And now for something completely different!

[lotus]

I've been reading through the website, thinking about how great this weekend was for me. Erik and I arrived just about a month ago and already we have made enough friends that we almost didn't have enough room to seat everyone during dinner on Thursday night. This in itself is a blessing to me!

Erik has started working, and loves everyone he works with. I've managed to start my business with relatively few snags and we've just been so lucky to meet so many beautiful souls since we've been here.

Yesterday, I went to Waimea to visit a friend of mine. We went to the beach, had dinner, played with the doggies in her yard and watch a couple of movies. I've never felt so welcome in such a short period of time living anywhere. I am truly home!

So, this leads me to wonder.... How was everyone else's experiences when they first moved here? What kinds of things were pleasant surprises? What came a a bit of culture shock? Do you have stories to share about when you first arrived to live on this rock of paradise?

[Carey]

The 1st week we were here was crazy, When we finally found a rental, it was down by the ocean (my dream). While we were getting our id's in order with our brand new lease, I signed up for newspaper delivery. The next day we moved into our rental & there was a paper in the box at the driveway! what service!
One week later the newspaper delivery guy drives up our drive, appalogizes for the missing papers...but we had been getting our everyday. Just then the across the street neighbor comes up, seems someone had been taking his paper all week! I then realized that I was the papernapper....this began what is still a great friendship.
Pam LaMont had an east side forum party the first saturday we were here, & the friendships have truly stuck with us through some weird times here.

[Kapohocat]

The aloha when i first moved here 20 years ago was incredible. Although the "7 deadly sins" have started to affect the Big Island, there is still much aloha if you believe it is here.

[billy]

When i came to see my dad on the big island, my dads friend was born there and is 80 now i said i would like to go fishing and the next thing you knew we were in kona on a big boat fishing. im from oahu years ago and the people you meet in hawaii are are one of a kind.