Hawaii!

Day 1! DEC 22!

The last night before finally leaving to go to Hawaii Jose was able to stay til my dad came to pick me up. It was a great last night to spend with him. And Kryssie was there too but she slept on the couch, so I was able to hang out and say goodbye to both of them just before I left. Jose was being his sleepy silly self when I woke up at 3 from excitement. I couldn’t go back to sleep, and to be honest I am surprised that I slept at all. I guess Jose just has that effect on me.

When my dad arrived, 10 minutes earlier than he was supposed to, I was running a bit late because we had just taken Jose home and I had the last few things I needed to pack, like my phone charger, deodorant, etc. with the rushed feeling I now had, I also had that annoying feeling that I had forgotten something vitally important for the trip. But then I just told myself that as long as I have myself and a bathing suit, nothing else is going to matter... Except maybe tampons, but they do have stores in Hawaii :p

I have never been anywhere before, aside from Vegas, but that doesn’t count! So the anticipation of my first plane ride was exciting. But my father was very prompt in asking me every 5 minutes if I was scared yet. It was annoying but kind of hilarious each time he asked. A shuttle came to pick us up in raining Simi Valley and drove us to LAX. We checked our luggage in and Carol won for having the heaviest bag, I didn’t feel so bad for packing my whole wardrobe then. Then we proceeded on to go through security. My dad and Carol went in a separate way which was quicker, because my dad has a lot of medication and stuff. I had to take off my shoes, jacket, and empty everything from my pockets, it was expected but still funny when I removed my shoes and had very vivid bright green socks on. Everything went through smoothly and then it was time to wait 2 hours til boarding. We got breakfast and looked around the stores in the airport a bit; there was a book I want to buy, it’s called “Room”. They had this phone charging station so I went and sat there to charge my phone. Some guy came up and was talking to me and Dara, (who did I mention sprained her ankle and was on crutches? Hahah. Poor Dara.) he was getting shipped off to Afghanistan for Christmas! I thought that was terrible. He had a wife and a child at home that he had to leave behind on Christmas. I felt terrible for him.

The plane was delayed. About an hour late due to the rain, if you know my Dad, you know that he is known for having no patience so as you can imagine he was getting pretty anxious. I have to admit I was pretty anxious too. We boarded with first class because Dara was “special needs” hahah. But hey that was pretty cool. Once on the plane they circled the runway for about 5 minutes but it seemed like hours. When they took off I was so excited, but I didn’t let it show because every five seconds I would get my dad poking my head from behind “you nervous yet Arie?, Are you scared yet Arie?” I had a dream once about flying, and it was exactly how I had dreamt it. It was insane. Everything was so tiny and it didn’t look real. Once we were at the 32,000 miles it was all ocean from there on out. I listened to music, watch Eat Pray Love. Which, I didn’t really enjoy I thought it was dragged out. But anyways! I looked out the window some and read two magazines. When you’re up that high the water and the clouds are all meshed together so it looks like the clouds are just big fluffy white islands on the surface.

When we landed it was so humid and pouring! Not like any rain we see in California. We waited around to catch our luggage and then my Dad and Carol went to get the rental car while we kids waited outside with the luggage for them. Each time a hideous van would pull up we would sit there and be like “oh god, oh god, please no…” and then be relieved when the drivers were not our parents. We finally saw what would be lugging us around for 5 days and it wasn’t too terrible. But it’s still mildly embarrassing… a mini van

The condo was 45 mins from the airport, and it is beautiful! The view in really indescribable and a picture doesn’t even do it justice. We had a Lanai that went all the way around our condo. Dara and I got a room, our parents got a room, and Max and Jimmy slept on cots in the living room. When I say cots don’t be fooled, they are like twin beds :p. We went swimming at around 6 Hawaiian time, which meant 8 for us Californians, and the water was still warm! Amazing! I ended up passing out as soon as I hit the couch. I eventually made it to my bed as a zombie.