We now have a new set of problems. Problems we didn't see coming. Problems we are trying to take in stride. We're learning to deal. I'll try to give you just a glimpse at the hard side of life on the island.
- We never get to enjoy soup. Some rare mornings I'll wake up to lots of rain and clouds and gloom and I'll get really excited. It's like we take our "winters" one rain shower at a time. The problem is that by the time the soup or chili is ready to eat the sun has come back out, and it is once again 80 degrees and sunny. I mean come on.
- We no longer can just go to the beach. First, we must endure a longer than necessary conversation with a 3 year old boy who has very strong opinions about WHICH beach to go to, based on the type of waves he'd like to play on that particular day. I wish I was kidding.
- We can no longer be happy with a mere snow cone, now that we have seen the light that is shave ice. Blue Coconut, Vanilla and Cherry. Cream on bottom. In a cup. No beans. So yum.
- Facebook gets incredibly dull around 5pm.
- While we're on the subject of time zones, yes. We still get calls and texts around 4-5am on a regular basis. It's 5 hours, Central Time Zone. Write it down.
- We must break this habit of calling them "flip-flops." They're "slippers" here. Once you try to make the change, "flip-flops" really does sound silly.
- We can't get to our favorite ice cream shop in December, because that part of the island turns into Secret Service Land for the Obamas' Christmas. This means we must brave the area known as "downtown Honolulu" for a double dip of Coconut Delight on top and Oreo on bottom in a waffle cone with a side of Mochi.
- The only pro sport here (other than surfing) is the Pro Bowl. Yeah. The Pro Bowl.
- We are starting to not completely hate Spam Musubi. I'm not going to lie. This worries me a little.
- Shoes feel awkward now, since we really only wear them to go to church. And even then, the kids take them off again when they get to their class. I can't tell you how many times I've driven to wherever I'm going only to realize that I wasn't wearing shoes. Really. It's happened a lot. (Pic below is how you know if someone has company.)
- The time takes to answer the question, "Mom, is this a donut?" To your 3 year old who is about to eat a malasada is not worth the change in taste that will take place if you allow said malasada to cool off. Therefore the answer is, "just eat it, buddy."
- The weather is always pretty much the same, and yet there is a huge difference between 72 and 78 degrees. Come on, weather guy. This isn't the Midwest. Within 10 degrees isn't going to cut it here.
- It's not "soy sauce," it's "shoyu." You'll remember this, too, once the Hawaiian lady in the hair net behind the deli counter at Malama Market scolds you. And she will, too. Also, I'll save you the trouble. They do NOT have chop sticks. You will eat your california roll with a fork and you will like it.
- No one sells sunblock in large enough packages. The same goes for aloe. Our kid has no pigment, whatsoever. He's white, or he's red. While this makes it incredibly easy to pick him out in the group of kids on the beach, we're probably going to need to add a new envelope labeled "sunscreen for Axel" to the budget.
As you can see, our life is not without its troubles. Prayers and encouragements would be appreciated.
Please don't un-friend me.
