I am here, I have wifi, and now I need a shower!

The moment was drowned out with the thunderous roar of overstuffed suitcases wheeling on gravel. About 28 hours of travel and barely any moments to sleep, I'm impressed that I officially made it to London alive. There were a few moments leading up to January 4th where I considered backing out, and staying home in Hawai'i, but I'm glad I'm pushed through those thoughts. I was scared. But after surviving a 12 hour layover in LA, I shed one more tear for home, sucked it up and boarded the plane. I will be honest,  already miss the sun and food, but at least I'm here to try and do something new.

Sh*t Just Got Real

Yep, shit just got way real. Yesterday, I booked my flight for London. There are many fears that come with this. 

1. I have never flown on such a long flight before
2. I have never had a 12 HOUR layover in L.A.
3. I have never spent such a long period of time away from Hawai'i
4. I have never been in weather colder than 70 degrees
5. I have never had to worry about layering clothes

A Hawaiian in London

As the date for my study abroad experience approaches, I feel that now would be an appropriate time to prepare this blog. I have never stayed in a dorm. I have never had a roommate whom I was not related to. I have never been away from home, and from my family for longer than two weeks. And, I have never been to Europe. In short, it is safe to say that this adventure will indeed, be an adventure!

My decision to participate in my university's study abroad program was well thought out. Just kidding. My university's financial responsibilities are a mess, and they are firing people left and right. I know that as a student, I want to get out of my university as soon as possible. But the opportunity of being able to study in a different country, at a different university (while unfortunately still being attached to my home university), became much more appealing as the financial crisis began to rise. If I could go away from my university and still be able to graduate on time, I will take the risk.

That's right, I am in my last year in university. With my university's unfortunate graduation rate, the idea that I am graduating within four years is a feat. To top that off, I changed my major about two semesters ago. I went from wanting to participate in the hospitality industry, to being an English major (and probably the worst English major).

While going through the process of applying to the study abroad program, I had to submit an essay or personal statement as to why I would like to go to London. This is what I wrote:

            Here in Hawaiʻi, we have an undiagnosed illness that affects many local children as they grow older, especially those of Native Hawaiian ancestry, like myself. I call it Island Kid Syndrome (IKS). This illness hinders those who grew up in Hawaiʻi from leaving the islands and exploring the world. We believe Hawaiʻi to be our most prized possession, our greatest ancestor, and the only way we can remain with her is to physically be with her. What we forget is that within our island home we build roots. Growing up in Hawaiʻi for twenty-one years, I feel my roots have planted themselves deep within my culture. I am ready to expand my branches outside of IKS. That is why for my last semester, I would like to participate in the London, England study abroad program. Participating in the program would allow me to learn more about the British culture, as well as the many other cultures that make London their hub.

            I am interested in the London program because of the courses offered at the host campus of Roehampton. I am an English major, and my interests lie in Romantic era literature, especially poems from this time period. At the University of Roehampton, during the spring term, they will be offering a course focused on Romantic era poet, William Blake. I would like to enroll in this class. I believe that by being taught his works in London, I will gain a better understanding of them. I will also be able to learn a different perspective than what I have already been taught. I enjoy the Romantic era because it is a shift away from the Renaissance period. There was no longer a need to be scientifically enlightened, instead, there was a shift for man to reconnect with man. As Romantic era poet, William Wordsworth wrote, it is “man speaking to men.” The Romantic era no longer deals with poetry as a way to honor God, but a way to honor human beings.

Although my grades do not seem to be on par, I feel I will be able to keep up with the academics necessary to succeed. Before I was an English major, I was a Travel Industry Management (TIM) major, and I was taking many business courses. By my third year I realized at least one of my classes every semester was an English course and that those classes were ones I enjoyed the most. Before the spring semester of my third year, I left the TIM program and declared myself an English major. My cumulative GPA lies at a 2.92, however, based on classes taken in the English department, my GPA would stand at 3.24.

Hawaiʻi has her own past history with London that spans over centuries. Only having been alive for two decades, I have a strong desire to develop my own history with London. I hope that the past relationship my home has with this country, and my own curiosity with its Romantic era, will satiate my IKS that I grew up with. Participating in the London, England program will allow me to expand further than Hawaiʻi.