July 24, 2014 Ke Alakai Issue

July 24, 2014

Volume 108: Issue 1

‘ Ke Alaka i THE LEADER

Sis. LeeAnn Lambert 6-7

Ke Alaka’i supervisor brings stories to life

World Cup Recap 8-9

Germany smashes records en route to championship

Summer Travel Bug 10-15

World-traveling students share experiences

KE ALAKA I

CONTACT

E-mail: ke a l a k a i @byuh . e d u Ad Information: keal aka i a d s@g m a i l . co m Phone: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 6 9 4 Fax: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 4 9 1 Office: Campu s, A l o h a Ce n te r 1 3 4 P ubl i sher P r i n t S e r v i ce s NE W S CE NT E R Box 1920 BYUH Laie, HI 96762

July 24, 2014 • Volume 108: Issue 1 Editor-in-chief

Advisor

A u s t i n M e ld r u m

Le e an n Lambe r t

COPY EDITORs A u s t i n M e l d r um H o m e r Wo lm a n

Art Director Make n zie H e ad INTERNs R ebe cca Gu ld e n Gre g Er ick so n

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS Samone Isom, Reid Crickmore, Jared Roberts, Morgan Bouwhuis ART & GRAPHICS M a ke n z ie H e a d M o rga n B o u wh u i s L a u re n S t e im l e H e c t o r Pe r iq u i n Samantha Spring PHOTOGRAPHERs Ke l s i e C a rls o n H e c t o r Pe r iq u i n

VIDEOGRAPHERS N i Sh ipe n g Jame s A stle Je f f C o llin s A brah am Garcia AD MANAGER Ke A lak a‘i Staf f

ON THE COVER

BYU-Hawaii student James Astle takes a “selfie” with children on the streets near Quezon City, Philippines during his summer travels. Photo by Greg Erickson

Share with us your photo of the week and we may feature it in our next issue. e-mail us at kealakai@byuh.edu

A summer lightning storm illuminates the sky over Denver, Colorado.

Photo of the week: By Whitney Yun

Table of

Editorial, photo submissions & distrib u t i o n i n q u i r i e s : ke a l a k a i @ by u h . e d u .

To s u b s c r i b e t o t h e R S S F E E D o r t o view additional ar ticles, go t o ke a l a k a i . by u h . e d u .

CONTENTS [4] [6-7]

C o mmun i ty me mbe r s ce l ebrate Lai e D ays Ke A l ak a‘ i adv i so r Le e A n n Lambe r t te l l s h e r sto r y

[10-11]

Stude n t Jare d R o be r ts make s th e mo st o f th e f ive we e k bre ak

[14-15]

Se n i o r Jo sh R i bo l di re co unt s h i s th re e we e k j o ur n ey to Japan an d T h ai l an d

J u ly 25

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F R IDA Y From 6 to 10 p.m. come celebrate Laie Days with family, food and friends at the 18th annual Summer Bash at the Laie Shopping Center.

Food, entertainment, free giveaways and free rides for the kids. All are invited but parking is limited so carpool or walk.

F R IDA Y Student Leadership, Activities and Service (SLAS) is hosting a school dance with the theme “Heat Wave” in the Aloha Center Ballroom. The dance will begin at 9 p.m. and conclude at midnight. Admittance is free for BYUH students with I.D. and $3 for those with a YSA card. Wear a white shirt as there will be free glow bracelets for everyone. Honor Code and standards will be enforced.

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SA T U R DA Y Laie Days concludes with a parade beginning at 10 a.m. Line the streets and participate with the community to celebrate.

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T H U R SDA Y BYUH will host a blood drive in the Aloha Center Ballroom starting at 9 a.m.

T H E W EE K I N Q U O T ES

“Evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile that was launched from an area that is controlled by Russian-backed separatists inside of Ukraine,” -President Barack Obama comments after Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 was shot out of the sky over Ukraine on Thursday, June 17.

“Imagine an image of Buddha before you commit such a crime.”

-said the Dalai Lama to Burmese and Sri Lankan Buddists after an episode of violence towards Muslims.

NOTE

WORTHY

News Headlines

Typhoon Rammasun devastates Asia A tropical disturbance that began to brew in the Pacific Ocean on July 9 has quickly escalated to a typhoon known as Rammasun.

It is now responsible for more than 30,000 damaged homes and leaving about 151 people dead in over three different countries including China, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

Rammasun began just off the coast of the Micronesian Island of Chuuk. By July 10, the tropical depression, which was nearing the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, was upgraded to the status of tropical storm 09W and preceded on its way towards the Philippine Islands with winds of about 150 kilometers per hour or about 93 mph.

“Typhoons are a common thing in the Philippines. We have about four or five every year,” said Sid Francis Balubal, a senior from the Philippines studying psychology.

Rammasun cut a path through the south island of Luzon on July 14 and caused an evacuation of over 530,000 people, according to CBC News in Canada.

Genesis Cahigas, a freshman from Singapore studying biochemistry, said, “This typhoon wasn’t expected. There was a mango tree in my home province that has been there for over 30 years and this typhoon knocked it over — now its gone.”

Workers attempt to clean up after Typhoon Rammasun destroyed a building in China. Photo by AP.

“The people in the south aren’t suited for these typhoons. Most of the houses are made of wood and tin, not concrete,” said Jashon Fabia, a sophomore from the Philippines studying music.

Government officials claimed to be more prepared this time around after the devastating aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in November of 2013. Citizens in coastal areas were evacuated to avoid landslides and excessive flooding.

After hitting the Philippines, typhoon Rammasun began to make its way towards China and Southeast Asia and brought torrential rains and destroyed over 10,000 homes in southern China by July 18, reported AP. It is recorded as the strongest typhoon to hit southern China in 41 years and caused an evacuation of about 608,000 people, AP also reported.

-J are d Robe rts

Sunset to

Sunrise

Laie Days brings community together Friends, family, food and fun filled the Laie Elementary School soccer field during the Sunset to Sunrise event for the annual summer Laie Days, Friday, July 18. While the sun was setting, community members flocked to bouncy castles and food booths, children stood transfixed by enormous bubbles, and organizers prepped the stage with microphones and speakers for the entertainment that was to come.

“Welcome to our kickoff of Laie Days! This night of good entertainment and wholesome activities so our families can celebrate our people of Laie. We commemorate the founding of our beautiful Laie and our pioneer forbearers who settled this place,” announced Uiti Siaosi, who emceed the event. He introduced each act as they came on, and addressed the crowd several times, saying they would not continue the show until the audience showed the performers some love by cheering and clapping.

Before the acts began, attendees went to the various booths that ringed the field. Spots for food booths are purchased for $50 from the Laie Community Association (LCA), said Theresa Pukahi.

Pukahi was co-manning the Pukahi & Vendida family food booth, preparing and selling banana lumpia, spam musubi and poi mochi.

“We sponsor my brother’s restaurant, ‘2 Bald Guys,’ at Kaya’s store.

This is my first time being at the booth in three or four years.”

Anyone could jump in the bouncy castles, provided by Xtreme fun rentals, for a small price. However, on Friday, July 25, the bounce houses set up in the shopping center will be free, according to employee Paulette Enesi. The shopping center businesses will pay for their use.

Robert Kahawaii, a senior in communications from Laie, also had a family-run booth. He said he has been attending the various activities of Laie Days since he was a keiki, and said the Sunset to Sunrise event is one of the highlights. “I look forward to the time and place to be with everyone in the community. We so rarely have time to hang out together as a community. It is fun to see the local talent, and whenever there is food there’s always a good time.”

Some of the local talent included musicians, dancers, and fire-knife performers. Local legend Tafili Galeai, or “the original 4

Ke Alaka‘i

A talent show was part of the festivities at the Sunset to Sunrise Laie Days event at Laie Elementary School on July 18. Photo by Kelsie Carlson

Prince” sang along with a band. Recent Kahuku High School graduate Annie Soleiai Barenaba and her friends performed an energetic lip-synced dance to a Tina Turner song. Locals Makaveli and Mogwai Pou Jackson rapped some original lyrics.

The InstaKookys dance crew (Jackson Tilo, Genedel Glory, Hyrum Lindquist, Blessile Alegado, Saki Suyama and Samone Isom) danced its way through several styles of hip hop to a cheering crowd.

Around midnight, the booths closed down and the movies came on. Free breakfast by Tita’s Grill was provided around sunrise.

-Samone Isom

‘Sail Forward’

COMMUNITY

Holomua helps high school seniors prepare for college Potential BYU-Hawaii students experienced a week of college life through the Holomua program, a college preparation camp, designed to inform and prepare high school students of the expectations and benefits of attending BYUH. Arapata Meha, director of enrollment services and the lead coordinator for Holomua, explained the idea was first suggested back in 1996.

“Holomua means ‘sail forward’ in Hawaiian and the idea here is that students will sail forward in their education due to the knowledge and encouragement that this program provides,” said Meha. After being approved in 2010, the program has been held annually since 2011 and is constantly being improved. Around 60 incoming high school seniors attended this year’s weeklong program.

There were various activities through out the week that balanced education and fun.

Reflecting back on the experience, the mentors had a lot to share about the preparation leading up to the week. Cameron Abaroa, a Holomua mentor and a senior in ICS communications and musical theatre from Arizona, said, “Holomua reemphasized to me the importance of this school in Hawaii and in the church and that I have so many opportunities here at BYU Hawaii and I… have a greater opportunity to make the most of my education.” Holomua wasn’t just a great experience for the teens that attended, Abaroa said, but also the student mentors.

Jessica Mijangos, a junior in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Guatemala, was the lead mentor for the program.

Her roles included hiring mentors and tutors for activity planning

and everything in between. Mijangos said, “My major helped me a lot and when I looked over the program, I tried to make it similar to SOAR but still incorporate the Hawaiian culture. It was a lot of work but I would gladly do it again. It was a great experience.” SOAR is a similar program to Holomua done at BYU in Provo.

The Holomua program is changing to fit the needs of the students with these considerations as follows:

• Adding an essay question to the application

• Adding a workshop for those planning on a mission

• Increasing time at PCC for cultural learning

Those who work with the Holomua program hope to increase participation to 100 students; more information can be found at admissions.byuh.edu/holomua.

To read the extended article, visit the Ke Alaka‘i website.

- Mo rgan Bou whu is

Above: Four of the female mentors take a snap shot during a Holomua event. Below, about 60 Holomua participants pause for a group shot with thier mentors. Photos by Makenzie Head

july 24, 2014

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The Mastermind behind the Ke Alaka‘i Bringing news and journalism to BYU-Hawaii since 1992

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n order for the Ke Alaka‘i to function it takes a lot of work and effort. Sister LeeAnn Lambert is the adviser, mastermind, and the driving force behind our campus news magazine. We caught up with her to talk about her beginnings as a writer and where she expects the Ke Alaka‘i to go in the future.

Q: How long have you been at the reins of the Ke Alaka‘i?

A: I have been here twice. I was here from 1992 to 1996 doing this same job but went back to California when my father was terminally ill. When I returned to California where I am from, I worked as a writer and editor at a local newspaper for eight years, taught at another college and got my master’s degree. When I started looking for another university job, this same job at the Ke Alaka‘i was open.

I applied and they decided to hire me back. I have been here the second time since 2005.

Q: What is the most challenging part of producing a weekly news magazine?

A: The most challenging part is getting everything in on time. We have to gather together — edited stories, photos, graphics, ads and even people to get it all done by the deadline. Juggling all those variables, combined with all our employees being students who have to attend classes and get homework and tests done, is definitely a challenge. When someone or something is late, it delays everything.

Sometimes technology is also the problem. If the power goes out, we are at a standstill. If the printer can’t get the file with the magazine on it to work right, we have to figure out how to fix it. One little glitch can really create havoc if we can’t figure out how to resolve it.

Q: Where did you start your writing career?

A: When I was in college, I tried out a variety of majors but gravitated to the communications field. Finally I broke down and took a news writing course and I liked it. Then I took the class where you wrote for BYU’s student newspaper “The Daily Universe.” I remember calling up the governor’s office and actually having people call me back with a statement from him. I was amazed and I was hooked. I loved it because I learned something new every day and then I got to share what I learned with other people. Being a journalist is a lot like being a teacher.

Q: What is the best part about going to work every day?

A: The best part of working at the Ke Alaka‘i is working with the students here. They are truly great and I love to see them gain new insights and skills. We have writers, editors, photographer, graphic artists and videographers who all come to us with varying abilities. I especially love those moments when they have been stretched to try and do something new or different and it all works out well. Seeing their satisfaction with a job well done is so rewarding.

Q: What was the most memorable story you ever covered as a writer?

A: I wrote an obituary once for Glen Pinoli, a man who was a member of the LDS Church who died in a freak car accident while in his 40s. He was well known in the community because he worked for

CAMPUS Sister LeeAnn Lambert has been at the helm of the Ke Alaka‘i for 14 years and says that the students are her favorite part of teaching.

Photos by Hector Periquin

the forestry and fire departments along the coast of Northern California, was a Boy Scout leader, was active in the community, and was a former bishop. He was driving the car with his family in it when it rolled. He was the only person who died. Everyone else survived with barely any injuries.

When people found out he had passed away, all along the coast flags were lowered to half mast in honor of him. Hundreds of people attended his funeral. Friends from fire and forestry stations for miles came with their fire trucks and took part in a several-miles long ceremonial drive from the chapel to his burial place. Scottish bagpipes were played at his funeral services. He was also a decorated U.S. Marine plus a returned LDS missionary who had served in Italy.

But my favorite part of the whole thing was one of his sons, also a returned missionary, quoted part of the Book of Mormon in honor of his father. It was Alma 48:17, and he inserted his father’s name instead of Caption Moroni’s name. The scripture says: “Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.” It was a tribute I will never forget, plus I got to quote the Book of Mormon in a news story.

Q: Where do you see the Ke Alaka‘i going in the future?

A: We live in a digital age so as technology evolves the Ke Alaka‘i will continue to evolve too. We already have a Youtube channel, a Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, and our website kealakai.byuh.edu.

We print our magazine, but it too is available online at Issuu.com.

There is something great about being able to pick up a printed Ke Alaka‘i and read about yourself and your friends. Our magazine has a local focus and thanks to the university it is free for everyone to read.

- Re id Cric kmore

july 24, 2014

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Brazil 2014

World Cup 32

national teams

16

records broken

1

world champ

Individual RECORDS

T

his year’s World Cup held in Brazil provided an extra dose of intensity and drama while on the biggest stage in the international sports world. The 2014 World Cup saw 16 previous World Cup records broken throughout the month of play. There have now been 20 tournaments since the beginning of the World Cup in 1930, with this latest 2014 World Cup including 32 countries. The four countries represented in the semifinals —Germany, Argentina, the Netherlands, and Brazil— had all reached the final game in the past. After a notably crushing defeat of Brazil, Germany met Argentina in a final match that lasted into extra time. Each side was goalless until the 113th minute when Germany’s substitute Mario Götze scored to give Germany a 1-0 win and its fourth World Cup victory.

All statistics are according to ESPN and FIFA. - S a m on e I s om

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Ke Alaka‘i

Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan (6) overtook Cameroon’s Roger Milla (5) as all-time top-scoring African player in World Cup history.

Miroslav Klose of Germany became the alltime high-scorer with 16 goals, surpassing Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who scored his 15th goal in the 2006 World Cup. Klose was also the first player to appear in four World Cup semifinals.

Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon is now the oldest player ever to play in a World Cup. His appearance in the Colombia-Japan game five days after his 43rd birthday beats Roger Milla's record from 1994 by almost a full year.

Tim Howard made 16 saves in the Belgium-USA game. No goalkeeper has ever made as many saves in a single World Cup game, at least not since 1966 when they started keeping records for saves.

Mario Gotze of Germany is the first substitute to score the winning goal in the World Cup final.

WORLD WORLD CUP RECORDS BROKEN 22 goals were scored in the 9 0 t h m i n u t e or later, easily surpassing the previous World Cup record of 13, set in 2006.

The 32 g oa ls scored by s u b s t i t u t e s in this World Cup was greater than in any previous tournament.

Spain’s loss to the Netherlands by a four goal margin is the b i g g e s t l o s i n g m a r g i n by a defending champion at a World Cup. Germany became the f i r s t e v e r E u r o p e a n team to win a World Cup in South America

R e c o r d s o f t h e F I N A L m at c h This is the third time Germany and Argentina have faced off for the championship, more than any other two countries.

Germany has r e a c h e d t h e final for the 8th time, more often than any other country.

D u r i n g T h e G e r m a n y - B r a z i l S e m i f i n a l M at c h Germany broke the record of m o s t g o a l s s c o r e d i n a s e m i f i n a l with 7 against Brazil.

This game was B r a z i l ' s w o r s t l o s s i n h i s t o ry .

The last time they lost by 6 goals was to Uruguay in 1920.

Germany’s 7 - 1 w i n was the B i g g e s t m a r g i n o f v i c t o ry ever seen in a World Cup semi-final, surpassing the 6-1 victories of Argentina over USA and Urugauy over Yugoslavia in 1930, and Germany’s defeat of Austria in 1954.

Germany was u p 5 - 0 fa s t e r than any other team in World Cup history, needing only 29 minutes.

Graphics by Sam Spring and Makenzie Head july 24, 2014

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how

TO SAVE

Tips for planning a cheap backpacking trip

ON EXPENSES NOT MEMORIES

1

Find a reasonable destination Backpacking can be fun, but if you don’t prepare beforehand, you might not be in for the experience that everyone dreams of.

Find a destination that is safe and cheap.

2

Do your research Once you’ve found a place to travel to, get to the books and do some research. Make sure you check for visa laws so you aren’t denied entry. Learn about the culture of the area you’re interested in traveling to. Also, being able to say simple phrases like “Hello” and “Thank you” in the native tongue can get you some brownie points with the locals.

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5

Travel Light Bring along only bare essentials and leave your useless electronics at home. Check if the place you’re staying at has a computer café or free Wi-Fi. Leaving a computer at home can lighten your load and allow you to actually interact with others.

Step out of your comfort zone

6

Don’t be afraid to ask for things. Most places gladly welcome foreigners and in some areas of the world foreigners are treated like royalty. Try street food. It’s not only way cheaper than most restaurants but it’s also just as tasty.

7

Don’t overspend on minor items Cheap things can accumulate over time and soon Book your transportation you’ll be left with less than you expected. Try Try booking your flight during the off-season of travel. to avoid excessive souvenir shopping. Photos Each destination has a different peak season so make sure and videos are better memories than you’re booking at the right time for the right place. Travthat small “I ♥ Venice” cup you bought. eling with smaller airlines also helps reduce airfare costs.

If you’re looking at traveling to different countries in the same area, try taking a bus or train instead of a plane.

Have fun and explore Bus and train tickets can cost up to 90 percent less.

Lastly, enjoy yourself and the place you’re at.

Take it all in and do as much as you can.

Find a cheap place to stay Remember, you haven’t done everything When traveling on a budget, your best friend is probably a or been everywhere. hostel or couch surfing. Not only are hostels extremely cheap and well furnished, but they also give you an opportunity to - Jared Ro bert s meet other travelers that are doing the same thing as you — exploring. Couch surfing allows you to stay in a host’s house and live with them for a set amount of time, free of charge.

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Ke Alaka‘i

cambodia An unforgettable solo adventure in Southeast Asia

W

hile growing up, I was always lucky to travel around the world with my family. But it wasn’t until I left home to come here to BYU-Hawaii that I realized there was a whole world ahead of me.

I would sit in my dorm room for hours just researching places all around the world. Then it hit me, and I said to myself, “Why not do it?” So I did. I packed a bag and caught a flight to Cambodia.

I flew through Guam, Hong Kong and Vietnam only to finally arrive in Siem Reap, a city in northern Cambodia. The atmosphere was amazing and the initial excitement was overwhelming. I was in a foreign country by myself with nothing but the bag on my back and a journal to keep all my memories in. I was living a part of my dream and I couldn’t believe it.

My first stop was to my hostel where I could settle down and figure out what I wanted to do. After grabbing a bite to eat and figuring out what I wanted to do, I hopped on a tuk-tuk (a motorized rickshaw) and headed out towards some ancient Khmer temples. The temples were made of bricks that were hauled by elephants and people for more than 10 miles. After exploring temple ruins for more than five hours, I headed back to the hostel. I met people from all over the world; Australia, Belgium, Switzerland, England and even someone from right here on Oahu. These people were my go-to group of friends while out there in Cambodia. They were all there for the same reason I was – to live our dream, explore and appreciate the world we live in.

After a couple days of hiking and trekking through temples, I made my way to what is recognized as the most sacred part

WORLD Jared Roberts packed up his bag, bought his ticket, and lived out his dream in Cambodia where he visited temples and ancient cities.

Photos courtesy of Jared Roberts

of Cambodia, Phnom Kulen. Some of the people I met in Siem Reap tagged along and we got to explore this sacred Buddhist-run area. The Kulen area is located in the mountains of Cambodia and in order to get there we had to take a two-hour bus ride through winding, pot-hole filled dirt roads. Although we only were there for a day, we got to witness a Buddhist temple formed around a laying down Buddha that was carved into the mountain, a fallen Khmer temple that is now a riverbed, and a waterfall that was home to hundreds of doctor fish that eat the dead skin right off your body.

My final day consisted of our travel back to Siem Reap and a sunrise over the mystical Angkor Wat, one of the capitals of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to 15th Century. I spent almost 10 hours just exploring the Angkor area and saw more than 15 different temples. It was crazy to think that people lived in such amazing architectural developments in ancient times. After exploring the temples, I headed back and began to get ready for my trip back home. The night ended with some of the most amazing people I’ve met in my life, a noodle stand on the side of the street and a flight back home.

Overall, my experience was amazing. I learned not only so much about myself but also so much about the culture of Cambodia and the others that I spent my time with. I made lifelong friends that I couldn’t of made anywhere else. I urge everyone at least once in their life to travel on a whim – to pick up their things and go whether it be for one week or one year. Learn the culture, live the culture and know who you are. Like I always say, “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”

-J are d Robe rts july 24, 2014

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Calling All World Travelers

Photos left to right: Greg Erickson poses for a photo on the Great Wall in Beijing, China; Children in Quezon City, Philippines gather for a picture with Greg and James Astle. Below right: In El Nido, Philippines, James rests in a banca, or catamaran, he took to a private island. Photos by James Astle and Greg Erickson.

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Ke Alaka‘i

WORLD

Left to Right: View from above Kawasan Falls, Philippines; An elderly woman wearing a traditional Filipino headdress strikes up a conversation; another view of Kawasan Falls; a17th Century cathedral within the walls of Intramuros in Manila, Philippines.

Photos by Greg Erickson and James Astle

Take a leap of faith and go travel the world As a college student, I often would daydream in the middle of class or while I was supposed to be studying. I was somewhere else.

I was in the Amazon jungle, on an African safari, or diving in the Great Barrier Reef. I was anywhere else other than the classroom.

In my free time, I would plan trips around the world itemizing what I would need and where I would go, always preparing for my adventure.

Life happens and money doesn’t grow on trees, so I patiently waited. Realistically, it seemed like my big plans were still years from happening. Then the five-week break at BYU-Hawaii approached and friends were telling me about their upcoming trips to China, Africa, and other exotic places. Even my wife was going on a teaching internship to Fiji. I wished I were in their shoes. But I wasn’t. Instead I was preparing for more of the monotonous 40-hour workweeks that awaited me. Then I snapped. I couldn’t take it anymore. I took a good look at my bank account, talked to my bosses, and then most

importantly, committed myself to going somewhere.

My co-worker, mission buddy, and good friend James Astle was preparing for a three-week backpacking trip in the Philippines and invited me to join him. After being on my best behavior at home and giving my wife a sad puppy-eyed petition, she gave me the nod, and I bought my ticket and packed my one backpack.

A week later I was on my way. If you are going to fly somewhere far, I highly recommend you find a way to see other countries along the way. I was lucky enough to get 15-hour layover in China on the way to the Philippines and in Korea on the way home.

In China, I climbed to the top of the Great Wall and roamed the Forbidden City. In the Philippines, James and I spent three weeks backpacking and island hopping.

We saw the Manila and Cebu LDS temples, road along in the famous Jeepneys and tricycles, and ate a developing duck embryo that

is boiled alive, a Filipino delicacy known as Balut. We built a tree house on an uninhibited island in El Nido, witnessed firsthand the destruction left by Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban, and explored 17th Century Spanish forts and cathedrals. In Korea, I learned of the country’s rich history at the Gyeongbokgung Palace and the National Folk Museum of Korea. Everywhere I went BYU-Hawaii alumni and family of current students helped me.

Three weeks came and went too fast and only intensified my travel bug. I fell in love with the cultures I was introduced to along the way. Perhaps the greatest lesson I learned was when it comes to traveling, you just have to buy that plane ticket and commit. Money will come and go, “stuff” will always come up, and other factors will attempt to deter you, but now, while you are young, is the best time to see the world. There are things to experience and learn about the world that textbooks just can’t teach you. So lose the excuses and make it happen.

-Gre g Eric kson

july 24, 2014

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Josh and toby’s excellent adventure Best friends live out dream to travel

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Ke Alaka‘i

This is Josh

Photos provided by Josh Riboldi of his travels in Japan and Thailand over the fiveweek break. Scan the QR code to the left to see a video interview with Josh.

I

n the spirit of international travel and adventure, BYU-Hawaii senior Joshua Riboldi decided to leave the comforts of home this summer break to explore Japan and Thailand with his best friend, Toby Redd. We met up with Josh, a senior in finance from Provo, Utah, for a recap of his travels.

WORLD

What inspired you to go to Japan and Thailand?

It was my friend Toby’s last year at BYUH, so we decided we needed to do a trip. He has always wanted to go to Japan, so we started looking for tickets and planning our trip. I talked to my dad and told him we were going to Japan and he said if we were going all that way we should go to Thailand too to get the whole experience of Asia. So after talking to my dad, we decided to go to Thailand.

What’s the craziest thing that happened on your trip?

When we were in Japan, we went to the Osaka Castle. It was awesome. That evening we were walking back to the train station and we saw a bunch of kids playing guitar under a bridge. Toby and I both like singing and playing the guitar so we stopped and played with them for a while. They wanted to learn more about us but they only spoke a little English and we only speak minimal Japanese so it was tough. Toby and I played a couple songs for them and they played some more songs for us. The whole experience was really cool. It taught me that even though we don’t speak the same language, we could communicate with other cultures and talk to them through music.

This is Toby

What was the scariest part of your trip?

The scariest part of the trip was in Bangkok, Thailand. When we got to the airport, there was a guy trying to sell us a sweet deal with a canal tour, taxi ride, and trip to a hotel for one night. It sounded good so we said okay. We went on the canal tour, but the hotel ended up being in the middle of the red light district of Bangkok. It was scary to say the least. As soon as it was dark, all the nightlife started coming out and Toby and I were both scared for our lives. We made it out all right, though.

Which was the favorite of the two countries?

That’s a really hard question considering that both countries are so awesome. I really enjoyed Japan because it was so clean and the transportation system there was very efficient compared to the transportation system here in the United States.

What’s one tip for people looking into traveling to Japan or Thailand?

A travel tip for people traveling to those countries is to make sure you have the first two or three steps planned out before you get there. If you get there and have no idea what you’re going to do, it gets hard. If you have the first steps planned out, then you can find your way to an Internet café that will allow you to plan out your next steps of you trip.

-Re id Cric kmore

july 24, 2014

15 5

CAMPUS COMMENT

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