Island Tour and RSO!

For Blakes last day of freedom before medical school started, we went on a school sponsored tour of the island. It was a really long day (8 am to 6 pm), but we were able to see Trafalar Falls (twin waterfalls), Scotts Head (the southern-most tip of the island, where the Caribbean and Atlantic oceans meet), and Roseau (the capital). It was an amazing trip, the island is a beautiful place, but it was definately a lot of driving! We plan on taking a full day trip back to the waterfalls one day, so we can hike up both of the falls.

at Trafalgar Falls

at Scotts Head (Carribean ocean on the left and Atlantic on the right)

Last week was Blake's first week of medical school. He started studying before school even started, and he has a good study group in place already. Below is a picture I took before his white coat ceremony. I can tell this is where he is supposed to be, he's excited to become a doctor!

Blake heading to his white coat ceremony

While Blakes studying, I'm doing a variety of things. I'm working, I'm very thankful that I was able to take my job with me to the island, but I'm also starting to do a few other things. I joined the Ross Spouses Organization (or RSO), and they are honestly such a great group of people. I've been pretty active in the RSO events, I have joined cardio yoga and zumba/kick boxing classes, and I'm going to start volunteering at an alternative high school this Wednesday. On my free time, I'm enjoying the sights, and the BEACH!

The transition has been hard, but its getting better now that we are getting into a schedule and settling in. Its also very helpful that I'm starting to meet people in the same situation as me (all the spouses!) The university starting having Mass every Sunday at 2 pm on campus, so we went this Sunday, and we are excited about it because we both really like the priest, the music, and the fellowship.

Today I went on a shopping trip to the capital with the RSO group. Its kind of difficult to get groceries here, so its important to go to the capital every once in awhile and stock up. You can buy fresh produce at the market on Saturdays, but for everything else, its best to go to the capital because of expiration dates and outrageous prices in our village. Out of the 6 girls on our bus, we filled up a 12-passenger van with all our bags!

all of our bags!

Kristen and I toughed it out and sat in the backseat. If you don't take some dramanine first, sitting in the back is a very daring thing to do! Not only are the roads spotted with a billion pot-holes, they are also windy and constantly going up or down...

Tanya and Kristen

That's all I have on updates right now. I'm baking cookies for our landlord because she's letting us borrow a desk from her (so we don't have to share a desk anymore) and I'm trying out making passion-fruit juice. Wish me luck!