Home Is Where the Heart Is

If this saying is true, then I sure have a lot of property tax to pay. 

This summer I've left a little bit of my heart in Durham and Winston-Salem North Carolina, sprinkled in flat 12 of the FSU London Study Centre, dabbed through the streets of Paris, a dash in the California Hotel in Las Vegas, littered through Waikoloa on the Big Island, smeared in Kihei, and scattered through Lahaina.  My final resting spot for the moment is at our humble Manoa home.

One of my favorite things about our house is its simplicity.  We have quiet evenings and each morning I am woken by the chirpping of happy birds who often are ready to start their day a bit earlier than I.  Sounds sort of Cinderella-eque, but it's true.  Nothing new, nothing fancy, just a good place populated with good people.

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If you were to ask me where I'm from, I would tell you Lahaina.  Although my parents moved us to Kihei while I was still in elementary school, I had no connection to the place or the people.  Anything that was important to me was in Lahaina - school, friends, grandparents.  Even our dog, Skooter, traveled with us each morning on the 30 minute trek across the Pali so he could stay at our grandpa and grandma's house while we went to school.

When I moved to Oahu to attend college at the Unviersity of Hawaii Manoa, I would get thoroughly upset if someone had accidentally asked "when are you going back home to Manoa?".  I would immediately (and stubbornly) respond "Maui is home - not Oahu".  It took me years to get out of that habit.

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I'll be moving back home to Maui permanently in about four months.  Up until now, I've been somewhat of a vagabond - drifting from place to place depending on the time of year - always with the resolve that MAUI IS HOME.  Now that moving day is descending on me quite quickly, I've realized how much I actually do love my life here in Manoa.

I loved my life in London.  On the Big Island.  In Lahaina.  In my first blog, I talked about how this summer would be an adventure of a lifetime.  It really was.  I learned how to exist outside of my comfort areas and to really appreciate all that I have in Hawaii.  While I am excited to be heading home to Maui, I know that I will miss all the conveniences of not-quite-city-but-close-enough life. 

Somehow I know, though, that all these places are sort of like home.  If I ever decide to visit or move anywhere mentioned, there would be arms to welcome me (and the rest of my heart) back. 

Photo Album

Hi All,

Here is my photo album. It's simple. I think it's sort of like the perfect nacho bite - you know when you get that one chip with a little bit of everything on it? Yummm!

Again, thanks for a wonderful trip. This book is chronological ... too bad my captions got messed up. Oh well!

London in Letters - A Digital Story for My Nephew

I was shooting for a kid's book theme with this one :).

The Last (Official) Blog: Waking Up With My Eye on an Elbow and Other Random (Semi-Digested) Thoughts

I woke up this morning with an elbow in my eye ... okay, okay, to be fair to Nick ... I woke up this morning with my eye on an elbow (must have turned my head the wrong way).  This startled me and I shot up in bed a little dazed and confused.  Where was Alicia and her cute blanket?  Why couldn't I hear Elizabeth having her morning cereal and fruit?  And, well ... I could never hear Katy because she was always talented enough to squeeze an extra 15 minutes of sleep out of the morning.  After a couple of seconds, I realized that I was no longer in London, flat 12.  The mixture of cold air pumping out of the AC and the heat trying to fight its way through the window told me that I was in fact, safe and secure in Las Vegas.

The funny thing is that the whole London experience feels like it was just a dream - sort of like floating through a haze of beautiful scenery, laughing it up with super-fantabulous people, and the murmur of tour guided history in the background.  Funny to think that it was only a day ago that I was there.

I guess traveling back over several time zones, over 15 hours of flying, 8 hours of layover, and 3 hours of delays can also add to that sense of elongated time.  My body was so tired after all that flying and waiting - but I wasn't able to fall asleep when we got to the hotel at 3:00am, Vegas time.  Instead my wonderful boyfriend allowed me to amuse him with stories from abroad, while we feasted on a club sandwich, a french dip, and french fries (formerly known to me as "chips" or "pomme frites").  Like the patient guy he is, he waited until I was tired (at 6am) to fall asleep.

Today was spent recovering.  A hearty serving of kim chee saimin was like a bowl of reality - bringing me from my floating dream state back down to Earth.  We lazied about downtown Las Vegas, wandered into stores, and gawked at street entertainers.  All the while, I couldn't stop talking about London and how the two cities are so different.  Vegas has lights, London has architecture.  Vegas is hot, London is cool.  Everything comes in excess in Vegas, London is more minimalistic.

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I wonder how long my friends and family will let me keep talking about London and Paris before they tell me that it is "old news".  I ponder how long before the sights and sounds become a blur - details of tours gone by just a fading memory.  How many memories will be brought back by looking at old pictures, reading blog posts, and glancing at brochures in a month, a year, ten years?

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During our second to the last dinner in London, a conversation started up at the table about how ten minutes can change your life.  You could decide to go left instead of right.  Say no, rather than yes.  Well, I'm glad that I opened up that random mass email from one of my professors (because normally I trash them without looking) which told me about the London study abroad.  I'm glad I decided to pay the confirmation money on the last day, rather than letting the deadline slip by.  I'm grateful that I took the opportunity to pack myself up and allow myself to be a part of such a wonderful journey.

How did this change my life?

I don't want to over-generalize, but I believe that a good portion of Hawai'i residents don't get to travel as much as they'd like.  One big factor, I think, is the money - the price of living back home is flat-out expensive.  I always saw myself traveling, but being the dreamer that I am, that's all it was.  A sort of skewed vision that never seemed close enough to be real - perhaps I felt that thinking it would be enough.  Another thing for me was that the rest of the world seemed so incomprehensible.  In order to travel abroad, you need documents, different money, places to stay, ways to get around, an idea of what to do once you get there.  Packing needs to be light, but enough so you don't run out of clothes.  The plane rides are long and often times require connections.  You may be in places where people don't speak the same language as you do.

The London experience helped me to understand that traveling is not as difficult as I always made it out to be.  I have come to realize that desire is enough - and even though you may not know everything about your destination, adventures always find you.  On top of this, I have used numerous Web 2.0 applications which may be of great help once I am ready to start job hunting.  This blog, as well as the things embedded in it, can serve as sort of a personal portfolio to what I've learned.  Somehow, the world isn't so big anymore.

I had some really great rooibus lemonade from Caribou Coffee on my long layover in Atlanta.  I wish I had room in my bags to keep the cup because it so appropriately read "spin the globe then pack your bags".  I think this is a great motto for myself in the upcoming years.  I'm still young, full of energy, and not terribly attached to too much responsibility.  Why shouldn't I try to see more of the world.  This trip allowed me to understand how awesome travel is - not only to learn new cultures, but also to build stronger character.

Rocket (Wo)Man

I left home for three weeks to come to London and study abroad.  My main reason for being here was to experience a different culture and earn credits at the same time - I meant to do this since my undergraduate studies.  I've had a great time here - I have been exposed to some Web 2.0 applications and I have learned heaps about London (histories, architecture, culture, etc etc).  As with most things in life, there came with this experience unexpected lessons.

One of the greatest things about studying abroad is being able to meet people.  In complete honesty, I was a little nervous about coming here alone, not knowing a single person.  I had hoped that I could talk at least one of my library school buddies to come along, but to no avail.  Not that I don't love my classmates back home, but thinking back, I'm glad I was forced to get to know people.  I think that being here for only three weeks encouraged us to forge relationships quite quickly, as we relied on each other from day to day.

The relationships we've created are ones that I will never forget (cue sappy music).

I'm constantly trying to find ways to be a better person - to be grateful, humble, friendly, and fair.  It is difficult to be like that all the time.  During this trip, I have met some incredible people who remind me how to be the person I want to be.  My classmates are full of smarts, compassion, love, and zest for life.

Although I appreciate London and all we've done here, I appreciate and cherish getting to know the awesome 13 classmates I've spent the last 21 days with even more.  If you all are reading this sappy goodbye please look me up in Hawai'i if you are ever around.  It would be my pleasure to share my home with you!

I leave you with the song that always rings in my head before a flight ... sung by the one and only Jason Mraz.

Forever Young

This is the boy who would never grow up - Peter Pan.  Here he is in all of his glory, standing frozen in time in Kensington Gardens.  I totally understand why he wouldn't want to grow up ... especially if Neverland really looked like this:

Today, we visited the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground.  Here I am getting in touch with my inner child (although it doesn't take too much to get it out) - most of the embarrassing photos/videos were taken by classmates, while I was busy acting foolish.  The best thing about the playground is that it is strictly for kids and their caretakers.  Adults are only allowed on the premises if they have a child they are accompanying or during limited hours from 9:30 am - 10:00 am.  Although this meant that I only had a half an hour to frolic through this magical, musical wonderland, I think it's a great rule.  Children should be able to cherish their childhood without "grown-ups" taking over.

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This got me thinking ... if I had the choice, would I go to Neverland?  Although the idea of being forever young is quite enticing, I don't think I would choose to because my life would only be viewed from the lens of one age.  Take this whole study abroad trip, for example.  When I first went out of country, it was to Japan with one of my best friends.  I was probably around 11 or 12.  I don't remember much of the historical importance of the places we went, and I am unsure of the cultural value of the temples we visited or sights we saw.  I was more interested in running through the rice paddys and poking fun at the way many of the locals were dressed.  This of course, was totally acceptable for a young adolescent.

As I reflect on the past few weeks, I remember all that I have seen, experienced, and learned.  I am taking with me a greater respect for England, as well as an appreciation and curiosity for the histories I've learned here.  I am taking note of interesting conversations my brilliant classmates and I have shared so I can study up on them upon my return to Hawai'i.  The lens of a 26 year old is still kind of fuzzy.  Life doesn't seem to be in focus, and everyone still seems to know more than I.  This is okay, though.  I will catch up, grow up, and embrace all that I have learned along the way. 

One day.

Still young at heart and mind -- Tara, out.

The Beauty in Stained Glass and Information

Stained glass windows have always made me feel a sense of awe and wonder.  I've seen more stained glass on this trip than I have in my lifetime at home.  Today, the above sparked a curiosity in me and I began to question how it is made.  Eager to find the answer to my question, I jumped on my computer as soon as I got home from a beautiful day in Oxford.

Making glass in Medieval times was not as easy as it may seem.  In fact, furnaces back then were unable to get hot enough to melt the silica on their own, so additives like lead or soda had to be incorporated to help the process along.  Colored glass was made by adding various substances into the molten silica - depending on the desired color of the final product.  For example: blue was made by adding cobalt, and red by adding gold.  An elaborate process of either hand blowing or hand stretching the materials produced colored glass. 

Once the glass was prepared, the window had to be measured and the plans sketched out.  The window maker needed to be especially mindful to ensure a secure fit for the glass.  These windows would have to survive all sorts of weather conditions.  Once a pattern was laid, each piece was painstakingly cut out to the desired shape.  Details such as hair or faces could be painted on and were usually made out of a combination of lead or copper filings, gum arabic, ground glass, and a sort of acid (vinegar, wine, or urine).  The final step would be to fit the glass into the soldered lead housing and force an oily cement between the cracks to prevent rattling (information found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stained_glass).

Each window has its own character, purpose, or story.  My favorite stained glass window on this trip has to be this one from the Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford:

This beautiful piece depicts the life of St. Frideswide, the patron saint of Oxford.  Knowing her story of being pursued by a man pleading for her hand in marriage helps make this window wonderful.  I encourage you to read about this lovely lady. 

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Being able to look up this information and to have the ability to learn something new so instantaneously is a direct contrast to what we learned about information at Oxford's historical Bodleian Library.  Here, we were able to view books as they were presented hundreds of years ago - chained to the wall.  Library school has taught me how precious books were prior to the invention of the printing press and I saw it in action today.  

I am so thankful to be living in an information age, where the answers to all of my questions can be found if I look hard enough.  Online resources are helpful, as is the printed word.  Libraries are free to use, thus knowledge is free to those who seek it.

As beautiful and wonderful as stained glass is - I also find my freedoms to obtain information wonderfully beautiful, too.

Flying free -- Tara

London > Paris?

One would think that I would be excited, giddy, and bursting at my seams upon first touching foot in Paris.  I mean come on -- it's Paris.  The city of lights, love, and  all that is grand.  It is difficult to imagine that I got off of the train groggy and thoroughly confused.

This calls for some personal history:

1. This is only my second time abroad.  This is my first time travelling abroad (sort of) on my own.
2. The first time I went abroad was the summer before my 8th grade year.  I went to Japan with a friend and her mom who have family in Niigata.
3. I don't speak a second language - the closest I get is understanding a handful of words in Japanese and Hawaiian.
4. We've been staying in London - in an English speaking country.

So, I'll be honest and say that one of the first utterances in this beautiful city was "did you understand that?".  I have never had to deal with being on the other side of a language barrier.  Sure, when I worked at the Hyatt Regency Maui as a Recreation Attendant (aka "pool girl" -- some of the best working times in my life) I was able to rely on my ever-present body language.  However, I never knew what it was like to be on the other side - frustrated, embarrassed, and unable to communicate.

All that pressure seemed to weigh down on me.  The language barrier coupled with the fact that Paris seemed a bit more rough around the edges than London - think a bit dirtier and a lot more beggars, did not give me the best first impression.  Not to mention the fact that we were carrying our lives on our backs (had to pack for the weekend, but wasn't able to check into the hotel until later on in the afternoon).

Things started to look a little up after we got started off in the city:

Touring the Louvre

Relaxing in the Tuileries

Lunch cruise + wine on the Seine River

Going up the Eiffel Tower

Basking in the beauty of Notre Dame

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Needless to say, my mood did improve as the last bit of day one in Paris slipped away.  However, I'd be lying if I denied that a little piece of me wanted to return to the comforts of London.  I was still not comfortable forming the words "bonjour" or "merci" with my awkward mouth.  I quickly learned that being able to say "hello" and "thank you" are two of the most important things in to learn for Paris.  Most restaurant or shop owners find it rude not to greet them in this manner.  I read in Eric's Frommer's Guide that a muttering of these words or a meek smile is NOT acceptable.  It must be full-hearted and confident.

Here's what made me belt out "bonjor" and "merci" loud and clear (discovered on Saturday morning):

Hello Mr. Pain au Chocolat

My life will never be the same again.  The food in Paris is amazing.  As with in many other cultures, food there seems to be a connector.  For me, it connected me not only with the place, but also with the people I am traveling with.  I had a grand time searching for Jim Morrison's grave site at the Pere Lachaise Cemetery and scaling the bountiful stairs to the beautiful Sacre Coeur with Eric and Heather.  However, I think that some of the best times were spent around the dinner table - this one in particular:

Stuffed mussels

Oyster cheers

Bucket 'o mussels and pom frites

There's no resisting a light dessert of sorbet

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In the end, I was passing out "bonjour" and "merci" and even an occasional "au revoir" to all of the helpful Parisians we encountered like it was Halloween candy.  So, with full stomach (dreaming of that pain au chocolat I bought for tomorrow's breakfast) I'm sitting at "home" in London wondering is London > Paris?  The answer is "no".  They are both beautiful in their own special ways (I totally mean it).   

To put it into French words I learned today, I am definitely experiencing the "joie de vivre" (joy of living), thankful for my minute in Paris:

Bonne Nuit ... good night!