Wednesday, May 09, 2007

In the last post, I realize I put in pictures of Ethan building the water pump shed and told you about going to Puerto Rico. So, I must apologize, but I don't have any pictures of Puerto Rico. The one day trip was so short...I forgot to pull out the camera. I can tell you that it looks a lot like Miami but more authentic Caribbean.

I am gardening a lot in the backyard of the townhouse...Ill post some pictures of that next. It keeps me busy and makes me feel so proud when things sprout up out of the ground. I keep getting stung by fire ants which are leaving lovely scars on my feet, but the alternative is to wear shoes. And that aint gonna happen!

Gayle is planning a RPCV of St Croix party. That should be fun. I run into people all the time at Blue Moon that were associated or involved somehow with Peace Corps. Just yesterday, I met a couple that lived in Embassy housing in Manilla Phillipines and they housed many a rural volunteer coming to the city. We also had a great talk about gender roles. She was a Navy commander and he a teacher and how living ina developing country makes that a very interesting and unique situation. Neat people.

What else...oh, I am waiting to hear from Arizona again. Seems there may be a little issue or misunderstanding on my scholarship. We'll see. I keep calling and writing to everyone but I can't get any answers so I am staying put.

Today, I am off to ride my bike to the beach again. Yesterday the weather didn't cooperate, so I gardened and planted coconuts. Today, I am going even if it does rain. I just wont bring my camera and Ill put my cell phone in a ziplock.

THats life in my world....Sorry I can't give you more updates on Ethan. He works all day and I see him for about an hour before I head to work and then he goes to work onthe house. We reconvene when he picks me up at work late night and then we both pass out in bed. Saturdays are our day and we enjoy them soooo much. Sometimes we work on the house and sometimes we explore the island. This weekend its work work work. Gotta get that toilet in before Elizabeth comes so we all have someplace to go potty!

Ciao for now.
-z-

Monday, May 07, 2007




Off One Rock, onto another and back again.

Yup, we didn't quite have island fever, but the break from St Croix was nice. We went to Puerto Rico for the weekend. What a developed place compared to our little island. The purpose of our trip was the scope Home Depot for house building supplies and get prices on everything. So, apon arriving in PR, we jumped a public bus and headed to Bayamon to the Home Depot. We had some other shopping to do, but were quite exhausted from trip and decided that we could brave the buses later and take a little nap. Ahhhhh....hotel, airconditiong, what a life! Then we headed to the Plaza de Americas, which I hear was up there as one of the biggest malls in the US until only a few years ago. Everyone from all over the Caribbean comes to PR to shop and man, the ladies department at Macys was scary. I had post-Peace Corps trauma again going there and decided I could settle with a few mail order items instead.

On Sunday, we headed to the beach across from the hotel and then explored Old San Juan for a little bit. We had a great lunch including some ceviche and calamari...mmmmm.

Back to St Croix, our baggage didn't make it so we had to take a second trip to the airport to pick up our bags.

That was our trip. The End.

Oh, someone asked me for a life update.
Well, we love St Croix. We continue to fall more in love with each other every day. (Sorry you all needed a little sappiness right?) I am still going to Arizona as of now. Ethan is still building the house in Prosperity. (I try to help when I can). Our first continental visitor is coming in May (Elizabeth from DC). Gayle had a birthday. We are heading to the States in August for a trip to Florida, California, and then Tuscon...where Ethan will head back here. Some pics.....

Sunset in St Croix

Gayle, checkbook in hand, when we filled the water cistern FINALLY!