Aloha, everyone!

In recent days, Hawaii has seen its share of rain, thanks to the ongoing rainy season. Yet, as they say, the rainbow comes after the rain, bringing beauty and encouragement.

Today, I want to share my second unexpected story after moving to Hawaii.

Where is my room going?

I was set to live in a new, clean, and secure apartment as a shareroom. At the time, I had no idea who my roommate would be. My dad found this apartment on a real estate website and applied for the room while I was still in Japan. To secure the room, I needed to pay a deposit.

Here's where the trouble began. There were two choices for payment: Bank Transfer or EFT (Electric Funds Transfer). While I could easily transfer payment through an app in Japan, the same convenience was not available in Hawaii. Unfamiliar with EFT, I asked the owner if I could pay by card or paper check. The owner declined.

I left this issue unresolved until the day I moved. It was my mistake, but something felt odd about not being able to pay by card.

I emailed the owner to confirm the room preview schedule on the day of my arrival. The reply I received was shocking:

"Am I looking for someone truthful to rent our apartment, not someone who lies like you. Thank you."

What on earth was happening? It felt like a nightmare. I regretted not addressing the problem earlier and not having a Plan B or C.

I received this email during dinner with my mom, and the flood of emotions overwhelmed me. I had no place to live, and the accusation of being untruthful hit hard. My mom, a pillar of support, comforted me. Our plan was to stay in a hotel for five nights allowing us to regroup, her words gave me strength.

Despite jet lag making me tired and sleepy, an unexpected twist awaited me as I tried to unwind with a bath.

I'll keep the story for the next article.

Learning and Moving Forward

Jet lag and unexpected happenings aside, this experience has taught me the importance of having multiple plans—Plan A, Plan B, and even Plan C—in case of unforeseen situations. This lesson extends beyond my housing predicament to various aspects of life and work.

I've learned and grown from these challenges, and I'm committed to applying this knowledge in the future. Stay tuned for the next chapter of my Hawaii adventure.

To be continued...