English Insanity!

Now that I'm studying English, I'm constantly questioning my own language skills.  I am learning so much about syntax and phonology that it is messing with my mind!

All I think about is English these days because five days a week, I am studying it at school.  The information is never ending. I am learning so much and I love it!  However, I realize there's a ton of information that I do not know, even as a native English speaker.

As a future ESL/EFL teacher, I need to know a ton of information in order to explain things to students.  It is not as easy as one may think though.  For many native English speakers, it is easy to tell someone what is wrong grammatically, but it is not easy to explain the reasons why. 

I'm amazed by my international classmates who seem to know all of the English rules though.  I don't know if I could go to school overseas and master classes in another language.  They are so inspirational!

I will try not to talk about English on my blog since it may take away from my theme about "adventures."  But since it has been invading my brain lately, I can't seem to get it out of my head!

I have created a website though called "My TESOL World" on weebly.com ...  It is a work in progress, but I hope to share the things I am learning with those who are interested.

Well, I guess it is time to get back to studying English again!

The Cheesecake Factory - Waikiki, Hawaii

Last weekend, it was a birthday celebration!  My two friends and I went to the Cheesecake Factory in Waikiki to have a good time.

When we got to the cheesecake factory, it was almost 8:30 p.m. and we discovered upon checking in that the wait time would be an hour and a half! It wasn't a problem for us though since we love to shop.  My favorite store of all, Forever 21, happens to be just next door!

After we finally sat down, we ordered our food.  The wait staff is incredibly busy though, so it can take a while to get served.  They work very hard to serve food to the hundreds (maybe even thousands) of customers daily.  I give them credit for being able to work there because I am sure it is exhausting!

It did take a while to get our food, but when you are with friends, time doesn't seem to matter much.  I was enjoying the food and having a great time.

When we finally received our food, I was stunned by the large portions!  I barely dented my pasta, which later turned out to be worth three meals once I took the leftovers home.  My other friend could not eat any of her food either.



My best friend completely indulged in her orange chicken dish at the the Cheesecake Factory though, later becoming nauseated by the amount of food she ate.  Although she's a skinny girl, she knows how to eat!  I'm glad she had a good time.

Before leaving the restaurant, we all shared a slice of cheesecake.  Although many say the food at the Cheesecake Factory is average, I thought it was excellent!  The food is good, as well as the cheesecake and I would definitely return.  However, it is not the place to go if you are on a time crunch!  I would recommend it for those who have time and are in the company of friends or family.

Don't forget to try the cheesecake!  There's so many choices to choose from that I know you'll find one to enjoy!

Another Beautiful Sunday

After hiking Manoa Falls, a friend and I took a drive towards the East side of the island.  It is one of my favorite places.

I think that if more people went outside and enjoyed all that Hawaii has to offer, they would be much more grateful living here.  There's so much to do!

I know I will surely miss it.
 

I cannot wait until next weekend to enjoy another beautiful day here, outdoors.  There's no sense in staying in when there's so much to explore and be a part of ...

Manoa Falls - Manoa, Hawaii

I'm attempting to hike at least 10 new trails and I've finally completed my fourth at Manoa Falls! For those of you unfamiliar with Manoa Falls, it is considered an easy 1 1/2 mile hike located at the end of Manoa Road, next to Lyon Arboretum.  

I haven't been to Manoa Falls for years, so I wondered how it would be this time.  I looked online to see reviews and I did hear a few complaints about mosquitoes, mud, and a dried up waterfall.  However, I was lucky because I didn't experience any of those things!  The worst I encountered was $5.00 parking.

Manoa Falls is a great hike.  It feels as if you are hiking in a rain forest.  It is in a much quieter area too, so it adds a peacefulness to one's surroundings.  It is also an easy hike and does not require a ton of physical ability, but it may not be for everyone since there are some areas where you have to climb over some rocks. Also, I would not recommend you hike at Manoa Falls when it is raining because it could be dangerous.  It is best to hike Manoa Falls when it is hot and sunny outside.

I do recommend this hike and rate it as being quite easy, but it does have some challenging aspects to it. Hopefully, some of the photos will give you a better idea about Manoa Falls, so you can decide if this is the right hike for you.

After finishing the hike, enjoy the serene environment.  Just be careful hiking back because the mud can be slippery in some spots!

March 11, 2011

I slept through the tsunami warning and woke up to good news.  It never hit us! Now, we are waiting for an "all clear." 

I can't wait to go outside though and enjoy the outdoors.

I actually almost went to school until my friend texted me.  I'm glad school has been cancelled though because my external hardrive is not working.  My files have vanished with all of my graduate school work, favorite overseas photos, and more.  I'm praying my father will be able to fix my external, so I can have all of my files back! 

Now, i'm scrambbling to get work done before Monday! 

For now, however, I will using my free time wisely.  It is my friend's birthday tonight also, so it will be a wonderful celebration and a weekend full of fun!

Tsunami Approaching Hawaii?

Tonight, I learned of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Japan.  I can only imagine the destruction and force of such a powerful earthquake.  I truly hope the people of Japan are safe.

Now, there's a warning about a possible tsunami heading towards Hawaii.  An eruption occurred at Kilauea not too long ago also, I just heard.

Mother nature is truly destructive.  I remember being in my first earthquake as a child.  It was terrifying.  I thought it was the scariest thing ever without realizing that it was nothing in comparison to larger scale earthquakes.  I also always thought that earthquakes only shook the ground, but I learned otherwise.  Earthquakes not only shake the earth, but tilt the ground. 

I remember eating dinner and having everything slide towards me because the earth titled upwards.  I was so shaken that I stared outside the window for hours, while my grandparents laughed at me for being so silly because the earthquake was only minor compared to other ones they have felt.  I sure cannot handle earthquakes!  There's no where to hide.

Although the earthquake I experienced was minor, years later, another earthquake hit my grandparent's village. This time, it was not a laughing matter because the roof collapsed, destroying their home.  Many of their neighbors were trapped in their homes and had to be rescued.   

I hope that in a few hours, all will be calm.  I guess only time will tell.  For now, here is a clip of the unfolding drama.  I know people are starting to panic, but hopefully this will be another false alarm.

Ala Moana Beach Park

I had such a productive day.  Instead of sitting in traffic to get home, I decided to go to the mall after class to have some milk tea and study. 

Traffic can last quite long, so afterward I went running at Ala Moana Beach Park.  From now on, I will start making better use of my time by studying and running.  I felt so productive and I had such an incredible time.

It is very calming running past the beach with Diamond Head in view.  The most beautiful part of the run, however, was being able to watch the sunset. 

I want to enjoy all the beauty Hawaii has to offer before I move and explore new territory.

A Busy Week

It has been a ridiculously busy week full of work.  I'm exhausted.  I feel like I can barely walk today after standing and moving around for hours without sitting.  Now, I have to catch up on all of the homework I missed during the week, which I will have to diligently work towards completing. 

My bubbly cat was also sick yesterday, so I had to take care of him.  I'm just glad he's fine now!  I was really worried.

I am glad to be starting a fresh new week, even though I know I will have to work extra hard!  I look forward to the fun of this week though and I can't wait!