Fresh Perspectives

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!