Mamalahoa HWY Hawaii, week 1
Ah yes, I have not updated this thing in a LONG time, and I don't think I would except that I need to write about this week somewhere and I have not made any contact with any of my friends from home since I got here. Here being The Big Island, Hawaii.

I arrived a week ago after a long flight, nothing compared to Emily's long flight to Spain I am sure, but it felt mighty long. My emotions were mixed, I went from being insanely excited to visit a tropical paradise and have my boyfriend pick me up from the airport and from being totally freaked out, even though 4 months is really not that long to spend away from home, it sure feels like it when my mom says we'll be getting the christmas tree the day after I come home in December.

When I got off the airport in Hilo, my new home, the air was muggy and I couldn't breathe all the way in, but the aroma of plumeria flowers were everywhere and I loved it. Evan was waiting for me, well, I waited for him, but he came running up to me with a beautiful leigh. So now I can say, "I got leighed in Hawaii". haha, that'll never get old. We preceded to go down to Banyan Drive, the beach part of the town I live in. It is not white sand and blue water but it is absolutely gorgeous. A huge toad jumped on my foot when we were down there.

I like my apartment. I have it mostly fixed up but I haven't spent much time in it because after my program meeting on Monday which was an orientation type thing with speakers about cultural disorientation, Evan and I went to his house. We stopped at a Beach so that I could feel the rush of swimming in the warm ocean and it was great, Everyone told me the water isn't actually THAT warm, but trust me, it is. It is soooo warm. Anyways, We went to Evan's house.

Evan's house is out of a fairytale. It's surrounded by lush forest, he has 2 horses. And his house is made up of 2 hexagons and an adjoining room, when you are in it, you feel like you are either in a ship or a treehouse. There are windows everywhere and he has a big dog and lots of cats. He also has this handbuilt chinese hot tub thing called an afuru or something, it's the greatest thing to go in late at night naked and look up at the stars which are so bright here.

We spent the week going to various beaches on the Kona side, where there is white sand and blue ocean. We hiked to a secluded beach and it swam in the big waves. I love swimming in the ocean, either in waves or swimming places, I can't get enough of it. I hate having to get out of the water.

We camped at the coolest places a couple of nights ago, it was a beach where all these people just put out their tents, there were bright colors everywhere and music playing and it was the full moon. Evan and I watched my first Hawaiian sun setting over the ocean, very romantic. The next night we camped at the Volocano. And now we are home, home being Hilo, my apartment. I survived my first week without getting sun burned thanks to lots and lots of sunscreen and my fantastic cowboy hat. Evan is curled up on the couch right now sleeping and I think we are going to the Farmers market to get fruit for me.

Oh, I forgot, I swam with turtles!!!!!! Emily will know how exciting this is for me. They are awesome. Everything about Hawaii is awesome in fact. I have decided this is the best decision I have ever made in my life, coming here. Hehe, we'll see how I feel in a few weeks. Supposedly I am in the "honey moon stage" of exchange. Soon I will move on to "Hostility" But I don't think the beauty of this place will fade.
Anyway, I am sure I will be lonely when Evan leaves tomorrow for work, but my classes start on Monday and from what I have seen, campus is really beautiful.
Aloha! Megan