Aloha Hawai'i!

Marist Girls! Marielle, Laura, Meredith, Kerri & Me

On July 26^th I said good-bye to my family, boarded my plane and took off.  I was pretty proud of myself, because my mom was in tears, even my dad was sad.  I was okay until I looked out the window on the runway, saw the Budweiser plant (only in Jersey) and started to cry.  My grandpa worked there and when I saw the spinning eagle getting smaller and smaller I knew I was really leaving.

The girls picked me up at the airport, complete with a lei and all.  They had been in Hawai'i nearly 2 weeks and already met a bunch of guys, of course.  They took me to my house since Danielle wasn’t coming out for another week, I was going to be meeting my roommates on my own.  We had gone to school with Brian and Danielle knew him from there, but I had never met him before.

I got settled, got ready, and we went out Marist style!  We hit up a spot called the Doghouse, and met up with the Army guys whom the girls had met and befriended.  I had a really great time and honestly, felt like I was back in college.

I spent the next few days getting acclimated and unpacked.  Ted took me for a drive around the island.  Who knew pineapple grew in a bush on the ground?!  Danielle arrived and the girls threw a Marist get-together party at their apartment.

By the time school started, I was ready for all that Hawaii had to offer.  I knew it was going to be a wild ride!