Time to Acclimate

Hostel living...not what I remembered it to be.  I just might be getting too old for this.  One day I'll be able to afford to stay in hotels! *gasp* Maybe.  Any who - today was my first full day on the island.  I decided to put off starting work until the 4th (tomorrow) so I could get my bearings around town and the bus systems.  I also didn't want to be groggy, seeing as how I went to bed last night around 3am (central time) and woke up at 11:00am (central time).  I needed some time to adjust.  

Since I arrived at the hostel late last night, I didn't have any food here, yet so I found a coffee shop just up the road a bit.  It was between this place or Starbucks.  Ha.  It was all local DELICIOUS coffee and the outdoor seating over looked the beautiful mountains.  Not a bad way to start the day.

After that, I needed to set my sore eyes on the ocean.  The hostel has a pretty nice location and is only about 3-blocks from the water.  I walked around downtown, found the grocery store, liquor store and the Lahaina PWF store location and boat location.  All the important places.  After spending about $8.99 on a box of five granola bars, I realized how expensive Maui really is.  Yikes!

I settled on the beach and watched all the local and tourist surfers out on the waves.  The difference is extreme.  Surf wasn't great so it was mostly tourists.

As I was watching them, I saw a big splash in the distance and I thought....did I really just see that?!  Then I saw a beautiful whale breach!  It was incredible to see.  I actually laughed out loud.  I got some strange looks but I was just so excited I couldn't contain myself.  I cannot believe I get to be out on a boat tracking them, watching them, hearing them 4-5 days a week! Yippie!

I met up with two other interns, who are staying elsewhere, for a beer.  It was nice to finally meet them, after talking via Facebook for about 2 months now.  They're from the UK and seem really nice.  I think we'll get along just fine!  They will also be my house-mates when we move into our house.  I'm pretty sure we're all SCUBA certified so we'll be diving together too!

I start work tomorrow and I'll be on our smaller research vessel called the Ocean Protector (OP)!  Hopefully.  That depends on the weather.  Otherwise, I'll be in the office learning those ropes.  Either way, I am eagerly waiting to get started!  Stay tuned!