Spring Break '25

Yelnura, MA in Middle Eastern Studies’26 

Disclaimer: This post is going to be a little more personal than others.  

I always felt like I am a world traveler. Due to my father’s work we had to move a lot across my country and I had to change around 6 schools overall. The good thing about the work was that it supported my family well and they took me a lot to discover the world beyond the borders of my country going to other parts of Europe or Asia at least once a year. So, during my first solo travel to Turkey last year and my moving alone to the United States from Kazakhstan I felt relatively less stressed and disoriented in different cultures and throughout the travel. When the time was approaching towards the second half of the Winter Quarter I started calculating the time given to me to rest in between Winter and Spring terms. It was exactly 11 days in-between my last final exam and the first day of Spring classes.  

11 days is not enough to go back to Kazakhstan, one would spend at least 25 hours going out there and 25 more going back and I am not even mentioning the high prices.  

As it was mentioned many times before, studying at UChicago is rewarding yet challenging at times. After a long winter quarter, I was feeling overwhelmed with the weather and deadlines and readings and taking care of myself on my own that I felt an absolute urge to travel at least somewhere to remind myself of the life that is out there. I needed to remind myself of all the reasons why I came here, things I wanted to do in life and zoom out from my studies.  

After a long search for the best travel option I could not find any that would match my schedule, budget and longing. Sitting at the Reg at one point I decided to look at Airbnb options in Hawaii. Even if not go there, at least I could dream a little between my study sessions, until I found one that I truly fell in love with. A small cottage up in the mountains of the Big Island with the relative proximity to the beach, the city area, cafes and artisans with an amazing host that gives fresh eggs from her farm to her guests. That sounded like a dream come true.

Putting together the budget and calculating some of my savings and possible cuts on coffee outings, I thought that being an MA student is limiting in itself and I should use the opportunities that I find and not be afraid. After some hesitation and weighing the pros and cons, I finally booked my three-segment flight out and back CHI-KOA (Chicago-Kona).  

Up until the last 24 hours before the flight I still had my thoughts of canceling the trip. But three flights later with stops in Las Vegas and Honolulu and meeting new people along the way, I landed in paradise-like and so much contrasting to Chicago, Kona. If it much often feels like Chicago is frowning at you with occasional smiles, Kona felt the opposite of it. Few hours later, sitting at the airport that looks much more like a park area with open space and occasional registration desks, I was wondering what am I doing there — a Kazakh in the middle of the Pacific, so far away from home...  

The given feeling was haunting me for the first few weeks of being in Chicago, no people who speak the same language around and people so similar yet so different. However, it passed, as it did in Hawaii. The place that I stayed at was the same as I expected it to be and renting a car allowed me to move freely around the Big Island. It didn’t really matter where I was coming from and the language that I spoke, the language of kindness, support, curiosity and nature is the same across the globe. This you understand when you go far on your own.  

After two days, I was feeling more like in my element. Discovering the nature, cliffs and beaches, farms and cafes, people and the culture I started to get a grasp of where I am. I started noticing similarities to my hometown back in Kazakhstan however ridiculous it may sound. Despite all the fears and expectations of a new place, one actually notices that there are a lot more similarities in the way people live all around the world. I made some friends and received some blessings, I awed and thanked. I had some of my first experiences in Hawaii — first time seeing the sun actually dip beyond the horizon of the ocean, first time seeing the Pacific Ocean as it is and swimming in it, first time seeing a volcano, Kilauea, dipping my toes into a green sand, being washed by big waves, learning Mahalo, and saying Aloha.  

My stay wasn’t very long, but the Big Island was kind enough to host me and blessed me with an amazing weather to swim and enjoy Hawaii. It was 

something I much needed after a cold gloomy winter in Chicago.  

❗ For UChicago students or prospective students: the break between Winter and Spring Quarters is very short, only a week long, plan ahead of time to have a restful break and come with new energy into the new term!  

One thing I am taking from my trip though is that I know I can travel solo, but I don’t want to do that anymore, at least for a time being.. There were a lot of moments when I felt love and gratitude for the Island and my condition, yet all too often did I want someone to be there and see what I see and share the feelings and experience…  

I am attaching some of the photos from my trip here.  

Aloha, friends! 

P.S. From one of the conversations: “Aloha means hello, aloha means goodbye, aloha means I love you, aloha means peace…”