decisons

[thaya]

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo every one i surf with is leving me and going too anther contry

I'll be around Brighton for sep/oct/nov if you wanna come surf this way, although I have to say the thought of getting into a wetsuit just doesn't appeal anymore and I've realised there's more to life than surfing (or rather, trying to and looking like a total kook!). I'm still gonna keep my boards for the time being till I make a final decision, although i'm thinking of selling my nsp...

Let me know if you're ever down this way. x

[SDCali]

and it was REALLY hot!!!!

Aww come on it's not really that hot there. It's been over 100 for the past week or so here, and my AC is only a window unit and doesnt work well, so its not on. And an ederly couple was found dead in thier appartment, they had fans on, but not the AC.

As for the teaching thing, hawaii is not the only state with a screwed up system. I was on the first class of students for the new version of the CA teaching credential, and my university kept changing requirements on me, now that I have my credential they now keep changing the requirement for my Master's. It's definately not an easy thing to get into in most states. At least in CA the districts have more autonomy, unlike HI where most all decisions are at the state level because there are no school districts like there are on the mainland.

[hawaiiSUCKSexceptsurf]

old people are supposed to like hot weather.

[Stone Fox]

Getting a work visa and moving to another country is really very easy and I recommend that everyone does it without any thought whatsoever. If you can cut corners and do it on a tourist visa then even better. I mean, how hard can it be?

I'm guessing from the sarcasm that it's not that easy? ? ?

[justloafing]

well, I'm back

the decision I was making was really whether to stay another two months (which legally I could have) to have more time to decide whether to try and move there permanently... although the option of dissappearing in a tent did seem quite appealing for a while. If I did stay I knew I could forget ever teaching again, as it would be really unprofessional to ring up my school from Hawaii and say I'm not coming back, but then I'd already decided I didn't want to teach anymore... so would it really matter? The visa wouldn't be too much of a problem as I've always known that as my dad is american i can apply for dual citizenship - which I guess is like a golden ticket!

The four and a half weeks I spent there changed my life. I feel so lucky to have had such a great experience, even if it was too hot to be hiking midday . a big thanks to hawaiisucks for an awesome hike and spectacular views & apologies for not being able to walk any further my toe was really starting to throb (the one I dislocated ) and it was REALLY hot!!!!

It wasn't just the place, the lifestyle, the sunshine etc. I went through a really deep inner journey of self discovery (I know that sounds corney but it's the only way of describing it) and met someone who has quite literally changed my life forever. I feel totally different in myself, and my whole attitude. It's kinda personal, so I'm not really going to go into it, but I realised a whole lot of things while I was out there and it made me realised just how unhappy I am with certain things back in England.

It's time to change alot of stuff...

I've put my "sensible" head on and I'm not going to rush into things, but I'm sorta setting Xmas as a deadline for a life changing decision.

I don't know thaya!!! Sounds like you left your heart Hawaii.

I think you need to get your thoughts in order and very seriously think about going back. I am like Otter, older and wiser. I have no clue on what your goals are in life but I do know one thing.

When I was 24 I left Wilmington, NC. I had lived here for 6 years and absolutely loved it. I went to pursue other goals. I knew the moment I was driving out of town what a mistake I had made. It took 2 years to get back and those were 2 of the most wasted years of my life. Don't get me wrong you need to have a plan IMO but a plan that lets you enjoy instead of gets you all wrapped up in what the world thinks is so important. It was not worth it to me those two years and I regret the decision to this day but at least I know where I call home now and also like Otter I try to live the most relaxed life that I can. I hope all of your soul searching leads you to a very happy life. DO WHAT YOU WANT!!!!!!!!!

[thaya]

Getting a work visa and moving to another country is really very easy and I recommend that everyone does it without any thought whatsoever. If you can cut corners and do it on a tourist visa then even better. I mean, how hard can it be?

I'm guessing from the sarcasm that it's not that easy? ? ?

it's normally a total nightmare, and I'm sure dbbb knows that! but as far as I'm aware, it wont be an issue for me with British & American dual citizenship... I looked into it a few years ago.

[thaya]

[

I don't know thaya!!! Sounds like you left your heart Hawaii.

I think you need to get your thoughts in order and very seriously think about going back. I am like Otter, older and wiser. I have no clue on what your goals are in life but I do know one thing.

When I was 24 I left Wilmington, NC. I had lived here for 6 years and absolutely loved it. I went to pursue other goals. I knew the moment I was driving out of town what a mistake I had made. It took 2 years to get back and those were 2 of the most wasted years of my life. Don't get me wrong you need to have a plan IMO but a plan that lets you enjoy instead of gets you all wrapped up in what the world thinks is so important. It was not worth it to me those two years and I regret the decision to this day but at least I know where I call home now and also like Otter I try to live the most relaxed life that I can. I hope all of your soul searching leads you to a very happy life. DO WHAT YOU WANT!!!!!!!!!

Well, I guess something I realised was that I don't have a home, so it's not like I've got anywhere to leave and regret!!! I haven't had a "home" since I was a kid and I've been moving around the UK constantly since then. I have no "base" over here, hardly any family/relatives and my closest friends are spread all over the country... so leaving wouldn't be a big issue. I'm sick of society expecting you to follow a certain path. I don't want a 9-5 job (or in my case an 11 hour 7-6 day with evenings and weekends on top full of marking, lesson planning, reports, coursework etc ) Maybe one day I will go back to it, but right now it feels wrong and I'm not enjoying things.

I've kinda already been offered a great cash-in-hand job to get me by over there for the time being if I do go straight back, but I want to work here to save up as much as poss over the next few months really, as a back up plan!

I met someone who gave me the confidence and motivation to change things instead of feeling trapped and unhappy and I just feel like I've reached a turning point.

I'm gonna see how things go till Xmas so that I'm sure I'm doing the right thing.

thanks x

[justloafing]

Well, I guess something I realised was that I don't have a home, so it's not like I've got anywhere to leave and regret!!!

Maybe you do have a place you call home and you just left it?

[thaya]

Well, I guess something I realised was that I don't have a home, so it's not like I've got anywhere to leave and regret!!!

Maybe you do have a place you call home and you just left it?

you know what, that's exactly how it felt

*goes off to look through photo albums of happy times over there*

[justloafing]

you know what, that's exactly how it felt

Sounds like you have a home to me

[paulS]

You only live once, if you don't do it you''ll regret it for the rest of your life...

(excuse the clichés!)

[thaya]

happy dayzzzzzzz... let me share some more of my pics with you!



















*feels much more cheerful and happy now*

[Luke]

lush scenery, beautiful animals, lovely looking people....thaya with a gun??

[joem]

if u go bac u carnt quit surfin

[justloafing]

Damn nice pics. It has always been a dream vacation for me.

[thaya]

i thought learning how to shoot a gun it might come in handy one day... so don't mess with me!

i'm quite proud of my very first attempt at 25yards - I've even kept the piece of paper

[justloafing]

if u go bac u carnt quit surfin

She aint gonna quit. She is going to pull on that rubber crap when the waves are good and have a blast.

[justloafing]

:lol: i thought learning how to shoot a gun it might come in handy one day... so don't mess with me!

i'm quite proud of my very first attempt at 25yards - I've even kept the piece of paper

[img][img]http://bestsmileys.com/scared/8.gif[/img][/img]

[thaya]

i'm not quitting surfing... i just enjoyed surfing in a bikini and not wearing a wetsuit or getting icecream headaches... and i discovered theres LOADS of other things I enjoy besides surfing (like skydiving!), so it's not going to be the main focus of my life anymore, like it has been. i'm sure when I see some nice waves over here I'll end up putting my winter wettie on and going out i do miss the fact that i haven't surfed in about 7 days though... who knows, i might take it all back once I get out there again

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

Looks like some solid shootin there.

I hear ya, though, about loving life, and that you should work to live, not live to work. I think that my job is rough, and I only work 8-4, m-f. I would love a job that let me do more. Oh well, a year of bumming around OZ should help me with that.