Thursday, May 12, 2011

random thoughts

As we were laying in our Vietnamese-sized bunks on the overnight bus from Hue to Hanoi last night, and I looked over at Ari's calves and feet dangling over the edge, and then at our "bunk-mate" who was attempting to turn herself into a human slinky it occurred to me that being shorter has it's perks.

So I probably will never play professional volleyball or professional basketball, which are more likely to do with my lack of athletic ability and aversion to sweating, but I've decided that being shorter is actually pretty awesome.

For one, I can fit in the overnight bus better - I was actually able to stretch my legs out all the way. Applying to most of our travels I've had no (or few) problems with seats and space in general on trains, planes, automobiles and even motorcycles. In college the "extra-long" twin bed was more like an extra-extra long for me. My roommate (a varsity volleyball player) slept with her feet "resting" on the metal bar, while I sometimes had trouble navigating the expanse of my bed and wished I could donate the bottom half to her. Third, I rarely have to duck or "watch my head". Best part of all, anything you can't do because of vertical limitations you can quickly fix with a step ladder or vertically inclined friend (pun somewhat intended). Not so bad.

So in crowded situations I have to smell a few armpits here and there but I would still say the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Thanks mom, thanks dad!

Anyway, these are the things you think about when you spend 13 hours on an overnight bus, praying you won't have to wake up and jump over at least two people to go the bathroom while the bus continues to have near misses with oncoming traffic, and slightly doped up on dramamine.

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