We're home!

The last few days have been a bit of an ordeal, but we made it and we're happy to be back!

The beginning of the adventure occurred when we got to the airport in Grenada two hours early, and were STILL in the check in line 20 min. before our flight left. Not the quickest at the Liat counter on our little island, but they held the plane for us and shortly we were off.

Immediately, I became somewhat concerned when Paul started crying on take-off and was wide awake the whole flight to Barbados. Thinking "this does not bode well." And I was right. Paul barely napped at all during our 7 hour layover in Barbados, and was wide awake during our 6 hour flight to Toronto. It was a very long flight! He didn't scream the whole way, but was pretty fussy the entire time. Nothing like walking the aisles with a cranky baby, and mostly sympathetic looks from other passengers (although I'm sure some of them we're thinking not so sympathetic thoughts). We checked into our hotel in TO shortly after 11pm and left again before 7am. Not nearly long enough to enjoy one of the most comfortable beds in the world (thank-you Hilton!). Paul was again mostly awake and somewhat fussy on the four hour flight to Calgary, but we made it and all is well!

It was -36C today in our beautiful city! Somewhat shocking to us island dwellers. Poor P's little hands and feet are always like icicles. He's sleeping in a giant teddy bear outfit made of fleece compete with hood and feet. That will keep him warm!

Outside it is white and frosty everywhere. It just looks bloody cold. It's the type of cold where your skin starts to sting as soon as it hits the air and every breath is a shock to your system. But I must admit it is so pretty! I will always love the snow, cold, and a white Christmas. We've had fires, we've had hot chocolate, I'm wearing a cashmere sweater around for god's sake! Long undies, jeans!, fuzzy slippers, down duvets, hugs from my husband when we find eachother cozy and not disgusting with dripping sweat and BO!

I think the funniest thing that's happened so far was my homage to Grenadian driving: My Mom was trying to leave the Calgary airport which was jammed with traffic coming and going. Eight lanes all trying to merge into one, and everyone being selfish and cranky and not letting in anyone else. Finally I had had enough! I rolled down my window, stuck my whole arm out the window in the "stop" gesture to the car in the next lane, and he did! My mom was then able to merge over. Why is it that everyone can ignore a signal light, but when I actually take physical action they pay attention?! Anyway, I brought my head and my arm back in the window and said "and that's how we do it in Grenada!" Ha!

This morning we went to the mall to get P's pic taken with Santa. Turned out quite well! I must say my son sure is adorable! I also am hoping not to have to return to the mall anytime soon. What a madhouse! I love being home and all, but I forget how crazy busy it is everywhere! I laugh thinking that I was impatient the other day in Grenada waiting for 10 min. in traffic, where here it's taking us sometimes over an hour to inch our way along (esp. on these icy/snowy roads!).

Well it is way past my bedtime. Still fighting off jetlag I"m sure. Talk to you all again soon! Merry Merry!

One year down...

So, we are finished year numero uno. Technically, Chris has one more test on Fri, but as far as I'm aware it doesn't count or go on transcripts, so I'm considering him already finished. What a year! Move to Caribbean, have a baby, start medical school, start social wk. degree, the list goes on. Many firsts! We've had ups and downs (boooo to 7 wks apart), but we have survived it and now here we are again....at Christmas.

Last year at this time I had just found out I was pregnant and was bursting to tell everyone. Now our baby is 4.5 months old. Time flies. I can barely remember my first two months at home with Paul. It was such a whirlwind of recovery, visits, late nights watching the Olympics, trips to the mall (I think I went to the mall almost everyday as it was a nice walk for me and P, and I could get out of the house for a chai. It was my version of physio). I'm sure the percocet and sleep deprivation had a lot to do with my hazy memory. All I know for sure is that I couldn't have gotten through it without mia madre. Kudos to you Mama!

These last few weeks on the island have also been a whirlwind of social events. I cannot believe how unbelievably lucky I am to come here and have an instant wealth of friendly spouses willing to help fill up my days. We've had Christmas parties, pool parties, sunset bbq's, the list goes on.

Today I went to town with friends, and then as soon as I got home Chris & P & I headed to the beach. The beach at dusk is so wonderful. We watched a cruise ship all lit up pull away from port. It looked like something out of Peter Pan (I'm not sure what that means, but I have an image in my head).

Chris continued his celebrations by going for sushi and then to the movies, but P needed to go to bed so he & I came home. Really I should be packing, but I am so totally over it. If worse comes to worse we can just throw odds and ends into the car and be done with it. Why must I always be so organized?!

Slowly getting rid of all the food in the house sucks. Tonight for dinner I ate the rest of a jar of bread and butter pickles, some fried potatoes and some taco chips. Healthy I know! Thought of eating the rest of the fishsticks too, but I felt too lazy to turn on the oven. On the upside, I think there is one lone beer left that I couldn't possibly leave behind. Mmmmmm, beer! Should have gotten a picture of me on the beach today nursing a baby AND a beer. Such class!

I've heard that Sunday in Calgary is going to begin the onset of a cold snap. Holy crap! I mean I could still be excited when I heard it was going to be -20 because I saw the pics of all the snow and frost and it looked so beautiful. But now I'm hearing crazy talk about highs of -31C, and I'm thinking that sounds a bit ridiculous. I don't think our bodies can tolerate such temperatures. Mom was going to bring P a bunting bag to the airport, I'd like one too please...

December

Wow! It sure doesn't feel like Christmas when you're used to the snow and freezing weather, and instead it's a balmy 30C outside with tropical breezes blowing in over the ocean. Well, soon enough we will be back home. Less than a week!

I began packing today for THE MOVE, but am feeling somewhat uninspired, perhaps "overwhelmed" is more the right word. I'll start in one area, and then think "oh, but I want to get this done," so then I'll move on to another area. Right now I just have many piles all over the house as I have been pulling things outta drawers and cupboards. The difficulty is compounded by the fact that I am trying to separate what we'll be needing to pack to go home for Christmas at the same time. So far Paul's going home outfit consists of jammies, a hoody, and socks with crabs on them (perhaps a bit summery for Christmas in Calgary, but it's all he has to keep his feet warm upon arrival).

It's kinda hard because there are so many events to go to this last week of school, but because we have to get packed up, I don't really have time to go to most of them. A real bummer because some of my friends are leaving for good. Well, with each new semester more leave and more come. It's a constant turnover. Is a little sad to be saying goodbye every 6 months, but I'm sure I'll get to see many of these people again.

Tonight Paul & I are going to a sunset potluck bbq at our friends' house which is just down the road from us. They're renting a super cute little cottage right on the ocean with a big balcony overlooking Prickly Bay. Should be some nice views this evening. I'm dying to see the inside of this place.

I found out this afternoon that Paul has been accepted into the daycare program! Yay! I'm allowed to drop him off in the afternoons on Mon, Wed & Fri if I so desire. I'm very excited as I had heard that they were all booked up for next semester as they can only have so many infants at one time, but I guess someone else turned down the hours, so I was next on the list. The daycare facility is on the Grand Anse campus, which means that I am going to join the gym that is right across the street. It only costs 14EC for an afternoon (equivalent of $6). I'm very excited to be able to have a little bit of freedom here and there.

Currently I am ignoring a crying baby who needs to sleep so that we can go out this evening. Well, I best be off as I have to make an artichoke dip. Bye all!

Chris

Ha! I found something to talk about. Well, I have to be doing something while Gloria cleans my house (saying that tongue in cheek, but kinda true).

Chris, my hubby, is off studying hard today. Dropped him at school at 9am, won't see him again til around 8pm. Well, this is how life is leading up to finals. Although he usually does find time at the end of the day to eat with me, and sometimes watch a movie (remind me to download Lord of the Rings 1 for tonight).

I think people should know how proud I am of him, and that you all should be proud of him too. Moving here, leaving everyone behind, pursuing this dream after years and years of rejection and set backs. And I think he is proving to himself, and everyone else, that this indeed is his calling.

Chris is kicking ass and taking names down here, and in a way it is vindication that yes, he can indeed succeed. He is dedicating his life to helping others, something that he has always wanted to do. Working with the disabled, volunteering at a hospice, and now going through medical school.

Of course Chris is self-depriciating (as always), and doesn't make a big deal out of any of the things he has done. Sometimes people get so wrapped up in the things that they haven't done, that they fail to see or appreciate those things that they have.

Well, I just wanted you all to know, that this has not been an easy road for us. Going into huge debt at 30 with a baby and me unemployed was not exactly in our financial plan. Moving away from all that we know and those that we love has been an adventure, but a very bittersweet one. Having no idea when of if we'll ever be able to go home again. These are the things that we had to come to terms with to come here. This is the sacrifice we are making so that Chris can follow his heart and his dreams.

We miss all of you dearly. Not a day goes by that Chris doesn't talk about someone from home. Thinking of you all....

Sitting in my little house

It's another cloudy day here on the island. So far today I've just been lazing around thinking about things. Reflecting on our time here in this little house and the task ahead... which is to pack up and move out. Procrastinating on that front. Well, I still have a week and a half, right? Man, time goes quickly. One year down, one more to go...

We've heard through the unofficial grapevine that Ontario has opened up a few spots for clinical rotations through McMaster University. Could be spending our next two years in T-dot. Booooo! Well, I shouldn't be so harsh. Obviously, if we could get a clinical spot there it might be good for continuing on in Canada for a residency (but not necessarily). Also, I could work during that time, or at least finish up my Social Work practicums.

Feel somewhat mixed about that possibility. In terms of cities to live in I would WAY rather live in NY. Who wouldn't? But we have to think of what's best for us in the long run. Anyway, none of that matters right now. We'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out (patience not always being my strong suit).

Am somewhat miffed about what I hear is going on in the Canadian gov't right now. Don't like it at all. Even if I were Liberal, NDP or BlOC, I wouldn't like it. Too many conflicting interests. But though this is MY blog, I don't want to use this as a political soapbox. So, I'll just breathe deeply and hope that the citizens of our great country will get off their hineys and do something. Beautiful time of year to stage protests, don't you think? Could be Paul's first experience of activism.

Times like these I hate to say that I feel the US has it right...one party running the government so that they can actually make some decisions and get things done, and if you didn't like it, vote them out next time round.

OK, enough political talk, on to more interesting things.

Ummmm......

Nevermind then. I think I'll just go for now. Not much to say today, must be the rain or something.

Poor Paul

So I'm at the food court drinking a mocha chiller (damned devil's nectar) with Abeni, and Paul decides that this would be a prudent time to fill his diaper (and of course I had him in a cloth one instead of a disposable!). And since he only goes once every 10 days or so, it's always a huge mess. Why does this always happen when we're out somewhere?! I think he does that on purpose.

I know that there is not a change table in the bathroom and only enough counter space for the sink (what's with that!), so I decide to change him in the back of the car. Paul is completely lathered in yellow goo, which is rapidly spreading from his diaper to his clothes to the change pad to his feet as he squirms around. I run out of wipes, and am frantically searching my diaper bag for all extra cloths. Use up the burp cloth, the face cloth, and eventually resort to stripping him and using his onsie that says "super cute" on it. Not so cute after it's been used to wipe poop from a baby's bum.

So, I 've cleaned up Paul as best as possible in the back of the car, and head back to the food court. I need to use the washroom to wipe the remaining yellow from Paul's legs and feet, and wash my hands. I have to use toilet paper as it's all that is available, and typical of public toilets, it's cheap one ply that is crumbling little yellow bits everywhere as I'm trying to hold Paul and wipe him off. A security guard lady follows me into the bathroom to make sure I don't put my "dirty baby" on the counter top. Obviously not a mother! Or if so, very unsympathetic to my squirmy upset baby, whose bum probably hurts cause it just exploded two weeks worth of poop out. I felt like telling her to "f@$k off!" But I instead inform her that perhaps this bathroom could use a change table, but I'm sure she doesn't care.

What's with the no change tables anywhere?! What do local people do when they have to change their babies? I've had to change mine on the filthy floor many times, and I am not very happy about it (but I guess I already have a "dirty baby" so what's the diff, right?).

Yay, It's Friday Again!

Although, who am I kidding, why does it really matter to me it it's the weekend or not?! I don't work, few of my friends work. We mostly just hang out or do mundane tasks no matter what day of the week it is. So, I guess the only really good thing about a weekend is that Chris doesn't have school. However, he does have a final on Monday, so I probably won't get much of his attention this weekend anyway. Paul, Stan & I can have a good ol' time by ourselves!

One of my good friends left the island this week to go home for Christmas, so I no longer have her to drink mocha chillers with everyday (probably good for my diet to cut that damned drink out. It's like devil's nectar!). And my other good friend, Abeni, has a job. Lame! It's also a bit of a downer that all this rain has put a damper on Pool Days & Beach Days. So the highlight of my days lately have been bill paying and grocery shopping.

Ah, grocery shopping! Where to begin?! Don't know really what the problem is these days, but Thursday is supposed to be the shipment day, and there still wasn't anything stocked. No lettuce, no tomatoes, no milk, no eggs, no sour cream, no tortilla chips (of which there is only ever one brand when they have it). I had to buy the boxed milk, which is tolerable for cereal, but not for drinking plain. Perhaps the bad weather slows the shipments? During hurricane season we went over a month with no cheese in the grocery store! So weird. But I do have to admit that I really only frequent the IGA, and that if I sometimes made the effort to travel to the other grocery stores/markets I might be able to find some missing items. But who wants to travel to 4 different stores to get one week's worth of groceries?!

Also, there's virtually no water on the island right now, which is also bizarre because it's been raining non-stop for weeks now (well might be a bit of an exaggeration, but not much). I guess the reasoning is that all the rain damaged the water mains. So we're back to a slow trickle in the shower, out of the taps etc. Used unfiltered water today in the coffee maker and ran the risk of clogging up the silly thing with sediment. Chris gave me a stern talking to, lol.

Our coffee maker has a life of it's own in that it only works if Chris sets the timer. So we have to set the timer for a minute in the future everytime we want coffee or it won't turn on. If you just press "start" nothing happens. One of the many weird things that happens when trying to combine 220v outlets with 110v appliances.

But for all the complaining, it is an adventure and it's good for us. I do actually love it here. All the idiosyncracies I write about are more for a story narrative, than an actual bitch session (although I must admit the day when nobody took VISA, and I had to keep running to the bank REALLY sucked!). Some people here (some students/SO's) bitch for real, constantly. And I find it ridiculous. People should be GRATEFUL that there is a school on this island that was willing to take them and offer them an excellent education. They sure weren't going to get to be doctors by staying on the mainland. And I am the first to admit, that this place is very different from home, but that's the point. It's not a mini-America/Canada. Grenada is a country that doesn't have to live up to OUR standards, we should be trying to conform and accept theirs.

Besides how cool will it be to one day say that I lived in the Caribbean for 2 years. I've never even been to the Caribbean before. Not even Mexico (and that one time in Tiajuana doesn't count!). And nothing, I MEAN NOTHING, beats swimming in the crystal clear ocean on a hot sunny day.

Another Rainy Day

Well the rain hasn't let up here pretty much all week. Put a bit of a damper on this week's events, but hey, I don't mind going for lunches and watching movies in lieu of the pool and beach sometimes.

Last night it was raining wicked hard! We have a vaulted ceiling with a metal roof, and it makes the rain sound like it is thundering down. Almost impossible to sleep with all the racket. I eventually got up to look out the windows, and realized that the roof was leaking and there were puddles in multiple areas on our floor. I went and slept in Paul's room so that I could hear him if he woke up from all the noise.

I also couldn't sleep because I kept thinking about how our house is on concrete pillars, and what if the construction is as dodgy as everything else in the house, and what if all the rain eroded the dirt around the footings and our house crashed to the ground! I know I was being a bit of a crazy, but it's hard to think straight with all that noise! Anyway, I woke up this morning with the house still in tact, so as usual all my stress was for naught.

The apartment we're moving into for January is on the ground floor, and so the rain won't be pelting directly on our ceiling. We actually asked the tenants on the second floor if the rain was bothersome, and they said yes, so that's a big reason why we chose the ground floor.

Right, for those of you who don't know, Chris and I are moving! We have had a pretty good year in our little house on the ocean, but it is quite expensive to be living here. And for all the things about this house that drive me batty, I will be somewhat sad to leave it. The view, for one, is beautiful. Walking distance to the Uni has been nice too. And we have a full size fridge, all new appliances, our own washer/dryer unit (virtually unheard of here). So, there will be a lot of major sacrifices.

However, there is a lot to recommend the apt. The apt. itself it cute & cozy. There are a lot of other families living in the building, including a couple really good friends. And at half of what we're paying now, we'd be silly not to try to reduce our spending in this economic crises. Also, there's A/C in the main room! Usually these places only have A/C in the bedrooms. So who cares that the apt. building is down a dodgy alley that I wouldn't be caught dead walking down at night. Or that there used to be dogs that ran loose and attacked dogs/people in the alley (the dogs were taken away last term after they attacked a student)! Besides I have a big vicious dog of my own, right?! And I'll be sure to post him outside often to let people know that THIS big vicious dog protects THIS apt. and anyone up to no good should just carry on!

The one thing that we're not completely comfortable with is the lack of bars on the BR windows. And ours is the apt closest to the road, so that anyone walking by can see in the windows. We have asked that this be rectified, and the landlady assures me that the task is underway. However, the job was measured LAST term, and still no bars have been installed. It's pretty much unheard of here not to have bars on the windows, so that's a bit sketchy to me. I guess we'll just keep them closed and locked all the time, with the blinds drawn. Who needs daylight in bedrooms anyway?! Bedrooms are for sleeping. LOL

Some students keep machetes in their apts, but I am so uncool with that. I find them terrifying. Lots of local people carry them around all the time and use them for everything. My weapon of choice is this siren contraption that if you pull the pin a siren goes off that is so loud it's disorienting. I think I'll keep that by my bed instead of a machete. Mom & I used it once in a shady little hotel in Amsterdam. We rigged it to the door so that we would know if someone tried to break in. We pulled the pin ourselves, just to see how loud it was and I almost couldn't concentrate well enough to get the pin back in. So the siren and Stan should keep us safe. Maybe the bars will go in before we leave next year, but maybe not.

Weekend's Over

Well, I FINALLY finished my application to the School of Social Work at UVic. Been driving me nuts. I've never had an application be so involved before. I guess now I can empathize with what Chris had to go through applying to numerous med schools numerous times. I've requested to take more Social Work classes in Jan. even though I haven't been admitted to the program yet, but of course they won't let me know if I'm allowed until half way through Dec. Guess I'll be scrambling at the last minute to get all my materials to bring back down with me. Makes life more exciting I guess.

Chris is on the last stretch toward finals. Been doing pretty well on the studying front, but as usual it seems that all the students get pretty burnt out in the last month. It's all they can do to maintain focus, with the thought of Christmas and going home around the corner.

Tomorrow I'll be driving to town to FedEx my application to Victoria. Maybe I'll listen to the radio on the way, but all they play these days are Christmas carols, or Reggae Christmas carols, or the new song "Obama!Obama!Obama!" Quite catchy and all, but loses it's appeal after a few hundred times.

Well time for bed again. Happy reading everyone! xoxo K

PS...I just found it somewhat interesting to note that here in Grenada today there was a windchill factor. That's right, a WINDCHILL! HAHAHAHAHA. It was 29 degrees, but with windchill felt more like 27. Put your coats on people!

Bugs

I am not a fan of the cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants or millipedes, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fireflies. So pretty. When I'm out for a walk at dusk I can see them flickering in the bushes and they are really bright! Chris says he's seen them in Ontario, but that they weren't as bright even though they lasted longer. The ones in Grenada are like little on/off switches. And when I see them going I feel like it's the Grenadian version of Christmas lights.

First Entry

Okay, why create a blog? It never occurred to me to do it before we left Canada almost a year ago now. I've never really read anyone else's blog, so I don't know how I can expect anyone to read mine. But since we've started this adventure, I've come to realize that I need a more substantial way to communicate with my friends and family other than my status updates on facebook everyday. So here it goes...

Today: what did I do? Pretty much nothing. Not a very interesting way to start a blog, I know, but what the hell, it's how most of my days go down here anyway. Paul woke up at 6:30am, so we hung out until it was time to drive Chris to school for 8am. Came home, and P & I slept on and off until noon. I think we kind of alternated who was sleeping and who was awake, but he seemed to be content to hang out in his crib, so I was happy to leave him there. I made up for my neglect with several rousing rounds of Purple People Eater after lunch, and I think Paul forgave me my morning neglect. This afternoon we watched Father of the Bride II, but Paul wasn't very interested in it for some reason, I thought it was pretty entertaining (mostly I was amused by the clothes of the early 90's, which were still much too heavily influenced by the styles of the 80's).

Then it was time for Chris to come home, yay! The highlight of my day! Especially on a day like today when it was all I could do to get out of my PJs. Don't ask me why I was so unable to be productive today. Who knows what's up with me these days! So I was extra happy that Chris was home because it is Friday, which means that he's usually willing to blow off studying for a night of tv/movie watching and junk food. We watched Tropic Thunder. OK movie, but not as funny as I would have hoped.

Oh, I did try to do one productive thing today and that was take Stan for a walk (I was a very bad doggy mommy and didn't take him yesterday). However, we went outside and were met with storm clouds in every direction. I tried to make a go of it anyway with the attitude of "hey, a little rain never hurt anyone!" But about 7 minutes in, I could hear the downpour moving toward us from across the bay. And sure enough we were caught out in a deluge. The runners that run along our street (Lighthouse Drive is the most popular running route for students) were cowering under trees. Stan tried desperately to pull me into the bushes for shelter, but I just decided to make a break for home. I could barely see anything as we stumbled along the rain was so heavy and driving into my eyes. We were soaked to the bone, and had to wade ankle deep in water the last 100 yds. Chris was standing in the open doorway with towels at the ready knowing that we would be turning around. So Stan got a 10 min. walk. But he just seemed happy to be out or the rain, and hey, I tried.

Well, that was my day. And I think that's all I have in me for a first entry. There are so many things that I COULD say, but I suppose this is a good enough start. And I'm sure it will be of no interest to you voyeurs, but to those of you back home I hope this means something to you. Just know that I'm missing all of you, and think of you often (more so than usual lately). Later!