A summer in Salem

When I first agreed to do a research project in Salem over the summer I realized that I would have to be in Salem over the summer...I know you're probably saying, "Well duh, you knew you agreed to stay and you knew it. You're an idiot"There were two reasons why I was nervous about staying in Salem:

1) I thought Salem would be a snooze fest during the summer because it is during the school year

2) It seriously doesn't stop raining until mid-June and the sun doesn't start shining until July.

However, what I started out dreading, has been a pleasant surprise and a great way to spend my time before going abroad. While working on this research project has been a nightmare, to say the least, but I have learned a ton of stuff about things nobody will ever read (go me!. Thank goodness I am almost done with this godforsaken project because I am going crazy. I guess I can't really complain because I am getting paid to do it but if you know me at all I will complain regardless. I will say that I had a fun time working with my research community, going crazy over our projects all the time. Nothing brings people together more than academia.

I also played a lot of boardgames, and being the competitive person I am, I always wanted to win (which I did really). Except that I am TERRIBLE at bananagrams. Yeah, I know you're shocked but I seriously am not good at this game. I literally would get 3 tiles from winning and then somebody else would win. I am convinced they cheated. I am good at Catchphrase though! Which is more impressive than bananagrams because it was a team effort (and because I  got skillz for dayzzz). 

My summer also consisted of eating frozen yogurt, always.Which I didn't know I liked, until two of my friends took me to after a hike, or what they called a "nature walk" at Three Pools.  Fro yo is the best thing EVER.  Another thing we did was watch our fair amount of awful movies. For example, BAD TEACHER. Don't go to this movie. Ever. Unless you want to be miserable for 2 hours, then maybe you should go to this. I am convinced that everyone who left the theater left with a few less IQ points. Just sayin'.

One of my fondest memories of this summer took place on July 4th.  I went with two friends on what I thought was a normal length hike of about 9 miles, but it turned into a 16 mile excursion into untamed forest with cougars and angry forest service workers. The trail was closed but we wanted to be adventurous, we considered ourselves trailblazers (haas nothing to do with the Blazers)! This hike was uphill on the way there and uphill on the way back (not really but it felt like it).

We made it about 4 miles before coming to a  trail but passed on it because it was slightly overgrown. By which I mean there were a couple branches hanging over the path.  I'll take the blame for this one, I scoped it out. Looking back,  it is funny that we passed on it because we ended walking through berry bushes that scratched the shit out of us the entire way. I am surprised we didn't die ( not dramatic at all).

But we kept going because this thing called the INTERNET told us that our sweet reward would be a "beautiful waterfall and grassy meadow". Well internet, you lied. We saw  A LOT of grass but this waterfall was missing in action.And because we are trailblazers, ALWAYS.

We then realized we still had to hike the rest of the 8 miles back to where we had parked...again, all uphill. It really wasn't that bad, except the part where I felt like dying. That part really sucked. At some point I complained and my friend responded by saying, "It's okay, my mental anguish is on par with your physical anguish". I think that might have been true but that did nothing to ease my or my other friend's pain. Unless his mind is still in anguish today I don't agree that we were in equal levels of pain because my legs still hate me. They actually told me this morning when I tried running.

All things considered, I had a ton of fun with these two bozos and the rest of the crew. Playing boardgames for days.  Now that I am getting ready to take off to the Basin, I realize that Salem is not that bad. Especially when you have friends who will go on nature walks that are a mere 16 miles, eat frozen yogurt, are willing to get stomped during boardgames and everything else that I win at. 

I know I will miss my friends and it will be hard leaving Salem come Friday, but I  also know that on July 19th I will be in Ecuador running around like a kid in a candy store for 5 1/2 months.

As I sometimes always say, it's time to grab life by the horns.