First off, sorry for the lack of posts. I got a little distracted during finals time and all that comes with the end of the year.
Anyways....
You know what my favorite thing about traveling is? It's just thinking about how you are miles away from a place that you are so used to. I arrived in Hawaii yesterday, and I find it so weird to think that on Wednesday, I woke up in NJ, but I went to sleep in Honolulu, a place over 4,000 miles from home.......................
I've only explored Honolulu for a day, and I find it a lovely city, but kind of surreal. Maybe it's because I'm so used to the Northeast and NYC. I'm just so amazed to see high rises adjacent to palm trees, sand, and the ocean. The Waikiki area is much more bustling that I thought it would be; I feel some sort of uneasiness seeing the juxtaposition of relaxation and busyness.
The biggest difference I find in Hawaii is the people! Everyone here is just so sincerely nice. Like the woman who sat next to me on the plane, who after sleeping for most of the flight, apologized that we didn't get to talk to much, tried to find me a ride when my plans fell through, and gave me a hug goodbye. Walking around, I just got this vibe that everyone genuinely cared about you and that the "aloha spirit" that the islands pride themselves on truly does exists.
With the distinct people and culture of Hawaii, as silly as this sounds, I really find it hard to believe that I'm still in the United States. I'm so intrigued by everything Hawaii right now. I'm starting to understand why the mainland loves Hawaii so much; distance makes the heart grow fonder.
Aloha.