SYDNEY TIME:

HONOLULU TIME:

11/29/2010

Big Island Trip - Part IV

Sunday (continued).

Hilo Town, approximately 3pm.

The plan was to split from the geology crew and catch a bus from Hilo to Kona. So when I was dropped off at the "gas station" with a couple of others, I was caught by surprise as I learned that the last bus to Kona departed an hour ago. This left me with a big decision to make.

Big Island Trip - Part III

Sunday.

I actually had breakfast this morning. I traded a bread bun for one of Lucas' (our driver) Trail Bars. The topic of conversation was Alaska, which I think might actually be the next State I visit. We also talked a bit about Argentina, where Lucas is from.

"So, Argentina... that's near Spain, right?"

FAIL, JERRY.

11/22/2010

Big Island Trip - Part II

Saturday.

We left the camp early, geared up for an adventure like no other. I didn't bother having breakfast, knowing that I had some bread in the boot of Badass Black. At around 9am we reached the lava flows at Kīlauea, where I met up again with the MIX group and retrieved the aforementioned bread. Dressed in long pants, hiking shoes and garden gloves, we donned our fluoro vests and stocked up on oranges and muesli bars. After a quick briefing from my instructor, we crossed the safety rope and entered Pele's domain.


11/21/2010

Big Island Trip - Part I


Friday.

It was about midnight when I decided to close my eyes just for a little bit. In about six hours I would be on a flight to the Big Island with my friends. I’d be at the airport in five hours, and leaving Waikiki in four. That meant that I had to be ready in three. Unfortunately, because I did close my eyes - even for a second - I sealed my fate to wake up two minutes before our airport transfer was supposed to leave Waikiki. Having not washed the dishes, cleaned my room, or (most importantly) packed for the trip, I was in a mad rush to get ready and shove whatever clothes I could into my bag. There was one important thing that I could not go to Big Island without: T.K.

11/17/2010

Mixed feelings

Aloha!


I'm currently experiencing a ton (notice that I avoided saying "heaps") of different and weird emotions that seem to be having somewhat of a negative impact on my studies. For example, I feel:


Relieved after completing the paper for Hawaiian Studies that I had left until, quite literally, the last minute.

[A bit too] relaxed about the assignment for Filipino that I was supposed to submit yesterday, but didn't.

Stressed about the poster draft due tomorrow for Geology, which I haven't thought about.

Unenthused by the class in which I am currently sitting.

And those are just my feelings about classes at the moment.

11/13/2010

"Heaps"

Aloha!


There's a particular word in my vocabulary that foreigners seem to always react funnily to. I never considered it a funny word at all, and it probably isn't, but I guess it's somewhat endemic to the Australian language. It's a great word, one that I happily and very frequently use.

11/10/2010

Job hunting

Aloha!


I need to figure out what to do after this semester ends. Since this is my final semester of undergraduate studies, I'll be graduating around May next year (assuming I don't fail two or more of my classes here). And then what? Honours? Master's? Master's of Education? I know for certain that if I do decide to continue studying (which I probably will) it will take place after at least a six-month hiatus. Because four years out of a minimum three was just too much.

11/08/2010

Am I ever going to Heaven?

Aloha!


For a while I've been wanting (quite desperately) to climb up the Ha'iku Steps, also known as the Stairway To Heaven. Two weekends ago it was about to happen, but due to that week's abundance of rain it was postponed one week. Yesterday we had a very early start. Got home at about 12.30 or maybe 1am after watching Due Date, then headed to bed for an hour of sleep. Getting up would be difficult, I thought, so I put some Lost music on my iPod and set several alarms on it to ensure I wouldn't sleep through it.

11/04/2010

Procrasting procrastination

Aloha!


I have a midterm tomorrow morning for Hawaiian Environmental Science, as well as some work to do for Filipino. I need, however, to do my laundry (i.e. procrastinate). And yet I find myself sitting on my bed, doing absolutely nothing productive, while my textbooks sit in my backpack and my dirty clothes rot in a pile in the corner. And on my chair. And on my bed.