After traveling a decent portion of the world, I can say that no place that I have visited has made me feel the way I did when I saw my mom for the first time since January. There is something so comforting, relaxing, and soothing when being with family. We had an action packed, amazing day.
Kristin and I were one of the first TEN off the ship!! We were let off before the announcement was made that the ship was cleared. My mom and aunt were waiting in their soccer-mom rented minivan. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling that swept over me when my mom and I hugged. I miss her and family so much. Anyway, my friend Kristin, Aunt Kim, Mom and I went back to the condo and started laundry and then decided to go to Jamba Juice!! JAMBA JUICE!! We walked the International Marketplace around 8am and Waikiki Beach with Diamond Head in the distance. We jumped in my mom’s blue Chrysler Town and Country minivan to drive to Haleiwa to eat at the delicious Cholo’s Mexican Food! MY taste buds were, and still are, on sensory overload. The entire day was filled with delicious food! (As you can tell, the day was mostly driven by a hunt for my cravings over the last three months-food). Val you would be proud!
After a delicious lunch we went to a grocery store where I could actually read the labels! We then stopped at Turtle Beach and swam with the turtles/snorkeled. It was the first time that I have been in a complete body of water in over a month! The ocean was very welcoming and warm. We saw two turtles at the beach. I looked at my watch and noticed that it was already 2pm. The day was slipping away. Our next stop was the Dole Pineapple plantation where we had the most delicious pineapple soft-serve ice cream EVER! A visit to Oahu is not complete without a Dole Pineapple ice cream. Once back in the car and on the road we headed towards the ship. I was really excited to be able to show off my home for the past three months to my mom and aunt. They loved my tiny cabin and all the decks. I unloaded a really big suitcase along with a lot of souvenirs. The ride from the ship location in Honolulu Harbor to the condo was about 20 minutes. Back at the condo I unpacked my bag of souvenirs and showed my mom and aunt all my new treasures. We also watched my skydiving video from South Africa!!! To say it was an amazing day is an understatement. I had a beyond awesome day and wish I could stay longer in Hawaii.
When we disembarked the ship the two girls in front of me kissed the ground. I was so so excited to be at a place that spoke the same language, had understandable currency, and familiar faces. While Hawaii felt familiar, it also felt foreign. Having not had all these luxuries for over 90 days, it felt very strange to read a menu in English, order food in English and drive on the ‘right’ side of the road. Some other startling things…. signals, silverware (no chopsticks), fresh air, safe streets, drinkable water, FDA approved food, laundry that smells like Tide and clean western toilets. It was also amazing to walk on the ship with a suitcase full of People magazines, Have’a’chips, a jar of peanut butter, trail-mix, my grandpa’s tshirt, waterpolo pictures from the Whittier game and clean smelling laundry.
Leaving tonight from Hawaii at 2400 hours and arriving in Costa Rica in 10 days. 10 days at sea + School Finals + 23 hour days + Rough Seas = Exciting! It is hard to believe that this whirlwind voyage is almost over. I do have to say that I think that I will be ready for home on May 9th. Grandma- Chinese food on May 10th? I’m ready to show off my newly acquired chopstick skills.
17 MORE DAYS! I love you!!!
4 comments:
hi megs, what a quick visit in Hawaii-you sure did alot in such a short time..cant wait for kim and mom to share their adventures in hawaii and the ship tour..YES, a date for chinese lunch at mandarin king..you can show glenn how you mastered chopsticks,,haha,thanks for phone calls, your voice was so excited and happy..moms too..just mailed last letter to costa rica. wont be long until you go through the panama canal..there was a u s submarine in the big lake when i was there in 1986, waiting for ship traffic to pass..thinking of you, hope kristin had fun in hawaii too..also got the postcard from japan..pretty..happy tuesday, love, gma and gpa, eva too
MEGS!!!
Your visit w/ your mom and Aunt Kim sounded incredible! You did so much! thanks to your mom's thorough planning (way to go Kathy!) I can only imagine the emotions you and your mom were feeling when you first layed eyes on each other and were able to hug. Good stuff. It was so great to get your call, your dad was flying high afterwards. You sounded happier than ever. All is good here, can't wait to see you when you get home! Have a great rest of your trip and good luck on finals. We couldn't be prouder of you.
Love, Dad and Val
oh my only 17 more days, it just seams like last week we were saying, you have been gone only 17 days. i cant wait to hug yu too and the phone call was great. both them i have your recorded on still on the phone. but to talk in person i also wonderful. i sure hope you floted and bob for me in hawaii. cant wait to see your trinkets and photos,
love you lots aunt kelly
hahahah megs... im pretty sure you have the pineapple maze memorized by now. your posts are so funny. i miss you tons and am really excited for you to come home. actually im excited for me to come home cause you will already be there. you and jamba juice... have you tried the new mango peach topper? AMAZING!! ive moved on from the days of chocolate moods for breakfast. ps i cant believe your grandma is so amazing at posting on your bloggs... my mom is still mastering the art of turning on her phone and checking her messages, we are working on it, but no progress has been made in the 9 years she has had a phone... have fun on the last part of your trip!!!! im bummed we are going to miss each other next weekend... but im calling you after massive road trip with my dad through wyoming and montana.... fyi my dorm room to the wyoming border= 1 hour and 26 minutes... seriously? where am i. ok anyways miss you and ill try and bring home a rainbow trout for you
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