Journal #8: Brainstorm Querencia Essay

Hawaii, but I like to call it my home.

This island is my favorite place because it is where I started out and where I was born. It's where I grew up and where I learned the many things that I know of today. I may have gone to other places like the mainland, Hilo, or the Philippines, but it doesn't compare to here. This place is what makes me who I am today. It's what makes me, ME and I can't express that any further. Sure you might say that it is mmmm not a place you would call your favorite place, since the economy is very poor and there are no longer any more beauty to the land. However, it has a significance and it plays an important role in my life. I know Hawaii better than any other place. I don't need a map or a compass because I can lead my own way. I am more accustomed to the food, the atmosphere, the people, sense of fashion, attitudes, sights, etc. Whenever I am in a new place, I grow sick, literally. I start getting the sniffles and my skin starts getting itchy. It is hard for me to grow immune to other places and whenever you have to travel, you have to get vaccinated and cured of any sicknesses before going anywhere else. And I don't like that.

I choose Hawaii.

Sight: In the city, Sky scraping buildings fill the air. Cars stuck in traffic during rush hour, School buses maneuvering through compact cars, ambulances cutting through roadways and stop lights, police cars chasing after criminals, children chasing each other in parks, groups of friends hanging out in malls and walking together, gangs smoking by gates and vandalizing government property, seniors slouching with their cranes at their front walking through the side walks, families shopping at swap meet for cheap prices, teenagers in their best clothes heading for high school.

In my neighborhood, cute japanese and korean styled homes rowed neatly next to each other, large 2-3 story houses on every single block, brick or stone built homes, dark green to bright lime green grass flourishing on the yards of homes, buses passing by every 5-10 minutes, dogs getting their early morning walk, seniors jogging and walking on sidewalks, seniors watering their plants and planting seeds, compact cars coming by at least 5 cars every hour, 1-2 cars secured in wide garages, stray cats walking cross streets and disappearing without a trace, signs of nature fill the area, including birds, clean air, etc.

Sound: In my neighborhood, quiet and serene, only the sound of the wheels of cars rolling across the road, the sound of the old and nearly retired engines of buses, water getting spit out from the mouths of hoses, and the sound of footsteps of the people passing by on sidewalks.

Touch: In my home, I can feel my feet sink into my soft and thick rug, the feel of the cold icy Antarctic floor as I step into the kitchen for my early morning breakfast, the moist cold air as it blows across my face, the feel of the hot steaming hot coco as it burns my tongue bright red, the feel of the gentle, yet cold sprinkles of water as it lands on my skin while taking a refreshing bath under the shower head, the feel of my soft and warm school clothes that I jump into.

Smell: odorless, fresh. Sometimes, the smell of BBQ or a type of Filipino food.

Taste: Chocolately and creamy taste of hot coco, sweet taste of milk, bland refrigerated bread covered in cream, tasteless crunch of cereal, tasteless water.

Still in progress.......