And the adventure continues

Well, there is never a dull moment here!! Lynda got in safe and sound and we got everything done for the car so we could drive it.  I drove the first time on the LEFT side of the road…wow that was INSANE!!  I am sure I will get the hang of it.  Our first trip was to the IGA grocery store which looked very similar to one you would fine in the United States.  I got everything I needed plus some!!  I posted the grocery store bill for you all to enjoy…remember the bill is in EC so you divide by 2.7 so US dollars.  We arrived back to the dorms in one piece and got ready for dinner.  Rachel and Brittany joined Lynda, my mom and I for dinner at Sprat Net…VERY good food.  Then the fun began!!  On our way home we turned into Ross parking lot and the back passenger tire blew.  Well, we called campus security which was AMAZING and they changed the tire and put the spare on.  So the adventure tomorrow includes finding a new tire…but whatever you do DON’T tell my dad about the tire J.

We have an early morning tomorrow so I am off to bed.  Until the next adventure…

They even sell ping pong balls

Wonder if they know what TGI fridays even is

Products and prices

Remember divide by 2.7 for the total price

The total bill...but remember to divde by 2.7

 

I miss toilet seat covers!!

The stairs leading down to the library...please notice the view!!

 

So I am halfway through my 4^th day on the island.  This morning I applied for my student visa, set up my bank account, bought my laundry card and now I am waiting to listen to a speech from the assistant dean.  I feel like I am adjusting quite well and absolutely love it here…no regrets at all.  My mom is on an adventure today to try to pay the ownership change fee for my car…lets see how many places that takes her.  Also my second Mom Lynda is flying in today to see the island and hang out.  I will have the rum punch ready for her.  I think we are going to sprat net tonight for dinner (if it is open).  I do miss some of the conveniences of home like toilet seat covers for public bathroom. The weather has been great here…not too hot or humid. Until the next adventure….

Food at Sprat Net

Food at Sprat Net

 

The Amazing Race

Well today felt like the TV reality show The Amazing Race trying to get my darn car taken care of!!  This morning we got up to start doing the important stuff: student visa, car insurance, student ID’s etc.  The day started out wonderful-not.  I needed to print 2 more documents for my student visa which should have been set up yesterday-NOT.  I could not get the papers to print to save my life for almost an hour.  Finally figured it out and headed to campus. I was able to get my student ID, a free Ross cooler, water delivery set up, more minutes to my phone, drivers licenses and then we ran into trouble…the car insurance!!  I had gotten the paper work from the previous owner which I THOUGHT was complete…not.  The insurance company said I needed to a certain stamp on this piece of paper and in order to get it we needed to head to the police department.  So off we went on this wild goose chase!!  Off to the police department for the stamp once that was done we needed to head to purchase insurance for the car.  We told the car driver where we needed to go and off we went!! Well, the first place we stopped we pulled in and they had moved so off we went to their “new” location.  We arrived there and spent over 30 minutes trying to find the engine size in CC.  Of course the car is at the school because I cannot get the keys until I have insurance and a driver licenses so I can’t check the engine size UGH!!  Well after she called the insurance the girl used LAST year we were able to get the size…finally!! Finally got the insurance and it was $228 US for an entire year.  I had my letter of good driving form my current insurance which I had left at home so I am going back tomorrow to get my rate adjusted.  When we were done with insurance we needed to STILL pay for the transfer of ownership.  Well, that places closes at 3 pm so we have to get it done tomorrow.  We failed the amazing race since we did not get this al done….oh well.

After all the running around, I got back to the dorm room with an hour before dinner.  We went to the restaurant called The Sugar Cane which was REALLY good.  I had my shrimp stuffed crab with mashed potatoes which was AMAZING.  Tomorrow is an early morning so I am off to bed. Good night!!

Day 3

Well, my skin is getting darker and I am getting use to island life and I LOVE it!!  This morning we had to go to the campus to get our laptops and electronic devices configured for the school’s internet system.  After that I FINALLY found my car and checked everything out…so far so good.  I cannot drive it yet since I do not have a license or insurance but I will get all that done tomorrow.  We finished everything around 11 so my mom and I headed to Port Zante to look around.  It was VERY FUN and VERY interesting.  Here are a few pictures from our adventure today.  Tonight I am going to stay in and watch a movie with a few people in my orientation group.

Grocery Bill...so you can see the prices

In port

My amazing lunch...SOOO good

Calling home :)

Day 2

Almost bedtime so this is going to be short.  Woke up and went to Shipwreck Bar and Grill which has its own private beach.  It is SOO beautiful and fun relaxing day with students in my group.  I have met some amazing people already.  I can’t believe how WARM the Caribbean Ocean is (a lot different than the Pacific Ocean I am use too).  The water was a little murky because of the recent storm but there was still tons o f sea shells, sea stars and animals.  We saw monkeys, mongooses, and even a sea slug.  We had dinner at The Docks which had a live band and dance floor.  I have found out I like the local Stag beer better than the Carib.  Ok, bed time…enjoy the photos!! Tomorrow we will have get our electronics registered on campus in the morning and then free in the afternoon so who knows what adventure we will go on next.

Shipwreck beach!! SOOO pretty

Monkey at lunch at shipwreck

Ting is a soda they brew on the island- VERY good taste a lot like Squirt from home

ARRIVED

 

After the most miserable flights ever (more later about that) I am in Saint Kitts and in my room!!  What an amazing whirlwind of adventures in the last 24 hours!!  With all the concern with hurricane Issac we had not problems.   I have started to feel sick the week leading up to the departure and with the combination of stress, nerves, being sick, and having a little too much to drink Thursday night…this plane ride was AWFUL!!  But I am finally feeling better and had an amazing first 12 hours!!

TheView

 

We arrived a little after 2:30 pm and got off the plane, got out bags, and met up with our orientation group leader (Sorry everyone but Brittany is the BEST OL).  We loaded all the luggage in a flatbed truck  (wish I would of got a picture) and then took our van to campus to check in out room.  We unloaded our bags and then headed to the grocery store to get basic items.  I will have to be that crazy person taking pictures in the market taking photos of the isles for everyone at home to see how it is here.  It looks just like the grocery stores back home with many very recognizable brands. 

We came back unloaded a few more things from the suitcases (hey we have 6 plus 2 carry-ons…it takes some time) and then headed to dinner. Well, I got my first experience of “island time” and “island service.”  Took us over 3 hours to eat!! I know I will not be running out for a quick bite for dinner during school since that does not exist here!! 

Now we are back in the room unpacking a few more things and then going off to bed. Almost midnight here but my internal clock is so off it doesn’t know what it should be doing!!  We are suppose to go to  Shipwreck beach tomorrow and relax and have fun!! Going to enjoy everything I can before school starts but I already love it here!! I feel bad for my fellow classmates as the hurricane is causing TONS of problems getting here if they planned on leaving tomorrow.  Some can’t get a flight here until September 5^th (we start school the 3^rd and have our white coat ceremony there too!!) I wish them the best of luck getting here safe and in time!!

Ok bed time!!

 

Up up and away

This will be a quick post as I am sitting on the plane waiting to take off. My parents surprised me with a limo to take us to the airport. After lots of tears, hugs and kisses, my mom and I are in our way!!

Storm Warning

 

Hurricane Isac is causing havoc on my travel plans getting to the island. But I am not going to worry about it since it is something I cannot control.  In the meantime I am just going to listen Hunter Hayes, “Storm Warning”

I'm gonna wish I had a storm warnin'
I'm gonna wish I had a sign
I'm gonna wish I had a little heads up
A little leeway, a little more time
Some kind of radar system
Locked in on love
I got a feelin' by the time the night finds the mornin'
I'm gonna wish I had a storm warnin'

Watch My White Coat Ceremony

White Coat Ceremony
http://www.rossu.edu/veterinary-school/calendar/9/5884

Time:
 4:00 PM until 5:00 PM  (1 PM California Time)

Date:
Monday, September 03

Location:
Auditorium

Description:

The White Coat Ceremony celebrates the incoming class of students as they begin their journey in veterinary medicine. In this ceremony, students are officially welcomed to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) and to the beginning of their veterinary education. The ceremony symbolizes the importance of professionalism and ethical values as key elements in becoming a veterinarian.
Guest Speaker: Roberto Vega '02
RUSVM will webcast its White Ceremony, live, beginning at 4:00 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time (4:00 p.m. EST). The broadcast will be available in real time allowing for family members and friends of Ross University to view the presentation as it occurs.
View the Webcast: here (Link will be live approximately 5 minutes before start of event).
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Packing...Packing...AND...MORE Packing

Packing has started!! I started separating everything into piles of what I need to take over on this trip over and the stuff that I can wait until my next trip over in December. Well, I think I am going to be able to everything over on this trip.  These items include my printer, soda machine, stand up fan, air mattress, all my shoes and clothes, and foam pad topper for my bed.  I am one happy camper!! My mom is AMAZING at packing items in a suitcase and getting everything to fit AND be under the weight- THANKS SOO MUCH MOM!!

I have lots of dinners, lunches, and coffee dates with my wonderful friends and family in the next 7 days so I am VERY excited for that.  I still have to pick up a clock that has a battery backup, some soda flavors for my soda machine and find something to wear on my LONG plane ride.

I am going to try to post at least one more time before I leave but if not I guess we will have to wait until I am on the island!!

10 Days

My Color Me Mine Creation that I made with my Big Sis Sam before I leave

I will be leaving in 10 days and still so much to do.  I finally figured out the airline luggage information.  I have been hearing conflicting stories on how many suitcases I can bring and how much they can weigh.  I always knew I could bring 3 bags (that is why we booked our first class tickets) but I was not sure if they could weigh 50 pounds or 70 pounds.  Well, after talking to multiple American Airlines workers, my bags can officially 70 pounds.  For the 9 bags (3 bags for the 3 of us) that gives us an extra 180 pounds. 

My first few books also arrived; I guess I really have to study on this Caribbean vacation.

My parents and sister arrived safely home from Costa Rica and it sounds like it was an AMAZING trip.  With activities including propelling, zip lining, white water rafting, horseback riding, mineral hot springs, mud baths…who wouldn’t be jealous!! My mom and I left Sunday afternoon to visit my great aunt in Palm Springs and went shopping in Cabazon and El Paseo Drive.  I bought a few more needed (or wanted) items for the island…can I have too many clothes? My mom and I visited the 50 foot Marylyn Monroe statue it was exciting as seeing the largest ball of yarn but it is something you have to do.  Also I had my last “Dutch Baby” for a few months.  A Dutch baby is a pancake with powdered sugar, butter and lemon (see below).

The next 10 days are filled with lunch and dinner dates with friends, shopping for a few more needed things, and packing my suitcases so they don’t weigh over 70 pounds!!  I think I have all the financial aid and loans figured out. I am going to call tomorrow to make sure all my paperwork is set. If I am missing something I would like to figure it out now rather than being in another country.

Last Day of Work and 22 Days Left

Tuesday, July 31^st, was my last day at Laguna Hills Animal Hospital.  I am thankful to all the doctors and staff for teaching me SOO much.  The doctors are absolutely AMAZING and the staff is truly caring about all the animals.  I have met some amazing people and friends there.  I will truly miss them when I am away but thankful for the experience.

I am now at the 22 day mark before I leave.  Do I have everything ready…I don’t know.  I keep thinking of items I need to buy before I leave.  Need to get a new pair of tennis shoes, face wash, cleanser, razors, and who knows what else.  Do I have enough clothes?  There is no Forever 21, Mac Store, or Nordstrom on the island so I need to “stalk up now.”

Parents and sister are in Costa Rica for her AYSO soccer travel team.  By the pictures is looks amazing!! I am home watching to dogs and preparing everything to leave.  By preparing, I mean taking everything out of the original packages so it does not look new and get charged at customs. 

It is hard to get anything done since all I want to do it watch the Olympics! Go Team USA!!