true life: i went swimming in the persian gulf

it was saltier than i bargained for. i dunked my head underwater and was promptly punished -- my eyes stung, i got a mouthful of icky water, and some water lodged itself in my ear. the water hasn't gone away yet. as a result, i am partially deaf in my left ear, which makes communication with my fellow team members difficult. after this ordeal, haofei, completely unprovoked, savagely whipped me with a wet t-shirt. i tried to retaliate, but to no avail. at the end of the evening, i was sandy, pickled alive because of the briny water, and stinging from haofei's brutal wrath. despite these minor annoyances, it was great fun.