Alissa Enters the U.S. via Hawaii

Hey Everyone,

Well this is going to be my last blog entry and it shouldn’t be too long since I was only in Hawaii for a day. The morning we arrived in Hawaii began very early as a few of the academic deans played music over the announcements and sang along at 6:00am. It was very funny and obnoxious at the same time. After we were woken up, we all had to go through customs, which hopefully will be the only customs we have to go through to get into the U.S., which would make getting into San Diego go much faster. Well after we went through customs and got our passports and immunization cards back, we were finally allowed off the ship at about 8:00. For the morning, I went on a trip through Semester at Sea to Pearl Harbor. At Pearl Harbor, Sheryl and I walked around the museum before we entered the theater to watch a movie on the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The documentary was very sad to watch and it was strange to think I was sitting right where bombing had occurred over 60 years ago. After we watched the film, we went on a boat to take us to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, which is a small building that sits atop the sunken ship. The building contained 21 window openings, which our guide told us symbolized a 21-gun salute that the army gives. It was bizarre standing in the memorial knowing that around 1000 men were sunk with the ship. It was like standing in a cemetery where everyone is buried directly under you. It was very sad.

After I visited Pearl Harbor, the tour guide took us to a cemetery where many military men are buried and then he drove us through downtown to see the capital building as well as a few other significant buildings. When we got off the bus at the last stop on the tour, Sheryl and I decided to break off to catch a bus to the beach to meet up with Alex, Chris, and Jay. Once Sheryl and I arrived at the beach, we met the boys at a Mexican restaurant for lunch. The food was so good! It was pretty much the first good Mexican food I have had in 100 days. After we ate lunch we went to the beach where I laid and relaxed for a few hours. I got a little tan, but barely. The beach was absolutely gorgeous and the sand was so soft. Many of the beaches I had been to on this trip had very rough sand that didn’t feel that great to walk on. Anyways after the beach, we walked through an outdoor market where I bought a shave ice, which is a snow cone. It was delicious and filled me up so when we went to Cheesecake Factory after the market I didn’t even eat anything. Well after dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, we caught a cab and went back to the ship because it was already 8:00pm and we were exhausted from waking up so early and lying in the sun all day.

Anyways, this was my experience in Hawaii for my one day. I have always wanted to go to Hawaii so it was nice to just relax and enjoy the beaches and other sites in Hawaii for my last day in port. I am now back on the ship and have finished all my finals and classes, so for the next four days I get to just relax, watch movies, and maybe get a tan since I really haven’t yet. Well, only a few days left until I get to see everybody. I am so excited!!!

I love you all!
Alissa