2007 is coming to a close, and as one is wont to, I am looking back at all the changes, the ups and downs this year has brought to me. I started 2007 (literally, 01.01.07) at a funeral -- I remember hoping at the time that it wasn't a harbinger of things to come. No worries there, I think the year gone by was simply as to and fro as any other.
How can I sum up the year that was? I am not sure I can. And this blog, existing in particular to keep folks up to date on the Hawaiian adventure, is probably not the place to go into too much gory detail -- let me simply say that the move out here was at once the best and hardest thing I have ever done/am doing. Changes, man, and palm trees and rainbows on Christmas. Very surreal.
To all you guys on the east coast -- I miss you even more than usual at this time of the year. Know that I think of you and miss you often, and that there is an open invitation to come and stay with me here in sunny Honolulu should the cold New England winter prove too much.
In completely unrelated news, my music bender continues, and I am (as always) looking for recommendations for new and awesome music. Please feel free to comment with your top ten (songs or albums) of 2007 -- I would LOOOVE to hear them!!
Here, I'll start:
The song I can't stop listening to of 2007? Band of Horses, "No One's Gonna Love You".
The best band that you've never heard of, but should, 2007 edition? Empires. For real. Check them out: http://www.myspace.com/weareempires.
lovelove.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Pics, pics.
Waika, Elijah, and me at Pau Hana.
History TAs at the end of the semester, in the midst of grading. We are hurting, and it shows.
New friend Drew and I at Thanksgiving Extravaganza, 2007.
The beach at Waimanaolo....
....whither wander you?
Guys, it has been 4 months since my last update, which I realize may lead many to assume that I have died in a freak surfing and/or coconut related incident. But, as was to be expected, PhD school is hard and kind of all-consuming. The final grades are in, though, and I am on break for a good three weeks, and feel like I should do a massive, gigantic, semester-encompassing update. Buckle up, kids.
1. School!
School was definitely a mixed bag -- lots of work, lots of stress, lots of self-doubt. Everyone always says that PhD school will do a number on your self-confidence, and I would like to testify. I really enjoyed my seminars, though -- one on historiography and one on the history of the South Pacific -- and my Maori class was probably the most frustrating and most rewarding part of the whole shebang. I think at the end I finally got into the rhythm of classes and such -- we shall see how next semester goes!
2. Teaching!
At first, wasn't such a fan. Now? I LOVE my kids. I was so so sad to say goodbye to them at the end of the semester. A bunch of them are going to be history majors now -- sniff. Again, sometimes totally frustrating, but also entirely awesome.
3. Recreational Activities!
Roomies = made of win. We hosted a housewarming party, Thanksgiving (for 23, oy vey) and a cookie making holiday soiree. The people are wonderful -- they are not my people, my Boston folks, who I miss horribly every single day, but they are pretty great nonetheless. And we seem to keep drawing new people into our fold, which is good.
4. Concerts!
Both of the performing in and seeing variety. So, my Maori class has given me a lot of opportunities to sing at various events over the semester, which has been maybe the best thing that has happened to me, ever. I have gotten to sing at gallery openings, cultural events, and college official-type things. It has been amazing, and my teacher is a stunningly talented and giving woman who has encouraged us to perform with her -- so, so cool. As for attending, I went to see My Chemical Romance last week, and have plans to see Lupe Fiasco next week. Then in February, I have got Motion City Soundtrack (not MMJ, alas, I was lied to!) and The Starting Line back to back. Good stuff. Not a ton of bands come to Hawai'i, alas, so I have been trying to get to see as many as I can....
God, what else -- Hawai'i is spectacular, both the people and the place itself. I have learned so much I never even stopped to think about -- Hawaiian issues, issues concerning Pacific Islanders, et cetera -- and I have definitely settled into what is a really different place, culturally, from the northeast. But oh, do I miss my city, and my people. Being here when the Red Sox won the World Series was sort of surreal -- luckily, I have found a fellow MA ex-pat to share the love with.
I am spending the holidays here, with the roommates, R&J, and various people who can't make it to their respective homes for Christmas. I am looking forward to a Christmas day visit to the beach, but part of me really longs for home.
Anyhoo, that about wraps it up from here -- I know this was sort of general, but I don't want to bore people with crazy details. i promise to try tp update more regularly, with more interesting and impressionistic tales -- and expect a slew of pics!
Mele Kalikimaka!
xoxo
1. School!
School was definitely a mixed bag -- lots of work, lots of stress, lots of self-doubt. Everyone always says that PhD school will do a number on your self-confidence, and I would like to testify. I really enjoyed my seminars, though -- one on historiography and one on the history of the South Pacific -- and my Maori class was probably the most frustrating and most rewarding part of the whole shebang. I think at the end I finally got into the rhythm of classes and such -- we shall see how next semester goes!
2. Teaching!
At first, wasn't such a fan. Now? I LOVE my kids. I was so so sad to say goodbye to them at the end of the semester. A bunch of them are going to be history majors now -- sniff. Again, sometimes totally frustrating, but also entirely awesome.
3. Recreational Activities!
Roomies = made of win. We hosted a housewarming party, Thanksgiving (for 23, oy vey) and a cookie making holiday soiree. The people are wonderful -- they are not my people, my Boston folks, who I miss horribly every single day, but they are pretty great nonetheless. And we seem to keep drawing new people into our fold, which is good.
4. Concerts!
Both of the performing in and seeing variety. So, my Maori class has given me a lot of opportunities to sing at various events over the semester, which has been maybe the best thing that has happened to me, ever. I have gotten to sing at gallery openings, cultural events, and college official-type things. It has been amazing, and my teacher is a stunningly talented and giving woman who has encouraged us to perform with her -- so, so cool. As for attending, I went to see My Chemical Romance last week, and have plans to see Lupe Fiasco next week. Then in February, I have got Motion City Soundtrack (not MMJ, alas, I was lied to!) and The Starting Line back to back. Good stuff. Not a ton of bands come to Hawai'i, alas, so I have been trying to get to see as many as I can....
God, what else -- Hawai'i is spectacular, both the people and the place itself. I have learned so much I never even stopped to think about -- Hawaiian issues, issues concerning Pacific Islanders, et cetera -- and I have definitely settled into what is a really different place, culturally, from the northeast. But oh, do I miss my city, and my people. Being here when the Red Sox won the World Series was sort of surreal -- luckily, I have found a fellow MA ex-pat to share the love with.
I am spending the holidays here, with the roommates, R&J, and various people who can't make it to their respective homes for Christmas. I am looking forward to a Christmas day visit to the beach, but part of me really longs for home.
Anyhoo, that about wraps it up from here -- I know this was sort of general, but I don't want to bore people with crazy details. i promise to try tp update more regularly, with more interesting and impressionistic tales -- and expect a slew of pics!
Mele Kalikimaka!
xoxo
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