Spring Break

After I finished my midterms and my Junior Year of High School has almost come to a close, a much wanted break and vacation was in need.  Luckily,  Spring Break was this past week, and my fairy-godmother granted my wish for paradise...

The first part of my break started in New York City on the East Coast (very different from my usual weather at home in the beautiful 70 degrees Palos Verdes, CA).  Conner, my 21 year-old brother will be graduating from The University of San Diego in May, so my mom, him and I traveled to NYC to go look at Graduate Programs for him next year in the fall.  He is planning on attending the College of Insurance at St. Johns University, but wanted to go check out New York before he applies. He fell in love with the city as much as I did the first time I saw it.  The ruckus and the millions of people on the subways are what I think makes NYC so unique and exciting.  In addition to looking at St. Johns University, my mother and I traveled up to Columbia University to go check it out.  It is a beautiful campus, and I am hopefully going to apply there, but am not sure yet (still making my list for next fall). We also had fun during the night.  We went to see the amazing play on Broadway called Beautiful. In addition, we went to the Bubble Lounge in TriBeCa. After 20 years in New York, we caught the very last night there to celebrate our family friend's 23rd Birthday!  It was a night to remember and so was NYC in its totality.

After coming home on Tuesday night from an exciting time in the city, we quickly repacked our bags and we (mom, dad, and I) departed off to Hawaii on the island of Oahu. Here, we spent the days in our bikinis and surfing/stand-up paddle boarding off of Waikiki Beach.  The sun was amazing and I got a really nice tan.  We stayed at the Halekulani right on Waikiki and it didn't disappoint.  The amazing and personable staff there made the Hawaiian experience very blissful.  In addition, we celebrated my 17th birthday there on April 3, so their hospitable gestures such as bringing their signature Coconut Cake and a bottle of Martenelli's to my room in the early AM and later that day surprising me by the poolside with more goodies, was a treat.  In addition to the amazing water activities Hawaii has to offer, my family decided to hike Koko Head Crater on Saturday to catch the Sunrise over Hawaii. The steep railroad tracks, now acting as long steps, were decommissioned after WWII when they originally were made to transport guns and other weapons up to the top of the mountain to have an advantage point against future attacks. Totaling 2098 steps up and 2098 steps down, this hike was not only a killer workout but a view that the locals enjoy seeing to cherish the Hawaiian beauty.  Overall, my time in Hawaii was very fun and relaxing.  It was truly a trip I will remember.

Now that today is Easter Sunday, and school starts back up tomorrow, I am counting down the days to the AP exams and then to the last day of school and off to new adventures.  I am in the long-stretch with school and soon to be college admissions (I am taking my final/2nd ACT later this month) and then I will be ready for what ever comes my way with the rest of Junior Year and the beginning of Senior Year.  Have a wonderful Easter Sunday and a wonderful week!

XOXO

Megan Elizabeth Moore

Thanks for reading!