July 2010 - The Second Half

Hey Family and Friends,

I know I know, it's been a while since there was a post about our glorious adventures here in Dominica.  And it hasn't been because they were non existent, on the contrary I have been super busy these last few weeks of July and August is moving full speed ahead (no boat pun intended). 

Let us go back to the last post of July 18th....that was a rainy rainy night (as have been most of the nights in July).  But it was the night before my first ever CANOE RACE!  That's right folks, yours truly participated in the Kabuli (local beer) Canoe Races for Dive Fest 2010!  What is Dive Fest you ask?  Well I'm not really sure but I know it has something to do with highlighting all the awesome and amazing dive spots around the island and believe it or not - there are people who fly in just for THIS WEEKEND!  Why I have no idea but they do and we had a pretty big crowd for the races.....

The spouses ended up having 3 teams (4 each) and we had a blast - we were 3 of only 4 female teams and we took 1st, 2nd (my team) and 3rd in our heat, but we had to leave before the finals.....we thought the races would start around 1pm (but because it's an island event and therefore on island time it didn't actually start until 3pm and our heat didn't begin until 4:45pm)  Here is my team.....

So all of this was happening in the middle of July - right about the time Kelsey was studying for mini 2.  He will eventually have had 3 minis, 5 practicals and 1 final.  Whew I'm exhausted just typing it all out.  So what better way for me to keep busy than by playing some sports.....yep I'm on a softball team now made up mostly of spouses called "Shake n Bake" (Talladega Nights anyone?).  It was great - took the female spot that was left vacant when two other females left the island.....so I got to play in two regular season games and two season finale games where we .......

Became the #1 Champs for Summer 2010 semester!  And we did it with only 9 people (10 is the norm). 

Also beginning the middle of July I began working one on one with a incoming kindergartner at the school during Summer Camp (held at the preparatory school).   His name is Jack and he is adorable.  It was a great new challenge because Jack has several learning disabilities and it was a nice change of pace to be able to work one on one with a student instead of a whole class as I normally have in the past.  It was also a great way for me to get to know the students that I will be teaching in the fall =)  which with the way things are working it looks  like I will be teaching 4-7th grade English and Social Studies!  I'm really excited about this year it's a different type of teaching and the other teachers I will be working with are great!

We are super excited that our living arrangements are changing.  Starting around Aug 25th we will move into a 2 bed/ 2 bath apartment where we will have lots more space and an ACTUAL kitchen!  I can't wait to be able to have more cupboards and a counter to cook on!    God is sooooo good to us!  This is also a GREAT time for any of you that would like to visit - you will have your own room and BATHROOM complete with extra beach towels!  We're not sure we're going to keep it the whole time but for this semester it will be our home (we have a habit now of moving every 4 months and we don't want to stop now LOL) The only tough part is paying more rent, about $300 more than we are right now.....but as always God provides a way.

And a way he did!  Kelsey and I were both excepted to be on the Welcoming Committee for Ross (which is apparently really rare for 1st semester students to get - which we quickly realized when we saw that out of 20 members there were only 4 of us from 1st semester).  Being on the Welcome Committee will require us to go on several trips around the island (some we did when we first arrived, but others we didn't get the chance to) and will help with campus tours, welcoming and greeting people as they arrive off the bus from the airport and helping out with other various orientation tasks.  It's great because the money we will make will cover the cost of our increase it rent!  So once again God has thought of EVERYTHING and again I am learning that I need not worry but to "trust in the Lord with all my heart, and with all my soul and with all my might!" 

Lastly Kelsey and I will be taking a much needed vacation (really more Kelsey than me LOL) once his final is over on the 17th.  We will be taking a ferry (cross your fingers and hope I don't get really really sick) to St. Lucia!  We are going with another 1st Semester couple and it should be a great time to relax, enjoy nice pools and beaches, run AC all night long and eat some great food (not to mention stock up on supplies from their grocery stores - literally that was the advice one spouse who had been there before gave me because "good" grocery stores are rare here in Dominica).

Our Room at the 4.5 star resort Coco Palm

The Pools at our hotel.........

I promise to try and update more often....hopefully posting some pics from the ballet recital I'm having this Saturday for my Mommy and Me dance class.  

Oh one thing I almost forgot......we would love to hear from you!  You can send us pictures, cards, snacks, cookies, candy, etc......it's really like camp here and getting packages from home brings such joy!  Most of all Kelsey and I would really like some pictures of Friends and Family!  We miss all of you and would love to have your smiling faces on our walls :)

You can mail letters and packages to the following address (use USPS for the best rates):

KELSEY BUDD 1ST SEMESTER

(767) 255-6500 Ross University School of Medicine

P.O. Box 266 Portsmouth Campus Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies (there are no zip codes here)
 

Until Next TIME - remember to be thankful for the little things you have in life.....the hugs, the sunsets, the silent moments with a loved one, the beauty of God's creation.....each little thing is life is a gift from God!