Ke Alaka'i - January 2018

J A N UA R Y 2 0 1 8 · Vo l u m e 1 1 9 : I s s u e 1

Pa g e 16 S w i n t o n s i n c rease traff i c a t V i s i t o r s’ Ce n te r

COV ER: Page 10 Pre si de nt Mo nso n rem em bered f or changing students’ lives

THE LEADER

Page 54 A lumni bec o mes o n l i n e sensatio n in Per u

JANUARY 2018 • VOLUME 119 • ISSUE 1

ADVISOR Le e A n n Lam ber t MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS Antoniette Yee Gosuke Kawano Hannah Jones Emmalee Smith Jessica Gonzalez Leon Hei Lam Lau Zeek Cheng

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kev i n Brown COPY EDITORS Savanna Bachelder Brooklyn Redd VIDEOGRAPHERS Kel sy Si m m ons Cour t ney Bow Ni el sen ART & GRAPHICS M cKenna Locken

PHOTOGRAPHERS

ART DIRECTOR

A lvin V i ncent Dy

Lor i n Vi l ayvong MANAGING EDITOR Josh M ason

NEW S CE N T ER BOX 1920 BYUH LAIE, HI 96762 PRINTER P r int Ser vi ces

CONTACT

Email: keal akai @by u h. edu Ad Information: keal akai ads@gmai l . com Phone: (80 8 ) 6 7 5 -3 6 9 4 Fax: (8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 -3 4 9 1

Editorial, photo submissions & distribution inquiries: ke a l a k a i @ by u h . e d u .

To s u b s c r i b e t o t h e R S S F E E D

ON THE COVER: BYU-Hawaii students reflect on the life of the late Thomas S. Monson. Read the story on Page 10.

o r t o v i e w a d d i t i o n a l a r t i c l e s , go t o ke a l a k a i . by u h . e d u

ABO UT US

The Ke Alaka‘i began publishing the same year the university, then called Church College of Hawaii, opened. It has continued printing for more than 60 years. The name means “the leader” in Hawaiian. It began as a monthly newsletter, evolved into a weekly newspaper, then a weekly magazine, and is now a monthly news magazine with a website and a social media presence. Today a staff of about 25 students works to provide information for BYU-Hawaii’s campus ohana and Laie’s community.

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PH OTO SUBMISSIO N Vanuatu student Louisette Desire Waianae stares into the camera. Photo by Emmalee Smith

Share your photo with us and we may feature it in our next issue. E-mail us your high-resolution photo with a caption at kealakai@byuh.edu

F O L LO W U S AR O U ND THE WE B

KEA LA KA I.B YUH .EDU Instagram: @KEALAKAINEWS Snapchat: @KEALAKAINEWS Facebook: KE ALAKA‘I YouTube: KE ALAKA‘I NEWS

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JANUARY 2018 • VOLUME 119 • ISSUE 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Day in the life of Media Services Technician Himmy Yan Wu

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Campus Comment: What is the meaning of your name?

RELIGION

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Students say President Monson’s passing is bittersweet

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Local woman in wheelchair has community help her the temple every day

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Visitors’ Center missionary couple leaves after increasing traffic to temple grounds

CAMPUS LIFE

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Five students from Africa share how and why they came to BYU-Hawaii

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Sstudents share how their part-time job prepares them for their futures

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Dr. Jonathan Schute: School of Education internship program blesses Fiji children

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C A L E N D A R

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Love conquers intercultural differences, according to two interracial couples

LIFESTYLE

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Montreal Protocol has helped eliminate ozone layer for over 30 years, professor says

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Simple Fried Chicken recipe with oriental sauce made from simple ingredients

42 BYUH study finds urine and fresh water worsens jellyfish sting reactions

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Journaling provides route to overcome trials, monitor progression, and improve writing

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Steps to opt in to receive an electronic W-2 form on Workday

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Students weigh in on the pros and cons of using a credit card

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Traveling alone lets you move at your own pace and be independent, say students

FEATURE

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American alumni becomes social media star in Peru with comedic videos

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WEDNESDAY Joseph Smith Lecture Series from 3-4 p.m. in HGB 273.

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THURSDAY Ho’omaika’i Employee Dinner from 6-8:30 p.m. in the CAC.

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SUNDAY YSA 1 and 2 Stake Combined Conference Broadcast from 10 a.m. to noon in the CAC.

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TUESDAY Devotional with Devin G. Durrant, first counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency from 11 a.m. to noon in the CAC.

FEBRUARY 1

THURSDAY Women’s Organization Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Aloha Center Ballroom.

Hong Kong entrepreneur creates diamond jewelry business JANUARY 2018

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Himmy Yan Wu

Media services technician B Y AN TO N I E TTE YE E Himmy Wu says being a media services technician isn’t just about connecting equipment but also connecting with students. Photo by Lorin Vilayvong.

Himmy Yan Wu, a TESOL education sophomore from Hong Kong, said the highlight of her job is connecting with students whenever they borrow an equipment. Wu said, “Students don’t just borrow a laptop. We connect with them too.”

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What made you decide to apply for this job?

What is your Favorite part of your job?

“I like talking to people and not just staying in the office. This is an interesting job because I get to talk with guests and students and help them with their problems with equipment like projectors and cameras.”

She said she loves learning about projectors. “When I’m in class, I’m able to help my professor fix the projector. I feel good about it because before I’d just sit and wait for a technician to come.”

What makes your job unique?

Time spent in a day

“We just don’t give students the sign-out sheet. We also ask them how their day was, get to know them, and give them a smile.”

What do you hope to get out of the job?

“I hope I can know more about the techie stuff because I’m not really good at it. Through my job as a media technician, I have the chance to learn the basics.”

“I know a lot about the Pacific Islands, so I don’t usually spend too much time studying. But I mostly spend two-to-three hours to prepare for class presentations. Most of the readings in class are familiar to me because I took Pacific Islands classes when I was in high school.”

Pros Wu shared how her co-workers and supervisor are very nice and understanding. “They are all willing to help, and we learn from experiences.When we were doing equipment inventory during summer break, I realized the importance of media services.We have microphones, cameras, and laptops available for students to rent and use for their school work.”

Describe a typical day Wu said she typically works four to five hours a day. Her job responsibilities include delivering laptops and projector carts to classrooms and assisting professors with technical problems.

She said, “I also ensure all equipment is in good condition and I help set up for classes and chapter activities.”

cons “Sometimes it’s hard when a professor calls us. I go to the classroom, and I don’t know how to fix it. It’s awkward and embarrassing to stand in front of the class and everyone is staring at me because I don’t know what to do.”

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religion

in this section Students describe Thomas S. Monson’s passing as bittersweet

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Local woman goes to temple or Family History Center every day of the week

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Missionary couple increases number of visitors at Laie Temple Visitors’ Center

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President Thomas S. Monson attending the Laie Temple rededication in 2010. Photos from Monique Saenz

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President Monson’s counsel changes students’ lives After his passing on Jan. 2, BYUH students said while saddened by his death, Monson’s words have inspired them to become better people B Y JE SSI CA GO N ZAL E Z L E O N

fter President Thomas S. Monson passed on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018, BYUH students said they will miss him but know he lived a good life and is now reunited with his wife on the other side of the veil. They also shared their favorite quotes from President Monson that have inspired and strengthened them.

Teikauea Teikauea, freshman studying business management freshman from Tuvalu, said, “I got really sad because ever since I got baptized, President Monson was the first prophet for me as a member.”

Teikauea shared two quotes from Monson that impacted his life. “The first thing was when he said, ‘The choices we make determine our destiny.’ Every time that I make a decision, I always think about what President Monson said.” The second quote he shared was, “Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. As a Polynesian, when something goes wrong you get angry easily.

Every time I get angry, I always remember that quote from him.

“It’s really sad for me to hear that he has passed away, but I’m pretty sure that he went to the other side of the veil with happiness he had left a great legacy for the people in the church. I am really grateful that i got to learn from that man.”

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Shan Arumugan, a freshman from India studying business management, said, “I was shocked. Losing a prophet of the Lord is very painful. I really miss him.” Arumugan shared while talking with friends about President Monson, they all agree “it should be really exciting for him to meet his wife again on the other side of the veil.”

Arumugan shared a Monson quote that stood out to him.“‘May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.’ This quote has changed the mindset of a young generation to choose the right. President Monson knew our days. [As members] we know that it’s all worth it. It is a huge loss for the church, but as members, we believe that the priesthood authority still exists. So we know who’s going to be our next prophet and we pray for him.”

Katelyn Klecker, an undecided freshman from California, said, “It’s kind of bittersweet. He was a really good prophet, but we know where he is going. His wife already died so he gets to be with her.” Klecker shared a quote she likes from Monson. “‘Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.’ He was very inspirational and he was always funny too.”

Ana Carone, an applied mathematics graduate from Brazil, said, “I was very sad although I expected him to pass away sometime soon since he didn’t attend last General Conference.”

“May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong”

Continues on Page 12

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Students say then remember Thomas S. Monson for his kindness and love. Photo by Alvin Dy 12

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“Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.”

“Never, never, never postpone following a prompting.”

“Choose your love, love your choice.”

“The choices we make determine our destiny”

“Be of good cheer.

The future is as bright as your faith.”

Thomas S. Monson

Continued from Page 11

She said she admires Monson because he was full of love for everyone and he was caring. She said her favorite quote is, “‘Never, never, never postpone following a prompting.’ If you have a prompting from the Spirit, never let it go. Follow it. Just do it.”

She added, “I am happy he is now with his wife because when she passed away, he looked very down. In a way, I feel now he is rejoicing....They’re together now.”

Joseph Loi-on a junior from Hawaii majoring in history education, shared his reaction when he heard President Monson had passed.

“I was surprised, not that I didn’t see it coming,” he said, “but I guess I hadn’t been thinking about it for a while since General Conference and how he didn’t show up there. It’s sad when anyone dies, but it’s kind of bittersweet, in a sense that he had a good life. He did a really great ministry by serving for over 50 years as an apostle. He did so many great things and now he gets to reunite with his wife, which is great.” He added,

“Although it is sad, it’s also a rejoiceful moment, in a sense that he fought the good fight, and now he is doing other things.”

Loi-on shared one of his favorite quotes by President Monson: “Choose your love, love your choice.’ He said, “It really helped me in my dating life. Now that I am married it also helps me in my marriage a lot by understanding what I chose and how I need to choose to love and to do things to nurture that love. It has helped my marriage to grow.”

He continued, “I also think about the time the announcement came out for male missionaries to be able to serve at 18 years old because at that time I was 17 and a half. I was very close to turn 18. I was a senior in high school so I was really close, and when he said that, I felt it very personally. I was deciding if I wanted to go on a mission, go to school, work or do something. But through that revelation and a lot of things that followed, I was able to serve a mission.” He said when he thinks about his mission and the revelation for him to be able to serve at 18, it has become part of his own testimony.•

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Every day ordinances Local woman serves others by going daily to the temple or Family History Center B Y AYL A SWART

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Along with the community and ward members, BYUH stuvery morning Tuesday through Friday, Scharre Mundents have played a large role in helping bring Munson to the son wakes up, feeds her cat Mittens, gets ready, and temple, said Munson. Student Mary Elizabeth Deyro takes her goes to the temple. Laie community members and to the Family History Center and BYUH on Sundays, Mondays, BYU-Hawaii students help Munson get to the temple so she in and Saturdays. At BYUH, Munson said she uses the wifi to do turn can help others beyond the veil. family history and indexing work.

Munson uses a wheelchair to get around due to cere“She desires to live fully. ... I admire her tenacity with her bral palsy. She said she asks people to push her to the temple everyday around noon. She then stays at the temple until as late own goals. She’s very positive. She’s a very grateful person. It can be frustrating when you have to rely on other people, but as 6:30 p.m. doing sealings, initiatory, and the 4 p.m. session. she’s pretty resilient and positive,” said McArthur.

Tuesday through Thursday she indexes at the Family History Munson told a story of a military man she met in the Center until the closing time of 8 p.m. temple. “He said I’m an inspiration to all.” She said she was Elaine McArthur, a Spanish and EIL instructor, said, “I don’t know when she started going to the temple everyday. She thanking the man for his service to the country when he said she was did so much more. “It would stay from morning to night made me feel good because he’s if she could.” fighting for our country and Munson said in 1998 she that he would say that was really would do up to six sessions a day. nice.”

“I tell people in the temple that if With many experiI wasn’t Mormon, I’d probably be ences to build her testimony, a Catholic nun because I’m trying Munson said, “One time my to do the work of the Lord,” she veil kept on getting untied, but said with a chuckle. “But then it wasn’t me that was doing that.

I would need to see the [LDS] So I think it was a person. Either missionaries.” Now Munson sticks they wanted me to know they to the 4 p.m. mobility impaired were there or they didn’t want session. the work.”

Faye Munson, Scharre’s Scharre’s father is mother, said, “We’re proud of Lloyd Munson, a retired BYUH her–all the work that she does, accounting professor. He said of all the people she helps do the his daughter, “I think she was an work for. That’s something they inspiration to her sister to get can’t do for themselves. She her endowments. She wasn’t encourages all of us. Anybody that - Elaine McArthur afraid to encourage her. Scharre spends that much time has to be is very forthright about encouraging [her other siblings] too, devoted.” and I think all of them are proud of Scharre. She contributes McArthur said she became part of “team Scharre” three greatly to the family. When some of the grandchildren would years ago when her neighbor, who usually pushed Scharre to pick her up at night, they supported her. Scharre is a very the temple, got sick. “She asked if I could fill in, and so I’ve special part of the family. She’s a really special spirit.” been doing it ever since,” said McArthur.

Her mother added Scharre’s desire to serve is rooted in “I’m so committed to the idea that whenever you can do her knowledge of the scriptures. “I think a lot of it just came something for someone who can’t do it for themselves, that’s the spirit of temple work. This enables her to do that for some- from herself. She wanted to do it and that’s the good thing one else who cannot do it for themselves. By extension, you’re about Scharre that she persists.”

Her mother said even as a child with a disability, Scharre helping temple work get done.” was motivated to be active. “She wanted to do things, and at Whether it be enabling Munson to get to the temple first she just crawled all over. Then she got crutches. Then she or Munson enabling those beyond the veil to have access to could walk over to BYUH on her crutches. Now that she’s in ordinances, McArthur said she believes in the value of serving. a wheelchair, Sister McArthur has been trying to help her do McArthur also said Munson returns the favor of taking her to yoga and different things.• the temple by doing ordinances for McArthur’s family names.

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She desires to live fully...She’s a very grateful person. It can be frustrating when you have to rely on other people, but she’s pretty resilient and positive

Scharre Munson has students and community members help her go to the temple or Family History Center. Photo by Alvin Dy. JANUARY 2018

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Swintons’

impact on the Visitors’ Center

The Swintons share their experience as the Laie Temple Visitors’ Center directors while sister missionaries recognize their influence B Y B R O O K LY N R E D D AND PATRI CK CAM P B E L L

Top right: a tourist speaks to the sister missionaries at the Laie Hawaii Temple grounds; Bottom left: going from left to right: the Visitors’ Center sister missionaries, Pouli Magalei, and Elder Swinton stand ready to greet tourists; Bottom right: Elder and Sister Swinton return home to Salt Lake City after serving as missionaries at the Visitors’ Center. Photos by Olivia Tsan and Alvin Dy 16

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eff and Heidi Swinton, the mission directors at the Laie Temple Visitors’ Center, said they will miss their time serving with the sister missionaries, but said they were grateful to serve in an important area where they could introduce international people to the gospel.

According to Elder Swinton, “This Visitors’ Center is the mouthpiece. The temple can’t speak. People can’t even go into the temple, so we have to be the marketing arm of the church to share it and the people at the PCC [Polynesian Cultural Center] can’t talk about the church, so we are the only ones who can really be open about why we are here.

“BYU-Hawaii had a significant goal in educating 2,700 to 3,100 students from all around the world. The Polynesian Cultural Center has a purpose to preserve cultures of islands, but the church really isn’t in the business of preserving cultures of islands. Why do they have the Polynesian Cultural Center?

“Well, No. 1 is to provide employment for the students at BYU-Hawaii. No. 2 is to draw people to this side of the island so they get on the trams and come feel the spirit on the temple grounds. What’s the purpose of the Visitors’ Center? It is the crux of inviting people to feel the spirit and be interested in learning about the gospel. Everything else is sort of a gateway.”

The Swintons shared the influence a Visitors’ Center can have by spreading information about the gospel with others.

Elder Swinton said, “We believe whoever walks on the ground, whether they come into the building or not, feels something.

“The church has told us about 30 percent of all the people who have joined the church had their first contact with the church at a visitors’ center. This is a door opener to people.

This place has turned out to be a door opener to a quarter of a million people here. We will never know how many of them ultimately go the next step.”

He shared his testimony about the importance a Visitors’ Center has on spreading information about the gospel. “We really feel in our hearts that this Visitors’ Center plays a criti-

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From left to right: the Visitor’s Center sister missionaries; Pouli Magalei, a PCC employee from Hauula who works as a tram drover; and Elder Swinton stand ready to teach tourists about the temple. Photo by Olivia Tsan Continued from Page 17

cal role when you have a quarter of a million people on these grounds and feeling the spirit. They go home with pictures of the temple, pictures of the Christis, pictures of themselves with sisters, and they will go home and see someone walking in their neighborhood wherever they are in the world with a badge on, and they will remember what they felt when they were walking on the grounds of the Visitors’ Center. This is the Lord inviting people to come to Christ.”

According to Sister Swinton, “We have worked extensively in a lot of church assignments and we have had a lot of opportunities to do a lot of different things, but what is unique about this experience and what I think I am going to take away from it is the opportunity to work one on one with so many people and to teach the gospel. Not just to visitors who come to the Visitors’ Center, but also to our missionaries from Korea, Hong Kong, China, the Philippines and America.

HELPING PEOPLE BECOME AWARE OF THE VISITORS’ CENTER

Elder Swinton said by the end of May 2016, there was a time when the tour buses would bring people over to quickly take photos then leave. Elder Swinton said this bothered him and his wife, so they told a bus driver to go ahead and park and the tourists were welcome to use the restrooms. “Boy, that was a key. One bus driver said, ‘Restrooms, may I come in?’ and within 10 minutes, he was sitting in front of the Christis,

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listening to the message.”

He continued to describe how a lot of the tour buses brought over people who were tour groups from mainland China and people who didn’t have religious freedom. “They love the temple grounds of course. We find the Chinese people have a unique love for taking pictures of everything. Particularly those who are not Chinese, but have their picture taken in front of everything. Over the past year, we have had over 40,000 people from mainland China come here in the little buses that come park in the parking lot here.”

Sister Swinton shared how since going and talking to the bus drivers and helping them know they were welcome to look at the temple grounds, bus drivers from different groups came and brought people from a variety of different countries.

“Once you start working with the bus drivers and let them know they are welcome, and we worked really hard at that, even to the extent they were concerned that our senior missionaries who wore white shirts and ties were security guards and frightened them. So we switched and started wearing aloha shirts. It’s far more approachable, because that’s the way the island is.”

The Swintons also discussed the concern they previously had with people not using the tram from the PCC to the Laie Temple. “We changed the whole paradigm of that because all these people were walking by, but didn’t have any idea what this tram was all about. So we created a street contacting men-

cover it? How do you put sisters on four vehicles and still have tality. We pass out pass along cards in four different languages sisters there to invite people and have enough sisters here to to invite people to take the tram.” receive them? We had a compliment of 26 sisters when we

The tram typically starts at 3 p.m. and runs every 20 arrived. That is how many we were entitled to have. We had minutes to 6:40 p.m. Brother Swinton said, “We now send sisabout that time I think about 22 here and several of the sisters ters at 12:30 p.m. to hand out the cards and help people know were serving elsewhere, rotating out in other parts of the misit’s offered by the LDS Church and ask people to consider taksion. We talked to the Mission Department, so they could see ing the tram during the day.” He explained the problem being what was happening. The increased our compliment now to 38, there were only two running trams and two drivers. “If you but we now have 39 missionaries. We now have enough sisters have more than 30 people, only 30 could come in at a time.” to be everywhere they

Brother Swinton need to be.” shared how they looked for Sister Edington from a solution to the transLas Vegas, who served with portation problem. “We ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE the Swinton’s for seven looked around the parking SWINTONS’ MISSION months, commented on lot at the cultural center their work saying, “They and saw white buses that have made huge changes. I were owned by a man feel it’s always been tradiwho owned a limousine tion based and they were transportation company not afraid to knock down a who contracted with the Up to 80 more people can ride the tram to visit lot of things to improve.

PCC to bring people from the temple Visitor’s Center every 20 minutes.

“There have been the hotels and different different things we have locations in Honolulu Sister done with teaching online and primarily Waikiki to in the teaching center. bring them to the luau and The changes made there shows.” effectively reached more

He said he asked the 18 more sister missionaries were called to people and definitely the owner what the drivers did accommodate the amount of people visiting the Visitor’s Center. changes with the PCC during the time they were thing are huge, like having waiting for the shows to As of last month, more buses come. Since start. The owner responded 2,200 referrals were the Swinton’s have been ‘probably eating or sleepreceived for local here, more people have ing.’ Elder Swinton asked missionaries around taken tours to the Visitors’ if he could hire the drivers the world.

Center from the PCC.” during that time.

Sister Swinton said,

He said, “We negoti“Anytime we can help ated a deal and now we people draw closer to Jesus rent extra buses. So we have two trams and as many buses as we want at the peak times Christ, whether they are members of the church or whether they are not even sure they believe in Jesus Christ, we feel our when we want more people. Instead of taking only 30 people, responsibility to introduce them and invite them to come unto we can take maybe 110 people every 20 minutes.”

Christ. That is what it is all about. Our part in the community

Sister Swinton commented on how the PCC helps draw is to kind of play that role. people to temple grounds. “It’s missionary work, and the Lord

“We do a lot of things here that we invite the community prompts you to try this and try that and it all came that way. to. We have concerts, programs, all of which were designed to I think it was just waiting to happen. We worked very closely get people into the Visitors’ Center so they will feel somewith the PCC, and they have been wonderful to us. thing… and to have an opportunity to look at some of the

“We Invite them to get off and sisters are here to greet exhibits, and if they’re members, to be reminded of what they them. One of the problems we faced when we started doing know to be true. If they are non- LDS, and the majority of our this was we didn’t have enough sisters. I mean, how do you

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visitors are non-LDS, most of the people who come walk in say, ‘What is this place?’”

Sister Swinton shared how people will always ask about the temple while driving along the highway and said she knowsthat is when they have been touched. “What we try and do is not only teach a principle, but before they leave, have them fill out a guest card with their home address, phone number, and hopefully check the box that they will be willing to talk to us on the phone or continue talking to missionaries who could visit them in their own area.”

A HU M B L I N G E X P E RI E NCE

Before their calling as Visitors’ Center directors, the Swintons said they never really had interest to go inside one of the centers. “We have been humbled. We missed a lot because we didn’t come in. That was a mistake on our part,” said Sister Swinton.

Elder Swinton continued, “This Visitors’ Center has a magnificent impact and now a quarter of a million people have been here. The highest year they ever had was 135,000. For the past 12 months, we have had 257,000.

“It has helped us gain an increased respect for this place.

This is sacred ground. We often asked ourselves the question, ‘Why did God build the first temple outside the state of Utah on a rock out in the middle of the Pacific?’

“I guess he could see some things that other people couldn’t see. When this ground was dedicated by President Heber J. Grant, he said, ‘May all who walk upon the grounds which surround this temple in the years to come feel the sweet and peaceful influence of this sacred and hallowed spot.’”

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CH A NG ES IN MISSIO NA RY WO R K

The Swintons said the church is making changes in using new resources in missionary work. Elder Swinton said, “The idea of knocking on doors is a thing of the past because people aren’t opening their doors.

“We are knocking on the computer as people are opening the computer. Last month we sent out 2,200 referrals to local missionaries at this Visitors’ Center: 2,200 referrals where people agreed through communication with our sisters to have local missionaries come and share a message.”

Elder Swinton explained how the internet can facilitate missionary work. He said Mormon.org can be used globally to provide people with a free Bible, and missionaries can use different resources in helping people become more aware of the gospel. When the sisters see these kinds of requests, “The goal is not to have the Bible sent to them but have local missionaries bring it to them. The next goal is, ‘By the way, we have another valuable book of scripture called the Book of Mormon. Would it be all right if missionaries brought that with them too?’

“If they can get the people to agree to allow local missionaries to come to their home to deliver the product and leave them a message about Jesus Christ, that is what we call a referral sent. Sisters push a button and everything they have entered into the computer about that person is sent as a text message to the cellphones of the missionaries serving in the area where that person lives.”

Advancements in technology also allow missionaries to connect with people around the world in a convenient way.

Elder Swinton said, “Just in the last couple of months, we now have web cams. Our sisters now have been given authorization.

“We live with them. We live in this little compound up on the hill by the temple, where we all live by each other and so if they need anything, they are knocking on my door. That connection is so different from any other assignment. We are just with them all the time - all day long.

- Sister Swinton

The Visitors’ Center saw an increase in traffic after the Swintons had the sisters invite PCC customers to come to the center and increasing the number of buses carrying people to and from the PCC. Photo by Alvin Dy.

“The church has sent out a new letter to all the missions in the world saying we are introducing an idea called collaboration where sister missionaries in visitors’ centers can continue to teach people online and coordinate through teaching with local missionaries - and stay connected to the local missionaries and the people. Although they are not standing in the living room presenting a lesson, they can be teaching the lessons online or with Skype.”

He continued, “Although they are not going to the baptisms or in the living room teaching, they connect with these people, keep in contact, and they answer the questions. While the missionaries are teaching them at a local level, these sisters are answering the questions they have and staying connected with them.”

D I F F E R E N CE BE T W E E N A M I S S I O N PR E SI D E N T A N D A DI RE CTO R

Elder Swinton, who previously served as a mission president in Southern England, said he did not expect to serve as a director for the Visitors’ Center. “We were sort of surprised, and I have been surprised at my perception of the importance of Visitors’ Centers.

“When we were in England, we started a Visitors’ Center on the London Temple grounds, but it wasn’t in a location where thousands of people stopped by. The London Temple was rather isolated.”

The couple said before arriving in Hawaii as the Temple Visitors’ Center directors, they had toured the grounds, but never went inside the Visitor’s Center. Elder Swinton said at the time it wasn’t important to them. “In a way, we joked that

we have been punished and sent back to spend two years.”

Serving as directors of the Visitors’ Center is “different than being a mission president,” he said. As mission president, he and his wife would only see their missionaries twice a transfer with missionaries serving miles away from the mission home. “Here I am not their president. They still have a mission president. But when they are called, their call letter says, ‘You are assigned to the Hawaii Honolulu Mission with your primary responsibility to serve in the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors’ Center.You are to report to and take counsel from your visitors’ center director and your mission president.’

“I come now with having the experience of being a mission president, and I work every day hands on with the sisters.

You become so much more close to them. So much more attached. It becomes a little emotional. We hate to see them go home.”

Sister Swinton explained why their connection to the sisters is so strong. “We live with them. We live in this little compound up on the hill by the temple where we all live by each other, and so if they need anything, they are knocking on my door. That connection is so different from any other assignment. We are just with them all the time - all day long.

“There is this community of missionaries where we are all part of the same whole. We are all working together, and it’s a unique assignment in that way. Every visitors’ center is different. They all have a different group that they draw from, but this is a particularly satisfying one because we are so close to each other and we have so much in common. We just get up in the morning, do the Lord’s work, and go to bed at night. It’s been a great blessing.”

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Sister missionaries pause for a photo with Sister Swinton. Photo by Olivia Tsan Continued from Page 21

Elder Swinton said, “Our goal for each of these sisters is not how many people they baptized. Our goal is to send them home having learned everything the Lord would have themlearn in these 18 months of their service, so they are better prepared to go home and be wives, mothers and church leaders and build upon what they gathered here.”

Sister Swinton said, “We learned when the Lord asks you to do something, that’s what you do and you give it everything you got.” The couple said they are not thinking about what they will do when they return home. They are still focused on running the Visitors’ Center to run and working with the missionaries.

They said they had five sons and never raised any girls, so working with the sister missionaries was a brand new experience for them. “We are sort of learning how to be parents of girls. In a lot of ways, we are parents here. We are trying to help them along their paths of life,” said Sister Swinton.

T HE LOVE O F S E RV I CE

Sister Swinton said she enjoyed her time serving at the Laie Temple Visitors’ Center and described it as being different than what she had expected.

“I really appreciated that it’s not a lot of big meetings and not a lot of big organizations as much as it is one-on-one time with individuals and helping them grasp the significance of the doctrine and helping them to really appreciate and draw upon the atonement in their life,” she said.

Brother Swinton shared, “It gives you an opportunity to bear witness so you know the spirit can touch their hearts.You don’t have very much time. We only have a short time with

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people, so we have to make the most of that time with our guests and with our sisters.

“We get to watch them grow and develop through the mission. We plan trainings that will help them, spend time with them and take them to lunch.You really get to know people.

It’s that one-on-one I have really enjoyed with this particular assignment, which I feel really made the difference.”

Sister Elden from Colorado who served with the Swinton’s for 14 months, said, “Looking at the Swinton’s life, you see so much success and so much devotion they paid to the church. They have had struggles in their life. They have had difficulties, but they always understood that their calling comes from God.

“They always value their relationship with God. They have done the same here, and it’s been really cool and valuable as a sister missionary to be able to work closely with them and see how as a companionship, the two of them are always putting God first. Every decision they make has this perspective of eternal consequence in their relationship but also in the Lord’s work here at the Visitors’ Center.”

Another missionary, Sister Edington, said, “No matter what in their life, they are putting God first in front of any other relationship. They are so focused on their work and passion about what they do, and they are really willing to sacrifice anything in their personal life to just get the work done here and improve it.”

When the Swintons return home to Colorado, they said they will continue to serve and do whatever the Lord requires them. Sister Swinton, who has written documentaries on the Prophet Joseph Smith and the movie “The American Prophet” shown on PBS, said she hopes to write more documentaries. •

campus life

in this section All of the African students at BYUH share how they got to Laie and why they came

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Student workers explain their job’s benefits for future careers

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Dr. Jonathan W. Shute: School of Education internship changes lives of children in Fiji

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Couples say working through intercultural differences requires an effort to understand each other

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JANUARY 2018

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CACU MPLT UU S RE LIF E

Representing

Africa

Five BYU-Hawaii students from Africa share their stories of where they come from and where they’re going B Y CO U RTN E Y B O W

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REBECCA UDOH Junior from Nigeria studying business management HOW DID YOU FIND THE CHURCH?

“I joined the church when my uncle who was in Canada came back after getting his Ph.D. He came back to Nigeria and brought the Book of Mormon. I remember going to his house and seeing the Book of Mormon. He always encouraged us to look inside, but I never did. I thought he belonged to a cult called Mormon. I remember that’s what interested me. I thought, ‘Yeah, you’re a cult member. I’m going to expose you.’ But when I opened the book, I learned that it talked about Jesus Christ just like the Bible. I learned that it wasn’t evil. It was actually really good. I investigated the church for three years before I actually joined. When I joined, I was 15 or 16. When I was in high school, I used to be so rough, but the Book of Mormon and the missionaries helped me change.”

HOW DID YOU END UP COMING TO BYU-HAWAII?

“Well, I served my mission in another part of Nigeria. My parents joined the church while I was on my mission and so did my brothers and sisters.

After my mission, my mission president sent me a message to see how I was doing and he sent me some applications to BYU. I applied, but I was rejected by BYU-Hawaii because they said Africa was not one of the target areas for the school. So I applied to Provo and went there. But then Robert Gay from the Seventy decided to sponsor me, and I went to Southern Virginia University and I graduated with my bachelor’s in biology. After my graduation, I wanted to keep studying. I went home to Nigeria for a break and then tried coming back to the United States, but I couldn’t because of my Visa. So I had to stay home for two to three years.

But then it worked out and I ended up here.”

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO AFTER GRADUATION?

“Well, back home I got a job in a hospital with my biology degree, but that’s not really what I want to do. I had a personal experience where I lost my best friend. That’s when I felt like if I couldn’t use my degree to help anyone, then it doesn’t mean anything. I thought business would be a good fit for me, so I’m trying to advance myself and combine this degree in business with my biology degree and do medical sales. I would love to own my own business one day.”

HIBA ARKOH

Junior from Ghana studying hospitality and tourism management and information technology WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP LIKE WITH THE CHURCH?

“Well, I’m not a member. Because I went to Moroni High School, I went to seminary and institute and I stayed in the dormitory, so I was just like a member. People called me a ‘dry’ member. In my last year of high school, I was elected student body president. I was really blessed to have that opportunity because it opened up a lot of doors for me. I go to church because I’ve been going for almost 10 years already.”

HOW DID YOU END UP COMING TO BYU-HAWAII?

“My family moved to Kiribati when I was 12. I went to Moroni High School (an LDS school) for like six years, and they give a scholarship to the top three students. I got the scholarship and that’s what brought me here.”

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT BYU-HAWAII?

‘The students are really friendly. Ever since high school, everyone is like too friendly. Everyone is like family.You get to know tons of people in the dormitory. So far all of my roommates are really good. One of them is my co-worker. She’s trying to convert me, but I don’t know.

She served her mission and she’s like, ‘Okay, so now we have to try and baptize you. I’ll teach you whatever you want to learn.’ She’s really nice. I also like the Honor Code. I like being in a place where there’s a standard.”

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO AFTER GRADUATION?

“When I’m finished I might go to school again. I’m trying to get degrees in a few things because I have a dream of helping people in Africa. Even right now we’re working on a project [with BYUH Enactus] where we [went] to the Congo in December. We [helped] women who have ideas but don’t have the resources, so we’re helping them with crowdfunding.

If we can, we’ll get them the resources to help out. I’m planning on going to BYU Provo after graduation for another degree or master’s.

I’m still deciding.”

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EPHREM SMITH

Sophomore from Ethiopia studying business management and HTM

RUTH BEREHE

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU GROWING UP?

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU GROWING UP?

HOW DID YOU END UP COMING TO BYU-HAWAII?

HOW DID YOU END UP COMING TO BYU-HAWAII?

“I was born in Ethiopia, and then I was raised in an orphanage with about 400-to-500 kids. I was very blessed to have been adopted into an American family. The first adoption failed because it wasn’t a healthy atmosphere, but then I was able to go to a foster home near Reno, Nevada. I lived in a foster home for about a year, and then this family invited me into their home with love and care. I was then adopted when I was about 17. I’m deeply grateful for my family.”

“I went on my mission when I was 18 years old. Out of all the schools there was BYU-Idaho, BYU Provo and BYU-Hawaii, which were all options. I didn’t know a lot about BYU-Hawaii because it’s an island and I wanted to go to an island, but I was thinking about going to Saint Thomas (the Virgin Islands), … but BYU-Hawaii was an LDS school so I decided to go here. It wasn’t an easy journey because I had to meet their standard as a domestic student, so there was a higher expectation to get into school here. I went to Utah Valley University first to set up a blueprint to come here. Coming here wasn’t easy. I had to work.”

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO AFTER GRADUATION?

“Initially I was thinking I want to own my own restaurant, but right now I’m shifting over to wanting to manage resorts. I definitely need to work hard to get to that level. My vision is to help those individuals who feel hopeless especially in foster care or orphanages. I want to help in any way I can. That can be through donating through Boys & Girls Clubs, anyway I can help. I believe that everybody deserves to be happy and deserves to enjoy life.”

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Freshman from Ethiopia studying mathematics

“I was born in Ethiopia. I grew up there my whole life. Living in Ethiopia and living in the United States are very different. Here you do your own thing, but there it’s more with friends; like your friends are a big part of your life. It’s very different. Each house back home is connected.

Sometimes I joke that there are no secrets between your neighbors because you can always hear them. There are a lot of languages in Ethiopia. The main language is Amharic and we speak that in my family.”

“I was in Utah before. I got a scholarship when I was in high school and then I just took the chance. I graduated from high school in Utah and then went to Weber State for a semester and then transferred here. It was hard moving to Utah because I’m really close with my mom. She’s like my best friend, so it was hard not having her there, but now it’s better.

I haven’t seen them since I was 16 or 17. I call my family a lot though. I was even talking to my mom last night.”

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO AFTER GRADUATION?

“I’m not actually staying here. I’m staying for maybe one more year, but I’m not sure. I’m just getting my generals or associate’s degree and then transferring to BYU Provo. My dream job is as an aerospace engineer. It might be years and years to get where I want to go, but we’ll see. That’s why I came to America – to learn and follow my dream. There’s no way I could get a job in Ethiopia after studying aerospace engineering. We don’t have NASA in my country. I love my country, but my goal is to get a job here and do humanitarian work to help my home.”

main reason why BYU-Hawaii was created. So she helped me throughout the process until I got accepted. It was hard to get an I-WORK scholarship because they were clear that their boundaries didn’t cover Africa, so I had to fight for it. They realized that I deserve to be here so they gave it to me, and I’ve been grateful for that.”

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO AFTER GRADUATION?

PRINCE OWUSU Senior from Ghana studying political science

“I want to go get my master’s in international relations for now. I want to be an ambassador. I don’t know how it’s going to happen, but I know it’ll work out. That is my main goal. I want to work with the government, but I don’t want to be a politician. I want to be behind the scenes working to change certain things in the government like corruption. I want to make sure things are done right. There are so many people with degrees and so I feel like I need to do more than just have a degree. It doesn’t matter what certificate you have to make a difference, but with the state in which my country and many African countries are in right now, I feel like I need to get more education in order to be on a level to change things.”

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU GROWING UP?

“I come from a family of 10, and so with my mom and dad, we are 12.

My dad was the one who took me [to the orphanage] when I was 10 years old and said, ‘We want you to care for our son,’ which was crazy.

I was the only one of my siblings they took, but I didn’t believe I had to fight with my dad in doing that. I never questioned them as to why they took me. It’s a rough story, but I think it was all part of the process.

Everything about me changed when I went to the orphanage. I loved it.

It was one family. When I go home, I don’t feel like I belong to any place but the orphanage home. That is where I spend my time because that is where I feel like life started for me. The Lord knew what he was doing.”

HOW DID YOU FIND THE CHURCH?

“I found the church through a member who had studied over here in the states. He owned a school. His name is Abraham Fokuo. I consider him my father. He said if you want to be like me, the key is the church. Living with him as a father, he taught that it is part of your recommendation as a man to go on a mission. So even throughout the process, you have the mindset that you’re going to serve a mission. Most of us under him went on a mission. Even though it was a big fight between him and my family, I went on my mission to the Ivory Coast Cote d’Ivoire Mission from 2010-2012. I didn’t tell my mom or dad, and by the time they knew, I was already out in the mission field. I never regretted that decision to go.”

HOW DID YOU END UP COMING TO BYU-HAWAII?

A friend introduced me to the school. Initially, I wanted to go to Idaho or Provo, but then I met a friend in the Missionary Training Center because I was a teacher over at the MTC in Ghana for three and a half years. She said that BYU-Hawaii could shape me well. I think she understood my perspective of the future wanting to help people and changing society and stuff. I’m more of an activist so she said that’s the

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Sunny Wong takes a group of tourists around the Polynesian Cultural Center as part of his job as a multi-purpose tour guide. Photo by Olivia Tsan

Working while learning Three students share what it’s like to work in their part-time jobs B Y H E L AM L AU

unny Wong, a sophomore from Malaysia majoring in human resources, has worked as a Chinese multi-purpose tour guide in the Polynesian Cultural Center for 10 months since coming to Laie. He said he will work as a tour guide as long as he can.

He strongly recommended students who have courage to accept challenges to work as a tour guide. He said it helps a lot when you start working in the real world. “The only qualification is being willing to open up. They don’t want people who are shy. It requires me to think more and continuously seek for improvements. I don’t like jobs [where I’m] sitting for a long time.”

S

JOB DUTIES: “Our job is mainly to serve the tourists by bringing

them around the PCC and explaining the cultures of the villages. We

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have to be familiar with the time and location of different activities and shows.”

UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE: “There were two retired couples who were in my tour who might have had family problems. Some tourists come here to escape from the reality. I could tell from experience. I tried to talk to them and they opened up. We had a wonderful time and they invited me to come over to their house during the semester break.”

SKILL OBTAINED/ BENEFITS TO FUTURE CAREER: “I think it is one of the most beneficial jobs you could get in the PCC. People who you meet are connections that you can build. Within the four hours of a tour, you can build a relationship with people. The income of most of the tour-

ists is above average and they have their own companies. I met supervisors and managers of the companies in the states.

“You get to interact with people every time you go to work; you have to talk with people. It is related to my major and contacts in the states, and connections that I made could be beneficial for my future career.”

WAGE: Minimum wage WORK SCHEDULE: Work three days per week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; or Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Shifts are either from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. or noon to 6 p.m.

TRAINING: “We have to get certified on how to give a tour on a canoe and [have] knowledge of the islands. Only male tour guides are required to learn how to push a canoe.

Wong said there is a written test, which is open book but with 100 questions. Three practical tests and three follows come afterwards, where you would partner with certified tour guides and then do 50 percent of the tour. At the end, you have to pass three out of five evaluations to be certified.

BOSS AND COLLEAGUES: “I have a strict but understanding manager

...but he actually takes care of people. Supervisors listen to our concerns.

Every first week of the month, we have a meeting where our concerns would be taken care of by writing down things we are not satisfied with.

They will contact us personally afterwards and try to resolve the problem.

“I have close relationships with my colleagues through working and helping each other.”

G

abriela Corbett, a junior from Washington D.C. majoring in peacebuilding, said she has worked as a student facilitator supervisor in the McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding for more than two semesters. It is also her favorite job compared to her other job as a Portuguese tutor in the Language Center. She is reapplying to keep the job.

JOB DUTIES: “I am responsible for the ‘Arbinger’ work, which is the

name of a theory about how to see people and how your behavior can be more effective in expressing yourself.

“Basically, I plan workshops that could be held in different departments at school like Housing RA training, Language Center, classes, or even in the community. The workshop helps me to improve relationships of families, colleagues, and everyone.

“I also teach the student facilitators how to teach the peacebuilding skill as a supervisor. Part of the job is I am also a teaching assistant in the Peacebuilding 121 class.”

UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE: “Last night, I was helping one of

the students in the 121 class to understand one of the concepts. It was so rewarding to me how much it means to them. They said, ‘You are the best Continues on Page 30

From top to bottom: Sunny Wong, a PCC multi-purpose tour guide; Brian Wheeler, a consultant for the Academic Computer Labs; Gabriela Corbett, a student facilitator supervisor for the McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding. Photos by Olivia Tsan and Breana Rogers JANUARY 2018

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Brian Wheeler says being a consultant for the Academic Computer Labs is the best job he’s had as a college student. Photo by Olivia Tsan Continued from Page 29

TA ever.’ I really care about them and want them to have a good experience in the class.

“At the time, I had to teach the workshop, which lasts for five hours either on Friday night or Saturday morning, I felt like it was a sacrifice.

But later I felt like a change of heart in myself when I heard the students saying, ‘I did not want to be here’ to ‘that was actually really good. Thank you. It was rewarding.’

“You will be involved in lots of awesome things and learn so much.

I got sponsored to go to Israel to teach the Arbinger [method] because of the job.”

WAGE: Minimum wage TIME SCHEDULE: Flexible, clock-in when you work, have to be com-

mitted for three semesters

QUALIFICATION TO APPLY: Must have taken or be taking the Peace-

building 121 class in order to apply for this job and related positions. It is more applicable for a peacebuilding major or certificate.

rian Wheeler, a junior from Hawaii majoring in information technology, has worked for the Academic Computer Labs Service as a consultant for more than a year and a half. It is his favorite job out of the three jobs he’s had as a college student. Previously he had worked as a concession worker at the PCC and a waiter at the Aloha Luau. “I am not going to quit the job.”

B

JOBS DUTIES: “We are in charge of the podiums in the classrooms, the

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computer lab in the Aloha Center, McKay Building and the library. We make sure they are working well. If they have any problems, we just go over to fix it.”

SKILLS OBTAINED/BENEFITS FOR FUTURE CAREER: “It helps

a lot with my major rather than just learning how to do it. When I work for a company in the future where someone is having a problem with computers, I would know how to fix it because I had practical experiences. I am already doing my job before I graduate.”

WAGE: Minimum wage FLEXIBILITY OF WORK SCHEDULE: “Same schedule throughout

the whole semester. It’s convenient because you can work in between classes. Usually do not have to work after 5 p.m.; no work during weekends.”

IS IT TIRING PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY? “It is mentally tiring when there is problems in the computers, but that’s what makes it fun!”

BOSS AND COLLEAGUES: “Our boss understands we have a bunch

of things at school. I really like the people that I work with. They are fun and we have a good relationship with each other.”

QUALIFICATION TO APPLY: “You don’t need to be an IT major, but

if you are, you are more likely to be able to get it.” •

BYUH intern Jessica Page is pictured with her students at the Namuka I Cake school in Fiji.. Photo courtesy Dr Jonathan Shute

t the far northwest end of the island of Vanua Levu in Fiji lies Namuka I Cake, a small primary school servicing 82 students where for eight years the BYU-Hawaii School of Education and Career Services Center have been sending university students for internship programs.

This internship program, started by Dr. John Bailey, a professor in the School of Education, allows these students to live full time at the small school and gain invaluable teaching experience.

The benefits for both Namuka I Cake and interns are difficult to put into words. How do you describe the experience of living among beautiful, young and very poor island children who are excited to be in school? How do you describe the learning that takes place when you see the sacrifice some children make because they believe in the power of education?

A

Fiji School: Namuka I Cake Internship Program BYUH interns build a school and bless the lives of children, says Education professor B Y D R . J O N AT H AN W. S H U TE

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Continued from Page 31

Six students at Namuka I Cake travel 11 kilometers one way every day to attend school.

How do you describe the hope and trust seen in these children’s eyes as they rely on you to be their teacher?

In addition to the intangible gains our School of Education students make, they are also able to practice the effective teaching skills they have learned thus far in their teacher education program.

From the Namuka I Cake point of view, according to the head mistress (principal), Mrs. Meri Sauvou, the biggest gain for the students is the exposure to English. Interns bring with them reading programs and picture books designed specifically for beginning and intermediate English language learners. They also bring with them fluent English proficiency.

According to Sauvou, before this small school was built, parents in the three villages sent their young children to boarding schools

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in different areas of the island. The younger children were unable to be sent because of age and therefore unable to gain an education.

Sauvou explained this tradition lasted for several decades, but as the years passed the parents encountered two major problems: “The financial demands of sending children to this boarding school by boat and providing weekly rations and their expenses were unbearable,” she said.

“Secondly, the parents realized their children missed the indispensable emotional support of the family as strict discipline wore on them through the boarding school lifestyle.”

To solve these problems, the people of the villages of Nabubu, Lakeba, Nasovivi, and Silivakatini collectively worked on the establishment of their own school. Pooling their meager resources and using their own labor, they constructed a classroom block and four teachers’ quarters in 2004 at Namuka I Cake School.

Local timber was used and the men and youth of the villages worked together. The people had to purchase some materials, namely roofing, nails, louver blades, etc. and provide food for the laborers.

Sauvou attributed the success her students are experiencing to the internship program.

She explained, “Our students’ English results are excellent. English is a core subject and students should get a 50 in order to pass the external exams.

“I’m so proud to mention that we had 100 percent of the students who sat the exam passed.” In addition, many of their students are attending high school in Labasa and they are doing well. Some of their students have grown and are now attending University of the South Pacific.

Not only do the students and head mistress appreciate the internship, but so does their community. Ms. Sauvou stated, “The

Left: Students at Namuka I Cake School read, walk to school and pause for a photo. Above: The island where the school is located. Photos courtesy Dr. Jonathan Shute

people in this community strongly support the interns from BYUH because they’ve seen the improvement with their children’s academic performance.”

This School of Education internship opportunity has been the catalyst for a separate non-profit humanitarian organization, the Millstone Initiative, to step in and help.

Numerous basic fundamental problems exist for this small school and for the interns.

To name a few: lack of electricity and running water, water pumps and rain catchments, decrepit buildings, old, unusable school materials, cracked chalkboards, broken desks and chairs, and many basic schooling materials.

The Millstone Initiative has had success and is appreciative of many people who have donated resources. It is currently raising money to upgrade the facilities at Namuka I Cake. They anticipate being ready to start construction in May of 2018.

In addition to many private donors, Seacology, an environmental group that has completed hundreds of humanitarian projects like this, is the main contributor. Under its direction, the school will be rebuilt. In addition, LDS Charities in the Pacific Area have also pledged to provide desks, chairs, and other materials for the students.

Such is the success at Namuka I Cake School. However, the BYUH School of Education has expanded its internship opportunities.

In the Summer of 2017, seven BYUH students working with the Ministry of Education had the opportunity to travel to the Republic of Kiribati and help at Rurubao Primary School. In the future, we hope this program will expand to such areas as Vanuatu and Indonesia.

A great story that is representative of the great work our interns are doing is told

by Alexis Spencer, a TESOL education major who interned at Namuka I Cake. Alexis wrote,

“It was a usual math morning review. … As I moved around the classroom helping and asking questions, I asked Jessi, a Year 4 boy, what something said.

“Epeli then informed me that Jessi didn’t know how to read and his English wasn’t good.

From the first day in class Jessi had been a troublemaker, he never stayed on task and he bullied the other students. I asked Jessi if he wanted to start doing extra reading during lunch and he agreed. And, of course, Epeli wanted to join us.

“As I started reading each day with these two boys, I was able to see them improve.

One day as I was coming from lunch to the classroom, I was looking around for Jessi. I was nervous that he would become uninterested and stop reading with me. But as I entered the classroom my heart about burst as I saw this little Fijian boy who was constantly getting into trouble, hitting others and glaring classmates down, was now quietly sitting at the table.

“He had his book open and had started without me. It is because of little boys like Jessi and Epeli that I want to be a teacher. I want to help students from all backgrounds have a desire to learn and to be their biggest cheerleader as they are doing so.”

While most of the students who participate in this internship are education majors, students from other majors have also had the opportunity.

For example, Molly McKeon, majoring in intercultural studies and communication, was able to travel to the Republic of Kiribati. Of this experience, Molly wrote, “I learned things during this internship that I would never have learned anywhere else.

“Working with Grade 5 students was incredible. The kids were smart, funny, willing to learn and they know how to relax and have fun.

I can say that I helped out in the school, but in reality, I was the one who gained the most. This was one of the best experiences of my life!”’

Our School of Education internship is providing exciting opportunities that our students and the primary school students will remember for their lifetimes.

For more information, students can contact Dr. Shute at jon.shute@byuh.edu. •

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We both are really adaptable... but whenever we have issues, we talk and fix it. We can solve problems together.

- Brenda Aquino da Silva Okada.

Chinese-Japanese couple Himmy Wu and Koshin Kitagaki plan to marry in April. Photo by Olivia Tsan

I don’t speak Japanese and he doesn’t speak Chinese. We can only communicate in English, which is not our first language. That made it harder to express ourselves.

- Himmy Wu Japanese-Brazilian couple Ken Okada and Brenda Aquino da Silva Okada met in Paraguay. Photo by Olivia Tsan 34

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Love Conquers Intercultural Differences

Two couples from different countries said through talking things out and loving the other person, they are able to have strong relationships B Y H E L AM L AU

wo couples from different parts of the world shared how they transcend their cultural barriers through love and understanding.

Koshin Kitagaki, a sophomore from Japan majoring in accounting and his fiancee, Himmy Wu, a TESOL sophomore from Hong Kong, said misunderstandings happen for a variety of reasons but being willing to apologize and take the time to make sure each other understands completely what they say in English, which is their second language, has helped them.

Ken Okada, a junior majoring in accounting from Japan and his Brazilian wife, Brenda Aquino da Silva Okada, said working to understand each others cultures and learning their language has helped them. But they added they don’t require each other to immerse themselves in their spouses’ culture.

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BEYOND JAPANESE AND CHINESE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, THERE ARE PERSONALITY CLASHES

“I had told everyone I was going to find a Japanese girl at BYUH. However, it just happened. I met this girl and fell in love with her,” said Kitagaki, referring to Wu. They are planning on getting married in April.

Having been in the relationship for almost a year, Kitagaki said for Wu and himself, he believes differences or trials aren’t always attributed to cultural dissimilarities. “If we have conflicts at times, it was because of the difference in our personalities.”

In terms of resolving conflicts or arguments, Kitagaki expressed, “Sometimes I knew it was not my fault, but I would be the first one to apologize. I do not want to correct her by saying, ‘I was right and you were wrong.’ That is not my first priority. More than that, I love her.”

Wu replied, “He is always the first one to apologize.” She said sometimes he does things that hurt her but he doesn’t realize it.

Kitagaki referred to himself as a reserved person who is more of a

listener than a talker. “For Himmy, she is the opposite. She just talks, talks, talks and talks,” he said. “I feel more comfortable to be with her because I don’t have to constantly think of how to start a conversation. It is fun to be with her. She has something that I don’t have, which I have found attractive.”

Wu said something that stood out to her with her fiancé is he is a really righteous person. “He never cheated and copied homework the times I wanted to look at his answers. His standards made him stand out from others.”

“We had three of the same EIL classes. We saw each other every day. Because of that, we got to know each other more and we even did homework together. I think he is smart and I always asked him about homework.”

She added, “I can tell he loves his family so much, which is something that I wanted for my boyfriend and even my husband.”

Wu said she thinks it is undeniable that their different languages do have an impact on their relationship. “I don’t speak Japanese and he doesn’t speak Chinese. We can only communicate in English, which is not our first language. That made it harder to express ourselves. “ She explained how different languages were not the biggest issue in their relationship. “Our miscommunication mostly is not a result because of the language.

“At times I thought he understood what I meant, so I did not explain further. In fact, he did not. How we respond to each other and how we share our thoughts is the key.”

As an example of sharing cultural differences and accepting each other’s traditions, Kitagaki said he thinks Wu uses chopsticks poorly because they can be used differently. in the two countries.

Additionally, in Chinese culture, when a girl gets married, the groom is required to pay a certain amount of money for owning the bride according to an agreement with both families. Kitagaki said he was confused by the purpose of this tradition.

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Left: Himmy Wu and Koshin Kitagaki; Right: Ken Okada and Brenda Aquino da Silva Okada. Photo by Olivia Tsan

The couple explained how through small sacrifices, they are striving to take the time to get to know each other’s cultures. Wu said she is taking Japanese 101 and preparing herself to live in Japan in the future. In the meantime, Kitagaki said he is spending more time to attend activities held on campus about Hong Kong.

Kitagaki said he now lives with a bunch of Hong Kong guys, who try to be friends with him. He expressed, “I did not feel uncomfortable when I went to Hong Kong group activities with Wu. However, I still feel I don’t belong to them, which is normal to feel that way.”

Wu said, “We spoke Cantonese a lot still when we hung out with a bunch of Hong Kong people. That was why I always translated for him.”

“Her Hong Kong friends are really welcoming to me,” said Kitagaki. “They are really nice. They support and care about me.

They talked to me in English and asked me many questions. They invited me to play soccer and video games. They don’t exclude me even though I am not from Hong Kong.

“We are planning to live in Hong Kong to save money for four to five years and then move to Utah for further study. Ultimately, we would stay in Japan. That is the best for us,” Kitagaki said.

A JAPANESE-BRAZILIAN COUPLE’S STORY

Ken Okada, a junior majoring in accounting from Japan and his wife Brazilian, Brenda Aquino da Silva Okada, said she is going to start her studying at BYUH this semester.

The couple said they first met as fellow employees at a company they worked for in Paraguay for four months. Ken Okada said he went for an internship while his wife was invited by her ex-boyfriend to work with him in another place. However, she broke up with the then-boyfriend two weeks before her flight.

Brenda Okada said, “He is the first Japanese [person], both born and raised in Japan, I have met. It was even crazier that I met him in Paraguay.” She said she wasn’t sure how they started dating after only three weeks of having met each other.

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Ken Okada said, “I wanted to marry a Japanese girl and that’s why I came to BYUH. I did not plan to have an official relationship with a girl who is not from Japan before, unless I found her really attractive or special. … Nationality is not a big issue.”

They recently got sealed in the temple in Brazil after dating for 11 months. After their marriage, Aquino da Silva Okada said she followed her husband to BYUH. “We both are really adaptable,” her husband added. “We fight often, but whenever we have issues, we talk and fix it. We can solve problems together.”

She added her husband does not require her to immerse herself 100 percent into the Japanese culture nor live like the Japanese, “but he understands my background.”

“For the first month of the long-distance relationship, it was really hard for me and I was thinking about breaking up. Ken went over from Japan to Brazil to stay for two days with me to make me change my mind. After he did that, I knew he was totally committed.”

She said before meeting her husband, she would rather have studied in Brazil then to come to BYUH. “My original plan was to continue my education in Brazil after finishing the work in Paraguay, but then I met him.”

Ken Okada said, “Sometimes the language is hard.” He said with some topics, he does not feel fluent enough to talk about in English. “However, I feel like we do it all right.”

He continued, “Language is not a big issue. … I am learning Spanish and Portuguese from Brenda.” Okada said he thinks their relationship is good for his future career because he wants to work in an international corporation.

“I am learning Portuguese for her family, as I have some language barriers with them. They don’t feel comfortable to speak English. It is better for me to learn Portuguese so that I can show them respect. I want our kids to speak Portuguese too.”

Regarding cultural differences, Brenda Okada said she felt like Japanese and Brazilians can often have opposite characteristics. “Japanese are rather quiet and super polite. Brazilians are kind of loose and we love to joke around. I don’t mind the differences, but I know I would miss the craziness of Brazilian culture. … I tried my best to fit in [with] the culture.”

Ken Okada expressed frustration towards his wife’s culture during his first year of living in South America. “The working atmosphere is pretty loose.

“When I was in Brazil, the workers there were not working hard enough. I didn’t get it. That is not how we get work done in Japan.”

Brenda Okada said, “He doesn’t get Brazilian jokes with a lack of Brazilian background knowledge and also the language. We have a different sense of humor. He is still funny though.”

One other cultural difference for the couple was cleanliness.

Ken Okada said, “In Japan, we like to maintain cleanliness rather than making a mess and then clean it up.” •

lifestyle

in this section Montreal Protocol has eliminated ozone depleting substances for over 30 years, says professor

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Journaling helps work through life’s problems, say student and faculty

44

Simple fried chicken recipe with additional oriental sauce

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How to opt in to receive tax forms electronically through Workday

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Study finds urine and fresh water worsen jellyfish sting wounds but suggests hot water and vinegar as alternatives

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Credit cards can acquire up debt but wise usage can build credit history

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Traveling alone allows for independence and a self-set pace

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The ozone layer is made up of ozone gas that consists of O3 molecules

O3

This allows heat and a few UV rays to enter the atmosphere

O2

O3 C

C

C

CFCs and HCFCs break down O3 to O2 that can’t absorb high wavelength UV rays Harmful UV rays are then able to go through the hole in the ozone layer

CFCs

O2

F C C

Cl

HCFCs

Illustration by Emmalee Smith and Lorin Vilayvong

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The 30th anniversary of the

Montreal Protocol Professor says it is of the most successful environmental treaties B Y E M M AL E E SM I TH

ast year, the 30th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol was celebrated, which eliminated ozone depleting substances and avoided what could have been an increase in skin cancer and global warming, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Montreal Protocol was put in place on Sept. 17 1987 by 197 countries, making it the first United Nations treaty to obtain universal agreement.

Spencer Ingley, an assistant professor of biology at BYU-Hawaii, said, “The Montreal Protocol is a good instance of people coming together to make a positive impact and demonstrates that we can come together.”

According to a simulation run by NASA, if it wasn’t for the Montreal Protocol, nearly two-thirds of the ozone layer would be gone in 2065 and the ultraviolet radiation on the earth would be so strong that it could cause sunburn in only five minutes in cities like Washington, D.C. Rachel Fears, a senior biology major from California, said a depleted ozone layer causes higher instances of skin cancer all over the world but especially in Australia. She said Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer because it’s so close to Antarctica where there is a hole in the ozone layer. The hole lets through ultraviolet light rays that can cause cancer.

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Mark Cannon, the dean of the BYUH’s College of Math and Sciences and a professor of biochemistry, explained the ozone layer is a band in the upper atmosphere around the earth that absorbs most of the high energy UV rays but lets the visible light rays pass through.

According to NASA, the Antarctic ozone hole was first detected in 1985 and “opened the eyes of the world to the effects of human activity on the atmosphere.”

Scientists found that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were widely used as refrigerants and spray aerosols were the main reason of ozone breakdown, according to National Geographic.

These chemicals are damaging because they destroy the ozone and stay in the atmosphere for about 20 to 100 years, according to the Ozone Hole website.

CFCs are also considered a kind of greenhouse gas, according to EPA, and includes gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gas.

Cannon compared the greenhouse effect to a car with closed doors and rolled up windows. “The sun rays are able to come through the window and the energy from the sun is absorbed into the seats and other items of the car. This is then turned into infrared radiation.

“The energy then tries to escape back through the window, but the window is not transparent to infrared radiation and the heat gets trapped in the car, making it so hot.

This is what happens to the earth, but instead the windows are GHGs that trap the heat in the atmosphere, instead of a car.”

Ingley said global warming melts ice sheets, which raises sea levels and is an overwhelming problem because over one Continues on Page 40

DECEMB JANUARY ER 2017 2018

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Continued from Page 39

Ingley said, “We have to put economic interests aside third of the human population live near a coastline and are for the better. Science is apolitical and it is going to affect experiencing increasing dangers.

He said, “Global warming can increase the frequency and people of all parties equally.” From a religious standpoint, he explained, “We should be good stewards to what we have and level of storms. Hurricanes feed off of water vapor and warm we can’t turn a blind eye to what is happening. We need to take water, and a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor responsibility.” and increases the sea’s

Sharon Yeap, a temperature.” freshman majoring in

Cannon explained biochemistry from Malaysia, the ocean absorbs a said politicians could help large amount of carbon because they have a lot of dioxide. “The more carbon power. When they don’t dioxide we put into the tell people about global atmosphere, the more it warming, she said, they dissolves into the ocean don’t believe it’s happening. making it more acidic.”

“Politicians need to tell

The ocean can only the truth and people have to hold so much carbon realize it is happening. And if dioxide, according to everyone does their part in Cannon, and global reducing, it can help,” Yeap warming decreases the said. amount the ocean can

She added, “CFCs absorb. Eventually the Almost all scientists could be banned because ocean could become agree that global they could replace them, so saturated that the but people don’t want to atmospheric levels of warming and climate ban things like fossil fuels carbon dioxide increase change are happening. because it’s profitable and much faster. Fears said But the question is how money comes first before ocean acidification can also much do we cause and people.” change the pH level and

She explained she negatively affect coral, fish, what the heck do we do used to work at a palm oil and other organisms. about it? company, and the NGOs

Cannon said, “Almost would always tell them they all scientists agree that -Dr. Mark Cannon were doing things wrong and global warming and climate causing pollution. She said, change are happening. But “It’s bad, but they had to do it anyway to make money. It just the question is how much do we cause and what the heck do costs more to reduce pollution.” we do about it?”

Dr. Cannon said, “The best thing to do is to improve

He explained it is very hard to predict what the earth world economics and help poor countries. People in poverty will be like years later. “The climate is extremely complex don’t have the luxury to worry about the environment.” • and because of our limited understanding of all the different systems that affect climate, our computer models predicting what will happen in the future cannot always be relied on.”

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Campus Comment

Meaning of Your Names B Y H E L AM L AU HOU FUBO

junior, China, accounting “‘侯’ is an ancient Chinese surname meaning ‘nobleman.’” He said “富博” is what his parents hoped for him to be blessed with, while “富” stands for “wealth” and “博” stands for “intelligence.”

侯富博

CH R ISTO P H ER A NT H O NY CH A NDR O O

senior, Los Angeles, exercise sport science

“‘Christopher’ means the carrier of Christ and my last name ‘Chandroo’ comes from India, meaning ‘moonlight.’”

Christopher

J E O NG E U N PAR K

senior, Korea, social work

‟‟‟

“My mom has the same [name] ‘Jeong,’ so I got it from her. My parents named me ‘Jeongeun’ because they wanted me to be a person who shares grace to others.”

박정은

T R EY G UNNER WO R KMA N

sophomore, Arizona, political science

“Both of my parents are huge fans of sports and both did sports like crazy throughout high school and college. ‘Trey’ in basketball means a shot of three points. ‘Gunner’ comes from my dad’s favorite companion on his mission.”

Trey K E RI N L AG I N ONO O P U-P UA -O -T E-H INA NO NO FO SIP IL I

freshman, New Zealand, peacebuilding

Ke ri n

“My mom is from Cook Islands and my dad is a Samoan. My name tells about where I am from physically in the earth. ‘Nono’ means Cook Islands, ‘Opu-pua-O’ is Tahitian, and ‘Nofo’ is Samoan.

The meaning of ‘Lagi’ is heaven. My name also shows I am a child of God, and that’s why I am from Heaven. ‘Kerin’ is my mother’s middle name [and] ‘Sipili’ is my last name.”

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How to relieve a jellyďŹ sh sting Students and professors give insight into different techniques of dealing with stings B Y E M M AL E E SM I TH

Information from Professor Kikiana Hurwitz Illustration by Emmalee Smith and Mckenna Locken

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A study conducted by BYUH professors shows the best treatments for a jellyfish sting are pouring hot water or vinegar on the wound. Photo by Alvin Dy

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ikiana Hurwitz, a BYU-Hawaii professor in the Natural Science Department, found different methods to treat a jellyfish sting based on her experiment in 2016 and debunk some myths passed on by students.

Hurwitz said the experiment, done with some colleagues, showed hot water or vinegar are the best treatments for the sting.

“So if you were stung, the absolute best thing to do with no money on you, would be to go home and take a hot bath,” said Hurwitz. In her experiment, she said they used water from 42 to 45 degrees Celsius, which is just a little hotter than a hot tub. “If you essentially got into a hot tub and stayed there for 15 minutes or so, that would be the best treatment.”

One of the famous myths regarding jellyfish stings include peeing on it, according to BYUH students. Oni Rareba, a freshman studying exercise science from Texas, said she was told peeing lowers the swelling.

Kendal Keung, a senior studying exercise science from New Zealand, agreed and said, “My nan tells you to pee on it.”

Espirit Saucier, an assistant professor in marine biology, said the myth probably came about because acidic solutions help remove the toxins and urine is slightly acidic. “But if anyone is ready to pee on you, they’re not dehydrated enough to make it worth your effort. Plus, it’s also not very hygienic.”

Hurwitz said when she tested urine in her experiment, they found peeing does make it a little better because of the heat. “[We found out] it’s not the active compounds in it that would cause it to feel better. It’s most likely the heat or the temperature that would make it feel better.”

She said while it may feel better, “long-term it’s probably still best to get a hot bath or get in a hot tub.”

Stine Plomgren, a sophomore studying anthropology from California, said when she googled methods to cure the sting, it said to scrape off the stingers and rinse it with saltwater, which Hurwitz said is the wrong treatment.

“That would be bad. The rubbing of it will cause the cnidae to discharge,” said Hurwitz. According to Saucier, cnidae are microscopic organelles the jellyfish has on its tentacles, and when brushed against, they are released onto the skin.

Saucier added, “The stinging is [caused by] the cnidae bursting and injecting toxins into you.You want to wash off the ones that have not yet stung you. The best thing is to get the rest of the tentacle off you or the [rest of the] cnidae.” Saucier recommended using something acidic, like vinegar.

Hurwitz said the rubbing could be used as a distraction to make the pain feel less [painful], “but I feel like those who’ve done it have gone home and probably felt more pain after that.” She suggests not rubbing because in the long term it makes it worse.

“If you had money and you knew you were going to get stung a lot and you wanted to have treatment on the spot, the ‘sting no more’ cream was developed in our laboratory,” added Hurwitz. “The formulation of this cream and spray was created for on-the-spot beach treatment.

But this costs money, and vinegar you can go to the store and buy a five gallon for a couple of dollars.”

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No more forgotten stories BYU–Hawaii students and faculty emphasize the importance of keeping a journal B Y H AN N AH J O N E S

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ournaling is a great way to work through emotions, record stories for posterity, get more comfortable with writing, and monitor spiritual progression, according to BYU-Hawaii students and faculty.

Stephanie Robertson, a special instructor of English, has her students write in a journal every day. She said, “I love journaling because I feel like it helps [students] to break whatever is holding them back in writing. They’ll prove to themselves that they [can] and do write something.”

Robertson found herself journaling at a young age because of encouragement from her mother. She stated, “I never felt like I was good in school, but I loved to write. Something would just click, and I think journaling had a lot to do with that.

“I think it helps you to work through things. I think it helps you to solidify where you

Left: Students say journaling helps to record your stories and monitor your progression.

Right: Special Instructor Stephanie Robertson says journal writing helps her get through challenges.

Photos by Olivia Tsan and Alvin Dy

stand and how you feel, and to just get it all out on the page sometimes just makes people feel better. It helps you to understand yourself better.”

Sierra Ford, a freshman majoring in psychology from California, writes in a journal once a week. She said, “The things I write down the most are spiritual experiences so I am able to recognize the Lord’s hand in my life more.”

Although Ford uses journaling primarily for the spiritual aspects of her life, she said, “You can’t record history with just spiritual things.You need to know where those spiritual things fall into your everyday life.You can’t just write the spiritual things because then there’s no context to it.”

Ford keeps a journal so she can review how something felt when she was experiencing it “so that you can help other people, especially your future kids. … As time goes by, you think

something was a certain way, but it wasn’t.”

In addition to journaling for posterity, Robertson mentioned, “Most of my journaling now is … about my kids, just so we can all look back together and remember the good times and the trials we got through.”

“Not everything has to be kept for posterity,” she added. Journaling can help people “work something out” and move on.

Trella Schlutsmeyer, a freshman majoring in art from California, writes in a journal about once a week. She said, “For a long time I didn’t keep a journal, but whenever my family members told their stories, I always wished I could read it from their journals, but none of them ever kept one.”

Schlutsmeyer started her own journal so she could tell her own story. While struggling with what to write about, Schlutsmeyer said she realized, “You don’t have to write a lot.

Some people get it in their heads that it has to be perfect.You don’t have to worry about what you’re writing.”

Robertson added to the sentiment: “Start where you are. I think what is helpful for everyone is to write down how they feel so that it can either help them in the moment, or they can look back at it someday and learn from it.”

“It’s something you won’t regret,” added Robertson, “and if you write something you regret, there is something totally cathartic in crumpling that up and throwing it away.

“There is so much value in journaling.

Mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and sometimes it’s just good for a laugh. … It can help you alleviate stress. It can help you to work through big decisions. It can help you feel better through trials.” •

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Opt in for electronic W-2 form Steps to receive tax document on Workday B Y AN TO N I E TTE YE E

Illustration by Lorin Vilayvong

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YU-Hawaii and Polynesian Cultural Center student employees are encouraged to opt in to receive an electronic copy of their W-2 tax form in Workday, said Payroll Supervisor Rachel Kalama.

The federal deadline for the W-2’s to be mailed out is January 31, 2018, said Kalama. She explained, “Once we make [the W-2’s] available, you can see it right away. Just sign in and you can print it anytime and anywhere you want.

“You have the option to get a paper copy, but that’s just a waste of paper especially if the address is incorrect. And if we mail the W-2’s, you won’t get it until a week or so.”

According to Kalama, not a lot of students know about the availability of the online W-2 option. She said, “We have over 3,500 W-2’s. The more people opt in, the better; the faster you’ll get it too. We’re trying to train and empower student employees to make their lives easier during tax season.”

Before 2016, all W-2’s were in PeopleSoft, said Kalama, but now the W-2’s are in Workday. She advised students to update addresses both in PeopleSoft and Workday to make sure that everything is current and up to date.

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ST E PS TO O PT I N

Kalama enumerated the steps to opt in for an electronic W-2:

Log in to Workday at https://www.myworkday.com/ 1 byuhi/d/home.html

BENEFIT S O F EL ECT R O NIC W-2 FO R MS

Kalama listed several reasons the electronic W-2 forms are preferable. “You’re not going to lose it. It is available 24/7, 365 days a year.You can print it multiple times, and you receive it sooner. It is more convenient. And even when you’ve left the university, you can still see your W-2 as long as you have remembered your username and password.”

Thiery Quimsing, an accounts payable supervisor and BYUH alumni from the Philippines, said the online W-2 is better because of the availability to access it anytime, anywhere.

He said, “Waiting for my W-2 in the mail takes forever, and sometimes it gets lost. Through the online copy, I can start filing my tax return earlier and check for any discrepancy to fix it right away, if there’s any.”

Quimsing shared how accessing the online W-2 copy on Workday is less complicated than on PeopleSoft because “there are a lot of clicks before you can find your W-2. For Workday, it is easier to see and access.”

V IEW EL ECT R O NIC W-2

The only difference between opting in for the electronic W-2 and viewing is the pop-up that shows up, said Kalama. The steps to view your W-2 electronically are: Follow steps 1-3 on “steps to opt in”

4

On “My Tax Document,” under “Tax Year” you’ll see 2017.

Click the “View/Print” button.

5

A “Notify me later” button will pop-up. There is no need to press notify me later. Just wait and W-2 will pop-up in another window. If nothing pops up in another window, see the red “x” in the web address line – click there.

On the “Change Year End Tax Documents Printing Elec 5 tions” page, your name and the company you are em

ployed by will appear below. Click “OK.”

6

A pop will show up – you will need to click on “Always allow pop-ups from…” then click “Done.”

On the page shown below, click the “Receive electronic 6 copy on my W-2/W-2C” radio button.

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Next, click on “View/Print” again and it will pop-up in another window in a few seconds. (See Step 4)

7 Click “OK” and then click “Done.”

For most users that is the complete procedure. The file will open as a PDF document that can be saved or printed. If for some reason that doesn’t work, go to your name on the top right of the screen and click on it, then scroll down and click on “W:Drive.” My Reports will show up and you will see under File Name the PDF of your W-2 from. Click on it and your W-2 should come up. •

2 Click on the “Pay” icon.

3 Under “My Statements,” select “Tax Documents.”

4 Under “My Tax Documents,” click the “Edit” button.

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You will be directed to your “My Tax Documents” page, and from there you may sign out of Workday. To log out of Workday, click on your name in the upper right hand corner of the screen, then in the small drop-down box that appears click “Sign Out.”

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Credit card leads to either debt or credit history Students share the pros and cons of obtaining a credit card experiences and challenges B Y AN TO N I E TTE YE E

EARN REWARDS

CONVENIENT

BUILD CREDIT

USE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

PROTECTION AGAINST FRAUD

While credit cards do create credit histories and are convenient, members of the BYUH ohana warn they can also cause people to spend beyond their means, get into debt and can have high interest rates and fees.

Illustration by McKenna Locken 48

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Using a credit card wisely now as a student can help build credit for future expenses, say students. Photo by Olivia Tsan

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sing a credit card doesn’t have to result in debt but can help build credit to be able to buy a house or car in the future, according to BYU-Hawaii students.

Paul Mooso, an information systems senior from Indiana, said the only reason he’s using a credit card is to build his credit score.

“When I finish school, I will be able to buy a house or car if I want to with my credit score.”

Bank of America’s Better Money Habits blog says a positive credit history “lets creditors know that you can be trusted to lend to.”

Mooso recommended other students get a credit card “so they can build credit and use it in the future if they want to buy a house or car.

Also, flexibility on the amount of money spent is another advantage of obtaining a credit card.”

Makenna Haycock, a freshman studying special education from Georgia, said the main reason she obtained a credit card is for convenience. “It is inconvenient for me to bring cash all the time.”

However, David Waite, assistant professor of entrepreneurship, doesn’t recommend all student get a credit card. He said people who use a credit card tend to spend 15 percent more on average than if they don’t have one. “What we love about our credit card is convenience. When you’re walking in a store and you have cash, you are more likely to spend

within your means.You’re not thinking about spending more because it is harder to pay cash than swipe your credit card.

However, as soon as she turned 18, Haycock said her dad told her to get a credit card “to build my credit score. My sister never got a credit card. She tried to buy a house, but they couldn’t because they didn’t have a credit score. So, they needed to wait.”

According to MoneyTips.com, another advantage of credit card usage is purchase protection. “As opposed to cash purchases, credit cards offer protection against vendor fraud and stolen items.You also have means for disputing fraudulent purchases made in your name.”

Credit cards can also provide a record of expenses, reports MoneyTips.com. A full record of credit purchases is provided monthly to the customer that “outline where your money is going.”

A good record of immediate payment for credit card debt will help build credit score, according to Haycock. She said, “If I owe $200 for the month, I pay immediately. Even though they say I only have to pay $20, the interest fees will add up to my debt. I see to it that I pay the full amount to avoid interest fees.”

Olivet Gasang, a senior majoring in psychology from the Philippines, said she was

prompted to obtain a credit card. “I wasn’t planning to get a credit card until my flight to the mainland last year. I thought I might need immediate funds, and I didn’t want to withdraw from my savings account.”

Gasang said her credit card helped her a lot when she missed her flight last year. “The prophecy I received about getting a credit card was fulfilled. I was able to buy another ticket through my credit card.”

Using a credit card can also result in interest and fees, reports Cornerstone’s Practical Money Skills website. “Wise use of credit means understanding those costs and acting accordingly.”

Nonetheless, Waite said, “I’m not opposed as long as you’re responsible.You can get a credit card if you want because I don’t know how you’re going to get around with it.”

Haycock shared a misuse of credit card by one of her roommates who recently got one.

Haycock said, “She used her credit limit all at once. She was like, ‘I have $200 in my debit card, but my credit card says I have $800.’ So she used her credit card to buy a ticket home.

She’s already in debt.”

Aside from having a higher score, credit cards can also help users “earn a variety of rewards such as cash back, airline miles and discounts,” says Better Money Habits. •

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Traveling alone Students give the pros and cons of traveling to foreign places by themselves B Y AN TO N I E TTE YE E

Students say traveling alone allows you to be independent and move at your own pace.

Photo by Olivia Tsan

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ami, New York, and Seattle. Fesola’i said he was scared at first olo travelers said going out into the world alone gives but “got excited knowing that I will get to see places I want and them a feeling of independence while helping them eat food I’ve never tried before.” get out of their comfort zone.

Fesola’i said he decided to travel by himself because he

Jeremy Malaluan, a senior majoring in computer science might not be able to when he is married and has children. The and information technology from the Philippines, travelled highlight of traveling alone was meeting strangers traveling by alone to Los Angeles and said he was more excited than scared themselves, he added, which because he wanted to explore was fun because they were on the area. “I’m used to living in a the same page. He said, “We third-world country, and Hawaii got to connect, talk about our is kind of similar to the Philipexperiences, and share tips as pines. There are a lot of beautiful solo travelers.” places to explore in the world, Fesola’i recommended stuand that motivated me to go dents try traveling alone because somewhere different from where “it helps you gain experience I came from.” and it puts you out of your com He described his trip as refort zone.You get to learn from juvenating and fun because he was other people, and it makes you able to reinvent his social skills. independent.”

“I stayed in a hostel. Living in one Esther Xavier, an exercise room with other people who have and sports science senior from the same goal as you has made me Malaysia, said her first big trip confident to talk to them. During traveling alone was on her way breakfast, I got to meet new sets to Hawaii from Malaysia. She of people from other rooms too.” described her experience as

One of the reasons Malalu“traumatic” because during an said he decided to travel alone - Lama Fesola’i her transit in South Korea, her was the freedom to manage his luggage keys were stolen. “I was own time. He said, “I can go from freaking out in the airport, but one place to another by myself. no one understood me because When I get tired, I can just take no one speaks English in Korea. It was so hard to explain that I a rest without asking someone. And I don’t have to argue with lost my keys. Everyone was like ‘Ke, ke.’ anyone.”

“On the same trip, I got lost too. Me and another person

According to SmarterTravel.com, one of the pros of in a tour group who speaks English went out together for traveling alone is the freedom to change plans quickly. The site an hour and we were instructed to meet in one of the four reports, “When traveling in a group, changing plans can be buildings, but they all looked exactly the same. We went to rife with interpersonal, financial and other concerns. When every building and missed the meeting place of our group tour traveling alone, you can simply make a decision and move on.

This can apply to decisions both small and large, from deciding because everything was in Korean.”

Xavier said prayer helped her. “God is mindful of us. I where to eat to choosing whether to rent a car and leave town.” didn’t realize I missed locking the most important part of my

Malaluan agreed with this description and said while laughing, “You don’t have to wait for someone to get out of the luggage, which had my travel documents like my passport and visa. Fortunately, I didn’t lose anything.” shower.”

As a first-time solo traveler, Malaluan emphasized the

Lama Fesola’i, an accounting senior from New Zealand, importance of having an itinerary. “Be wise in using Google. It’s spent one month of his summer traveling from the East Coast to the West Coast including: San Francisco, Utah, Orlando, Mi- a skill. And before going to your destination, research about

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...It helps you gain experience and it puts you out of your comfort zone.

You get to learn from other people, and it makes you independent.

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One benefit of traveling alone is being able to pack lightly, Photo by Olivia Tsan Continues on Page 52

the place like the cost of food, hotels, and tourist destinations.

Plan everything to avoid problems. But remember when you encounter something, you’ll get through it.”

Xavier also encouraged travelers to learn basic phrases to survive and make friends before going to a specific country.

“My parents still can’t believe I survived in Korea. Always do a little bit of research where you’re going and don’t be too spontaneous.”

Fesola’i also pointed out that individuals traveling alone should tell people where they’re going in case something happens. “That way, they can find you easily.”

Another bit of advice is to have cash on hand. Fesola’i explained, “There are some places that only accept cash, and it is expensive to withdraw from ATM machines. When I travel, I estimate beforehand how much cash I will be needing and I withdraw before I leave.”

One suggestion from Fesola’i is to use Mutual, the LDS dating app. He said, “I used it when I was in Salt Lake.You’ll

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meet people who would offer you a ride and sometimes tour you around. It’s good because people in the app are members of the church, and sometimes they even pay for your meal.”

One struggle of traveling alone was taking photos, said Malaluan. “There were times in the travel when it was hard to take pictures because I was alone. I can take a photo of the view, but there was no one to take a photo of me in the view.

But it is manageable. It’s either you ask a stranger or just take a selfie.

Malaluan said another struggle is not having someone to hang out with. “Sometimes, you just want to talk to someone consistently … but you have no one to talk to.”

Fesola’i disagreed and said, “I think some people will find it lonely, but I don’t mind.”

Another tip from Malaluan is don’t hesitate to ask people where the best place to go to is and what food to try. “Don’t be afraid to ask around. Be friendly and nice so you can have a good time.” •

feature

in this section Gringo alumni rises to fame in Peru as online social media star

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Hong Kong student starts diamond jewelry business after working in the industry

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‘El gringo más Peruano que tú’ Social media star ‘Gringasho’ wants Peruvians to be proud of their culture B Y J E SSI CA GO N ZAL E Z L E O N

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A screenshot of one of Clayton {Kearl} Thomas’ videos where he talks about how other countries copy Peru.

This is the second video where he discusses these “copycats.”

ith some videos totaling over 4 million views on his online videos and a weekly TV show in production, BYU-Hawaii alumni who stage name is Clayton Thomas has become a Peruvian sensation known as a character named “Gringasho.” His last name is Kearl and was a member of the Seasider Men’s Cross Country Team.

In a private interview conducted in Spanish, the Gringasho told his story of living in Peru for the last two years building a name for himself through comedic videos on Facebook and YouTube.

Originally from Utah, Thomas “served my mission in Peru, so I didn’t choose Peru. I was chosen.” He said he tried really hard to learn about the culture and impersonate a native Peruvian accent.

Due to his knowledge for both the country and language after his mission, his friends said he knew more about the Peruvian culture than they did. He created a slogan for himself, “El gringo más Peruano que tú,” which means, “The gringo more Peruvian than you.”

For almost every video he makes, he has had very positive responses from his viewers.

In one of his first YouTube videos, Thomas shared with his Spanishspeaking audience how since he got back home from his mission, he missed Peru and couldn’t stop thinking about going back. It was in

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January 2016 he decided to go back and start his new life. “Moving to Peru is something that I always wanted to do.”

During his first year in Peru, he worked as a dancer, soccer player, and even waiter as well as other jobs before becoming “Gringasho.”

He said he also adopted the Spanish Peruvian slang, known as “jergas.” Due to his understanding of “jergas,” people started to recognize him as an American boy who knew more about Peruvian culture and slang than they did.

According to his YouTube video translated in English to “10 Reasons Why Peru is the Best,” a viewer comment in Spanish says, “I love the video. All the things he says in the video are true. My Peru is beautiful and unique!”

Another viewer comment written by Jaky Visa says, “Thank you ‘gringo’ for your love. … Your slang is super funny.”

Thomas said his dream is to have his own TV show in Peru, and the ultimate goal of “Gringasho” is to make Peruvians feel pride for their country and roots. “The reason behind Gringasho is that I want people to love Peru because Latinos are really racist among themselves in Peru.” He explained for Latinos, the perception is you’re better if you’re white. That’s the mindset that he wants to change.

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Thomas poses with a guinea pig statue. In one of his videos, el Gringasho wears a guinea pig costume while dancing. He says guinea pig is a delicacy in Peru. Photo by Clayton Thomas

“No one in Peru wants to be from the mountains or descendants of Incas,” he said, “and they are all descendants of Incas.”

Even when they have European ancestry as a culture, Thomas explained Peruvians are part of the indigenous native Inca civilization.

“This pride that I have, I want to bring it out in Peruvians and help them have this pride about Peru. Peru is amazing!”

Jackie Tapia, a Peruvian senior from Washington, D.C. majoring in political science, said, “I have heard about him from some people and met him briefly. However, I believe that it is very touching how someone can cherish a culture other than their own in this manner. One can tell of his passion and love for Peru through his videos and social media.

His admiration for Peru and its culture helps promote the beauty of the country and its people.”

Thomas also talked about a Mormon cultural misconception in Latin America that Mormons are “restricted.” He said, “New generations of members are basically converts because those who were born in the church fall away from the church.”

Thomas collaborated with Mormon.org to do a short video explaining who the LDS missionaries are. The video has had a great response among members and non-members, according to Thomas.

He said, “I am the first social media influencer for the church in South America. I am the first Latin [social media influencer] and I am not even Latino. Well, I have my green card in Peru.”

Thomas shared how he unintentionally received a lot of positive feedback because he wore a guinea pig costume, for his first video.

He said this was before he became known as “Gringasho.” Wearing

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the costume was “funny because a lot of people think the costume is ‘Gringasho,’ but it’s just something I did for one of my videos.”

He explained in Peru, guinea pig is a delicacy they call “cuy.” He said, “I don’t like the head. I chop it off, and I leave the head outside, but it’s good. I love to eat it.”

In a video that has received more than 51,000 views on YouTube, Thomas is dressed in a cuy costume and introduces himself while Peruvian country music is playing: “I’m Clayton Thomas, and I’m more Peruvian than you. I know what you are thinking: ‘What the heck is a gringo doing dancing to this country music in a cuy costume?’ Let me tell you, I’m from the United States and I’m Peruvian at heart.”

Thomas said his parents have been a huge influence on him in creating the show. “My dad is my best friend. To be honest, this ‘Gringasho’ comes from my dad. … Ever since I was about three years old, my dad has been taking me around the world through business trips and conventions.

“My dad is rad and my mom was a professional ballerina [who] became a housewife, so my mom is like the most proper lady you will ever met.”

Thomas said he has received his citizenship in Peru and now resides there. He currently works on a Peruvian TV station right now where once a week he reports for one segment. His own TV show is in the works.

He said he feels lucky enough to have all of his social media accounts under the same username “Gr3ngasho” on Facebook,YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.•

Shine like a diamond

Hong Kong student creates diamond jewelry business to prepare himself to work in the industry B Y H E L AM L AU

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tarting as an employee of an Indian diamond company, Edward Wong decided to begin his own “mini-business” selling diamond rings, necklaces, and bracelets as a hobby. “I like to stay busy,” said the sophomore marketing major from Hong Kong.

Wong got involved with the diamond business when he found a job on the Internet for an Indian diamond company.

“Later, I became a translator of the DS Overseas HK Ltd, which is a diamond supplier company. Its headquarters is in India.”

Familiarizing himself with the business and acquiring skills from that job helped Wong start his own. “It was a small-scale office with a handful of people working where my boss and I were the only people in the office at times, allowing opportunities for me to cover a variety of job duties.

“I had to do everything–not only translating for my boss, but also making transactions with the customers, displaying and selling diamonds to others, grouping diamonds into the same categories, and grading the diamonds.

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“I have learned how to grade diamond with loupes; how to define an excellent diamond based on the subjects of cut, color, clarity; the market price of diamond in order to negotiate with other diamond suppliers; and things to be aware of in the diamond industry to prevent being cheated.”

The idea to start his own business came to him as he was working for the company. “I asked my boss to teach me more about diamonds. I spent time after work to study about it. It was lucky for me to have a great boss and great colleagues back then. They helped and taught me a lot.”

Currently, Wong said he himself handles the merchandise and purchase of raw materials “where different layers of effort and production cost could be reduced. Therefore, the cost and the selling price of a product could be cheaper than the market, and that’s also why I could guarantee a high quality.”

Additionally, Wong said he strives to provide customized service so the product is consistent with customers’ specifications.

“I select and purchase suitable diamonds for the product according

Edward Wong started his own diamond jewelry business after working for an Indian diamond company.

Photo by Olivia Tsan

to the design they showed me beforehand. Video clips and pictures of the diamond I selected would be shown to the customers to see until they were satisfied with it.”

Wong said he found inspiration from Li-Ka Shing, who is “a well-known Hong Kong entrepreneur and billionaire. … I loved to read his biography. One thing that stuck out to me was that he encouraged young people, who have the asset of time and energy, to make investments or do trading after we save enough money.”

After graduation, Wong said he plans to pursue his career in the diamond business. “Starting a business early in my life has been helping me to lay a foundation for my future career after graduation. It is beneficial to start building up a network of customers and sources where I look for the materials.

“I have learned that a good reputation is crucially important for this business. Being honest is definitely the principle I would adhere to.

“I do not intend to sell the products for a high price. People who buy the jewelry from me are mostly friends of my friends or

relatives. At this stage, I feel like gaining experiences is more important than earning a huge profit.”

Since starting his business, Wong shared how his greatest satisfaction and reward is “when my customers send me pictures of their successful proposals and telling me how their loved ones like the diamond.”

A friend and customer of Wong, Chris Nartker shared his admiration for Wong and his business. A senior from Idaho majoring in Biology, Nartker said, “Edward told me if I need to buy an engagement ring one day, I can go to him to get a good deal. I think it is great to see him pursuing his goals, and I hope he is highly successful in the future because he can do a lot of good in the world.”

Recent customer and friend Himmy Wu, a sophomore from Hong Kong majoring in TESOL, said, “I have known Edward for a long time, and I know he is an earnest person. I knew he would be able to do this. I bought my engagement ring from him and it was good quality and a fair price. I know he puts heart and effort in satisfying his customers.” •

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Just like the sand on the beach, a new year washes the old one away.

Photo by Alvin Vincent Dy