This may look like an ordinary ice cream package to you, but little do you know that this the ice cream sleeping inside this little black package is a whopping $2.50. Yup, you heard right. The box comes with four of these bad boys for $9.99 at Palama Supermarket. I also saw that they're selling them at Pacific Supermarket in Waipahu. Now, do these lil beauties taste as good as they look? Are they just as good as all the ABG's make it out to be? Is it worth your time fighting through the crowds of Korean ajumma and hype-y teens at Palama Supermarket? Here's my verdict: Taste: It tastes exactly like brown sugar boba. Now, let me clear this misunderstanding that some people may have - this is NOT a Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea flavor, but simply a Brown Sugar Boba flavor ice cream. A few people that I've talked to were disappointed because they didn't think it tasted like milk tea. I also saw people describing it as a coffee taste, which I could not agree more with. I can confidently say that it tastes exactly like the brown sugar boba that comes in a milk tea, with just the right amount of sweetness. Texture: So. So. So. Soft. It was unbelievably soft and smooth. The creamy ice cream slips through the cracks of your teeth as you bite into it, while the boba surprisingly retains an unbelievably soft, chewy texture despite being a frozen product. Would I eat this again? YAH.
Would I pay $10 for a box? .. Probably. I usually don't buy ice cream from the store, since I'm more of a "eat ice cream in the company of friends at an ice cream shop" kind of gal, but I mean, if I'm gonna pay $5 for a scoop of ice cream or $6 for a milk tea, I feel like this is a much cheaper alternative. Now, let me just start off by saying that this was graciously donated to me by my beautifully small and bipolar foodie friend @stkuroda. So I didn't purchase it myself, but I tried to judge it as best as I could despite not having paid my hard-earned money.
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On March 31, the University of Hawaii system sent out an email to all students at all UH campuses encouraging them to file online for the UH Relief Fund. This fund is available all year round for students that have been impacted by a financial hardship. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they've increased their funds to help more students being impacted. My parents are both out of work now so I decided to apply to get some basic costs covered. Here are the eligibility requirements as stated on their website:
So basically, anyone at any UH campus can apply, as long as you can show proof that you're in need of this money AND that it is essential in your academic wellbeing. You have better chances at receiving funds if you're at least a half-time status. The Process can be found here: It's basically an application form which you'll need to fill out your name, phone number, email, and expected graduation date. You'll have to explain your circumstances and how receiving the funds will help your progress in school. When I first applied, I didn't fill out this application form or have to submit any documents. Instead, they asked for a statement submitted via UH File Drop services, but due to the high volume of applicants, they changed it to an online form. With this form, you MUST submit at least ONE document showing evidence that you're in need of this money. This can include: Bills, letter of unemployment, quotes for needed items, bank account statement, etc. Every situation is different, but for me personally, these funds would help my family pay for utility and internet bills, which are crucial for my academic progress, now that all classes are conducted online. After receiving a confirmation for my claim on April 13, it took 13 days to process. I received my check today, April 26.
To pay, or not to pay. That was one of the biggest questions we had when deciding whether we wanted to go to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Lynn Canyon Park, or both. We decided to go to both, because even though they're the same type of bridge, the scenery is different and we had enough time to go to check them out. Here's all the information we took into consideration when we decided that we would go to both:
Would I pay to go back to Capilano again? Probably not, especially because we won't be getting the student discount after this year. Is it worth checking out? Most definitely.
Lynn Canyon's bridge is smaller, but the fact that it's free and the staircases/bridge look very similar to Capilano is reason enough for me to choose this over Capilano. My Canada posts are LONGGG overdue, but I figured better late than never! During Spring Break, we visited Vancouver, and before the COVID-19 pandemic craze that forced most of the businesses to close during the last few days of our trip, we got to try some pretty bomb ass places. Jam Cafe was our very first stop, and we thought we'd done a good job getting there early, but we ended up still having to wait around 10 minutes in the fUHREEZING weather. The food was all amazing- I saw people ordering different dishes at each table and each looked so tantalizing. Huge pancakes, stacks of waffles, and massive omelettes. We shared the Chicken & Waffles and the ginormous Charlie Bowl, and both were amazing. Despite being travelers who never wanna go back to the same place twice, we both agreed that if we had time (and space in our bellies), we'd definitely make it a point to come back here. During our Granville Island day, we tried a bunch of different places. Our two favorites were the Duck Poutine from Edible Canada and the Salmon Chowder from A La Mode Pie. *The Poutine is cheaper during Happy hour, from 3-5p on Tuesdays-Sundays, so if you're like us and just wanted to get that, I highly recommend this time frame. The Salmon Chowder, and everything else on the menu from A La Mode Pie was pretty steep, but it's definitely worth a try. On the first day of the downhill that became the COVID-19 business-closing-streak, I really really wanted to try Forage, a sustainable farm-to-table restaurant. After walking 40 minutes to find out there were closed, we went to Yolks for breakfast instead, after seeing it on our friend's IG story the day before. I loved that their benedicts came with the option of béchamel sauce, since I'm really not a huge hollandaise fan. Also, whatever you do, you MUST get the lemon truffle potatoes. They're a life changer. Everyone who knows me can attest that I am a hardcore pastries person. I will choose pastries, breads, and cakes over any meal, so naturally, we visited a bunch of bakeries. Purebread was on the bottom of my must-try food list before coming to Canada, but after trying it once, I was IN. LOVE. I begged my boyfriend to go back every day because I needed to try everything. I don't ever reach for savory pastries, but this was the first time I was inclined to, and loved my savory option. The scones, croissants, breads, and brownies were all so amazing - I was heartbroken when we found out they'd be closed the rest of our stay - I'm determined to go back to Vancouver to try the rest of the pastries. On another round of disappointment, the only place that was an absolute-must on my list, Beta5 Chocolates was closed, also due to COVID-19. Luckily, my sweet boyfriend found another alternative, Beacoup Bakery. They had an amazing Hazelnut Rice Pudding Choux and a Churro Morning Bun that were absolutely to. die. for. Their selection was small, but mind-blowingly amazing. ICE CREAM. In. Vancouver. Is. BETTER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE. Well, it's better than anywhere I've tried at least. Earnest Ice Cream & Bella Gelateria will give any ice cream shop in Hawaii a run for their money. At Earnest, we made ice cream our dinner, and got two scoops each - we literally stared at the menu for a good 10 minutes, then proceeded to discuss and planned out which flavors we'd get because every one sounded so good. The Lavender Shortbread and Salted Chocolate with Rye Cookie were my absolute favorites, followed by the London Fog and the the Whiskey Hazelnut. The quality of Bella Gelateria was phenomenal, and despite having a three-sample limit, the worker let us try whatever we wanted and even convinced us to get a flavor we originally weren't intending on, and it was amazing. Dark Chocolate Sorbetto sounded watery to us but bruh it was the darkest, creamiest, most luscious piece of chocolate magic we ever encountered. Honorable Mentions:
Tacofino and Ganache Patisserie were two places that were also really good (but also not mind-blowing like the other places mentioned). We got the Crispy Chicken Burrito and Fish Tacos, and both were really good - much better than any taco place in Hawaii, that's for sure. I stumbled upon Ganache Patisserie on my way home from ANOTHER cake shop (the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, on Granville Island), but they had this Earl Grey Chocolate Cake that I NEEDED to try. Did I go over my calorie count for the day? Absolutely. Do I regret it? Not a single bit. I'm finally back on my favorite rock, aka Oahu, aka Home, and now more than ever, I am so glad to call this place where I belong.
It feels so nice sleeping in my own bed again, showering in my own bathtub, not having to wear the same 4 sweaters that I've had with me for the past five months, and to see my family, friends, coworkers, and dogs again. My study abroad experience is not at all what I hoped it would be, but it was a great experience nonetheless, and for anyone who wants to study abroad at the Rennes School of Business... don't. HAHA. jk. but not really. Okay, it was a good school, but I can't fully recommend it to anyone. But, if you have your heart set on studying in the beautiful city of Rennes, home to the crepes, galettes, and kouign amann, here are a few tips: 1. Start your process as soon as you get your acceptance letter. I started my housing search and visa applications 5 months before the beginning of the term, and it was still not enough time. In order to get your visa, you need a housing certificate, but finding a suitable home, and a landlord who was willing to let me stay for such a short amount of time was EXTREMELY difficult. 2. Do NOT find housing through STUDAPART. The ESC Rennes School of Business partners with a student housing platform called Studapart, to help students find housing. However, unless you pay the premium €100+ fees on top of the €179 booking fees, your chances of finding an accommodation are little to none. I paid for my home two months before I left for France, but the housing platform messed up, and I was homeless for a week. They didn't do a background check on the accommodation they proposed after their initial mess up, and as a result, I was stuck in a home with a violent, mentally unstable man who physically and mentally abused his wife, invaded my personal sleeping space, had a gambling problem, and scammed me out of over €1,000. Furthermore, the platform didn't claim any responsibility for placing me in this accommodation, and refused to provide help. 3. Join the Facebook Groups and contact local agents Most people that had good homes during their time in Rennes told me that they didn't find their accommodation through STUDAPART, but rather saw ads in the RSB Facebook Groups, or contacted French agents, or heard from their upperclassman about open residences. Whoo is one of the nicest student residences that I've seen during my time in Rennes. It's a little on the expensive side, but you get your own room, wifi, a study area, laundry services, and gym in safe areas near the school. Carre Malo - my friend lived in this residence last semester and loved it, plus it's close to the school. They told me they don't accommodate students studying for less than 6 months, which I found strange, since my friend did the same semester program as me, but try reaching out to them as soon as you get your acceptance letter, and maybe they'll have spaces open. Airbnb - If you're studying abroad with friends, renting a house or unit on Airbnb is also an option. My five Indian friends all pitched in for an Airbnb, giving them the freedom to have their own living space on their terms. 4. Get a KorriGo card The KorriGo card is a public transportation pass that you can use for metros and busses in Rennes. You can get it at the Villejean metro stop or the Gare metro stop. You can purchase it by number of tickets (10, 30, 80, etc.) or by month, and this saves you from having to purchase a new ticket every time, and can save you quite a lot if you'll be studying for four months. 5. Reach out to people Studying abroad can get lonely, and if you let your sadness consume you, you lose. Don't forget that you have amazing friends and family back at home, and your friends in your new country also want the best for you! Don't be afraid to reach out to your school or UH. 6. Look for (Free) Events So many of my best memories came from events that I found on Facebook or flyers or billboard ads. There's a farmers market every Saturday at the Place des Lices in the city center, and I've made it my weekly activity - so much that some vendors started to remember me and give me free stuff! Every first Sunday of the month, there's a food truck festival at the Marche la Criee, and the Museum of Bretagne and FRAC museum of contemporary art have free admission. These past few months have been nothing short of crazy, depressing, empowering, stressful, and amazing. As I sit on the plane heading out of the country that I called my home for four months, I started reflecting on the very first time I got to Rennes reliving everything I went through. When I booked my original accommodation in June, I thought I was set. I didn’t think my cultural rollercoaster ride would begin before I even left Hawaii, but when I was told by that landlord that I had to find a new accommodation because he “gave my room away to another student” even though I had already paid, I knew it was going to be a rough journey. It’s crazy to think that it all started here. IBIS Style Hotel. The first place I ever stayed in Rennes, when the student housing platform didn’t help me in time, resulting in me having to book a hotel room. Thanks to Moana, a fellow SGL that went through the same program last semester, I was able to find and book this accommodation as soon as I got to Paris. AirBnb. The next day, I rolled out all my belongings, caught the bus and metro to the Airbnb that the student housing platform booked for me. I was blessed with one of my first experiences of sweet French people, when a sister and brother duo offered to help me bring my suitcase up to the second floor. This would be my new home for a week, until I was able to find another accommodation. Crazy Shack. The name that I now refer to whenever talking about this accommodation, because it was by no means a home, or a shelter. It was just a place for me to keep my belongings, while fearing for my safety and constantly felt uncomfortable. Despite it being very expensive, small, and dirty, everything seemed okay at first. It wasn’t until my housemate, Fernise, came to live in the room next to me, that I learned of all the deception that I was subjected to, and all the violence that I could have been involved in. Hisseo. The budget hotel that I got evacuated to when the school pulled me out of the Crazy Shack. It was a crazy few days leading up to my move. I came back from Switzerland, and my roommate told me about all the violence that happened in the house while I was gone – he hit his wife, the wife tried to jump out of our windows, and he once again came into my room without my permission. I was shocked and called the housing coordinator out of fear of having to stay in that house. I didn’t receive an answer even after three calls and no response back when I left a voice message, and I felt helpless. The following Monday, I couldn’t stay focused in class and constantly cried, so I excused myself early after our midterm presentation, and met with the Housing Coordinator. After my second class, she was waiting outside my building, and accompanied by an IT worker, drove me back to the Crazy Shack to hurriedly pack my stuff. I packed up my whole life in France thus far in a mere 30 minutes. Hisseo was a nice change – I had a room that I could actually lock and feel safe in, a bathroom with toilet paper, and working wifi. My New Home. After talking to Anja, the person who coordinated the cooking workshops that I had been attending, about my situation, she connected me with a girl who just so happened to be vacating her room for the same duration that I needed accommodation. I moved out of HISSEO after a week, slept on the couch of my new home for a week, and finally moved into a room which I could call my own. My roommates and I got along well, it was in a safer neighborhood than the Crazy Shack, the rent was cheaper, the space was cleaner, and I was able to finally invite friends over.
I think throughout the past four months, I’ve lived in pretty much every part of the central town. I wish I never had to go through so much hassle and spend so much money, but through this I was able to meet Fernise, one of the kindest girls I’ve met, and my new roommates, Nastia, Vicky, Belicia, and Yas Mine. I was also able to explore parts of the city I know I never would have if I hadn’t lived there. |