Does Masters degree help?

[Bormio]

Hi there,

I am in nursing school in AZ - anticipated graduation 2011 with BSN. I also have a Masters degree In Public Health. I would like to work in trauma. I will be moving to Honolulu in 2012, so I will have 1 yr. of exp. I know this is a ways down the road, but I am a planner by nature! I was thinking of also applying for the summer internship at QMC for nurses between their first and second clinical years. Does anyone have experience with this program?

Also, given all that I have read recently, it seems difficult to secure a position. Will my masters degree help?

Thanks,

Marie

Also, I was thinking of buying a condo at Admiral Thomas and walking to work at Queens. Is this possible and does anyone know anything about what Admiral Thomas is like and/or the neighborhood?

[WindwardOahuRN, RN]

Hi- I can't adress the Masters degree question. I can tell you that it is probably, no make that definately, a good idea to live here for at least 6 months before purchasing a home. This would give you time to asess the neighborhoods and regions on the island before making a comittment. It is a complicated matter to move your household and pets to Oahu. It is quite different to vacation in Hawaii as opposed to living here. And how does an electric bill of over 700 dollars for one month sound? And this is keeping the airconditioner at 78, and having no swimming pool to account for some of the electric use!

That being said, it is fantastic here in many ways. Good luck on your decision.

It's tough to give advice without knowing the financial situation of the OP and of course that's not really our business but yes, the utility costs here are outrageous. I live on the windward side and only use my air conditioning on the days following the nights that I work and our bill is huge. No, no pool, and we are cautious with lights and other energy use but the bills keep climbing no matter what we do.

We're extremely lucky in that we purchased our home over eight years ago, right before the huge rise in prices. The cost of housing on Oahu has evened out but, incredibly, not dropped much at all. Rental costs are through the roof.

I agree---some very thorough investigation, rose-colored glasses off, is a very good idea!

[Bormio]

I live in Scottsdale and I know all about high electricity bills! We stayed in a rental on the North Shore of Kauai last summer and I was shocked by the food bills.

Scottsdale is pretty expensive, too. It seems like overall the cost of living would be about 15% higher than what I am used to here. I am also hoping to save on things like only having one car and walking to work, etc. This would probably be offset, and then some, by going out to eat, however. The restaurants and food in Hawaii is amazing.

Do you feel like you have adapted your eating to what's available on the island? I hear there are farmer's markets, Costco which can help with the cost of food.

I did have a question about fashion. I mean it is a tropical urban environment which are really opposites in terms of fashion. What do women wear? Do people dress up some (like in Scottsdale) or are they super casual. I grew up in Wisconsin and people wear sweat pants and really casual stuff everywhere. Let's say you are going to the mall, do women (not girls) wear shorts, flip-flops or a casual dress?

Thanks so much for indulging my silly questions. I am just so excited and I want to know everything about Honolulu!