Wednesday was the actual day that my ear started to feel less painful. Yay. However, I then noticed later that same evening that I had small clear bumps/blisters all over my hands and fingers. WTF? Since the healthcare here hasn't been amazing, I hopped on the internet to diagnosis myself. GREAT. Fifteen minutes later, I diagnosed myself with a slight case of eczema most likely caused by the climate change. It is now Sunday, and my hands and fingers are back to their fatty sausage-like selves---sans the small blisters.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Ear Infection Gone...Eczema On.
It has been eight days since my ear infection made its lovely appearance. I am now happy to report that I'm about ninety percent back to my normal self. Whew. I did try contacting the doctor's office at one point to make an appointment, but they never called me back. I consider myself lucky that my little ear healed on its own. I've never had an ear infection as an adult before, and I do not wish it on anyone. I lost an entire week because of it, not to mention that it was quite painful, and I couldn't sleep on my left side---which is my preference. Blah.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Rainy Monday Topped with an Ear Infection
Yesterday was an 'inside' day for two reasons.
1. It rained off and on all day.
2. I've been battling an ear infection since Saturday, and I've just been feeling really crummy.
I did go to the Nurses' Station on Ross' campus early yesterday morning, and she informed me that my ear canal did in fact look inflamed. Great. She said I could make an appointment to see a doctor, but I declined. It's 100EC for a doctor's visit, and who knows how much it would cost for the prescription. I'm willing to see if the ear infection will heal itself...*sigh*
So I spent most of the day bumming around. I caught a showing of The Blind Side on one of our movie channels so that was a minor bonus. The doggies knew I wasn't my normal self, so they spent most of the day napping too.
1. It rained off and on all day.
2. I've been battling an ear infection since Saturday, and I've just been feeling really crummy.
I did go to the Nurses' Station on Ross' campus early yesterday morning, and she informed me that my ear canal did in fact look inflamed. Great. She said I could make an appointment to see a doctor, but I declined. It's 100EC for a doctor's visit, and who knows how much it would cost for the prescription. I'm willing to see if the ear infection will heal itself...*sigh*
So I spent most of the day bumming around. I caught a showing of The Blind Side on one of our movie channels so that was a minor bonus. The doggies knew I wasn't my normal self, so they spent most of the day napping too.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sunday Matinee
St. Kitts has a movie theatre. Let me repeat: St. Kitts has a movie theatre. Annnnd, it's very similar to one you'd go to in the US.
Matthew loves movies, so naturally, we went to see one today. After our little jaunt at North Friars Beach—we went home, he studied, and I blogged. Eventually we decided on a movie and a time, and hopped back into the Suzuki.
Let me state now, that when I write that 'we' chose a movie, and that 'we' picked a time—I really mean that Matthew decided on the movie and the time. Our friends and family from back home won't be surprised by this.
I wanted to see Burlesque so naturally, we saw The Green Hornet instead, and we attended the 2:00 p.m. showing. The movie was entertaining, and the popcorn was fresh. I was a happy camper. No complaints.
Matthew loves movies, so naturally, we went to see one today. After our little jaunt at North Friars Beach—we went home, he studied, and I blogged. Eventually we decided on a movie and a time, and hopped back into the Suzuki.
Let me state now, that when I write that 'we' chose a movie, and that 'we' picked a time—I really mean that Matthew decided on the movie and the time. Our friends and family from back home won't be surprised by this.
I wanted to see Burlesque so naturally, we saw The Green Hornet instead, and we attended the 2:00 p.m. showing. The movie was entertaining, and the popcorn was fresh. I was a happy camper. No complaints.
Morning Person? I Think...NOT.
Today I woke up to the sun forcing its rays through my bedroom window. I hesitantly opened my eyes, rolled over, and muttered, "It had better not be before 8:00 a.m., and if it is—I'm putting my eyeshades on and I'm going back to sleep!"
In St. Kitts, the sun seems to rise at 6:00 a.m., so it's actually difficult to sleep away the early mornings. I'm not one to respond well to alarm clocks (who is?), but my body does seem to respond to the amount of light that fills a room, as opposed to the amount of time I've spent sleeping. In the Mitten, I could sleep until 10:00 a.m., easy. Here, it's not even a mere 6:30 a.m., and I'm up and ready to begin my day. I know that this is really benefiting me in the long run...but I just feel cheated somehow. :-P
Anyway, I did put my eyeshades back on, but only for a minute after realizing it was a lost cause. Thankfully, it was at least 7:15 a.m. I begrudgingly rolled out of bed, ate my breakfast (thanks to Mateo), threw on my bathing suit, and hopped into the Suzuki. Our destination: North Friars Beach, on the Atlantic side of the island. Our guest: Pumba, our landlord's dog. I guess Mateo usually heads to this beach with him on Sundays, so off we went.
I am please to report that it ended up being quite the treat, regardless of how early I had gotten up. I absolutely loved this beach, and plan on going every Sunday, if given the chance. The riptide is very strong---even dangerous---so it's sternly suggested that one does not swim at this beach. I was okay with this. The aggressive waves added to the beauty of this shoreline, as did the black rocky formations.
Pumba, Matthew, and I---despite being woken up far too early for my Mitten standards---had a wonderful time.
In St. Kitts, the sun seems to rise at 6:00 a.m., so it's actually difficult to sleep away the early mornings. I'm not one to respond well to alarm clocks (who is?), but my body does seem to respond to the amount of light that fills a room, as opposed to the amount of time I've spent sleeping. In the Mitten, I could sleep until 10:00 a.m., easy. Here, it's not even a mere 6:30 a.m., and I'm up and ready to begin my day. I know that this is really benefiting me in the long run...but I just feel cheated somehow. :-P
Anyway, I did put my eyeshades back on, but only for a minute after realizing it was a lost cause. Thankfully, it was at least 7:15 a.m. I begrudgingly rolled out of bed, ate my breakfast (thanks to Mateo), threw on my bathing suit, and hopped into the Suzuki. Our destination: North Friars Beach, on the Atlantic side of the island. Our guest: Pumba, our landlord's dog. I guess Mateo usually heads to this beach with him on Sundays, so off we went.
I am please to report that it ended up being quite the treat, regardless of how early I had gotten up. I absolutely loved this beach, and plan on going every Sunday, if given the chance. The riptide is very strong---even dangerous---so it's sternly suggested that one does not swim at this beach. I was okay with this. The aggressive waves added to the beauty of this shoreline, as did the black rocky formations.
Pumba, Matthew, and I---despite being woken up far too early for my Mitten standards---had a wonderful time.
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| Welcome to North Friars Beach. |
Hike to Mount Liamuiga
MATTHEW: You should definitely hike to Mount Liamuiga.
The walk down was quicker than the trek up, but it was trickier than I had expected. It was very muddy and the boulders were slippery...I made it down eventually, but with much caution. Will I be making weekly trips to Mount Liamuiga? Definitely not. Will I, on occasion, hike it when visitors from the US prompt me? Sure---but there better be one hell of an incentive.
ME: Okay, sounds like fun.
MATTHEW: It's sorta tough. I can't wait to see how exhausted you are when you're finished.
ME: Uhhhhh, should I be going on this? I'm out of shape.
MATTHEW: Oh for sure! You got this.
I can't say I 'got' or 'had' anything. In the simplest form of words I can manage: Mount Liamuiga royally kicked my ass. I am not going to say it was fun. Rather, I'd like to state that I'm proud of myself for making it all the way to the top—approximately 3,700 feet. The view at the top was amazing and I am happy to say that I've completed such a task.
As mentioned earlier, I am really out of shape. In the four years Matthew and I have been married, I've gained almost 30 pounds, mostly due to a love of food and a desk job I worked for three years. Inactivity and a husband who loves to cook is bound to make anyone round...right?
Anyway, we began the day meeting at Ross' campus around 8:15 a.m. We actually didn't end up carpooling and heading towards M.L. until 9:00 a.m. because our guide, Royston—although amazing—is on island time. It really wasn't a big deal, but it was nice to eventually be on our way.
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| Emily, me, and Michaelene |
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| Mount Liamuiga---formally known as Mount Misery. |
Royston parked us at a great spot on the lower level, passed the area where most folks park their cars and begin the hike. I guess he wanted to save us as much unnecessary walking as possible. I wasn't complaining.
Once our group formed and we accounted for everyone, we began the adventure. I am *not* going to lie...I was already feeling the burn three minutes into the hike. At that point, I was pretty nervous about how the next two hours were going to pan out.
The first section of the hike was a slow steady incline---which killed me. The second half of the hike was more so vertical---filled with boulders, small, medium, and large. I much preferred the second part of the hike. I was able to catch my breath and use both my arms and legs to pull myself up. Often times, I felt like I was climbing up a former river bed.
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| We saw a ton of trees like this...huge in size with roots that went on and on and on. |
I was so happy to have made it to the top. The hike was definitely tough, and at times, I wasn't even sure how I was still moving. Also---when I'd get to a particularly difficult section, I'd often think, "how the heck am I going to manage to get up there?" Thankfully, I wasn't the only person feeling that way. :)
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| At the top. |
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| Michaelene, Anna, and Warren. |
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| View from one side. |
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| I'm smiling here, but only for photographic purposes. I was *exhausted.* |
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| Me and Emily---we didn't die. Yay. |
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| Inside the crater. Check out the pond. |
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| A random tree limb, with what looks to be a face...I love it! |
The walk down was quicker than the trek up, but it was trickier than I had expected. It was very muddy and the boulders were slippery...I made it down eventually, but with much caution. Will I be making weekly trips to Mount Liamuiga? Definitely not. Will I, on occasion, hike it when visitors from the US prompt me? Sure---but there better be one hell of an incentive.
Beach Volleyball
TGIF—that's what most of the students were saying on Friday. After slaving away all week at school and filling their already-full brains with more and more information, they were ready for the weekend. Who can blame them, what with their rigorous schedule?
When Mateo arrived home from school, we headed to Timothy's Beach to hang out with our friends Michaelene, Nicole, and a ton of other Ross students.
On Fridays the students play against each other in volleyball tournaments on the strip at Timothy's. Since neither Matthew or I are volleyball-savvy, we soaked up the sun...and had a few beers too.
After we did our fair share of rooting for Matthew's friends, we headed over to Ackey Cafe. There, we dined with about ten other people. It was a beautiful evening to share with good people. I loved it. Matthew and I often find ourselves in company of people we don't know, and I thoroughly enjoy it. I soak up as many facts as I can from each person I meet. I love learning about where each person is from, what semester the person is in, what he/she loves most about the island, etc. The mentality down here is very group-friendly with intentions to share and give. I usually joke and say it's very similar to "summer camp." I suppose when you're in a foreign country and most of the students you meet are from the US, there's a simple bond that ties you back to "home." The dynamic is very family-oriented. I love it.
When Mateo arrived home from school, we headed to Timothy's Beach to hang out with our friends Michaelene, Nicole, and a ton of other Ross students.
On Fridays the students play against each other in volleyball tournaments on the strip at Timothy's. Since neither Matthew or I are volleyball-savvy, we soaked up the sun...and had a few beers too.
After we did our fair share of rooting for Matthew's friends, we headed over to Ackey Cafe. There, we dined with about ten other people. It was a beautiful evening to share with good people. I loved it. Matthew and I often find ourselves in company of people we don't know, and I thoroughly enjoy it. I soak up as many facts as I can from each person I meet. I love learning about where each person is from, what semester the person is in, what he/she loves most about the island, etc. The mentality down here is very group-friendly with intentions to share and give. I usually joke and say it's very similar to "summer camp." I suppose when you're in a foreign country and most of the students you meet are from the US, there's a simple bond that ties you back to "home." The dynamic is very family-oriented. I love it.
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| Jacob, Taylor, and Zack's team. Professionals, I tell you. |
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| Here I am---not playing volleyball. I have other hobbies. :) |
Friday, January 21, 2011
Timothy's Beach
Yesterday was another gorgeous day in St. Kitts. After taking care of my housewife duties and packing myself a lunch, I walked my little self over to Timothy's Beach, which faces the Caribbean Sea. The water here is a lot calmer than that of the Atlantic Ocean.
When I arrived, it was pretty vacant—not too many patrons. I chose a nice sunny spot near Sunset Cafe and began another session of vitamin D synthesis with my SPF 50 in hand. Later in the afternoon, more and more beach-goers arrived...mostly from one of the cruise ships that was at Port Zante.
I watched a lot of the tourists walk the beach searching for interesting-looking seashells thinking I should probably do the same.
Overall, it was a quiet afternoon, and I finished my book, "My Horizontal Life," by Chelsea Handler. Enjoy the pictures. :)
When I arrived, it was pretty vacant—not too many patrons. I chose a nice sunny spot near Sunset Cafe and began another session of vitamin D synthesis with my SPF 50 in hand. Later in the afternoon, more and more beach-goers arrived...mostly from one of the cruise ships that was at Port Zante.
I watched a lot of the tourists walk the beach searching for interesting-looking seashells thinking I should probably do the same.
Overall, it was a quiet afternoon, and I finished my book, "My Horizontal Life," by Chelsea Handler. Enjoy the pictures. :)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
A Special Visitor...
In St. Kitts, you run into all sorts of strange things, and creepy crawly bugs fall under this category. Check out the centipede that paid us a visit last night.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Finally...Vitamin D.
I arrived on the island on Saturday, and today was my first trip to the beach. When I chatted with one of my friends last night, she exclaimed, "GAWD. If I were you, I'd have 3rd degree burns already. Get your butt to the beach!" I didn't disagree with her.
She was oh so right. I needed to get into the sunshine and into the ocean. At about 9:30 a.m. this morning, I decided today would be the day. I had been previously invited to a cookout hosted by one of the VIPs (group consisting of spouses/significant others of Ross students), and I had intended on going, but two things stood in the way.
1) I've been trying to adjust to the water here, and although I've been progressing, my stomach has been a little...sensitive. Going to a cookout to meet other VIPs for the first time seemed like a recipe for disaster---considering my touchy tummy.
2) The beach seemed like less pressure.
So I called Emily, the wife of one of Matthew's fellow classmates that I had met on Sunday, and invited her to join me. After we sorted out our schedules, I started to walk the 20 minutes to the Marriott. Once I met up with Emily, we made our way through the luxurious building and onto the sandy beach.
The Atlantic Ocean was calling my name and sun was shining high in the sky. After picking out a blue and white-painted hut and two beach chairs, we began our vitamin D synthesis.
IT. WAS. HEAVENLY.
Eventually we made our way to the water and let the waves drift us along while we chatted about our new adventures in St. Kitts. The ocean could not have been more clear or more aqua blue. It was amazing, and I can't wait to go again. Thankfully I lathered up in SPF 55, so I'll probably be able to go again tomorrow. Perhaps I'll try the Caribbean Sea, just to make sure I'm giving each body of water a fair shot.
She was oh so right. I needed to get into the sunshine and into the ocean. At about 9:30 a.m. this morning, I decided today would be the day. I had been previously invited to a cookout hosted by one of the VIPs (group consisting of spouses/significant others of Ross students), and I had intended on going, but two things stood in the way.
1) I've been trying to adjust to the water here, and although I've been progressing, my stomach has been a little...sensitive. Going to a cookout to meet other VIPs for the first time seemed like a recipe for disaster---considering my touchy tummy.
2) The beach seemed like less pressure.
So I called Emily, the wife of one of Matthew's fellow classmates that I had met on Sunday, and invited her to join me. After we sorted out our schedules, I started to walk the 20 minutes to the Marriott. Once I met up with Emily, we made our way through the luxurious building and onto the sandy beach.
The Atlantic Ocean was calling my name and sun was shining high in the sky. After picking out a blue and white-painted hut and two beach chairs, we began our vitamin D synthesis.
IT. WAS. HEAVENLY.
Eventually we made our way to the water and let the waves drift us along while we chatted about our new adventures in St. Kitts. The ocean could not have been more clear or more aqua blue. It was amazing, and I can't wait to go again. Thankfully I lathered up in SPF 55, so I'll probably be able to go again tomorrow. Perhaps I'll try the Caribbean Sea, just to make sure I'm giving each body of water a fair shot.
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| Aren't those little huts adorable?? |
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| These are some palm trees I took a snapshot of on my way to the Marriott. |
Suzuki Sidekick...Kicked My Ass
On Tuesday, Matthew took me to Basseterre, (the main town in St. Kitts), so that I could be listed on his car insurance policy. After aimlessly following him around for fifteen minutes, and getting directions from two different locals, we finally found the insurance building. In the mean time, I found Independence Square—a park with a lot of really cool trees and plants—in the middle of town. According to http://www.geographia.com/stkitts-nevis/knpnt02.htm, Independence Square was built in 1790 for slave auctions and council meetings. In 1983 it received it's name to commemorate the independence of the island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis from Great Britain.
Keep in mind that the vehicles down here are notoriously known for being...less than ideal. In addition, a lot of the cars are recycled by students who are broke and either don't have the money to fix up their cars, or simply just don't care. If your car can get you to school and back, and perhaps up a few steep hills on the island, you're all set. I will note that Matthew's car is pretty rough, but is in great shape as far as island standards go. It has a great engine (so I'm told by Mateo), and it looks pretty nice physically, but it has some quirks. It would probably be worth $800 in the US. Don't even ask me what we actually paid for it because it makes me cringe.
Little did I know that the brakes are terrible and the power steering................what power steering??? Needless to say, my first driving lesson in a foreign country was a complete disaster. Not only did I not feel safe in the car, but I was seriously concerned about injuring myself and others. I jumped a curb (thanks power steering, or lack thereof), and completely freaked out when I turned the wheel and the car didn't turn along with it. The brake pedal has to be pressed all the way down to the floor to get the car to slow down, so you spend a lot of time just kind of slowly coasting. Oh...and seat belts. HA---none here. It's not uncommon to be missing those in the cars on the island, apparently. OISK!
When we arrived at school, I was pretty rattled and upset by the entire experience. Eventually I got over it. After speaking with a couple of friends, they just reminded me that all cars on the island have all sorts of issues and that I'd just have to get used to it. "Just drive slow and take your time," they'd all say. Matthew, of course, stated the same things—but you know how that goes...sometimes you just have to hear it from somebody else.
Since Matthew had class, and I had nothing to do for the next several hours, I had no choice but to drive myself home. After drawing me a map, giving me a kiss, and wishing me good luck, he sent me on my way. The ride home was a huge improvement and I took the bypass instead of driving through town, to avoid unnecessary traffic. Besides almost hitting a goat, I survived the drive home. Woot. woot.
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| Travellers Palm |
Since I had received my driver's license the day before, I was finally able to drive. I had not gotten a chance to practice, but was willing to give it a go, and drive Matthew to school from where we were in town.
Keep in mind that the vehicles down here are notoriously known for being...less than ideal. In addition, a lot of the cars are recycled by students who are broke and either don't have the money to fix up their cars, or simply just don't care. If your car can get you to school and back, and perhaps up a few steep hills on the island, you're all set. I will note that Matthew's car is pretty rough, but is in great shape as far as island standards go. It has a great engine (so I'm told by Mateo), and it looks pretty nice physically, but it has some quirks. It would probably be worth $800 in the US. Don't even ask me what we actually paid for it because it makes me cringe.
Little did I know that the brakes are terrible and the power steering................what power steering??? Needless to say, my first driving lesson in a foreign country was a complete disaster. Not only did I not feel safe in the car, but I was seriously concerned about injuring myself and others. I jumped a curb (thanks power steering, or lack thereof), and completely freaked out when I turned the wheel and the car didn't turn along with it. The brake pedal has to be pressed all the way down to the floor to get the car to slow down, so you spend a lot of time just kind of slowly coasting. Oh...and seat belts. HA---none here. It's not uncommon to be missing those in the cars on the island, apparently. OISK!
When we arrived at school, I was pretty rattled and upset by the entire experience. Eventually I got over it. After speaking with a couple of friends, they just reminded me that all cars on the island have all sorts of issues and that I'd just have to get used to it. "Just drive slow and take your time," they'd all say. Matthew, of course, stated the same things—but you know how that goes...sometimes you just have to hear it from somebody else.
Since Matthew had class, and I had nothing to do for the next several hours, I had no choice but to drive myself home. After drawing me a map, giving me a kiss, and wishing me good luck, he sent me on my way. The ride home was a huge improvement and I took the bypass instead of driving through town, to avoid unnecessary traffic. Besides almost hitting a goat, I survived the drive home. Woot. woot.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
How to be a 'Housewife'
For most of you who know me, even just a little—you know that I am not the ideal housewife. This is due to the simple fact that when Matthew and I were first married, I graduated undergrad before him, got a job, and became a workaholic. Matthew, still being a student, took care of things at home. This included cooking, cleaning, taking care of the dogs, picking up after me, grocery shopping, running errands, etc. He did an amazing job and I am very thankful for his homemaker abilities.
I was aware that one day our roles would switch. I wasn't in any hurry—I liked working. I preferred working. After all, I was never really all that interested in cooking. I can clean, and I appreciate a clean home, but I'm a messy girl. I don't put things away where they should go, and I let the laundry pile up to the ceiling. And let's not even get into grocery shopping. I'd have to pop some Xanex for that.
Because I had continually spent a lot of time away from home and slacked off on any kind of domestic duties, I lost touch with any homemaker abilities that may have existed. Now being in St. Kitts, I am the one to stay at home and take care of the home front.
On Monday, Matty started a new week of school, and I stayed home. Since I didn't have my Kittitian driver's license, I wasn't able to drive...which was fine. I kind of wanted to stay home, get organized, take care of some looming paperwork from back home in the US, and try and make dinner. I was even going to try and get a jog in.
I got up early and was a bit disoriented at first. I remember even waking up and being a little confused about where I was. Since I hadn't drank the night before, I was even more confused. Haha. Eventually I figured it out, and got out of bed.
I decided to get on Facebook. What? A girl has got to check in with the world. That, followed by signing into instant messenger, took up some of my morning. I also skyped with my bff, Holli, which was fabulous because we played catch-up and I was able to see how she was coping without me.
A little later, I had also placed two calls to Verizon to cancel out our phones lines from back at home. Being told I was going to be called back in two hours or less, I gave up on the idea of leaving the house and going for a jog...and yes, I am blaming Verizon for that. I would also like to note that they never called me back. So I later placed a third call to them. After a while, I watched tv, and then I showered. I took my sweet time getting ready for the day too.
Eventually I looked at the clock and it was noon. I had plenty of time before Mateo would be home, so I re-organized the toiletries I carelessly shoved into the bathroom storage cabinet two days before. I then did the dishes, whitened my teeth, watched some more daytime tv, and had some lunch. Meanwhile, the dogs were in and out of the apartment all day, getting used to their new surroundings, so they weren't too much work.
Once Matthew made it home, we piled into the car to run some errands. First thing was to acquire me a driver's license. For $48 US, I was granted a piece of paper stating I could legally drive in their country. No test required! Then we headed to TDC (Walmart-ish), to find some batteries for both my portable iPod player, and for the dogs' e-collars. After we left TDC, we headed to the Pelican Shopping Mall to hit up a jewelry store for the batteries we needed for the collars since TDC didn't carry that kind.
The 'mall' was actually pretty cute. There weren't a lot of shops open at the time (for whatever reason), but after a beer and a new hat, I was a happy camper.
The next thing I needed was a pair of sunglasses. I had only brought one pair with me, and Matthew forbids me to wear them in public because they are obscenely large. Whatevs, I will still wear them. Off to Port Zante we went. After three different tourist shops, I scored a pair.
Once we arrived back at home, I started making dinner: butter fish, baked potatoes, and broccoli. And guess what? Not too shabby!
After dinner, I became exhausted from all the hard work—as did the puppies—so I guess we fell asleep. Thanks to Matthew, here's proof of our exhaustion.
I was aware that one day our roles would switch. I wasn't in any hurry—I liked working. I preferred working. After all, I was never really all that interested in cooking. I can clean, and I appreciate a clean home, but I'm a messy girl. I don't put things away where they should go, and I let the laundry pile up to the ceiling. And let's not even get into grocery shopping. I'd have to pop some Xanex for that.
Because I had continually spent a lot of time away from home and slacked off on any kind of domestic duties, I lost touch with any homemaker abilities that may have existed. Now being in St. Kitts, I am the one to stay at home and take care of the home front.
On Monday, Matty started a new week of school, and I stayed home. Since I didn't have my Kittitian driver's license, I wasn't able to drive...which was fine. I kind of wanted to stay home, get organized, take care of some looming paperwork from back home in the US, and try and make dinner. I was even going to try and get a jog in.
I got up early and was a bit disoriented at first. I remember even waking up and being a little confused about where I was. Since I hadn't drank the night before, I was even more confused. Haha. Eventually I figured it out, and got out of bed.
I decided to get on Facebook. What? A girl has got to check in with the world. That, followed by signing into instant messenger, took up some of my morning. I also skyped with my bff, Holli, which was fabulous because we played catch-up and I was able to see how she was coping without me.
A little later, I had also placed two calls to Verizon to cancel out our phones lines from back at home. Being told I was going to be called back in two hours or less, I gave up on the idea of leaving the house and going for a jog...and yes, I am blaming Verizon for that. I would also like to note that they never called me back. So I later placed a third call to them. After a while, I watched tv, and then I showered. I took my sweet time getting ready for the day too.
Eventually I looked at the clock and it was noon. I had plenty of time before Mateo would be home, so I re-organized the toiletries I carelessly shoved into the bathroom storage cabinet two days before. I then did the dishes, whitened my teeth, watched some more daytime tv, and had some lunch. Meanwhile, the dogs were in and out of the apartment all day, getting used to their new surroundings, so they weren't too much work.
Once Matthew made it home, we piled into the car to run some errands. First thing was to acquire me a driver's license. For $48 US, I was granted a piece of paper stating I could legally drive in their country. No test required! Then we headed to TDC (Walmart-ish), to find some batteries for both my portable iPod player, and for the dogs' e-collars. After we left TDC, we headed to the Pelican Shopping Mall to hit up a jewelry store for the batteries we needed for the collars since TDC didn't carry that kind.
The 'mall' was actually pretty cute. There weren't a lot of shops open at the time (for whatever reason), but after a beer and a new hat, I was a happy camper.
The next thing I needed was a pair of sunglasses. I had only brought one pair with me, and Matthew forbids me to wear them in public because they are obscenely large. Whatevs, I will still wear them. Off to Port Zante we went. After three different tourist shops, I scored a pair.
Once we arrived back at home, I started making dinner: butter fish, baked potatoes, and broccoli. And guess what? Not too shabby!
After dinner, I became exhausted from all the hard work—as did the puppies—so I guess we fell asleep. Thanks to Matthew, here's proof of our exhaustion.
All in all—it was a good day. No complaints.
First Weekend on the Rock Part II
Sooooo, Blogger was being a little bit of a tool, and was acting up when I tried inserting photos into my previous post. So here's another, continuing on about my first weekend on de rock.
Mateo brought me to one of my favorite parts of the island. It's a scenic turn-out that gives you a fabulous view of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. If you turn the other way, you get a great view of Frigate Bay (the area where we live and also where the Marriott is located).
Mateo brought me to one of my favorite parts of the island. It's a scenic turn-out that gives you a fabulous view of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. If you turn the other way, you get a great view of Frigate Bay (the area where we live and also where the Marriott is located).
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| Atlantic Ocean on the right, Caribbean Sea on the left. |
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| View of Frigate Bay. |
First Weekend on the Rock
Milo, Trooper, and I arrived on-island January 15th, 2011, which was a Saturday. After Mateo and I unpacked and did some quick organizing, we met some of his fellow classmates/friends at Cathy's—a restaurant on The Strip at Timothy's Beach. Since we were running behind, his friends ordered ahead for us and we had a Red Snapper for dinner. It was pretty delicious. Unfortunately, I didn't get to take a picture of the googly-eyed fish.
After dinner, we headed to Royal St. Kitts Hotel & Casino for Mr. RUSVM. At the beginning of each term, 'Semester Olympics' are held, and students from their respective classes compete in various events. Money is awarded to whatever semester wins. Mr. RUSVM is one of the events, along with sporting activities like flag football, ultimate frisbee, soccer, etc.
Anywho, Mr. RUSVM is similar to a male pageant, I suppose. One male from each semester is nominated to compete. The event held three segments.
1. Which Disney Princess Are You?
2. Your Favorite Movie in 30 seconds or less.
3. What would you be doing to make money if you weren't at Ross?
A lot of the students attend Mr. RUSVM, and I ran into a few friends (Michaelene and Tony), that I had met in April 2010.
On Sunday, we got out the dog hair clippers and gave Trooper a haircut inspired by the Chinese Crested dog breed. Super Trooper was just too hot, and we really didn't have a choice. He had panted all Saturday night, and just didn't seem to find a way to cool down. So...chop chop went his hair.
The rest of the day was spent taking a trip to Port Zante for some ice cream at a cute little parlor called 'Scoops.' We also enjoyed a leisurely walk around Basseterre. A point of interest here, is the 'The Circus.' It is situated in the center of a round-a-bout and features a historic clock tower/water fountain known as the Berkley Memorical Clock. Supposedly it is modeled after Piccadilly in London.
That last few photos are of me in an old British telephone booth and of Matthew at 'Pizza Boys' where we had lunch.
After dinner, we headed to Royal St. Kitts Hotel & Casino for Mr. RUSVM. At the beginning of each term, 'Semester Olympics' are held, and students from their respective classes compete in various events. Money is awarded to whatever semester wins. Mr. RUSVM is one of the events, along with sporting activities like flag football, ultimate frisbee, soccer, etc.
Anywho, Mr. RUSVM is similar to a male pageant, I suppose. One male from each semester is nominated to compete. The event held three segments.
1. Which Disney Princess Are You?
2. Your Favorite Movie in 30 seconds or less.
3. What would you be doing to make money if you weren't at Ross?
A lot of the students attend Mr. RUSVM, and I ran into a few friends (Michaelene and Tony), that I had met in April 2010.
On Sunday, we got out the dog hair clippers and gave Trooper a haircut inspired by the Chinese Crested dog breed. Super Trooper was just too hot, and we really didn't have a choice. He had panted all Saturday night, and just didn't seem to find a way to cool down. So...chop chop went his hair.
The rest of the day was spent taking a trip to Port Zante for some ice cream at a cute little parlor called 'Scoops.' We also enjoyed a leisurely walk around Basseterre. A point of interest here, is the 'The Circus.' It is situated in the center of a round-a-bout and features a historic clock tower/water fountain known as the Berkley Memorical Clock. Supposedly it is modeled after Piccadilly in London.
That last few photos are of me in an old British telephone booth and of Matthew at 'Pizza Boys' where we had lunch.
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| This is the venue that held Mr. RUSVM (Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine). |
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| 3rd Semester's skit of Beauty and the Beast. |
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| Michaelene playing The Beast. Check out that hair! |
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3rd Semester again. Happy Gilmore skit, featuring Tony.  |
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| Inside an old British phone booth. |
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| Matty at Pizza Boys. |
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