼睛好好享受！不过，马路对面的云也好看～

两位摄影大师终于照满足了，这次换我开车回旅馆，路上的景色真美，好仙，我说我感觉像在《魔戒》的世界里一样。。。

我们那晚住在Motel 6，200刀一晚，条件果然。。。差😂 厕所的门都没有锁，装饰就像80年代的“retro”风格，床根本不像queen size，可委屈了他们俩。一晚上他们没怎么睡好，害得我也醒了几次。第二天打算要赶上日出，我们迷迷糊糊按照闹钟4点半从睡眠中挣扎而起。。。

Day 4 （7/2/16）

早上5点多其实天已经微微亮了，但太阳还没有从山后爬上来，所以还是赶到了Mormon Row照相的好时间。到的时候，已有一群的摄影爱好者围着小木房😁

据说是“the most photogenic barn in the world”！😂

在这里咔嚓了很久，我们又在周围照了些别的木房～和野花～

^同志们。。。get a room...

下一站是昨天去过的Jenny Lake，这次我们要走trail，要先坐船过去到湖对岸，我们只买了单程票（cough 错则#1)。

下了船爬上山就能看到小瀑布～

穿过树林又爬上小山坡，能看到Jenny Lake的全景啦～

早上特美！

但我们没有在Inspiration Point停留，因为有个trail到Cascade Canyons就“3英里”左右（cough cough 错则＃2)也没觉得特远，所以接着走。

马克，我当时只背了一瓶的水，还是店里包装的小瓶子，就500毫升的水吧。。。图样图森破。

走啊走啊走。。。

没有一朵云！！！太阳晒的不要不要的！

幸好不是全程都在大太阳底下，树荫下的路也多～ 路过了很多野花。

先开始都很开心很有energy，可一个小时又一个小时过了，水也越来越少了，，，我们要走到的那个“Fork”怎么还没到咧？！

走走又歇会儿，我们都累了，看一下Apple手机上的app，卧槽至少5英里了。。。😂

但是！！我们没有返回！！！要走到那个Fork!!

鼓掌～ we made it～

回去的路就好走了许多，因为是下坡，还有，我们也知道尽头在哪儿了😂

全程最后走了10-15英里（我的app说15，李喆的说10，是因为我的腿短吗😂），爬了54（？give or take)层楼。从早上10点左右hike到下午3点！！

一路水不够，太阳又大，真的怕是会中暑呢。。。但怎么说，做到了呀！！

（哈哈，这段路还是我们bond最好的时候，路上只能闲聊，让自己分心，解决痛苦😂。。。）

回到车上第一个念头：吃吃吃。

问题是，那时也快4点了，餐馆刚好午餐打烊，晚餐都是5点5点半才开始，去哪里吃啊。。。

本来搜到了个餐厅，想去，可是一进去是个winery ？！

饿的不要命了，所以就去了隔壁家的一所，叫“Hatch: taqueria and tequila” 我喜欢Mexican food所以二话不说就进去了。

结果。。。4点是他们的Happy Hour，5点才开饭，菜单上没啥东西，就是酒和tacos和tortillas，我没问题，我喜欢吃，可是两位哥哥很不满意😂

我点了冰凉的啤酒，爽！吃的还没上就使劲的喝！。。。然后就有点醉了😂但是开心的那种醉，小郭说什么我都开始疯狂的哈哈大笑，停不住。

嘿嘿，good times…

出来后他们还没有解饿，就立马选了家pizza店，点了个bison pizza😄

大家满意的回了旅馆，设了闹钟，洗了澡补上几小时的觉，9点起去照银河！！对，我们就是那么拼！

我们先开到Oxbow Bend，一下车哇噻！！！！抬头就是星星！！好！多！！银河能看得到！！！激动的我！！（第一次看银河！！！！）

Oxbow Bend那边车还是多，所以我们又回到车上，寻找别的地方照～

后来在Jackson River Dam停下车，准备好三脚架，照！银！河！

这是我第一次拍银河，原来还挺复杂的，两位摄影老司机教了我：要先用远处的光对好焦，然后再对好银河，一般用的是20-25“的曝光，aperture打到最大。^虽然比不上老司机的作品我还是很满意啦～ 能看得出银河就是了嘛。他们俩还继续折腾了很久，我更宁愿躺在dam的柱子上欣赏天空的星星。很可惜，这个地方没有信号，我很想查查constellation chart，但没办法连上网，只好按着记忆认出Big Dipper和（貌似）Little Dipper。。。Summer Triangle我好像也找出来了，可是对不上哪个是Cygnus的Deneb星星。:(

拍完后老司机们还想换个前景, 于是我们又开到了Signal Mountain，这时候路上已没有什么人，我们都有点提心吊胆。郭儿还说他看到一只狼穿过马路。。。！如果真看到了，我错过了，not fair！！ T_T

Signal Mountain Summit没什么意思，树太多，所以又换了个景。这次去的是Schwabacher’s Landing，这时候云比较多了。其实，最好拍银河的地方和时间就是dam那里。

那晚主要是冷！！晚上降到了39-40度的华氏度，我穿了两件外衣但还是不够（可能不应该穿牛仔裤的，不是很保暖）。冻得哆哆嗦嗦，在车上昏昏迷迷睡着了。。。这时候，车突然的swerve了一下把我吓醒。。。郭儿说是差点撞上了大露！！公鹿呢，有很长的角！（Elk，很可能！）李喆说他也抬头看到了，大屁股有车头那么高。他们俩吓尿了，我又因为睡眠而错过了，真是惭愧呀！！！

本来还说想回到Mormon Row那里去照银河，可云这时候多，男孩子们也累了，我们就回宾馆啦。这时已经半夜三更。。。literally, 3:30早上我们才回到了旅馆房间，洗涮了趴倒在床上。那晚，我们都睡的像死人一般😂。。。丰满的一天。。。

Day 5 （7/3/16）

因为昨天太嗨，自然今天起的晚，睡到了10－11点，在中午之前赶快收拾好check out, 我们又去了下Kmart补上了下零食和水。李喆晒脱皮了，我倒没这个问题。。。可是我出现了感冒状况。还好，不过是流了点清鼻涕和咳嗽了点。在店里买了包cough drop。午饭，我们在Local Restaurant吃的，burger和fries。

下午我们开车向往黄石公园。路过了Schwabacher’s Landing, 白天当然完全不一样，停下来照了照～

这里还有个沿着小溪的trail，走了走～很轻松的一个～

快到黄石的时候，草坪上出现了一群bison!!! 终于－－看到了野生动物！！！😂

云好酷～～ （仔细看，还有小鹿！）

到了黄石，我们去的第一个景点叫做West Thumb，在Yellowstone Lake的边缘上。

手机拍的就是效果没那么好，但那次我们都没带上DSLR～oh well

这张合影蛮喜欢的～

快傍晚的时候，我们到了Grand Prismatic Spring，非常著名的旅游景点。旅客当然很多了（可下了一场雨，好多人就走了嘻嘻～）

Geyser蒸发的气好仙～～

拍完照的时候太阳快下去了（9点之后了吧）我们打算回旅馆，明天找trail上山照Prismatic Spring的全景。。。(错则#3😂。。。see Day 6）

晚上这路小郭开了一会儿有点疲倦，我接过来开。。。这路没想到还很难开！！！！黑暗暗的，路又弯又陡（又窄！），还貌似在山角角，我那晚开的超紧张。

不过，终于到了旅馆，Gardiner的Rodeway Inn，开进小镇时还看到了烟花！！哇，当时我好激动！！大声喊了“Happy 4th of July everyone!” 。。。然而车里的两位并没有反应😂 还鄙视我说这烟花有啥好看的。。。唉！！你们就不懂！！！。。原来，我还是个美国人！😂

那晚的旅馆条件应该是最好的了，和Hampton一个档次，manager还给我们留了张卡，so sweet!

Day 6 （7/4/16）

这一天应该是我一生最深刻的国庆节吧。。。

早上我们去了 Mammoth Springs (Mammoth Terrace)。。。不知道为啥，没有图里边那么好看啊😂 就是一层层的石头嘛。。。哦，不过在停车场的旁边看到了鹿! （但不像是elk :()

男同志们＊莫名＊的喜欢这块石头。。cough cough

那天我还不舒服，因为前一晚上刚来了大姨妈。也没想说，但他们看我抱着肚子，真相就出来了。两个男生态度立刻转180度😂说要这几天伺候我，还问我要不要热水袋。对他们来说大姨妈这么可怕啊？哈哈哈哈哈 （不过，突然有男孩子关心我还是很温馨的～～嘿嘿）

在Firehole Falls还发现：能游泳！！！！！！！！！！！艹，早知道就好了！！！脱了鞋去试了试水，不冷。里面好多人游呢 还有跳水的 😭 游泳衣没带。。。好惭愧。。。

至少泡了脚丫。。。

下午去了Old Faithful，我擦，这个东东那么有名，为啥？！等了15分钟，最后才喷了15秒！！

我们看的是2:45那场，喷完了就开始下大雨，我们跑进Visitor Center避雨。。。看了看education center的东西～Geysers原来全世界只有5个地方才有耶！2个在美国！

这样在Old Faithful吃了饭后。。。咳，故事就来了。。。

昨天我们不是听说有个Overlook能看Prismatic Spring吗？（其实是小郭听那位神秘女士说的，我真有点怀疑他是不是听错了！🌞wait and see...）我就在网上好好查了走Overlook的trail, 读了一下也觉得hike不是很远，我把directions抄好了，准备这下午去嘛。

啦啦啦～ 因为本来没找到路口（叫做Fairy Falls trail），我们去Old Faithful的Visitor Center时候就问了下服务人员。结果！他说，trail早已经封闭了，现在正在做construction，为了解脱尴尬他还给我们推荐了另一个trail，当然，我们还是失望啊，只有那一个trail是去spring的overlook！

其实。。。我也不是那么在乎啦，能在地面上拍这个池子已经效果很好，可是他们两个哥们儿很想去。郭儿就说，我们还是去看看吧。

那个路口倒是找到了，果然被封闭了，有个牌子在前面挡着路。我们就把车趴在几百米的附近，准备好了东西，准备sneak进trail。。。😂

走到了牌子那里郭儿还又问了我们一次，”怎么样？” 坦白说，我很明确这是违法的行为（牌子清清楚楚说了不准进）换就我一个人我才不稀罕呢。但因为是我们三个嘛，我就想，应该不会有不安全的，去去我们就回，YOLO right😂所以，我就点头了！！！

Note：我就算有点担心也担心的不是“被抓到”而是遇到熊或迷路或受伤之类的。。。

当然！才走了两分钟不到，我就听到我身后，biu biu biu。

我们大眼瞪小眼，有人还问，“是鸟么？”

我一回头， 操。。。“有车啊！刚刚我们来不是没有车嘛？！”

这时候又来了, biu biu biu的响声。。。

这时候我也差不多意识到是警察了。Oh shit moment。

小郭还很calm，说我们回去解释吧，所以我们只好转回去，然后就眼看Ranger向我们走来，这情况真是尴尬无限。。。

Ranger问：Why are you guying doing this?

我们：…

他：Did you not read the signs?

卧槽当时真是囧死了！！！！！！！！

Whatever, 能咋办，就乖乖听警察的话咯。警察没收了我们的bear spray，要我们的ID（我们都落在车上了），他跟我们说回车吧，在那里等他。

我们就默默的回车上了。把身份证交给了警察。。。警察说要给我们写个citation，我们稍等他一会儿，就回车里折腾折腾。卧槽，citation啥意思？！小郭说应该就给我们一个罚单吧。这个时候，我们还是有些紧张，不过至少没有刚才那么恐惧了。。。至少Ranger不像是要压我们进牢的节奏。。。

过了好久那个警察回来了，一切了然：这不是罚单，而是一个”violation”（需要去法庭的那种。。。😂）court date还是一个月多后，8／9，我擦根本不好回来啊。。。Fortunately警察说我们可以提前一个星期打电话，安排个phone hearing。我们问会是什么样的判刑？警察只说，up to the judge… 

问题是！！！那张单子非常吓人！！！Class B Misdemeanor (like wtf does that even mean 😂）有max sentence of 6 months in jail, $5000 fine… 卧槽，真是吓尿了，但我问了警官，我马上要上学了－需要告诉学校这件事吗？警察说“Oh this petty little thing? No.“ 卧槽？？

哎呀妈呀。。。其实，我已经没有那么担忧了，可现在写着写着我又开始冒冷汗。在网上也搜不到具体的信息，因为这都是看谁是prosecutor，各州的法律，等等。

谁知道会怎样！！！只能耐心的等到7月底打电话给prosecutor! （我也不打算hire律师了。。。卧槽，应该不用吧。。。）

怎么说还是蛮严重的，警察叔叔走了之后我们都好一会儿甩不了情绪。都挺害怕的。车上都没人吭声。。。当然，过了一段时间我们也能开开玩笑啦～ 小郭道歉，但也不能怨他啊，毕竟我们都是同意走进trail的人。。。唉，反正错误已经犯了，抱怨后悔有什么用，对吧。

为了不要这件事故毁了我们的trip, 我们还是尽量暂时忘掉，去玩下一个景点！Norris Geyser Basin，很漂酿的地方～ 

走了走就逐渐放松了些～

那天晚上我们住在黄石公园的东北门口（Cooke City)，开车要路过Lamar Valley，我能总结是我黄石里最喜欢的景点（其实不是“一个”景点，是一片草原）。没有geysers，没有臭鸡蛋味，就是好多树、草、山、、、和野生！！！我们开了一半的路就眼看前面车都停满了路边。咋回事？？原来是。。。黑熊妈妈和两个熊宝宝！！！！！！

耶耶耶！！！一瞬间，从worst day ever变成了best day ever!

还更精彩的是：开过了黑熊妈妈，前面又见一群的野牛要穿过马路！！牛慢慢的走过，车才可以继续行动。。。过几分钟，又来了一群！！哈哈哈哈哈当时真是爽翻了，我就在等看野生动物呢，没想到简直会在眼角下路过。。。离我们真的好近，十几米的样子吧！

（对！！我在驾驶！！）

所以那晚我快快乐乐的把我们开到旅馆～ （这次也发现比前一晚好开的多了～ 是路好点，还是俺的技术提高了呢～ 哈哈哈哈）Even better ! 我们住的Motel 6那晚也有火花在放！就是motel的后面那些房子～～ 我又激动了一发！不管！哪里是能看到火花，可是今天是国庆节啊！没想到会在偏僻的小镇看到呀！

唯一一点sad的是。。。明天是我们在黄石的最后一天。。。😢

Day 7 (7/5/16)

早晨，吃了晚饭最后一次进公园;__;  别人送我们的门票，记得吗，是7/4就过期了。我们本来说要不要早点进公园，在守门员工作之前（那时候好像不用交费了就可以进），但是小郭已经打算要买annual pass，下次还要带女友和他父母来玩，所以就决定不用着急进公园了。

我个人还是希望我们早点去，因为7月的太阳太大，升得又早，如果6-7点就进公园光线最好。（其实，5点刚刚日出的光最佳！）

在路边看到好风景照了照相，太阳已经很高了噶

后面又路过了Lamar River trail，也必须停下来走走（因为我们剩下的景点就是Canyon Village那里，觉得时间不急～）这个trail虽然没在我们的计划中，很喜欢！舒服又easy的一段路，景色也好看，在草坪中－附近就是Lamar River，野生动物也多。

牛哥

鹿哥

路上好多💩粑粑

大饼的形状。。。

下午的时候开错了路，不小心往返了Mammoth Springs，就顺便在那里逛了gift shop，我买了一小本的postcards。我们还去了post office把postcard寄了出去；我给自己寄了两张，给Kelly寄了一张。

然后就开往Canyon Village… 不过之前还在路上停了停，照野花😂

😳“静静的美女子” 哈哈哈哈哈哈

然后＊又＊去了个Gift Shop，在Canyon Village的visitor center区－男孩们挑了好～久的纪念品(-_-;)。。。折腾了后到Lower Falls已经快5点了... 所以我们就走到Grand Canyon的景台，来了个到此一游的合影！

如果时间还多的话，我还是希望能走Lower Falls的小道，去那个景台照一照，唉可惜时间最后还是不够啊！😂

只好回车上，离开黄石公园，开始回盐湖城了。。。😭😭

晚上我们在Idaho Falls吃的晚餐（大家都吃腻了西餐，这次选了个泰国餐馆）那晚住的是Best Western。男孩子们买了啤酒。。。想把我灌醉吗，切！！想的美！ 哈，老娘当然没（那么）醉，我们玩了些游戏，我也没有太embarrass自己😂。。。吧

Day 8 (7/6/16)

最后的一天很轻松，中午就回到了盐湖城。我们打算就在城里玩一玩吧。去了Temple Square，因为听朋友推荐的，结果。。。好没意思。。。=___= 😂

就是个教堂。。。还不准进去。。。理解一下文化和历史可能会好点，但我们都怕tour guide想convert咱们，所以上来一个就拒绝😂

Mormon Temple

下午太阳太晒，男孩子们不想做室外活动(-_-;) 所以我们就去了个博物馆！Natural History Museum.

其实还挺好玩，也不是很贵（13刀左右）我们真逛完了这下午。

阳台可以晒太阳。。。睡午觉。。。2333

8点博物馆关门，我们也这个时候去吃晚饭啦～～

餐馆是个香港餐馆，老板娘真的太nice!!!! （因为我回匹兹堡之后才发现我的账单也拿走了，就是说小费最后没付。。。给老板娘打电话解释她就笑着说“没事，算了！”感动！）吃的还蛮愉快。。。唉，也是旅游的最后一餐！T_T

去了机场还了车，我们只好告别。小郭和我同一路回家，但李喆就要回Boston，他的terminal和我们不一样所以就在机场门口说了再见。。。真的有点心酸哦！！！刚开始是陌生人，还比较尴尬（他是闷骚型 😄）但过了这几天像朋友（？）了。。。有点舍不得帅哥呢😏

飞机是通宵的。。。red-eye flight。。。好累啊，在飞机上睡着了，但还要在南卡转机，一趟折腾完也是第二天快中午才回到公寓。天昏地暗的睡了一下午。。。

旅游－ 成功的结束！！

（违法的事故就不算了😂）

总结