Pearl Harbor: Travel Tuesday {A Link Up}

It's time for another week of Travel Tuesday!

The last few weeks I have been talking about Hawaii, and I wanted to continue this trend by sharing a place you can't miss if you ever visit the islands: 

Pearl Harbor 

Time: Subject to what you want to do minimum 90 minutes max 8 hours 

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii near the Aloha Stadium 

Cost: Arizona Memorial is Free, everything else is about $15.00 ~They have military and local discounts 

Every time someone came for a visit, we would take a trip to Pearl Harbor. If you travel to Oahu and don't see the USS Arizona at the very least- there is something wrong with you. {I kid I kid, but seriously you should go.} 

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The first thing you should do is go get your ticket for the USS Arizona tour. This will be about 90 minutes, and it is the most breathtaking and peaceful place there is. Tickets are free and they are on a first come first serve bases, so you should get there early. 

*Special Note: You can pre-order tickets on-line, but you will have to purchase the audio tour for about $7.50. I would encourage this because you can get the tour time you want and not have to get there at the crack of dawn. Plus, the audio tour is awesome! 

The first thing you do is watch a 30 minute video about the attack on Pearl Harbor. I don't want to sound sappy, but it is one of the greatest 30 minute films ever. It is a nice way to get an overview of the attack and why it happened- just in case you have no idea. Then you get on a boat and ride out to the memorial. 

{You can see the rainbow from the oil leaking from the boat.} 

 {Bridge to Ford Island - the island where the ships were stationed. You take this to go to the Missouri and the Aviation Museum.} 

{These are all the men that were on the Arizona and survived. When they died later in life, they were interred with their shipmates. Matt and I saw one of these ceremonies and it was beautiful.} 

If this is all you have time for then that's perfect. 

But you can also see the submarine the USS Bowfin, the USS Missouri (where the treaty was signed to end WWII), the Aviation Museum, the Valor of the Pacific Museum, and a couple other museums. I have been to everything except the Bowfin {I have a fear that the submarine will all of a sudden just take off when I am inside). The Missouri is awesome. My school's honors group used to do a lot of service projects on the Missouri, so I have seen that ship inside and out. In fact, I helped set up a lot of the new exhibits. If you haven't been in a long time, I would suggest going because that ship has added a lot! The Aviation Museum is also great. There are two bunkers that are part of this. 

{The anchor from the Arizona} 

{USS Missouri} 

{Jessie and Jake in front of the Bowfin} 

{The Oklahoma Memorial- this is right next to the Missouri. Please don't forget to go here. I feel like it doesn't get enough recognition. It's a simple, but beautiful memorial. Each pole represents a person that died on the ship during the attack.} 

Can you tell I love Pearl Harbor? {It's the history major/ teacher in me.} If you haven't gone, you need to! Just make sure to put USS Arizona Memorial in your GPS, not Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor is still an active military base and the GPS will take you to the gate! 

Have you ever been to Pearl Harbor? Would you go? 

Thanks Belinda and Bonnie for the link up!

Friday Flashback #63

This is what birthdays look like in Hawaii. 

I wanted to dedicate this flashback to my former students. I miss my students so much. As much as I love being here, I kinda wish I was in Hawaii to see them moving on to 8th grade. 

This was taken on one of the last days of school and it made me laugh so hard. 

People here go all out for any special occasion! And I love that about Hawaii. 

{Note: I blocked out my student's face to protect her privacy.} 

Friday Letters #4

Dear Family, It's starting to become Fall which means candy corn. They don't sell that here, so I will be on the look out for a package containing candy corn. :) And maybe some Reese's Peanut Butter cups. And maybe some carmel apple suckers. That would be really really nice of you. Thanks. 

{via} 

Dear New Apartment, I don't really like you right now. It's not your fault that the building manager put up four different types of wallpaper, but I hate it. And it's not your fault the previous tenant trashed you and made you smell like cat pee, but I still don't like you. And I haven't decided if you still smell or not.  I know we are still in the beginning phases of our relationship, but so far it's pretty rocky. 

Dear Joseph {the previous tenant to the apartment}, if I ever see you again- I will punch you in the face. In what world is okay to live like this? 

Dear Cleaning Crew, Thanks for trying your best to get the nasty out of this apartment. I now feel like I can walk on the floors without my shoes. 

Dear Pringles, What the heck is Mayo Cheese? Mayo Cheese actually makes Salt & Seaweed sound good. Dear Seafood Section of Grocery Store, Not really sure if I'll ever get over seeing whole squid and fish for sale. Kinda creeps me out. 

And finally- Dear Weekend, I'm so excited you're here. 

Expat Diaries: Stranger Danger {A Link Up}

It's time for another edition of the Expat Diaries brought to us by the lovely Chelsea from Lost in Travels, and Rachel from Postcards from Rachel. 

So far I have talked about Bringing a Piece of Home with you while you travel, and my Fears and Concerns about moving to Korea. This month I wanted to share a story with you and talk about being safe in the area you are traveling/ living in. 

Last Friday, I was on the bus going to work when an older Korean man got onto the bus and sat down right next to me. I thought this was a bit strange because there were only a few people on the bus, and there were plenty of open seats. I quickly brushed this off and continued to look out the window and listen to my music when I noticed something- I could see in the reflection of the window that the older man was staring at me. {again, that's not too weird if you remember my post about staring} But I realized after 5 minutes had gone by that he was still staring at me. 

At first, it was really funny and I was trying not to laugh, but then twenty minutes passed and he would not stop! It was one of those I know you are staring, and you know I know you are staring... but you are still staring... And again I kinda brushed it off because people tend to stare at me here and I've gotten pretty okay with it. The staring happened until I was getting off the bus. {A good 30 minutes later. And it wasn't just staring, but eyes really wide type staring.} 

And that's where it got very weird, a bit confusing, and a tad bit scary. 

I turned to let the man know I needed off, and he nodded his head and got up. I got off the bus, and he followed me off. Okay... I was thinking- maybe this is his stop. I started to walk towards my school, and he grabbed my arm and tried to pull me in the opposite direction of where I was going. Not forcefully, but enough to worry me. 

Not going to lie, I freaked a bit and yanked my arm away and walked away really really fast. 

And that was that. The man never tried to talk to me, so I don't really know what was going on. Maybe he just thought I was lost, and was trying to help. Maybe he was confused. I like to believe it was just a mix up, but there is the possibility that this scenario could have turned out a lot different. 

And that story brings me to my point: 

When you are traveling {either domestically or internationally) you need to be aware of your surroundings and stay alert. 

We need to have plans in case something happens. We have to have backup plans of our backup plans. 

The world is not a perfect and 100% safe place, but that doesn't mean we have to stop traveling. It just means we have to be smart. 

For this expat diary, I wanted to share with you some things that we do to stay as safe as we can: 

1. Always know where your are going and how to get there- I have a bad habit of letting other people do the navigation {i.e. my friend Jenny basically leading me around Europe}, but if I got separated I would be up a creek. I now try really hard to pay attention to the plan and make sure I know what to do just in case. 

2. Know your address and phone number- This might sound like a duh moment, but I will admit I didn't know our address for the first two weeks I was here. Now we have our address written in both Korean and English in our wallets, and on our phones. I also have the cell number of my boss, and the address of my school. 

3. Understand traffic laws- I am talking about both as a pedestrian and as a driver. In the states, especially Hawaii, I feel like you can pretty much stand in the road and wait to cross. Here, not so much. Everyone drives really really close to the sidewalk, so if you are standing in the road- you will be hit! Just be aware of what is acceptable. No one wants to be a pancake. 

4. Be alert- It's easy to get caught up in the sights and sounds of the place you are exploring, but don't forget to take in the other things that are going on around you. If you see something dodgy stay away. If it's a dark alley... probably don't go down it. I think part of being alert means doing your research. Really get to know the area you will be in. And if it is a bit dangerous, read how you can be as safe as you can. 

5. Have an escape plan- I know this sounds drastic, but if something happens what are you going to do. How are you going to get out of the country, or to a safe place? {This could be referring to natural disasters, or government problems.} Matt and I have a plan of what to do just in case. {Rest easy family- we are prepared.} Even if you are just on vacation- you should have a plan. 

I know this all seems depressing, but honestly, as an expat- this is what I've had to deal with. I feel like if I wasn't prepared I would be really irresponsible. And that could lead to us getting in a bad situation. Travelers already have to deal with the stress of plane tickets, and packing, and missing family- we don't need to add the stress of being lost- or scared- or stuck. 

It is always better to be over prepared than under. 

So what are your thoughts on safety? Is there anything you guys do to stay safe? I would love to hear from you! 

*Note: Dear Family that is freaking out about the story you just read, It was in the middle of the day, and there were plenty of people around. I am totally fine! 

Many thanks to Chelsea and Rachel for this wonderful link up! 

Gratitude 101: Part 2 {A link up}

I can't believe it's already week two of Erika's Gratitude 101 link up! I had such a great time being a part of it last week, and I am looking forward to reading what everyone has to say this week.

Last week, I focused on being positive and counting our blessings, but this week I wanted to talk about how we can do that. We all know we need to be positive and think of what we have verses what we don't have, but sometimes saying it is a lot easier than actually doing it! 

{via} 

I really like this proverb because it's completely true. I don't know anyone who starts something new and is automatically perfect at it. When we are trying a new skill, or job, or sport, etc. we have to practice to get good, and continually work at improving ourselves. The same goes for working on being positive and remembering what is good in our lives. We have to wake up for the day and consciously tell ourselves to be positive. And for me this is hard. I don't usually wake up bursting with positivity and thinking of all the amazing things that are in my life. 

My mornings are usually... ugh I can't believe I have to wake up... ugh I can't believe I have to work... ugh I can't believe my husband is making so much noise... etc, etc. 

What we have to do is work a little at a time. Be positive about one thing, then two, then three, and then soon being positive will be natural to us. 

Soon our mornings could be... I am so glad I didn't sleep through my alarm... I am thankful that my husband and I have jobs and can support ourselves, I am thankful I have a husband who can stand all my crazy... etc, etc. 

Gratitude and Positivity go hand in hand. One cannot exist without the other, so it's important that we get this right. 

We are not perfect. We are going to have bad days. Sometimes big bad things are going to happen to us, but if we have a foundation in positivity- we can find things to be grateful for. 

Here are a few of my tips for starting to be more positive: 

1. Write one thing down a day that is positive about your life {This could be big or small.} 

2. Watch other people and see if you can spot anything positive with them. 

3. Get outside. {Sometimes I am at my most negative when I've been by myself all day.}

4. Keep Perspective- try to think of the bigger picture. 

5. Do Service- nothing will get you out of your funk than doing something for others. {Again this can be big or small.} 

6. Write a note to a family member or friend- I find that if I am doing something for a loved one, I start to feel better knowing I have these people in my life. 

Now, I don't do all of these everyday, but I do try to work on a few at a time. When I am having a bad day, I start a running list of all the great things in my life. 

"Little by little, a little becomes a lot." 

If we make an effort, I know we can all improve our quality of positivity. It's just going to take a bit of practice. 

What are your thoughts on this topic? How do you stay positive? 

Many thanks to Erika for this weekly link-up. 

And in closing here this week's Gratitude Moments: 

I am grateful for Skype. I am so happy that I get to not only talk with my family, but see their wonderful faces. 

I am grateful for my teaching license. It is really coming in handy as a start this new adventure teaching English. 

I am grateful for Korea's bus system. It seriously makes going to work so easy! 

Haleakala National Park {Travel Tuesday}

It's time for another travel tuesday!

The last few weeks I have been talking about places in Hawaii that you can't miss if you ever visit the islands. Today I want to take you guys to another beautiful part of Maui: 

Haleakala National Park {The House of the Sun} 

Cost: $10 

Location: State Highway 378

Time: 1-2 hours (or longer if you hike- time not including the drive) 

I would recommend going either for sunrise or sunset. It's $10 for a pass into the park, and the pass is good for I think three days. You can use this pass to get into the other side of the park where the seven sacred pools are (over by Hana). 

Sine none of us are morning people, we decided to drive up to see the sunset, and it was beautiful! We had a great time and would recommend taking the time to drive up to the top. The drive up takes about an hour. The drive down for me took an hour and a half because I drive slow in the dark. {Note: Drive as slow as you want, but if you see a line pilling up behind you- PULL OVER and let them pass!}  

 {When you drive up, you are literally driving through the clouds. It is really beautiful- in a creepy kind of way.} 

 {There are tons of hiking trails, both long and short, for those that have the time/ want to explore more.}

*Note: It is freaking freezing at the top of the mountain. I read that in one of my guide books, so I packed a sweater. But the night we went I forgot it, and it was horrible. All three of us were in shorts and t-shirts, and we were freezing. Everyone around us was in pants, jackets, gloves, and some had ear warmers! Needless to say, we looked stupid, and we froze our butts off! 

We just sat in the car while we were waiting for the sunset. 

Regardless of us freezing, it was a lot of fun. And the sunset was so beautiful. 

What do you think? Worth the drive? What's your favorite sunset? 

Many thanks for Belinda and Bonnie for this awesome link up! 

To Travel or Not To Travel

What makes a person want to travel? 

This question has been on my mind the last few months, and I wanted to talk about it. When Matt and I told our friends and family we were moving to South Korea we got very mixed reviews. Some were really happy and excited for us, and others were completely baffled at why we would want to move halfway across the world to live. 

It was within these conversations that I realized there are two types of people: 

1. Those who love to travel and can't get enough of it 

and

2. Those who could live without traveling 

{via} 

So, which one is right? Are people that travel and live around the world better than those that choose to stay in their hometowns? 

No, I really don't think so. We are all unique, and being unique means that we all get to choose what is going to make us happy. 

For me that means to see as much of the world as possible. For others that is to buy a four bedroom home in the suburbs. Neither of these options are wrong- it is up to us what makes us happy. 

What is most important is that we don't judge others based on their decisions. Sometimes it is hard to accept that some people don't care about traveling, and I need to move past that. So what if my brother is perfectly content staying in the hotel room while we are in Hawaii? It doesn't mean he is a horrible ignorant person that needs to get a life. {Love you brother.} It just means we have different goals for ourselves. 

 Even among travelers there are differences. Each traveler has places they want to see. We all have our own bucket lists and places we can't wait to see, and we have places we could care less about seeing. And there are different ways to travel. Some of us backpack and rough it around countries. Others stay in posh hotels and take guided tours through the cities. When I travel, I like to have a home base. I like to have a place where I can be a homebody, and relax a bit. Some people travel and never seek out familiar restaurants or comforts of home. I personally need to have McDonalds every once in a while and pretend I am home. Every traveler is different. The one thing that unites us is our love to travel, not that we all travel to the same places and do the same things as we travel. 

{via}

Ever since my parents took me to London when I was in 8th grade, I knew I was going to spend as much time traveling as I could. 

Georgia is and always will be my home, and I will most likely settle back in Georgia. But traveling is what I have to do. I will never give it up. I will never stop searching for new adventures. That does not make me better or worse than others- just different. And different is A Okay- it's what makes the world go round. 

What do you guys think? Are you a traveler or non-traveler?