USIE Experience Updates: Arrival in Hawaii

After so many hours of travelling (not sure how many hours) and transiting through Singapore and Narita, Japan , we've finally arived in Hawaii at 7.05 a.m local time or 1.05 a.m Malaysian time. The date is 10th May 2009, a day late from Malaysia. It is sunny but the breeze is wonderful and cool. I've checked in my room at "Hale Manoa" on the 9th floor then get to know more about the EWC housing from Hlek from Thailand who has just finished his studies here last Friday. He is one of the volunteer for the program. The view is very beautiful from my room. I can see the infamous Diamond Head of Hawaii and Waikiki from my window.

After checking in, all of us met at 12.00 p.m. to have our lunch and get to know each other from the other countries. There are participants from Singapore, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia. We are the youngest group among them. Most of them are older than 25 years old and some participants from Fiji and Papua New Guinea have actually started working. We have also been introduced to the other EWC and University of Hawaii (UH) staff which are involved in this program and all the other volunters. The ice breaking session is wonderful, and we were welcome with a gift of kukui nut lei necklace (a traditional Hawaiian necklace for welcoming guests I guess). Then, we were brought for a short tour on the campus to make us familiar on which way to go and where to get things. The people here are just wonderful and very friendly (they just won't stop talking and will entertain you which is wonderful).