¡Global Nada!

My dad and Cheryl came for a visit in April. They arrived on Thursday afternoon and stayed until Tuesday. We tried to pack in the most activities possible into a short trip.

On Thursday evening we went out to a restaurant and enjoyed some thai food. We have found some really great Thai places in Hawaii. There seems to be more Thai places than Mcdonalds.

Friday, we hiked up to the Makapuu light house and drove along the south shore. I love the views from this spot. Here are a couple.

Not sure if I shared this with you all yet, but we found a great little Japanese place in Waikiki that is absolutely filled with Japanese tourists craving a bit of home cooked food. The restaurant makes the udon noodles on site and makes a delicious bowl of traditional udon soup. They also have a variety of tempura.

Saturday we did a tour of the windward coast up to the north shore.

This is the Pali lookout which is a fairly high point on the island and the MOST windy place around.

Our old stomping ground, by the house in Kahaluu. This is the Ko'olau mountain range. There are a lot of really great hikes and waterfalls in this area. Each of the little valleys turns into a waterfal during a rainstorm.

We stopped at Laie point. It is said that the hole in the rock was created by a tsunami. I am not sure if this is true or not.

Lunch at our favorite burger spot on the north shore. They also have one of their stores in Tokyo.

You cannot circumnavigate the island by a single round island road because there is a state park in the North Western most tip. It is about 6 miles around the point. The park is called Kaena point park. It is really beautiful and if you go to the point you might spot a Monk seal or an albatross. We weren't that lucky on this day but we did see some beautiful scenery including an awesome sand formation.

On Sunday, Quinn took us on a very informative tour of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. No pictures from that one because the base is pretty strict about photos. Later in the afternoon we had a BBQ at Kapiolani beach park. We had an ocean front table.

On Monday and Tuesday, I had to work so Dad and Cheryl explored on their own and went to the Polynesian Cultural Center and took a drive up the Leeward coast. We enjoyed some nice dinners in the evening and were sad to have to go to work during the day.

It was really great to spend time with my dad and Cheryl. I wish it didn't have to be so long in between visits. This is obviously the big downside to living far from family and friends. It is starting to feel like everyone we care about is scattered all around the globe.

Many of our friends who live in Japan are finding out their next assignment, as most of the military move in the summer. It is so fun to see where everyone will be going but also kind of sad to now everything changes and we can't ever go back to having certain group get togethers anymore. Now we have evermore people and places to visit.

I still love my job. I have been there for a year now! For all you speechies out there, I am officially competent to complete modified barium swallow studies all by myself! I am finally a big girl. For those of you who have worked with me, you know how happy I am about that. Next up, vital stim. Anyone want to meet at a conference?

Quinn still loves his job. We had a weekend of hanging out with this coworkers and we even did a karaoke night. I cant talk about that though because they told me that the happenings of the evening could not leave the room. It was a really cool experience because it was like the Japanese places in that you got your own private room but it was a Korean style so everything was in Korean, all the food was Korean and about eighty percent of the songs were Korean. Quinn's Korean coworker sang a couple of Korean songs as well. We also had Korean shoju and Korean rice wine which comes in a clay pot and is served with a ladle. It initially appeared to be a cold soup, but no, It was an alcoholic drink. It kind of tasted like carbonated sweet rice. All of the staff spoke Korean only so I guess we probably won't be going back without an interpreter or a Korean/English dictionary. Or maybe we will just go back and point, gesture, and smile and hope that all turns out okay. Seemed to work in Japan.

Surfing! Yes, I have finally started trying to learn to surf. I have been out 3 times now and I seem to be getting slightly better. I still cannot catch a wake on my own. This means that I have to be pushed onto a wave by someone who actually knows what they are doing kind of like a kid learning to ride a bike without training wheels. It is kind of embarrassing but at least I am able. Stand up most of the time. It is getting more fun each time we go out. I owe it to my friend Kepa who keeps making me try it and swears that I will be addicted after a few more times. We will see. I am not drinking the kool aid yet.

I feel like I haven't done a very good job of updating you all on the cultural aspects of Hawaii so I will try to rectify that in this blog.

Local Hawaiian trivia, as per Kristen.

Locals vs Hawaiians if you are from Florida you are a Floridian. If you are from Arizona you are an Arizonan. If you are from Hawaii you are... A Hawaiian. Wrong! You are a "local". The term Hawaiian is reserved for those of Hawaiian descent. If you ask a Japanese American who was born and raised in Hawaii if they are Hawaiian they will think you are crazy. Clearly they are a local, not Hawaiian.

Hawaii is a melting pot of Asia. The largest constituents seems to be from Japan, Philippines, China, and Korea. There is also a large population of people from Micronesia including Chuk and the Marshall islands. Also, there are many Polynesians here including people from Samoa and Tonga. Most people seem to be a combination of the above. This many groups of people on such a small island leads to many stereotypes. I won't get into all of that on the blog but if you come and visit, I can share some of this with you.

Local food

Rice, rice and more rice. Cornbread with your chili? No, you must eat rice. People here laugh at me when I suggest eating chili with cornbread. Poi, lau lau, and Haupia are also local favorites. Poi is a mashed up soupy root vegetable that is purple. Lau lau is pork and the lau lau leaf wrapped in a Ti leaf and steamed. Haupia is coconut flavored pudding. Those are traditional Hawaiian foods but there are many local foods available such as Chinese, Japanese, and a Thai food place on every corner.

Land is very valuable here and extremely limited so many single family homes have additions and are broken up into smaller units. Many families live with multiple generations under one roof. That is the norm. Most of my co workers live with their parents or in-laws, who also conveniently watch their kids while they are at work and usually do the cooking too.

Directional terms here are a little different. Instead of using east and west coast they are referred to as the windward and leeward sides. The windward coast is wet and green and the leeward side is more dry and desert-like with cactus such as prickly pear. I don't think those are native. Also, you can use the terms Makai and Mauka, meaning toward the ocean or toward the mountain. So instead of saying the restaurant is on the left hand side you can say the restaurant is Mauka. Then it doesn't matter which direction you are coming from.

Pidgin is a dialect spoken in Hawaii by locals. There are tons of books written on this and it is often the subject of much discussion, debate, and usually a few laughs. Just a few of my favorites: If you gossip about someone you don't say talk trash, you say talk stink. For example, if you talk stink about your boss you might get into trouble. Snot or boogers are called hanabata. Cow licks in your hair are called giri giri. People who have two giri giri are though to be trouble makers. A hole or your belly button is called a puka. And the list goes on and on. Some are easy to pick up and sometimes I have no idea what people are saying to me, especially if they have a strong accent.

It has been a while folks.

There is a dearth of pictures for this blog, due to my point and shoot camera crapping out on me. It is supposedly water proof and we took it snorkeling...you can figure out where I am going with this.

So, I will try and catch you up on the events of the last month and keep it entertaining with very few pictures.

As for the title, this has been the month and a half of visitors. Wade and Candice came out from Japan for an extended weekend. We did a bunch of eating out, hanging out, and other "out" adventures. We also went to a "Cage the Elephant" concert. Apparently, they have a very young following because the 21 and up section of the venue was very small and the under 21 section was very large. We were happy to be in the 21 and up section as there was some moshing and stage diving going on. It was quiet the experience.

Next up, one of Quinn's coworkers (Joaquin) pronounced "wa keen" came out to do a remote working assignment. He stayed with us and was part of a dinner party that I hosted for 12 people on a Wednesday night. There was a group here assisting with Quinn's work and we hosted them for an evening of fun. I was crazy enough to make a greek buffet for the group which included making my own gyro meat. Alton Brown saved the day. You can check out the recipe here. It is AMAZING! [[http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/gyro-meat-with-tzatziki-sauce-recipe/index.htm]l I even made my own pitas, mostly because I am too cheap to buy them. Turns out they are very easy to make.

We also went to a "Cake" concert which had a HUGE 21 and up section and a very small under 21 section. It made me feel old. I guess Cake is a group of days gone by Still love them though, and they have a new CD out for anyone interested.

As you know from previous blogs, Quinn's bike was stolen a while back. He found a new bike on Craigslist and had it shipped out here from Arizona. Seems to me that it is quite similar to mine, which is somewhat suspicious. I think he is copying me. Here is a picture as proof.

As for another update on bikes....my other bike, that I ride to work, was also stolen (not the one from the picture). Still on the hunt for a new one.....unbelievable huh! I have been driving to work for now, which is really no fun because there is no parking at my work and I have to drive around for 10-15 minutes just looking for a place to park

I would have to say that the highlight of February was a trip out to the west side of the island near an area called Yokohama bay. I had some reconnaissance from a coworker who shared that it is possible to swim with dolphins near this particular beach. She said there are tour boats that take people out there every day at about 8 a.m. and then they swim around with pods of wild spinner dolphins and it is possible to just drive out there, park, and swim out. So, we woke up early one morning, made the one hour drive, and looked around for tour boats. I saw a whole group of people jump into the water and I knew it must be the spot. We put on our snorkeling gear and swam out about 500 meters to the spot. I was a little nervous swimming that far off shore but I figured the tour boat would save us if we really needed it. Once we got up near the boat, the captain waved us in the right direction. I put my face in the water and saw a pod of about 20 spinner dolphins swimming up from the ocean floor. I could hear them making their sonar clicking sounds and watched them surface for air. It was AMAZING. The swim back was not too bad and well worth the effort.

View from our swimming spot to the shore.

Last week, Sarah and Myrna came out to visit. These are two of my fabulous friends from graduate school and fellow speech and language pathologists. Sarah lives in Phoenix and Myrna in Vegas. We enjoyed a bunch of tourist activities such as eating and eating and eating (thanks for all the dinners ladies), hiking Kaena point, checking out turtles, and cruising around the north shore. We also spotted some animals such as a whale, seals, and turtles. I am hoping that they send me some pictures soon so that I can post them on this blog. Yes, this is a shameless attempt to guilt them into sending me pictures. Thanks for coming out ladies....

Their visit overlapped with another friends' visit, Monica and Robert. I used to work with Monica in Phoenix and she came out to visit me in Japan as well. Monica is a world traveler. We had to work during the week but we went out to a bunch of delicious dinners and showed them around some of the sites when we could. We even got lucky enough to have a turtle sighting. Here are some pics of our adventures.

Looking down at the turtles!!

Monica is funny and likes to take pictures of people from behind

Thank you for coming out to visit and for the super gift....we will get it up and running soon.

Also, I have taken up a new hobby. I am trying to learn to have the patience and precision for baking. Measuring is not really my strong point. I took a stab at bread making and so far so good! Bread is delicious, super easy to make, and cheap cheap cheap.

One more hobby project.

My new jewelry rack, made from a piece of molding and drawer knobs.

Wouldn't be a blog without a picture of a wild animal

I LOVE to have visitors. If you are thinking of coming out, book it! We would love to see you.

I leave you with this picture. Notice anything different?

Since we were familyless for Christmas we decided to go rock climbing. We used our new rope and gear from my mom (thanks mom). Here we are opening our presents.

Ethan apparently thought the bag was a bed for him.

We headed up to the North Shore area of Mokuleia. There is a sport climbing area up there that is bolted and perfect for top roping which is what we like to do. It was super fun and we basically had the whole place to ourselves. Our friends Greg and Stephanie met us up there and we had a fun Christmas climbing on rocks and wearing ourselves out. I was exhausted by the time we got home. Thank goodness Greg took some photos because I pretty much forgot.

For New Year's Eve we decided to go climbing again but this time go camping afterward. Our friend Kepa, who lives on the north shore near the climbing spot, lead the way to a very remote area to camp. It required a lot of hiking, scrambling up rocks, and carrying heavy backpacks for about 2 hours to get there. It was well worth it. We cooked out, played games, and Quinn and I were asleep before midnight! We also got to check out some Albatross nests. If you haven't seen one, it is like a giant seagull. Kind of creepy to see them around dusk in their nests and snapping their beaks at you. Yikes. The way down was not quiet as treacherous but it was a quad workout. I spent the rest of Sunday relaxing!

The camping spot

Kepa, trying to sleep in.

Relaxing in the hammock

the new year's crew (minus Zach because he had to head back early)

Hiking down

We came straight down the mountain in the gully

We haven't been camping since we moved to Hawaii and this was an excellent start and a cool way to start the New Year.

We obviously haven't been doing enough camping and hiking since moving here. We will be trying to fit that into the schedule for 2012.

First birthdays are a big deal in Hawaii and people go all out. Just about every Saturday you will see signs posted on light posts directing guests to a beach or park or community center where a baby luau will be held. These are large affairs frequently with upwards of 300 people. Quinn and I have thought many a times of crashing one just to see what they are about but my friend (and coworker) Jamie saved me from having to do this. Her son, Connor, turned one this year and Quinn and I were lucky enough to be invited. In her words, "it is a small one." There were about 80 people at this party! It was at a restaurant named "Sam Choy." It is an asian fusion Hawaii type place. There was food, cake, and best of all Balloon Twisters. I think I had the best balloon hat of all. Here are the pics.

Birthday boy Connor and his parents, Jamie and Ryan

Quinn got a bike.

Birthday boy's dad (Ryan), documenting the event and Quinn documenting the documenting.

The whole party was robot themed and Jamie made all of the favors and decorations which included a bot pop. This is a cake pop that tastes amazing. We got to taste test a few at work. Quinn is obsessed.

It was a fun party and we got to eat a lot of food. Happy Birthday Connor. What will the second birthday party be like?

At work we have to share computers and sometimes there isn't a computer for everyone. If someone doesn't have a computer, then I take a picture of them. Here are the girls from work. We all have a really great time together. It is so fun to have awesome coworkers!

I cannot remember if I posted a picture of my new bike that I got a few months ago....but here I am taking a ride on it.

This sequence of pictures cracks me up. Here is some sushi that Quinn made for me.....and then there is a picture of Ethan looking at said sushi.

The inside of the sushi roll has Poke. In case you are wondering, Poke is a local raw fish delight. It is usually raw tuna but also octopus or other fish. They season it with onion, sesame oil and other spices and eat it with rice. It is really good. I put it in sushi rolls and bring it to parties as a pupu (local word for appetizer). People here are amazed at my sushi making skills. Little do the know I am just using their local ingredients.

Also, here are a couple of shots of our new house. It is open and airy. It is 3 bedrooms and one bathroom. We love the area and it is working out great! Yay....come and visit us! The weather here is great and there are TONS of activities.

Speaking of visitors.....now onto the title of the blog post. Mitzie and Polly came to visit us. They coincided this trip with Quinn's 30th birthday and the Honolulu marathon. This was Polly's 10th Marathon! She is AMAZING! Unfortunately, we had to work during most of their stay here so I don't have many pictures of their adventure, but they set off everyday and scouted around the island. Despite some rain, we all had a great time together.

Everyone must have a lei upon arrival!

Out to dinner at a Japanese udon place. While I have had all of this food before, it is funny to go to a Japanese place and have all of the information in English. I finally know exactly what I was eating for the past couple of years.

Checking out the fancy hotel lobbies in Downtown Waikiki. Thanks Bill for playing tour guide from afar. Your suggestions were great.

We had a beach BBQ for Quinn's birthday. It's days like this that make Hawaii seem like life is a vacation.

Quinn made out like a bandit for his birthday. He is now going to be a brewmaster! He got a sweet beer brewing kit with a nice new pot. Can't wait to taste the first batch.....well maybe I will wait for the second batch. We'll see if he is a natural. Thanks Mitzie and Polly.

Quinn also got a new outfit for riding his bike. Thanks mom.

Sadly, Quinn's bike was stolen from a bike rack about 2 weeks ago. Not going to dwell on it in this blog. It is a bummer.

Here is Polly kicking butt at the marathon.

Thank you for coming to visit us. Wish we could have had more time off of work. Stupid jobs. Jk....we love our new jobs.

And thank you for the edible arrangement....it was delicious.

Also, our blog updating will now be mobile! Thanks to my dad we can update from the road with our new iPad. Now to plan a trip! Not sure where we will go yet. Suggestions?