Week 2

We have now made it through 2 weeks of living on the island. It doesn't yet feel like home, but it feels like we have been here forever. I wouldn't say I am familiar with the island yet, but I know my way around enough to get to the church, downtown, the store, and the school. 

We really don't have that much to do here besides normal chores, but everything takes SO long to do. Laundry, the store, church, and about everything else seem to be all day events because of all the time it takes to get out of the apartment. We have 4 locks to get through and I have to pack Eden up wherever I go. It's more than a hassle. I'm appreciating the ease of living back home more than ever and am utterly grateful I wasn't a pioneer. It's hard enough taking Eden to the grocery store in a stroller where there are hardly paved roads or walking to church. Today I ventured to carry her in my pack for convenience sake of not having to pack the stroller in someone's car for the ride home. After walking 2 miles in the hot humid weather and carrying Eden, who is getting heavier than you think, my back hurts by mid day. 

I'm learning that I am more of a spoiled brat than I thought. I'd like to say that I was very much spoiled without the brat part, but I'm rethinking things as I have come to realize how well we have things in the US and because of mom and dad. I still wouldn't say I'm a brat, but more high maintenance than I knew. 

We are making do with what we have nonetheless. It took me an hour to bake one batch of 8 cookies because I don't have beaters or a cookie pan that fits in our oven. They were dang good cookies, but they better have been after hand stirring and being creative with an upside down pyrex pan in the oven. We have to manually light the stove and oven here. I happened to leave the gas on just a tad too long before lighting the oven and there was a big bang and the bottom of the oven jumped up at me. 

My feet are never clean anymore and I've given up trying to smell anything but sweaty. Everyone stinks here- most of it is bad BO and dirty laundry, but there is a combination of marijuana and alcohol on most as well. It will be a dream to do laundry in America again because the clothes come out smelling worse than before they are washed- something to do with the washer smelling bad and handing the clothes to dry. 

It sounds like lots of complaining, but really, it's pretty cool that we are doing it. We are living on an island in a less than developed country where everyone is poor, black, and has no idea what they are missing out on. I guess ignorance really is bliss. That must be why people are so happy here. 

Austin had his white coat ceremony on Saturday. He looked awesome in his uniform (that is really Dad's old lab coats). The ceremony was nice with an entertaining speaker. They had dignitaries from Great Britain and the new gov't officials of the island in attendance. There are LOTS of Puerto Ricans going to school with Austin- which annoys him because they speak Spanish while working with his lab group. From what I have seen, no one looks anything like what a doctor should. Once they put a lab coat on, it was more convincing, but most need to learn how to wear pants longer than their underwear and shirts that cover more than they do. They sang both the American National Anthem and the St. Kitts Anthem and then said a prayer to open the ceremony. It was THE most awkward and disturbing (to me) prayer I have ever heard. They recognized every god you could think of and made it very liberal. I didn't like the feeling I had while listening, but Austin thought it was neat. I guess he's more open minded than me. We all stood and bowed our heads, but I just couldn't make myself. Maybe rude on my part, but I felt like worshiping a god that wasn't ours and I had Eden as a decoy. 

Saturday night we were invited over to the Marriott to have dinner and go swimming with a family in our branch. They invited 2 other student families from our branch to go to and we had a delightful time together. The family who invited us is Korean and works for the Marriott. Those employees of the Marriott are housed by the hotel at international locations. So yes, they live at the hotel and everything is paid for them. It's a sweet gig. When we were at the Marriott I had my whole epiphany about being a spoiled brat. It was the happiest I had been all week. In my defense, it was also the happiest Eden had been all week too, which also makes me happy. I hate seeing her so uncomfortable all the time and there, she was comfortable like the rest of us. No sweat, no bugs, real sidewalks... it felt like we were on a totally different island. No wonder people like to come here (if they stay there). Sadly, the Marriott is a sheltered sort of vacation and you don't really get the feel for St. Kitts, just a nice beach front hotel. 

Eden LOVED swimming. We put her in the pool for the first time. She kicked and kicked and kicked! We went everywhere from the stairs to her back to her front. She was delighted and it wore her out. 

We decided we have to move to that side of the island. 

We did find the beach this week though! Eden and I ventured to the beach off of campus and wandered down there with our friend and her son. It's a black beach and is really quite beautiful, but it's very short. There is maybe 300 feel of shore to play on is all and it looks pretty rocky. Good thing I only care to play on the sand and dabble my feet at most. 

The airplanes here are extremely noisy because they get so close to you. They fly low enough that you'd think you could see faces in the windows of the plane. I tried to take a picture, but it doesn't look nearly as close in the picture as it does in person. 

New Everything

Well, we made it to the island. We are now temporarily "Kittitians," as the locals are called. It's totally different than what you'd expect the Caribbean to be like. The majority is not so tropical and green, but rather dry and bare. It hasn't rained in a while here, so that may change with the "seasons." The people are VERY friendly and in everyone's business. Because of it, we feel very safe in our area. The locals talk and have a sort of neighborhood watch, you could say. The man that lives across the street from us is name Yabba. He has greying dreadlocks and never wears a shirt or shoes and sort of limps from an accident a while ago. He's missing teeth like many of the people here are, but despite being a little scary looking, he is as friendly as can get and totally has our back. Pearl, another local and our housekeeper, comes by to check on us all the time. She showed us how to make passion fruit drink and coconut water all from our backyard. Yep, we have coconuts, passion fruit, green bananas, and- you'll be jealous- mangos! They are delicious! I especially love the passion fruit which is somewhat slimy and looks like maggots, but it's so good.

They have wild goats, roasters, lizards, and monkeys here- all of which we have seen. We also have an infestation of bugs that we have tried to spray down this week- starting with tiny sugar ants that are rapid fast to cockroaches, spiders, and centipedes. Luckily, most of what we saw was dead after pesticide came. 

People drive on the left side of the road here. It's extremely mental and mind boggling, especially at the round abouts. From what I hear, there aren't any street lights, but there also don't appear to be any rules, speed limits, or anything else. They drive SO fast and only have two way roads without any lines. People park wherever they please so it becomes an obstacle course between that and the people walking. Drivers honk at everyone to let you know they are there. It's like a new form of communication. Most places don't exactly have sidewalks either, so you walk on the road and let cars pass you within 2-3 feet. It's crazy! 

Eden did very well on the plane rides and handling the long days and changes thrown at her. It's hardest adjusting to the heat- she got a heat rash on her back and bum that we are trying to get better. She really has been a trooper and is most happy when she is naked or only in a diaper. 

There is another LDS family that arrived the same day as us; the husband will be studying with Austin. That was comforting! There is another family down the street that has been SO wonderful and kind that is helping us get to know the routes and learn the island ways. Prayers are answered in so many ways. 

Austin's school is very impressive. The campus is pristine with a spectacular view of the ocean. They have state of the art facilities- even better than the US schools, believe it or not. Professors seem very personable and willing to help students succeed; the president likewise talks to the students and is invested in their success; and everyone loves Eden. Having a baby is like having a dog- everyone gravitates towards you. I think I've met twice as many people because of her. It's been a good thing. 

Yesterday, Austin was able to go on a Catamaran trip with the new students and snorkeled in the ocean. I went downtown to the Farmer's Market. What a crazy experience. The streets are lined with vendors selling fruit, vegetables, and fish. There are lots of foreign foods we have yet to try, and some I never will. Fish would probably be good and cheap, but I can't get myself to try it yet because you have to touch them and then watch them get gutted on another board in front of you. It's just gross and messy and smelly. Besides that, I would have no idea what to ask for. 

We made it to our branch today- it's really quite big. It's more informal there. For instance, we started 10-15 minutes late, they use CD players instead of a piano, people say good morning back to you in the chapel, no one whispers in the hallway during sacrament... but it's great. I even got cookies for Mother's Day.