Only I would be listening to BBC Radio Asian network, playing bhangra, in Hawaii.

I've learned a lot about myself and my assumptions in the past few days. First, I'm a brave little chicken. Second, no matter how much research you do, you will inevitably be wrong. Third, small town life isn't what it seems.

To begin, I want to stress that this is still an amazing opportunity. It's just taking me a little longer to adjust. Working for a newspaper, you have to know the community. Moving to a community and reporting on it the following day is difficult to say the least. I don't know the people, I don't know half the words they say, I don't know my way around. The other interns, and the managing editor (a former intern) are incredibly supportive and friendly, but they seem to have forgotten what is was like to start out. Or maybe there just is nothing else to say besides 'you'll get used to it.' Or maybe I'm just a big baby. The worst part is, I'm homesick. I didn't expect that. It took four years and several thousand miles to realize how much my family means to me. Not being familiar with my surroundings is something I can get used to; I'll learn how to navigate this small island and smaller towns. However, I'm worried I'm going to constantly compare my life now with my life then.
Positives. The house is quaint. It's not the spider invested, primitive dwelling I was picturing after repeatedly being told it's 'rustic.' My room is nice enough, a bit hot with only a small fan, but I get internet and privacy. My other colleagues are lovely: Kanoe (ka-noi) is sweet and punky at the same time, she knows how to laugh; Todd isn't in much, but is easy to work with and his wife would win the perkiest person in the world award; my roommates, Kodi, Catherine and Dan are friendly, generous and patient. They're fun to hang out with, at the only bar on the island and on the beach, but professional when it comes to worktime.

My second point refers to my research on Hawaii. I know most of the topics of conversation for Molokai by reading past issues of the Dispatch, but I was taken aback by all the other research. I got many thing wrong. It's true this has the most Hawaiian population of the islands, but the other half are from everywhere. I had assumed most were expats, mainlanders and other nationalities bumming around because of the laid-back island vibe. But most of these people moved for jobs, or because of a connection making it easier to open a store. Catherine's boyfriend, Clayton, is a very nice guy who's been living here for several months after he got laid off in California. His parents already lived here, so he moved in with them and works odd construction jobs around the island. He's one of many younger people living on the island; I had assumed a rural island in a remote island chain would be mostly made up of baby boomers.
And Hawaiians don't hate white people. These are the most generous, friendly, unpretentious people you'll ever meet. Yeah, you'll get a grump, but you can't get rid of those.

My last point is this: when you watch a movie featuring small town life, or pass through a small town and decide to stop at that quaint antique store, stop and reevaluate before you decide to lay down some property at this little piece of heaven. Maybe I'm just a deviant. I'm really not sure I'm cut out for small town life. I like busy, I can do busy. On this island, I often feel like I'm wasting time when I don't have something to do, but no one else is concerned. I guess because I don't have any other friends, when I rely on my roommates I follow their schedule. And I've been more bored than I wanted. Even today at the beach, because the waves were too big I couldn't go in that much, after about an hour I was bored. Who does that?

More positives: the beach is beautiful, and you will nap while you're there. Ice cream is plentiful here. My work is challenging in very different ways; I still have my skills as a reporter, but starting over in what feels like a different country takes much work. My work is interesting: I've decided I may like the challenges if I look at it like an anthropological case. The culture here is so intricate and ancient, but if you show the slightest interest, they will smile and tell you everything.
Just keep thinking positive. Don't get mad at me for complaining while in Hawaii, just think positive thoughts for me.

Translation: Beautiful Land

Guess what. I have been lucky enough to be offered essentially free lodging and a writing job in Hawaii! And I almost blew it.
I have always liked change, to move around, to visit and explore new places and things. I am not afraid to travel to places I have never been before, and I've become enough of a people person that I think I can thrive in entirely new environments. All of this I thought I was.
Until I was offered this amazing chance to write for the Moloka'i Dispatch on the island of Moloka'i. The interview went great, but afterwards I felt like crying. Only partially because I was worried about the cost; the editor-in-chief, Todd, said I should make sure I am financially ready for this and to make sure I have enough in savings. He's right, I won't be able to live solely off the $40 per week grocery stipend. So, for the next two days, I did cry. I nearly talked myself out of the internship, convinced that the financial burden was too much and that others would agree and talk me out of it. But man, was I wrong!
My parents were unbelieveably supportive. They pointed out that this is a step forward in my career, that opportunities like this were rare - and offered to help pay for my trip. I am so grateful that even after I graduated and should be on my own, they are still willing to help. Although it happens rarely, my pride almost got in the way this time. I didn't want to keep accepting money from them, but I had to realize its not about pride on either part.

So! Off I will go in two weeks! Two weeks to get student loans sorted out, credit cards paid off, piles of laundry and lots of research. I'm currently learning Hawaiian vocabulary and local lingo to help adjust; it's true that Hawaiians are distrustful of outsiders, but I think we'll come together if I show the proper respect to their culture, heritage and customs.
I'm also starting research on my special project. I'll be in charge of categorizing and cataloging the research on Father Damien deVeuster, a Belgian Catholic missionary who helped the leper colony on the island in the late 1800s. The colony still exists, with no active cases, and Father Damien is being canonized for sainthood next month - the reason for my project. This is quite honestly a dream of mine, to be able to combine both journalism and history.

Until next time, most likely when I'm on the island (squee!), A hui ho'u!