Blogs...Valentines...Birthdays...Pets...Life

Since moving to St Kitts, I have become an avid blog follower of some amazing women!  I am inspired by them on a daily basis, and amazed at how a blog of some person you do not even know can make you feel so connected to them... Many people think I am crazy - I sometimes talk about these people like they are my friends.. but call me crazy, I'm ok with that! =)

Valentine's Day was not overly eventful, but as my sister and Travis so nicely put it, "I don't need some special day of the year to show you how much I love you, I do that every day!"  I am so happy that that is not only true for my sister and my current/future brother-in-law (in case you don't know - my younger sister and Brayton's younger brother got engaged on December 31st!) but for my life as well!  For Valentine's Day this year, we went to a restaurant called Nirvana.  It is a nice place, generally has good food and decent service and isn't too overly priced... For Valentine's Day they had a special menu - Filet Mignon sounded good - so we gave it a go.   IT WAS AWFUL!  Luckily, our wine was great (but when isn't wine great!) and they only charged us for ONE meal (they must have felt really bad our steaks were completely charred or they just forgot to charge for the bottle of wine!) so even though dinner wasn't good, and we left hungry.. The wine and the company of my husband were great!

Earlier in the week, in the midst of studying, Brayton decided he was going to make me the first part of my Valentine's present.  He slaved in the kitchen, wouldn't tell me what he was doing or let me near him (so I went to bed!) and I woke up to 100% homemade red cake-brownies with homemade butter cream frosting!  He is simply amazing!  On Valentine's morning, he woke up early to give me my gift which was his favorite perfume!  I couldn't ask for more!

While being married to a vet student is sometimes challenging due to the busy schedules, high level of stress, intense work loads and, not to mention, the normal stresses of living in St Kitts, my husband shines through!  He is constantly helping with dinner, cleaning, doing laundry, anything he can to make things easier for me.  Since I am not the 'normal' VIP (at Ross, VIP stands for Very Important Partner - it is the group of vet student spouses..90% of whom do not work and live a Caribbean dream life for 2 1/2 years!) and work full time, tutor, volunteer and am super busy.  The help my husband offers is so great!  I often don't tell him enough how grateful I am for him, his support and his generosity as he pushes his way through vet school, but I really cannot imagine my life without him!

Today is my mom's birthday.  Growing up as an oldest child of 3 girls, I sure gave my mom some hard times!  As I grew up, I learned the importance of having a WONDERFUL, LOVING, STRONG, and PATIENT mother.  She was my backbone when I didn't have one, she was my support in lives hardest choices, she gave the right advice even if it wasn't what I wanted to hear, she loved me unconditionally, and I would not be the woman I am today without her!  Since moving to St Kitts 18 months ago, and leaving my mom for longer than 2 weeks and being more than 3 hours away, I have developed even more appreciation for her.  There is rarely a day that passes that I don't send or receive a text communication, a skype phone call or an email from my mom checking in.  There isn't a moment she wouldn't spend 3 times the amount of money something costs to ship it to me, she has been there day in and out, through my rough patch of depression in St. Kitts, to a new and challenging job right up to sharing the joys of being here.  I have come to appreciate the relationship I have with my mother so much more since moving away.  I am forever grateful for all she has done and hope that someday I can be half of the mother she has been to me.  Being that today is her birthday, I have been a bit sad.  I have really wanted to be home, spending the day with her, heading up to Lake Placid for a mini-vacation, drinking wine and soaking up that much needed mother-daughter time.  Luckily, she will be arriving in St Kitts in 38 days and we will have ONE WEEK together!  4 days of nothing but US, and 2-3 days of her sharing some time at work with me!  I am so thrilled that she is coming to visit again and already get teary-eyed when I think about her leaving, and not seeing her until Christmas next year!  So today, I want to send all the love in my heart to my MOM - the most amazing women and mother in the world! <3

Pets... They are awesome...  They are sometimes a pain in the ass.. But I wouldn't trade them for the world!  They show unconditional love and want nothing more than my undivided attention!  I am so grateful for them!  Here is some puppy/kitty love!  Nevi turned ONE this week!  I cannot believe she is a year old already, and that 9 months ago we rescued her from a life of HELL!!  Happy Birthday GIRL!

Life.. Do you ever feel like you are in a point in your life where you are stuck in the middle.. and the way out isn't achievable at this very moment?  I feel like that is my life right now.. Please, don't get me wrong, I am SO happy to be here, supporting my husband, experiencing this life, learning so many important lesson, teaching amazing children, at a wonderful school, having great co-workers and having met some amazing people, but sometimes I feel like I'm in that middle ground..  Brayton and I (more me..) are so ready to have children and start a family and we have both accepted that helping one another to achieve dreams and goals is first, so here we are, coming to the downward slope of our time in St Kitts!  The unfortunate part of all this is 1) St. Kitts is NOT a good place to have a baby.. 2) I feel like there are 3 groups of people here.. and I'm not really in any of those..

There are the students.. They are all busy, they eat, sleep, and breathe vet school and for that, I am SO proud of them all!  I have some amazing friends who are students.. BUT they are students!

There are the parents.. People with kids hang out with other people with kids.. not people who WISH they had kids, or don't have kids..

There are the VIP's.. Most of them are either: 1) Parents and in the parent group or 2) Not working, living up the beach life, drinking Caribs, playing beach volleyball, snorkeling, surfing, paddle boarding, fishing, sleeping in, taking care of their student and livin' de life!

Then there is me - I work full time, don't have kids and am not a student.. therefore, I fall in the middle...  I don't really have the time or interest to do the party it up life (even when I'm not working!).. I don't have kids.. And I'm not a student..

I am not trying to complain, make it seem like I have no friends, a shitty life, and nothing good going.. I am DEFINITELY not looking for sympathy, just making a valid point, that sometimes being stuck in the middle, sucks!


I am looking forward to our one and only long week in this 15 week stretch of a trimester and hope to be ahead in lesson planning, enjoy the beach life, relax, and cherish the time with great friends! <3

'Cause I know it's my destiny to leave more than a trace of myself in this place!

This blog post is long.. It's deep..I am spilling my soul and saying a lot of things that have been in my mind, but not said in words..

Note: Please do not think I have not felt ALL of these below feelings from my current job and students.. Because I have.  And I truly, deeply love EACH AND EVERY ONE of them to the core!!

That's my kiddo!! =)

These kids ROCK!  <3

Upon moving to St. Kitts, life was hard.  To be straight - I HATED it here.  Every single thing about it, from morning to night, day to day - it was awful.  I felt like my life was going to be a living hell of two years on this 'rock' while my husband went to Vet School and I 'got by'.  Now, after being here for a year and a half, my outlook has changed and it's only taken me about a year and four months (I am sort of exaggerating!)  Beginning in January, Brayton and I moved back into our own apartment - although I enjoyed living with other couples for many reasons, it was also difficult for many reasons.  Being back on our own has been a great choice!

The first story I'd like to share with you is that of our dear friend Dionte.  In January, I began tutoring Dionte in reading.  He was pushed through the local school in St. Kitts and never really learned to read.  I was eager and excited to begin working with him.  In the past year, Brayton had also spent a lot of time working with Dionte as he works for Dr. Stewart and worked closely with Brayton on the turtle project.  Over the past month, Dionte has become like a 19 year old 'kid' to us.  He confides in us, wants to be with us, loves us (we are named "BFF MOM and DAD"), and trusts all that we are giving and teaching him.  Never in my life did I think I would be taking a 19 year old under my wing, but Dionte has taught me so much.  I believe that we are like here to help Dionte move from a life of just getting by in St Kitts to a very hopeful life of LIVING.  I look forward to our adventures with him and hope that we can be the people in his life that can help him do what is best and make a change for his future.  He holds a very special place in our hearts!

In the past few weeks, I have come to learn about some things on St. Kitts that I did not know existed, things that have sparked my interest, captured my heart, and renewed my motivation, desires and passions for my life.  About 4 weeks ago, my friend Dan from work introduced me to (after convincing me it was worth it to wake up early on a Saturday) the 'Market'.  I have blogged about it before here but it has been a really great thing to help me learn to embrace and love St Kitts.  I have met some amazing local people, had some fabulous local food, and made some great networking connections - all from going to market at 7 am on Saturday's!

Last Saturday while I was meandering my way through market, I saw a nice women standing at a table with a bunch of second hand clothing and a sign reading Project Strong.  I decided that I needed to go investigate the purpose of this woman being at Market promoting this organization and so began one of the best Saturday's ever!  I learned that Project Strong is an Alternative School on the island created to help those children who fall through the cracks.  The woman I met volunteers at the school and as I was telling her about my background in Special Education, my passion in the field, and some of my hopes and dreams and her response was, "Do you have any free time?  We would love to have more volunteers like you!"  I wish that my answer was, "Of course, I'll be there Monday, what should I expect? When should I arrive?  What will I be doing?" But it wasn't.  My answer was, "Well, I'm currently working full time, tutoring two days a week, working with the special olympics and hoping to fit in some volunteering time!"  She continued to go on explaining the Project Strong school to me, and I instantly knew it was a place I HAD to visit.  We exchanged emails, and I am looking forward to going for a visit on Monday, the 25th of February.  I hope that I will be able to find some time or ways to help there!  In the midst of our conversation, I also noticed she had some calendars with the title Operation Future, so I had to enquire!  She explained to me that Operation Future is an organization that was created "To interact with, educate and embrace our nation's youth, in our concerted quest to positively guide and nurture their young minds to heighten their awareness about crime and keep them on the straight and narrow path."  WOW!  How amazing!  Not only does this organization exist, they have created a huge house on the island, with a full sound room, recording studio, musical instruments, kitchens, etc. to provide these kids with a safe place.  How inspiring is that?! 

But wait, it gets better.  This wonderful woman then goes onto to asking me if I had plans tonight, because there was a catamaran leaving from St. Kitts at 5, going to the Four Seasons at Nevis where Operation Future was hosting a Silent Auction, and the boat would then bring you back, and the total cost was $35 ECD!  I told her I didn't think I'd be able to make it, but bought a ticket just in case considering it to be a donation!  On my way out of market, I ran into Dan and was excitedly telling him all of these great things I had just learned.  He said, "$35 EC?  Nicki and I already have a babysitter tonight, LET'S GO!"  I hesitated knowing that Brayton was busy, but told him to call if he and Nicki were serious.  One thing I've learned about the BergstromNoel's is, they don't mess around!  I got a call about 3:30 trying to convince me to go with them... I folded, I went, it was amazing!  The people were amazing, they were passionate, they loved what they were doing and supporting, they were kind, giving and simply some of the most unique and interesting people I could have asked to spend my evening with!  I had an amazing time, and only wish my husband could have been there to share in this blessing of being acquainted with the simply amazing things in life!  Not to mention, watching the sunset while riding on a Catamaran in the middle of the Caribbean Sea and coming home under the stars with the lights of St. Kitts in the distance is nothing short of breathtaking..

So, most people would say, St. Kitts = beaches, sun, snorkeling, surfing, fishing, relaxing, fun in the sun... Yah, those things are GREAT - but they are not the things that are taking my appreciation and respect of this island to a new level.. It is the organizations here that support children and teens - primarily those with disabilities or a rough path of life.  Those are the things that are motivating and inspiring me to continue pursuing my dreams in that field, to GIVE more and take LESS, to show compassion, love, and respect to those who are deemed different and to do it with more love in my heart than I knew possible! 

While I was chatting with the wonderful woman at Market and telling her some the great volunteer opportunities I have had come available to me in the recent past, I told her that I wish I had more time to do those things, but I really needed a job and a paycheck.  I told her I love my job, my students, my workplace, all of it - but it isn't my truest, deepest passion.  Her response was, "You will gain so much more prosperity and happiness in life by giving to others and doing it in an area that you are passionate about than you will ever make working a job 'for the paycheck' or a job that you don't LOVE."  This women has caused my mind, my life, and the choices I have in the next year and half to be turned upside down.  I love my job, I am good at my job, I need the income.. but will I truly gain more prosperity from GIVING?  (Sidenote: I LOVE my kids, they are amazing and have also given me so much happiness, love and guidance since coming here!)

Great Friends Nicki and Dan! 

Sun setting over the Caribbean Sea!

This is how we drive boats in St Kitts! 

Nicki and Myrtle - one of the great woman we met!

Some people on the Catamaran to Nevis

Sweetest little guy!  

SO - aside from these two great things, the wonderful conversations and the amazing people I've met through that one woman, one Saturday morning, during my 45 minutes at market - there are some other things I'd like to share with you! 

About 4 weeks ago, I also joined up with some other Ross students to assist with the local Special Olympics Swimming Team.  From 11 - 12 each Saturday we work with a group of 5-7 local swimmers who are in the process of meeting qualifying standards for the Special Olympics.  Some of them have previously traveled to other countries to compete and they are an amazing group of kids!  From 12 - 1, we work with special needs children who range from learning disabled, non-verbal/autistic, downs syndrome,  and young special needs children. *THEY*ARE*SIMPLY*AMAZING* Each and everyone of them melts your heart and fills your soul with love from a simple smile or the feelings of accomplishment from naming the colors of the rings and retrieving them from underwater.  It doesn't get any better than that!!  Last Saturday I work with a non-verbal, autistic boy who has never put his face or head underwater...Within the hour, he was not only putting his face under, but his entire head and body and retrieving rings from the bottom of the pool.  There is simply no greater satisfaction than that..Except maybe the smile on this child's face and the pure pride and joy he took in his accomplishments.  It is moments like that that I am reminded WHY I am on this earth and what my place in life is!!!!  

Some other volunteer opportunities I hope to find time for soon:
 - Working at the local Children's Home in any way - special events, tutoring, a friend...
 - Ade's Place - A daytime home for adults with disabilities on the island
 - Cotton-Thomas School - A special education school on the island


I feel as if these simple acts of kindness and giving in ways that make a difference in the lives of the people on this island, has opened my heart and helped me to be a better person.. If that can happen in just this short time - what will a life of that give to me?  I can only hope that someday I will know! 


My song.. 

  


Some words...

Quick Update!

The semester is underway!  We just began week 2 today, and so far so good!

We are really loving our new, cozy apartment with just us and our pets!  I cannot believe how much better our dogs are and the things they are learning!  They are getting to that point now where we are working on 'un-crate training' them!  So far in their short lives (Nevi = 11 months, Brinley = 4 months) they have been crated whenever we are not home and Brinley, up until recently, during the night too.  Now they are both out 100% of the time at night - and the best cuddlers and we have been leaving them out and about in the house while we are gone for anywhere up to 6 hours a day!  So far - they have been AWESOME!  I am so proud of my pups!  They play with their toys, keep each other entertained and thus far (SOMEONE KNOCK ON SOME WOOD!) have not chewed or eaten anything except their toys!  Brinley has had 1 or 2 small accidents, but I am pretty sure they happen when we walk in the door because he gets so excited he just cannot hold it anymore!  Go puppies!  =)

Brinley.. Sleeping on his back, head on the pillow, mouth open, tongue out, snoring, snuggling with Mom and Dad <3

On another note, Koala who lived outside 90% of the time at the villa, has a very routine in and out schedule which I really love!  She is in all night, out in the morning and evening and in for the afternoon!  *What A Life*

Brayton and I are working realllly hard on eating healthy now that we are back on our own.  We have eliminated pasta 100% from our home cooked meals; I am sure we will eat it out occasionally!  We have also eliminated bread from the majority of our diet.  We have the occasional sandwich or something - but no regular bagels for breakfast, toasts, bread with dinner, etc. etc!  We are also eating majority meats and fresh veggies!  Dan (friend from work) took me to the local St Kitts farmers market this weekend and I got MORE than enough FRESH St Kitts grown veggies to last me the week for $160 EC!  That is $60 USD!  At the grocery store here in St Kitts that same amount of food would have cost 400-500 EC!  I am so in love with the market!  It is all freshly picked that morning, the people are SO nice and its SO cheap!  I will continue to drag myself out of bed on Saturday mornings for that!  I will try to take pictures soon.  It is totally different from anything you'd ever expect and a bit intimidating (there are about 2 white people there) but soo awesome!

Homemade Chicken Cordon Bleu with a Dijon Parmesan Cream Sauce and market fresh steamed broccoli!  

AMAZING yellow watermelon from St Kitts Market!  SO GOOD!

He only had that face till he tried my food!  Then he was smiling =) 

Yummy pomegranates from the pomegranate tree in the yard! 

I also signed up and am helping with the St Kitts Special Olympics Swimming!  I will be working with them on Saturday's and am SO excited!  =)

So, I think that is about it in our lives right now.. Until next time!  

All the small things..

When you have lived in America (or another developed country) you often don't appreciate 'all the small things' like we have learned to do living in St Kitts.  

Today when I was recollecting on my days of living in America, I realized I really did not appreciate so many of the luxuries we have living there.  I don't think there were 'small things', like there are in St. Kitts, that I was SO thankful for.    Once leaving, the things I appreciated there become really obvious - smooth roads, working cars, Wal-Marts, Malls, stores, FRESH (not molded) food at the grocery store, bug-less pasta(and other food items), being able to drive to get 'out of town', affordable everything.. oh the list goes on! 

Since living in St. Kitts, there are so many small things that I am SO grateful for purchasing before moving here, and bringing with me, or purchasing on island.  

*Note - MOST of the things I purchased on island were USED and probably cost more than they would new in the states.  If it wasn't used, it is pretty much guaranteed it cost double here.  Most of the things from the states were purchased for dirt cheap at Christmas Tree Shop!*

Items from HOME!

Item # 1 

Light weight quilt from Christmas Tree Shop.  Fit easily into suitcases, is compatible with the warm caribbean temperatures and has been through the wash 100 times and is STILL in great shape =)

Item # 2 

Fleece blanket I made about a year prior to moving to St. Kitts.  Has been cut in half, re-tied and now belongs to the dogs!  Also been through the wash 100 times and in great shape.. And my dogs love these blankets like a baby loves its blanket! 

Item # 3

Collapsible baskets from Christmas Tree Shop.  Easy to pack in suitcases, and great to store stuff in when you live in apartments with no storage, closet or dresser space!

  

Item # 4 

My LLBean bag that Mom bought me before we got married (love that my initials didn't change!).  I use it EVERYDAY as my school bag and its heavy duty and durable and does great in the washing machine! 

Item # 5

My towel head wrap for after showering!  I know, this seems like nothing, but its SO nice here!  Also a Christmas Tree Shop purchase and been through 1,000 bleach loads! 

Item # 6 

Bathroom Rugs.  Again, been through wash, all over, and still kicking *yes, i know its dirty!*

Item # 7

Our camera.  So glad to have that here!! 

Item # 8

Concrete walls and no tools = limited ways to hang things up.. 3M Hooks save the day.. Everyday! 

Items purchased in St. Kitts

Item # 1

Curtains we had made down here!  So worth the price - which I think was ACTUALLY reasonable!!  

Item # 2 and Item # 3 and Item # 4

Skillet, Crockpot and Toaster Oven - *Could not live without!*

Item # 5

Baby Gate - Keeps the dogs out of the cats 'stuff'!  Really sucks to step over in the middle of the night - but it does its job! 

Item # 6

Shower Head.  Hard water and cheap landlords = AWFUL shower heads.. Enough said! 

Item # 7

Caribbean = sand.  Caribbean = rain.  Caribbean = Dirt.  Caribbean = DUST... Leann and Brayton = TOO many pets...

Sand, Rain, Dirt, Dust, Pets =  a LOT of stuff to vacuum up!  Love me my ShopVac! 

Item # 8

LIFE in the Caribbean = MUST HAVE CHEAP WINE..  CHECK!   

Item # 9, Item # 10 and Item # 11

This doesn't really apply - but is by FAR the best thing we have 'bought' since being here - our animals.  They are awesome!  

Living here has taught me to appreciate, recognize and be grateful for the small things in life.. The small things that often go unnoticed!

2012.. A Year in Review..

Compared to 2011.. I do not have much to say about 2012, other than I hope 2013 turns out to be a little bit better..  

January – I honestly cannot think of anything exciting happening this month! 

February – I got suckered into helping cat trap Feral Cats on the island and feel in love with a feral cat.  In case you aren't aware - feral cats are wild cats.. They generally (unless really young) do not get adopted.. They get fixed and returned to the wild.. Well, I decided I was going to try to 'tame' this cat we trapped that I just loved..  That worked.. Until it broke through a screen and ran away!

March – Over the ONE long weekend we have in a 15 week trimester, we went Deep Sea Fishing with a group of friends.  It was a lot of fun!  We also completed the ChannelSwim and rescued Nevi and her litter of puppies.  Cannot imagine life without my girl now!  

April – Over April break we went HOME for the first time since arriving in August!  It was great and went by way to fast!    

May – We moved into a new house with the Cope's up on Fort Tyson rise and quickly discovered that we had moved into a centipede house.  It was INFESTED!!!!  Then we moved out!  Thank Goodness! Baby Eli was also born in May and missing out on that (and STILL not meeting him) has been tough!

June – Since we didn't stay in the centipede house, we moved into the villa with Cope’s and later Mattera's.  It also brought the end of my school year and the beginning of summer camp (yah...not summer vacation..summer camp... summer vacation doesn't exist here!)

July  - In July we celebrated our one year wedding anniversary!  

August – Finally, family came to St. Kitts in August.  It was a great time, and I was so glad my family got a chance to see the island and get a taste of some of my life experiences here!  

September – A new school year for me, and a new semester for Brayton!

October – Driving home one day, we ran into this adorable little homeless puppy on the side of the road.  We brought him home with the intention of getting him adopted.. and we did that.. He's sleeping next to me right now =) 

November – November brought another Thanksgiving on the island and away from home/family..  It was harder this year!  

December – And December.. Another xmas vacation on the island.. and another xmas away from home.  The first year wasn't bad..but this year was much more difficult.  

Now it is January.. Life is moving on.  Our time here is on the downward slope..  Let's hope for a better 2013..  So far, its not doing so well!! (blog to come later..)