Aloha Friday - this is America too

 The house is quiet on this Aloha Friday. Lo is at her new job and the Toddler is napping. I have a few moments, lovely moments, to myself. I have a foreign movie playing in the background. Thankfully, no subtitles so I can mindlessly watch it while I relax. I hate that these movies always have the same format: girl is single, usually works as a writer/editor, she travels to a foreign country and meets the man of her dreams. This storyline just pisses me off because I've traveled alot -- some by myself -- and this has never happened to me! And, I went to a matchmaking festival. In Ireland.  By myself.  So...if life really does mirror art, I should be happily married to someone I met in a foreign land! 😂

Speaking of foreign lands...see that nice segway?  When people found out we were moving to Hawaii, I can't tell you how many people felt like we were moving overseas. We usually just smiled and mumbled that Hawaii is part of the USA.  However, once we got here, we began to feel like we had moved to a foreign place. Here's why:

• Most of the street signs are Hawaii names that we can't pronounce.
• Something is wrong with the GPS setup here, they barely give you enough time to move lanes.
• Posted directions are usually done by location, rather than east/west/north/south (i e., pedestrians should walk on Mauka side of the street; parking is on the Ewa side of the building).
• Most restaurants offer choice of entree(s), rice, mac salad -- no veggies anywhere!
• Lots of Japanese products in all the grocery stores. 
• Grocery prices are really high but you can find cheaper alternatives at the Japanese-specific grocery stores (i.e., 12 pack of Scott toilet paper cost us almost $18. We found a similar type at Don Quijoite for $3.99 for a six pack).
• Keiki means kids (keiki meal, not kids meal).
• Dobash means chocolate so if you're looking for chocolate cake on the menu, you won't find it.  Look for Dobash cake.
• Life is slower here.
• The local people are very kind.

There's a lot more that I'll explore in another post but, for now, I'll enjoy my few minutes to myself before I wake the Toddler so we can pick up Lo. Have a great weekend.