6 months later... Ministerio de Educación

It was 6 months ago that I received my last correspondence from the Ministry of Education, that I have confirmed their placement for me for the upcoming year.  Funny thing is, while I'm a little sad that I haven't received my contract for this year, things happen for a reason, and like most good things... it must come to an end 

(or unless there's a sequel... or a prequel... or a sequel to the prequel...)

Either way, its time to make my own plans.  I'm not waiting anymore.  The great thing about this is, I have all of the possible options on the world.  Well, sorry so short, there's sun outside!

CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS HERE: http://www.youtube.com/user/hawaiiinsomniac/videos 

Mahalo for reading. Until next time.

Island Tour with Spaniards and new OnePlus One

One of my favorite things to do when I am back in Hawaii is to drive around the island.  However on this trip it was a little different... it was with Spaniards! HAHA.

Long story short, I met 2 Spanish guys (who are on vacation) and next thing you know - I'm giving them an island tour with their rented convertible.  #awesomesauce.

**All photos taken with +OnePlus One** for all the mobile nerds!

Our tour had many stops, from lookouts, hikes, food, food (and more food), even playing in the waves and yes - me and my Spanglish at its best... 

Shoutout to new friends +Javier G +Jesus Burriana.

This is one of my favorite mini-hikes... it's perfect for a jog, a brisk walk... did I mention the view?  Always breezy, this hike is awesome if you have an hour to spare and do something outdoors.

This may look a little crazy, but its one of my favorite things to eat.  Imagine, you just finished swimming, you're starving and thirsty and you have about $3.00.  Or you're on your way to work, you're hungry, you're running late, you need to be able to eat and drive!  Well, Spam musubi is just for you... It's the perfect combination of childhood nostalgia, salty goodness and size!

I know this is going to sound crazy, but my favorite thing about Hawaii (Oahu in particular) is the view of the mountains... Yes, I know there are beautiful beaches and such, but for me the mountain here in Hawaii are unique and just #awesomesauce

+OnePlus One Selfie!  #oneplus #summershots

After snorkeling - I introduced the guys the plate lunch... #nomnomnom

BBQ short ribs, chicken katsu and mahi mahi... 

Garlic shrimp - guess from where?!  #onolicious

CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS HERE: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/hawaiiinsomniac/videos 

Mahalo for reading. Until next time.

Beach Postcard! A Coruña, Spain

Yup, I thought about sending postcards from A Coruña, but they're hard to find...

So, here sending my own home made card.

xoxo

Hope you're enjoying your summer!

CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS HERE: http://www.youtube.com/user/hawaiiinsomniac/videos 

Mahalo for reading. Until next time.

Internet in Spain is SOOO SLOW....

One of the reasons I probably haven't (there are probably other reasons: THERE ARE) made café con leche videos... is that my internet here in Spain is very low.

In fact, I haven't even played any games online this year... Not even Dota 2 (One of my top free game pick)

Which BTW I'm selling my desktop computer (brand new) if you're interested... 

This also explains some of my video quality on YouTube.  If I were to use my HD webcam here in Spain, my internet connection would lag, as requires more data to send/receive simultaneously (while being recorded)... Then having to upload... Sometimes I just leave my computer running overnight to upload a video to YouTube... 

Well that and I just got back from vacation, this week has been quite nice getting back into the groove of things, but my sleeping pattern is so weird.  I'm awake and its 0644 in the morning.

Anywho...time to snack.  =P

LA

Florida

R here in Spain at 0641 in the morning

  CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS HERE: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/hawaiiinsomniac/videos 

 Mahalo for reading. Until next time.

TechTalk - Best Prepaid for Google Nexus 5 (USA and Spain)

Congrats!  Now you have your new Google Nexus 5 or any UNLOCKED phone!  Now what?!

Time to activate that with the best and cheapest sim plan!

Here are a few recommendations to save you some $!

USA - T-Mobile

Cell phone plans in the United States can run upwards of $100+, this is the best plan in the United States.  You receive unlimited data (5GB at 4G), but throttled after 5GB, and unlimited SMS with 100 minutes of talking, all for $30.  However, you cannot get this plan at T-Mobile, you will have to go to Walmart!

Spain - Tuenti

There are many affordable plans in Spain, but one of the cheapest plans in Spain is through Tuenti.  With Tuenti their most affordable plan of 6 Euros, nets you 1GB of data.  Last month, I only used 100MB of data, considering I use WiFi at the house, at the coffee shops and at work.  To save you more money...

CLICK HERE to activate Tuenti and get an extra 5 EUROS!

CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS HERE: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/hawaiiinsomniac/videos 

Mahalo for reading. Until next time.

Ferrol English Dinner Club - September Edition

Aloha everyone,

Ha ha!  I am back.  I'm super happy to be back and seeing all of you yesterday is just the icing on the cake (which you guys know I love cake - but that's another story).

As many of you probably already know, I am getting settled in A Coruña, and heading back to Ferrol yesterday brought back a lot of memories.  Surprisingly, though I've been here in Galicia since last Sunday, last night was my first time eating out (well, I've been cooking at home and I'm still unpacking), so eating out last night was a special treat and yes, good food, great company - what else could I ask for?! Nice weather!? That was included too!

The next Ferrol English Dinner Club will take place in November (maybe October, I'm not quite sure yet), if you know of anyone who is interested in signing up - http://ferroldinner.info/

Here are just a few pictures (scroll down for the main link to download, share, tag, etc).

All photos taken with HTC One (no longer carrying my camera!)

I am also going to start incorporating sounds into my blog, I had planned to record a video, but by time I thought of it, I was already quite drunk.  o_O

Sounds - O Lar de Toxos
I was outside of O Lar de Toxos about an hour before the dinner, just to make sure everything was ok and to meet someone for drinking beforehand and I heard this awesome sound.

Sounds - DM Nightclub
I just wanted to record this clip while we were out and about dancing!

You can view, share, and download photos here: CLICK HERE

Feel free to share this blog with your friends! =)

CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS HERE: http://www.youtube.com/user/hawaiiinsomniac/videos Mahalo for reading. Until next time.

TravelTalk - Summer 2013 Summary - Stats

I can't believe that my summer trip is over.

 

I am quite happy to be going back to Spain, but I am definitely going to miss my friends around the world and the new places and experiences I have been blessed to be a part of.

 

Number of flights taken - 16

Numbers of countries visited - 7

(Portugal, USA, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia and Hungary)

Number of first time countries: 4

(Poland, Belgium, Croatia and Hungary)

Number of books read: 10

(I'll write a separate blog, with book recommendations)

Number of Couchsurfer hosts: 2 (Breda and Zagreb)

Number of different hostels: 9 

Number of nights in a hotel: 4 

Number of airbnb bookings: 2

Number of calories consumed: 1,000,000,000,000

 

I could write more statistics, but this trip, like most others are about the things that you cannot measure.  Running in a butterfly costume, seeing Hawaii from 30,000 feet in the air, having a laugh with your best friends over wine (and food), seeing your nephew for the first time, allowing yourself to experience the new world - without fear, making new friends along the way.

 

Thank you for taking this trip with me this past summer.

 

Now, look forward to getting to know more about Spain.

More pictures coming.

 

CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS HERE: http://www.youtube.com/user/hawaiiinsomniac/videos Mahalo for reading. Until next time.

TechTalk - Spain is getting RIPPED off.

Random thought of the day... I'm suppose to be writing a paper right now about agriculture pollution, but I can't focus, so I thought I'd write a quick blog... (since its on my to do list) and I haven't written anything really in the past week... or two... or maybe even three - sorry crazy busy right now!

Anywho - here's food for thought.  Why is technology so expensive here in Spain?  Wow.

Here's one example - no, I am not buying an iPhone 5 (but theoretically if someone was flying to New York and wanted to make money - they could buy one in New York and sell it here in Spain) or two or three or four or five...

An unlocked iPhone in the United States? $649.00 + taxes = $707.41 = €518.50.

An unlocked iPhone in Spain? €669 (including taxes)

€669 - €518.50 = €150.50

So... even if you bought an iPhone and sold it for €600 - you'd still make over €80 for each one.

DISCLAIMER: check out going market prices on eBay.es, milanuncio, etc. to see how much you can sell an iPhone 5 for - also take into consideration eBay fees (if you're going to sell them online).

 Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Españoles en el mundo - Hawaí. (Spanish people in the world - Hawaii)

I heard about this video today and yes - I really am excited to back home this July.

I haven't had a chance to watch the complete video - but I wanted to share, so far what I have seen is very accurate and great reporting!

UPDATE: Minute 45:00ish is where I live - Hawaii Kai.  =]

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

TravelTalk - What do pack for an 8-9 month trip!

I can't believe this is only my 2nd post this month, its not that nothing has been going on, its just I've been a combination of total and utter laziness and procrastination along with various other projects that are taking up most of my time, you know school and such as well as running around trying to get a visa in order.

So.  I realized this past weekend that I am leaving on Thursday.  Yes, this Thursday.  No, I haven't started packing yet, a lot of procrastination really, so I figure I would write a blog and help me itemize the things I would need to pack for a 8 month adventure to Ferrol, Spain.

I am not sure if you've had the time, but if you Google Ferrol, Spain, you'll find out its a rather small town (roughly 75,000 people), for us who are use to American conveniences, packing for Ferrol may be a bit of a challenge.  Yes - they have electricity, that is not what I am talking about, but rather, simple things that we perhaps would take for granted.  Example, while I am sure there are heaps of coffee places in Ferrol, Spain, sometimes you just want to go somewhere that you know, like Starbucks.  I am sure I will not have a problem finding black tea to drink at home, but just in case I am bringing a bag (with 50 bags) of Starbucks Tazo tea.  Another thing that I am packing is gels and goos - yes, I am sure there will be a gym for me to work out at, but things that I am use to (gels and goos) may or may not be available, and if they are - they are probably pricier.  For example, a San Disk 64GB Flash Drive at Amazon.com is 34.43 USD, the very same item in Europe is worth 45.36 EUR (CLICK HERE), which is 59.50 USD (a 73% premium over its US Counterpart), so its just little things like this that I have to figure out what will eventually save me monies in the long run.  No, I am not going to bring a printer (if I could check in a 2nd luggage for free, I would), but its $100 to check that in, so I will have to pass.  

Speaking of saving money, I ordered all of my electronic needs, pretty much all of the adapters and what not to plug in every imaginable device I would need, which is surprisingly not that many, I have sold heaps of my electronics and actually the only electronics I will be bringing is my unlocked iPhone 4 and my laptop (quite surprisingly really, I am rather astonished myself, but I figure the more electronics I bring, the greater likelihood I'd be out and about...)

Any ideas on things I should being, 8 months, 1 check in bag (not to exceed 50 pounds and 2 carry on - my rolling luggage and duffle bag)

Trick is, put all your heavy things (and important) in your carry on - so all books, jeans (as many shoes as possible) are in the rolling luggage, since I'm flying United - they always ask for carry on luggage to be checked in - so there you go! Just gotta pass security!

Duffle bag - pack the most important, expensive and a change of clothes. 

Try to put it at your feet and not overhead (if possible)...  

So... Packing List, which I will be breaking up into 4 categories (in CAPS below) 

CONVENIENCES

-Starbucks Tazo Tea

-Various Running Gels

-GNC AMP Protein Performance

(Yes, I am bringing a huge jug of protein, I figure my luggage is huge and weighs 15 pounds, so to make sure its not overweight, I will put huge, things that are light.)

-Toiletries (Origin Shaving Cream, Special Floss, etc!)

-Running belt (with water bottles!)

ELECTRONICS

-Laptop and chargers

-iPhone and accessories

-Camera (both DSR and POS)

-Debating on buying a tablet

SCHOOL

-books

-books

-books

-books

(FML)

CLOTHES

(This is the trickiest part really!!!)

-4 pairs of jeans (1 of which wearing on the plane)

3 shoes (boots worn on plane - heaviest!)

-2 dress pants

-Socks

-Dress shirts

OMG. So many things to pack... What else should I add on my list!?

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

TravelTalk - Ferrol, Spain (with layover in Paris)

Well, its pretty much official.

I have purchased my ticket for Spain.  Leaving on the 21st of September, with a layover in Paris for a week.

There is one last hurdle left...  I have to go to the Spanish Consulate in Miami to get my visa and have I have an appointment on Monday 8/27.  I put together all of the forms, but it will take 5 weeks (according to the form) and yup, I barely have 4 weeks.

In the process, I will be selling my stuff, I need to raise money for this trip, including buying an unlocked cell phone.

If anyone wants a Nintendo Wii, Apple Airport, Louis Vuitton wallet, triathlon clothes, and much more!

Also, I don't have school this upcoming week - so let me know when you are free to chat!  

I want to talk to all of you before I leave! 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

LifeTalk - FriendTalk - Life Options

Life has a funny way of working out.

Earlier this year, I was hanging out with one of my bestest friends and after tons of food, laughter and threading appointment, we were talking about life and her wedding day (renewing vows) is on the same day as the race I signed up for, a 165 mile cycling event from Miami to the Keys.  This is completely weird because I have NOTHING at all planned for the whole year.

Then, the next news, getting the job in Spain.  Getting this job in Spain would mean I would miss out on this event (both actually) as well as my dad's 60th birthday.

I've been thinking about all of the different factors, and I've come to realize Life will go on.

If I head to Spain, all these three events will go on without me, if I stay and choose the wedding or the race, the other will happen without me.

and I guess that is what is starting to sink in.  I have been blessed with so many awesome friends all around the world, awesome sisters, and the best dad anyone could ask for.

When does it stop being about me?

Today, my nephew is having his 4th birthday party.  I realized, I haven't been to any.  While he loves my home made card with tons of pictures of him and me, I realize that I'm missing out.

While Spain is a great opportunity, I am having second doubts on everything else that I am missing.  

I recently had a falling out with one of my bestest friends in the world, well one of three friends who has met my whole family and I realize - life goes on.  I can wonder what happened, but my life is moving forward, being shaped by the people around me.  While it is unfortunate that we no longer talk, I finally have closure.  

Life will continue to go on, and the decisions you make in life, affect you as a person.

To Spain or not to Spain?!

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Anxious

ANXIOUS
I am having such a hard time sleeping. I am 100% completely anxious. About what you say? Well, I will be heading to Portugal, Spain and Morocco in September (and possibly southern France-if time allows) I have no idea what I will be doing in Portugal, or where I will staying in Morocco or even how I am getting there, I just have my plane ticket to Lisbon and that's all that matters. That and my passport. Its pretty crazy, I haven't been to Europe in ages! I'm really excited to go, from HNL>LAX>LHR>LIS. Yes, plenty of layovers, but no biggie, I have ZERO problem sleeping on the plane, sleeping before hand though.. another story.

I'm planning to book a hostel in Lisbon for my 2 days there to battle jet lag and to ask the locals how to get to Morocco. Its pretty exciting, I am going during Ramadan, so no eating during sunlight. I had planned to stay a week, but I'm playing it by ear, I could possibly be over not eating in a couple of days.

I also want to try to visit Alicante Spain, where my friend Francisco lives. Well he lives in Murcia, but there's nothing really there, so he better meet me in Alicante. If time permits, I want to also see Southern France. I have met a Frenchman here via hospitalityclub and he's really stoked to show me around to return the favor. Stop by there for 2-3 days or so, then a quick stop in Porto and back to Lisbon...

Then back to Reality...

Sounds like a great plan!

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.