desea73

I LOVE HONOLULU
I lived here for most of the summer before my sophomore year. It totally changed me- my perspective levelled out and I started taking care of myself and it was WONDERFUL.
Someone else may have left their heart in San Francisco, but I left mine in Honolulu.

I go to boarding school (a REAL school, not a screw-up school, okay?!) in Pebble Beach. I hate it. It’s gated, there’s nothing to do and the people tend to be snobs and TERRIBLE drivers. Granted, it’s beautiful and I love to golf, but other than that it’s a waste of time. Unless you know where the party of drunk high schoolers is. In which case, run.

I live in Woodside… it’s pretty. But boring. Very very boring. We’ve got Roberts, the local market- townies love to run into one another there. (I admit, I hate that part. But the people who work there are awesome.) We’ve also got Bucks, the famous restaurant- if you haven’t been, you should go; everyone should go to Bucks at least once. They say they’re world-famous for pancakes… the pancakes aren’t terrible, but they’re not too much better than ihop. But get a milkshake- they’re phynomenal. Most of the food really is quite good. If you get to meet Jamis, the owner, you’ll be entertained. He’s often there, so keep an eye out. Next door, there’s a tennis shop. Never really been there. Then there’s the Woodside Bakery and Cafe, where I used to work (under the previous ownership… then I went off to school.) Last time I was there, the food was all AMAZING (I loved working there… I admit I used my discount on food like… almost every day. drool) And the pastries and cakes are also wonnnderful! I recommend the chewy chocolate chip cookie with nuts or the custard danish or the carrot cake. Ask who’s behind the counter making drinks. If Ashley is, order her hot chocolate. I don’t know how she makes it sooo good, but she does. If not, order whatever you like- it’s all really good, but heads up- the coffee’s pretty strong. (unless they changed the brew. which i wouldn’t be suprised. the new owners… well i hear they ruined the place. and from what i’ve noted, i am inclined to agree.) But on a more positive note, as long as they have Jesus, the head baker (and one of the sweetest men I’ve ever met!) I think they’ll be ok. Next door to the bakery is a drug store- nice. Where all the elementary girls go for tampons because they don’t want to see anyone at Roberts. Behind it is the Hardware store, owned by Roberts (which means you can use your (parents) charge account.) Then there’s the flower shop, In Any Event, which was just turned into some other shop of the same nature. Cutesy. Up the road, you have the fire house on your left. The yard next door is where the famous pig lived, but I’m pretty sure he’s dead now. The horse in there is precious and won’t bite. Across the street is the library, which has a beautiful garden out back. Next door to the library is the church… some elementary school events are held there. Across from the church is the elementary school, which is actually preschool through 8th grade. technically i’m pretty sure it changed it’s name to the Woodside School, but everyone calls it Woodside Elm (WES) and probably always will. It’s Pretty big- lots of fields in the back. Not too exciting. That’s Woodside. Oh yeah- we also have a post office, some offices, a bank, a gas station (which is severely overpriced), a barber, a nail salon, a plastic surgeon, a few real estate people, some old buildings that i haven’t been to since elementary school, a beauty parlor, and a lot more restaurants. (I haven’t been to all of them. And I’ve lived here 17 years.)

Ok, so my mother and I were stuck in a really cruddy van on a really bumpy gravel road that made me wheezy and sick, for like 5 hours. I expected that wherever we were going was going to suck. But I was sooo wrong. Arequipa is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I was completly taken aback by the simple beauty of the valley. The hotel was plain but lovely: No heaters, only hot water bottles; powered by a generator that turned off at night; dirt paths, an expansive garden, dogs and farm animals outside our window. When we got there, I was pressuring my mom to let us leave early so I could get home, but I was soon begging my mom to let us stay an extra couple of days… We left, but I still have two esperanzas de Arequipa: 1- doesn’t get all touristy and crappy. that would suck. 2- I get to go back and soak up the beauty. :)

I loved Lima. I mean, I love cities, but Lima was just…. I loved it. Peru is amazing and Lima was my first stop on my “tour” of the country. Right away, I was grasped by the beauty and the vibrancy of the country. I really really hope I can go back!!

Machu Picchu was just amazing…. I mean, I felt full of energy and like… revitalized. I mean, I was with my mother and we weren’t exactly getting along, and I was soo stressed out, but when I was walking around Machu Picchu I just felt… free. It must have been AMAZING to walk around sans tourists. Maybe someday…

For my Spring Break of 2004, my mom and I went to Peru for almost a month. (yes… i sorta extended the break… but it was worth it) It was amazing! We spent time in Lima, Cuzco, Culca Canyon/Arequipa, and were supposed to spend the night in Machu Pichu, but there was a really bad landslide there and if we stayed, we might not have caught the train, and I wouldn’t have gotten back to school/been home for my birthday. But Peru was absolutly amazing and I can’t wait to go back! The country is vibrantly beautiful and the culture is fascinating. I’m SO glad and sooo lucky that I got to go!

I spent the past July studying in Bazatlan (Elizondo) in Nevarra, in the North-East part of Spain. I was immersed for a month, surrounded by spanish students and culture. It was absolutly PHENOMENAL. I fell in love with the country, people and culture, and I hope I get to go back. It was completly unforgettable and one of the all around best experiences of my life.