Utah Here I come.

[Pedro]

Wow, I remember telling my coworkers eight months ago about my plan to leave the Bishop Museum and paradise to live up there in the mainland. There was a lot of neigh sayers still are, about my decision, to move, like I was some retard for wanting something different and now that I look ever closely on the calendar It's the 23 of July and my plane doesn't leave until August 6th which is around the dang corner. Before I know it, I'll be in Utah.

My co-workers at the museum threw a surprise going away party for me at the museum on Friday which was fun, we had Karaoke beer beer and more beer, oh and tons of FOOD. Although at the end of the party when everyone was breaking down they had a surprise for me. My very attractive and pretty friend told me to follow her out of the cafe which I reluctantly did and she mentioned that she had something big she wanted to give to me. So I stepped out the back door looking for it and she grabs my digital cammera and slowly stepped away from me. So there I was like an idiot drunk, sweaty and happy, wondering what she had instored for me, I was thinking a whole bunch of things and right in the middle of my thoughts I suddenly heard loud foot steps coming from behind me I turned my head a little too late and saw one of my co-workers with a big cooler over his head, I ducked anticpating it and before I knew it I was covered with ice and cold water which cascaded down my back sendin cold shivers through my entire body. That sure sobered me up after all the shots of alcohol and beer I was consuming. I wonder if they are going to do something to me before I leave, but until than I have so much parties to go to........and lots of alcohol to consume as if I haven't drunken that much already. But I'll sure miss Hawaii.

[Vanguard]

But I'll sure miss Hawaii.

I sure miss it just by reading your post. I hope everything goes well in your move.

[Menehune Man]

Hey Pedro! Not all of us co-workers were/are nay sayers. I've been telling you from the beginning to "Go for it!" And we'll miss you too.

[U'ilani]

Good luck, Pedro! I lived in Provo for a few years. It definitely was a cultural shock--very few dark-haired people there, and the Asians you do find there are usually not from Hawaii. They do have a lot of buffet restaurants that are very cheap, and good ice cream parlors, so not all is bad. :D

[Pedro]

Hey Pedro! Not all of us co-workers were/are nay sayers. I've been telling you from the beginning to "Go for it!" And we'll miss you too.

Thanks, you and certain others were very encouraging with my decision to move, but here's hoping everything goes well :D UTAH here I COME!!!

[1stwahine]

Good Luck Pedro!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f358/1stwahine/smileyboogiers.gif

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f358/1stwahine/huladancer00.gif
Auntie Lynn

[Miulang]

Pedro, have a wonderful experience in Utah. It will be whatever you make of it. For sure, make sure you get into the mountains and canyons and visit the Great Salt Lake. Make some non-Mormon friends and they'll take you drinking in the private clubs. The 2 years I lived in SLC were interesting and I'm still in awe of the natural beauty that surrounds that area. Maybe later in the fall when it's not so hot, you can convince your family in Utah to take you down into the Bryce/Zion National Parks area (sort of on the way to Vegas). That is truly some of the most magnificent scenery I have ever witnessed. Hey yeah! And you'll be about 4 hours away from Vegas by car! :D

Let us know when you land and what your impressions are of the place!

Miulang

[pzarquon]

Good luck, Pedro. And, like anywhere, folks from Hawaii have a tendency to find each other and form 'ohana in Utah, too. I'd suggest you drop a line to Kimo Watanabe (http://www.myspace.com/kimowatanabe), a Hawaiian musician I got to know through my podcast. I guarantee he'll be tuned into the Hawaii scene in Salt Lake City and surrounding environs, and should be able to help you get a taste of home whenever you need it.

[Pedro]

Today is my last day here my flight leaves tonight Yeeeeeehaaaaaaaaa!!! Utah Here I Come!!! :D

[tutusue]

Bon Voyage, Pedro!!! I've spent a little time in Utah as I have family in SLC. Miulang is right. The scenery is beautiful. One summer my daughter and I drove from SoCal to SLC via the Grand Canyon and Zion. Spectacular!

I think local boy, Alema Harrington (http://www.kued.org/productions/polynesian/interviews/harrington.html), is a sportscaster in SLC. Sorry, I don't have time to dig deeper in Google.

[Menehune Man]

Aloha Pedro! We miss you already. All the Museum guys salute you and the ladies send hugs and kisses. :D

[LocoBoy]

Aloha Pedro and farewell where ever you fare!! :)

[Menehune Man]

Pedro, where are you?!

[Pedro]

ALOHA evry one from the beautiful state of UTAH!!!! YEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAW! :D

[Miulang]

Yay! Pedro's alive! Well, how hot is it today in beautiful Layton? You experiencing culture shock yet? :)

Miulang

[Menehune Man]

ALOHA!

Back at'cha my friend.... email me. K?

[1stwahine]

Aloha Pedro! Great to hear from you all the way from Utah!! :D

Auntie Lynn

[U'ilani]

What city are you in??

[Pedro]

Yay! Pedro's alive! Well, how hot is it today in beautiful Layton? You experiencing culture shock yet? :)

Miulang


My sister moved out of Layton and now lives in Westpoint, where I now reside. I was amazed to see big billboard signs a great mountain and an endless sun that don't sink until nine thirty p.m. Now that was a cultural SHOCK!!

The cool thing was when I flew from Honolulu to LA. I asked the cashier how much the inflight movies were and she went ahead and switched my ticket free of charge to Business class. I didn't know that meant 1st Class Seating. I got to watch two movies drink all the alcohol and eat all the snacks and food I wanted fer seven hours, until I landed in La where I boarded another plane all drunk and happy.... :D

[Miulang]

My sister moved out of Layton and now lives in Westpoint, where I now reside. I was amazed to see big billboard signs a great mountain and an endless sun that don't sink until nine thirty p.m. Now that was a cultural SHOCK!!

The cool thing was when I flew from Honolulu to LA. I asked the cashier how much the inflight movies were and she went ahead and switched my ticket free of charge to Business class. I didn't know that meant 1st Class Seating. I got to watch two movies drink all the alcohol and eat all the snacks and food I wanted fer seven hours, until I landed in La where I boarded another plane all drunk and happy.... :D
I'm just glad you got there safely! :D West Point must be a fairly new city/town. When I lived in SLC, that town didn't exist! I checked out the demographics of your new town and it looks like there are lots and lots of young people living there. It's also near Clearfield and near Hell AFB, which means lots of military living in that area, too. But you're also close to the Great Salt Lake, so if you haven't already hele'd over there yet, get there soon! Sunsets over the Great Salt Lake are just awesome, with the Oquirrh Mountains in the background to the west. Does Antelope Island still exist in the middle of the GSL? I know at least once some years ago the road on the dike that leads to Antelope Island washed away. Go into Ogden too, and cruise Main St. (we used to). ;)

Miulang

[Pedro]

I'm just glad you got there safely! :D West Point must be a fairly new city/town. When I lived in SLC, that town didn't exist! I checked out the demographics of your new town and it looks like there are lots and lots of young people living there. It's also near Clearfield and near Hell AFB, which means lots of military living in that area, too. But you're also close to the Great Salt Lake, so if you haven't already hele'd over there yet, get there soon! Sunsets over the Great Salt Lake are just awesome, with the Oquirrh Mountains in the background to the west. Does Antelope Island still exist in the middle of the GSL? I know at least once some years ago the road on the dike that leads to Antelope Island washed away. Go into Ogden too, and cruise Main St. (we used to). ;)

Miulang


I think Antelope island still exist, I haven't gone to the Great Salt Lake yet but will do so. Here they have this weird made up dish called "Hawaiian Haystacks" which is rice and chowmein with chicken and gravy all over with small dishes of pineapple, green onions and so forth. I haven't tried it, but I heard the chicken was good. On friday I went with my sister to Hill Airforce base to participate with her in their little fitness day fair. I played dodge ball only and did not bad my team won 2nd place and we were all awarded a medallion which I hang on my door to remind me I am a WINNER. Besides that I am amazed to see how gigantic that area really is.

[jessicat]

What is the cost of living up there like?
Do you like it very much?
Are there very many white Mormons? Discrimination?

Sorry to bombard you with questions when I don't know you, but I've been looking at going to school in Utah for quite awhile, but I can't find anybody to tell me what it's like. What was the transition like?

[U'ilani]

What is the cost of living up there like?
Do you like it very much?
Are there very many white Mormons? Discrimination?

Sorry to bombard you with questions when I don't know you, but I've been looking at going to school in Utah for quite awhile, but I can't find anybody to tell me what it's like. What was the transition like?I hope you don't mind my responding to your question... Which school are you looking at going to? You'll find a heavier LDS (i.e., "Mormon") population outside of Salt Lake City. The University of Utah in SLC is a very good school and has a decent mix of LDS and non-LDS students. Most of the residents of the Intermountain West states are Caucasian, regardless of their religious affiliation. That was the one cultural aspect that I really didn't like. I think if there is any discrimination to be felt it will come from being non-white, not from being non-Mormon. You'll find the people, for the most part, to be friendly and hard working. The cost of living is fairly low, especially relative to Hawaii.

[jessicat]

Oh, I'll take any answers I can get! lol.

I'm looking at the University of Utah, Southern Utah University, and Weber State University.

I'm really just quite worried about the diversity factor-- I'm part black, part okinawan, and I've never lived in a place where whites were the majority (except on base in Okinawa and here, and somehow that doesn't really count), so I'm a little worried I won't be able to fit in.

Although, I hear that Mormons are very kind.

And how's the weather? I've probably never been in anything colder than 50, so is it very hard to adjust?

[U'ilani]

If I had to do it all over again, I don't think I would have gone to school in Utah (I got my bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah). I actually never got over the cultural shock, not to mention the desert climate. Why Utah, of all places?

[jessicat]

Honestly?
I'd really just like to go somewhere thats not Hawaii, but is also not super expensive (like Cali or Washington). Utah just seems to deliciously opposite. Don't get me wrong, I love Hawaii, but I don't want to stay here forever. I want to learn how to adjust to a different environment.

I also know a gentlemen from Utah, and he told me all good things.

I'd cross my fingers to pay WUE tuition, or perhaps apply for their diversity scholarship.

[U'ilani]

Honestly?
I love Hawaii, but I don't want to stay here forever. I want to learn how to adjust to a different environment.Yup, I'm totally with you on this one. It's a good thing to challenge yourself like that.

I also know a gentlemen from Utah, and he told me all good things.Well, this is how I ended up transferring from UH to BYU, lol--I ended up marrying the guy.

Good luck. I probably sounded overly negative about Utah. Pedro will be able to give you a better perspective on it. Hopefully Miulang will also read your post and chime in when she can.

[jessicat]

You married him? Hehe, promising indeed.

Anyway, lol, thank you for your input.

[Leo Lakio]

I'm part ... okinawanIf you choose to move there, could you call yourself "Utah-nanchu"? :D

[Pedro]

Here I am again talking about the wonders of Utah. There's this draft wafting in from the mountains carrying over into the neighborhood, followed by this stale salty smell that is so fowl that everywhere in my house smells like that oderous scent, it's like something died here and I can't find the source ewwwwwwwww!!! Now I've been told by just about everyone I met about how stink the Salt Lake is including the bus drivers. My sister told me that the hideous smell that's invading my nostrils right now as I am typing this to you all is from that particular area. It's like when the waves from the ocean splash over on the rocks leaving it's residue to pool in a small little opening in the rock. Over time after sitting their the water begins to stink that is what I am smelling now PU. Not even the airisole I have can destroy it's foul wreek someone save me from this torture ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! :( I guess that could be one of the reason of why some of the people here are so salty :eek:

[kealiinaauao]

Hey! I'm living North of where you are in a city called Logan, where Utah State University is. USU is in the WAC, I don't know if you knew that, but Hawaii comes to town to play them on Nov. 4th. You know I'll be there :D
Go WARRIORS!

Anyways, on to the subject of smells. Yes, unfortunately, living in any of the towns just west of the Lake gets that wonderful pilau odor. When I first smelled it about 10 years ago, I thought there was a sulfur spill or some sort of mine near by. But then everyone told me that it was the salt lake and I was shocked. I like told everybody that it smelled like the rottenest eggs ever. But it seemed that everyone just ignored it. Me, I could never get use to that smell and still don't. I only smell it strong during the summer. I haven't noticed it too much during the fall and winter. I haven't lived in that area for a long time.

I call Utah my home, I'm married and have 2 kids all hapa haole. For those of you who don't know what "LDS" stands for, it's "Latter-Day Saint". It's what the mormons call themselves here. I'm mormon, but never called myself LDS. So like when I moved here, and people kept asking me if I was LDS, I said no, I don't do drugs. :p Eventually, I finally caught on and adapted to this area.

I haven't noticed too much discrimination, if anything alot of the people I run into go out of there way not to tick me off. You know Local Braddahs, running around w/ a short fuse. lol :D I was amazed at the majority (not everybody, but the majority) of the white people here were non confrontational. I had to adjust cuz here I was, this high strung local trying to understand the looks I was getting and was like, "What like beef!". But they wasn't giving me stink eye, they just wanted to talk to me and didn't know how to go about introducing themselves. HAHAA! I cracked myself up when I came to realize that.

Anyways, Pedro, give me a holler and I can hopefully help you to adjust. I not rich, I'm still poor (like papakolea poor, that's where I'm from), but I hope I can help you out.

Well, till next time. A HUI HOU!

[Menehune Man]

Howzit goin' up there Pedro?

[Pedro]

Howzit goin' up there Pedro?

It's going good MM. I heard about the Quake from Up here and I could hardly believe it. Some of my friends were amazed that we hardly ever get it. Last week while I was working at Macy's in their stock area or what we calll the docks where we take out all the contents from the trucks and proccess it well we had an Earth Quake Drill. The guys me and my friend who were in the truck picking up boxes were asked by our boss to find a safe secure area to duck under and take cover. Looking up two feet above us there were metal racks that were used to take out clothes last year which now stands alone by itself unused and undemolished hanging there and the racks are pretty big and encompses the whole area of the loading dock and above it are metal pipe fixtures now about six paces to the left from the docks is a trash compactor and next to it hidden under numeroues shelves is the Elevator. On the shelves are card board boxes holding metal display shelf fixtures that weigh 25 or more pounds and hanger racks and an electrical saw. For the boys our only hope was to run and jump into the trash compactor and hope no one presses the compact button. But I realized that we wouldn't have even made it close to the compactor without being burried by rubble and our dear bosses face sort of turned into a frown when she realized how safe our environment was. The girls who work with us have it good they work by little small metalic tables where they fold the garments well they can simply duck under the table and they'll be safe.

[Miulang]

It's going good MM. I heard about the Quake from Up here and I could hardly believe it. Some of my friends were amazed that we hardly ever get it. Last week while I was working at Macy's in their stock area or what we calll the docks where we take out all the contents from the trucks and proccess it well we had an Earth Quake Drill. The guys me and my friend who were in the truck picking up boxes were asked by our boss to find a safe secure area to duck under and take cover. Looking up two feet above us there were metal racks that were used to take out clothes last year which now stands alone by itself unused and undemolished hanging there and the racks are pretty big and encompses the whole area of the loading dock and above it are metal pipe fixtures now about six paces to the left from the docks is a trash compactor and next to it hidden under numeroues shelves is the Elevator. On the shelves are card board boxes holding metal display shelf fixtures that weigh 25 or more pounds and hanger racks and an electrical saw. For the boys our only hope was to run and jump into the trash compactor and hope no one presses the compact button. But I realized that we wouldn't have even made it close to the compactor without being burried by rubble and our dear bosses face sort of turned into a frown when she realized how safe our environment was. The girls who work with us have it good they work by little small metalic tables where they fold the garments well they can simply duck under the table and they'll be safe.

Sounds like maybe Macy's needs to be visited by a representative from OSHA who can "encourage" management to make your workplace a little safer if they don't correct things themselves. While it doesn't happen too often, earthquakes do occur in the Wasatch range too.

Miulang

[Pedro]

Sounds like maybe Macy's needs to be visited by a representative from OSHA who can "encourage" management to make your workplace a little safer if they don't correct things themselves. While it doesn't happen too often, earthquakes do occur in the Wasatch range too.

Miulang

Yeah that's true I was thinking about calling them but I would be out of a job. Maybe after I get another one that's better than I can do it, call it pay back....:D

[Pedro]

I've made new friends out here and they're not like the old ones but they're just as cool. I am not looking foward for tomorrow October 18, because I turn 26 I wish that time could go backwards after you reach a certain age. My sister is taking me out and one of my co-workers is baking me a cake so life's not all that bad.

[Miulang]

I've made new friends out here and they're not like the old ones but they're just as cool. I am not looking foward for tomorrow October 18, because I turn 26 I wish that time could go backwards after you reach a certain age. My sister is taking me out and one of my co-workers is baking me a cake so life's not all that bad.

Oooh! Hauoli la hanau, Pedro!:cool:

Miulang

[Pedro]

Utah Parties.

On Friday I was invited to go a wedding wtih my sister so I sort of starved myself for the occasion. I didn't eat that much except for a fried Potatoe at work which they were selling

That night I arrive at the location with my sister which is a block or two away from where I live. The Event is held in a Mormon Church where everyone is dressed as if they are going to a Business meeting of some kind. They were lining the door patiently waiting to be let into the place. It's cold the whether is between fourty six degrees and I am freezing waiting for the line to wane. When it does I made my way thru the oak doors rounded the bend and am lead into a spacious ball room where people are seated at round whited covered tables and in the back I see a long white rectangular table filled with food and another line is formed just to get there. My stomach is growling and I can feel my adrenaline rush to have something filling in my system at last. I get to the table and am surprised to only see rows and rows of cakes of every fashion. I look and search for meat or chips but there are none so I make my plate sit down and eat with my sister. The minute the sweetness hits my tongue I feel like puking but I am so hungry I gobble it all down whole. My mouth is watering and I waited for something else to be served but than my sister tells me. "I forgot to tell you that before you go to a Mormon Party you have to eat before you get there." I was so mad and angry. I mean why call it a Party it defeats the purpose of it. So I learned that Mormon parties here SUCK the BIG ONE!!

[Menehune Man]

No real food, oh my! For a true local boy like you, that's terrible. Take care my friend... and eat well.

[Lika911]

:D welcome to utah pedro. i have lived in utah all my life. and omg the smell of the great salt lake groooooosssss! :eek: you will never get use to it! but for the most part utah is beautiful and fun if you know where to go and who the fun peeps are... drop me a line if you want!

[Pedro]

Y hello Lika.... I have been living here in Utah for now(lemme see) this month make's it my fourth month. I'm sorry that I haven't been checking HT for a while. Mostly I've been working a lot and doing other things. Cool so you've been living here in Utah for sometime eh maybe you can take me around some time, just kidding.... I've been to Salt Lake and of course Ogden. But yes the smell is pretty fowl........especially on very windy day's such as today.....Oh the stench...:eek:

[Lika911]

:p perdo, hey i would love to show you around. I have a friend and her ohana that are moving to utah after the new year. we should all get together and i'll show all of you around lol my friend left hawaii about 5 months ago. she tried Nevada than cali and she hates them both. she visited me and liked it here. but she was here when it was much warmer lmao i know she and her ohana are gonna get a cold shock.. hahahahaha :eek: just let me know if you would like to meet up and have a real utahian show ya a night on the town. :D

[Pedro]

Hello Lika99 I think PMed you but I would love to take you up on that offer it is still there...... :D