Submitted by Emily Hansell on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in Hawaii sponsored by the College of Education and Human Development…
This week wraps up one month of studying abroad in Hawaii! I cannot believe it has already been this long and I am leaving in just a few days. I am definitely not excited to be back in the cold weather and five hours ahead of the time here. It is certainly going to be an adjustment. This week was filled with learning about the Hawaiian culture. This Friday, we took a bus up to the North Shore and visited the Polynesian Cultural Center. It was incredible. When we first got there, we met our tour guides who were students just like us. They attended a college right around the corner for free because they dedicated the rest of their days to working at the center. The funds that come from the visitors provide money for students from different locations in Polynesia to get an education. This is a great opportunity and it was neat to learn about it. We got to watch a boat show comprised of the many different cultures found throughout Polynesia. At the end of the day, we attended a Luau where we got to experience more of the Hawaiian culture and try the world famous pork cooked in the ground. At the beginning of the week, we traveled to Hilo on the Big Island where we got to hike Volcanoes National Park. The views blew me away and I learned about how Hawaiians value the land. When their children are born, they find a place that is important to them and place their umbilical cord there to connect them to the land. There were times on this program where I felt uncomfortable and homesick, but through these amazing experiences and through the friendships I have made, I was able to get through it. I will cherish these friends and memories for life!
