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February 25, 2008

Rain, Rain, and More Rain

 

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Rain isn't always bad, right? I can certainly think of several instances in which rain is actually preferred to clear skies.  A light shower to clear out some of the harsh pollen during allergy season.  An afternoon thunderstorm to cool off some of that Carolina humidity. Or even just a steady rain during a much needed nap?  Some people even pay money, for cryin' out loud, simply to have the sounds of rain playing on a machine while they sleep at night.

So...how can you be sick of rain, you ask?  Well....you've obviously never been to Hilo.  Two weeks ago I experienced a Hawaiian flood.  It rained 48 inches in 3 days.  Roads were completely washed away.  Grassy areas turned into ponds and streets became rushing rivers.  The serene waterfalls (like the one shown above - Rainbow Falls) were no longer calming to the onlooker.  The vast amounts of rain Hilo received turned them into deathly torrents.  (You can see how the mist rose as high as the falls.) 

School was canceled due to impassable roadways, but even a day off couldn't be enjoyed.  I watched the waters rise and rise, thinking, "Wow....I'm going to have to start building an ark if this rain keeps up." Finally, it stopped...after nearly 2 weeks of steady rain.  Not intermittent showers...steady, hard, downpours...for hours on end.

As for now, we're back to sunny skies and warm temperatures.  I woke early this morning and reminded myself how lucky I am to be living in Hawaii where my surroundings are undoubtably beautiful. B-E-A-utiful.

Until next time....Aloha!

 

 

 

 

February 19, 2008

A Quick Update

Aloha future Gamecocks and all other readers of this blog.  I want to officially apologize for not having written in two weeks.  Believe me…it hasn’t been because nothing interesting has happened.  Oh no, I have survived a flood, some serious schoolwork, and a trip to Oahu.  So stay tuned for more of my Hawaiian adventures; I promise to update in the next day or two.

Until next time…Aloha!

February 02, 2008

Purple Potatoes

Remember back in the day (which was definitely a Wednesday, by the way) when your parents constantly hounded you about eating your fruits and vegetables? 

“No dessert until you finish that broccoli, Johnny.”  “If you wanna grow big and strong, Sally, you’ll eat more fruits and vegetables.”  “C’mon, Billy, eat some salad…it’s good for you.”

Yeah, that got old for most of us.  (Now…I have to admit, I actually like apples and bananas, broccoli and cauliflower!  I know…weirdo…so I’ll be speaking for my friends in this one.)  But yeah, I know a few people who began their rebelliousness by refusing to ‘eat the green stuff’.

None of that in Hawaii, I assure you!  Every day of the week (but especially on Saturdays and Wednesdays) the Market is swarming in downtown Hilo.  Farmers come from all over the island to sell their yummy goodies.  It’s a weekly adventure!  Now coming from South Carolina, I expected the usual stuff….corn, potatoes, beans, apples, oranges, etc.  But I was not ready for what I found!

Breadfruit, rambuton, lilikoi, star fruit, guava, durian, mangosteen, dragon fruit….the list could go on forever!  At first I was skeptical…these HAVE to be made up.  But nope, they’re the real thing.  And I’ve had fun trying each and every one of them. 

All of it adds to the cultural experience.  Who would have thought I’d come to Hawaii and add to my fruit vocabulary, ya know?  It’s the little things…like eating apple bananas (not apples or bananas, but apple bananas) or white pineapple…that I’ll remember forever.  I can’t stress enough how important it is to study abroad during your college career.  I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world.

Off to the market….6 papayas for $1.  Not bad!

Until next time…Aloha!

 

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The picture above was taken while cooking for a birthday party.  The left bowl contains Okinawan sweet potatoes.  And yes, this is their natural color.  The bowl on the right is fruit salad with papaya, kiwi, star fruit, bananas, and kumquats.  Colorful, eh?!