Hey everyone!
A lot has happened since my last post. I moved into my new dorm, my dad left to go back to the mainland, and I started classes. My dorm was not quite what I expected. There is no air conditioning but in the past week and a half I have gotten used to it. The windows open and there is a constant breeze...not to mention my roommate and I have three fans to circulate air in the room. The room itself is not bad. I have a HUGE desk, a book shelf, and a closet. My view is of a rainforest and I have a nice shade tree in front so the morning sun doesn't make the room too hot. The food on campus hasn't been too bad, but then again it is still the first week. GOOD NEWS! I'm not allergic to the pineapples here! The fruit here is so tasty and juicy. I try to eat a few pieces at every meal.
It took me a few days to make new friends but I have bonded with some girls on my hall. We all live in a row and tend to see each other everyday and eat together. We have gone adventuring to a few beaches and tonight made a bucket list of sorts of things we want to do in the next two years. This weekend we are for sure going snorkeling and maybe hiking Diamond Head together. My roommate is wonderful. We have a lot in common and I am so thankful for God blessing me with yet another great roommate. I think we will get along fine.
I have only been to one class so far. I have three one-day-a-week classes. I met the 7 other people in my program at orientation but didn't have much time for introductions or anything. The 8 of us have a class together later this week so I will meet them again then. I am beginning to think about my thesis and trying to map out my research. The program is only two years and I do not want to wait until the last minute to begin. Hopefully by the end of this semester I will have my thesis chair and committee put together so I can begin next semester.
The hardest part so far is pronouncing the street names. Hawaiian is closer to spanish than english, but not too similar. I am quickly catching on to both street names and "island speak." Today I was informed that it is not "flip-flops" but "slippers." I never realized how much you see the word "Thank you" until you see "Mahalo" instead (on trash cans in fast food joints etc.) When I come home in December not only will I be tan, I will have corrected my mainland vocabulary :)
All in all, it was a slow start and I am continuing to adjust. I miss my family and friends back home but I know that I am going to learn so much out here. I'm excited to continue to share my experiences with everyone!
-H
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