About three months ago, I left Hawaii for Europe, a land that is incomparable to my home. The difference between Honolulu and Germany is anything but subtle; after traveling for 24 hours, I came to a place with 12 hour time difference, a variety of deciduous trees, pasty-skinned people who don't particularly like to smile or be smiled at, and no water, except for the select dirty, not to mention dangerous rivers and green lakes.
I know that I have a slightly difficult time adjusting to new places, despite the fact that I've done it quite a lot. But this adjustment is so outrageous-- from open, sunny tropics to narrow minded, conservative and mechanically gray Germany-- that I think I have to give myself the right to complain. Only for a while though, because I will be living in this miserable place for the next six years to study.
On the bright side, I have access to places in Europe that I really really love, such as Sweden. I spent about 5 weeks in Ekerö, near Stockholm, working on an organic farm/ apple orchard as a "WWOOFER." http://www.wwoof.org/
I think that I spent some of the best moments of my life (so far) there. I met the most amazing and beautiful people, got a taste of the Swedish culture, and learned everything about making fresh apple juice, among other things.
Now I'm back in Hawaii for the last days of my summer before I step into scary lecture halls and anatomy lessons taught in German. I'm here to collect as much sunshine and happiness as I can, to eat as much tropical fruit as I can, and to spend as much time with my family and friends as I can.
