Where have all the mangos gone?

Bad news everyone...... mangos, are ALL GONE... well at least for 6 months or so. It literally crushed my tender heart when Jan informed me that is why we havent gone to our trusty local fruit stand:

I dont know if I had put in this blog how amazing delicious the mangos are here. I loved mangos at home. I loved the flavor, and texture..... but at home, they were huge, and light in color and usually found for $1.50 EACH! Here, they are smaller, softer, so juicy and sweet! They have a flavor that makes you want to... well.... you get the picture. We could get a bag of 10 for $3! You can actually drive up to mango trees here, as long as they arent on someone property... and get them. The picture I am putting here are: 1) Jan getting mangos from the top of our car. 2) A road side mango spot at someones home. 3) the handmade basket with mangos

we got from the roadside stand.

2 Chicks on a Skinny Mission

So, I started yet another blog with my bestie Melanie. Both of us have over the years kind of let ourselves go on the healthy area and want to lose some weight. So, to help each other out, we started a blog together. It is a way for us to keep each other accountable for our daily intakes and exercises!

We are both blessed with a wonderful at home support system, but having each other is just that extra push I think we both need! We both have goals, and being we are so alike, we will be basically on the same regimen.

When I was little, I was little. But once I hit puberty, my weight skyrocketed. Since I was young, I always had doctors looking at my thyroid, bc it was visible to the eye that it was enlarged. I was put on medicines way back I believe when I was close to 15. I might be off a year or two. now, I am never going to point fingers, or do the blame game, or make any excuses for how my weight has been over the past 14 years, but so many factors in my life had a good job at NOT helping me!

I have always felt I had a beautiful face. I love my eyes, and my blonde hair (though that may change on occasion haha) I love my height and honestly, I love my curves. I just want to have um, shall I say LESS curve, more TONE! Even in my college times around the age of 18 I wanted to try plus size modeling. I am not ashamed to be called plus size! Hell, size 12!!!! Is considered plus size today!!! that is AVERAGE! haha I look at plus size models and think, damn they are sexy! I am not wanting to be a size 2, not even a size 6! I want to be closer to a 10-12! I dont look through fashion magazines and think, wow, I wish I was like her. I DO look through magazines and see the "average" girl, and think of that as my inspiration.

I once lost 40lbs in a matter of 6 months! I was so happy, had almost hit my target weight, then for whatever reason, quit on myself. I did have a personal trainer, but I lost the most weight when I was happy! I find when I am happy, on the inside, I work harder to be even MORE happy!

have you ever heard of The Secret? I know many people do not believe that only your thoughts can do ANYTHING in life, but I will tell you now, my thoughts have given me EVERYTHING in life. Including the bad things!!! Maybe not all of them, but especially the things that happen to me personally, if I questioned my ability, I couldnt do it. If i said, I will never do this, then I still havent. SO, one of the best things, out of the MANY that I got out of the secret was this phrase: "Believe and you shall Recieve"! If you stop with the I donts and replace them with the I wants, you will honestly see a difference in your attitude, which then affects your mood, which affects your outlook, and you bring more and more positivity your way, and before you know it, everything in your life is a positive. I will admit, I still and learning this! but, I can feel it! I know its true and in knowing that, I know that I am very close to living it!

No matter how much weight I may be, everyone (unless they are just being nice) always says that I do NOT look my weight. Which is something I can thank my height for.

To end this, I want to say, that I am so thankful for my life. I am thankful for my family, and my friends. For love, and laughter. I think we all need to just be thankful sometimes when we think about how bad we think we have it.

As Jan says to me, I say to you" If your not happy with it, then CHANGE it". damn I love that woman!

just a lil poem

I have never smelled

exactly what the earth smells like

till I stepped foot

on this land

the dirt and trees

and sea and grass

all fill the air.

I remember the feeling

of excitement

and nervousness

I had in my gut

as each step I took

was closer to you

I am in love with the island

the clouds are like actors

making shapes

in the sky

The sunsets are emotional

leaving you thankful

for today

and excited

for tomorrow

I am lucky

to wake each morning

and know I am where

I should be

the tastes

the sounds

the smells

and feels

all make this world

a world of its own

These are the three pictures I sent in to the photo contest here on the island for pictures of flame trees. I thought something close up, showing their beauty would be best. I love the first one! they all are so different in color. Red, orange, pinkish. They are so beautiful!

I might try to have a photo day tomorrow while jan is at work. You can submit as many as you want, and I would love to win. Not just for the $500, but just to say that I WON!! hahaha it would honestly make me feel so confident in my photography.

Randomness is good

So, one of the things I have had to get used to, was the fact that as Jan and I are closing our eyes to go to sleep, most of the world I knew is just waking from their night.

It has been yet another day here in the Pacific. Woke last night to the feeling of my legs and feet wet, wondering what in the hell, when I hear jan say "close the window quick". It had started to rain and it always comes in our bedroom window at the foot of the bed. So, I ended up sleeping with wet feet last night haha

Do you ever stop, and think, "is my life real?" Sometimes I stop, and look at the apt around me, the sky, the palms, and it almost feels unreal. Its very odd. I guess i am still getting used to my surroundings.

I have been looking into going to school for Hospitality/Tourism Management. Get a job at one of the resorts here would be nice. I think I would like it. Interaction with people from everywhere. I even saw they had a job opening for housekeeping. Not something someone goes OH WOW I wish I could that, BUT it is a job. AND it is a job at a resort. So, there is a foot in the door. We will see though.

Jan has been so supportive with me trying to find myself in regards to school and a career. Thankfully haha It is scary sometimes when I look back at my friends who have careers. Sometimes I get frustrated, or almost fall into this funk about it, but, I try to remind myself that I am doing something so different than almost everyone I know! I am following my heart, and seeing the world on top of being with the person I love. I hate knowing that there are some, even my loved ones, who arent able to do what I am doing.

Ok, off to pick Jan up. Just wanted to put some of my thoughts here for today.

Remember:

“If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.”

Dear Mr Trade Winds

Dear Mr, Trade winds from Japan,

I wanted to write to you today to thank you for cooling this tiny island down a little! When you started to come around, I laughed in ecstatic joy. (if that is even a phrase) When you started showing up, I again believed in Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny. I thought, through the heat I endured while here, that you were but only a fairy tale of the islands. But, Trade winds, you are NOT! You are real. And you are so nice! And with you showing me that fairy tales do come true, I am looking forward every day to that mermaid friend I have always wanted. And you have now given me

Thank you trade winds from bring your confidant The Rain! Mr. rain makes my heart happy. Somehow he peps up the dry little grasslets and talks them into being much greener these days.

Without you Mr Wind and Mr Rain I would still be sweating while writing you this letter. But now, with you blowing in my hair, I thank you.

Sincerely,

The blond girl living in Saipan who isnt used to the heat.... aka Lauren

photography eyes

Being that I love photography so much, I wanted to post some of my pictures up here. Since I was young, i have had an amazement to see how different the world around us looks through the lens of a camera. I try to get reality pictures. pictures that might seem scary or sad to some, are exquisite to me! So, here are some of my work. And who knows, maybe one day you will be able to go to the local book store and actually find my work sitting on a shelf next to some awesome photographers!

Raindrops, Laughter, and Friends...

The other night Jan decided last minute to get together a small intimate group to go hang out at the beach pavilion "13 Fishermen". Nay, Van, Derek, Vaaia, and Leo. When she told me, I was so damn excited! She got the list of people, and we made our plans for after they all got off work that night. Nerves really had the best of me till I got a drink in me.

Getting ready for me was crazy. I think I tried on 6 t-shirts... T-SHIRTS for gods sake! I mean shoot, its not like we were going out somewhere that I needed to get all crazy dressed but still, I kept trying on till I found something I was comfortable in. (maybe this is something I should keep to myself...hm....)

Anyways, as soon as they began showing up, their

warmth honestly m

elted away any fear I had about meeting new people. Back home, though I don't get freaked out about meeting new people, I am always thinking, I wonder if they are thinking about my size.... I wonder if they are judging me. Here, especially with the locals, I dont feel that way. I honestly feel comfortable. They open up to me, which in turn allows me to calm my fears.

Anyways, Derek brought his guitar, which allowed a tipsy Jan to show us her singing...uh.....talents. Love you Jan. I got to meet Va

aia fo

r the first time. She invited me to join the paddling team here, which at first I was very excited about, but when I talked to Jan about it... she reminded me... um.... I cant swim*giving my mother a LOOK* :-) But it really meant a lot that I would be invited to something so soon. Of course the first thing I asked her, " are there any other out of shape girls on the team"? Just thinking about the visual of me sitting there about to pass the hell out while everyone was paddling away!

The best part, besides the nice drunk :-P was that it began to rain not to long after we got there. I love the rain. I love thunder, and lightening. And the best, I love the earth after it rains. It looks so beautiful.

Well, I hope that we get together with them again. You know, one of the things I love about Jan and me, is that when we are out with people, we don't have to be stuck up each others asses. I honestly hate that. Its just nice to know that the people we are with, and the trust we have for each other, allows us to just go out and have fun. I mean, keep in

mind, its not like we are going out party hardy but still. Just a thought I had.....

I did wish that my closest friends/family

who I usually chill with were here. And my sister katie would have loved the atmosphere of it!

One last thought: “Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human.”

Education from life

I have been asked so many times about how could I possibly move across the world for something I didn't know would work or not....

Well, all I can say is:

Shouldn't I think about my happiness? Isn't our happiness a part of our well being? Isn't waking up in the morning, feeling fulfilled and whole what we should strive for?

I have always been the person who believes that what life has to teach us, is the REAL education that we are here for. I always had problems in school. Its not that I couldn't do it, its the fact that all I could think was, I am wasting all this time of my life that could be used LIVING!

It seems to me that today, the theme of life is school, work, sleep. That's it. And it makes me sad. I know I may be considered as a hippy slacker, but damn it... I can breathe in the world around me. I can speak through the wind, and feel the earth thrive under my feet. Now THAT is life to me. THAT is what I believe our class room should be. Life, Love, Laughter. All three are a part of my universe. And I have made that happen since I was little. Sipping on a tea of herbs, or photographing something as small as a dew covered leaf, fulfill me. How simple that may be to some, but when my time comes, all of these little things, will add up, to being way more than all the money, and cars, and jewelry that someone else might live for. But, except for this blog, I do not go around preaching this. It is something someone has.... or they dont. I try to soften my loved ones with thoughts of acceptance, rather than anger. Though I may not be perfect in this, I learn something new every day.

In doing energy work, back in school in NJ, I began to feel how I could actually communicate with the earth around me. When I begin to think, or talk about, or act on these feelings of being a part of this earth, I feel like my whole chest is filled with this feeling of ME.

I am a woman who loves, and loves hard. I love strong. I am open about how I feel and you always know how I feel about you. When I began getting to know Jan, I knew there was SOMETHING so different, that for 10 months, before we even met, I felt like what we had was way stronger than anything I have had with anyone. What was it? I asked myself every day. I asked, why is it that this is happening with someone older and far far away?! But when I look back at all we have gone through, I realize that when I thought this all happened so strangely, with age and distance, it amazes me every day to realize how perfect it worked out with time, money, availability to come here. How everything just fell into my lap saying, take it, and RUN!

When I had to leave my mom and sister behind at that airport, my heart hurt. But I kept my head high, and I saved the tears, for a time I needed them most. They would be ok. I knew that inside. From a small child, I have felt like I had wings, and these wings, wrapped themselves around both of them. Though we had hard times with each other, I have always felt like I was their protector. And walking through that gate, and waving, knowing it was my last time, killed me. But I had to do it.


The love I have for my family, goes beyond, further than the universe can stretch itself out. I will always win. those closest to me, are my family. Sometimes I do feel guilty for doing the things that I want. The things that make me happy. Because the inside lauren, wants to stay and cater. Stay and be the one there for them all.

But here I am. Happy. Healthy. I get to wake every morning, and be with someone who loves me so much. To be with someone, who I would give my life for. Now, I want someone to ask me how could I make the move here.......

All the pictures in this blog were done by me. Usually ALL the pictures in any of my blog as done by me. :-)

Life's a Beach

On one of my first days here, Jan took me to this amazing beach. You turn into this long dirt, bumpy road. It is lined with a thick mass of tropical trees. The awesome thing, like so many areas here on the island, you can look back and see actual WWII Japanese bunkers buried in the mass of greenery! We always stop to look at them wherever we may be. It is so creepy to look at them, knowing that 70 years ago there was a war going on right where we are.

Anyways, you finally reach the end of the road. When you get there, you are surrounded, in a circle by tall, fertile coconut and palm trees. The ground is covered by sand, grass, fallen coconuts, and leaves. You can smell the salt coming from the ocean just down the trail. When I hear it, I always want to stand there, close my eyes, and just listen to the sound that I love so dearly. The sandy beach trail is shaded by the palms, and being new to all this, I am totally amazed.

Finally, as my bare feet hit the beach, I stop in my tracks. I have never been anywhere that looked as if it came straight from a postcard! There were these big boulders sitting at the edge of the water in front of me. Scanning to the right, I saw nothing but cliffs and rocks and the greenest water. And to the left, it looked like the beach of coral went on forever. When Jan told me you could find coral there, I had no idea what she meant. My first glance of a small piece of in tact, full coral, I had to catch my breath. There, every step of the beach was coral! I mean, literally. Walking on it, seemed like a sin, or something I should be in trouble for. I kept asking her, is it ok to take the coral? I felt like something this earthy, and beautiful should be illegal.

For the first time, I took off my cover, and walked in just a bathing suit. We had the place to ourselves. If i didn't have to worry about the sun, I would have stayed there all day! The weird thing is, the water breaks far away from the beach.... leaving this shallow pool of water a good 50 yards out. As you walk through the calm waters edge, you can see with every foot, these huge, black sea cucumbers. I believe thats what they were. They were long and looked like they would be slimy, but weren't. Because you know I had to find out!

We left with a backpack and paper sack full of shells, sea glass, and coral. I almost felt stingy, but when I did, a good look around the coral infested beach, reminded me that there was more than enough to go around.

I have always liked the ocean and the beach. Until now, I hardly ever really made it there. But here, I seem to respect it a bit more. There are no people there, there are secret beaches that only a few people really go to. And with each one, there is something spectacular. Whether it be the caves and mounds of coral at Ladder beach, or the cliffs and rocks at Wing Beach, each one is special in its own way. And with each one you get to see a part of where you are differently.

I wish more than anything that my family could be here to see it. Hopefully one day some of them can. until then, all I can do is open up this mind to allow them, and everyone to witness it with me, through my words!

battle of the flame trees

I began loving photography when I was younger. Started taking pictures of random things and even took a class in it back in 8th grade. It was something that just came so easy to me. Like poetry. It just happens. You know when something is just a part of you. Well, thats how artsy and expressive things are with me. ANYWAYS...

I have been told about this photography contest here on the island. There are these magnificent trees here that literally look like they are on fire from the bright orange and red colored leaves they have year round! here is a picture I took of one in front of Suicide Cliff. This picture is taken at the " Last Command Post" memorial at the bottom of Suicide Cliff. This is the cliff where the Japanese women and their children threw themselves over in WWII. They wanted to keep their pride and honor, so instead of giving up, they were told to do this by their husbands and the japanese soldiers. (two pictures I took below)

Just below Suicide Cliff lies Bonzai Cliff. There is where the soldiers threw themselves over to keep from having to surrender to the US Military. I took the picture below on the cliff looking down on the edge.

So anyway, now knowing about the photo contest, I am on this hunt for the perfect flame tree, and the perfect flame tree picture. I am capturing them all over, so I can put them all together and choose. When I'm driving Im going "look, damn I wish I had my camera" I wonder if I should just buy a camera to keep in the car... could be a good idea haha But I want to try and hope I place somehow! Its going to be hard because I am new and fresh at this, but how cool would that be?! Even Jan is always pushing me to take pictures. The guy who won last years had a beautiful picture, but it gives me the drive to try and do BETTER! I WILL CONQUER!

Saipan is such an amazing place to take pictures. Every turn, I see something, wishing I had my camera with me. I stare at this earth around me here, and wish i could have a photo blog for everything I see. Even the stars at night. Sometimes I just get overloaded with the sights here. One thing I MUST say though, is that I wish the people here would take better care of their Island. Im not sure if its locals, or the people who have moved here, but what a shame to go to these amazong places and find trash everywhere. Even in the neighborhoods. Its just sad.

But needless to say, this place is at the moment, numero uno on my paradise list. :-)

If I had the money, I would bring all of my friends and family here to experience this here with Jan and me. How grand that would be!

Man across the balcony..

There is this man that sits out on his balcony every day smoking. Its funny because sometimes I forget about it, and walk around in little clothing since its so hot, so I am sure he has seen more of me then most people in my life have haha

See our balcony faces his. He seems to be somewhat respectful and doesnt seem to look this way much, but, Im sure he knows me better than I want haha. Weird...

its almost like... when you think... of how many pictures am I in, sitting there, in some strangers photo book. Where someone who doesnt even know me is saying "look at that chick, looking all confused" yeah, I know this is random, but I really do think about it... hm......

Showers, drinks, and icecubes

Here in Saipan it is unsafe to drink the faucet water. It comes from the local Utilities company, and either has some chemicals in it or whatever it is, but all i know is that the water that comes from the sink you do NOT ingest!

Then there is the shower water. The water where we live is very cool. We dont have a water heater here, but honestly we dont need one being how hot it is here. AND it is actually rain water! It took me awhile to understand the reason why. To fathom the thought of showering in rain water. At first, I'm like "omg, is that healthy?"... then I kicked myself in the ass. How would showering in rainwater NOT be good for you?! Shoot, its as natural as you can get haha

ANYWAY, for drinking water and to make ice, we use water from these 5 gal jugs that we order and have delivered from a local company. That water comes from a separate company that uses reverse osmosis "Locally produced bottled water is available on Saipan manufactured from brackish sources by the process of reverse osmosis. The price is $0.50 per gallon. The water is pure and widely consumed throughout the island."

We have this pump that you put on the bottle. It takes me back to the days of tappin' that keg actually! hehe ANWAYS, it was def something that took getting some used to.

Morning walks... better than I thought...

Before I came to live here in Saipan, I didn't have any exercise going on at all! I began eating my emotions and using food for a comfort. Well, being here, being happy, and having Jan and Tasi right by my side, I now have the push to better my health.

We started out doing a 1 mile walk. The picture is from our walking area. We rise before the sun comes up and as we walk it greets us.

So 1 mile turned into 1.5 miles, which then turned into 2 miles. We actually walked EVERY day since I got here except for the last two days. Due to rain, we did have to cancel, but we got up bright and early this morning for our routine walk. I have to say, I have much more energy during the day, and I honestly just feel healthier! When I got here to Saipan, I began drinking 99% water. We RARELY have anything else! At home, you RARELY saw me drink water haha. Also, we cook now, chicken usually. We have salads all the time. It took me a good few days to get into the habit, but now I am in the routine. I have my cravings, but I try to keep things around here that I can grab. Though the best thing about my diet Jan has taught me, is drink water when I feel hungry!!

I have struggled with my self esteem and weight since I saw young. I could list all the things that I blame it for, but what would that do to help me? NOTHING! So, and Jan says, "If you dont like something, then do something about it!" So... I am.... Once I get some more progress, I will probably post a blog about it with some before and in progress pictures. :-)

Someone, well, two people that have been an inspiration for me are my mother and my cousin amanda. Both of which have lost weight, look stunning, and did it all on their OWN!!! I used to secretly envy them, wishing I had the strength, but, all I needed was someone to be there with me. And I have her. And damn is it nice to finally be in tune with life, love, and happiness.

Saying farewell to the day...

Tonight Jan and I went down by the water to watch the sun go down. I want to try and meet the sunset with my camera next time, but I got these pictures from my Blackberry.

The sunsets here are magnificient. They start off like any sunset, and then before you know it, there is a color show in the sky! and seeing the light reflect off the ocean is like heaven. It seems to me that the sky here is so much bigger than that at home. I dont know why but the clouds, the sky, the stars and moon all seem like something i have never seen before. And the rainbows. Every time it rains, there it is. High in the sky. Its just amazing to have so much beauty around me everryyy day!!

My heart throb .....

ok, so in case you havent gotten it yet, the reason I am living on this small chunck of land is because of that woman there. Shes kind, smart, loving, giving, helpful, and helps me be a better woman myself. She works hard at her job, and has made this move so easy for me.

I dont want to write some sappy love story here, but I wanted it to be known who this JAN was that stole my heart. So here she is. Beautiful smile and all. You can look, but uh... dont look too hard... I'll have to KILL YA!

hehe juuussttt kiidddiinngggggg

Its always funnier in the moment...

jan and I both came up with this idea of me writting a blog, one, because it gives me something to do... and two, because the other day when we were driving from the store, we saw what I like to call the "back to the future car". (reference left) So, I am using this blog to share with everyone my life here. When something funny happens, I turn to you. When I see something I need to share, I turn to you. This my friends, will be my story of my adventure! I want to introduce the island of Saipan in a way I see it. Where I go, what I see, who I meet.

I want to talk about the drivers here. you know, I spent a good year or so living in Northern Jersey when i went to school. I always remember how getting used to driving there was a challenge for me. Finally over time, and after learning to put my foot down and holding my round on the roads, I became confident in my driving. I felt like I too owned the road along with every other Jersey driver. when I saw license plates from other states, I too rode asses, honked horns, and even cut them off. I learned the held up hands saying "What in the bleep are you doing?!" So, I got comfortable being behind the wheel there.

here.... HERE?! ok, I love this island. I love the people here... but... honestly... how do I put this nicely.... IF YOU PULL OUT IN FRONT OF US ONE MORE TIME WHEN WE ARE ONLY FEET AWAY WE WONT STOP NEXT TIME!!! *whew* that felt good to get off my chest.

I began to notice our first day. When you are driving down the road, and there is a car waiting to pull out, 98.6% of the time they are mischievously waiting for you to get close enough that they can cut you off, make you slam on your brakes, and then they take the next damn turn! oy vey or however you spell it...

but, again, I love the island! :-) so, now we just make a joke of it. Saying, I bet they are gonna cut us off, to every car we see. even parked, unoccupied ones... yeah.... its priceless.....

.... I'm really in Saipan!

The first thing we did was drive around the island.

The smell of the trees, the earth, the wetlands, all filled my nose with smells I have never met before. It was so strong at first that I just kept thinking, "Will I ever get used to this..."

I remember noticing how dark the tinting was on jans car. For the sun. Well no duh, but I didnt realize just HOW MUCH its needed here. I think what happened, is that the sun prefers to hang out here, and just acknowledge the states, because this sun, is a KILLER! (well at least for this country, white, east coast girl) :-)

I spent the next few days getting used to time. Over here, we are 14 hours ahead of where was. So that was not just a over night thing needless to say.

I think we went to 80% of the island that first day. I looked at every road, cloud, tree, flower, house with amazement that i was HERE!

And I knew that I was HOME!

The move....

Over a year ago, I began talking with jan. Things moved slowly, and before we knew it, our feelings for each other were more than the friendship we started. After some determined, and cute chasing, jan got the yes she had been waiting for. YES I finally said. It was afternoon for me on Feb 13th. Yet being that she was (literally) half way across the world, it was already Valentines day for her! The next day (Feb 14th for me) I ended up with a table overed with three sets of flowers, two teddy bears, two chocolates, and a balloon. All came with notes so sweet. So, thats when I began my relationship with jan, a woman who I moved across the earth for....

So here we are. I am sitting in my shorts and tee shirt. I am thinking back to when I landed in Saipan....

Back on the east coast of North carolina, I began packing only a day before I was to leave. My mother, and family seem more uptight than me. I think I was in some sort of denial that it was reality. I slept on the couch that night, sleeping for maybe 2 hours.

My mother and sister drove me to the airport, an hour away, and watched as I worked my way through the Security Line. I think back to the last time I saw them, waving at me. Though my heart ached for them to go with me or even to hug me, I turned around, and didnt look back. Its not that I was turning my back from them, because those two women are my world, BUT I knew that I had to be strong! Not just for me, but for my mother. I think when I took the travels into my hands, it was easier for her to breathe.

So, before the sun rose on may 18th, I was on my way to my first stop in Atlanta, GA.

I had a 6 hour layover there in Atlanta, and used my time up with getting online, talking on the phone, texting, really anything I could. Mostly I was online. I stalked this older asian woman who was hogging the outlet, and the second she took her plug out, I claimed it, and dared anyone to come near. So I sat there for 6 hours.

By the time it was time to board my second flight, I was tired. The next flight ended up being a good 14 hours. Atlanta, GA ---> Narita, Japan! I sat next to a nice girl my age, so that was good.

By the time we landed in Japan, I was tired, sore, in pain, delerious, and not to mention, my feet were swelled up like I was due any moment... haha

I only had 3 hours there in Japan. I chatted with my mother and jan for a bit, got some foodage, then slept some on the seats people wait for thier planes on. I really didnt care.

Finally, on my last flight to JAN!!! We board the plane. And before we know it, are being told to get off and walk across the airport to another one, due to mechanical difficulties!

Finally, We are landing in Saipan, and thats when the excitement rose in my like a kid in a toy store. I filled up with so many emotions. And there they were. Jan, and her, well now OUR dog Tasi! I was so happy........