it's my 21st birthday and i leave in two days. i still have to pickup more than a few things, including, but not limited to, deet bug spray, sunglasses, photocopies of ids, and a spanish phrasebook. i've done 27 of 30 half hour spanish lessons at work during the last several weeks; while i'm not completely incompetent with the language, i don't think i'm adequately capable. i'll probably bring along the intermediate level lessons on my shuffle, but i can't imagine i'll have enough solitude to accomplish too much - besides, if common wisdom is correct, i'll learn more from conversing with the locals.

the map on the right side of this page will be updated to show my current location, as indicated by an icon depicting hikers, as well as my target destination, which is represented by a flag.
the film strip along the top links to my 9 most recent photos on google's picasa web albums, for your viewing pleasure (and to satisfy my nerd lust for integrating useful gadgets).

if any of you would like to receive a postcard, email your mailing address to bvatne at sfu dot ca and i will try to get around to it. in the event that i don't send you one, please take solace in the fact that i probably was having too much fun to be bothered.

51 hours until my departure. shit