One-Month Anniversary

Yesterday was my one-month Anniversary. I've been on this island for one month. I've been away from my family and friends for an entire month. It seems so surreal! And time has passed pretty quickly... I barely even noticed until I was looking at the calendar. I've been job searching, figuring out the bus system, stressing and obsessing over bills, grocery shopping, reading and watching Netflex (a ridiculous amount, I must say!), and going to the beach for lounging and sunsets (though not as often as you'd think).

I haven't broke down sobbing yet. I guess I'm still adjusting?

I have a job. For the moment. I'm a temp-to-hire. But if they don't offer me a position within the company they're crazy. I don't like the feeling, knowing they could fire me for any reason between now and my two month term. And also, is that two months business days or calendar days? I guess I'll find out by March 28th, at the earliest, or April 23rd, at the latest. Please, please, please let it be March. It's a great job with a great company in a great location with great coworkers. How could I ask for anything better?

Ok... I could ask for a better commute. But that's not really likely to happen. I wake up at 4:30AM; leave the house at no later than 5:30AM; catch my bus by 6:00AM and ride it until I get off in Downtown Honolulu at about 6:45AM; I start work at 8AM (when I get offered a full-time position, I'll use the time between getting off the bus and starting work to workout at the gym or to go running. I can't wait! Also! I can wake up later because I'll be showering at the gym -- Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!) and finish at 4:30PM, with a 15 minute break, a 30 minute lunch, and a 10 minute break in between; I race to catch my bus so I can sit in traffic for about an hour and arrive back at the park and ride at around 6:00PM; I drive home and get settled by 6:30PM. By this time, I'm ripping my bra off and my eyeballs are burning.

I haven't really done any tourist-y things. I've gone to the beach and that's about it. I haven't had money, of course, so that's a really big contributor to not really doing/seeing things. So. Over the next year, I'm going to make sure I do the things a tourist would do so I can be Tour Guide Barbie to my friends and family when they come to visit me.

• Buy my guests leis and have them given to them when they get off of the plane.
• This is totally corny and leis are cheaper outside of the airport. But coming from someone who's actually paid for one for herself, it's a lot better when someone you know is buying it for you. It's a lot sweeter and really heartwarming.
• Luau
• "If you're hungry for a hunk of fat and juicy meat, eat my buddy Pumba here because he is a treat..." Yes, that's what always goes through my head when I hear the Luau is happening! I haven't been to one here but I'm desperate to go... but not by myself! It's an all-you-can-eat buffet plus a show that lasts for about two hours. I don't want to do that by myself. Why would you ask someone to do that by themselves? That's cruel and unusual punishment.
• Beaches and Sunsets
• I told myself Sunday is Beach Day. I'm thinking I might have to revise that to Friday night is sunset night and Saturday is Beach Day. This way, I can go to some kind of church on Sunday. And believe me... There's lots of different churches here. 
• Surfing and Snorkeling
• I'm not sure how I feel about surfing. I tried it once in Long Beach, WA but it's really not the same. First off, you don't have to use a body suit, you can just go in your swim suit. Second of all, the water is warm and delightful, even if it is still "winter" here. There's no real third point. I just have to get out there and try it. Snorkeling is a lot easier to figure out, since I've already got fins and a mask. And there's turtles out there at one of my favorite spots. Yes, sea turtles!! It's rather exciting and I hope I'll finally get a picture one of these days.
• Pearl Harbor Memorial
• I've not been here yet but I'm told it is an absolute must see. So. I'll just have to make time sometime.
• Waikiki Beach
• Been there, done that. Although I'd like to go back now and just spend the day exploring and finish my night at the beach with a sunset.
• Diamond Head Hiking
• Just did this! It was a blast and makes me want to go find another hike somewhere else on the island. I can't wait to do this again with people I know! I'll likely go again, by myself, in the meantime. I'd like to do like some of the locals I saw while walking up -- I'd like to run that mountain.
• North Shore
• This really goes along with the surfing/snorkeling thing. But I'd like to actually go window shopping and eat food in the places. I'll definitely get a snow cone while I'm here!
• Turtles and Whales
• The turtles are out and about but the whales will only be here until about March. So I'd like to see them before they leave! I think I'll need to take a boat out to them, though, to get the best photographs I can. Which is going to be a challenge because the water is super choppy this time of year. And I get motion sick way easy... Where's the dramamine again?
• Polynesian Cultural Center
• A definite must! I've not been but I want! I'm told it's the number one thing you're going to want to do while you're on Oahu. And I'll let you know what I think when I'm done, of course. ;-)
• Friday Fireworks
• One of the hotels in Downtown does fireworks every single Friday night. I'd like to go see them sometime.

So. Yeah. That's my list of tourist-y things I'll be trying to get through while I'm here. If you've got anything I should add, leave me a comment! I'd love to find things. :-)

Aloha from Oahu,

LC