By Abi Evans

Kia ora, I’m Abi – and at this point I am pretty much halfway through my exchange at the University of Hawai`i, Hilo, which has already been more incredible than I can describe!

Being on exchange has simultaneously been everything I expected and nothing I expected at the same time.  I have to admit that in my first couple weeks here I found it slightly challenging  to switch from the ‘holiday mode’ that the tropics of Hawai`i naturally provide, into actual school/study mode. However, once I found my feet and got into a good balanced routine, I started to thoroughly enjoy my classes.  Being here, I tried to incorporate a number of Indigenous classes that allow me to learn about the culture and people of the gorgeous place I’m living, with some more practical science classes that directly credit back to my degree at home.  In doing so I find that everyday is filled with so much new learning, and I truly look forward to every class I go to. 

Specifically, I have been taking an Archaeology paper that has turned out to be my favourite class to date. It meshes everything I love about my degree from both my Earth Sciences, and Indigenous Studies background into one practical outworking.  Having had the opportunity to experience different teaching methods, as well as take papers that would not have been offered at home, has been an incredibly valuable element of this exchange experience.  If you’re planning an exchange, I highly recommend looking into all the available classes and taking as many new and interesting classes as you can fit!

Another element of exchange that I have been loving, is the student life and resources available here at UH Hilo! In particular, the Uni Rec has a lot to offer.  From the gym with a pool, volleyball court, and tons of fitness classes, to intramural sports like volleyball, to my person fave, free weekend trips to loads of different places around the Island. 

One of the biggest challenges as an exchange student is not having a vehicle to get around, especially in a place like Hilo where the public transport is rather unreliable.  So having these scheduled excursions that are completely free are an amazing offer, that is well worth making the most of.  Already I’ve been able to explore tons of beaches around the Island, visit so many waterfalls, and even engage in community events and festivals such as the Waimea cherry blossom festival or Ho`olaule`a, which is a community music festival that fills the main streets of downtown with many stages and food trucks for an evening, to showcase local Hawaiian talent.  

Overall, I feel truly blessed to have had this opportunity.  The doors it has opened, the experience’s it has given me, the new learnings, and friendships I have created have been life changing in a lot of ways.  It has given me a new lens to see the world through and expanded areas of my knowledge that I never would have, had I not taken the chance to come and study in Hilo.  One beautiful thing I have witnessed living on the Big Island where the volcano and ocean is ever changing, is the sense of community, resilience, and adaptability the people of this Island have built.  When life is so unpredictable, as it can be here at times, these traits are ones that develop so easily. These elements of the Aloha spirit are what I aim to carry with me when I return back to my own community at home.