This time last Monday, it was 7 am on Maui, and I was just getting up to go for breakfast before an adventure-filled day in Lahaina. This time right now, I'm sitting at this crappy desk job, doing nothing at all. I've scrolled through my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter countless times. I've checked for new Snapchat stories at least three times, and I've scowled at opened Snapchats with no reply. The view out of my "office" window includes a few trees, some cars, a house, and a stop sign rather than mountains, the ocean, or a palm tree. I'd give anything for another crappy day in paradise.
In less than a week, I went on some of the most exciting adventures I could ever imagine going on at 20 years old. On Monday, I went 130 feet down in the Pacific Ocean in a Submarine, playing the Mission Impossible theme song of course. I saw tons of cool fish, a sunken boat, and Spongebob. Yes, I definitely said Spongebob. I also got to go shopping in Old Lahaina Town, which is something I did just about every night. On Tuesday, I biked down an active volcano. ACTIVE. VOLCANO. Is that registering? Don't worry, it will. We took a van to the Haleakala Summit at 10,023 feet. The sights were like something out of a movie or a photo catalog. I've never seen something as beautiful as the Haleakala Crater and the Haleakala Summit overlooking the island. Biking down was just as beautiful, as well as exciting. Every hairpin turn and long stretch of road lead to another wonder of the island. We road through the small town of Paia, also known as the Hippie Town because it housed most of the hippies of Hawaii back in the day. We went through "Cowboy Town" and saw ranches, horses, and a few cows (even an island has country life!). I got to learn a bunch of Hawaii facts while getting an adrenaline rush at the same time; what a day!
Wednesday was a pretty relaxed day. Lots of ocean. I went to the Maui Nui Luau in Kaanapali, and it was one of the most exhilarating parties I've ever been to. I got lei'd, tried a ton of Hawaiian food, and saw a great performance while learning some super cool history. If you haven't noticed the pattern, I learned a lot of Hawaiian history while having the time of my life in a beautiful place. I truly couldn't ask for a better combination. Anyways, the luau was awesome and a must-accomplish activity on every Hawaiian vacation. Thursday was an early day. My day started at 5:30 am and didn't end until almost 9 pm, minimal sitting time available. It started with an hour boat ride to the little island of Molokini. Molokini is an uninhabited bird sanctuary, but it's shore also serves as a great snorkeling spot. I saw tons of cool fish, coral, and sea plants. Even Nemo came up and bumped my mask. It was literally like swimming in an aquarium. From there, we headed to Turtle Town where I was face to face with a sea turtle. The cast of Finding Nemo was in front of, behind, and next to me no matter where I turned. It was the coolest thing ever, and I rarely ever think things are cool. However, that was amazeballs. Let's be honest. We then got a scenic tour back to the Harbor with some cookies and trivia as a sendoff. The rest of my Thursday was spent in Lahaina, as usual.
Friday was another exciting adventure-ziplining in Haleakala. That. Was. Awesome. I think the activities I did got progressively more awesome as the week went on, but I could just be biased. Regardless, going 40 mph on a pendulum style zipline with nothing but rocks and sharp, pointy, "I could kill you if you fell on me" forest objects was the adrenaline rush of a lifetime. At this point, I've run out of things to say, because every word that will leave my mouth from here on out will be "awesome," "amazing," or "holy shit." Again, I ended my day with a trip to Lahaina. Saturday was sad. Saturday, I left. I spent 12 hours traveling back to this hell I call home.
This piece isn't meant to bash Illinois or Chicago by any means. I do love my city, even if it's crime-ridden, smelly, and a scary place to be sometimes. All I'm saying is that there's more out there beyond these state lines. There's some definite perks about living in a small town just south of a big city. The thunderstorms are pretty awesome, I rarely see tornadoes, monsoons, or hurricanes, I have a solid relationship with my neighbors and friends from high school, I can go through a variety of environments in one day, and I like the small town-homey feel. However, I'm not defined by my town, my relationships, or my upbringing. I'm defined by my experiences, my desire to see what the world has to offer, and my utmost respect for God's creations. That's what I believe I am defined by. I've been to lots of places with different climates and types of people, but Hawaii was by far the greatest adventure yet, and I truly believe I've found my forever home. As a matter of fact, most of my morning consisted of searching for affordable flights and looking at RN programs there. The quicker I get there, the happier I will be. I'll have to leave behind my family, my friends, potential relationships, and my home. I'm still ready. I used to cry three days in to a 4-day vacation to Disney because I missed my Mom, but before leaving Hawaii, I contemplated how I could manage to stay an extra couple of days. Could I change my flight? Could I extend my stay at the hotel? In the end, I had to leave anyways, but I left knowing it'll only be a couple years until I come back.
Even if I don't make it out there for school, I will make it for my career. I will accomplish my goals and my dreams of living in Hawaii. I'll make new friends and maybe even bring some old ones with me. I'll establish new relationships and maybe even find my soulmate. I'll accomplish my goals, fall flat on my face, and cry tears of sadness and joy. I'll have a life. I won't just live, but I'll have a life. That is more than I could ever ask for. That's the only thing I want. If I never get married, if I lose close friends, if I run into some struggles, it'll be okay. As long as I have a life, I can be happy, despite the other troubles that come my way. My week in paradise was a blessing in disguise because it made me reevaluate my future and reshape it to something I actually wanted, not something I was willing to settle for. In two years, I'll be back on Maui, hopefully with a group of friends, enjoying the wonders the island has to offer, whether I've seen/done them already or not. I'll drive through neighborhoods looking for houses and seek out potential employers. If 2017 is my last year in Illinois, that'll be fine. If I spend a few more here, then at least I got a head start on my search. Regardless, the island will be my home, its people my family, and my heart filled with endless happiness. For now, I guess I'll continue working my crappy job in this crappy place, consistently wishing for another crappy day in paradise.
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