Homeward Bound

     Another term comes to an end on Tuesday. We finished work on Friday and have three days relaxation before we leave. It has been another wonderful experience and one of the highlights was learning more about the National seminars conducted in the various countries, particularly in Asia. Christianity is growing rapidly in some of these countries.

     This past week was a busy week for driving and I had five airport trips scheduled on Friday, but one did get cancelled. One of the trips was to the private jet airport to take the session sponsors, a wonderful couple from Michigan. It is always refreshing to meet wealthy people who are also humble. All except one of our participants have now left and he leaves this evening.

    












     Yesterday we rented a car and went exploring "upcountry". Marlene likes exploring new towns and yesterday she did Pa'ia, Ha'iku, and Makawao. It's surprising that as you get away from the crowds, prices remain the same. We watched some surfers along the way as well as taking in the views.

















  











     Today we walked to church and tonight we are going out to dinner with another couple to a restaurant we have not been to previously.

     Wednesday was my final Rotary meeting for this visit. The picture shows me with the current President, a friend we met here at Haggai as he and his wife have done volunteer service.

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New Experience

     I had a new experience this week, in picking up sponsors from the "private jet" area of the airport. The sponsors are frequent donors, and they are here for the convocation of the two current session groups which happens next Thursday. They are an older couple and strike me as being very humble. The company that operates the private jet services treated us like royalty. Another part of the unique experience was driving out on the tarmac right to where they park the jet.

     We are down to one more week of work. We did look into coming home a couple days early but the change charge for our airline tickets was prohibitive. So leaving April 30th it will be.

     With our stay getting shorter, we were out to Gannon's again for breakfast today. It was a gorgeous morning weather wise, as you can see from the pictures.

Tablet



     I convinced myself that in order to travel more efficiently, I needed a tablet. Costco had a good deal on some Samsung models, and the sales tax here is much less than at home, so I made my purchase. Next I need to learn how to use the thing! I picked up a new faculty member on Thursday who is an Associate Vice President with Deloitte & Touche's IT Infrastructure in India (sorry Mike). He has agreed to help get me started.

     We were out again for breakfast yesterday, Gannon's were else, and as usual it was a georgous morning.

     On Wednesday there was no Rotary meeting at lunch, so Marlene and I went to a spot in Wailea that I have been eyeing for many years. It is also on the Wailea Golf & Country Club, it is Italian, and it was very good. My intention had been to take Marlene to Mulligan's were Rotary meets, but that would have entailed a lengthy walk. The weather has been quite humid this week, Manoli's was right at the bus stop, so an easy decision.







Fred's

     Each week at Rotary here they sell tickets for a draw for the silver marble. There is a bag with 50 marbles, one of which is silver. The first ticket drawn gets to try and pick the silver marble and a cash prize (usually donated back to the club) with a subsequent draw for a $5 gift certificate to Fred's, a popular breakfast spot. Well I won the consolation, so off to Fred's it was for breakfast yesterday, then a leisurely 3 mile walk home. Of course Marlene had a few shop stops on the way.














     Today we are going to a party at the home of Alma, one of the ladies who works in the dining room. We have known her since our first time here, but our first invite to her house. She will have two other ladies from the kitchen, so I'm sure no shortage of food.














     Our lovebird population keeps growing, we have counted up to eight on the tree outside our room, but the attached pictures only show six. The other two must have been hidden by a branch.

    


























     Our time continues to go well, lots of airport trips and lots of stories from participants and faculty. We do miss the family, particularly events.