Kelsey's Semester at Sea: December 2009

(more pictures below!)

Hawaii… 8 islands of mountains, volcanoes, white sand beaches, clear ocean water, hula dancing, and big-wave surfing! And for my usual country random facts: The islands were first discovered by Polynesians 2,000 years ago and then the Tahitians 900 years ago. Hawaii became the U.S.’s 50th state in 1959, just 50 years ago. The Hawaiian alphabet consists of 13 letters, 5 vowels and 8 consonants. Pineapples are in fact NOT native to Hawaii. It is believed that if you take lava or rocks away you will be cursed until you send it back!

Hawaii was a great final port for me. It eased us back into the United States’ culture, but was still quite different. I found myself still trying to convert prices even though the American dollar is used. My mind was trying to figure out what side of the road is correct to drive on. I think I finally figured it out! When I would ask locals a question, I found myself first wanting to say, “Do you speak English?” The bus systems spoke English right away and signs were in English. There were so many restaurants I knew and free shuttles to Wal-mart! The biggest “reverse culture shock” was turning on my phone! It hadn’t been turned on since August but I remembered how to use it! Haha. I could talk to my family and friends and actually send them pictures of what I was seeing! I’ll admit though, it was weird having it on. I really enjoyed my 4-month long break from phones and internet. It forces real communication and makes you focus on what is directly in front of you rather than these technological distractions. Hawaii was a good ease back into familiarity while still holding a foreign culture.

We pulled into Honolulu on O’ahu Island at 6:00 am Friday morning. I went to breakfast as we were waiting for the ship to be cleared and EVERYONE was on their phones! It was a sight that literally has not been seen on this ship thus far! As soon as the ship was cleared my friends and I headed off to find our bus stop. The bus system in Hawaii is great. It costs $2.25 to go anywhere on the islands and stops at many visited places. We rode it to the Pearl Harbor memorial, right in the Pearl Harbor Bay where it was attacked about 68 years ago. We watched a movie that explained what led into the attack and then the attack itself. As we watched it, us SASers realized the route we had just traveled on ship from Japan to Hawaii was the same route the Japanese took 68 years ago leading into the Pearl Harbor attack. That was a bit eerie. We were also at the memorial 3 days before the anniversary of the attack. After the movie we took a boat ride across to a building in the middle of the water. It sits over the U.S.S. Arizona, the largest ship shot down in the attack. About 1,000 people went down with it and many still remain uncovered. Parts of the ship peaked out of the water and the top layer could be seen just a few feet below the surface. Bright colors of oil rested at the top from 400,000 tons that are still in the ship. We took the boat ride back and the reality of the attack hit me. 2,000 people died just in that single day. It was strange… I had been in Vietnam, Japan, Hawaii… so many places of war… yet I was just a smiling tourist traveling around. Such different memories and emotions each country holds for different people.

That afternoon I went to a Hula workshop in Waikiki! The dance is actually more difficult and precise than it appears! Hula dancers keep their legs bent the whole time, so those thighs really get a work-out! The reason hula dancers move their hips back and forth is to mimic the waves. It is the same with the hands. There are a few different types of hula dancing depending on the island and people. I really enjoyed learning hula moves in this workshop!

That evening we looked around an international market and walked through the streets of Waikiki. Then we had the most beautiful walk along the ocean. I couldn’t believe how clear the water was—even when it was dark! The sand felt SO wonderful on my feet. We just sat and stared out at it for awhile. I was so happy in this moment… I was with some of my favorite people from the trip, sitting on a beach in Hawaii, after seeing so many parts of the world. It was just truly amazing to look at the realities of what is happening… and what has happened. For a late dinner we ate at a local restaurant called Dukes. It was named after the first surfer that made the sport huge world-wide. I had the most delicious Hawaiian pizza with pesto sauce, bacon, and pineapple. For dessert we treated ourselves with amazing ice cream from Baskin Robbins… oh the things you miss from the U.S. ☺ Although the bus system is handy in Hawaii, it’s also not very dependable… so we waited at the bus stop for about an hour until our bus came. But it got us back to our ship nice and safely after a very wonderful day in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, and Waikiki.

Now, Saturday is one of my favorite days ever… I WENT SKY-DIVING!!!! Yeah- you read that right! I jumped out of a plane and free-felled towards the earth and loved every second of it!

It started very early in the morning with 8 of us. A bus picked us up outside our port and we drove about an hour to the north side of the O’ahu Island. We signed papers that clearly warned us of how dangerous sky-diving is… on the bottom of each of the 8 pages said in big bold letters, “WARNING: YOU MAY BE INJURED OR DIE!” I know I know… but my tandem instructor doesn’t want to die either… and the skydive company has obviously been in good business… so the chances of that happening are slim… heh… ☺ While we waited for our turn we watched many others land… oh man, the landings. Some landed gracefully on two feet. Some ski-ed across the grass on their butts. Some slid forward and took a mouthful of grass. Others landed too soon and their instructor toppled over them. Note to self: carefully do as the instructor says!

Then it was finally our turn to go up! I met my instructor and I got all harnessed up. The only directions I was given was how to jump out of the plane: bend your legs, tilt your head back, arch your back, and smile at the camera! Haha. We hopped on the back of a truck that took us to our plane. It had just refueled—sweet! We all piled tightly in the small airplane- 4 SASers, 4 tandem instructors, 4 photographers, and 1 pilot… and up we went! We flew upward for 15 minutes with the most spectacular view! Oh the island was GORGEOUS! Mountains, ocean, waves, and I could even see to the other side of the island! After we got to 14,000 ft it was time to JUMP! I was the first to jump… oh boy. But I was SO excited, hardly any nerves at all! We stood there in the door of the plane, knees bent, head tilted backward, and all smiles. Then I JUMPED!!! And down we free-fell 4,000 ft for 50 seconds at 120 mph! Oh, I LOOOOOVED it! It was like I was flying (or more like failing to fly lol) with my arms spread wide feeling the freedom! The air was strong so my face made goofy expressions. Oh, the view was just incredible, just incredible. Then the parachute was pulled and we were jerked around until the chute got smoothed out. We peacefully glided around, twirled, and enjoyed the amazing scenery. When we were about 30 seconds from landing, my instructor finally told me how we were going to land… haha. We approached the ground, I stuck out my feet, he touched ground, he told me to stand, I stood, and we barely had to run! It was honestly a perfect landing! No mouthfuls of grass, no butt-skiing, and no injuries! Oh, sky-diving was just soooo great! I was ready to go do it again! Haha. I really do want to do it again… possibly multiple times. Skydiving is just AMAZING! I would highly recommend it for anyone who loves heights and a thrill. I’d also recommend you do it somewhere with beautiful scenery. Skydiving itself is fun, but if you add on a beautiful place, it’s a breathtaking experience!

We were sailing to the big island overnight so we had to be back on the ship by 5:00 pm. So when I got back I spent some time walking around Honolulu, viewing the waterfront, and enjoying the Christmas decorations.

That night on the ship I went to the last get-together for the Life Long Learners because some of them were leaving in Hilo, including two that I had worked quite a bit with ☹ and then had hip-hop dancing (which I’m REALLY loving).

We pulled into Hilo on the Big Island at 8:00 am on Sunday morning. The Big Island is less populated and has volcanoes and craters. A group of us spent the day at Volcanoes National Park. We first drove around the perimeters, but we ran into a roadblock… turns out that 2/3 of the park was closed due to the lava emitting toxins. Also turns out that this happens more often than it doesn’t happen. We were still able to hike an amazing route though. We walked through the Hawaiian jungles that first went on the perimeters of a crater and then we went down into it. We walked over a HUGE area in the crater that was purely hardened lava. It was just amazing. You could see where the lava had folded, then hardened, and broken into huge pieces. There were also deep cracks where hot steam came out of from the lava underneath. It is often rainy/steamy/foggy around this park because of all the heat underneath. After hiking through the crater, we walked into a Hawaiian rain forest- amazing! This led us to lava tunnels—caves where lava had once flowed. It was just incredible to think that huge lava streams used to flow through where we were walking. We then hiked the perimeters of the crater back. By this time I was soaked. I gave up on being dry and instead embraced the rain ☺

We stopped at a beach on our way back. You need to realize though that there are no natural sand beaches on the Big Island. They are all hardened lava rocks, which creates such a beautiful shoreline. We stopped at one for a while and just enjoyed the view. That night we found some food and a live jazz club. These couples were just dancing away to the music! Then we found a lava rock beach and took in our last night in port. Huge waves crashed on the rocks around us and I sat with my favorite people from the voyage. I couldn’t have asked for a better last (ish) night.

Monday we decided to explore Hilo. We looked in some shops, walked the streets, viewed an art gallery, walked through a farmer’s market, and hung out in a park. We also went to a kava restaurant. Kava is a root that is made into a tea drink. It has a very relaxing effect. We then walked along the beach and got some shaved ice, the real Hawaiian good stuff.

That afternoon SAS put on a 5K Fun Run to raise money for the $100 Solution in Ghana, India, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. I have never loved a 5K so much… because it was so personal to me. I have such a strong attachment now to each of these places, particularly the needs of these places. 300 people from SAS participated, that’s more than half! It was on the last day for a conclusion of our voyage… to always remember those around the world that are in desperate need for just the basics in life. To always remember how easy it is for us to improve the quality of life for another human being. The purpose of the 5K is what is most dear to my heart from my voyage around the world.

The last moments on the Big Island were spent at a nearby hidden beach. Again we just sat along the rocks, watched the crashing waves, and took in the moments. It was so peaceful, but very emotional. I can’t believe this journey is almost over. I can’t believe these 11 countries I once hardly knew I now have experienced and know pretty well. I can’t believe my long anticipated semester is nearly finished. I can’t believe that I will no longer be walking on foreign ground. But I do know this… my travels are not finished, they have only begun. Traveling and learning cultures has become an addiction… it has become a part of my being. Every place I visit from now on will be a “port”… as I will so graciously take it in and let it change me. I’m not saying goodbye to a journey, I am welcoming in a new way of life.

I climbed back up those 3 flights of gangway one last time, had dinner, and awaited our disembarkation. Then we got an announcement of a community-wide meeting for an itinerary change. We all met together and a surprise was announced. The seas were incredibly rough and would be dangerous to sail on. The captain wanted to avoid the storm, but thought maneuvering around it would be too difficult… so… we were going to sail back up to Honolulu and have a free day there! The room broke out in hootings and hollerings! What a surprise! Originally Tuesday was going to be a Study Day on the ship because Wednesday was a finals day. Originally they weren’t going to let us off the ship so we would study, but they decided that we were mature adults that could make our own decisions. So that last day wasn’t a last day… I still had another day in Hawaii!

Tuesday we woke up to pulling back into a port that was quite familiar… Welcome back to Honolulu and O’ahu Island! Once the ship was cleared my friends and I made our way to a bus stop. The bus took about 2 hours, but it was along a very scenic view of the island: mountains, ocean, and beaches! And I brought homework along and was quite productive on that bus ride ☺ We then arrived at North Shore- a very beachy area where Triple Crown Surf Competition was being held! This is a BIG competition, especially this particular day! The waves were 40-50 ft tall, the highest they’ve been in 6 years! We found ourselves a nice seat along the sandy shore and watched the surfers attempt these huge waves. They looked so tiny in those monstrous waves! There were some big names there too- like Kelly Slater who is a 9-time World Champion Surfer! It was a beautiful day out, and I REALLY enjoyed the fact that we had an extended day in Hawaii so we could watch this big surfing competition! After a few hour-long heats we made our way back to the bus stop and rode the bus 3 hours back to the ship. Yes, I was academically productive on the bus ride again ☺.

I got some studying and paper-writing done… and hip-hopped danced as well. We’re working on a routine for the end of the voyage and are learning some sweet stuff. We meet every night we’re on ship and I am loving this group. We did not pull out of Hawaii that night. It was up to the Captain’s discretion of when would be the safest. So I woke up this morning (Wednesday) to still being in Hawaii! Sadly though it was a finals day and we weren’t allowed to leave the ship. So I took 2 of my finals and am feeling pretty good about them, despite spending the day before in Hawaii at a surf competition. We pulled out of the port around 4:00 pm and I sat in my porthole typing this post. I can still see the Hawaiian mountains far in the distance. The next 5 days consist of: a study day, another finals day, reflection/re-entry programs, the Ambassador’s Ball (dance), convocation, and arriving in San Diego. I’m sure they’ll be filled with many emotions, laughs, and tears from everyone.

So how am I doing right now? At this moment I’m very excited. I’m excited to see my family and friends who I’ve really missed. I’m excited to spend these last 5 days with my SAS friends that I’ve come to love (and finish classes…). And I’m excited about these past 4 months… how they’ve changed me… how they’ve shaped me. In a way it’s a blessing that we had an additional day in Hawaii. That last (or what I thought was my last) walk on the ship in Hilo was quite a downer… I was incredibly sad this was all over. But then, SURPRISE!, one more day in port! But isn’t that how life goes? It’s not worth getting too sad over, there’s always a next stop, more excitement, and more life-changing experiences. I expect to visit more ports, more countries, more cultures. My voyage isn’t ending… this was just an introduction to my travels.

Alright, despite my optimistic view right now, I know I am bound to have some difficult emotions these last 5 days. I guess some prayers might be good to ask for. I’m not sure if I will have time to post again before I disembark the MV Explorer, so the next time I post I may be home. I can’t wait to see you all. It means a lot that you’ve kept up with my travels. Friends are really all you need to get by in life, and I’ve been overly blessed with quality friends and family. So cheers to these next 5 days… and I’m looking forward to seeing you all SOON! ☺