Pandora mixes a great selection (Ingrid Michaelson)

A typical Friday night has turned into Monday night for me.
I'm sitting in my room, browsing internet shit, alone. And I am conflicted.

By typical, I mean in the past I have the tendency to stay in rather than go out. Going out entails first, a shower, and second, motivation. Its not that I don't like going out, and spending time with people. Its simply an unfortunate fact that I can talk myself into staying in to do some boring activity, like Photoshop, 'catch up' on reading, rearranging my room, and ... this. All projects that need to be done -- but do they need to on a Friday night?

This 'Friday' night (which I'm writing on a Monday because in my new schedule, Mondays and Tuesdays are my days off) was after a great day at the beach. After work, Kodi, Dan and I went to a few beaches, where they surfed and I snorkled/napped.
We drove back, joking and listening to Hawaiian radio, and thought about watching a movie, our usual ritual. A few hours into to the evening, I had eaten my dinner and was getting bored. Kodi (and possibly Dan, I don't know where he is) had decided to drink some beer and talk story (chill out) with neighbor friends. They also decided to do a certain illegal, but enjoyable, baked activity.

This is my issue -- I had decided a while ago to forgo any similar activity. I don't especially enjoy it and the majority of people I have participated with are plain boring afterwards. Not an activity I decided to continue. Also, if I am not partaking, it's a boring experience for me then.

So I turned down the invitation to join. But this is the time to make friends! To enjoy the local's color, talk story, be friendly.
I truly did not want to seem rude. I even called my self a 'square' when I told Kodi I didn't want to join because of that.
Hopefully this does not turn into a pattern. I can't rely on Catherine to hang out with in the evening, or the other roomies -- I must go make my own friends. Put my fear aside (because, yes, I am actually quite self-deprecating and shy) and take initiative! Call over for a dinner, or drive over for a movie. I am not the greatest person to hang out with -- if I'm by myself. I'm boring myself.

Reggae is big here

I'm slowly starting to blend in. And yes, I mean physically. After another afternoon at the beach, I'm more of a light toast color and less of an ivory. I wander around town, in my now uncomfortable plastic flip-flops (or slippers), and I don't feel like I stick out. However, even if or when I did, the people here are so gosh-darn friendly it's hard to feel out of place. Except me, the 'city-slicker,' who at first was suspicious of so much good will. You want to know where I live, you say? Why? So you can sneak up on me as I get out of the shower? No? You just want to drop off a box of mangos? Well...thank you. I can make smoothies from them, you say? And so on...
I never really lived in a small town, so I never got the hang of walking into a bank and being greeted personally. Or walking into the grocery store, and being greeted by...my bank teller? Or in that same grocery store being approached by the 10-year-old girl you met earlier while covering a story at the elementary school. Kaunakakai is literally one square block of shops, eateries, two gas stations, two groceries, and plenty of places to get ice cream. And it's just one person after another who know your name, making you feel unbelievable guilty you still can't remember theirs.
And I gotta say...I'm getting the hang of it! Not looking at your feet while you walk, not even having your headphones in! Waving at people across the street, having a five-minute conversation with total strangers while waiting in line at the post office. It's only been six days, and while I don't feel like I've been here longer than that quite yet, everyone around me certainly does!
And another thing...I have never been treated with more respect as a journalist! As soon as people hear I'm the new Dispatch intern, they gush and say, 'they just get the nicest people to work there!' Of course I still get the same PR suggestions and 'oh, you should really write about my shop!' But everyone is so genuinely nice here, it's too hard not to smile and say 'I'll ask my editor.'
So, here I am, drinking some of the freshest coffee I'll ever have, swimming in secluded lagoon-type beaches (except some older male nudity - that's another story), walking in sunshine everyday, and being surrounded by the most agreeable people. I can deal with this :)