Day 2: Time to Meet Some Locals

May 8, 2012

Today was the first official day of class. It was also the first day that we had the opportunity to really interact with some locals.

In class today we learned that there are about six important reasons to study intercultural communications:

1. Technological

2. Demographic

3. Economic

4. The Peace Initiative

5. Self-Awareness

6. Ethical

I was able to apply these reasons today when we when helped pass out food with Surf the Nations.

Surf the Nations is an organization with the goal of reaching out to people in need; it attempts to integrate surfing and humanitarian work.  Surf the Nations has teamed up with the Feeding The Hungry program to feed the hungry in Hawaii. The goal is to reach out to the poor, hungry and homeless, to touch and invest in their lives the way Christ would have.

After lunch, we met up with Surf the Nations at their Wahiawa location, an area known for drugs, alcohol, violence and sex. Our job was to break down boxes, put food in bags, pass out food to the long line of Hawaiians and help them carry their food through the line.

Although it was heartbreaking seeing the long line of people needing nourishment, it was fascinating seeing all the different nationalities of the Hawaiian people. There were clearly backgrounds in Chinese, Japanese, Pilipino, Korean, Anglo-Saxon and African. No one looked the same; the eyes really gave it away.  Demographics have definitely affected the Hawaiian Islands.

The Hawaiian people may have been different than what I expected, they didn’t all look the characters from Lilo and Stitch. However, the surfers employed with Surf the Nation did meet my stereotype. They were the typical laid back, chill guys with long crazy hair.  One of the surfer guys that I met lives in Burlington, Wisconsin, what a small world!

After helping pass out food we came back to the conference center. Lindsey, Alyssa and I did some P90X, that’s right we are getting tan and getting hot bods! 

Later in the evening we had a campfire, during which Dr. Mach explained some of the history of the Island.  

And that was the second day in Hawaii, it was a great day full of new experiences and memories!