No school tomorrow!

Finally! A little bit of a break. Tomorrow is St. Kitts independence day so we get a day off !! Yay we definitely all need it! Also, my dog walking ended today which is somewhat bittersweet. It was absolutely exhausting to start. Now, why would dog walking be tiring might you ask? Well, IDK because the hills here are huge and you have to walk three loops around campus twice a day in the middle of the blazing sun while sweating non-stop for a week. Aside from that the dogs were lovely. I had Roxy who is a puppy and Chance who is a sweetheart but a very misunderstood non-stop pee-er. Each day our small group would go to the kennels around 6 am and again at around 5 pm after being in class all day and walk them around campus. It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't so early and hot. But I turned my pups over to the new group today and hope they will have as much luck with them as I did. I will definitely be back to visit them. For anyone who doesn't know yet most of my days run from about 8-4 or 9-5 with a little dinner break for about an hour or two and back to studying all night. This isn't like undergrad when I really didn't study much the info here hits you pretty fast and you are expected to understand and obtain it all. Sort of like the show survivor. Well we are about three weeks in so far which means almost one month down on the big rock and 85 days until I go home! I miss my family a lot but the days are long and busy so there isn't much time to think and be miserable. Plus my friends here are awesome. I love them!  As for exams though.. I have one on Monday and one on Friday so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Minor in cooking?

So.. for all you who have known me before coming to school know that I was not always the best at cooking. Partially because my mother and Jesse's mother are fabulous cooks and I didn't really have too because they were always feeding me. Well here it is different. No one cooks for you and there is no meal plan here at school. You have a small kitchen in your dorm which features a microwave, stove top, and a little toaster oven. You can eat on campus during lunch at the few little places they have available but I took on the challenge of trying to cook myself meals everyday. Not only is your space for cooking limited with no oven but people here have to get used to the fact that in St. Kitts the food is much different from what we are all used to at home. Not only are you trying new foods but also have to find the time to make yourself lunch/dinner. Thanks to my lovely sister though she let me have a mini crockpot which has been my savior since I have been here. Yesterday I cooked chili in the crockpot all day so by the time I got done after classes I didn't have to do anything except eat it and share it with my new Ross friends (who loved it BTW). On the menu tonight is stuffed peppers with sweet potatoes on the side and tomorrow most likely will be pineapple bbq chicken. For me, I need to actually eat meals rather than ramen or mac & cheese so at least after this is all over maybe I will be a pretty good cook.

INSANITY!

There are no words to explain how hectic these last few weeks have been. I am sitting now in my dorm overlooking the Caribbean ocean with a little time to post an entry. Let's go back. Our plane left JFK last Sunday the 25th so of course naturally I waited until late the night before to pack everything. All I can say is THANK GOD my family and Jesse came with me. They each gave up half of their suitcases so I could pack more of my crap in them. I also ended up with three suitcases just for myself. Somehow after packing until almost 1 am the night before we left we managed to fit everything in. It gives me anxiety just thinking about how long and stressful packing was so I am really glad that is over. The Saturday before I left I had my goodbyes with half of my family. It was hard but I know I am doing this for the good of myself, as well as to help my family when I am able to in the future. Before I knew it after a short two-hour nap we were off to the airport at 3 am for our flight to St. Kitts which was leaving at 7:30 am. A few hours later, I landed on the island that would soon become my two year home. I was greeted outside by my wonderful orientation leader Siobhan who gave me my new island phone and some other goodies. They took us straight to the school where my family met up with us and we started to unpack and setup my room. The room is just perfect. I opted to live by myself for the first semester because for those who know me really well know I talk in my sleep and at times it can be a little creepy. After we looked around the campus we headed over to where my family was staying at the Marriott which is BEAUTIFUL. I am super excited because Ross students are allowed to use the beach and pools for free. So you know I will be spending a lot of time there :) I had a blast all week with my family, as well as my orientation group. My boyfriend was even able to tag along on some of the activities we did all week and was honorary group member 13. The week consisted of island tours, zip lining, paddle boarding, BBQs, snorkeling, swimming and tons more. I would mainly end each afternoon going back and hanging out with my family at the hotel. Just in this last week and a half living here I have already become a morning person and probably lost about 5 pounds from the constant walking up and down hills here. Before I knew it it was time for my family and boyfriend to leave. I was dreading that day but knew they had to get back to their lives. My mom I think at times was even more stressed about this whole thing so I am happy now that she doesn't have to worry about it anymore and can do the things that she kept continuously putting off because of the trip. They left Sunday and I knew I'd be a basket case, which of course I was. I went in the taxi to the airport with them and it was nothing but tears. After they went into the airport I took a taxi back to my dorm to try and get in the school mindset. I went food shopping with my lovely new friend Michelle and bought tons of stuff which came out to about $150. I also organized my whole room and stalked my families plane to see whereabouts they were. I was trying to keep happy that day but it was a little hard. I find some comfort in knowing that all of these other people here also had to leave their whole life so I think that is why we all click so well. As for school, my first day went well. I had nutrition, anatomy, and histology followed by my white coat ceremony where I was attacked by fire ants. Today classes go from 11-5 and I am pretty excited to meet all of my other professors. Here are some pictures from my week they are a little bit out of order but oh well :) FYI! Only 100 days to go until home (Yes I already have a countdown)

Starfish!

At Brimstone with some of my group

On the catamaran heading out to snorkel

The "special" group 

Getting my white coat!

At the white coat ceremony last night

My last night with my family until December 13th. We ate at a place called Shiggidy Shack and yes that is Caribbean lobster!

Love my desk

My lovely dorm

Mrs. Moore & her famous chicken sandwiches (SO GOOD) 

My dorm building :)