A guest post by Barbora, who was lucky enough to write her diploma under palm trees and now shares her experiences with us:My name is Barbora, I was born and raised in the Czech Republic and I studied at the University of Applied Sciences in Zittau. I recently spent nine months in Hawaii, where I worked on my Diplom thesis at the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) in Honolulu.[caption id="attachment_471" align="alignnone" width="956"] We at Waikiki Beach on Oahu[/caption] The HNEI is a research facility at the University of Hawaii at Manoa that focuses on the development of natural energy sources for Hawaii. The main goal of the institute is to achieve a stable and cost-effective energy supply for Hawaii while reducing dependence on oil and other fossil fuels. The contact to the institute was established by Professor Zschunke, who, on behalf of the HSZG, held talks with the HNEI about a possible cooperation. after completing all the formalities, in which the institute and the university were very supportive, I was able to start preparing for my trip to Hawaii. reaching the airport in Honolulu, after a 35-hour flight, was like an awakening for me. As I stepped off the plane (still dressed in several layers of warm clothing due to the cold winter weather in Prague), a wave of warm, humid air immediately hit my face. My throat suddenly constricted and I realized at that moment that I was now on a small island somewhere in the middle of the ocean, on the completely other side of the world, in an absolutely unknown environment and there was no way back from that moment.[caption id="attachment_470" align="alignnone" width="1010"] Sunset Beach on Oahu[/caption] At the airport, my Japanese roommate was already waiting for me with an Aloha necklace in his hands. Fortunately, I found accommodation with him a few days before my trip began. It was quite cheap and the house was in a perfect location. It was a 15-minute bike ride to Waikiki Beach, where I later went surfing almost every day. The downside of the apartment, however, was the noisy highway nearby and the lack of air conditioning, which you really need in Hawaii, especially in summer. That's why I moved after a few months and lived with my friends, whom I had met at work in the meantime.[caption id="attachment_472" align="alignnone" width="946"] Waikiki Beach on Oahu[/caption] The institute where I worked was only a stone's throw away from my house. As part of my Diplom thesis, I investigated the susceptibility of different types of biochar to microbial degradation and analytically determined the heavy metal content in charcoal from various wood gasifiers. The working atmosphere at the HNEI was very friendly and cozy. The institute is located on the university campus, where there are many parks. You could surround yourself with nature in peace and quiet and eat your lunch there. There is a very large proportion of foreign students at the university, which I really liked. There is also a very broad multicultural environment in Hawaii in general, so you get to know almost the whole world on such a small piece of earth.[caption id="attachment_473" align="alignnone" width="788"] The Vans World Cup in surfing 2015 on Oahu[/caption] There is an incredible amount to do in Hawaii in your free time! From snorkeling, surfing, windsurfing, diving, fishing to paragliding or rock climbing and when you're tired of the warm weather, you can even go ice skating in Honolulu. Surfing was one of the highlights of my stay. After a demanding day at work, swaying on the waves and watching the sunset from the ocean...or even better, surfing into the night with the stars above you and the calm warm waters of the ocean around you. Memories like these stay with you for a long time. Another relaxing activity was hiking and enjoying the beautiful nature of Hawaii. An interesting fact for me, there are no dangerous snakes or spiders in the Hawaiian tropics. The only unpleasant surprise for me were the cockroaches, which I have never seen in my life on such a scale as in Hawaii. Since the prices for the flights between the Hawaiian islands are affordable, I had the opportunity to explore 3 other islands (Maui, Kauai, Big Island) in addition to the main island of Oahu. Although the islands are so close to each other, the landscape is very different. I liked Napali Coast on Kauai the best. There you can enjoy a secret beach with a waterfall in the middle of the tropical forest after a strenuous day of hiking. But also the volcanic areas on the Big Island, or the observatory on the top of the highest mountain in Hawaii, Mauna Kea, were very special.[caption id="attachment_474" align="alignnone" width="1430"] The Na Pali Coast on Kauai[/caption] From all the experiences I have had, I have to say that it is no coincidence that the Hawaiian Islands are called "paradise on earth". The wonderful rich nature with colorful flowers and juicy tropical fruits, deep blue ocean with the beach sand in different colors; no rush, no stress, everywhere only peace, quiet and nice people... you are simply enchanted by it. The endless summer makes you almost not feel the passage of time. Now that I'm back, I feel a bit like it was all just a wonderful dream....