Archive for the ‘Mt. Pleasant’ Category

Libraries are Fun But Beaches are Funner

Posted by Heliocentrism on July 27, 2010

July 8-9, 2010

Mark heading out to sea

Upgrade from Alternate JET Position

When we got back from Patriot’s Point I checked my email. Mark and I had sent out many job applications to companies in Japan and I needed to see if any of them where going to give me a job interview. I hadn’t checked my e-mail in a few days.

When I opened up my hotmail account I saw an email from the Japanese consulate in Guam. They had been trying to reach me all day. If I still wanted the job I had to reply soon or they would give it to someone else. I emailed them back. Just to make sure they didn’t give my job away, I borrowed my mom’s cell phone and called them up too.

Back in February I went to Guam to do a job interview. I wanted to join the JET Programme. I thought the interview went really well. Or, at least I thought so until April when I got an email telling me that I had not been given a position. I was placed on the alternate’s list instead. If someone they had hired backed out or could not fulfill his or her duties, then I might be hired.

I gave up hope and started looking for jobs with other companies in Japan. I thought my chances with JET were next to zero. But, it turns out that many alternates do get hire. (Later, after working with the JET programme for many years, I would meet many alternates.)

Mr. Tenorio at the consulate emailed me a whole bunch of documents that I had to sign, mail out, or send back to Guam. The next day, while everyone else went to the beach, I went to the library to get all my things in order. So I wouldn’t be alone, I talked my mom into giving up a day at the beach to come with me.

The beach is a nice alternative to the library.

Library Folks are Good Folks

When traveling in the US and you need wifi, just about every restaurant and shop has it, and for free. But if you need a computer or to print something there really isn’t anything for you… except for the library. There are very few internet cafes.

Just walk into any public library and ask for a temporary card or day pass. They call it different things at different libraries. Tell them you’re from out of town and you need to use a computer and/or the internet and they’ll help you.

Fun at the beach

Adult Swim

The next day all the kids were too tired to go swimming. I refused to leave South Carolina without swimming in its waters. I talked the adults into taking another trip to the beach. “It’ll be more fun without the kids. No one telling you how hot or hungry they are…” We went to Folly Beach.

There were some kids playing with a skim board. Mark wanted to buy one, but we didn’t think it was worth the price. Then Mark found one that was forgotten by its owner. We waited until most people left the beach, to make sure that it was really left behind. Mark and Malcolm tried it out while Vonia and I laughed and took pictures. We left it at the beach; that devil’s board!

All Pictures

The United States of America

How to get there:

You can enter my country by land, air, or sea. But I think flight would be your transportation method of choice.

I have no clue how to get a visa to the US or who needs one. Just assume that you need one if you are not American or Canadian and check with your local US embassy.

Phone:

Use 911 for the police, fire department, or to get an ambulance
Use 411 for information (This might cost money.)

Website:

Downloads:

Apps

Videos:

Books:

Notes:

It’s a big country. You’re going to need a car.

Lake Aire RV Park

How to get there:

32°46’39.1″N 80°08’52.4″W
Directions from the website

Address:

4375 Highway 162
Hollywood, SC 29449

Phone:

1-843-571-1271

Website

Download:

maps

Cost

Notes:

There is free wi-fi. Not every camping spot can get wi-fi, but there are many hot spots throughout the camp.

Mt. Pleasant Branch Library

How to get there:

32°48’58.2″N 79°51’50.8″W

The library is on Mathis Ferry road.

Address:

1133 Mathis Ferry Road
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29464-521

Phone:

843-849-6161

Website:

Charleston Country Libraries

Cost:

Mostly free.
Printing cost 10 cents a page

Notes:

There are very few internet cafes in the US. So, while traveling in the states, libraries are a great place to go when you need free wi-fi, free uses of a computer, cheap printing, cheap scanning, general information about the area, and just information in general.
This one in Mt. Pleasant even had a notary public that notarized papers for free.

Folly Beach

How to get there:

32°39’17.3″N 79°56’26.0″W
Directions from the website

Website

Download

Maps

Cost:

Free

Hours:

Always available

Notes:

There is a changing area and many shops and restaurants nearby.

Map:

In the Navy

Posted by Heliocentrism on July 26, 2010

July 7, 2010

All Pictures

Malcolm in trouble

A Very Big Ship, and a sub

It was a very hot ship. It was a huge ship. Most of the ship was not air-conditioned. The day was very hot and there were a lot of stairs. I tried to see as much of the ship as possible. The heat and time were against me.

There are six sections, or as they call them, “tours”, on the ship. I got through only four of them and the top deck. Eventually, I had to take refuge in the cinema, one of the two sections of the boat with a/c. There was a video showing the history of the ship as well as the history of WWII.

We always walk through ships while posing at every turn.

The ship is the USS Yorktown (CV-10); the 4th USS Yorktown. Although this Yorktown did fight during WWII, neither it nor its predecessor was stationed in Hawaii at the time the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The Yorktown (CV-5), the ship the CV-10 replaced sank in the Battle of Midway in June 1942.

The CV-10 fought several battles in the Pacific during WWII, but my favorite of its missions is the retrieval of the Apollo 8 Command Module in 1968.

George H. W. Bush

After chilling out in the cool cinema. We went to see the sub in the front. It was cramp like most subs, but nothing that would bring out my claustrophobia. But I do have a lot of respect for the men and women who live in one of those things.

Filming Army Wives

You’ve Never Heard of the Show!?

As we were leaving, we saw a film crew setting up for a shoot. The kids asked someone in the crew what was going on. They were told that the show “Army Wives” was being filmed.

I’ve never heard of the show, but was still slightly excited to get a glimpse of some filming in action… well at least the setting up for the filming.

By the way, the movie Tora! Tora! Tora! was filmed on the USS Yorktown (CV-10). Again, a movie I have never seen. When I was younger I thought it was a movie about the Jewish holy book.

What should I buy?

More Shopping

We then went to downtown Charleston and walked through the Market Hall and Sheds. I was very much tempted by many of the items that I saw there. But since I knew that I would eventually be heading to Japan and that I wouldn’t be able to fit everything in my little suitcase, I had to hold back.

All Pictures

The United States of America

How to get there:

You can enter my country by land, air, or sea. But I think flight would be your transportation method of choice.

I have no clue how to get a visa to the US or who needs one. Just assume that you need one if you are not American or Canadian and check with your local US embassy.

Phone: