When a Minnesota Girl Goes to Hawai’i!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  2014!

So far Hawaii has been absolute paradise, I mean that is what they call it right?!  It is currently full day 3 and all of us are basically in love with Hawaii.  The temperature today is close to 90 and it is sunny without a cloud in the sky.  I’m happy that this trip is filled with a bunch of great people.  There are 26 of us on the trip from 4 different universities and so far everyone seems to be getting along great, which is awesome!  So far we haven’t done much besides lay out in the sun on Waikiki Beach and walk around the main strip in Honolulu.  I had no idea how many designer stores there were here!  It’s crazy!  The only bad thing about this trip so far is that I have spent $200 on food already.  Food is ridiculously expensive here.  Every time we go out it costs around $20…and that’s with ordering water!  So at least I am staying hydrated while saving money…and calories.  My roommates and I bought a gallon of milk at the local ABC store and it cost $10.69!  Which is insane!  A box of cereal is almost $9 as well. 

So far the biggest difference between Hawaii and the Twin Cities is the insane amount of diversity everywhere you go!  Yesterday while walking the strip, my roommates and I helped a Korean couple with minimal English find a bus station.  They were on their honeymoon so that was cute!  After we did that, we headed over to the International Marketplace.  It was a special day to go to this market because it was the last day they would ever be open….EVER.  After talking to some of the vendors, they said it was pretty bittersweet.  The good news is bargaining was super easy!  I got 50% a bracelet for my mom just because they were trying to get rid of all of their stuff!   

Since last night was New Years Eve, a bunch of us decided to go down to the beach and watch the fireworks to bring in the New Year!  It was fun, but man was the beach crowded!  Getting out of there was a new challenge all on its own.  Our group ended up getting split up, but no worries because we all made it back all right. 

Today we are doing our first big adventure as a class!  We are about to hike to Diamond Head in a couple of hours!  I’m super excited!   

That’s it for the meantime, but the adventures of Hawaii J-Term 2014 have only just begun!  Stay tuned for more to come!