San Diego (SD)

Thought it was time for an update on my life! if this blog is going to be a progression of communications i should actually work on communicating huh.

Yesterday I moved from Orlando to San Diego, CA! whoo hooo! My flights were the smoothest I've ever had. Only thing a little abnormal was waiting in the airport for 3 hours before the first flight took off because I had to go early because my dad flew out an hour before I did. Both my parents actually flew to Europe the same day I flew to SD. We all abandoned Matt. I don't think he minded. If I were him I wouldn't have minded.

The weather here is beautiful just like everyone says. I haven't made it to the beach yet but hey, I'm still on Day 1 so a little grace. I do have a "surf" car that a wonderful family is letting me borrow. It's their youngest sons who recently moved. But he used to use it to haul surf boards etc. If I had a board I'd honor it with the same profession but I'm not going to buy a board till after I see the waves. and maybe feel the water. and maybe talk myself back into the joys of being cold...but still on a board. I'll post a picture of the car soon. It's full of character.

In the mean time my goal for this week is buying my own car. I think that's the goal at least. I'm a little frightened by the whole ordeal but excited as well. I've never owned a car before so this will be a first. I just hope I don't make some awful mistake.

Until then.

back in the US

I've been back in the States for 2 weeks ago. It wasn't till Monday that reality hit and I realized I was back for a substantial amount of time. The trigger to that reality was kind of funny though.

I had a doctors appointment this week. So Monday I dropped my dad off at Panera and then drove to the doctors office. I get to the front desk and tell them my name and appointment time. It takes the receptionist a little while to find me and this is why: My appointment was for Tuesday not Monday!! I had gone on the completely wrong day. Needless to say I wasn't happy about driving so far for nothing and knowing I was going to have to return the very next day. I got back in the car to drive home and that's when it all hit me. That Orlando was reality and Barbados was no longer home. I shed some tears I'll admit. It was probably good. I've cried surprisingly little since being back.

I have loved seeing friends and spending time with my family but I miss Barbados, the community there, my amazing team, the hamsters, sunshine and beautiful beaches, surfing, and lots of laughs.

Tobago for less than 24 hours

We were in Tobago for less than 24 hours (as the post title suggests...well tells). We flew in Sunday night around 7 and left Monday around 5. In the mean time we stayed at an awesome house. (one of our friends hooked us up w/ her families house) We also saw 3 different forts, a mystery grave, some lovely scenery, the beach and had a blast of a time.

One unforgettable part was when a bird flew into our van through the open window and slammed into Jeffrey and died. Apparently he's been working out his arms.

For lunch on Monday we ate by the beach. Amanda and I ordered curry crab and dumplings. What we didn't know was that the crab still came in its shell. For the first time I had the honor of spending a ridiculous amount of time trying to get meat out of something well protected withOUT a hammer or anything. They only provided us with plastic sporks. Surprisingly handy for scooping meet out.

All in all Tobago was lots of fun but the beaches in Barbados are still better. :-) Especially for surfing.

Trinidad and Tobago

So I get to go visit Trinidad and Tobago TOMORROW! i'm very excited. Sad to be leaving Barbados, though I will be back for 2 days before i'm gone for good. Excited to see another country and see friends from this year and go to the Caribbean Student Conference.
I'm really going to miss the Caribbean. Though it's hard to believe that this is the first time we're leaving this island for another. stupid expensive traveling.

Summer Project has Arrived...in it's entirety

The summer project group arrived Wednesday. Our first encounter with them was Thursday afternoon for some training. Their first encounter with Cheffette was Thursday night for dinner and the memorable 1st bus ride happened Friday night as they overshot our bus stop and took a night tour of the West coast of the island.

They're an awesome group. 8 students, 4 staff. I spent a full day with Michelle Essary picking up Becky (the last student to arrive) at the airport on Saturday. Catching 4 buses in one day has a way of eating up your time. Might actually miss catching buses after this...in a weird way.

I almost cried on the bus Saturday morning on the way to meet Michelle because it finally hit me that I'm leaving soon; 4 weeks soon. 4 weeks seems like a long time but honestly it will fly by. My time in Barbados has been amazing. Extraordinary. (Allen says I over use amazing.) I have grown so much this year. I have experienced some of the hardest things in my life but also some of the best during this time. I shall not easily forget the lessons learned here.

I'm excited for the next weeks though and what God continues to teach me and grow me. :-)

Glass Art

This guy can do amazing stuff with glass. I saw an exhibit of his at the Orlando Museum of Art.

http://www.chihuly.com/putti/sealife007.html

http://www.chihuly.com/installations/fairchild/thesun001.html

May

Happy May Day! ....yesterday. It was a bank holiday here in Barbados so we took a team work day.