Life in the SK

At times, living in St. Kitts is truly a representation of a dream life.. Beautiful beaches, carefree lifestyles, friendly people, purely Caribbean living!

At other times, living in St. Kitts is truly a representation of what feels like a living hell...Another abandoned and abused animal, another day with a broken down car, no electricity, fires billowing across the mountains..

I go through phases here where I am completely in love with my life and where I live.. Nothing could be better!

And of course phases where I am a depressed, miserable human being who feels there could be nothing worse than the life that I am living at this current point in time.

Really..it's not that bad!

In the past week we have:
- rescued a 4-5 week old puppy from the middle of the road, saved him and found him a loving home
- spent time with some amazing friends that I am so blessed to have met because of living in St. Kitts
- helped a local boy who just wants to be loved
- cleaned up dirt, dust, sand, grit, poop, pee...dog messes..
- loved our animals
- had our car die while driving
- coasted on the road of St. Kitts (let's just say that was scary!) with no lights.  Hell, our engine wasn't even running!
- paid a mechanic to fix our car once
- called him the next day because the car started clunking really loud.. OISK!
- Gone to bed every night thankful for each other, the life we have, the lessons we are learning and the good and bad things that are shaping us into better human beings each and every day!

I hope that someday I can look back on the good and bad of St. Kitts and remember that while at times it SUCKED, and at times it was AMAZING - I have grown to be a better person, wife, friend, woman, teacher and overall a better ME!


Our Rescue Puppy who now has a wonderful home <3

Some pictures of my kids <3

The local boy Dionte who we work with, entered a photo contest - here are some pictures he took!

Brayton is also helping Dionte learn how to drive!  

And some pictures I took on my walk home from school - 

Yup - hood is up! 

Just another day in Paradise <3

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...