 Melissa Stevens - MissyS | All Comments |
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| 22nd July 2008 Jason | kayaking - From: More Kayaking Photos From Phong Nha Ke Bang Amy and I might have a chance to go kayaking in Ketchikan, Alaska. I was on the fence before, but these photos are making me think it would really be a spectacular experience. I haven't done too much kayaking- I tend to like canoeing better. But since we'd be going in 2-person canoes, I'll just let Amy paddle! :) |
| 22nd July 2008 Jason | $5 a day! - From: Mysterious Medicine, Guilty Resort Pleasures, and My Own Personal Gecko Seems like a pretty good deal to me. Granted it's not the rugged beauty we're accustomed to through your photos, but it does look peaceful and relaxing. I hope you continue to feel better! Don't overdo it, Missy! I got sick on my last day in Palestine, and being sick so far away from home totally sucks! Be smart! |
| 22nd July 2008 Scott | I Agree with Patrick... - From: More Kayaking Photos From Phong Nha Ke Bang ...and that scares me. I would consider trying the medicine as an integral part of the Participant-Observation process. Just make sure you have witnesses to document the results--preferably on film. ;-) Your paddle technique looks pretty good, but those bulky PFDs can't be fun to use. Scott--the one-time kayak instructor/guide |
| 22nd July 2008 patrick | glad you're feeling a little better - From: More Kayaking Photos From Phong Nha Ke Bang I finally got a chance to catch up on my missy-related reading, so have been living the drama of the past few days in just these past few minutes. I'm glad you're getting a little better, but I would recommend taking a gigantic swig of the illicit vietnamese medicine while you still have the excuse. what could go wrong? |
| 22nd July 2008 #1 Mom | "your guilty pleasure" - From: Mysterious Medicine, Guilty Resort Pleasures, and My Own Personal Gecko I'm glad that you got to relax a bit. I have to ask, I'm your mom, "are you really better or just saying that to make me feel better?" Anyway the sun spa looks so appealing. Is Chay Lap going to look that good? Doesn't matter, it will be a "real" part of Viet Nam which is what you going for, isn't it? I'm also glad you found a new friend, even if it is tiny. Remember you can't bring him home, Woods would be jealous. I love you. P.S. E-mail me if you have time. |
| 18th July 2008 Jason | Alaska - From: Another Day at the Office: Kayaking in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park I didn't know you were in Alaska. How long were you there? I'm going for my honeymoon and am very excited. But it will only be for a week and a half. It does sound like you are developing a new level of comfort with Vietnam and what you're doing... would you ever have the opportunity to work there for longer than a few weeks? That would be awesome... |
| 18th July 2008 Jason | You know - From: German Management + Vietnamese Engineering + Australian Eco-Aesthetics = A Nice Walk in the Park If you gave Evi the "L" in your name, she would be EVIL... Ha ha ha ha ha! But then you would be Meissa, which would be weird. |
| 18th July 2008 Jason | Gorgeous! - From: Constructing Community-Based Tourism More and more I want to visit... |
| 18th July 2008 Scott | Questions - From: Constructing Community-Based Tourism Hiya Missy, I'm glad things are going well (despite the illness mentioned in your other blog entry). I have some questions, but feel free to answer when you get back as I know you are pressed for time now. Mull them over and will dig into 'em over beer. How was it decided to build the tourist accommodations on a family's land? What is this family's standing in the community? Are they receiving benefits (social or economic) by having the accommodations? Will this set them apart from other community memebers? If so, do you see this as a potential source of conflict within the community? How are Greg and the others attempting to mitigate the impact of tourists on the forest/riparian/aquatic ecosystems? Are there plans to limit the number of tourists? Or limit the time of year? E.g., Costa Rica does this with the eco-tourism in the Cloud Forest, effectively making the region off limits for a year to allow the area to rebound from the impacts. My initial thought is that the forest you are working in may not be as sensitive CR's cloud forests, but does does anyone know? Does the Vietnamese government, Counter Part, or the other NGOs in the area have ecologists working on the project? I guess what I am getting at is what is being done to ensure the "eco" part is as successful as the tourism part in this eco-tourism development? I can think of a dozen more questions, but I'll leave those for when you get back. :) Scott |
| 18th July 2008 #1 mom | Hope you feel better - From: Another Day at the Office: Kayaking in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park I do appreciate the pictures of you in them. Thank you. Tell everyone there I appreciate them being a friend to you and making your work there a little more enjoyable. I have noticed that you talk more about Viet Nam than your other trips--maybe because you are contributing something to help the people there which is your passion. Anyway, hope you are feeling better. Take care of yourself. We love you!! |
| 18th July 2008 #1 mom | Nice pictures - From: German Management + Vietnamese Engineering + Australian Eco-Aesthetics = A Nice Walk in the Park I was glad to see that you are in some of your pictures. As usual, your blogs and pictures are A-1. I'm glad things are going so well. I bet you are so excited and proud of the accomplishments that have been made so far. And to think you were a part of all of it. Keep up the good job!! Dad and I are very proud of you. |
| 18th July 2008 #1 mom | My turn! - From: Constructing Community-Based Tourism Now that the 1st homestay place is done, I would love for you to go with me (if I would ever get the nerve) so we could stay there as a tourist and you could be my guide. |
| 18th July 2008 Cindy | picture - From: German Management + Vietnamese Engineering + Australian Eco-Aesthetics = A Nice Walk in the Park At first I thought Uncle Don was with you when I saw Antony. hahaha |
| 9th July 2008 Jason | Welcome back! - From: Return to Vietnam! That's awesome that you're getting the chance to go back and continue the work you were involved in last summer! Very exciting! And congrats on finishing your degree!! Yay! Also, I'm getting married this Saturday. Wish me luck :). |
| 9th July 2008 Cel | your trip - From: Return to Vietnam! Hi, Missy! Glad you blogged. I enjoy hearing about your exploits :). So sorry your flight was so bad, but I'm glad you got there safely. Congrats on being a 'real' grown up! LOL |
| 8th July 2008 Mom #1 | Back again! - From: Return to Vietnam! Wow, what a trip you had getting there and then what a wonderful surprise once you got there of Greg and Evi and your Mama/Boss Chi Sen being there! I know you will do a great job while there and leave a mark on the Vietnamese people. What an opportunity to be in Viet Nam and to help out the people too! We love you lots. Looking forward to more blogs. Mom |
| 8th July 2008 Patrick | edits - From: Return to Vietnam! I have taken the time to edit your blog for accuracy's sake, specifically paragraph 3: "Everything since that first night has been great. I slept as late as I could that morning and was awoken by my dong, exclaiming, "Melissa! It's your dong!" I love my adopted Vietnamese dong. I only spent half a day in Hanoi before getting on an overnight dong to dong. Dong!" Thank me later. |
| 25th October 2007 Vuong | - From: Fieldwork involves drinking a lot of rice wine. I was born in Quang Binh province and I'm very supprised at your entry and picture. Thank you. |
| 1st October 2007 Jason | Chicken in a Bag - From: Wandering Hoi An with the Ex-Pats I guess "ex-pat" is a synonym for "eats a lot," eh? Nothing wrong with going out in style, though... And that bamboo bridge is freaking awesome!! Wow. Well, it's been nice keeping up with you through this blog. How sad to be going back to being mutually out of touch with each other's lives. (sigh) C'est la vie. Thanks for sharing :). |
| 1st October 2007 Jason | Sigh. - From: Goodbye Dong Hoi and Phong Nha Ke Bang If only we could cite beer as a productivity enhancer here :). And was Hung, well......? Nevermind. |
| 1st October 2007 jason | Dr. Missy - From: More 'Nam Entries, Posted Very Late I was wondering where you've been! I didn't think the last entry was your last experience there... Congrats on the ambition to take it further! |
| 28th August 2007 Charlotte | Congrats - From: A Rainy Day Workshop Works in Phong Nha Ke Bang Congratulations, Missy! |
| 24th August 2007 Cel | WOOHOO!! - From: A Rainy Day Workshop Works in Phong Nha Ke Bang Go Missy! This is so awesome! Way to "sell" your dream! One question, though,....who is this Jason person???? (hehehe!) |
| 18th August 2007 Moommy | No helmet, oh no!! - From: I'm a REAL Anthropologist What do you mean "don't worry family". That's my life to worry, especially when your eyes are closed, how do you know how fast you were going. Now I won't be able to sleep tonight because of nightmares or for that matter ever again at least until you are home. Remember once a mom always a mom. You can never get rid of me. I love you!! |
| 18th August 2007 Mom | You're a natural - From: A Rainy Day Workshop Works in Phong Nha Ke Bang Wow, you look so good up there. I always knew you wanted to tell people what to do and give advice. You look so natural. Of course anything you are passionate about you put your whole self into it and it shows. Congrats to my honey bee!! |
| 15th August 2007 julia | WooHoo! - From: A Rainy Day Workshop Works in Phong Nha Ke Bang YYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY Missy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| 14th August 2007 woods | i agree with cindy. - From: Slipping Pretty with the Commune Leaders please give norman back his shades. we can find you something else. you look through them, but everyone else has to look at them. no offense directed at you, just your sunglasses. i love you. |
| 14th August 2007 woods | it's not unusual... - From: A Rainy Day Workshop Works in Phong Nha Ke Bang this is great. you're a real pro. but at the risk of spoiling the professional atmosphere, i have to say that all i could imagine when looking at some of these pictures was a karaoke jam. |
| 14th August 2007 Jason | You look very professional - From: A Rainy Day Workshop Works in Phong Nha Ke Bang up there- congratulations! You have good reason to feel proud. How many people showed up? Looks like there was a good turnout... and do you think I'll ever get answers to any of the questions I've asked in the comments? ;) Thanks not only for sharing your photos and thoughts but also information on CBT (whew, look at me now with the lingo). I'd never heard of it before, but really like some of the principles involved... |
| 14th August 2007 jason | yes you are - From: I'm a REAL Anthropologist Sounds like you're really getting to know your stuff, lady! All that fancy lingo and whatnot... The photo of the rubber tree tap made me curious. what happens next in the process, I wonder? It will be very interesting to hear, down the road- a year later, etc- what kind of impact this experience has had on you. It has been really fun living vicariously through your experiences. I really would like to visit Vietnam sometime! Maybe you'll get hired on as a consultant. Of course, you'll still get to live here in the States... |
| 14th August 2007 woods | i ascertain - From: I'm a REAL Anthropologist you're getting paid to get tan and hang out with water buffalo. i was wondering, if they hired you full time, would you get two weeks of vacation at an office building somewhere? you'd have to sit behind a desk under the life sucking fluorescents just to give you a few knots to unkink when you get back to "work". i'm proud of you and i can't wait for you to find your permanant paid vacation. |
| 14th August 2007 Jason | creeks and waterfalls - From: Buffalo Wedding I went camping with my and Ethan at Robert Treman in Ithaca (keep thinking about moving there... it's a great town!) We went swimming in the creek by a waterfall. Most of the creek is no more than a couple feet deep (usually shallower) but where we swam there was a spot that was at least ten feet down! It reminded me of Wiscoy, where it's similar. Really deep right by the falls an then shallows out. And it's a pretty smal creek... |
| 14th August 2007 jackie | fabulous! - From: A Rainy Day Workshop Works in Phong Nha Ke Bang i'm really proud of you, Missy! it's so amazing that you led this workshop--it sounds like it was a real success! your enthusiasm really comes across. yay! |
| 13th August 2007 jason M Poole | so what's happening now? - From: Kamikaze Kisses in Hanoi, Junk Boat Jumping in Halong Bay you're still like two weeks behind!! i'm so curious!! |
| 13th August 2007 jason M Poole | I'm sure Doanh enjoyed - From: Kamikaze Kisses in Hanoi, Junk Boat Jumping in Halong Bay pointing out the nipple with his laser pen. Who knows what his imagination was requiring? :) i can't possibly express to you how pleased i am that you're getting to experience this. not just the sights but other tourists. we americans so seldom get out of our own country, we don't realize that there exists a rich western "adventure tourist" culture that is really fun to experience and important to be exposed to. so, was is that you had a couple more days before getting back to work, or was being a tourist yourself a part of your internship? sorry i didn't comment right away- i was on vacation all last week! |
| 8th August 2007 Cel | Hi! - From: First Visit to Phong Nha Ke Bang Missy, I NEVER, EVER took you for a guy!!!!!!!!! I guess if I were just reading, maybe, since 'we' dont usually think of a female traveling alone in VN, BUT.....no, I NEVER took you for a guy!!!!!! (Any comments, Woods??) Am thoroughly enjoying your documentaries and pictures. Love you! |
| 23rd July 2007 Jason | oh ho - From: One week to Vietnam I promised you a comment for every entry, but somehow I missed this one! So here it is! |
| 23rd July 2007 anonymous | you're - From: Being Mistaken as Vietnamese in Mai Chau as in "you're reaching the end of your batch photos..." sorry, I just would hate for anyone to think that I'm grammatically challenged... |
| 23rd July 2007 Julia | ah pepto - From: Catching the Dreaded Black Tongue in Sa Pa when i was in junior high i got black pepto tongue and didn't know it was from pepto and went to the doctor and he laughed at me... |
| 21st July 2007 Jason | I've been thinking - From: Being Mistaken as Vietnamese in Mai Chau ...about how you really are getting the best of both worlds on this trip. I mean, you're involved in a humanitarian effort, but it involves tourism, which of course requires you to do some tourist-type activities, and, apparently, a lot of sightseeing! Sometimes humanitarian work involves being in the asscrack of third world countries, working under miserable conditions with little relief. I have for a long time been planning on doing some sort of humanitarian work overseas for a few years of my life and your experience has opened up a new door in my mind... It looks like your reaching the end of the batch photos that I saw when you were here, so I'm looking forward to some new ones soon!! :) |
| 21st July 2007 Jason | also - From: Catching the Dreaded Black Tongue in Sa Pa Hairy arms. Heh. |
| 21st July 2007 Jason | "Me and Hmong Women Down By the Schoolyard" - From: Catching the Dreaded Black Tongue in Sa Pa Ah, so that's the cause of the black tongue. How weird. Boy, you're really taking every opportunity to enjoy the rice wine there, aren't you? Whatever will you do when you get back? "Woods, I'm going out." "Where are you going? IT BETTER NOT BE TO GET MORE RICE WINE!!" "You can't tell me what to do! Go to hell!" "Don't expect me to wait up for you!!" SLAM! (sound of Woods sobbing) Or, maybe not. Hey, since your're going to have so many extra guilt souvenir purchases, you should bring me back a bracelet ;)... |
| 21st July 2007 Jason | shrapnel - From: Slipping Pretty with the Commune Leaders I wondered what that was when I saw your photos at the campsite- I thought it was some kind of giant bean pod :). Seeing these reminded me that I thought they were some of the best photos you've taken so far. The one with the concentric circles is really nice. And I love that boat you rode on! Speaking of Willy Wonka, I'll send a link to your myspace account with a funny spoof of the first movie (re: the scary tunnel). I think you'll get a kick out of it. So either check now if you can, or when you get back... :) |
| 21st July 2007 Jason | that last comment was mine - From: Fieldwork involves drinking a lot of rice wine. I guess I forgot to put in my name! I hope you didn't think it was some creepy guy who was stalking your blog, reading and commenting of every single entry, sometimes multiple times... um, I think I'll go now... |
| 21st July 2007 daddy | a daddyism - From: Catching the Dreaded Black Tongue in Sa Pa good writing. you should write travalogue pieces for the national geographic magazine. (PS - give me a free subscription!) |
| 20th July 2007 Patrick | failed ad campaigns - From: Catching the Dreaded Black Tongue in Sa Pa "Pepto Bismol: It'll Beat You Until Your Poop Is Black and Blue!" |
| 20th July 2007 Mumsy | Yuk - black & blue poop - From: Catching the Dreaded Black Tongue in Sa Pa Didn't you ever hear of the black & blue poop disease--it's when you eat food that is disguised as American food, especially pepto bismal--it makes you dismal!! I love you whether or not you have a black tongue. I'll tell Becky you want to trade her in for Zui. Will she like me????? |
| 20th July 2007 cindy lou who | oh missy ! - From: Slipping Pretty with the Commune Leaders hahaha... i wish i was there to see you fall "pretty" ! oh by the way norman wants his sunglasses back asap! |
| 20th July 2007 Mom | Wow, What pictures - From: Slipping Pretty with the Commune Leaders Your pictures are getting better and better or maybe it's the beautiful countryside. I especially liked the picture of you relaxing by the river!! I'm really enjoying your blogs, they're really interesting and very detailed. It makes you want to go to there--right now!! Keep up the good work. |
| 6th July 2007 Julia | - From: First Visit to Phong Nha Ke Bang Darling. I love reading about your adventures!!! I am excited to see you at the end of the summer but not excited to not have any more to read. My favorite so far is the old ladies telling dirty jokes ;) You should take more pictures with the friends that you are making so we can see who they are... |