It’s coming up on 11 months since Julia, Phoebe, James and I moved from Australia to beautiful Honolulu, Hawai’i.
Much learning, and translating! has gone on during this relatively short time.
I’m happy to report that I can now write the date in the U.S. format (MMDDYYYY) without having to translate in my head first.
However, it’s always small steps when it comes to ingrained, learnt-from-childhood behavior.
This morning at the Blood Bank of Hawaiʻi, having finished my monthly plasma/platelet donation, I was speaking with a born and bred local who identified as a Chinese-Hawaiian (her father was Chinese, her mother Hawaiian).
The woman shared with me that East, West, North, South were so unfamiliar to her (even though they are obviously taught at school) that they have no relevance or meaning (on O’ahu the geographical reference points are Diamond Head, Ewa, Mauka and Makai).
I was lost in thought about this conversation moments later, and found myself waiting for a bus on the wrong side of the street! My autopilot was set to the Australian direction of travel!
But all is well – I’m on the bus, heading back to my neighborhood of Makiki, wondering what other wonderful, conversation-based learning (and distraction!) will be gifted next.
Aloha,
Christopher+
Vegan Priest, Christopher Golding 