Charmed Life

My sister is home from Ghana! We've exchanged presents from our travels last night - goodies galore. And now I'm clawing through my last essays listening to this. Love her voice, love this song: Joy Williams' "Charmed Life".

It's plain to see what we got is color in a world of black and white

Costa Rica

So this is the trip that began my crazy four weeks of traveling. It really set the bar high because what a beautiful country Costa Rica is, and to have enjoyed it with some of my best friends... I'm a lucky girl.

515 + A had such a great time doing normal activities like zip-lining, rappelling, surfing, beach-lounging, and hiking. We began at the active volcano in Arenal, and then drove to our rented villa in the mountains (I know, how posh) of Uvita overlooking the Puntarenas whale-tail beach, one of only three in the world, and took daily trips to Domincal and the Manuel Antonio National Park. The Pacific Ocean is always spectacular, and from the South American continent, I can attest that this is still true.

It being the rainy season was probably the best thing for us to be our normally abnormal selves. As the rain each night poured down, so did our cards, drinks, stories, and antics. Making innocent games needlessly violent (our specialty), coming up with alliterative alter-egos, and talking about things wildly inappropriate for any other audience, we were hopelessly blissful in our familiar, weird little world.

Rachel, Henry, Fanny, Wanda, Oscar, Dorothy

(Teresa is taking the picture)

(second, fourth, and last photos by "Teresa")

Blueberry Crumb Bars

I made these blueberry crumb bars yesterday. From the always and ever extraordinary Smitten Kitchen. I did halve the recipe because 36 bars is a lot. Ok, no. It's because I only had 1 pint of blueberries. Who are we kidding; when have I ever approached food with any moderation?

Blueberry Crumb Bars (adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 cups flour

zest of 1 lemon

1 egg

8 oz (or 1 stick) of cold salted butter, cubed

2 and a little extra cups (or 1 pint) blueberries

1/2 cup white sugar

juice of half a lemon (about 2 tablespoons)

2 teaspoons corn starch

one. Mix sugar, baking powder, flour and lemon zest in a bowl. Cut and blend in cold butter cubes and egg with a fork. It'll be crumbly.

two. In a separate bowl, toss blueberries with sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch.

three. Layer half of the flour mixture into a greased 10 x 6 pan. Repeat with all of the blueberries; careful you don't dump the excess liquid too. Layer the remaining flour mixture on top.

four. Bake for 50 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Cool completely before you cut if you want bars. I'd imagine that this would also make a fantastic hot blueberry cobbler of course requiring a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The Romantics

Ok, I know I've been home for almost 5 days now and still no updates of Asia. Apologies in advance because this still isn't it. I also apologize for the lack of phone calls to all of you since my return. For the scant few who have spoken with me, you know I currently sound like a serial killer who has a pack-a-day smoking problem. I got sick in Taiwan, got even sicker in Korea, and now I'm slowly recovering. My voice is mysterious, scratchy, and... phlegmy. Anyway, I promise that I will be slowly updating about my travels as we go along.

I did, however, come home to find this: the enchanting trailer for The Romantics.



Such an attractive ensemble cast and I'm looking forward to be wowed by all them. The storyline is laced with potential for great emotional depth and nuanced acting. And for even more eye candy, I also found that J.Crew has them modeling!

Don't the pictures just make you wish you were part of their group of friends? Stunning. Thank you, American cinema and style, for this lovely welcome home!

(photos from InStyle)

PS. Everyone wish her luck on her first days of Law School orientation! She will be so, so great.

Quotability

"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world, you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life - and travel - leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks - on your body or on your heart - are beautiful."

Anthony Bourdain

Japan and Taiwan have been amazing. Reflecting in the Taipei airport, feeling bittersweet leaving my awesome family. So far things have been really tiring, but so worth it. Korea should follow suite. Home on the 19th.

(photo by jaako)

A Breath of American Air

Hello from Dallas, my layover before Japan! My stay at home was brief but sweet after a truly unforgettable time in Costa Rica with some of my oldest friends. More later, but as I venture onto the next adventure, here is something eloquent and beautiful I found while relaxing along the beach. It's from "En(trance)" by Chris Arthur in The Best American Essays of 2009.

"Memory's version captures a truth about [place], not merely as it appears, but as it was felt, played in, dreamed of, as its lineaments intertwined and pulled on mine, delicately adjusting the sails of childhood to catch the breath of meaning that emanates from things - things that, to an adult's rigging, have only the unbreezy weight of the ordinary about them."

Bon Voyage

All possible essays are written for now and I'm packed up, ready to go. Yesterday night I drove to Chicago and this morning, I'm leaving for Costa Rica with the 515 Housies for a week. Then after less than 12 hours at home, I immediately fly out for my tour of Asia with JJB. We've dubbed it "Asian Invasion 2010" or AI2010 for short. I've been perusing photos I've taken of past trips and I am seriously so excited. I actually look through these when I'm feeling sad and they never fail to cheer me up.

Cusco, Peru

Berlin, Germany

Smoky Mountains, North Carolina

Blogging will be sparse and intermittent. But I will have lots and lots when I return on the 19th of August!

PS. My sister is leaving for Ghana (yes, that Ghana) the day before I get home from Costa Rica. We're sad that we'll just miss each other, but she will be doing some amazing things there. I assume my parents are simultaneously sick with worry and rejoicing their freedom. Wish us luck!