I had my first fish today. Well, no, I've had fish before but this was my first whole one. I'm talking head, fins, eyes, the whole nine yards. The only thing it didn't have were scales. It was a red snapper, and let me tell you, it was GREAT! Once you can get past the fact that it has eyes, and may very well be looking at you, you are in store for an awesome treat, nevermind the fact that it comes with rice, corn, and a healthy serving of veggies.
At this point at my time here, I've eaten of some of the nicer resturants, and though good, for a fraction of the price you get possibly double the food and all (if not more) flavor. I couldn't finish it all, so I ate the fish and saved the other goodness for another meal. 40EC never tasted so good.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
I'm still alive
It's been some time since I've updated this blog, for no other reason then not much is going on. The semester is slowly coming to an end, and I am definetly ready for a bit of down time. I've pretty much been on the go since I got here. I'll be very happy to have a few days after finals to just veg on the beach with nothing to worry about besides the temperature of my pina colada ;) I'm looking forward to heading back to NY for a few days. I can't wait to see Brianna's new tattoo, and catching up with the old crew for a night or two. And most of all, I am excited to see my folks again.
The lease has been signed for my apartment, and the majority of questions have been answered. Moving off campus has been a long time coming, and I am looking forward to living with 2 of my buddies for the remainder of my time here.
Well, I'm thinking that's about it for now, and anatomy beckons...
The lease has been signed for my apartment, and the majority of questions have been answered. Moving off campus has been a long time coming, and I am looking forward to living with 2 of my buddies for the remainder of my time here.
Well, I'm thinking that's about it for now, and anatomy beckons...
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Sometimes it's just going to be hard...
It has been a long and taxing few weeks here in St Kitts.
It started before mid semester break (which consists of one day tacked onto a weekend, so in essence it is a midsemester 3 day weekend). The particular round of exams just before break seemed harder then usual, but that could just be due to that fact that everyone was tired and ready for a day of non-school related activities.
I hopped on a plane Thursday night (yes I missed class Friday) to head home to NY for the weekend. I was completely psyched to see the family and friends I had left behind nearly 6 months prior.
After a bunch of delays I landed in NY around 3am Friday morning, and my mom came to pick me up. Friday was pretty uneventful. I tooled around the house a bit and ended up meeting up with some good friends for a few drinks at Sullivans. Good times were had by all.
Saturday rolled around and off to NJ for my cousin Kristopher's wedding. It was SPECTACULAR. Gloria (his bride) look beautiful, as did the rest of my family. It was nice to see my cousins (mostly Steve, as Kris was obviously pre-occupied) and reinforce the new bond we are trying to cultivate.
A few hazy hours later it was Sunday. My mom and Dad packed us in the car and we were on the road back to NY.
Upon returning home, I turned on my computer (as all good nerds do) and was signed in to AIM. I was immediately IM'ed by a friend Chas who was still in St Kitts. After some menial small talk he dropped a bomb on me. A friend of mine, Matt, had gotten into a fatal car accident the night before on the main road near school. I all but lost my composure.
Not wanting to believe a word of it, I began packing my things for my flights the next morning back to St Kitts. The rest of my time home passed without much interaction from me.
I boarded my two planes back to the island on Monday morning, and while going to my apartment, I saw my first sign that life would never be the same. Someone had erected a cross where Matt lost his life. It was truly a reality, he was gone.
Ross University was visibly shaken to it's core, as Matt had been a wonderful and integral part of the community. Life however for the veterinary student slows for no one, even the departed. With a histology exam approaching on that Wednesday (the "break" ended Monday, the day I landed) I had no choice but to throw myself into the books and force myself to stare at slides of skin.
In addition to the exams, as a TA (teacher assist, which is basically a tutor) for 2 classes, I had to prepare my notes and exercises for that weeks sessions. On top of TA'ing and my impending exam, being one of the class representatives puts me at the center of people's attention when something goes wrong. not that I am complaining, because I am not... seriously, I'm not. I love the things I do on campus, and I wouldn't change a thing.... but for that moment I felt like my head and heart were going to explode.
Wednesday morning came, and the exam was taken. Wednesday afternoon quickly followed, and with that came Matt's memorial service. The rest of the week was spent mourning, studying and trying to regroup.
It's now the next week, and still, life has not slowed. Exams are always lurking around the corner, tutoring sessions aer always being held. The void that is present is obvious at certain moments, and less at others. Each day things get a little easier. Ross U is rebuilding itself.
Anyway, my point being that life here, as it is anywhere in the world, isn't all peaches and puppies. Matt will be missed forever, as my wonderful memories from the weekend will not be forgotten...
"love the life you lead, lead the life you love"
It started before mid semester break (which consists of one day tacked onto a weekend, so in essence it is a midsemester 3 day weekend). The particular round of exams just before break seemed harder then usual, but that could just be due to that fact that everyone was tired and ready for a day of non-school related activities.
I hopped on a plane Thursday night (yes I missed class Friday) to head home to NY for the weekend. I was completely psyched to see the family and friends I had left behind nearly 6 months prior.
After a bunch of delays I landed in NY around 3am Friday morning, and my mom came to pick me up. Friday was pretty uneventful. I tooled around the house a bit and ended up meeting up with some good friends for a few drinks at Sullivans. Good times were had by all.
Saturday rolled around and off to NJ for my cousin Kristopher's wedding. It was SPECTACULAR. Gloria (his bride) look beautiful, as did the rest of my family. It was nice to see my cousins (mostly Steve, as Kris was obviously pre-occupied) and reinforce the new bond we are trying to cultivate.
A few hazy hours later it was Sunday. My mom and Dad packed us in the car and we were on the road back to NY.
Upon returning home, I turned on my computer (as all good nerds do) and was signed in to AIM. I was immediately IM'ed by a friend Chas who was still in St Kitts. After some menial small talk he dropped a bomb on me. A friend of mine, Matt, had gotten into a fatal car accident the night before on the main road near school. I all but lost my composure.
Not wanting to believe a word of it, I began packing my things for my flights the next morning back to St Kitts. The rest of my time home passed without much interaction from me.
I boarded my two planes back to the island on Monday morning, and while going to my apartment, I saw my first sign that life would never be the same. Someone had erected a cross where Matt lost his life. It was truly a reality, he was gone.
Ross University was visibly shaken to it's core, as Matt had been a wonderful and integral part of the community. Life however for the veterinary student slows for no one, even the departed. With a histology exam approaching on that Wednesday (the "break" ended Monday, the day I landed) I had no choice but to throw myself into the books and force myself to stare at slides of skin.
In addition to the exams, as a TA (teacher assist, which is basically a tutor) for 2 classes, I had to prepare my notes and exercises for that weeks sessions. On top of TA'ing and my impending exam, being one of the class representatives puts me at the center of people's attention when something goes wrong. not that I am complaining, because I am not... seriously, I'm not. I love the things I do on campus, and I wouldn't change a thing.... but for that moment I felt like my head and heart were going to explode.
Wednesday morning came, and the exam was taken. Wednesday afternoon quickly followed, and with that came Matt's memorial service. The rest of the week was spent mourning, studying and trying to regroup.
It's now the next week, and still, life has not slowed. Exams are always lurking around the corner, tutoring sessions aer always being held. The void that is present is obvious at certain moments, and less at others. Each day things get a little easier. Ross U is rebuilding itself.
Anyway, my point being that life here, as it is anywhere in the world, isn't all peaches and puppies. Matt will be missed forever, as my wonderful memories from the weekend will not be forgotten...
"love the life you lead, lead the life you love"
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