Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Second Wind


I didn't expect it, but after a week and a half without students, I was pretty nervous to get back into the swing of things. It's not like I wasn't prepared. I got my quarter grades submitted in record time and had the room all ready to go for the new quarter. Still, there was anxiety about being back in front of a class of students.

To make matters worse, I got the worst sleep last night. I shouldn't even call it sleep, because I'm not sure I actually got any. The first night we moved into this house, I tried to sleep on my new bed but couldn't stop itching. It turned out that all these tiny mites were crawling through the sheets and over my skin. It was miserable. I washed every sheet and pillow case, and the problem was solved. But the bugs have made about five comebacks since then, and that's led to about five terrible nights. Last night they timed their arrival perfectly, keeping me up the night before quarter 2 began. I washed everything once more, and if they never return again, I'll be beyond happy.

Tired and frustrated, I skipped my morning workout today in hopes that I'd be able to use that saved energy to get me through the day. The second I pulled into the parking lot and walked up to my classroom, all the anxiety, frustration, and sleeplessness evaporated. I was just really happy to see the kids again. At the end of the quarter, I felt like they were draining me of my energy, but now I feel like I am feeding off of theirs. I was happy to be back, and that was a really good feeling.

Anyways, without further ado, here are the highlights of this year's Fall Break.

Most relaxing experience: Getting to sleep in pretty much every morning was phenomenal. Even though "sleeping in" these days means waking up around 8:30, it still feels pretty good.

Funniest thing I saw: On our hike into the jungle up in the hills of Peacock Flats, watching Frahm depants Kyle as he tried to balance on a log.

Strangest thing I saw: While biking out at Ka'ena Point, I was coming b
ack from the Makaha side, about 4 miles from the road. I rode by a man on a road bike, you know, the type with the thin tires they use in the Tour De France. I stopped and asked the guy, "How did you make it all the way out here?"
"Very carefully," he responded. I still don't know how he did it in one piece. I've gotten four flat tires out there on my mountain bike. Go figure.

Saddest thing I saw: Last fall break, Aly Gamache and I did some epic snorkeling and beaching on the West Side. This year, she severely dislocated her shoulder jumping into waves and was out of commission. Still, we were able to go to the beach on Friday
and it was fun.

Coolest thing I did: On Saturday, I went huge, riding out to Ka'ena and around the bend to Yokohama Bay, then came back, cooled down, and went boogie boarding at Ali'i Beach in Haleiwa. When all was said and done, I could barely stand up.




Friday, October 09, 2009

Chasing Waterfalls

A mountain stream can be endlessly deceptive. From the base I stare up and see a staircase of waterfalls and boulders that will ultimately lead to the peak of the mountain. But every corner I turn or cascade I scale leads to yet another challenge. Maybe, I think, if I get over this one, I will finally be at the top. But as soon as I push ahead, I reach yet another waterfall or bend. Frustration is overshadowed by curiosity and adventure. I can't turn around now. Imagine what could lie ahead.


I took my roommates Kyle and Amanda on a bike ride this past Saturday up towards Peacock Flats, a campground in the hills overlooking Waialua and Mokuleia. To get there you basically have to push your bike up a few miles of winding forest service roads. My favorite part of this route is that it's a mere two blocks from our front porch.

Back in the summer, I did the ride solo, stopping off on a side trail and briefly hiking into a forested valley that seemed to wind along a dry riverbed up into the hills. That time,I didn't go too far down the trail by myself, but now that I had two companions, I was ready to see where the trail led.

It turns out that the trail itself didn't even last for a quarter mile. But the dried up river that it ran alongside wound endlessly up into the valley. So as soon as the trail tapered off, we stepped into the riverbed, jumping along rocks and stomping through dead leaves up the mountain. As we progressed, the river got steeper and the dry waterfalls became more frequent. Climbing them was quite the adventure.

Out in the middle of nowhere in that lifeless stream, we were having a blast. We laughed, joked around, tripped, slipped, and slid our way up towards the summit. We finally reached a point where slight amounts of water trickled down the falls, and as we got higher, the water grew deeper. Every waterfall we scaled was potentially our last, but each time our heads peaked over the ridge, we saw a new scene and a new challenge. I kept saying that the top of the mountain was just beyond the next waterfall, but I was wrong every time. But turning around was too tough. We wanted to get to the top.

We never did make it to the top of that mountain, though we vowed to come back. The rainy season is just around the corner though, and I don't want to be in that riverbed when the water's flowing. Still, the adventure itself was definitely one of the more enjoyable outings I've had out here.

I guess the moral is that you might never reach the destination you're looking for, but the journey itself can be just as fulfilling. We all have waterfalls to climb, and we all hope that what we're looking for is just on the other side. But it helps to take a break every once in a while, put the destination on hold, and enjoy the moment. You just might find something in the riverbed far more valuable than anything the summit could have offered.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

FALL BREAK

How about a change of pace? Another quarter is in the bag and I've barreled into Fall Break once again. Was it smoother than last year? Absolutely. Was it easier? Probably, but it was no cakewalk, that's for sure. Teaching is not easy. Special Education is never easy. Even island living can be a little difficult. But it's nice to relax a little bit, catch some rays, and enjoy my backyard and the other adventures beyond it.

Tomorrow I'm going to sit on the beach down the street, enjoy some sunlight, and play my ukulele. I'll be thinking of all of you. This is the good life.