Seasons Greetings!

The past several months have been super busy filled with travel, teaching classes, research, meetings, and packing on some pounds eating southern comfort food. I'm currently in Toronto spending time with family for the holidays before the semester starts again in January.

The last time on the blog, I reported on developing a faculty-led study abroad trip. In June of this year, I embarked on one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in my life -- taking 18 students on a 10-day trip to tour some of the most remarkable sights in Switzerland and France.  The trip was amazing but it surely was not absent of adaptive challenges!

Students touring Chateau de Chillon

Prior to the Switzerland trip, I was in Greece developing a future study abroad experience. During my time there I spent most my time in the islands of Rhodes and Crete. 

Lindos, Greece

In addition to seeing new sights, I've been able to munch on some really tasty desserts like the bread pudding pictured below. 

I hope all is well and that the New Year brings great joy and good favor to everyone!

XOXO  

Aloha from London!

Greetings from a new city

Departure from Hawaii and arrival in the UK

After spending the past few years in Honolulu working for the president's office at the EWC, I moved to the UK in October to pursue a graduate degree at University College London. With this move, I believe that I'm at least the fourth member of G12 to pursue graduate study in the UK. It was a tough decision to leave Hawaii and the work that I was involved in with President Morrison but I ultimately determined that it was the right time to pursue a graduate degree.

I appreciate the advice that Taku and Ahila provided in support of my move and it has been great to meet with Nafiseh, who is living in the UK right now. I've also been able to reconnect with Alisha when she was in town for a visit. I hope to see other APLP alumni here in the future.

Meeting with Nafiseh in Central London for lunch

Meeting with Alisha in East London one evening

Library expert for the moment

While my graduate program means that much of my time is spent in the library, I am enjoying getting to know London as time allows. If you happen to find yourself in London, but in the mood for some food and atmosphere that reminds you of Hawaii, you'll be pleased to know that there are two Kua 'Aina locations in the city.

Entrance to one of the libraries at University College London (UCL)

India wedding weekend

As I write this entry I have just returned from a friend's wedding in Jaipur, India. This was my first wedding in India (no plans for another one at the moment) and it was a tremendous experience. Beyond seeing my friend Surya get married - one of the first people I met when I moved to Jakarta - it was great to reconnect with many other friends from that time period who also came to join the celebration. 

The groom's father is in the center

APLP Global Happy Hour

The APLP Alumni Board Board launched the Global Happy Hour initiative in September 2015 to bring APLP alumni and friends together around the world on a single night. Several members of G12 took part in the APLP Happy Hour in their local community and I hope that we'll see even stronger turnout for the next gathering, which will likely take place sometime in March 2016. As one of my final activities in Honolulu, I was grateful for the chance to serve as overall coordinator for the initiative and co-host the gathering in Hawaii.

APLP Global Happy Hour in Honolulu on September 8th, 2015

Wish you all the best for the final weeks of 2015 and a great start to the new year!!!