Life in Hawai'i

The Peace Corps has me hopping again with more documents and passport applications. And now it has given me free a link to Rosetta Stone. Which is great. Except that they expect me to log 40 hours pre-departure. Which I would want to do anyway, but crikey!! people, I have a job and a life. But yes, that life is in Hawai'i so how hard could it really be.

So in honor of the 50th state, here are a few reflections:
1. It is really humid here. Even days that are in the 70's are a drain. You stop even noticing the sweat under your arms, down your back, around your bra strap, and behind your knees. I only really notice now the sweat that pours off my face. It drips embarrassingly onto my yoga mat much faster than I can sop it up. Even walking from the bus to the office at 7:30 a.m. requires a face mop.
2. Related to the humidity, it rains. Or it doesn't. Or it pours. Or the sun shines. So the umbrella is always in bag. The super benefit is the rainbows. All the time, particularly late afternoon as I'm leaving work, there'll be a big'un over the mountains. I would take a picture, but I work on a military base and pictures are a no-no.
3. Hawai'ians drink good coffee. Even the not great continental breakfast served in my hotel is worth the trip up the elevator for a little decaf Kona.
4. Pedestrians in Honolulu observe crosswalks and walk signs. Evidently in the past this city was known for pedestrian fatalities. Now, it is a ticketable offense to not use a crosswalk or to cross against the light. When I first arrived I was dumbfounded by the waiting throngs of people on the corner, tho' nary a car was to be seen. The New Yorker in me confidently plowed my way across the empty street. Then I learned I could get a ticket for that. So now I wait patiently for the orange hand to turn to a white walking man on the light. You may feel it's authoritarian, but actually tis quite civilized. Oddly, the only problems I have as a pedestrian are on base where nobody stops for me at crosswalks and they all far exceed the speed limit.
5. Great art house movies to be had here. I've already seen very good movies from Indonesia and Mali. Dang, I love that about cities. As I love the museums, botanic gardens, temples, etc.
6. I found a french bistro that has happy hour food specials. From 4-6 you can choose from a small but sufficient menu of half priced soup, salad, and a couple of entries. They make a nice iced tea as well. They are just down the street from my hotel and I am usually off the bus by 5:30. Nice.
7. Today I'm taking the bus to the north shore, a town called Hale'iwa to do a little Christmas shopping. It's a hot surf spot. A couple weeks ago, they kicked off the annual triple crown of surfing there. They are having a craft market today.
8. The beach seems to be the thing of least interest to me. Part of that is that so many beaches are off limits to mere mortals this time of year due to heavy surf. Partly it's a pain to lug the extra stuff around on the bus. We'll see if that changes.
and yes, get out of town a little ways and you can have lunch with chickens - my kind of place!

Clue

Remember playing Clue as a kid (or with your kids)? The point of the game was to determine three facts: who dunnit? where they dunnit? and with what object they dunnit? Ie, Colonel Mustard in the library with the candlestick.

The Peace Corps wait has felt a bit like a game of clue. And today I'm as proud as Miss Peacock to announce that this Colonel Mustard is headed to MADAGASCAR in FEBRUARY to do PROTECTED LAND MANAGEMENT. There aren't enough exclamation points on my keyboard to express my excitement over this placement. It is a dream come true, largely because of the unique trove of biodiversity found in Madagascar and its imperiled-ness. I'm short on details at this point, but stay tuned. I'm also not sure I'll have much in the way of internet connection while I'm there, so the fate of the blog is up in the air.

Which all goes to show that the lengthy medical evaluation, the disappointing delay in placement, and all the attendant frustration has been worth it. And now I must really learn French.

Aloha

I have arrived in Hawaii for my temporary work detail at the USS Arizona, helping out on new exhibits. A quick update while I have a minute at a computer: warm, humid, lots of fruit, yoga, great food, meeting survivors, packing for a trip to Texas for a December 7th survivor reunion, nice people to work with, snorkeling on the horizon, riding the excellent bus around the beautiful wonderful city of Honolulu (really, I'm completely charmed by this city), and coming to work which is really good but exhausting. It did occur to me about an hour ago that I am making my living right now as a writer. Let's pause a moment to enjoy that thought. Making my living as a writer. On that note, I'm heading out for a weekend of beachcombing and museum-visiting. More soon...

On The Blogs

The NYTimes today offers exerpts of blogs from the Middle East covering our election. Here's a gem from Egypt:

"I’m looking forward to going out in the streets to hear the reaction. The best reaction I’ve heard so far: 'Black Man Given Nation’s Worst Job.' Bah humbug. I confess I’m moved."

Hope Rises

I was glued to the television as were most of you on Tuesday night. I had optimistically predicted that the race would be called when California closed, and it came to pass. In all of the commentary and coverage, my favorite moment was the following morning when one of my favorite DJs, Vin Scelsa, played a set including a live version of Keb' Mo' playing America the Beautiful, followed by two versions of We Shall Overcome, one by Marion Williams and the other by Pete Seeger from 1963 at Carnegie Hall. What a beautiful morning was Wednesday, and I hope you had a chance to express some emotions. For me, music is always a winning way to do that.

Oh, I love the New York Times. Paul Krugman writes today, “If the election of our first African-American president didn’t stir you, if it didn’t leave you teary-eyed and proud of your country, there’s something wrong with you.”

As for me, although the Peace Corps is still a dream delayed, I’m optimistic that it will all work out. In the meantime, I really am going to get on an airplane on Monday to Honolulu for my temporary work assignment. Tule is settling into her new home. A call from Hayduke’s new parents offers a positive review. My bags are packed, it’s early morn. Taxi’s waiting, he’s blowing his horn. And off I go.

My troubles have faded in the face of such an overwhelmingly exciting time for this country. Although gay marriage was shot down here in California, I’m optimistic that the whole country will experience such a sea change in inclusiveness that it is a defeat only in the short term.

Obama had me at “we worship an awesome God in the blue states.” I just might get myself a flag lapel pin!