Submitted by Stella Galli on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences…
Aloha! My first week of studying abroad on the Hawaii BISC 2022 program has come to an end, and what an extraordinary seven days it has been! This week was full of first-times for me: snorkeling, seeing sea turtles and many other animals at the Honolulu Zoo, and discovering new fruit. This week, I have done lots of reflecting on how these first-time experiences have made me feel. There is only one word that can most simply describe it: amazing.
Prior to the program, I had never snorkeled before nor put much thought into what it would be like to do so. When our class arrived at Hanauma Bay, I thought I had entered heaven – it was the most beautiful beach, or place I have ever seen! However, I did not realize that the true beauty was to be discovered in the water. Putting on the snorkel gear and jumping right into the clear water was life changing. Not only was I able to observe the fish and other sea creatures, but it felt as though I was just swimming along with them. I feel as if when one is under water, time does not exist. An hour had passed by while my roommate, Zoe, and I were snorkeling and we thought it had only been about ten minutes. When immersed in the beauty of the ocean, time really flies by!
The experience of snorkeling for the first time has inspired me to continue to be more open to try new things and more experiences. For example, on Saturday my classmates and I attended a local farmers market where there were lots of fruits I had never heard of. Similarly to snorkeling, I thought that I simply must try as much as I can! In doing so I discovered a delicious Hawaiian fruit, lilikoi (which I bought quite a bunch of as well). I have realized that, thanks to this program that life is too short to not try new things.
