'round here...

My time in Maui is drawing to an end...it's been a fun time, but I still have to job prospects and no other options of places to live, and I'm running out of money. I guess Hawaii is just not my scene right now. I think it's a great place to visit and vacation, but it's not easy to relocate to. And relocating is okay to do by yourself, but vacationing is not so fun to do alone. But this trip has given me lots of time to think and regroup so the thought of spending the rest of the summer in Utah no longer makes me want to shoot myself. And honestly a major reason for me to go back to Utah and not Alaska is I still have two tickets to the U2 concert in June that I haven't had any luck selling, and it would be a crime against humanity to let those go to waste :)
Anyways, I have had some good adventures here, and I am planning on having more before I go! haven't learned to surf or anything yet, haven't even gotten in the water yet actually. Playing at the beach is one of those things that is not much fun by yourself, unfortunately. But I have been on the beach long enough to get a sunburn at least. I've taken the buses all around the island, hit up some good touristy spots, hitched a ride from an old filipeno man, ate some mangos right off the tree, stuff like that. I feel very "white" when I'm around the locals out here. I was sitting at a bus stop the other day, and this group of old Hawaiians was talking. They obviously knew each other well, and I was politely trying not to eavesdrop, when I hear "Heeey, Sistah!" and look over to see this huge, dark hawaiian man with long hair grinning at me and waving. Me: "...hi.." Him: "You visiting?" Me:"...kind of...yeah" Then he just laughed and ignored me. People wave at me all the time here, sometimes it's nice and friendly, sometimes it's a little creepy. Also, for those of you who don't know, when you greet someone here they like to kiss you on the cheek, or at least put their face on yours. It kind of threw me for a loop the first couple times, especially when this young guy from the singles ward did it. I had to fight the urge to dodge.
People here are great though. I've only really been skeeved out once, in more than two weeks living here by myself, so I think that's pretty good. I don't know, it's definitely been an adventure, broadening my horizons!

if you ain't got no money take your broke a** home

So I was starting to stress because I haven't had any luck finding a job or a place to live here on Maui and I was spending all my time freaking out about that and not having any fun. I was about ready to just call it quits and go home, wherever that is. But, some really wonderful people, Rachel and Rich James have been kind enough to let me sleep on their floor for the last few days while I figured things out, and yesterday I met up with a realator friend of Trace and Heather who has a room in a house he's selling that he'll let me stay in until the end of the month, and he won't even charge me! How incredible is that! So by that time I will either have found a job and another place to live, or I'll go back to Utah or Alaska having spent a month in Hawaii:)

Okay, this post isn't about Hawaii so much as it is about creeps. I seem to attract them wherever I go, I don't understand it. The guy that gave me a ride home from the singles branch here is 10 years older than me, has been on unemployment for 3 years, has an illegitimate son in Texas, didn't go on a mission because he didn't feel like it, isn't even an Elder yet, never went to college, and still smokes. Sounds like a catch, right? I'm not interested. Never expressed any sort of interest, did not flirt or even act like I cared about what he was saying to me. I used him as a ride home, and that's all. Yet he still seems to think that I would be a great marriage candidate for him, to help him "straighten out." Why? Because he thinks I'm beautiful. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the complement. It's always flattering to be told you're attractive, especially by a member of the opposite sex. But it's starting to bother me that that seems to be the only thing that some guys notice, and they think that's reason enough for me to spend time with them. Try complementing me on say, my personality or my sense of humor, and maybe I won't be so creeped out by you. Just an idea.

"Moving to Hawaii is like falling in love..."

So apparently Americans don't stay in hostels very much. I've only met two other people here that are from the states. But I've met people from France, Germany, Argentina, Japan, England and Australia, so that's fun :) The people here are really nice, and they all get excited when I tell them I'm moving here not just vacationing. I went to the single's branch in Kahului today, and it was great, although probably more than half of the branch got there late, like really really late. The girls in the Relief Society presidency offered to let me know if they here of any jobs, and I got a ride back to the hostel with someone in the branch too.
It's funny, cause i always hated taking the bus in Utah, and generally refused to do it, but I actually like the buses here. Some are free, and the others are only a dollar per boarding. Though this morning I took a bus down to church, and I think I paid for a ride that was free...oh well, I'll learn. I already have a favorite bus driver :) I think I'm going to be using the buses A LOT, because walking around in bad shoes gave me some nasty blisters. And my back is really tight and sore from lugging around a heavy backpack for a couple days.
I went down to Kihei yesterday and started applying for jobs. I'll do more tomorrow, and I think I'll also go check out Lahaina and see what it's like over there. Still looking for a place to live, and the hostel is full tonight so I can't stay here anymore, but Heather's friend Rachel in Kihei will let me stay on her couch tonight at least. I have yet to get to the beach, but I'm sure I'll have plenty of time for that!
Oh, and yes, of course it's beautiful and warm and I saw my first rainbow before I even got off the plane :)
Love you!