It's the end of the first day and the adventures have already begun! The flight was uneventful, which is a good way for a flight to be. I made my way to the taxi dispatcher and told the woman the address of my hostel. As I busy myself with an intense game of Words With Friends on my phone (obviously I'm not in Samoa yet) I hear the woman say that my cab is ready. I look up to see a stretch limo waiting for me at the curb. Um... what? After making sure I didn't have to pay extra for this stylin' ride (I didn't. Apparently the Honolulu airport has limos in its cab rotation) I hopped in to cruise off into the palm tree-ridden landscape.
A few hours later I had my second adventure/ first time experience of the day. After the majority of our group arrived at the hostel (located across the street from the University of Hawaii Manoa) and we had pretended to learn each other's names, we walked down to Kit n' Kitchen for dinner. The foodie in me (which, let's be honest, is most of me) was immediately satisfied by the menu. And so, with all us Samoan adventurers attempting to prove our bravery, we soon found four plates of escargot on the tables in front of us. We devoured each and every buttery, garlicky morsel, feeling very proud of ourselves.
This morning we woke up and walked to a classroom across campus in the East West Center, and just in case you forgot where I was, here's a picture I took at 8:45:
We had an eventful day of class including a lecture/ concert from one of the professors of Hawaiian history here at UH, learning a few basic Samoan words and phrases (I can count to 100!), and discussing some of the upcoming highlights of the program.
Most of us headed over to the huge carnival at Punahou School after class, where I got a Hawaiian plate for dinner (including poi--a not terribly edible taro mash-- some kind of salted salmon salad thing, some kind of pork and leafy greens wrapped in banana leaf thing, pineapple, and some kind of coconut milk pudding/jello) and a malasada (kind of like a donut but Portuguese and so much better).
We then made our way to Chinatown, where they always have giant street parties on the first Friday of the month. We went to a few art shows, got Mexican food (I'm still confused by the Hawaiians serving Mexican food in Chinatown), and attempted to get into a karaoke bar.
Bedtime now, for tomorrow only holds more excitement (taro farming, palace visiting, and our first drop-off sessions-- where Jackie, our Academic Director, chooses a random place, tells one of us to get out of the van, and expects us to meet her a few hours later in another part of the island with a story to tell)!
Tofa for now!
-Leah
It’s funny when you said that you still had to make sure that there was no extra fee for riding that limo. Was it your first time? I guess you were just surprised. Your experience was something to remember. It seems like an educational trip, but with more fun and adventure! Were you able to ride that limo again when you were in that place?
ReplyDeleteAndrina Royceston