Universal / Islands of Adventure

Over Spring break I spent a day at Universal and Islands of Adventure theme parks. At Islands of Adventure my inner kid was sparked and I went wild with my friends. We, or at least I, didn't care what anyone thought about us and we just did our thing. We rode the most kiddy ride and had a ball. Words cannot express how fun some of our experiences were. Having this much fun I thought about my friends back here in Hawaii and how different they are. They are not down for anything and are not at all like me. Or maybe it isn’t them who are different, maybe it's me. On the trip I was myself around everybody possibly because I only see them once a year and what they think doesn’t really matter because nobody will remember in a year. Anyway, while at Islands of Adventure my friend got all mad and rustled because someone said he looked gay when he takes pictures. This is a true statement but it wasn't intended to call him gay. He blew it way out of proportion and acted like a butt for an hour. Me being my always happy and cheerful self went over to him and explained things to him. He finally cheered up and I was glad I could use my talent of always being in a good mood to help someone.

Universal Studios was a whole different experience. I hung out with my mom for a little while and it felt like one of those commercials for Disney Land where the parent turns into a kid and they play with their child all day long. The rides are so technical but it's cool. When I rode the roller coasters I got a feeling of excitement and terror at the same time. As soon as the coaster starts to drop you feel this wave of air filled with anxiety and fear but yet curiosity and joy. It's truly unexplainable. Afterwards you have this feeling of completion, satisfaction, and pride that you just did the coolest thing on the planet. You realize the two hour wait in line was worth it.

Sea World.

Over spring break I spent a day at Sea World and it was amazing. The two shows that I saw took me away to another place and made me feel like I could do anything. I was captivated by the beauty and wonder of all the animals. I knew it was love and I was reassured of what I wanted to do in life, that is become a veterinarian. That will be my way of helping the world with my future talents and abilities.

The first show with dolphins felt like a dream and I envisioned myself riding dolphins, playing in their wake. There were so many things going on I probably only saw one forth of the show. The second show was Shamu: Believe; from the second it started I knew I was going to have one of the best experiences of my life. Even though it's back to school and work, the laughter and joy still has a place in my heart; forever.

The animal exhibits were most stunning. Touching the sting rays made me feel like I was a part of something. Watching all types of penguins and puffers live their life made me feel like I was behind the glass window playing along with them. Feeding the seals was like watching my own guinea pigs run up to me for food, warmth and love came over me. Riding all of the rides gave me the feeling of extreme joy and what life is really about. Last but not least I was reassured of what I want to be. This experience has totally changed me and now I want to be a veterinarian even more than I did before. To put it one word I would say Sea World rocked!

I use..

When I think about it, I use a lot of materials. I mean, it's not just me but everyone. Just one person will use so much energy, materials, and produce a lot of waste in just one year. So say I eat a bowl of cereal with milk, an orange, and some yogurt for breakfast. First there is the fifty some boxes with plastic bags and milk cartons I will throw away. Then there is the bowl and spoon that needs to be washed every day. The orange is biodegradable but not if I put the remains in a black trash bag. The three hundred and sixty five yogurt containers will also be thrown away. Now that’s just breakfast and for one person! Now it’s time to get ready for school. I will use a couple gallons of water and energy for my shower. Discard five gallons of water every time I flush the toilet. Use materials that will eventually be thrown away such as toothpaste or a brush and put on one a couple items from my closet filled with a gazillion clothes that I don’t wear. I could babble on all day on how much stuff I use and add up numbers until I drive myself crazy but I’m going to simplify my life and get the idea that just one human is very demanding when it comes to resources. I don’t really recycle and I'm not that big on conserving water but I think I could do something to help. I take my own lunch to school and I use lots of zip-lock baggies. Maybe I could wash them out instead of throwing them away every night. That would not only save resources but it would save money because we buy lots of three dollar boxes. I tend to bask in the warmth of my shower so maybe instead I could shut the windows in the bathroom and use it as a sauna. I like that idea. Or maybe I could even turn off the lights in my house when they're not in use. Our house is always bright even if nobody is in it. I will work on this conservation thing to make the world cleaner and more sustainable. It's a good feeling when I do.

So I've been thinking lately.

I've been thinking lately: I spend a hour of my day watching television, a couple doing homework and other school related projects, about seven hours at school learning, less than an hour with my guinea pigs, maybe an hour of quality time with my family and very little helping others. In less than a hundred years I will be dead and when I think about it, when I'm about to die I won’t remember that I passed or failed that math test and I won’t remember what happened on General Hospital. What I will remember is my family and all the wonderful times we had together. What I will remember are all of my pets and how much I adored them. What I will want to remember is how I impacted other people’s lives and did not just live for myself. Unfortunately for me, I spend limited time with my family, pets, and helping others. My whole perception of live has been twisted and I know it. Yet I have done nothing to change it. I would love to walk around in the most comfortable clothing possible and enjoy life without caring one hundred percent what people think of me. I would love to spend more time with the people who matter most. I would love to brighten someone’s day, every day. But if those are my goals then why don’t I strive to achieve them? Why do I worry so much about what I wear and what happens on that television show? I think about this every day and after ten minutes or so I snap out of it and I tell myself to go back to reality. I don’t like reality; I want to change reality oh-so-badly. If I could just prioritize my life better, that would be great. Maybe I will volunteer somewhere, I've been thinking about the Hawaiian Humane Society but I still have yet to turn in my application. Maybe I should devote my Sunday's to spending time with family, pets, and friends and do minimal homework and television watching. That sounds like a plan.

Response: understanding animal neglect

I know that there is just no explanation for people who are cruel to their animals, but over the course of having many guinea pigs I actually have come to better understand neglect. I have over five guinea pigs that each demand a full water supply, plenty of food including garden vegetables a few times a day on top of their normal dry food, changed cages one to two times a week, baths when they get dirty from running outside, nail clippings every week or so, and protection from mites and other harmful creatures, but most important of all, lots of love and care for each pig. I have to admit I have been lacking in this department because well, I have a life. Even though they require a lot of time and energy I still make the time because I love each and every one of them. However some people may just not have the time at all to be good animal parents. I believe the first deprivation is love and care but it slowly leads to things like having food and water not supplied. I'd like to believe people don’t mistreat their animals for the heck of it but do because of a lack of time, energy, money, or care. So through my personal experience with multiple animals I really have been shown why neglect sometimes happens.

Response: HHS

There is an organization here in Hawaii that is basically like an adoption agency for animals; the Hawaiian Humane Society. I would like to volunteer there. I love animals and I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up so I think this would be a good way to not only get some experience but to help the agency in their mission to promote the human-animal bond and humane treatment of all animals. The society is a shelter and placement agency for homeless animals, a pet care resource center, and a rescuer of injured, lost, and abused animals. By my volunteering, I can join an agency that helps fight animal cruelty. I think I will gain a lot of experience working with all the different animals. I also believe it will show me what cruelty towards animals exists in the world and possibly inspire me to do more than volunteer. Here is a picture of the Hawaiian Humane Society: