PCV: Paid Caribbean Vacation

Today was my first day in the great Island of the Bahamas. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got off the plane, but I knew that it was going to be slightly different than the United States. I got into the airport, which was quite run down, and very small and found my new buddy Dave, who I am staying with tonight. We got a taxi from the airport to the house we were going. The only problem was that the guy we were staying with was working until around 6pm or so and we had 2 hours to kill. We arranged for him to drive us around the island a bit as he picked his son up from school and finally dropped us off at a bar to be with locals.
I’d like to mention the driving that occurs in the Bahamas that blew me away. They drive on the left side of the road but most of their cars have the steering wheel on the left side. There are some right sided steering wheel cars too that are seen. The biggest thing I noticed is there is basically no organized way to get through traffic. There are very few stop lights and tons of round-abouts. For the most part, it is not a measure of waiting your turn to turn as much as it is do you have the guts to pull out in front of someone and hope they stop. In America, we drive cautiously and think other people are crazy drivers. In Bahamas, everyone is a crazy driver and you are intending for the other person to be cautious because you are not stopping once you commit to something. I imagine these people go through a ton of gas with all the starting and stopping they so constantly do to jockey for position on the roads.
We walk into the bar not really knowing what to expect. Dave has been to 91 countries so he has seen a few things in his day, so for the most part I was just following his lead. We ordered a few cans of pop and sat down to just talk for a while. Immediately, this drunken guy that was originally from Canada, but had been living here for the past 11 years bombarded us. He kept asking us all these questions about what we were doing and why we were there. It was obvious he didn’t really care what we had to say but he kept asking questions only to interject and speak over us. He was getting annoying real quick but then this huge guy named Ivan decided to sit down with us. He was a nice guy with a very thick Bahaman accent. It is very hard to hear what he is saying because he slurs all his words together and speaks very quickly. He reminds me of the football coach on Water Boy that just says stuff and everyone pretends they understand.
When Ivan saw that we were drinking Sprite, he immediately scolded us and bought us both a beer. It was the local Bahamanian Beer called Kalik. We had Kalik Gold (thicker and stronger) and a Kalik Premium (more traditional taste). It was good but nothing out of this world. The best part was the prices. This is supposedly the expensive beer of the country since it is their specialty and it was only $2.00 a bottle. Ivan told everyone that we were from the States and that Dave was from Canada. Most people criticized me for being from America because Canadians do everything better. I didn’t disagree because for the most part I couldn’t understand what they were saying.
We were both extremely hungry and knew we wanted to eat somewhere local. Ivan said his famous line of “take my advice” and said that he would take us to the best food you can get on the entire island. It was called Spaghettio’s, and while it was good, it wasn’t out of this world and I secretly hope that there is better on the island. I had fried conch shell. Ivan drove his truck from place to place and each time we stopped Dave and I switched who sat up front and who rode in the back of the truck. Being in the back of the truck was fun but scary because of how crazy these people drive. Being upfront was fun because Ivan basically gave you a local’s version of a tour of everything you could imagine while continuing to let you know to “take his advice” at every opportunity.
We finally arrived back at Joe’s Bar (we don’t know the name, we just know the guy that owns it is named Joe) where we sit around and talk some more with the locals. It wasn’t what I was expecting because this was more of the older crowd kind of bar but it was still fun to talk to people. Everyone got along great regardless of color or obvious intelligence levels. Some people didn’t look like they had showered in weeks and were having a grand ol’ time! The music being played throughout the bar was played off an old school record player that was only a quarter. There wasn’t much need to pay for anything though because a nice old man just sang as loud as he could for most to hear. We played pool and finally decided to come back to the house that we were staying for the night around 9.
This day had been jammed pack since I got off the airplane but surprisingly, time wasn’t going by that fast. We came back to this place not too far away and found our bags safe and sound where we left them. This guy Jeremy is putting us up in his house for free and its so nice because he is just a chill guy that likes to promote world travel. We sat around and told stories of traveling and let him in on all the details of semester at sea. Jeremy is originally from Pennsylvania but moved here 9 years ago to see what it would be like and fell in love with the country. He has provided us with 2 futons and told us we can stay as long as we’d like but we will both be leaving tomorrow morning. It’s so nice here and so are the people.
If there is one underlying theme in the Bahamas that is said by all the local people it is that they love tourists. However, they don’t care about you as much as they care about you wanting to know more about their culture and how they live. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met. They never have one bad thing to say about anyone, and for as poor as they are, they never try to exploit us for any money. Ivan has been nothing but a great friend and we look forward to meeting up with him in the next few days because he has driven us around for an entire night and refused to take any money from us. He said that in the Bahamas, people want to do things for others because that way they tell their friends about the island and they come back. Over and over again, Ivan would say that in the Bahamas, you will be treated the way you treat people. If you welcome people with a smile and are truly interested in their life then they will be your best friend with absolute loyalty, but if you treat them with disrespect, this can be a very bad place to be. I have noticed that being such a small island, everyone knows everyone here. Ivan is a local celebrity and he helped us meet so many friends tonight. We are the boat kids as they call us and they made my first experience outside of American soil one that I will never forget! Hard to think that this is only day 1. I still have over 100 to go!

I am sitting in the airport in Cincinnati waiting to leave. This whole day started as the last day ended because I never went to sleep being that I had to be at the airport around 4:30am. I stayed with Carlin and got my last dose of America by watching “Miracle” to help me remember what was so great about our sports here. I still got the chills when they beat the Russians, I guess some things will never grow old.

After arriving at the airport for my 7:10 flight, I was ready to depart for Cleveland before then going to Ft. Lauderdale and finally stopping in Nassau, Bahamas. I get there and realize that the pre-departure machines in the airport are not allowing me to check my bags. Nothing is coming up. The attendant finally comes around and tells me that my flight to Cleveland is cancelled. I was thinking this would be a great way to get the trip started! Instead of flying Continental, I would be flying Delta to Ft. Lauderdale and completely cut out the Cleveland connection flight. The downside to this was it was about 5:10am and then my flight didn’t leave until 9:25am. I still get to connect to the same flight to Nassau from Ft. Lauderdale so that I will be there in Nassau at the same expected time.

As if this weren’t enough trouble to get things started, I am then flagged by homeland security to get extra screening. Go figure. I have about $1000 cash on me including $600 of it in singles and these people are going to be looking through my bags asking questions. Surprisingly they were fun and once they realized I wasn’t going to bring a bomb on the plane (yeah I said bomb and plane in the same sentence) they were quite nice and open for conversation. The man told me being that I was switched from one airline to another that I was automatically flagged. Not only this, but the fact that I was on an international flight I also get flagged automatically. If this wasn’t enough, any one-way tickets you get you flagged as well. Basically, anything that could make me a terrorist pre-flight, I had the signs. Oh well. Something I am noticing already as I sit here at a Max & Erma’s bar and watch Sportscenter for the last time is how much I forgot how nice it was to not have to worry about people smoking around me. Ohio may be smoke free now but the airport is inconveniently in Northern Kentucky so these nasty people on both sides and pretty much all around me are smoking. I guess this is just something that I will have to get used to since most countries will probably not care if I prefer to not be around smokers.

That being said, I am still excited to be leaving. My bags are checked, so it’s official. I am on my way to Semester at Sea! The airport is extremely dead in the morning and I keep thinking that time will fly faster but it never does. I hope to take a nap on the plane, but I’m more hoping that the snow that is falling outside doesn’t cause anymore problems that I don’t need. I figure if it isn’t one thing it’s another. I don’t care. Nothing will stop me from getting there. I’ll hijack a plane first and make them fly. Bahamas will be my next stop, no excuses. My sleep may be deprived but I am far from broken on my spirits about what is about to happen me. Only minor details remain.

Today I had to go to Bass Pro Shops to get some insect repellent for some of the countries that I will be traveling in. I wouldnt usually ask for help when finding something because in a store such as that its more of the adventure of what is in the store and the cool things I could in the mean time while looking for repellent that might catch my eye. I was in a hurry so I decided to ask anyway.

I quickly found the repellent and asked if she could help me find whatever they had that as atleast 30% Deet. She then told me that I wouldnt need 30% Deet and that I would be fine using anything they had on the shelf. I insisted that I needed a minimum of 30%. She then responded by saying, "the only reason you would need 30% or higher is if you were going to a rain forest in Brazil, or somewhere in Africa, or maybe even India where they have huge mosquito problems." I laughed, told her I was going to all those places, and that 30% would be needed.

She politely agreed with me, never said another word and walked away.

1 point SAS: 0 points Bass Pro Shops

In about 59 hours, I will be on a plane headed for Cleveland that then goes to Fort Lauderdale that eventually will make it to Nassau, Bahamas! I began packing yesterday and thought that I might not have enough room to fit everythign that I needed nto the maximum 2 big bag limit. I started packing and shortly realized that this would be no big deal. Originally, I planned on bringing 2 big bags, a book bag, and a messenger bag for my laptop. I will still bring all this but think that if it were crucial, I could fit it all in one bag. Im actually going to be putting my bookbag in my big bag to keep from having to carry it on. Everyone online seems to be freaking out about how they do not have enough room, but here I am wondering why they need to bring so much. I think people are taking too many clothes, thats why I'm taking:

• 7 t-shirts
• 2 long sleeve shirts
• 1 sweatshirt
• 6 shorts
• 1 pair of jeans
• 2 pair of khakis
• 1 pair of mesh pants
• 2 pair of sweat pants
• 15 underwear
• 20 socks
• 1 dress shirt

This sounds like a lot but surprisingly it is not that much. The key to packing tight is rolling every single thing in your bag. I learned this from Jamie Peters and will never pack another way for the rest of my life. All my toiletries and other needed items are all travel size so they dont take up much space either. I will have plenty of space in my bags when I leave but this is for the pure reason of having space to put newly acquired things while I travel.

This weeekend is a lot of lasts for me. It will be the last time I will be on American soil for over 3 months. Some would get scared by this but I am overjoyed in the thought that I will be away for that long, not to mention the types of experiences I am about to have. I have been reading past SAS blogs and that only gets me more excited. As time goes by, I am starting to realize that this is going to be a journey that will change me forever and I have crossed the line and can not go back. I can feel that college has been one of the most beneficial experiences for me thus far and this Semester at Sea will only be the climax of the entire package.

People are officially tired of hearing about SAS and for that reason, I truly do believe that it is time to go. My neice, Hailie, doesnt seem to understand that Im not just going back to Colorado for awhile and that she will not be able to call me every Sunday like usual. Last night was the last time that she slept with me in I dont know long. She may get older and not think its cool to cuddle with her uncle Kevin anymore but either way its fun to watch her grow even though everytime I come back I know that I have missed out on so much. But as she grows, so do I. She goes to kindergarten and I go around the world. Very different but very similar all in the same. Everyone of us will go through different experiences in our lives and its up to us to see how much it will affect each of us. I cant wait to find out what things on my voyage that I will want to remember forever, the things that I will have wished I didnt see, and the things that I know will absolutely humble me and put everything into persective. It's All Happening and the only way to live the experience with me is to read this blog.

Recently, I was told that I may get parts of my blog printed in The Rocky Mountain Collegian Newspaper at Colorado State University so I am super excited about that because hopefully more people will go abroad and see the world based on my experiences and what I write. Its a lot of pressure but all I have to do is take everything in and let anyone reading know what Im seeing and experiencing. I wont get pictures in the paper, so words will have to suffice. I have been waiting to leave for over 10 months! As the months shifrt to weeks, the weeks to days, and the days to hours, I know I am ready. Im am about to take over the world. I am packed, I am ready. Here we go.

I know how many people are and they like to think of the risks involved with this trip. What if I get sick? What if we get into a really bad storm? (check that link out) What if we get taken over by pirates? What if I get robbed in another country?

The questions could go on forever, but this is not about helping you to stop from worrying, it's almost to give you something more to worry about. I will be on a boat for 100 days and in some of the craziest places in the world. Of course there are risks involved, otherwise I would not be going. I might never come back. I might fall in love with some brazillian and call it quits from there! Who knows? I just know that there is a possibility of things happening and but there is more of a possibility of me having the time of my life. I think taking the good with the bad is worth it because I think the pros will definitely outweigh the cons.

Being at sea for 100 days is a small risk compared to what I'll be doing in that time span. In 8 days I will on the beach in Nassua, Bahamas and I will admit that its finally starting to hit me that Im actually going to do this. Im very excited, a little nervous, and slightly scared almost. I know I will not come home as the same person that left. This might be the best part of it all though. As each day passes, I get more anxious than the day before. I still do not know where Im staying the first night Im there but it is the least of my worries for now. I just want to leave, It wont be official until I get off the plane and I am outside of the United States for the first time in my life.

So as many of you know, I actually have to take some classes while aboard this ship and while I m not too excited about it, I think it wont be too bad. This will be one of the true examples of the classroom getting in the way of my education. Needless to say here are my classes. I am taking 12 credits.

SEMS 101 Global Studies
Subject: Geography
Professor Dan Christie, Coordinator
This interdisciplinary course focuses on the countries visited and is tailored especially to meet the global and comparative approach of Semester at Sea. It is mandatory for all students. In addition to providing basic information about the countries on the itinerary, Core also provides a meaningful framework by which to compare data, examine issues, and develop concepts. Participants learn how to understand cultural and social phenomena with which they are constantly coming into contact during the semester and to highlight both commonalities and differences from one society to another. Core equips participants with observational and analytical skills for encountering societies different from their own, and different from each other, a key factor in facilitating the integration of class work and field work for all courses. Objectives: 1) To provide basic information about the physical and cultural geography; key historical events; the current social, economic and political situation of each country visited. 2) To present regional and global issues which in various ways affect the countries on our itinerary. Examples include race relations, population, poverty, ethnic/religious conflicts, technology, status of women, human rights, environment and globalization. 3) To emphasize the similarities and differences in the variety of human experiences and to assist students in developing the observational and analytical skills needed to draw cross-cultural comparisons. Method of evaluation based on four or five objective tests.

SEMS 400 “Masculinity” and “Femininity”: Close to Home & Around the World
Subject: Sociology
Professor Toni Zimmerman
We all have a general sense that gender and gender-related issues both reflect and shape prevailing norms and values in countries and cultures around the world. But how and why, and why might we care? Our travels around the world, together with our intense time aboard ship, afford us the opportunity to answer these questions – and we’ll do so by exploring how gender intersects, in sometimes surprising ways, with other social categories (e.g.,. class, race, sexuality, religion, and age) in the shaping of norms and the generation of expectations. Through careful reading, observation, and discussion, we’ll the analyze gender dynamics of the various cultures and societies on our itinerary – including the culture aboard ship. Students will evaluate how gender expectations and roles frame their daily lives and relationships, and frame their academic and professional lives. Special focus will rest on understanding, in a comparative perspective, gender expectations of men and women, common gender stereotypes, and how “masculinity” and “femininity” play out in ways both constraining and enabling. Methods of evaluation include three exams (10% each, 30% total), two ten-page papers (15% each, 30% total), field reports (20%), and series of in-class exercises (20%). Pre-requisites: At least two prior courses in some combination of Sociology, Psychology, Women’s Studies: or permission of the instructor.

SEMS 436 Politics and Memory
Subject: Political Science
Professor Giles Wayland-Smith
The rich tapestry of a country’s political life can be captured not only by reading analytical texts and historical documents but also by examining the many cultural forms through which that nation’s memory – its historical narrative – has been preserved and interpreted. This course draws on a wide variety of narrative “texts” to illuminate the complex political histories of the countries we will be visiting. Films, novels, short stories, poems, and memoirs will provide the core of the historical narratives to be examined. At the same time, museums and historic sites in the countries being visited present their own narratives; students will be required to visit at least three such sites in order to capture the particular intersection of system and story that is being presented. Among the central questions being addressed throughout the course are the following: In what way(s) does the political system, past or present, shape the story that is being told? Exactly whose memory, whose story, is being told and how is it presented? Whose story is being left out and why? What are the political consequences of the remembering (or forgetting) that is contained in the material presented? Methods of evaluation include a personal journal (20%), three analytical papers, focusing on literary analysis and national political/historical narratives (40%), six shorter papers connecting the port experience to class themes (30%), and class participation (10%). Prerequisites: One Political Science and one English Literature course, or permission of the instructor.

SEMS 444 Gender, Class, Race-Ethnicity, and Social Change
Subject: Anthropology
Professor Gloria Rudolf
This course explores the global issue of inequality based on gender, class and/or race-ethnicity, and the associated problems of discrimination against women, the poor, and peoples of color or particular ethnic groups. The spotlight will be on gender inequality. We’ll explore how class and race-ethnicity intersect with gender to shape various types of systematic exploitations and responses. Some of our major questions will include: How have gender relations been defined for women and men in different historical times and places? What are some current ideas about the relative influence of culture versus biology in the formation of a society’s race and gender categories? How is the development of inequality in gender relations related to class and race-ethnicity? How have people historically responded to or resisted these inequalities? What can policy makers, practitioners and activists of social change projects learn from such questions? To help students relate course materials to their daily lives, each person will keep a personal journal. Class attendance, preparation and general participation (30%); Group class facilitation in class of one course reading (5%); Class presentation (with port partners) of one field project (10%); Class presentation of an analysis based on your personal journal (5%); Take-home exam (20%); Portfolio of field projects (20%); Synthesis paper describing and analyzing a theme in your journal (10%). Prerequisites: at least six social science (e.g. political science, history, sociology, anthropology, economics, women’s studies, and/or environmental studies) courses, or permission of the instructor.

Man, I tell you what, this trip is getting a little out of control. I am anal about most things so I have been keeping a spreadsheet on how much this is costing me. we wont even get into the stuff they tell you about. They show you the sticker price of how much tuition and room and board are and all that. That scares most people away just at the beginning. I have realized that going on semester at sea is similar to going and shopping for a Rolls-Royce: if you have to ask how much it is, you cant afford it. Well long before I looked at the sticker price I knew I couldnt afford it. Did that stop me? Hell no!

Now the worst part is all the hidden costs of little things that you need to get there and need to have while youre there. Everything is an arm and a leg. I sent my passport away for 2 months and all I got back was my passport, 3 stickers, and a receipt that my credit card was charged $395! I dont know what I was expecting with visas, but I think I was expecting something more than just a few stickers that could have been made at Kinkos. All the postage of sending this and sending that in adds up as well not to mention anything you might want to do while you are in these countries.

Today I got a sigh of relief, I was running out of money and running out fast. I was starting to freak out because the loans that were supposed to come in forever ago hadnt been deposited into my checking account yet. Miracoulously, I went from feeling extremely poor to extremely rich in a matter of days when all my loans and scholarships got paid to me today. I got a little over $16,000 put in my account! Here is the catch however, I owe SAS a lot of money haha. Therefore, most of it will be gone when I pay the bills in a few days. Rags to riches back to rags... its a way of life!

So I have made a realization long before I even go that I think anyone thinking about going anywhere should remember when it comes to money. Money isnt real, it is only society's way of holding us down. I dont know about you, but I will not let myself become a victim of it. This being said, I knew long before I ever applied to SAS that I couldnt afford it, and I didnt care. I knew that there are some things that you cannot put a price tag on. Your life is one of them. No matter how much this costs, no matter how much debt I put myself into, I know that this experience is something that no one anywhere will ever be able to take away from me. I guess what Im trying to say is if there is something out there that you want bad enough, nothing can stop you. Seeing the world is one of my dreams, and Im about to do it in 12 days. Worry about petty things like money later, live your life now, because when its all over, I will have the memories when all you have is money.

So some of you may be wondering where I'll be going and how you can contact me while Im away. Here are my future destinations:

• Nassau, Bahamas
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Salvador, Brazil
• Capetown, South Africa
• Port Louis, Mauritius
• Chennai, India
• Penang, Malaysia
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Hong Kong, China
• Qingdao, China
• Kobe, Japan
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• San Diego, California
  

As you can see, Im literally going around the world in 100 days. If you would like to email that is fine, contact me at frasure7@gmail.com for the duration of the trip then yahoo will go back to my main email. Im trying to cut down on junk mail this way. Also, I only get 250 internet minute while I am at sea so the more snail mail the better! Not to mention its going to be awesome to get mail when I get into a port. Basically what Im saying is SEND ME LETTERS! We can work out a deal that if you send me something, maybe if I like you enough, I'll send you a postcard from there. Does that sounds like incentive? good. Please send the mail here:

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PUERTO RICO- AIRMAIL NO LATER THAN JANUARY 24TH

Kevin Frasure
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives February 7, 2007
Cruise Plus Service & Sales
1760 Fernandez Juncos Avenue
San Juan, PUERTO RICO 00909

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BRAZIL-- AIRMAIL NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 3RD

Kevin Frasure
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives February 17, 2007
Oceanus Agencia Maritima
Av. Estados Unidos, 397, Room 601-604
40018-900 Salvador, BAHIA-BRASIL

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SOUTH AFRICA-- AIRMAIL NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 16TH

Kevin Frasure
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives March 2, 2007
John T. Rennie & Sons
PO Box 702, 1 Thibault House
8000 Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA

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MAURITIUS-- AIRMAIL NO LATER THAN MARCH 1ST

Kevin Frasure
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives March 15, 2007
Ireland Blyth Limited
1 Queen Street, P.O. Box 53
Port Louis, MAURITIUS

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INDIA-- AIRMAIL NO LATER THAN MARCH 11TH

Kevin Frasure
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives March 25, 2007
J.M. Baxi & CO
52 Rajaji Salai
Chennai- 600 001, INDIA

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MALAYSIA-- AIRMAIL NO LATER THAN MARCH 19TH

Kevin Frasure
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives April 2, 2007
4th Floor Unit 4B
Wisma Saw Chong Thuah
39-c, Pengkalan Weld
10300 Penang, MALAYSIA

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VIETNAM-- AIRMAIL NO LATER THAN MARCH 26TH

Kevin Frasure
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives April 9, 2007
General Forwarding & Agency
5th Floor Osic Building
8 Nguyen Hue Avenue
D. 1, Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM

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HONG KONG-- AIRMAIL NO LATER THAN APRIL 3RD

Kevin Frasure
C/O: MV Exlorer
Arrives April 17, 2007
Inchcape Shipping Services (HK) Ltd.
Units 1802-1805, 18th Floor
No 3 Lockhart Road
Wanchai, HONG KONG-CHINA

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CHINA-- AIRMAIL NO LATER THAN APRIL 7TH

Kevin Frasure
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives April 21, 2007
Penavico Qingdao
21 Wuxia Road
Qingdao, 266002, P.R. China

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JAPAN-- AIRMAIL NO LATER THAN APRIL 11TH

Kevin Frasure
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives April 25, 2007
Inchcape Shipping Services
Kenryu Bldg II, Room 303
6, Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku
Kobe-shi, Hyogo-Ken 650-0024, JAPAN

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HAWAII-- AIRMAIL NO LATER THAN APRIL 23RD

Kevin Frasure
C/O: MV Explorer
Arrives May 7, 2007
Inchcape Shipping Services
Gentry Pacific Services
260 North Numitz Hwy, Suite 103
HONOLULU, Hawaii 96817, USA

Alright that took me an extremely long amount of time to type all that crap.. and I have a link for you with the addresses anyway. Which means I really really want letters!!https://www.ise.virginia.edu/asp/mydocuments/calcomm.pdf

Wow this is getting really long. I will also be sending email but only mass emails just to let people know that Im still alive and kicking. I have my email set up on outlook express so I can download email and read it without wasting internet minutes. Keep me updated on what is going on at home. You know what I want to know and what I dont want to know (like 2007 NFL draft/march madness info is something I want to know). Im sure everything will work out. Pass this blog onto whoever might want to know and dont forget to send me letters.

p.s. special thanks to Brenna O'Neill for all the help in making this blog possible

In about 2 weeks from right now I will be getting off a plane in Nassau, Bahamas and figuring out what I want to do with my life. I think I'll be walking on the beach, looking to get burnt the first few hours Im there.

As for now, I am playing the waiting game. I sit in my room all day and talk to people that are also going on SAS and complain about how the days are going by too slow. 14 days, it doesnt seem like a long time but when you have been waiting for this day for over a year, it just crawls along.

Im kind of new at this blogging thing but I figure by the time I leave for SAS, I'll be a pro. I do not want to be wasting internet minutes while on the ship figuring out how to use something. I will try to post as often as possible about thoughts and feelings and just random things that come to my mind.