New Blog And A Post To My Followers.

I'm so sad to say that this blog is officially DONEZO. I no longer live in Hawaii and it feels weird using this blog other than posting about Hawaii. It's sad closing this chapter, although it's been closed since April '13, but posting this is making me relive that emotion all over again.

I love Hawaii, but I love my life no matter where I live.

I want to continue to blog, so from now on I'll be posting here. The new blog is a little different than this one, but I think you'll still like it.

Thanks for following my Hawaiian dream. Especially to those who have been following since the beginning. I appreciate you reading about my life and leaving comments when you did.

I'm still around, and I'll still follow you guys. My blog hiatus is over.
Thanks again and see you here!

Day 838: Aloha Oe

ALOHA EVERYONE!!

It's been a while since I've posted (okay, so it's been wayyy over a year) BUT I find it important to finish out my story of living in Hawaii.

If I did my math right, I lived in Hawaii for 838 days!! Crazy yeah?

My final semester was full of friends, school and the beach. My family came out a week early, and lucky for me, I was pretty much done with class, so I got to hang with them while going back to campus to take a final or two.

Things that stick out in my mind about my Graduation day:

I was SHOWERED with leis.
The one thing I really REALLY wanted was a flower crown. Mine was perfect.
It rained that day.
I wore heels.
I didn't trip.
I have a huge support group.
People are genuinely happy for my success.
Seriously was one of the best days ever.

Hawaii seriously CHANGED MY LIFE. They were three of my happiest years (so far). I grew so much. I learned a lot about myself. I learned about the world we live in and how diverse culture is, yet we are all the same. I am so grateful for all of my experiences. I made lifelong friendships. I was lucky enough to go to a school where I received an amazing education, while growing in my testimony and relationships with those around me. It was the best decision I have ever made.

So why am I not still there? I will always love Hawaii. I will always return to Hawaii. I felt that at this time, I needed to leave. Who knows, I may find myself living there again.

Until then, you can take the girl outta da island, but you can't take da island outta the girl.

And Aloha Oe still makes me cry.

listening to: "Aloha 'Oe" by Henry Kapono, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (Bruddah Iz), Cyril Pahinui, Roland Cazimero

March 1.

Sooooo I just realized that I have no idea what day it is (remember how all of my Hawaii posts have been a number of how many days I've been here?) but I'll figure it out. brb.

This week was midterms. SCHOOL IS KICKING MY TRASH. I seriously have spent my whole week taking tests. I would walk into the testing center and the people who work there would ask me to choose which test I wanted to take right then. I had so many options because this week I had FOUR tests to take. FOUR. The people who work there are starting to recognize me. ugh.

In other news, I've been going to the beach as soon as I wake up and spending my mornings there, because my days have been devoted to school and taking tests in the testing center. blah. Going to the beach in the mornings has actually been perfect. Not too many people there, which was nice. AND I was able to get some meditation in. I loved it.

I FINALLY got my transcripts transfered (seriously was such an issue) which means that I am OFFICIALLY GRADUATING. I talked to my advisor yesterday to make sure that I was good to go for graduation. When she told me I was, I felt so much JOY. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed my school experience. But I am TIRED. I've never really been a student and I'm ready to graduate. With today being the first day of March, I can't believe next month, I will be a college graduate. Finally.

Just like Jimmy Fallon, here are my Friday letters (although not quite like his.)

Dear April 13, I'm ready. I want to be done with school. FOREVER.

Dear Professor who gave me TWO TESTS this week. Making one close on Tuesday and one close on Friday is really not what I want right now. Let's just have one test and be done with it. Do this during Finals week and I will scream.

Dear Testing Center, it's me, again. The girl sitting in my seat needs to move, like now. Also, can you not be so cold? I'll see you next week because I have two other tests lined up. yayyy.

Dear Library, Thank you for providing me with people to run into every 30 seconds to make me distracted enough not to study, by talking to them about how much I really need to study.

Dear Friday, I'm glad you're here. Please don't leave me.

Soooooo.

Hi everyone!

While living in Hawaii, I had been super good at blogging. Once I went to Jerusalem, it kind of went downhill. I'm kind of sad that I didn't blog a lot while I was there, but at the same time, Jerusalem is something that I don't necessarily feel like sharing with everyone so openly about. I kept a journal and that really took over my blog time last semester. There were so many wonderful things that happened and experienced during my time there and I don't feel the need to share them into cyberspace. The saying, "I can't explain what I mean. And even if I could, I'm not sure I'd feel like it" rings true to me in this case. This is all I'm going to say about Jerusalem. I had a great time, I think about it everyday and I miss it so much. It's something that really made me grow and develop, although I did not realize how much I had been changing while I was there, I recognize it now that I'm back in Hawaii. I am so so grateful for the experience to be in the Holy Land and it is something I will cherish the rest of my life.

Anyway. I AM BACK IN HAWAII. Finishing up my senior year of school. Finishing up my last semester. Ever. For those who know me well, I hate the first week of school. It seriously sucks. I met with my advisor to apply for graduation this Fall, and while looking at my transcripts, she said, "Did you know you are 3 classes away from being a Psychology minor?" Next thing I knew, I was signed up for 3 Psych classes and I am officially graduating in four different areas (Communications, Music, Intercultural Peacebuilding, Psychology.) I feel like my diploma/resume is going to look CRAZY.

I am so ready for school to be donezo. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is BRIGHT. It's a weird feeling tho. I'm ready to move onto my next phase of life, but I know I will miss my little Hawaii life. Hawaii has definitely been one of the best chapter of my life. So I'm enjoying my last semester and so glad this weekend is a 3 day weekend.

Top 12 of 2012

Here is a list of 12 different things that happened in each month during the year of 2012.

January

                                               Starting a new semester in Hawaii.

February

                                                                     Turning 23.
                                                                   

March

                                                 Going to New York City for a week.
                                               

April

                                                  Getting my Mediation Certificate.
                                                 

May

                                                                 Maui Weekend.
                                                                 

June

                                         
                                                         Photoshoot with my friends.
                                                         

July

                        Packing for home/saying goodbye to my friends and Hawaii for 5 months.

August

                                                              Moving to Jerusalem.

September

                                                               Traveling to Turkey.

October

                                                             Riding a Camel in Petra.

November

                                                          Staying on the Sea of Galilee.

December

                                                           Moving back to Hawaii.


Thanks 2012! So stoked for 2013.

And We'll All Float On Okay.

                               My feet aren't actually that big, I just borrowed them from a boy who is like 7 sizes bigger than me.

So I swam (actually floated) in the Dead Sea! It was such a cool experience. I literally just sat down and didn't sink. I kept switching from my stomach to back to standing up. It was such a weird feeling, especially since I am so use to swimming in the ocean. I liked it a lot. It was something that I have always wanted to do and now I can cross it off my bucket list!

Thought Thursday.

I came across this quote today and found it rather inspiring.

“Along your pathway of life you will observe that you are not the only traveler. There are others who need your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save.” -Thomas S. Monson.

I love how true this statement is. I get so caught up within myself and often think of myself as the only person who is going through trials. When I'm having a hard time, I don't look around and see what I can do for others. I become self absorbed and I find myself really unhappy.

This quote allowed me to step back and realize that I need to be aware of those around me. I am definitely not the only one who is being tried or having a hard time. I have been so grateful for those who have helped me when I needed help. When I think back on all the people who have encouraged, inspired and some ultimately save me, I feel the need to be that someone for someone else. I want to pay it forward in order to repay for what has been done for me. There is something so comforting in knowing that someone was able to do something for you that you were unable to do. Whether it being big or small, service is a reward that feels so wonderful when you have been able to do something for someone else who really needed help. Be an influence in the world to do good. That's my thought for today.

In other news, I will be home in exactly one week from today. Last Thursday in the Holy Land.