I’m going to Hawaii. I’m going to Hawaii!
It’s been 6 years since I’ve been back home. That’s a long time. In that time span, I could have given birth to a kid and now she’d be in kindergarten. Or I could have gotten another undergrad and master’s degree. But instead, I’ve been living in Thailand twiddling my thumbs. (By the by, my students think it’s hilarious whenever I twiddle my thumbs whilst I wait for them to stop talking.)
Now, I was in Alabama and Tennessee briefly, very briefly about 5 years ago and that’s been about the extent of contact with US soil since living abroad. So, I’m overdue for a visit and I imagine it will be all shocking and stuff until I remember why I left in the first place. Or not. After all, I’ll only be there for 2 weeks, hardly enough time to get sick of it, right?
Hawaii holds a special place for me. I suppose it’s the same for anyone else who thinks of their home, their home state, the place they were born and raised. Hawaii is comprised of immigrants, military personnel and everyone in between. Each island is its own personality, too. But I was born and raised on the main island, where Honolulu is, Oahu, so when I talk about Hawaii, I talk about Oahu.
I know some folks think Southern California is like Hawaii with its bustling Asian population, beaches and lovely weather, but it is not. I’ve lived in So Cal, so I know what I’m talking about. So Cal is expansive, it’s massive compared to Hawaii. There are billboards in California and semi-trucks on top of semi-trucks, pollution and they don’t have their own language like Hawaii does. No, I’m not talking about Hawaiian; I’m talking about Pidgin English with Hawaiian words peppered in for a dose of “I have no idea what he just said.”
Overall though, I am curious to see how I feel when I am back. I don’t think I will want to move back to the States and start all over again, no matter how much my mom wants me to return. But I think I will appreciate it like never before. I’m feeling a great antipathy towards Thailand and all the problems I’ve been having here of late. And I’m sorry that I haven’t been more forthcoming and honest as I have been in the past. But one of the challenges of writing a personal blog is knowing what to say and what to say later or not at all.
I won’t be going to Hawaii for another two weeks, but I promise to take a lot of photos and share my adventures. Until then, I hope to surprise you all with another announcement next week. Just a little something I’ve been working on, but I’ve been too terrified to publish it yet. xxoo
Comments create conversations. Let’s talk.