Hawai'i is a beautiful tropical vacation hot spot unlike any other in the world. From its beautiful white sandy beaches and its majestic mountains and steep valleys to its city life, there really is something for everyone to enjoy! I choosed to take my exchange semester at Hawai'i because I wanted to experience something different from Norway, and needed to get away for a while. I mean, you can't get any further from Norway. Hawai'i is a dream for many, especially nordic people. The hot weather, beautiful beaches and tropical nature is so welcoming, and I had the chance to take a semester over here, so why not! Over these past months I have learned a LOT of myself. In the beginning I had a huge cultural chock, and I was worried about everything and I did not feel safe at all in this big city. Everything was new and unfamiliar, and this new and different environment was almost too much to handle. But I knew that I would stand through it. For me, every new changes in life takes a lot of time. It took me two months to calm down and get used to everything. You know, if you want do something or get forward in your life, you need to commit to something over time, and not give up. I feel much more confident in myself and gained more respect for others and myself included. Being so far away from home almost freaked me out in the beginning. I felt so alone because I knew no one here. I realize for REAL how lucky I am, and how much I love my family and I am so grateful for my life.