Time with Patrick

Although too much time has past, I need to update you on my time here with Patrick. Patrick was kind enough to send my photos of his trip here. Although, I still feel like we failed in providing photographic proof of the awesomeness of our time. Tragically, I did work many of the days Patrick was here. Even so, I am going to try to attempt to visually recreate the adventure.

Snorkeling:















Beach time and tropical storm time:












St John:




Kirsti making car noises while driving:




Next up...Jared!

IOU Photos

I love living in the Virgin Islands. I wake up everyday feeling like I should pinch myself (although generally I don't). I live in paradise; the water is turquoise blue, the sun shines nearly everyday, and the islands are stunning. But for me, it is more the friends I have, and the life I've made here that makes it paradise.

It is difficult to believe that my 3 months have past and it is now time to leave. Even though I am excited to see my family, I am torn up about leaving a place that I have just made my home. So I have decided that in the next week I am going to take all the photos that I should have been taking all along. I am going to attempt to show you what is so amazing about my life here...as if you couldn't guess.

Visitors!!

The invitation was sent out and the call was answered.

I've had the craziest few weeks. I've been busy with work, preparing for my new job, and visitors!

I've loved having friends come and see me.

On August 11th, my friend Patrick Nelson came out to visit me. Unfortunately, I worked most of the days that he was here, so he was forced to fend for himself. When I wasn't working, we snorkeled, went to St John, hung out on the beach, and relaxed. We were horrible at taking photos while he was here, but we had a good time nonetheless.

Patrick on the beach

On August 27th, my brother Seppo and my friend Cyrus came out to visit me. I was a little worried because Cyrus and Seppo did't know each other. Fortunately, it was nothing but late night chats and pillow fights.


Here is a summary of our weekend:

Thursday:

We relaxed, snorkeled, made pizza, and night snorkeled. Fun but pictureless

Friday:

We spend the morning with my friend Brad at Magen's bay. We paddle boarded, jousted, played "knock each other into the water", and spend an hour paddling into the wind and current, to get back to shore. The adventure at Magens was followed by shakes at "Udder Delight," and a tour of Peterborg.












Magen's Bay

Getting ready to leave Magen's

Udder delight

Udder joy

Brad teaching us how to fish for tarantulas

Seppo and Cyrus listening intently

Exploring Peterborg

From the end of Peterborg

Dead crab

Brad, me, and Cyrus at the end of Peterborg

Feeding the iguanas behind my house

Cyrus being an iguana behind my house

Saturday:

Seppo and I went for a 14 mile run. It was exhausting, but overall a pretty good run. The hills, heat, and humidity were a killer, but I felt tough. The afternoon was filled with napping and tennis.

We decided that evening to go camping. My friend Brad had suggested kayaking out to Mango island, an uninhabited island about an hour of kayaking away. We were only able to commandeer 2 kayaks. One 2-man, and one 1-man. No problem...except Seppo had a friend fly in from St Martin.

Against good advice, with 2 hours of day light we piled into the kayaks and made our way to mango island. We made it safely, but only after one of the kayaks capsized 3 times, soaking all of our stuff. Including the matches. (we failed to compeletly seal our "dry bags.")

We made it across as the sun set, and set up camp on the beach. With no matches, and most of our things soaking wet, Seppo and Cyrus set out to make a fire...with sticks. They failed. We had cold veggie dogs, snacks, and water for dinner and turned in for an early night. We had no tent and no sleeping bags. No big deal...until it started to rain. Cyrus and I stayed out in the rain, hoping it would end soon, while Seppo and Celine crouched underneath a small ratted tarp that had been set up there. Wet, I finally ran for cover. Soaked, Cyrus waited it out. The 20 min burst of rain, meant the remainder of the night was freezing, but we all slept a little...except Cyrus.












Sunset (attack of the islands)

Lunch before leaving. Celine was laughing the whole trip...it was awesome

Cyrus set up his hammock, but ended up sleeping on the beach...in the rain

Camp

The attempt at a fire

Cyrus and me on Mango Island, at sunset.

Sunrise on Mango

Sunday:

We kayaked back in the morning. Celine and Seppo left for St John and Cyrus and I went to church. After church, we met up with Seppo and Celine for a drive around St John and a walk around the old plantations.

On the car ferry to St John

The plantation graveyard, Cyrus and I are deciding whose is whose.

Work it

Seppo and me at an old plantation

The trip was a success!
Next week...Jared Mooney :)

The Cliffnotes

The Cliff Notes Version of Life in the Virgin Islands

I believe that life cannot get much better than this. The only thing that I am missing is friends and family. Fortunately, I am meeting new people all the time and finding ways to enjoy, just living. Aside from work, my life has been busy with snorkeling, diving, running, reading, and online scrap booking (it is way cooler than it sounds). I am meeting people all the time, and have become good friends with a few of the girls I work with. I am stoked I have 2 more months here!!

Home

My apartment from the front

My apartment from the back

On the lawn, behind my apartment is where the iguanas like to lay out. Today, I decided to go out and feed them the lettuce I had that was too gross for me to eat....they, on the other hand, loved it.













There are also lots of these touch sensitive plants here. I love touch sensitive plants!

Work

The labor rooms are tiny

The hall, with the nurses station on the right

Adventures

One of my adventures, I went with my friend Annie to St John, a 15 min ferry ride away. We hiked to an old house and yes, lay on the beach.

My friend Chris and I took a trip to Coral World on $2 local day. Fun to be a local.
















There are several sea turtles around here, and I've seen them a couple of times while snorkeling, but it was cool to learn a little more about them

I have yet to see a seahorse while diving, but I am keeping my fingers crossed

I finally attained my goal of seeing a shark, in the water...now if I could only see one in the wild. Nurse sharks are apparently common around here.

Chris thought that this fish was very cute, I don't think the fish was as interested in him.

Yummy starfish!

Happy 4th

What does the 4th of July look like in the Virgin Islands? I was curious, so I kept my camera near by all day...in my locker, at work.

When I got home from work, I was able to see the fireworks over on St John from the beach at my apartment.

Not actually fireworks in the VI

Truth be told the , the fireworks were a bit underwhelming. I got a bit bored with my camera.

I think this one looks like a smiley face

This is my favorite picture of the Virgin Islands on the 4th

...Wait this is what the Virgin Islands look like everyday

And this is what I look like every day












Smiling on the beach

With a 'tude, not on the beach

Don't you want to come and see this stuff?