It has been a while and a lot has happened since you heard from me last! I survived final exams and was rewarded with an amazing two week break from class. It began with Lindsay, Shannon and Alyssa arriving in St Kitts. I was so lucky to have 3 friends from home visit and I was ecstatic to share my home with them!! So exciting to pick them up from the airport and FINALLY have them be here, I felt as if their visit would never come. We rented a car for the two weeks so we were able to go all around the island. I developed a whole new appreciation for St Kitts while being here over break.
I'll hit the high lights of the break because I could go on and on if I mentioned everything. I showed the girl the bar that the students hang out at called Bamboo. We know the owner, a younger guy from Canada, so we do our best to support his business and he in return hooks students up with good deals and great music. We did A LOT of hanging at my favorite beaches on the island, Shipwreck which I have mentioned in previous posts, and at Reggae beach in Cockleshell Bay. Reggae beach is located on the far south tip of the island in the Caribbean Sea and is a great spot. There was a cruise ship that docked that day so there were quite a few tourists around and we started up a great game of volleyball. Alyssa turned 23 during the vacation so we took her down to "the strip," a string of bars on the ocean. There was a bonfire on the beach that night and Alyssa turned 23 with her feet in the Atlantic Ocean! The next day we organized a catamaran trip of 27 people who all stuck around over break. It was one of the most amazing things I've done since I've lived here. The group was so much fun and for $45 per person the boat takes the group out for 4 hours. We get to snorkle, open bar, lunch, and swimming in the ocean. I was fortunate that all of my really close friends that I have made at UMHS decided to stick around this break so the girls got to meet them.
Their week was up before we knew it and then my parents arrived! An emotional greeting at the airport and so thrilled to show my parents where all their money is being spent (kidding....kinda...) It always fascinates me to see St Kitts through the eyes of someone new, it has become routine for me and I forget sometimes how beautiful this place really is. My parents kept saying "It's so hot here!" I think it was a nice change from the Wisconsin weather which was still very chilly at the time! I will get the pictures from Mom from their portion of the trip and post them on here. Mom and Dad are my best friends and we always have so much fun whenever we spend time together. Took them down to "the strip" to get the authentic St Kitts feel and we had food and ordered some drinks. They got the Caribbean not so welcome - welcome, not the friendliest folks around here but guess I'm used to it by now. See if I can remember all that we did because that feels like a very long time ago now that I'm 3 weeks into the semester. Took them to my favorite beaches of course, and spent a few days doing that and Dad and I rented a jet ski. Took a drive around the entire island which was my first time as well. Took us about half the day and we saw Brimstone Hill (pictures to come) which is probably one of the coolest things on the island. Built by the British military and is an incredible fortress that is hundreds of years old, probably the best view you can get! We also visited an old sugar cane plantation and had an authentic Caribbean meal.Took the parents to see campus and I think they were very impressed with what they saw! And you know that after the epic time I had on the catamaran trip with the girls I HAD to take my parents on one. This time we did the full day deal which included snorkeling, lunch, open bar and a trip to Nevis (St Kitts sister island). It's such a great experience to see the beauty of the caribbean from the ocean. Spent our last few days RELAXING at the Marriott and probably my favorite memory of our trip was when we sat in the whirlpool at the hotel in the pouring rain drinking wine and eating pretzels. To top off the night we ordered room service, well I ordered room service for us...about $80 worth of room service and awesome junk food!
And that ended my magical break with the friends and parents. Mom and Dad left on Sunday and for the first time in 16 days I was ALONE and I didn't like it! Was already missing my visitors and class was to begin the next day. So here I am 3 weeks into the semester and having my first chance to write in the blog. Med 3 is the most difficult semester they say and and so far it proves to be true. Class every day from 9 am to 5 pm is exhausting and then I attempt to go home at night and study more. Our classes this semester are Neuroscience, Microbiology, Immunology, Pathology I, and Behavioral Science. It's exhausting just listing them out!
Tomorrow I turn 23 and looks like my St Kitts family has planned a little get together for me so I'll be sure to take pictures! Missing everyone back home and wishing I could celebrate my birthday with you. Just another one of the sacrifices we all make to be here! Love and Miss everyone <3
