"Where there's life, there's hope." J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Things I've learned from my travels, accompanied by photos of my final stop: Hawaii:

Feel free to ask questions about my experiences from Hawaii. Though I'm not posting specifically about it here, there are some fun stories.

1.      From New Zealand: take everything people tell you with a grain of salt. Especially when people are telling you things along the lines of “Everyone in New Zealand is so nice!” There are nice people in every country. There are also people who aren't worth your time. Every country has great people, and grumpy people. Don't be naïve the way I was and assume when people say, “Oh, everyone's so great!” that everyone will be great. That will not be the case.

2.      From Australia: always, always, always, have more money than you think you'll need. Food will be more expensive than you think, activities will cost more than you think, and you'll need to have budgeted not only for things you'll definitely do, but for all of the potential things you may want to do as well. When budgeting driving time, one always adds in a certain amount of Murphy time. Add some Murphy money. You'll need it.

3.      From Hawaii: Always figure out if you like someone before going out and doing an activity with them. If you meet someone, go do something with them, by the time you figure out that you don't like them (or that they smoke weed when they light up in front of you), it's often too late to bail on whatever you're doing. Always figure out if you actually want to hang out with them. Then decide to go somewhere with then.

4.      From Hawaii: Men are shameless. Tell them you have a boyfriend, and they'll continue their attempted advances. Tell them you're a lesbian and your girlfriend is the girl next to you and they still won't go away. Instruct them to go one way because you're going the other, and they'll keep following you. As with making friends, the second you're uncomfortable, get out of the situation. Don't prolong peeling off the band-aid. It won't get any easier, and it's likely you won't get a real “out” where you can get out easily.

5.      From Australia: Frequently check your body. For spiders, other insects, or leeches. You may not feel them, but they may be there. CHECK. Check before they attach themselves to you, Check before you realize that there's blood on your shoe and start to wonder where it came from.

6.      From New Zealand: Get a car. Rent a car. Hire a car. It'll be worth it. Unless you want to book your bus tickets months in advance and plan your entire trip, you'll save money with a car. Seriously. Furthermore, always hike. If the question is to hike, yes is the answer. Always. The view will always be worth it.

7.      From Hawaii: All, this is information that I have not released previously. To anyone. This is because it is not a fact I was entirely aware of.
I am a straightedge. A square. I follow the rules and I do not do what is not allowed or inappropriate. Nine times out of ten, (probably more like 99 times out of 100) I will do the right thing.

I first suspected this in my Freshman English class, when my teacher told the class to settle down and read. When the class did not settle in a few moments, I took it upon myself to hush them. My teacher then shrugged her shoulders at me and shook her head, as if it was not worth it. Granted, I was a Montessori child in my first week of public school madness, but I was shocked that these students could not follow such simple instructions.
Since then, there were always people more straightedge than me, so I enjoyed that I was not entirely a “goody two shoes.” However, the more people I meet, and the more people I talk to, I learn that I am just that. It is characteristic for me to follow the rules within reason, obey the law likewise, and almost always do what is expected of me.
I'm not disappointed by this, nor am I concerned. I am not particularly happy either. I'm just stating that at the present time, given my compatriots and their habits and pastimes, I run by the book. Do with that information what you would like. It's likely that I will forget I wrote this, and move on with my life.

8.      From Malaysia: try new things. Always. My brother and I often enjoy going into Chinese, Malaysian, or other restaurants where the menu is in their own language (of course, in Malaysia, this was standard). We then choose something at random, and order it. We've had some strange things, but have some success stories too. You won't know until you try!

9.      From everywhere: Asians (much like men) often will not pick up on social cues. If you leave two feet in front of you in line, they'll still snuggle up to your backside as it's as attractive as Beyonce's. If you move forward, or to the side, giving yourself space away from them, it's highly likely they'll just step closer to you.
Picking up on social cues, while in situations like that, where they are merely an annoyance, can be an important thing. For example...

10.  From Malaysia: wear clothes suitable for the place you are. If it's inappropriate to show ankles in the society you're in, don't show your ankles. It's as simple as that. These people are welcoming you into their culture, and you don't need to stir up anything (nor do you need annoying and barbarian cat calls at you constantly).

11.  From everywhere: Always carry hand sanitizer. Make it standard. When I traveled the South Island with a car, I carried a huge bottle of it. There will not always be soap. Even in New Zealand, as forward and modern and up to date as they like to think they are. Most of their public bathrooms do not have soap. Same goes for Australia, and Hawaii. Plus, there are just so many germs and scary foreign things that you could potentially get. It's worth it to be a germ-aphobe for a while. You'll be touching a hundred “press to walk” buttons, that EVERYONE touches, along with door handles and sink faucets and toilets... and all the things we don't want to think about them touching.

12.   Hawaii: Always carry a backpack. Drawstring bags pretending to be backpacks do not count. Neither do shoulder bags, as I previously thought. The little drawstring Massey bag I pretended was a backpack through New Zealand has withered from use. Shoulder bags hurt, when carrying a laptop, for a long period of time. Always have a backpack. Seriously.

13.  From people, mostly in New Zealand: Don't always listen to them when they say you MUST have expensive, large, durable hiking boots. I hiked every hike and every mountain in my little pink sneakers. And they are still truckin'. Sure, when I'm in mud I'm a little more careful than someone in big hikers might be, but I have a feeling even if I were wearing massive Timberlands, I'd still be just as inclined to avoid the mud. Good shoes are good, but a desire to go places is better.

14.  From Hawaii Never count on the weather. It will never do what you want it to do, and sometimes it will do everything you don't want it to do. Don't go anywhere or do anything hoping that the weather will be pretty, or improve. Always expect, and plan for the worst. Have a backup plan, a raincoat, a jacket, or a car to hide in.

This experience, these last six months, have been some of the most amazing, wonderful, special times of my life. I've grown personally, intellectually, and physically. Thanks to everyone for reading... and until further notice, or my adventures continue, this blog is officially suspended. 

Peace out and love and whatnot.