Two Weeks Down...

Well, I've been here for three weeks now. The weather has been wonderful so far. A few rain showers here and there, but nothing major--no monsoons, typhoons, or any other sort of -oon to speak of. I did get drenched one day on my way to work the week before classes started, but the rain comes and goes quickly (and clothing and poor grad students dry pretty quickly in the heat).

I'm adjusting to this brand-new place well, I think. It's been tricky getting used to life without a car, but the buses are pretty good here. Mostly, I miss my family and friends and Rebecca, who is in Kenya right now. We haven't been able to talk for a week, which is the longest we've gone without speaking in three years. It's tough doing this alone, but I'm also enjoying the challenge and freedom here. There's a lot to be said for moving thousands of miles away from everyone you know. I am learning a lot about myself and who (and where) I really want to be. I am also getting a great tan.

Not much to report. Classes are going well. I'm beginning research on sustainable theater practices and eco-friendly theater. I'm hoping to transform the research into a paper that will both satisfy the requirements of my research methodology class, and that I can also present at a conference in Oregon in May. At the end of the class, we are given the option to submit the paper for publication, and I intend to do that as well.

I'm also taking two scenic design classes. I am getting a lot of ideas on projects I can use to teach design from the lower level course. The upper-level class has two main projects. The first and most emphasized project is the design of a show for a local theater called Kumu Kahua Theatre. My show is called Whatever Happened to John Boy Kihano?. It's about a boy whose father claims was sent away with a mysterious aunt whom no one else in the family has ever met or heard of. I think it's based on an actual event. The show doesn't open until March 12 of next year, but meetings will begin soon. The second part of the class is to research some aspect of environmental theater. We're reading a book right now written by Richard Schechner, and we each take three chapters and lead a discussion of them in class. The scope of that research is fairly limited, but will still be challenging.

That's about it so far. I miss everyone and I love you guys.

Some Pictures of My New Place...

I Finally Have a Home!

It's not much, but I found an apartment.  I'm about twenty minutes from everything on the island except school--that's about a 35 minute walk.  Waikiki, a big shopping center called Ala Moana Center, and even Wal-Mart are only about twenty minutes away (in different directions, of course).  My walk to school is a little long, but the weather is nice and I'm walking on flat ground for the majority of the trek.  I finished my first duty week as a grad assistant.  The shop here is very different right down to the kind of lumber we get.  There is a full-time shop foreman-type person who also TDs some of the shows and then there's David who is (I think) the actual Tech Director.  I think the biggest difference between the two is that Gerry, the foreman, is the staff TD, and David is the faculty TD.

So far things have been difficult and expensive, but I'm having fun and I think I will really like it here.  It looks like I am going to have enough freedom and time to get my MFA and an MA in Asian Studies.  One of my teachers encouraged me to pursue both--it's like a two-for-one deal.

Friends and loved ones:  if I haven't contacted you personally via email, please don't feel ignored.  I've been pretty busy and I only managed to get one or two emails out before I left for the island last week.  I miss my friends and family a lot!  And, maybe surprisingly, I miss the mainland.  For all its beauty, Hawaii is definitely not home.  At least, not yet.  (Don't panic, mom, I'm not staying here forever...I'd miss your cooking too much!)

I'll post pics of my place ASAP, and I'll try to be in touch as often as I can.  Wish me luck; Monday is the first actual day of classes.

Oh, Give Me a Home...

Finally!  A second post to my much-ignored blog.  Things have been hectic.  I arrived on the island last Thursday, and have so far viewed several rentals without luck.  I'm hoping that at least one of the last two places I visited will let me live there starting tomorrow.  I'll update with pictures of the place unless things fall through.  It's difficult to find a place here that's both affordable and livable and decently close to campus.  I've decided to try for a two-bedroom with one of my fellow grad students because it seems to be easier to find two-bedroom apartments or houses.  I'm not sure how much easier since we've only been able to look at one place, but so far the upper level grad students haven't let us down yet.  Right now, I'm staying with my friend Sarah and her husband Kenny, who've been kind enough to let me crash on their futon since yesterday.  I'm here for another couple of nights if necessary, and then it's on to my own apartment or someone else's couch.  Hopefully, it'll be the former option.  We spent the morning on the beach today--we being Sarah, Kenny, Kat, and Miriam.  Miriam is new to the program like me; Kat is starting her third and final year here; and Sarah has been here for six months with her husband.  All of the other grad students are Youth Theater students and not designers.  I'm anxious to meet some of the design students because I'd like to know what the expectations are from designers here, but I suppose I'll get to meet most of them tomorrow at my first duty day as a graduate assistant.  The top pictures are the view of the city from Sarah and Kenny's window.  The other pics are from the beach.  It was nice getting away from the bustle of downtown, but I felt a little guilty that I wasn't apartment-shopping.  Miriam and I discovered a local market today in Manoa, near the house we viewed.  I hope it'll become my shopping and banking center.  Cross your fingers if you read this; it's been a disconcerting couple of days not having a place of my own to crash and start to feel at home.  Sarah, Kenny, and Kat have been great, but nothing can substitute for that 'at home' feeling.

If you are reading this and know me, chances are you care enough about me that I miss you a lot.  I hope you are reading this and that life is good.  For me, if you get a chance today, look around your home and take it in.  Remember a party or a family gathering that took place there, or someone's first steps or a friend's laughter and be thankful that you have a place that you can call your own--even if the bank might still own a piece of it.  I miss you, friends and family, and I love you dearly.

~ Jonathon

The Pre-Grad School Blues...

Well...as this is the first blog entry, I'll leave myself only upwards to go from here.

So far, I've managed to submit my financial aid paperwork correctly and to purchase a plane ticket to Hawaii.  That is, thus far, the extent of my success.  (Well, aside from getting into school in the first place.)  As for the items which still need work...I haven't found a place to live, and campus health services seems to think that I need proof of a second MMR shot despite my luck at having never contracted any of the trio of diseases the shot immunizes.  (That's measles, mumps, and rubella for those of you who are wondering.)  On the upside, I am packed.  Two bags which will cost me $40 to check, thank you very much US Airways, and two boxes that I will have shipped to myself once I actually have an address.  Not to mention my laptop and a carry-on.  Of course, it would be nice if these things (and myself) had a place to go once we got to Honolulu.  I rented a car so maybe I could just sleep there until I find a place.  It's a mid-size SUV to tool around the island my first weekend there.  Probably could sleep at least one person.  Here's hoping for a Motel 6 with the light left on just for me.

That's about it so far.  I'll try to keep this post updated for friends and family to check my progress, laugh at my frustrations, and generally make fun of my mishaps in the great state of Hawaii as a theater grad student.  Tomorrow will be a boring day, although I might find an apartment, which would be sooo wonderful.  If I find something, I'll post pictures and a description.  In any case, I will definitely try to write posts this weekend as I discover the island, and next week as I start my assistantship in the scene shop.

Wish me luck & thanks for reading!

- JT