Aloha all,
Well, we're getting into that time of year again: the holidays. I can't believe how fast time is STILL flying (seems like I say that a lot). For the past week or so I've just been recovering from my visit home. The wedding was AMAZING! All the best to my cousin Joe and his wife, Alex. They make a beautiful couple and I wish them nothing but love and happiness. Going home was also amazing. I honestly didn't realize how much I missed it until I got there. And then, I didn't want to leave! Gaaah! Not good to realize that when you've already agreed to another year contract! Oh well. I think of my time living in Hawaii as a once in a lifetime opportunity and an amazing learning experience. I never intended it to be a permanent thing though, so we'll see where life takes me once this contract is up (unless NOAA offers me a shit ton more money to keep living here! But I doubt it...)
Anyway, this is the first year in my entire life that I will be away from my family for Christmas. Can't say I'm thrilled about it, but I'm going to try and make the best of it (i.e., decorations up the wazoo and an amazing meal!) In the meantime, I'm planning on flying back home to Florida at the end of February (dates TBA). Gotta say, I'm not a fan of flight prices right now. Anyway, work is going well as usual. Can't complain about having a job right now. So I'm grateful for that. I think this upcoming year is going to potentially come with some really tough decisions. So I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for what's to come. I realize I'm being extremely vague (apologies!) but time will reveal all eventually.
Anyway, I don't really have much else to report on. Roxy is a good little pooch as always - she was having a lot of trouble with dry, itchy skin for a while. So we started giving her fish oil with her food every morning, and it seems to have done the trick! Her coat is beautifully shiny and soft again and she doesn't seem to be itching much at all anymore. I haven't been surfing yet since I've been back (the waves on the south shore aren't doing much at the moment) so I'm looking forward to getting back in the water soon.
Well, that's all I've got. Sometimes life here can get a bit lonely, so please write, call, text, email, etc. etc. etc.!!!
Love you all,
Chelsey
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Happy 1 year Anniversary
It was exactly 1 year ago today that I got on a plane and moved to Honolulu, Hawai'i on the island of O'ahu.
In the past year, I have learned so much. I first learned what it takes to pack up most of your life, while at the same time, making the difficult decision to leave the rest behind. I learned what it takes to say goodbye to people I love and care about. I learned what it takes to live without those same people – to be thousands of miles apart in space, and several hours apart in time. I was thrown into the midst of a completely different lifestyle, with entirely different places, and unfamiliar faces. There were different customs and cultures to learn, different languages and different slang to understand. “Slow down! Dis aint da mainland!” Yeah, island time is a whole notha story, brah. We all know aloha and most of us know mahalo too. But ohana, keiki, kama’aina, makai, mauka, lanai, aina, ono, poke, pau, haole, honu, (and more) are all words that are regularly used here in everyday conversation.
While I’ve lived in other places before, never was I entirely “on my own.” I no longer live under my parents’ roof. I live in an apartment building with other tenants, and I pay rent every month. I no longer have a debit card or credit card attached to my parents’ names or bank account. I have my own accounts, with my own money that I’ve earned by working. My car is mine, and I make payments for it every month. My cell phone is no longer on a “family plan” with my parents. I have my own plan, and I pay for that too. I now know the cost of things like electricity, cable, and internet, because I pay for those as well. Not only do I pay for all those things, I don’t live from paycheck to paycheck. I have enough money in my bank account to survive in case of an emergency. So in the past year, I’ve learned the true meaning of not only “making it on your own,” but making it on your own in one of the most expensive places to live in the country! Because it is one thing to live on your own, it’s entirely different to pay for it all yourself. And may I just say, it’s a damn good feeling.
I’ve also learned the joys and pains of working in an office environment. Unfortunately, you’re not always going to get along with everyone you work with, and not everyone you meet is always going to like you, no matter how hard you try. Whatever the situation, you must always maintain a professional attitude and learn to grit your teeth when you want to say certain things. However, I consider myself pretty lucky that I work with such a great group of people. Any negativity I’ve encountered has been minimal, which is more than I can say for most offices!
And last but certainly not least, I’ve learned to surf. I’m not great - not yet anyway! But I absolutely love love love it. It is the most exhilarating feeling I’ve ever felt to catch a wave, stand up, and ride it for as long as it’ll let you. The adrenaline rush is unparalleled to anything I’ve ever done. It is addicting. My goal is to be able to drop in on steeper waves and learn to actually carve it up. Simply riding straight doesn’t do it for me anymore. I’ve learned to turn, but now I want to learn to cut back and do some fun stuff with the waves. The best thing about surfing is that it’s outdoors in the sun and sea, it’s an amazing work out for the entire body, and above all else: IT’S F*CKING FUN!!! The only thing I regret is not starting years ago!!
So there you have it. My year in Hawaii hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. There were some very difficult times, some very lonely times, and there were even times I wasn’t sure I would make it. But here I am a year later, and I’m still going, still moving, still pressing on, still working hard, and enjoying life in paradise more and more with each day. Over the past year, with Florida forever in my heart, Hawaii has become home to me. I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, but I know it will be a time in my life I will never forget – a time that will change me forever.
In the past year, I have learned so much. I first learned what it takes to pack up most of your life, while at the same time, making the difficult decision to leave the rest behind. I learned what it takes to say goodbye to people I love and care about. I learned what it takes to live without those same people – to be thousands of miles apart in space, and several hours apart in time. I was thrown into the midst of a completely different lifestyle, with entirely different places, and unfamiliar faces. There were different customs and cultures to learn, different languages and different slang to understand. “Slow down! Dis aint da mainland!” Yeah, island time is a whole notha story, brah. We all know aloha and most of us know mahalo too. But ohana, keiki, kama’aina, makai, mauka, lanai, aina, ono, poke, pau, haole, honu, (and more) are all words that are regularly used here in everyday conversation.
While I’ve lived in other places before, never was I entirely “on my own.” I no longer live under my parents’ roof. I live in an apartment building with other tenants, and I pay rent every month. I no longer have a debit card or credit card attached to my parents’ names or bank account. I have my own accounts, with my own money that I’ve earned by working. My car is mine, and I make payments for it every month. My cell phone is no longer on a “family plan” with my parents. I have my own plan, and I pay for that too. I now know the cost of things like electricity, cable, and internet, because I pay for those as well. Not only do I pay for all those things, I don’t live from paycheck to paycheck. I have enough money in my bank account to survive in case of an emergency. So in the past year, I’ve learned the true meaning of not only “making it on your own,” but making it on your own in one of the most expensive places to live in the country! Because it is one thing to live on your own, it’s entirely different to pay for it all yourself. And may I just say, it’s a damn good feeling.
I’ve also learned the joys and pains of working in an office environment. Unfortunately, you’re not always going to get along with everyone you work with, and not everyone you meet is always going to like you, no matter how hard you try. Whatever the situation, you must always maintain a professional attitude and learn to grit your teeth when you want to say certain things. However, I consider myself pretty lucky that I work with such a great group of people. Any negativity I’ve encountered has been minimal, which is more than I can say for most offices!
And last but certainly not least, I’ve learned to surf. I’m not great - not yet anyway! But I absolutely love love love it. It is the most exhilarating feeling I’ve ever felt to catch a wave, stand up, and ride it for as long as it’ll let you. The adrenaline rush is unparalleled to anything I’ve ever done. It is addicting. My goal is to be able to drop in on steeper waves and learn to actually carve it up. Simply riding straight doesn’t do it for me anymore. I’ve learned to turn, but now I want to learn to cut back and do some fun stuff with the waves. The best thing about surfing is that it’s outdoors in the sun and sea, it’s an amazing work out for the entire body, and above all else: IT’S F*CKING FUN!!! The only thing I regret is not starting years ago!!
So there you have it. My year in Hawaii hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. There were some very difficult times, some very lonely times, and there were even times I wasn’t sure I would make it. But here I am a year later, and I’m still going, still moving, still pressing on, still working hard, and enjoying life in paradise more and more with each day. Over the past year, with Florida forever in my heart, Hawaii has become home to me. I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, but I know it will be a time in my life I will never forget – a time that will change me forever.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Getting off the rock
It's true what they say about island fever: it's unavoidable. It's only been about 7.5 months since I've been on the mainland, but I'm itching for some east coast action. It's not that I really feel physically isolated on O'ahu - I mean, it's a pretty decent sized island that has everything you could possibly want/need. I think it's more or less dealing with the time difference between here and the east coast (i.e., home) that makes it feel more isolating. When I'm up at night, ready to chat to my family and friends back home, they're pretty much all sleeping already. For instance, it's only 8:30 p.m. here right now, making it 2:30 a.m. back home. In some ways, I feel like I'm living in a different world sometimes.
So in a little less than a month I will be getting on a plane and flying into D.C. where I will be meeting up with one of my good friends from RSMAS (Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science for those of you who never knew what the acronym stood for all these years). I'll only be in D.C. for one night and part of the following day, but I really hope to make the most of my time there. I'm REALLY hoping that one of our other amazing friends (you know who you are) will be able to make it down from NY to have a girl's night/mini-RSMAS reunion. I'm so excited!
Then, from D.C. I'll be taking the train into Baltimore, Maryland for a couple of days to meet up with my family to attend one of my cousin's wedding. We have a big family on our Moms' side; 7 aunts and uncles and a whopping 15 first cousins (16 total grandkids for my grandma who is still a spitfire well into her 80's). So needless to say, this wedding is guaranteed to be crazy fun. So I'm exceedingly happy that not only am I able to go home to visit, but I'll get to spend time with most of my entire family in the process. Not to mention, celebrating another one of us grandkids tying the knot!
After wedding festivities in Baltimore, I'll finally fly home to south Florida for a week. While most of my friends have dispersed from Florida to pursue new chapters in their lives, there are a few people that I'm so looking forward to seeing again. Of course, that includes my yenta (and a couple of shiksa) mamas from Dermatology... as well my previous grad school advisers, and a couple of other true gems still in Miami that will always be in my heart, regardless of distance or how often we talk. Oh, and did I mention I'm going to LaBamba II at least 3 times, getting a Publix sub, pizza from Pizza Time, maybe a froyo at The Walk... yeah... I REALLY love food.
Anyway, those are my plans. If you happen to be in south Florida at the same time as me (between September 12-18) please fill up my time so I don't gain a thousand pounds from all the eating I plan on doing! Counting down the days...
Aloha nui loa my friends,
Chelsey
So in a little less than a month I will be getting on a plane and flying into D.C. where I will be meeting up with one of my good friends from RSMAS (Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science for those of you who never knew what the acronym stood for all these years). I'll only be in D.C. for one night and part of the following day, but I really hope to make the most of my time there. I'm REALLY hoping that one of our other amazing friends (you know who you are) will be able to make it down from NY to have a girl's night/mini-RSMAS reunion. I'm so excited!
Then, from D.C. I'll be taking the train into Baltimore, Maryland for a couple of days to meet up with my family to attend one of my cousin's wedding. We have a big family on our Moms' side; 7 aunts and uncles and a whopping 15 first cousins (16 total grandkids for my grandma who is still a spitfire well into her 80's). So needless to say, this wedding is guaranteed to be crazy fun. So I'm exceedingly happy that not only am I able to go home to visit, but I'll get to spend time with most of my entire family in the process. Not to mention, celebrating another one of us grandkids tying the knot!
After wedding festivities in Baltimore, I'll finally fly home to south Florida for a week. While most of my friends have dispersed from Florida to pursue new chapters in their lives, there are a few people that I'm so looking forward to seeing again. Of course, that includes my yenta (and a couple of shiksa) mamas from Dermatology... as well my previous grad school advisers, and a couple of other true gems still in Miami that will always be in my heart, regardless of distance or how often we talk. Oh, and did I mention I'm going to LaBamba II at least 3 times, getting a Publix sub, pizza from Pizza Time, maybe a froyo at The Walk... yeah... I REALLY love food.
Anyway, those are my plans. If you happen to be in south Florida at the same time as me (between September 12-18) please fill up my time so I don't gain a thousand pounds from all the eating I plan on doing! Counting down the days...
Aloha nui loa my friends,
Chelsey
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Another year
Aloha everyone!
Well, a lot has happened since my last post. My parents came to visit for 2 weeks right after I was told that my contract with NOAA would be renewed for another year, and with a substantial pay increase to boot! So I'm really happy and relieved about that, especially considering the crisis with the federal budget this fiscal year. I have a feeling this year is going to be a lot more interesting than the last, and a lot better too. We've recovered our bank account, we'll be making more money, we're fully settled, and things just keep looking up. On top of all that, Daland has a couple of new job opportunities we're waiting to move forward with.
Daland and I have been talking a lot about traveling. We'd really like to plan a trip somewhere new, just the two of us. But unfortunately, without knowing where he will be in terms of a job in the following year, we can't really make any plans. We have a few places on our wish list though: Italy, Greece, Thailand, New Zealand, Bonaire, Curacao, French Polynesia, etc. Well, maybe half of that is just MY wishlist, but I digress...
What's really exciting is that I may very well be heading back to the land down under in about a year. The 2012 International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) is being held in Cairns, Queensland - the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. My work has plans for me to attend this conference as part of my training, especially considering the work I'm doing with NOAA on corals. When I was in Australia, I didn't get to spend very much time in Queensland and I'm ashamed to say it... but I never got to dive the barrier reef either. So I think this would be the perfect opportunity to not only attend the foremost important international conference on corals (and mingle with people whose names I've only seen in academic journal articles and books) but I'll get to to dive the barrier reef as well! So exciting!!!
So here's to another year of living a life where every now and then I have to pinch myself to convince me that it's real. Here's to another year in Hawai'i.
With love and aloha,
Chelsey
Well, a lot has happened since my last post. My parents came to visit for 2 weeks right after I was told that my contract with NOAA would be renewed for another year, and with a substantial pay increase to boot! So I'm really happy and relieved about that, especially considering the crisis with the federal budget this fiscal year. I have a feeling this year is going to be a lot more interesting than the last, and a lot better too. We've recovered our bank account, we'll be making more money, we're fully settled, and things just keep looking up. On top of all that, Daland has a couple of new job opportunities we're waiting to move forward with.
Daland and I have been talking a lot about traveling. We'd really like to plan a trip somewhere new, just the two of us. But unfortunately, without knowing where he will be in terms of a job in the following year, we can't really make any plans. We have a few places on our wish list though: Italy, Greece, Thailand, New Zealand, Bonaire, Curacao, French Polynesia, etc. Well, maybe half of that is just MY wishlist, but I digress...
What's really exciting is that I may very well be heading back to the land down under in about a year. The 2012 International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) is being held in Cairns, Queensland - the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. My work has plans for me to attend this conference as part of my training, especially considering the work I'm doing with NOAA on corals. When I was in Australia, I didn't get to spend very much time in Queensland and I'm ashamed to say it... but I never got to dive the barrier reef either. So I think this would be the perfect opportunity to not only attend the foremost important international conference on corals (and mingle with people whose names I've only seen in academic journal articles and books) but I'll get to to dive the barrier reef as well! So exciting!!!
So here's to another year of living a life where every now and then I have to pinch myself to convince me that it's real. Here's to another year in Hawai'i.
With love and aloha,
Chelsey
Monday, May 30, 2011
Surfing: learning the ropes
We bought our boards in the very beginning of April, so I would say I've been surfing for just under 2 months. So here is my beginner's guide to learning how to surf according to what I've personally experienced thus far. I.e., these are the things I would've told myself in the beginning.
Lesson #1 - Paddling out: It sucks. And it's going to suck for the first few times until you build up your endurance, and especially strength in your upper body (i.e., back and shoulders). Keep an eye out on the incoming waves. If you get caught in a set, either paddle over the wave, or if it's breaking, I like to do what's called a "turtle roll" ... roll off your board while turning it upside down, get on your back, pull the board over you, hold the board firmly in front of you at arms lengh, and let the wave pass between you and the board. Obviously if you're a short boarder you would duck dive, but I won't get into that. Don't get discouraged if you struggle. Just keep doing it and you'll be amazed at how quickly you improve. Keep your fingers together in the shape of a scoop and dig deep with each stroke. You won't feel like you're moving, but trust me, you are!
Lesson #2- Wave selection: It requires patience. And a lot of it! You either sit or lay down on your board and keep an eye out on the horizon. You'll see the set rolling in, but don't just go paddling like crazy at the first wave that comes your way. You'll end up burning all your energy and the wave will probably pass you by. Chances are the 2nd or 3rd wave will be bigger and better. Keep an eye out for other surfers that are going for the wave, particularly if they're behind you, or further "outside." Once you position yourself for an incoming wave, it's back to (you guessed it) paddling!
Lesson #3- Catching the wave: again, don't go flailing about paddling like crazy for any wave in any direction. Use deep, purposeful strokes in the direction you want to go, and increase your speed as the wave comes closer. Keep looking behind you to gauge where the wave is and where other surfers are around you. When the wave is right behind you, THEN paddle as fast and as hard as you can. If someone is already dropping in, either to the left or right, you have to give way to that person. So always be aware of your surroundings or you could end up wiping out trying to avoid other surfers, or worse, cause a collision. Catching the wave is probably the hardest part about surfing. Again, it takes patience and practice. Watch the other experienced surfers, and try to duplicate what they do.
Lesson #4- Standing up: this part solely depends on catching the wave in the first place. Once you feel momentum of the wave pushing you forward, pop up immediately and stick your stance as quickly as you can, with your stronger leg in the back. For me, that would be my right leg. Keep your knees slightly bent to absorb any bumps in the wave. Then, look around to your left and right to see where you want to go, and whether there are any other surfers riding the same wave with you. Then, enjoy the ride!
Lesson #5- Surf etiquette: aside from actually learning to surf, it is also very important to learn surf etiquette. Probably the most important thing to realize is: you are a newbie. You have to acknowledge your experience level, and have respect for those that are more advanced who probably don't want to be dealing with brand new surfers who haven't a clue what they're doing or how to steer, etc. Do not be a wave hog. If someone else is clearly better positioned to take a certain wave, let them. If someone is dropping in behind you, give way. Do not drop in on a wave in front of someone and cut them off. BE OBSERVANT. Watch how the more experienced surfers do it. Watch how they paddle, watch how they angle the board in the direction they want to go, watch how they stand up. And above all else, HAVE FUN!!! Most surfers are all about the "stoke" and are just happy that other people are enjoying the sport as much as they are. And if you do happen to mess up, whether its accidentally cutting someone off because you didn't see them, or bumping into them because you didn't stop your board in time, or not being able to get out of the way in time (I've done all of these) I find if you're apologetic, respectful, and show a genuine concern about others' well being, you get a "no worries" more often than not. Then again, I'm a girl, so I probably have it easier than dudes. haha!
Lesson #6- Post-ride/wipeout recovery: This could possibly present the toughest moments you'll experience in surfing. Chances are, you've just caught a wave that was in the middle of a set, which means, after you either a) exit the wave gracefully or (the more likely scenario), b) wipe out and tumble aroud in the underwater washing machine for a few agonizing seconds... you're going to have a few more waves coming your way that will likely break exactly where you are located. You will have to endure the pounding of the set while you're also trying to avoid the incoming surfers on those same waves. You might lose control of your board, you might get submerged for longer than ideally comfortable, you might swallow a big gulp of salt water or get water up your nose, etc. etc. etc. The key here is to NOT PANIC!!! Keep an eye on the waves, prepare for them to crash on top of you, try your best to keep control of your board, and prepare yourself to hold your breath. Remember that your leash is your life-line. If you lose your board, pull yourself to your board hand over hand until it's within reach. Then just wait it out as best you can until the set is over, then you can paddle back out to do it all over again!
Well, so far, those are the best lessons that I've learned thus far in my endeavor to learn how to surf. I have improved significantly since the first time I went out. And that's only a result of patience, practice, and consisitency. Surfing is not an easy sport to learn, but the reward is definitely worth the work. Being able to successfully catch and ride a decent wave is one of the best feelings I have ever had in my entire life. And once you do it, you're hooked. I certainly am!!!
Lesson #1 - Paddling out: It sucks. And it's going to suck for the first few times until you build up your endurance, and especially strength in your upper body (i.e., back and shoulders). Keep an eye out on the incoming waves. If you get caught in a set, either paddle over the wave, or if it's breaking, I like to do what's called a "turtle roll" ... roll off your board while turning it upside down, get on your back, pull the board over you, hold the board firmly in front of you at arms lengh, and let the wave pass between you and the board. Obviously if you're a short boarder you would duck dive, but I won't get into that. Don't get discouraged if you struggle. Just keep doing it and you'll be amazed at how quickly you improve. Keep your fingers together in the shape of a scoop and dig deep with each stroke. You won't feel like you're moving, but trust me, you are!
Lesson #2- Wave selection: It requires patience. And a lot of it! You either sit or lay down on your board and keep an eye out on the horizon. You'll see the set rolling in, but don't just go paddling like crazy at the first wave that comes your way. You'll end up burning all your energy and the wave will probably pass you by. Chances are the 2nd or 3rd wave will be bigger and better. Keep an eye out for other surfers that are going for the wave, particularly if they're behind you, or further "outside." Once you position yourself for an incoming wave, it's back to (you guessed it) paddling!
Lesson #3- Catching the wave: again, don't go flailing about paddling like crazy for any wave in any direction. Use deep, purposeful strokes in the direction you want to go, and increase your speed as the wave comes closer. Keep looking behind you to gauge where the wave is and where other surfers are around you. When the wave is right behind you, THEN paddle as fast and as hard as you can. If someone is already dropping in, either to the left or right, you have to give way to that person. So always be aware of your surroundings or you could end up wiping out trying to avoid other surfers, or worse, cause a collision. Catching the wave is probably the hardest part about surfing. Again, it takes patience and practice. Watch the other experienced surfers, and try to duplicate what they do.
Lesson #4- Standing up: this part solely depends on catching the wave in the first place. Once you feel momentum of the wave pushing you forward, pop up immediately and stick your stance as quickly as you can, with your stronger leg in the back. For me, that would be my right leg. Keep your knees slightly bent to absorb any bumps in the wave. Then, look around to your left and right to see where you want to go, and whether there are any other surfers riding the same wave with you. Then, enjoy the ride!
Lesson #5- Surf etiquette: aside from actually learning to surf, it is also very important to learn surf etiquette. Probably the most important thing to realize is: you are a newbie. You have to acknowledge your experience level, and have respect for those that are more advanced who probably don't want to be dealing with brand new surfers who haven't a clue what they're doing or how to steer, etc. Do not be a wave hog. If someone else is clearly better positioned to take a certain wave, let them. If someone is dropping in behind you, give way. Do not drop in on a wave in front of someone and cut them off. BE OBSERVANT. Watch how the more experienced surfers do it. Watch how they paddle, watch how they angle the board in the direction they want to go, watch how they stand up. And above all else, HAVE FUN!!! Most surfers are all about the "stoke" and are just happy that other people are enjoying the sport as much as they are. And if you do happen to mess up, whether its accidentally cutting someone off because you didn't see them, or bumping into them because you didn't stop your board in time, or not being able to get out of the way in time (I've done all of these) I find if you're apologetic, respectful, and show a genuine concern about others' well being, you get a "no worries" more often than not. Then again, I'm a girl, so I probably have it easier than dudes. haha!
Lesson #6- Post-ride/wipeout recovery: This could possibly present the toughest moments you'll experience in surfing. Chances are, you've just caught a wave that was in the middle of a set, which means, after you either a) exit the wave gracefully or (the more likely scenario), b) wipe out and tumble aroud in the underwater washing machine for a few agonizing seconds... you're going to have a few more waves coming your way that will likely break exactly where you are located. You will have to endure the pounding of the set while you're also trying to avoid the incoming surfers on those same waves. You might lose control of your board, you might get submerged for longer than ideally comfortable, you might swallow a big gulp of salt water or get water up your nose, etc. etc. etc. The key here is to NOT PANIC!!! Keep an eye on the waves, prepare for them to crash on top of you, try your best to keep control of your board, and prepare yourself to hold your breath. Remember that your leash is your life-line. If you lose your board, pull yourself to your board hand over hand until it's within reach. Then just wait it out as best you can until the set is over, then you can paddle back out to do it all over again!
Well, so far, those are the best lessons that I've learned thus far in my endeavor to learn how to surf. I have improved significantly since the first time I went out. And that's only a result of patience, practice, and consisitency. Surfing is not an easy sport to learn, but the reward is definitely worth the work. Being able to successfully catch and ride a decent wave is one of the best feelings I have ever had in my entire life. And once you do it, you're hooked. I certainly am!!!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
How I got to Hawaii
I hear it so often: "You're so lucky to live and work in Hawaii!" Well, guess what? I didn't get here by wishing for it or praying for it. Well, maybe just a little. But really, I got here by working hard. I mean, by working my @$$ off...
I remember it like it was yesterday. It was one random week night at home when my Mom received a manila envelope in the mail from the Broward County School System. She almost threw it away, as much of the crap we got from the Broward County School System was just that: crap. But this letter was different. It was an invitation to an open house for a brand new school opening up at the Broward Community College (aka BCC) campus in Davie, Florida. It was called The College Academy @ BCC. When my Mom first presented me with the letter, I flat-out refused to go. There was no way in hell I was switching schools half way through high school. Even though I wasn't very fond of my then alma mater (J.P. Taravella), I was doing well, and I had a high school sweetheart I didn't want to leave behind.
"Just give it a chance" my Mom urged.
"Fine, I'll go to the open house, but that's it." I had already made my decision that I wasn't going to the new school. Or so I thought...
A week or so later, I went to the open house with much skepticism, yet heard first-hand from the students there about how amazing College Academy was. It was a hybrid of high school and college: a school where you would be able to finish your junior and senior years of high school while completing your Associate of Arts (2 year college degree) concurrently. You were literally expected to take college courses on a college campus with college professors and other college students, while also attending your high school classes (equivalent of AP level), all at the ripe old age of 16! There were no school bells to remind you to get to class on time. There were no assigned class "periods" or lunches. If you walked into a class late, you weren't given detention, you were just expected to sit down quickly and quietly and catch up with the lesson. Even if you skipped a class, there were no consequences so long as you kept up with the work. You never needed a bathroom pass or permission to leave early, nor did you need a sick note if you were feeling ill. Essentailly, we were college students at 16 and were expected to behave as such: independently and responsibly. The college students and professors at BCC were never told who the CA (College Academy) kids were. We just blended in. And did I mention the best part? IT WAS ALL FREE! Yes, that's right. As a reward for being so academically successful, we were granted 2 years of college tuition and books for FREE by the state of Florida. The only caveats (if you really thought they were caveats) were that you would miss out on the traditional high school activities such as sports, clubs, prom, etc. If you wanted to participate in any of that stuff, you did it at the college level at BCC. But to be honest, I couldn't care less about any of that crap when I was in high school anyway. All I was concerned about was getting into a good University when all was said and done. And CA represented the bridge to where I wanted to go. CA represented freedom and independence from the typical, stuffy high school atmosphere I had grown to dislike.
After the open house finished, I was surprised by my utter determination to get into the program. I had to send my transcripts, take some college placement tests, write an essay, and get some recommendations form current teachers, etc. College Academy didn't just accept anyone. They had to be confident in the students' academic and social abilities to adapt to college life at an earlier age. But I wanted that freedom. And I was going to get it!
College Academy ended up being one of the best things that has ever happened to me. And though I spent 2 straight years (yes I went to school full time over the summer too) working my @$$ off to graduate with a high enough GPA to get into the school of my choice, it is the foundation of how I got to where I am today. It got me into the Univeristy of Miami with a scholarship; which led me to completing a Bachelor's degree in Marine Affairs; which led me to a Master's degree at RSMAS; which led me to my internship with a certain professor who would take me to a certain workshop; which allowed me to meet and network with a woman from NOAA, who would just happen to know my current boss, and recommend me for my current job. Not to mention my little side jaunt to Australia, via UM's amazing study abroad program, where I met my husband.
So there you have it. I've been working for this moment in my life since before I was 16, when I got that unassuming manila envelope in the mail that would forever change my life. It's been almost 10 years of pure hard work, dedication, and passion. So while I consider myself very "lucky" that my current job happens to be located in what I consider to be one of the most beautiful places this country has to offer... I'm also here because I straight up earned it... and possibly due to a little pushing by a certain parental figure ;-)
I remember it like it was yesterday. It was one random week night at home when my Mom received a manila envelope in the mail from the Broward County School System. She almost threw it away, as much of the crap we got from the Broward County School System was just that: crap. But this letter was different. It was an invitation to an open house for a brand new school opening up at the Broward Community College (aka BCC) campus in Davie, Florida. It was called The College Academy @ BCC. When my Mom first presented me with the letter, I flat-out refused to go. There was no way in hell I was switching schools half way through high school. Even though I wasn't very fond of my then alma mater (J.P. Taravella), I was doing well, and I had a high school sweetheart I didn't want to leave behind.
"Just give it a chance" my Mom urged.
"Fine, I'll go to the open house, but that's it." I had already made my decision that I wasn't going to the new school. Or so I thought...
A week or so later, I went to the open house with much skepticism, yet heard first-hand from the students there about how amazing College Academy was. It was a hybrid of high school and college: a school where you would be able to finish your junior and senior years of high school while completing your Associate of Arts (2 year college degree) concurrently. You were literally expected to take college courses on a college campus with college professors and other college students, while also attending your high school classes (equivalent of AP level), all at the ripe old age of 16! There were no school bells to remind you to get to class on time. There were no assigned class "periods" or lunches. If you walked into a class late, you weren't given detention, you were just expected to sit down quickly and quietly and catch up with the lesson. Even if you skipped a class, there were no consequences so long as you kept up with the work. You never needed a bathroom pass or permission to leave early, nor did you need a sick note if you were feeling ill. Essentailly, we were college students at 16 and were expected to behave as such: independently and responsibly. The college students and professors at BCC were never told who the CA (College Academy) kids were. We just blended in. And did I mention the best part? IT WAS ALL FREE! Yes, that's right. As a reward for being so academically successful, we were granted 2 years of college tuition and books for FREE by the state of Florida. The only caveats (if you really thought they were caveats) were that you would miss out on the traditional high school activities such as sports, clubs, prom, etc. If you wanted to participate in any of that stuff, you did it at the college level at BCC. But to be honest, I couldn't care less about any of that crap when I was in high school anyway. All I was concerned about was getting into a good University when all was said and done. And CA represented the bridge to where I wanted to go. CA represented freedom and independence from the typical, stuffy high school atmosphere I had grown to dislike.
After the open house finished, I was surprised by my utter determination to get into the program. I had to send my transcripts, take some college placement tests, write an essay, and get some recommendations form current teachers, etc. College Academy didn't just accept anyone. They had to be confident in the students' academic and social abilities to adapt to college life at an earlier age. But I wanted that freedom. And I was going to get it!
College Academy ended up being one of the best things that has ever happened to me. And though I spent 2 straight years (yes I went to school full time over the summer too) working my @$$ off to graduate with a high enough GPA to get into the school of my choice, it is the foundation of how I got to where I am today. It got me into the Univeristy of Miami with a scholarship; which led me to completing a Bachelor's degree in Marine Affairs; which led me to a Master's degree at RSMAS; which led me to my internship with a certain professor who would take me to a certain workshop; which allowed me to meet and network with a woman from NOAA, who would just happen to know my current boss, and recommend me for my current job. Not to mention my little side jaunt to Australia, via UM's amazing study abroad program, where I met my husband.
So there you have it. I've been working for this moment in my life since before I was 16, when I got that unassuming manila envelope in the mail that would forever change my life. It's been almost 10 years of pure hard work, dedication, and passion. So while I consider myself very "lucky" that my current job happens to be located in what I consider to be one of the most beautiful places this country has to offer... I'm also here because I straight up earned it... and possibly due to a little pushing by a certain parental figure ;-)
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Baby fever (and why I don't have it)
This is sort of a random post, as it doesn't really have much to do with living in Hawaii, but it's something I wanted to get off my chest. Ever since Daland and I got married, we have been bombarded with the typical question every married couple gets at some point or another:
"So, when are ya havin' kids?"
Maybe back in the 50's the primary purpose of marriage was to procreate; but, we live in a modern age now where there are more reasons to get married and to be married than to pop out a few babies! I know so many people who have already had kids or are currently pregnant that are even younger than me! Granted, I got married when I was 22, which in and of itself is very young. But honestly, marriage is a different type of commitment than having kids in my opinion. Your whole life changes when you have children. And while I've been told that the best job a woman could have is to be a mother, I just don't want that job yet. The amount of things I have done since getting married that I wouldn't have been able to do if I was saddled with a couple of kids is amazing! I traveled to Panama, I traveled to Bimini, I went to grad school, got my Master's degree, traveled back to Australia, picked up and moved to Hawaii, and the list goes on. Fact of the matter is, there are still SO many things I want to do, places I want to travel, things I want to accomplish, etc. before I commit my entire life to revolve around another human being. I want to enjoy being married to my husband before our lives completely get turned upside down by having a child. I want to know without a doubt that our foundation has been tested and proven solid, time and time again, before throwing a child into the mix. I want to be responsible about bringing a child into the world, especially this one. And to be honest, I'm not even sure it can be responsible anymore, with a booming global population, increasing poverty, and scarce finite resources.
Don't get me wrong- I will probably want a baby eventually, and I'm not getting down on anyone who chose or are currently choosing to become young parents. But I want to live MY life first before I take on the "best job in the world."I want to have both, and I still can because I'm young and have plenty of time. I don't want to rush into motherhood because I know I'm not ready. So for those of you who have taken on the challenge, more power to you. I fully respect that. I simply don't have a problem admitting that I just don't want the job right now. And who knows when I will. There's nothing wrong with that. I fully enjoy my life with just my husband and our dog. We can do what we want, whenever we want, no questions asked. And right now, I'm not ready to give that luxury up!
So before you ask someone when they're having kids, be mindful. First of all, it's really none of your business. And second, whatever the answer is, everyone is different so be respectful. And as for me, I can say with confidence that the topic of children will pretty much be off the table for the remainder of my 20's. That's how my parents did it, and I'll be proud to follow in their footsteps.
Whew! That felt good!
Chelsey
"So, when are ya havin' kids?"
Maybe back in the 50's the primary purpose of marriage was to procreate; but, we live in a modern age now where there are more reasons to get married and to be married than to pop out a few babies! I know so many people who have already had kids or are currently pregnant that are even younger than me! Granted, I got married when I was 22, which in and of itself is very young. But honestly, marriage is a different type of commitment than having kids in my opinion. Your whole life changes when you have children. And while I've been told that the best job a woman could have is to be a mother, I just don't want that job yet. The amount of things I have done since getting married that I wouldn't have been able to do if I was saddled with a couple of kids is amazing! I traveled to Panama, I traveled to Bimini, I went to grad school, got my Master's degree, traveled back to Australia, picked up and moved to Hawaii, and the list goes on. Fact of the matter is, there are still SO many things I want to do, places I want to travel, things I want to accomplish, etc. before I commit my entire life to revolve around another human being. I want to enjoy being married to my husband before our lives completely get turned upside down by having a child. I want to know without a doubt that our foundation has been tested and proven solid, time and time again, before throwing a child into the mix. I want to be responsible about bringing a child into the world, especially this one. And to be honest, I'm not even sure it can be responsible anymore, with a booming global population, increasing poverty, and scarce finite resources.
Don't get me wrong- I will probably want a baby eventually, and I'm not getting down on anyone who chose or are currently choosing to become young parents. But I want to live MY life first before I take on the "best job in the world."I want to have both, and I still can because I'm young and have plenty of time. I don't want to rush into motherhood because I know I'm not ready. So for those of you who have taken on the challenge, more power to you. I fully respect that. I simply don't have a problem admitting that I just don't want the job right now. And who knows when I will. There's nothing wrong with that. I fully enjoy my life with just my husband and our dog. We can do what we want, whenever we want, no questions asked. And right now, I'm not ready to give that luxury up!
So before you ask someone when they're having kids, be mindful. First of all, it's really none of your business. And second, whatever the answer is, everyone is different so be respectful. And as for me, I can say with confidence that the topic of children will pretty much be off the table for the remainder of my 20's. That's how my parents did it, and I'll be proud to follow in their footsteps.
Whew! That felt good!
Chelsey
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Surf's up!
Aloha! Well, it appears I haven't updated my blog since the tsunami. It is now April 16th, and things are going great in all aspects of my life! As most of you probably know, Daland and I bought surfboards a couple of weeks ago. So far, I have only been out 3 times on it, but I am already loving the sport and really looking forward to getting better at it. Just need to be more careful when it comes to sunburn prevention. We went out for a session this morning, bright and early, and to put it simply: I got pummeled by the ocean!! Surfing is DEFINITELY not an easy sport. But, as I was told, you have to be willing to get beat up by the ocean in order to learn. So that's exactly what I intend to do. Needless to say, I will be back out tomorrow morning! (That's me and my board, which I have affectionately named "Pink Panther" hahaha) 
Work is going well. Things have started to pick back up again, as there were a few weeks that were rather slow. The government finally passed the 2011 fiscal year budget, so I should get some more news about a possible contract renewal in the next couple of weeks. Other than that, I don't really have any news about work. Stay tuned! One of the best things that has happened in the last couple of months was meeting another couple who have such a similar story to me and Daland, it's crazy! They moved here from St. Croix in January- she's American and he's a Kiwi (from New Zealand in case you didn't know). They did the same fiance visa that Daland and I did, she got her Master's at RSMAS in Marine Affairs (same as me), and now she works for NOAA in my SAME building just 1 floor up! Not to mention the common ground between Aussies and Kiwis.We were introduced through a mutual friend and just clicked immediately. I can't express how grateful I am to finally have friends here, especially ones that are married and have so much in common with Daland and me. It makes dealing with homesickness a lot easier. So yes- after almost 8 months of living in the Aloha state, and after we've finally made the investment in some surfboards and found a new hobby/sport that we both enjoy, AND having made good friends in the process, (not to mention enjoying my job) I can officially say.... I LOVE living here. Now I'm just looking forward to my parents coming over in June so that I can show them my life over here! Anyway, to everyone else back on the mainland, and those of you Down Under, we love you and miss you! Come visit!! With much Aloha, Chelsey
Work is going well. Things have started to pick back up again, as there were a few weeks that were rather slow. The government finally passed the 2011 fiscal year budget, so I should get some more news about a possible contract renewal in the next couple of weeks. Other than that, I don't really have any news about work. Stay tuned! One of the best things that has happened in the last couple of months was meeting another couple who have such a similar story to me and Daland, it's crazy! They moved here from St. Croix in January- she's American and he's a Kiwi (from New Zealand in case you didn't know). They did the same fiance visa that Daland and I did, she got her Master's at RSMAS in Marine Affairs (same as me), and now she works for NOAA in my SAME building just 1 floor up! Not to mention the common ground between Aussies and Kiwis.We were introduced through a mutual friend and just clicked immediately. I can't express how grateful I am to finally have friends here, especially ones that are married and have so much in common with Daland and me. It makes dealing with homesickness a lot easier. So yes- after almost 8 months of living in the Aloha state, and after we've finally made the investment in some surfboards and found a new hobby/sport that we both enjoy, AND having made good friends in the process, (not to mention enjoying my job) I can officially say.... I LOVE living here. Now I'm just looking forward to my parents coming over in June so that I can show them my life over here! Anyway, to everyone else back on the mainland, and those of you Down Under, we love you and miss you! Come visit!! With much Aloha, Chelsey
Friday, March 11, 2011
Tsunami: a long night
Aloha everyone,
Lastnight we experienced our first tsunami emergency situation. An 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit the island of Honshu, Japan and sent a tsunami across the entire Pacific basin. I was sitting at home lastnight watching TV when the state of Hawaii was issued a "Tsunami Watch" around 9:30 p.m. (pending further information and updates). Daland was at work at the Macy's store in Waikiki, so luckily he was pretty close by. I texted him immediately to let him know the situation and began to wonder where we would go in case we had to evacuate. Only a few minutes later, we were upgraded to a tsunami warning, and the evacuation maps popped up on the news. Low and behold, our apartment was smack dab in the middle of an evacuation zone- highlighted in RED. Immediately I could feel my heart rate increase and a sense of panic start to take over as I had no idea where we were going to go. Fortunately, the waves were expected to reach Hawaii at 2:59 a.m. so we still had plenty of time to formulate a plan. I tried to remain calm as I called my Mom to let her know what was going on.
Even at this early stage of the game, it was very difficult trying to get calls out to people, as all the cell phone lines were being jammed with people trying to call family, friends, and loved ones. Everytime I tried to call Daland, the line would go dead. I tried to call one of my co-workers to see if we could drive up to her place in the hills, and the line would go dead. This was definitely one of the most unnerving aspects about the whole situation... feeling cut-off and not being able to get through to anyone. After I finally got through to my Mom and Daland, I immediately rushed out to get gas, as extensive gas station lines were already being showcased on the news. As I was rushing down the stairs, I saw some of our neighbors already leaving with their dogs and packed suitcases. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait too long for gas, since I went straight after the warning was issued, but I have to say... sitting in the line hearing the first of several tsunami warning sirens go off was quite surreal. Once I got back to the apartment with a full tank of gas, I started packing a suitcase with some clothes, essential items, expensive jewelry, passports, etc. I also packed up some food and water for Roxy as well. In the meantime, I was still waiting to hear back from Daland since he was still at work and not sure if/when he could leave. I was beginning to get very impatient: Ala Wai blvd (the street we live on that we can see right outside our windows) quickly became a parking lot of cars. I started to worry about how long it would take us to get out of Waikiki.
Finally, Daland called and said he was on his way home. By the time he walked in the door, I was pretty much all ready to leave and head for higher ground. I had gotten ahold of my co-worker and was graciously welcomed into her home for the night (much to my relief). We both took quick showers, closed up all the windows, and hoped that when we came back, everything would be intact. Aside from the Ala Wai, traffic wasn't too bad. Once we got out of Waikiki, things seemed to move along very smoothly. It took us about 15 minutes to drive up the hill to my co-worker's house, where other people were also camping out for the night. From this vantage point, we had a bird's eye view of downtown Honolulu, Waikiki, Diamond head, and the black ocean.
We had the TV on most of the night, closely following the countdown to the first tsunami waves which were scheduled to arrive at around 3 a.m. We watched the horizon fill with red and green lights as boats left their harbors for deeper waters. Being exhausted from all the adrenaline and excitmenet of the evening, I dozed in and out, with faint headlines and images drifting into my consciousness. Every hour I was startled awake by the piercing tsunami sirens that echoed across the entire island. Roxy was also very restless: you could tell she was a bit on edge. It's amazing how animals can sense these things. Finally, I woke up around 6 am with the TV still on to find out that Honolulu dodged a bullet. Residents were being allowed back into Waikiki, and Oahu suffered only minor damage.
WHEW!!!
Daland has the day off today, and my office building is closed as we are still under a tsunami "advisory" (which is a downgrade from "warning"). We were very happy to drive back into Waikiki and see our apartment building unscathed. We are still watching the news very closely as there is a possibility of additional waves; but for the most part, we are definitely out of the woods, and keeping Japan in our thoughts and prayers.
Thanks to all of you for keeping us in your thoughts, for all the calls and texts and facebook comments. It means a lot! We are very grateful that this ended up being a close call, and nothing more.
Much love,
Chelsey
Lastnight we experienced our first tsunami emergency situation. An 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit the island of Honshu, Japan and sent a tsunami across the entire Pacific basin. I was sitting at home lastnight watching TV when the state of Hawaii was issued a "Tsunami Watch" around 9:30 p.m. (pending further information and updates). Daland was at work at the Macy's store in Waikiki, so luckily he was pretty close by. I texted him immediately to let him know the situation and began to wonder where we would go in case we had to evacuate. Only a few minutes later, we were upgraded to a tsunami warning, and the evacuation maps popped up on the news. Low and behold, our apartment was smack dab in the middle of an evacuation zone- highlighted in RED. Immediately I could feel my heart rate increase and a sense of panic start to take over as I had no idea where we were going to go. Fortunately, the waves were expected to reach Hawaii at 2:59 a.m. so we still had plenty of time to formulate a plan. I tried to remain calm as I called my Mom to let her know what was going on.
Even at this early stage of the game, it was very difficult trying to get calls out to people, as all the cell phone lines were being jammed with people trying to call family, friends, and loved ones. Everytime I tried to call Daland, the line would go dead. I tried to call one of my co-workers to see if we could drive up to her place in the hills, and the line would go dead. This was definitely one of the most unnerving aspects about the whole situation... feeling cut-off and not being able to get through to anyone. After I finally got through to my Mom and Daland, I immediately rushed out to get gas, as extensive gas station lines were already being showcased on the news. As I was rushing down the stairs, I saw some of our neighbors already leaving with their dogs and packed suitcases. Fortunately, I didn't have to wait too long for gas, since I went straight after the warning was issued, but I have to say... sitting in the line hearing the first of several tsunami warning sirens go off was quite surreal. Once I got back to the apartment with a full tank of gas, I started packing a suitcase with some clothes, essential items, expensive jewelry, passports, etc. I also packed up some food and water for Roxy as well. In the meantime, I was still waiting to hear back from Daland since he was still at work and not sure if/when he could leave. I was beginning to get very impatient: Ala Wai blvd (the street we live on that we can see right outside our windows) quickly became a parking lot of cars. I started to worry about how long it would take us to get out of Waikiki.
Finally, Daland called and said he was on his way home. By the time he walked in the door, I was pretty much all ready to leave and head for higher ground. I had gotten ahold of my co-worker and was graciously welcomed into her home for the night (much to my relief). We both took quick showers, closed up all the windows, and hoped that when we came back, everything would be intact. Aside from the Ala Wai, traffic wasn't too bad. Once we got out of Waikiki, things seemed to move along very smoothly. It took us about 15 minutes to drive up the hill to my co-worker's house, where other people were also camping out for the night. From this vantage point, we had a bird's eye view of downtown Honolulu, Waikiki, Diamond head, and the black ocean.
This is the view from where we were staying for the night. Just to show how high up and far away we were from the coast.
We had the TV on most of the night, closely following the countdown to the first tsunami waves which were scheduled to arrive at around 3 a.m. We watched the horizon fill with red and green lights as boats left their harbors for deeper waters. Being exhausted from all the adrenaline and excitmenet of the evening, I dozed in and out, with faint headlines and images drifting into my consciousness. Every hour I was startled awake by the piercing tsunami sirens that echoed across the entire island. Roxy was also very restless: you could tell she was a bit on edge. It's amazing how animals can sense these things. Finally, I woke up around 6 am with the TV still on to find out that Honolulu dodged a bullet. Residents were being allowed back into Waikiki, and Oahu suffered only minor damage.
WHEW!!!
Daland has the day off today, and my office building is closed as we are still under a tsunami "advisory" (which is a downgrade from "warning"). We were very happy to drive back into Waikiki and see our apartment building unscathed. We are still watching the news very closely as there is a possibility of additional waves; but for the most part, we are definitely out of the woods, and keeping Japan in our thoughts and prayers.
Thanks to all of you for keeping us in your thoughts, for all the calls and texts and facebook comments. It means a lot! We are very grateful that this ended up being a close call, and nothing more.
Much love,
Chelsey
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Happy 6 Month Anniversary!
HAPPY 6 MONTH ANNIVERSARY, HAWAII!!!
Today is February 23, 2011 - Daland and I moved to Hawaii on August 23, 2010 - making today our 6 month anniversary of moving to the Aloha state! I have to say, the last 6 months have gone by in the blink of an eye. I can't believe we've been out here that long. It really doesn't feel like it. I have to admit, the first couple of months were a complete whirlwind, and frighteningly challenging to say the least. There's nothing more exciting and scary (at the same time) than dropping everything and everyone you know, and moving to a completely new place. You have to adjust to the new faces, new places, new paces, new cultures, new foods. Luckily for me, Hawaii is part of the United States (as much as it feels like another country sometimes) and I can still get just about everything I'm used to (with the exception of good Mexican). Overall, moving to Hawaii was one of the biggest decisions I've made in my entire life. But, after 6 months of living here, we're starting to make friends, we're finding our "local" hangout spots, we're discovering our favorite eateries and happy hour locations, we're recognizing the faces at our grocery stores and establishing familiarity with neighbors in our building. Our dog knows their dogs, they bring our packages to our door if they see them in the storage closet. The local news no longer feels foreign. We're starting to find the short-cuts and back roads to places. So at first, Hawaii was a little bit intimidating... but now, it's home. The best part is, there's still sooo much to see, do, and explore. I just bought two new books from Barnes and Noble- a hiking guide and a snorkeling/shore diving guide for Oahu. Now that we're settled and have a somewhat recovered bank account, we are determined to get out to different areas of the island and really start taking advantage of where we live. One of these days we'll be able to afford some island hopping, but for now, we're perfectly happy on Oahu. Honolulu is a lively place to live, but I am continually amazed at how polite people are here. People actually smile when you pass them by, drivers actually merge, change lanes, and give way politely, and above all else, I think the level of happiness here is simply higher. That's not to say there aren't the occasional bad eggs, but for the most part (in comparison to south Florida anyway) people here are pretty cool. I feel like a big dork saying this, but anytime I get a shaka from a local, I feel privelaged. Ha!
Anyway, to put it simply, while the last 6 months have been quite the rollercoaster ride, I am very excited to see what the next 6 months have to offer!
Aloha nui loa, Hawaii!
Chelsey
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Life in Paradise
Aloha!
And Happy February! I can't believe it's already 2011, and February to boot! Come the 23rd, it will have been 6 months since we moved to Hawaii. I just can't believe how fast the time is flying by. Apologies for not keeping up with this blog as I originally planned. Since the last time I posted in November, quite a bit has happened. The holidays came and went, I went home to Florida for 2 weeks (which was very much needed), Daland took the written entry exam for the Honolulu Police Department, and I am still loving my job. Everything seems to be a lot more settled now than before I went home. It's not surprising that its taken us 6 months to really start feeling comfortable and "at home" here. They say you either love Hawaii or you hate it (in terms of living here) and I definitely love it. It's still uncertain as to what the future holds with this job. Right now, the federal government is under a continuing resolution, which means we don't have a budget, and we're almost half way through the fiscal year! But anyway, I'm sure it will all work out.
This year is a big year for me... I'm turning 25 in a couple of months! I honestly don't know what has happened to 22, 23, and 24... everything since 21 seems like a blur! I'm hoping that my parents will be able to make a trip over for a couple of weeks for my birthday. That's really all I want. On another note, Daland is turning 28 this month on the 11th! Can't believe I met him when he was 23! Life just has a way of slipping away from us doesn't it? Anyway, for Christmas I got some money from my Uncle to buy a surfboard, but I have yet to make a purchase. I've been doing a lot of research but I need to actually get out to some shops to talk to some people who know what board would suit me best. Daland wants to get one too, so that we can share a new hobby together.
So back to the realities of living in Hawaii. It certainly is paradise, with the palm trees, gentle breezes, mountains and blue ocean (the beautiful scenery never gets old). But there are some very difficult aspects about living here. The cost is the obvious hurdle: everything is more expensive. But, if you know how to budget what you've got (that is, if you have a job to begin with) you can certainly live pretty comfortably. Daland and I certainly aren't struggling, but of course, more money would be nice! The next difficult thing is finding a decent place to live, and THEN, a place to park your car! The standard of living here is lower, and the cost is twice as high. Therefore, it becomes very hard to find a suitable place within a suitable price range. You could be paying $1200 a month for a crappy stuido apartment! AND, you might not be guaranteed parking at the building, as was the case for me and Daland. Up until this month, we have been parking at another building down the street for an extra $85 a month! We FINALLY got a parking space at our apartment building (for the same cost). Groceries are also more expensive. I've come to the conclusion that everything we buy at Sam's Club is on average $2 more than back in Florida- which may not seem like a lot, but trust me, it adds up! So far, we've had no problems with locals or discrimination. I'm sure it's out there, but we definitely haven't experienced it.
Anyway, that's really all I can think of at the moment. There are other little issues, like smelling pot everywhere, prostitutes in Waikiki, the crazy amount of homeless people, etc. But honestly, as my Dad says, it's all part of the experience. Hawaii is a colorful place, both literally and metaphorically speaking. And so far, I'm proud to call it home.
Aloha!
Chelsey
And Happy February! I can't believe it's already 2011, and February to boot! Come the 23rd, it will have been 6 months since we moved to Hawaii. I just can't believe how fast the time is flying by. Apologies for not keeping up with this blog as I originally planned. Since the last time I posted in November, quite a bit has happened. The holidays came and went, I went home to Florida for 2 weeks (which was very much needed), Daland took the written entry exam for the Honolulu Police Department, and I am still loving my job. Everything seems to be a lot more settled now than before I went home. It's not surprising that its taken us 6 months to really start feeling comfortable and "at home" here. They say you either love Hawaii or you hate it (in terms of living here) and I definitely love it. It's still uncertain as to what the future holds with this job. Right now, the federal government is under a continuing resolution, which means we don't have a budget, and we're almost half way through the fiscal year! But anyway, I'm sure it will all work out.
This year is a big year for me... I'm turning 25 in a couple of months! I honestly don't know what has happened to 22, 23, and 24... everything since 21 seems like a blur! I'm hoping that my parents will be able to make a trip over for a couple of weeks for my birthday. That's really all I want. On another note, Daland is turning 28 this month on the 11th! Can't believe I met him when he was 23! Life just has a way of slipping away from us doesn't it? Anyway, for Christmas I got some money from my Uncle to buy a surfboard, but I have yet to make a purchase. I've been doing a lot of research but I need to actually get out to some shops to talk to some people who know what board would suit me best. Daland wants to get one too, so that we can share a new hobby together.
So back to the realities of living in Hawaii. It certainly is paradise, with the palm trees, gentle breezes, mountains and blue ocean (the beautiful scenery never gets old). But there are some very difficult aspects about living here. The cost is the obvious hurdle: everything is more expensive. But, if you know how to budget what you've got (that is, if you have a job to begin with) you can certainly live pretty comfortably. Daland and I certainly aren't struggling, but of course, more money would be nice! The next difficult thing is finding a decent place to live, and THEN, a place to park your car! The standard of living here is lower, and the cost is twice as high. Therefore, it becomes very hard to find a suitable place within a suitable price range. You could be paying $1200 a month for a crappy stuido apartment! AND, you might not be guaranteed parking at the building, as was the case for me and Daland. Up until this month, we have been parking at another building down the street for an extra $85 a month! We FINALLY got a parking space at our apartment building (for the same cost). Groceries are also more expensive. I've come to the conclusion that everything we buy at Sam's Club is on average $2 more than back in Florida- which may not seem like a lot, but trust me, it adds up! So far, we've had no problems with locals or discrimination. I'm sure it's out there, but we definitely haven't experienced it.
Anyway, that's really all I can think of at the moment. There are other little issues, like smelling pot everywhere, prostitutes in Waikiki, the crazy amount of homeless people, etc. But honestly, as my Dad says, it's all part of the experience. Hawaii is a colorful place, both literally and metaphorically speaking. And so far, I'm proud to call it home.
Aloha!
Chelsey
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