Blog #7: Home in Hawaii
Well, my life finally had a schedule again now that I was back in Arizona…but not for long. I was only able to settle down for a few days before I had to pack and leave to go home. I was excited to go home; free food, no work, nice weather, the beach, and getting to hang out with family. In all reality, I was sitting in Starbucks every morning and afternoon (probably 5 hours total a day) using their internet for my McNair Research project. I’m doing my research on cross-culture miscommunications and misunderstandings between China and the United States based on family traditions. The reason why I chose this project is because I would like to pursue a Master’s in International Relations, and gear it all towards Asian Relations with the US.
While in Starbucks, I was able to communicate with my Chinese students that I have met during my stay in China through emails, and send them interview questions that will help me with my research. I will be doing the same thing to my fellow classmates that have gone with me to China study-abroad when I go to Florida and visit the other ERAU campus. I keep in close contact with a few of my Chinese students, whom have asked me to send pictures of Hawaii and Arizona for them to see what a part of America looks like. Some of them would like to come to America just to visit, but now with the Chinese being able to travel and visit the United States, it will give them an opportunity to use their English and for the Americans studying Chinese an opportunity to use their Chinese skills.
In my family, dinner was and always will be a family meal. I always ask my parents to at least have one dinner while I am at home that is of just Hawaiian food. My parents bought lomi lomi, poi, kalua pig with cabbage, and rice. Lomi lomi is basically cubed-raw salmon mixed with chopped white and green onions and tomatoes. Poi is taro that has been pounded up into a pudding-like paste. Kalua pig with cabbage is where the pig has been steamed underground and shredded into thin pieces which are then cooked with the cabbage. That was so ono (or delicious). Later that week, I begged my dad
One life lesson I learned when I went home this summer is to make the most of the short time I was able to spend with my family, and to cherish all the moments I spent with them. I am only able to see my family twice a year, and if I am lucky, three times a year…all for very short periods of time. The next thing I knew, a week had flown by fast and I was back at Honolulu Airport getting ready to board a plane back to Phoenix, Arizona.
However, I am very excited and extremely lucky to fly in August back to my home state to play against a few girls that I have played against growing up. I haven’t played a volleyball match in Hawaii since my senior year of high school, so to me personally, this is a huge deal to once again play on my island and in front of all of my family and friends. This will be the last and only time that I will play for a school in Hawaii, and so this will be a very special moment for me.