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^ Thanks for your comment Dreaming of Hawaii. I don't mind Jonah poking a little fun at me.Its all in good fun. One of the reasons I love living here as well, is no freeways(I live in Maui, not Oahu). My wife was nearly killed on a freeway in California awhile back. Some person cut her off, and she slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting him. Her car flipped over twice, and her airbag didn't even deplete. The car was completely totaled, and she walked away without a scratch...thanks to the seatbelt! After this situation, we just realize how precious life is on this frail little planet that we live on. One minute you are here, the next you aren't. I'm incredibly humbled and blessed every day to live in such a beautiful place with beautiful people.
Comparing California to Hawaii makes Hawaii such an obvious winner. California is a rat race disguised in sunshine. The name of the state should be called "Suburbia". It's one big housing complex with malls. Nothing else...
I wouldn't say that for the East Coast or even Chicago. The American Dream is epitomized by California: Work, live, consume, repeat, and die.
My honeymoon phase worn off pretty quick, as soon as my son attended pre-school, 2 months after we moved here. Only less than 5 miles from our home, in average it takes me 30 min to drive there, the first 15-20 min just to pass 4 red lights, and then 30 min back which is wasted on merge lanes. Pick him up; another 30 min there, 30 min back. My me time to enjoy Hawaii was pretty much spent on the commute, I'd like to drive NOT during rush hour but school or work doesn't revolved around my needs.
I still like living here, but I wouldn't die when it's time for us to leave. I would definitely miss the food, but not really, if we become expatriate in South East Asia
Just two words, eksotia, home school.
We home schooled all of our children and used the 'Unschooling' method to do so, which consistently outperforms all other forms of 'schooling.' (Most kids complete grade 12 before they reach their teens.) When you spend most of your life in remote, exotic, and sometimes not-so-exotic places, homeschooling is the only way to go - and we have a passel of kids!
Why not Google a bit and do a little research for yourself? Homeschooling is to education what Hawai'i is to life in the fast lane. Do you only have the one child, or...?
Love,
Mahrie.
P.S. Edited to add - I'd rethink S.E. Asia. Between child prostitution, the phenomenal spread of AIDS, not to mention other life-threatening diseases, the horrendous crime rate, interracial intolerance, and the degradation of all things good in general - it's fast becoming an outer chamber of Hell!
P.S. Edited to add - I'd rethink S.E. Asia. Between child prostitution, the phenomenal spread of AIDS, not to mention other life-threatening diseases, the horrendous crime rate, interracial intolerance, and the degradation of all things good in general - it's fast becoming an outer chamber of Hell!
What part of SE Asia are you in? I never found the crime rate to be that bad, and there are a ton of interracial relationships, moreso in some parts of SE Asia than others, however.
What part of SE Asia are you in? I never found the crime rate to be that bad, and there are a ton of interracial relationships, moreso in some parts of SE Asia than others, however.
G'morning Tiger!
I'm not in SE Asia at the moment, thank God! I suppose I was primarily thinking of Thailand when I read eksotia's post, but it could just as easily have been Laos, S. Vietnam, or anywhere in the region. The problems there are legion and escalating by the minute, especially those involving sex crimes and minors, as in child prostitution, child brides, child pornography and other perversions too sick to mention. Some of these kids are barely nine years old!
I see that you're in Osaka. I haven't seen the city myself, but my husband and his band played in a club (Rollipop, or something like that) for six months about thirty years ago. Are you Japanese or...?
I'm not in SE Asia at the moment, thank God! I suppose I was primarily thinking of Thailand when I read eksotia's post, but it could just as easily have been Laos, S. Vietnam, or anywhere in the region. The problems there are legion and escalating by the minute, especially those involving sex crimes and minors, as in child prostitution, child brides, child pornography and other perversions too sick to mention. Some of these kids are barely nine years old!
I see that you're in Osaka. I haven't seen the city myself, but my husband and his band played in a club (Rollipop, or something like that) for six months about thirty years ago. Are you Japanese or...?
Mahrie.
I'm Irish/French American, living in Japan.
I love all of Asia, including Southeast Asia. Actually my wife is SE Asian (not Thai though). So, our son is Eurasian. He gets a lot of positive attention everywhere we go - northeast asia or southeast asia. They love kids over here
Regarding the sex crimes, etc. I usually identify that quickly as a predominate Thailand/Cambodia thing. However, NGO's are all over the place throughout southeast asia, and, in my opinion, there is less and less of it all the time....rather than more and more of it.
Still, it's here though....but everywhere has it's own problems.
What a breath of fresh air, Hawai'i has been from California. It feels like taking a trip back in time to a time when people moved a little slower, and would wave to you if they didn't even know your name. I have had only one experience in regards to me being a haole here in a span of one year, but the majority of locals here and incredibly friendly and down to earth, and will go out of there way to actually help you. I found living in California, people tended to be in a bit more of a hurry. Most would still help out, but not to the extent the people in Hawai'i do.
I love the people, I love the weather, I love how things move slowly around here, I love how people will wave at you and say, "hello", even if they don't know you. There are just too many great things to name. I love the quiet and peaceful life here.
If only Hawai'i had the overall taxes of a state like Nevada, and the property taxes of Washington, this place would be about as close to heaven on earth as humanly possible.
People wave back to you and say "hello" a lot of places. Most of the rural areas of Kansas and Missouri (and I'm sure other states) are like that.
The weather - well, I guess you have Kansas and Missouri beat there, although I am perfectly happy with the weather in the heartland from March through November, it's just December, January and February that I could do without.
People wave back to you and say "hello" a lot of places. Most of the rural areas of Kansas and Missouri (and I'm sure other states) are like that.
The weather - well, I guess you have Kansas and Missouri beat there, although I am perfectly happy with the weather in the heartland from March through November, it's just December, January and February that I could do without.
The OP is from California where no one says hello and waves back, unless they are deranged. There are many other states that are very friendly, equally if not MORE than Hawaii.
The OP is from California where no one says hello and waves back, unless they are deranged. There are many other states that are very friendly, equally if not MORE than Hawaii.
A blanket statement like that makes no sense at all. We lived in many cities in California were folks were friendly, said hi, and waved to each other. As well as in many other metropolitan cities on the mainland, there are friendly folks.
I love all of Asia, including Southeast Asia. Actually my wife is SE Asian (not Thai though). So, our son is Eurasian. He gets a lot of positive attention everywhere we go - northeast asia or southeast asia. They love kids over here
Regarding the sex crimes, etc. I usually identify that quickly as a predominate Thailand/Cambodia thing. However, NGO's are all over the place throughout southeast asia, and, in my opinion, there is less and less of it all the time....rather than more and more of it.
Still, it's here though....but everywhere has it's own problems.
Well, hi there, Tiger!
I appreciate all of God's Earth, and have traveled much of it, hence my knowledge of some of the less savory aspects of certain places, so given the choice I wouldn't care to live in some areas. It wouldn't do if we all felt drawn to the same locale, would it?
I agree wholeheartedly that 'Everywhere has its own problems.'
BTW, I'm from the North of Scotland and (because my husband is Canadian) am based in Canada - for the moment, but we hope to move to Hawai'i shortly. I love Canada, I love all of the N. American West, but the weather here isn't kind to injuries, and sun, sand, and sea are increasingly appealing.
Japan is beautiful, but I prefer the mountains to the cities, although for me that's true of anywhere in the world, and Japan isn't lacking in spectacular scenery.
One of my best friends (unfortunately now deceased) adopted a daughter who is Japanese/American, and she's outstandingly beautiful - inside and out. It's good to hear from someone who's happy with their life. Long may it last, and may God bless you and yours.
Lots of love,
Mahrie.
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