Sayin YES to orientations and everything else!

Blog 2 - Sayin YES to orientations and everything else!

Never would I have thought that orientations would be such a big part of exchange, and since it is, this blog will be pretty dense. It’s a process where one meets the others who are interested in learning beyond what we know in our comfort zone. My first orientation was online with Mr. Van from the AFS San Diego Office, in which he had to make a video conference call for the people that did not have regional in-person meetings: like me in the middle of the pacific!

The next orientation was the YES Abroad specific orientation. Due to a missed connection, from being one of the firsts to arrive, I was one of lasts, with a couple minutes of tardy to the first session at 8pm, with the kitchen waiting for me and three others to grab a quick bite to eat. It was an exciting experience walking in to the conference room late, and then sitting at the India-specific table, where the whole group has been talking in group chats for some time, yet not knowing any of them. We all bonded instantaneously with one another and our awesome alum Joe, especially when it came to the tacky but great slogans… “Say Yes… to YES Abroad!” “It’s not… NO Abroad” etc. etc. Anyways, to make a long story short, the highlight of the YES PDO were all the slogans created (and the things I learned), the amazing people I met, the Gandhi Memorial, Department of State, Lincoln Memorial, roaming the streets of DC for Indian food, the late nights (especially learning how to shoot), and the realization that the departure date is sooner than anticipated… (aka the whole YES PDO). On the way back to Hawai’i, I was offered in DC to take a later flight by a couple of hours to Los Angeles for $500 of United compensation and a night at a hotel. I could not say no to offer as I could stay with my friends for a little longer!

After just one week of being back home, it was time to say goodbye to my family, friends, and the only place I know as home. Before flying into India, we flew in to New York for a gateway orientation, lasting two days. Thankfully, I did not miss this connection as it was a direct flight to JFK from Honolulu. After a not-so-long ten hour flight leaving Hawai’i at 3pm, I arrived in New York at 6am, with a fresh start to my day with my first Dunkin Donuts Coffee. The group was the first to arrive at Long Island University at around 8am. As the first session started at 3pm, we had the whole time free to do as we pleased (to an extent). Some went to take a nap, but I was too excited to sleep, so I toured the college campus and spent my time roaming around, discovering the intensive game of Lacrosse as there were several Lacrosse games. At this Lacrosse game, there were three food trucks; two out of the three being Hawaiian themed. It was super fun reuniting with the YES India gang gang, the YES Thailand and Indonesia cohort, and meeting new people on summer and year programs that were not on YES.

After a day of orientation, it was time to say goodbye to the other cohorts as it was departure day! India was the last group leaving at 4pm for a 9pm flight departing from Newark; Indonesia leaving the university at 4am, and Thailand at 2pm. Next blog on the trip to India.