Days 1&2: Every trip begins somehow!

While there's been seemingly a million steps to get to this point (ranging back literally years), my trip physically began yesterday. But, I'll preface that, just slightly. Basically, because I can't talk about beginnings without talking about how hard it is to leave. :(

As anyone who really knows me is aware, I LOVE my family. I love them more than anything on this planet, and I don't even think it's possible to convey just how torn up I am about not seeing them for the so many months. Yes, I've been to Japan before, but I think I was only gone from my family for a bit over a month. This will be a new experience, being away for so long… I will miss them tremendously. ♥

I am just in LOVE with this picture, by the way. I am so happy I was able to convince them all to take one when we had our family day at the zoo just a couple weeks ago. ♥ (So, the question is - do we all look alike, or no? You might be surprised, but we get extreme opposites to this question quite often~ xD)

It was hard this past week, during the insanity of finals and preparing for my trip, to say goodbye to both them and friends. The entire winter quarter has seemed to be a bunch of "welcome back!"s (after Amazon) and then "goodbye!"s… So between that, and saying farewell to people at church and my Jr. High kids and fellow leaders… The week was rough, and was what really made it all start to feel real.
Anyhow, much of Monday and Tuesday were spent packing, almost all the way up to the time I left for the airport. (It's insane - I've never had to pack for MONTHS before!!) I think it was good, actually, since it barely gave us a chance to be sad. :P

Tearful goodbyes (;_;), finally catching up on texts and such at the airport (when I said all of Mon and Tues were packing, I meant it. xD), delayed flights, a long flight (with a free Mai Tai, which I decided I might as well have a sip of, just so I can say I've had one, haha!), and finally I was in Hawaii! At like 2am WA-time, but I never go to bed before then anyways, so it's all good… ^-^''

I didn't even end up sleeping till 2am Hawaii-time, which means it was like 5am for me. :P I don't quite know what's wrong with me, but I fear I shall never be on a normal sleep schedule, even when changing time zones…

Wednesday the 21st, was a pretty chill day. Slept in (all by myself in the room where usually my entire family is… T-T), then woke up and ate saimin with my cousin Josh, cooked by my wonderful grandma:

This kid claims he's "camera shy" and thus this was actually the best one I got. xD

As I took my camera out, my grandma said "Oh no, I would have made it prettier!" Pshhh, if this is "not pretty," I don't know what is. :D

Dealt with a scholarship issue that could further increase my already quite extensive travel plans (cross your fingers for this scholarship though, pretty please!!), then spent some time with my other grandma (on my mom's side) who lives only walking-distance away. Then, back home to eat a ridiculously-yummy tempura dinner:

Soooooooo Ono. ^-^

Yeps, most relaxed beginning to my massive trip. It almost seems anti-climactic. But then… Really, coming to Hawaii is more like coming home for me, so I am perfectly fine with that. ^^