Wow. This has been one of the most difficult and emotional months of my life......so much so that I have not been able to blog or really even talk about it.....packing up and leaving a place that you so loved and became your "home" was one of the hardest and most painful things that I have ever done and I hope not to repeat the experience soon.....I feel so blessed that I understand grief and loss so well thanks to my work....otherwise I'd seriously question my mental stability.....but I know what I am going through is normal when you suffer a major loss....and people, leaving Nevis was just that.....MAJOR LOSS.....
sometimes I feel like others dont understand where I am coming from .....my friend Stacey, from Louisiana, another med wife as we call ourselves.....told me that when she returned home people didnt really understand the loss that she was experiencing, the changes and the reverse culture shock.....so she has been a wonderful source of support and encouragement for me through this time......
I came across another med wives' blog today....and it was like I wrote it......I identified with it so much so I am going to copy it for you all to read:
"I've just come away from a very bad week. The kind that changes your life FOREVER (so you know its heavy stuff)
Sometimes life sucks.....BAD
I started crying on the job.....CRYING.....ME....HELLO.....the ultimate professional.....
What can I say ? I 've been out of sorts?
I've got no juice....nothing....nothing to write......
In an effort to help me, other people try to think of someone else they know whose situation is worse or turned out great, with a beautiful ending......or reminding me of the great things that I have......
Well let me tell you folks.....THIS DOESNT HELP.....
I'm not interested in comparing crappy situations, Im not interested in those feel good, turned out great in the end stories.....they dont make me feel better, I know people are just trying to help but seriously.....STOP it.
I just want to be heard by people who love me and care about me and then hear them say wow, that really does suck, I feel so bad for you.....and in some wierd twisted way, t his helps, this validates my feelings.....Im just a woman who wants to be heard.....I dont want the solutions just yet. The problem solving conversations aren't helping.........
I think this woman broke into my private thoughts and blogged them.......this is EXACTLY how I feel.....
So for all of you out there who are going to welcome us back home, back into your lives......please....don't start with the well you were so lucky to have that experience yadda yadda, isn't it great to be home crap......JUST LISTEN.......and pray......that God brings me through it with grace and dignity.
Enough said.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
If I could save time in a bottle......the first thing that I'd like to do......
..........Time. How come when we want time to hurry up, it slows down, but if we want it to slow down it speeds up to what feels like a breakneck speed? Ever watch a pot boil? sooooo slow.....but when you want time to slow down so that you can enjoy something, savor every second, it absolutely refuses to do so......I've been singing that old song, if I could save time in a bottle, the first thing that I'd like to do......I won't bore you with all the words....lol......I am very aware of time right now and it appears to be the dominant theme or thought in my head. I have less than 4 weeks in my Caribbean home and I really can't believe it. "Wasn't it just yesterday that we packed up and moved here? Where did 20 months go? I can't believe it is almost time to leave.....I'm so not ready. this little island has absolutely stolen my heart and while many of the other med wives are happy to head home, this med wife is not so much. It's not that I don't love my home in PEI, and it''s not that I am not excited to see friends, family, people that i care about......its that I am going to miss this little island, this weather, the wonderful people that I have grown to love, my horses, my lifestyle, sooooo much. I have already played the final day over and over in my head, the getting on that airplane and flying off to the other side of the world, watching Nevis get smaller and smaller beneath me until she is out of sight......sigh.....this is going to be much harder than I ever anticipated.
I have been busy getting things organized for moving so my apologies for not being a very faithful blogger. We are trying to really minimize so instead of the say 25 bags we usually travel with, we only have 4 or 5 max. It is awful to travel with an abundance of luggage, so we really want to come home with as little as possible. We will be leaveing behind clothes, toys, anything that we can live without or easily replace. We are leaving the evening of august 19th and heading over to St maarten for a few days to meet up with some of our saba friends, and our friends, Ronnie and Brett, from nevis (from England originally) Then on the 22nd we leave the Caribbean and head home. By the afternoon of the 23rd, we will be back on PEI soil, the Caribbean behind us....well some of us anyway. Joe will return to Nevis for one last semester while we get settled back home. It's going to be hard to be apart from Joe for so long but I know we will get through it, hopefully the fall will fly by as it always does (see theres that time theme again....lol) with kids getting settled in school, hockey starting, halloween, christmas preparations.
So as part of my preparation for getting myself in the mindset of leaving I have been making a list of the things I wont miss.....LOL.....so here goes:
1, the mosquitos....well all the bugs actually including the big ugly centipedes, the tarantulas, the ugly yellowy pink spiders that love to come in on my towels, the scorpions and the gnats.
2. The lack of good variety in groceries.....oh sweet superstore, I am going to just spend a few hours standing in your produce section, smelling and staring in awe at the wide variety of fruits and vegetables. The selection down here is quite minimal. There is plenty but sometimes it is strange produce that I don't recognize.
3. Being sweaty and sticky all the time. I take cold showers to cool off (well and to smell pretty again) and by the time I dry off, I am sweating again. And drying your hair with a hair dryer?? thats crazy talk, your hair is soaked with sweat by the time you are done! kind of defeats the purpose.
4. No shopping. There is no walmart, no department store of any kind and really no place to buy clothes and shoes.
5. Opening a cake mix and finding weevils.
6. Leaving a crumb of food out and 1 billion ants show up to celebrate.
I'm trying really hard to make a bigger list of things I won't miss, you know, to balance out the things I will miss list......but it's not working.....LOL
How about the things I will miss:
1. The natural beauty of this island. Its stunning, if you haven't been here, you need to come.
2. The weather, eternal sunshine and warmth. I love it.
3. My friends who have become so dear to me.......my karaoke palsl!
4. the sunrise
5. The sunset
6. The clear sky at night perfect for star gazing.
7. Oualie Beach
8 my horses, oh how i will pine for these creatures.
9 my house and pool.
10 The simple life.
oops , no balance there at all, I better stop, i need to go figure out a few more t hings that I won't miss....lol....
ok its late, I need to get to bed! So friends, less than 4 weeks and I'll be heading home. It will be nice to see you all.
Take care and God Bless.
I have been busy getting things organized for moving so my apologies for not being a very faithful blogger. We are trying to really minimize so instead of the say 25 bags we usually travel with, we only have 4 or 5 max. It is awful to travel with an abundance of luggage, so we really want to come home with as little as possible. We will be leaveing behind clothes, toys, anything that we can live without or easily replace. We are leaving the evening of august 19th and heading over to St maarten for a few days to meet up with some of our saba friends, and our friends, Ronnie and Brett, from nevis (from England originally) Then on the 22nd we leave the Caribbean and head home. By the afternoon of the 23rd, we will be back on PEI soil, the Caribbean behind us....well some of us anyway. Joe will return to Nevis for one last semester while we get settled back home. It's going to be hard to be apart from Joe for so long but I know we will get through it, hopefully the fall will fly by as it always does (see theres that time theme again....lol) with kids getting settled in school, hockey starting, halloween, christmas preparations.
So as part of my preparation for getting myself in the mindset of leaving I have been making a list of the things I wont miss.....LOL.....so here goes:
1, the mosquitos....well all the bugs actually including the big ugly centipedes, the tarantulas, the ugly yellowy pink spiders that love to come in on my towels, the scorpions and the gnats.
2. The lack of good variety in groceries.....oh sweet superstore, I am going to just spend a few hours standing in your produce section, smelling and staring in awe at the wide variety of fruits and vegetables. The selection down here is quite minimal. There is plenty but sometimes it is strange produce that I don't recognize.
3. Being sweaty and sticky all the time. I take cold showers to cool off (well and to smell pretty again) and by the time I dry off, I am sweating again. And drying your hair with a hair dryer?? thats crazy talk, your hair is soaked with sweat by the time you are done! kind of defeats the purpose.
4. No shopping. There is no walmart, no department store of any kind and really no place to buy clothes and shoes.
5. Opening a cake mix and finding weevils.
6. Leaving a crumb of food out and 1 billion ants show up to celebrate.
I'm trying really hard to make a bigger list of things I won't miss, you know, to balance out the things I will miss list......but it's not working.....LOL
How about the things I will miss:
1. The natural beauty of this island. Its stunning, if you haven't been here, you need to come.
2. The weather, eternal sunshine and warmth. I love it.
3. My friends who have become so dear to me.......my karaoke palsl!
4. the sunrise
5. The sunset
6. The clear sky at night perfect for star gazing.
7. Oualie Beach
8 my horses, oh how i will pine for these creatures.
9 my house and pool.
10 The simple life.
oops , no balance there at all, I better stop, i need to go figure out a few more t hings that I won't miss....lol....
ok its late, I need to get to bed! So friends, less than 4 weeks and I'll be heading home. It will be nice to see you all.
Take care and God Bless.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Just another day in Paradise.......
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, screaming "WOO HOO, What a ride!"
I love this quote.....
There are days when I question our sanity.......really and truly, how many people sell everything they own in their mid (ok, almost late) 30s, put the rest of their stuff in storage, give up great jobs and move to the Caribbean to study medicine, accumulating more debt than most families make in 5 years? But then that quote comes to mind......and I realize that while what we are doing is not the norm, may not be conventional, and is totally outside the box, in essence we are skidding in....screaming woo hoo what a ride the whole way......This caribbean adventure has been awesome and I wouldn't trade it for everything.....even if we had to give up everything we had to do it.....we have gained so much in return and had so many great adventures and we will have amazing memories that no one can take away (not even the bank if we can't repay all the loans....lol) I am so thankful and I feel so blessed that we got to do this......it ROCKS......
As you can see I am in a contemplative, thoughtful mood......you see I am entering a phase where I am very aware of time.....and that our time here is now coming to an end.....and I am starting to grieve, taking stock, looking ahead to the future and what that will bring, and staring behind at what I am leaving......there is so much going on in my head that I could never share it all in a million years! It dawned on me today as I was driving home from the barn that I want to remember EVERY thing, EVERY little tiny seemingly insignificant detail......I want to have the drive from the stable to my house burned into my brain, the potholes in the road, the flamboyant bushes on the side of the road, the palm trees with no tops by Coconut Grove that stand looking lonely, the swampy area in front of Cotton Ground that is so beautiful, the barn itself with its breathtaking view of Mount Nevis....I could go on and on and on......so over the next few months....I am really going to try to record everything I can, take pictures of everything I can, write down all of the details that I am sure to forget if I don't get them on paper.......
I am going to start by telling you right now a little bit about our everyday routine ....what we do day to day.....it might be abit boring for you, but for me, it is a record of my day to day life and how wonderful it is so that I never forget this time.......
My day starts at 545.....my alarm goes off, yuck and I roll over and think noooo, it can't be morning, but it is.....my little finch friend is outside my bedroom door singing away waiting for me to fill his dish......I quickly get into my workout clothes and throw my hair into a pony and out the door I go to meet my friend Jen at Oualie Beach......we head out for our hour long walk, where we admire all the beauty and peacefulness, we talk about life as "medwives" and we work up a good sweat. I get home at 7 and wake up the kids, and work on getting them ready for the day.....I make breakfast, lunches, pack bags, and chase 2 half asleep boys around the house, trying to find uniforms, and shorts and socks and where they left their shoes etc......Monty leaves the house with Joe at 7:30 because he has to catch the 8 AM ferry over to St Kitts. He attends SKI academy over there. Then I finish getting Christian ready, clean up the breakfast mess, feed the dogs and get myself ready. I drive Christian to school (they don't hvae school busses here) and then I head over to the barn. I wander around in the pasture for a bit, saying good morning to all of my horsies, giving them a treat and a little scratch, checking their shoes and the fencing.....and watching the monkeys steal all the mangos (buggers...lol) I lift 2 50 pound food bags up and pour into a wheelbarrow and then haul it around and get the horses fed.....I fill the water tubs, I feed the turtles and the chickens, then I figure out what needs to be done.....some days I have tourists to take out on the beach, other days I go riding with a friend, sometimes I just ride one or two horses in the paddock and make sure that they are getting a little schooling.....I am usually home from the barn by noonish, dirty and covered in sweat.....I shower and clean up and start work at home. I clean, do laundry (hang it out cause we have no dryer....) make beds, all that domestic stuff. I then usually go pay a bill, or get water at Nelson Springs (we only drink bottled water here.....) On tuesdays or wednesdays i go grocery shopping because that is when the ship comes in with fresh supplies and it is really the only good time to get milk and produce ...byt the weekend most stuff is picked over or gone......on thursdays I drive to the sea bridge and pick up my meat order from the meat man in st kitts......At 3 I am back on the road to christian's school to pick him up at 3:15.....I bring him home and he gets changed and we either go for a quick dip in the pool or hang out.....at 430 we hop in the car and go pick up Monty at the ferry terminal downtown......Then we head home, have supper, do homework, hang out and then everyone heads to bed....I usually watch a bit of TV.....Joe studies.....Tuesday nights the kids have soccer at the university. On Wednesday nights I often have an SOS activity, book club or desert night or cooking night....on thursday nights I have karaoke at Rumors Bar......weekends we usually have friends over to play with the kids or go to the beach.....sometimes my vet friends from St Kitts come over and we go riding.....Sunday afternoons Monty has sailing club so he goes sailing from 1-4, very fun....did you know that he can rig up his own little boat?? he sails a boat called a sunfish.....tiny little sailboat.....very cool......so as you can see I have a busy and full life....its a different busy from home...but still busy.
So that's it in a nutshell......it is a wonderful existence really, simple but sane and pretty relaxed.....I'm going to miss it like crazy.
I am going to try to put some of my favorite pics on my next post.....so stay tuned.....
Good night friends.
I love this quote.....
There are days when I question our sanity.......really and truly, how many people sell everything they own in their mid (ok, almost late) 30s, put the rest of their stuff in storage, give up great jobs and move to the Caribbean to study medicine, accumulating more debt than most families make in 5 years? But then that quote comes to mind......and I realize that while what we are doing is not the norm, may not be conventional, and is totally outside the box, in essence we are skidding in....screaming woo hoo what a ride the whole way......This caribbean adventure has been awesome and I wouldn't trade it for everything.....even if we had to give up everything we had to do it.....we have gained so much in return and had so many great adventures and we will have amazing memories that no one can take away (not even the bank if we can't repay all the loans....lol) I am so thankful and I feel so blessed that we got to do this......it ROCKS......
As you can see I am in a contemplative, thoughtful mood......you see I am entering a phase where I am very aware of time.....and that our time here is now coming to an end.....and I am starting to grieve, taking stock, looking ahead to the future and what that will bring, and staring behind at what I am leaving......there is so much going on in my head that I could never share it all in a million years! It dawned on me today as I was driving home from the barn that I want to remember EVERY thing, EVERY little tiny seemingly insignificant detail......I want to have the drive from the stable to my house burned into my brain, the potholes in the road, the flamboyant bushes on the side of the road, the palm trees with no tops by Coconut Grove that stand looking lonely, the swampy area in front of Cotton Ground that is so beautiful, the barn itself with its breathtaking view of Mount Nevis....I could go on and on and on......so over the next few months....I am really going to try to record everything I can, take pictures of everything I can, write down all of the details that I am sure to forget if I don't get them on paper.......
I am going to start by telling you right now a little bit about our everyday routine ....what we do day to day.....it might be abit boring for you, but for me, it is a record of my day to day life and how wonderful it is so that I never forget this time.......
My day starts at 545.....my alarm goes off, yuck and I roll over and think noooo, it can't be morning, but it is.....my little finch friend is outside my bedroom door singing away waiting for me to fill his dish......I quickly get into my workout clothes and throw my hair into a pony and out the door I go to meet my friend Jen at Oualie Beach......we head out for our hour long walk, where we admire all the beauty and peacefulness, we talk about life as "medwives" and we work up a good sweat. I get home at 7 and wake up the kids, and work on getting them ready for the day.....I make breakfast, lunches, pack bags, and chase 2 half asleep boys around the house, trying to find uniforms, and shorts and socks and where they left their shoes etc......Monty leaves the house with Joe at 7:30 because he has to catch the 8 AM ferry over to St Kitts. He attends SKI academy over there. Then I finish getting Christian ready, clean up the breakfast mess, feed the dogs and get myself ready. I drive Christian to school (they don't hvae school busses here) and then I head over to the barn. I wander around in the pasture for a bit, saying good morning to all of my horsies, giving them a treat and a little scratch, checking their shoes and the fencing.....and watching the monkeys steal all the mangos (buggers...lol) I lift 2 50 pound food bags up and pour into a wheelbarrow and then haul it around and get the horses fed.....I fill the water tubs, I feed the turtles and the chickens, then I figure out what needs to be done.....some days I have tourists to take out on the beach, other days I go riding with a friend, sometimes I just ride one or two horses in the paddock and make sure that they are getting a little schooling.....I am usually home from the barn by noonish, dirty and covered in sweat.....I shower and clean up and start work at home. I clean, do laundry (hang it out cause we have no dryer....) make beds, all that domestic stuff. I then usually go pay a bill, or get water at Nelson Springs (we only drink bottled water here.....) On tuesdays or wednesdays i go grocery shopping because that is when the ship comes in with fresh supplies and it is really the only good time to get milk and produce ...byt the weekend most stuff is picked over or gone......on thursdays I drive to the sea bridge and pick up my meat order from the meat man in st kitts......At 3 I am back on the road to christian's school to pick him up at 3:15.....I bring him home and he gets changed and we either go for a quick dip in the pool or hang out.....at 430 we hop in the car and go pick up Monty at the ferry terminal downtown......Then we head home, have supper, do homework, hang out and then everyone heads to bed....I usually watch a bit of TV.....Joe studies.....Tuesday nights the kids have soccer at the university. On Wednesday nights I often have an SOS activity, book club or desert night or cooking night....on thursday nights I have karaoke at Rumors Bar......weekends we usually have friends over to play with the kids or go to the beach.....sometimes my vet friends from St Kitts come over and we go riding.....Sunday afternoons Monty has sailing club so he goes sailing from 1-4, very fun....did you know that he can rig up his own little boat?? he sails a boat called a sunfish.....tiny little sailboat.....very cool......so as you can see I have a busy and full life....its a different busy from home...but still busy.
So that's it in a nutshell......it is a wonderful existence really, simple but sane and pretty relaxed.....I'm going to miss it like crazy.
I am going to try to put some of my favorite pics on my next post.....so stay tuned.....
Good night friends.
Friday, June 11, 2010
The road less travelled......
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
This has forever been one of my favorite poems......Most of you who know me well, know that I don't often take the "easy" route.....that I don't always follow the conventional path, that I like to go "against the grain" a little....it's just my personality......this poem has been in my head alot lately. We have alot going on in our household in paradise and I thought that I would share some of it with y ou.....at least get some of it down in writing while it is pressing to be released. So.....we have been struggling with a few decisions over the past month.....the two choices are 1) all of us to remain in Nevis until Joe is finished with his 5th semester (december) or 2) The kids and I move back to PEI after this semester (end of august) so that the kids can start the school year fresh. We have been back and forth and back and forth and then back and forth again trying to figure out what is best for us as a family......and we have finally come to a decision.......the boys and I will be returning home August 23......back to PEI......the main reason for this is that Monty is starting junior high and he really wanted to start with his peers and we wanted him to be able to have a smooth transition back to the educational system in Canada. Although he has learned many many valuable things here in the Caribbean, the education system hasn't always been on par so it has been a bit of a worry by times, especially with Monty. Over the last month, Monty has been strongly voicing that it is time for him to go "home" to be with his family, his friends, his school....he is ready to be a Canadian again, ready to play in the snow, ready to go to walmart, read to play hockey (he is a peewee now so will be checking and he is totally pumped about that....yikes) Christian has also jumped on the bandwagon and he wants to go home too....he misses his Nana, his puppies, Bernie and his friends. So with both of the kids feeling strongly about going home, Joe and I started talking about the pros and cons of this decision. I was quite opposed initially because well lets face it people, who wants to give up paradise??? not I said the fly.....I have absolutely enjoyed this adventure so much and I am so grateful that we had this experience.....I can't believe that 20 months has gone this quickly! So as you can imagine I have ALOT of emotions right now.....excitement to go home too, back to my country, my friends, family, my job, my choir (oh my blessed choir...sigh) my church family, all of the wonderful things that I know are waiting.......sadness, because I can't believe that I have to leave all of my friends here, my horses, the lifestyle, the weather, the beauty of the caribbean, the adventure.....it's going to be a big adjustment. We have all really enjoyed our time here...some of us more than others (right Joey?) LOL.....I am going to try to sum up our time here over the next few blog entries......so keep checking back :)
so I just basically wanted you to know that we are coming home.....soon......August 23 and we can't wait to see you all.
I have to run, I'll be back soon.
Love D
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
This has forever been one of my favorite poems......Most of you who know me well, know that I don't often take the "easy" route.....that I don't always follow the conventional path, that I like to go "against the grain" a little....it's just my personality......this poem has been in my head alot lately. We have alot going on in our household in paradise and I thought that I would share some of it with y ou.....at least get some of it down in writing while it is pressing to be released. So.....we have been struggling with a few decisions over the past month.....the two choices are 1) all of us to remain in Nevis until Joe is finished with his 5th semester (december) or 2) The kids and I move back to PEI after this semester (end of august) so that the kids can start the school year fresh. We have been back and forth and back and forth and then back and forth again trying to figure out what is best for us as a family......and we have finally come to a decision.......the boys and I will be returning home August 23......back to PEI......the main reason for this is that Monty is starting junior high and he really wanted to start with his peers and we wanted him to be able to have a smooth transition back to the educational system in Canada. Although he has learned many many valuable things here in the Caribbean, the education system hasn't always been on par so it has been a bit of a worry by times, especially with Monty. Over the last month, Monty has been strongly voicing that it is time for him to go "home" to be with his family, his friends, his school....he is ready to be a Canadian again, ready to play in the snow, ready to go to walmart, read to play hockey (he is a peewee now so will be checking and he is totally pumped about that....yikes) Christian has also jumped on the bandwagon and he wants to go home too....he misses his Nana, his puppies, Bernie and his friends. So with both of the kids feeling strongly about going home, Joe and I started talking about the pros and cons of this decision. I was quite opposed initially because well lets face it people, who wants to give up paradise??? not I said the fly.....I have absolutely enjoyed this adventure so much and I am so grateful that we had this experience.....I can't believe that 20 months has gone this quickly! So as you can imagine I have ALOT of emotions right now.....excitement to go home too, back to my country, my friends, family, my job, my choir (oh my blessed choir...sigh) my church family, all of the wonderful things that I know are waiting.......sadness, because I can't believe that I have to leave all of my friends here, my horses, the lifestyle, the weather, the beauty of the caribbean, the adventure.....it's going to be a big adjustment. We have all really enjoyed our time here...some of us more than others (right Joey?) LOL.....I am going to try to sum up our time here over the next few blog entries......so keep checking back :)
so I just basically wanted you to know that we are coming home.....soon......August 23 and we can't wait to see you all.
I have to run, I'll be back soon.
Love D
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Time goes by so fast........
Hey everyone,
I know that we throw around the expression "Time Flies" but I have to say that here in the Caribbean I am experiencing time flying at a very high speed.....and I'm not sure I like it! Joe has entered semester 4,.....did you hear me? Semester 4....of 5 ....which means that we only have less than 2 semesters left here in Nevis......I remember clearly packing in PEI in the dead of winter, the crazy trip to get down here, leaving my office, setting out on this journey that seemed like it would last a lifetime (it was 2 years) and now here we are, 17 months later!! 17 months!! Wow.....and in that time I have had so many new, interesting, fun, memory making, life changing experiences! And I hope that I have several more in the next 7 months.....I think if I were to choose the highlights they would be:
1. Completing my first triathalon! Just getting fit was a huge feat in itself, and I am so excited and proud of myself for doing it!
2. Participating in Nevis Karaoke Idol....(and placing in top 6 :) I met so many wonderful local people and had a blast!
3. Learning to snorkel and appreciate what is beneath the surface....I know I grew up on an island but I never appreciated the ocean as much as I have learned to while here....I guess having access to it 365 days a year instead of 21 or whatever makes a person more likely to spend time there.....lol
4. The friends that I have made....I can't even list them all here, but I have met people from all over the globe.....from Europe, Canada, US, Caribbean, Gyana, India, and much more.....I have met so may people who have touched my life in very interesting ways.....a few of them that I know I will stay in touch with for a lifetime.....
5. Learning to Relax, Enjoy Life, Minimize, stop and smell the roses......our pace of life in North America really is crazy.....and we often don't even realize it.....here in the Caribbean things are much slower and there is more time to really stop and enjoy each day and the blessings it brings.
6. I'm tanned!!!! For the first time in my life, I am a bronzy browny color.....and I love it!
7. Learning to co-exist with tarantulas all over my yard....lol.....they have holes EVERYWHERE...
8. Watching the kids become more globally aware, learn about different countries , different cultures, learn to speak Dutch, Spanish....making friends from all over the world!
9. Seeing the boys learn to absolutely love the ocean and become excellent swimmers!
10. Getting to horseback ride every day.......wow......on the beach even!
11. and most recently.....assisting in the release of 2 hawksbill turtles back to their natural habitat! (read on to hear more)
We had to say goodbye to a dear friend tht we made while here in Nevis. Her name is Barb and she was the marine biologist here on the island. She is a terrific person and she taught the kids in a Sea Stars program, She also taught me to snorkel, and I mean really snorkel, proper technique and all! So she often rescues marine animals and for the past 2 years she has been raising 2 tiny hatchling hawksbill turtles that had been abandoned during the hurricane 2 years ago, Tia and Seaweed......well this weekend she was getting ready to leave and it was time to release the turtles. She had the kids out withthe turtles in the ocean on harnesses for months, teaching them to swim in the ocean! Monty got to do this several times......anyway we happened to be on the beach when she was heading out so she invited Monty, Christian and I to help her.....of course we were THRILLED.....we went out in her zodiac boat with Tia and Seaweed on our laps and we drove to a nice quiet cove about a mile away from Oualie Beach (where they were housed) We let them go one by one into the water.....it was very emotional....Tia went first and she hung around the boat for a minute or two, kind of looking up as if to say "mom wheres the harness??" Then she realized that she was free and off she went! Then we put Seaweed in, he had a few issues with his back flippers, they had been injured a bit and were slightly paralyzed, so naturally Barb was worried about him and she thought that he might really hang around us for awhile......so we set him in the water.....and he peeked up with a smile and took off like a shot! Dove down into the water....he looked great! It was so awesome......something I am sure that we will never get to do again! The kids and I marvelled at how lucky we are to be living here and having all these fantastic experiences and even though we miss home sometimes, we are making some incredible memories (and friends ) here......
Anyway just wanted to share that great story with you all....I have to take off and go get Monty now......I hope that you all have a great day!
Love Dawn
I know that we throw around the expression "Time Flies" but I have to say that here in the Caribbean I am experiencing time flying at a very high speed.....and I'm not sure I like it! Joe has entered semester 4,.....did you hear me? Semester 4....of 5 ....which means that we only have less than 2 semesters left here in Nevis......I remember clearly packing in PEI in the dead of winter, the crazy trip to get down here, leaving my office, setting out on this journey that seemed like it would last a lifetime (it was 2 years) and now here we are, 17 months later!! 17 months!! Wow.....and in that time I have had so many new, interesting, fun, memory making, life changing experiences! And I hope that I have several more in the next 7 months.....I think if I were to choose the highlights they would be:
1. Completing my first triathalon! Just getting fit was a huge feat in itself, and I am so excited and proud of myself for doing it!
2. Participating in Nevis Karaoke Idol....(and placing in top 6 :) I met so many wonderful local people and had a blast!
3. Learning to snorkel and appreciate what is beneath the surface....I know I grew up on an island but I never appreciated the ocean as much as I have learned to while here....I guess having access to it 365 days a year instead of 21 or whatever makes a person more likely to spend time there.....lol
4. The friends that I have made....I can't even list them all here, but I have met people from all over the globe.....from Europe, Canada, US, Caribbean, Gyana, India, and much more.....I have met so may people who have touched my life in very interesting ways.....a few of them that I know I will stay in touch with for a lifetime.....
5. Learning to Relax, Enjoy Life, Minimize, stop and smell the roses......our pace of life in North America really is crazy.....and we often don't even realize it.....here in the Caribbean things are much slower and there is more time to really stop and enjoy each day and the blessings it brings.
6. I'm tanned!!!! For the first time in my life, I am a bronzy browny color.....and I love it!
7. Learning to co-exist with tarantulas all over my yard....lol.....they have holes EVERYWHERE...
8. Watching the kids become more globally aware, learn about different countries , different cultures, learn to speak Dutch, Spanish....making friends from all over the world!
9. Seeing the boys learn to absolutely love the ocean and become excellent swimmers!
10. Getting to horseback ride every day.......wow......on the beach even!
11. and most recently.....assisting in the release of 2 hawksbill turtles back to their natural habitat! (read on to hear more)
We had to say goodbye to a dear friend tht we made while here in Nevis. Her name is Barb and she was the marine biologist here on the island. She is a terrific person and she taught the kids in a Sea Stars program, She also taught me to snorkel, and I mean really snorkel, proper technique and all! So she often rescues marine animals and for the past 2 years she has been raising 2 tiny hatchling hawksbill turtles that had been abandoned during the hurricane 2 years ago, Tia and Seaweed......well this weekend she was getting ready to leave and it was time to release the turtles. She had the kids out withthe turtles in the ocean on harnesses for months, teaching them to swim in the ocean! Monty got to do this several times......anyway we happened to be on the beach when she was heading out so she invited Monty, Christian and I to help her.....of course we were THRILLED.....we went out in her zodiac boat with Tia and Seaweed on our laps and we drove to a nice quiet cove about a mile away from Oualie Beach (where they were housed) We let them go one by one into the water.....it was very emotional....Tia went first and she hung around the boat for a minute or two, kind of looking up as if to say "mom wheres the harness??" Then she realized that she was free and off she went! Then we put Seaweed in, he had a few issues with his back flippers, they had been injured a bit and were slightly paralyzed, so naturally Barb was worried about him and she thought that he might really hang around us for awhile......so we set him in the water.....and he peeked up with a smile and took off like a shot! Dove down into the water....he looked great! It was so awesome......something I am sure that we will never get to do again! The kids and I marvelled at how lucky we are to be living here and having all these fantastic experiences and even though we miss home sometimes, we are making some incredible memories (and friends ) here......
Anyway just wanted to share that great story with you all....I have to take off and go get Monty now......I hope that you all have a great day!
Love Dawn
Monday, March 29, 2010
Is that a tarantula???? (funny Dawn story)
I almost forgot to tell you this funny story....it happened while my mom was here....so one evenign after karaoke Idol (lol) my mom and I were coming home......as i stuck my key in the door and leaned over to unlock the door, I felt something land on my head.....i thought what the heck is that??? I felt around but there was nothing there....my mom searched my head and nothing....I looked on teh ground, still nothing....mom says maybe you are just imagining it? I said no way I felt something big land on my head! She says well its gone now so lets get inside! I said I am a bit creeped out, there are alot of tarantulas here in Nevis....what if it was one of them?? (we had a very very ugly spider in our house the week before....about the size of my fist....ick I am still shivering) Anyway we enter the house and I have the creepy jeepys because i know something fell on my head.....as i walk across the living room my mother starts screaming bloody murder...."your back your back, its on your back....omg omg....its on you.....of course I am thinking "what? what? what?" so I start screaming and trying to grab at my back, trying to haul my shirt off, of course it is a dress so isn't coming off the way a shirt would.....the screaming is so loud and it is midnight so of course the kids are in bed adn the neighbor downstairs is very likely asleep as is her baby!! Joe comes running out in a panic as he is pretty sure that Jason from Friday the 13th is hacking us to bits....lol.....my mom is still screaming and pointing to my back....I have now scratched my back to shreds trying to rid myself of what I am certain is a big hairy tarantula......"get it off, get it off" I keep screaming....Joe starts to laugh hysterically, he grabs my hand and says stop....its ok....its just a gecko......a big ass gecko mind you, but a harmless gecko! Anyway I start laughing and my mother is still freaking cause geckos and tarantualas are all just as icky to her.....the gecko jumps off and runs for cover.....anyway quite the scene people! I'm just glad it was just a gecko!
So much to say, so little time.....:)
Hey there, hi there, ho there friends! How are you all? Before you say it, I already know...I SUCK....I have been so delinquent in my blog it is not funny....but I have to say the last 2 months have been a whirlwind of activity and I am extremely busy with life in the Caribbean....I will try to capture for you all of the fun and amazing things happening in my life these days!!!!
First and foremost, I just completed my first (and likely last...lol) mini triathalon.....it was so exciting adn I had a blast but man what a lot of work! My friend Stacey talked me into this way back when we started trying to get in shape and we stuck to our goal and we both went for it 2 sundays ago.....it was the real deal, a few hundred athletes.....we had this special "athlete's area" to sit in and I looked around and it dawned on me that I was ONE OF THEM.....I was thrilled.....that was until I was standing at the start line staring out at the open water that I was about to swim into! Then I started saying holy **** what am I doing??? Anyway my goals were 1. to complete it and 2. to not come last....and I accomplished both and have the medal to prove it! It was great and a real feeling of personal satisfaction...I don't see myself becoming super interested in completeing tris on a regular basis as the training is quite intense and complex....also I am a very weak swimmer....but I could see myself running 5 ks or something like that, fun runs......anyway it was a great great day!
Second interesting event in the life and times of Dawn.....I am a finalist in the Nevis 2010 Karaoke Idol contest.....and what a hoot that is! We started off with 38 and we are down now to top 15....announcements come out tomorrow for who made top 12 (3 get booted each week til the end now!) It is set up alot like American Idol.....of course without the stage and 3 million viewers....lol....but it is so much fun! I am the only caucasion (which gets pointed out each week!) and the only non caribbean person.....but because of my temporary residency status i was permitted to enter.....I have met some amazing and very fun and talented people and I must say the show is very well organized and really entertaining.....some of the performers are fantastic.....my cheeky side is really coming out as I watch other people and I think hey I can do that too.....some of my performances include Shania's Man I Feel Like a Woman, Fever by Peggy Lee, Black Velvet by Alanna Myles and Vogue by Madonna.....anyway i entered it as a bit of a joke and also to win the 1000 prize money......but it turns out to be a very fun thing to do.....I am having a blast....I am somewhat of a local celebrity....ha ha ha.....i did a radio interview the other day and also recorded a commercial for a local business.....anyway what fun!
Third, the riding business has exploded and I am very very busy with rides....taking people out on the beach several times a week.....I am so happy over at the barn around the horses.....it is like therapy! I basically volunteer there as I am not allowed to work here.....this weekend we are taking the horses down to an SPCA fundraiser and giving pony rides.....Monty is going to help me with it so I think it will be a great time! the boys still love coming to see the horses with me, Monty isn't riding quite as much but still jumping on from time to time.....
4. I have had some awesome house guests down to Nevis! My high school buddies Nancy and Valerie came for 7 days and I had so much fun with them that it was crazy.....i haven't laughed that hard in a long time (thanks girls!) We had an absolute blast and I was so sad to see them leave at the end of their time......the boys LOVED them too and Christian raved on about Vals cheese sandwiches for days.....(made the same way as I make them but apparently much better tasting...lol) My mom was just down for 2 weeks as well and that was awesome.....I think she really enjoyed herself and I know the boys loved having her.....we were all sad to see her go....especially me! She was my stage manager for my karaoke performances so i was a bit at a loss when she flew off! Next week we have our dear friends from Saba, Dr Koot and his son Jim coming to stay for a week.....the boys are also off for a 2 weeks easter break and our friends Joe, Tammy and Max from Calgary are coming down for a 7 day visit! So we've had some great company and looking forward to some more!! Any one else want to come join us in paradise??
5. We are moving!!! This week, although from the look of my house and non packing you would not know it! We found a house down the street that is prettymuch the same cost but has a pool....so we figured why not have a pool? It really is so hot here most of the time that we figure a pool will be awesome! So the boys are looking forward to t his.....I am a little sad to leave our house behind because we love it here and the landlord has been great, but the new house will be great too! I'll post some pics on facebook as soon as I have some! I pick up my keys on wednesday morning!!
Anyway those are some of the highlights of what we have been up to! I am going to try to post some pics here on teh blog pretty soon....i find it difficult and the internet is slow so it gets bogged down trying to upload....our new house apparently has very fast internet so I am hoping that once we get settled i might be able to upload with a little more ease!
Everyone is happy and well....Joe is almost done of semester 3, can you believe it.....only 2 more to go....Monty and Christian are doing well with school and with life! We are all pretty settled and enjoying our time in the Caribbean.....I tell you real life is going to suck after this!
so that is my quick update! I hope that you are all well! Take care and I'll talk to you again soon,
Love Dawn
First and foremost, I just completed my first (and likely last...lol) mini triathalon.....it was so exciting adn I had a blast but man what a lot of work! My friend Stacey talked me into this way back when we started trying to get in shape and we stuck to our goal and we both went for it 2 sundays ago.....it was the real deal, a few hundred athletes.....we had this special "athlete's area" to sit in and I looked around and it dawned on me that I was ONE OF THEM.....I was thrilled.....that was until I was standing at the start line staring out at the open water that I was about to swim into! Then I started saying holy **** what am I doing??? Anyway my goals were 1. to complete it and 2. to not come last....and I accomplished both and have the medal to prove it! It was great and a real feeling of personal satisfaction...I don't see myself becoming super interested in completeing tris on a regular basis as the training is quite intense and complex....also I am a very weak swimmer....but I could see myself running 5 ks or something like that, fun runs......anyway it was a great great day!
Second interesting event in the life and times of Dawn.....I am a finalist in the Nevis 2010 Karaoke Idol contest.....and what a hoot that is! We started off with 38 and we are down now to top 15....announcements come out tomorrow for who made top 12 (3 get booted each week til the end now!) It is set up alot like American Idol.....of course without the stage and 3 million viewers....lol....but it is so much fun! I am the only caucasion (which gets pointed out each week!) and the only non caribbean person.....but because of my temporary residency status i was permitted to enter.....I have met some amazing and very fun and talented people and I must say the show is very well organized and really entertaining.....some of the performers are fantastic.....my cheeky side is really coming out as I watch other people and I think hey I can do that too.....some of my performances include Shania's Man I Feel Like a Woman, Fever by Peggy Lee, Black Velvet by Alanna Myles and Vogue by Madonna.....anyway i entered it as a bit of a joke and also to win the 1000 prize money......but it turns out to be a very fun thing to do.....I am having a blast....I am somewhat of a local celebrity....ha ha ha.....i did a radio interview the other day and also recorded a commercial for a local business.....anyway what fun!
Third, the riding business has exploded and I am very very busy with rides....taking people out on the beach several times a week.....I am so happy over at the barn around the horses.....it is like therapy! I basically volunteer there as I am not allowed to work here.....this weekend we are taking the horses down to an SPCA fundraiser and giving pony rides.....Monty is going to help me with it so I think it will be a great time! the boys still love coming to see the horses with me, Monty isn't riding quite as much but still jumping on from time to time.....
4. I have had some awesome house guests down to Nevis! My high school buddies Nancy and Valerie came for 7 days and I had so much fun with them that it was crazy.....i haven't laughed that hard in a long time (thanks girls!) We had an absolute blast and I was so sad to see them leave at the end of their time......the boys LOVED them too and Christian raved on about Vals cheese sandwiches for days.....(made the same way as I make them but apparently much better tasting...lol) My mom was just down for 2 weeks as well and that was awesome.....I think she really enjoyed herself and I know the boys loved having her.....we were all sad to see her go....especially me! She was my stage manager for my karaoke performances so i was a bit at a loss when she flew off! Next week we have our dear friends from Saba, Dr Koot and his son Jim coming to stay for a week.....the boys are also off for a 2 weeks easter break and our friends Joe, Tammy and Max from Calgary are coming down for a 7 day visit! So we've had some great company and looking forward to some more!! Any one else want to come join us in paradise??
5. We are moving!!! This week, although from the look of my house and non packing you would not know it! We found a house down the street that is prettymuch the same cost but has a pool....so we figured why not have a pool? It really is so hot here most of the time that we figure a pool will be awesome! So the boys are looking forward to t his.....I am a little sad to leave our house behind because we love it here and the landlord has been great, but the new house will be great too! I'll post some pics on facebook as soon as I have some! I pick up my keys on wednesday morning!!
Anyway those are some of the highlights of what we have been up to! I am going to try to post some pics here on teh blog pretty soon....i find it difficult and the internet is slow so it gets bogged down trying to upload....our new house apparently has very fast internet so I am hoping that once we get settled i might be able to upload with a little more ease!
Everyone is happy and well....Joe is almost done of semester 3, can you believe it.....only 2 more to go....Monty and Christian are doing well with school and with life! We are all pretty settled and enjoying our time in the Caribbean.....I tell you real life is going to suck after this!
so that is my quick update! I hope that you are all well! Take care and I'll talk to you again soon,
Love Dawn
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