Thursday, December 9, 2010
Day 358: Oh Christmas Tree!
Over the past several weeks, Christmas decorations have been popping up all over Road Town. Michael and I were itching to get in the spirit ourselves, so on Day 358, we set out to get a live Christmas tree. And no your eyes aren't playing tricks on you, you read it right. We wanted a live tree, just like we used to have at home.
We'd heard that Bobby's (a grocery store) had the best selection in the BVI, so that was our first stop. We chose a tall tree from a large refridgerated container and we were on our way!
A couple of weeks ago, I started making ornaments for the tree, based on ones I saw on MarthaStewart.com. The ornaments are made completely of paper and ink.
We'd heard that Bobby's (a grocery store) had the best selection in the BVI, so that was our first stop. We chose a tall tree from a large refridgerated container and we were on our way!
When it comes to Christmas, I'm a traditionalist. Since we started dating in 2004, Michael and I have always gotten our Christmas tree at the same lot in Knoxville - the one in front of Stir Fry in the Gallery shopping center if you were wondering. ;) And that was just the beginning...we also used to wear these hilarious Christmas sweaters year after year. We would take cheesy photos, documenting the entire process from selection of the perfect tree, cutting it, wrapping it and tying it to the top of the car...
Unfortunately, those sweaters didn't make it to the BVI. They must be in storage somewhere, along with all of our ornaments. {If you know me well, you know where this is going...}
I designed them using Scrapblog and had them professionally printed. That's when the real work began. I had to cut the paper into squares, fold each side and then use a glue stick to attach all six pieces together. I also used a needle and thread to create an almost invisible loop at the top from which to hang the ornament.
Along with Christmas greetings and lyrics from some of our favorite Christmas songs. you'll notice black and white photos on the ornaments. This is a way to have our family members and friends around us, even though 2,000+ miles separate most of us. I can't help but smile when I look at the tree, filled with memories of the past year.
Here's a shot of the entire tree (minus the bow for the top that I hadn't yet made when I snapped this photo!)
Now all that's left to do is have a little party and pop some holiday bubbly! (Oh, and finish up my online shopping and get to wrapping!)
Even though it's 80 degrees outside it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the BVI!
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Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Day 356: Recovery Mission
A VISAR (Virgin Island Search and Rescue) helicopter was flying near the house on Tuesday. I can count on one hand how many times I've seen a helicopter in the past year, so I grabbed my camera and snapped this shot. I wasn't aware at the time that this helicopter was on a recovery mission...a very tragic one.
In the early morning hours on Monday, a boat carrying mostly Haitian immigrants wrecked on a reef at Brandywine Bay...less than a quarter mile from our hill. According to news reports, VISAR recovered the bodies of six adults and two children. Twenty others were either rescued or swam to shore; they are now being detained.
Haiti's Port-au-Prince is some 500 miles from the BVI. I cannot even wrap my head around the hardships these people endured which led them to flee...the feelings of desparation, fear, hope and defeat...and the terrible loss that they're feeling now. What a tragic end to what was already a dire situation...
In the early morning hours on Monday, a boat carrying mostly Haitian immigrants wrecked on a reef at Brandywine Bay...less than a quarter mile from our hill. According to news reports, VISAR recovered the bodies of six adults and two children. Twenty others were either rescued or swam to shore; they are now being detained.
Haiti's Port-au-Prince is some 500 miles from the BVI. I cannot even wrap my head around the hardships these people endured which led them to flee...the feelings of desparation, fear, hope and defeat...and the terrible loss that they're feeling now. What a tragic end to what was already a dire situation...
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Go Hermit Crabs! Go!
What has to be one of the best executed fundraisers in the BVI was held on Saturday night at Peg Leg's at Nanny Cay. "Gaming Night", as it's called, benefits the Humane Society of the BVI and involves classic gambling games like black jack and roulette (all for a good cause remember!)
One of the most popular games? The hermit crab races held on the hour. That's right, we were betting on actual live crabs and their ability to expeditiously move from the center of the ring to the outer edge. First crab to touch the wall wins! This video is of the last race of the night...
What a fun night! We had some luck at the roulette wheel and won a few hands of black jack too! I haven't heard a total just yet, but with 200+ attendees there had to be quite a lot of money raised for the Humane Society!
One of the most popular games? The hermit crab races held on the hour. That's right, we were betting on actual live crabs and their ability to expeditiously move from the center of the ring to the outer edge. First crab to touch the wall wins! This video is of the last race of the night...
What a fun night! We had some luck at the roulette wheel and won a few hands of black jack too! I haven't heard a total just yet, but with 200+ attendees there had to be quite a lot of money raised for the Humane Society!
Day 353: Retail Therapy by way of Lady Sol
Amex in hand, we headed for the USVI on Day 353. Normally, this means catching a ferry from either Road Town or West End, but our friends Louise and Richard elected to take their boat, Lady Sol since the conditions were so perfect. Flat water and no wind made for a smooth (and more importantly dry) trip!
We "cleared" through Cruz Bay on St. John. This means we went through Customs there and got the necessary paperwork for the boat, which allowed us to legally motor in US waters. We grabbed a coffee at a charming little bakery and headed for Red Hook on St. Thomas.
Check out this member of the welcoming committee there...yikes! He gave me quite the startle! I think it's a he...
We hitched a ride on the open-air "dollar bus" - Charlotte Amalie bound!
We enjoyed a yummy lunch at W!kked in The Galleria at Yacht Haven Grande. The shops there include Louis Vuitton, Gucci, BCBG, just to name a few!
The big winner of the day, however, was K Mart, yes K Mart. When you live on an island where a generic microwave costs upwards of $250, it was fiscally responsible of us to shop there and stock up on essentials, from scotch tape to "toilet rolls." :)
The most gorgeous part of day came as the sun was setting over St. Thomas.
While boating in the dark isn't necessarily what any of us had in mind when we started out, it was a beautiful view. We had to go back through Customs in the BVI and settle up with the Duty Officer before navigating the Sir Francis Drake Channel, again, in complete darkness.
Richard did a stellar job as "captain" and returned us safely back to the docks at Nanny Cay.
You know, after writing this, I'm amazed at the energy expended in the name of retail. While it was the most enjoyable day, don't get me wrong, I just think about the lengths people (in this case, us!) will go to when it comes to shopping.
SO, if a short car ride happens to separate you from a mall or shopping center, will you do me a favor? Savor that convenient little drive, free parking, and selection of stores stuffed with the latest and greatest!
Reciprocally, we will savor the sunshine and warm temperatures this holiday season while many of you are bundled up and scraping ice from your windshields so you can take aforementioned trip to the shopping mall!
Merry Christmas!
Check out this member of the welcoming committee there...yikes! He gave me quite the startle! I think it's a he...
The big winner of the day, however, was K Mart, yes K Mart. When you live on an island where a generic microwave costs upwards of $250, it was fiscally responsible of us to shop there and stock up on essentials, from scotch tape to "toilet rolls." :)
Richard did a stellar job as "captain" and returned us safely back to the docks at Nanny Cay.
You know, after writing this, I'm amazed at the energy expended in the name of retail. While it was the most enjoyable day, don't get me wrong, I just think about the lengths people (in this case, us!) will go to when it comes to shopping.
SO, if a short car ride happens to separate you from a mall or shopping center, will you do me a favor? Savor that convenient little drive, free parking, and selection of stores stuffed with the latest and greatest!
Reciprocally, we will savor the sunshine and warm temperatures this holiday season while many of you are bundled up and scraping ice from your windshields so you can take aforementioned trip to the shopping mall!
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
And Mr. Movember 2010 is...
Mr. William Callewaert! All of the contestants who've been growing their mustaches all month competed for the top prize for Mr. Movember on Tuesday night . The stache bash was held at Nanny Cay.
There were a variety of categories: Best Handlebar, Best Celebrity Lookalike, Classiest, Sexiest, etc...
{photo credit: BVI Beacon}
We had such fun watching all of the mo bros compete for prizes and ultimately raise money to promote awareness of prostate cancer and the need for men to be screened. All of the money raised during Movember will be donated to the BVI Chapter of the Red Cross.
There were a variety of categories: Best Handlebar, Best Celebrity Lookalike, Classiest, Sexiest, etc...
We had such fun watching all of the mo bros compete for prizes and ultimately raise money to promote awareness of prostate cancer and the need for men to be screened. All of the money raised during Movember will be donated to the BVI Chapter of the Red Cross.
{photo credit: BVI Beacon}
What a fun event! If Michael were able to sport facial hair at work, he would've made a great mo bro!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Day 346: A Farewell
Michael and I are experiencing something right now that is unfortunately quite common in the expat community... We are bidding farewell to other expat friends who are returning to their home country.
It is with much saddness that we say good-bye to Gerry and Felicity. Gerry and Felicity were the first friends we made on Tortola, outside of the Pusser's family of course. So for our farewell dinner, we went back to the place where we all first met - Pusser's East.
It is with much saddness that we say good-bye to Gerry and Felicity. Gerry and Felicity were the first friends we made on Tortola, outside of the Pusser's family of course. So for our farewell dinner, we went back to the place where we all first met - Pusser's East.
When I think back on that night, I just have to laugh. This was in our first 50 days on the island and all four of us were sitting at the bar. Michael and I felt like single guys getting ready to approach the only ladies in the place. {Sorry Gerry, but you have to be a girl in this scenario!} We even had a quick pep talk before going over to them and may have even discussed using a pick-up line. Whatever we ended up saying to them - it worked! Because we all became fast friends!
Here's a great shot of the boys enjoying their Irish coffees at the end of a delicious dinner.
For the girls, we had our own little get together on Friday. A champagne lunch? Don't mind if we do!
In this friendship, we've shared some bits and pieces our respective cultures...
From us to them:
- a positive example of the Greek system of fraternities and sororities
- the difference between the NFL and college football
- the word Y'ALL (Felicity more than Gerry will likely find herself using the word back home!)
What they've shared with us:
- the phrase "to have a sneaky one" which means to have a last drink of the night
- the song, Fairytale in New York
- how to make soldiers, soft-boiled eggs and toast
- the after dinner drink, Baby Guinness which is a shot of Kahlua with Bailey's on top. There's zero Guinness in the drink, but it looks like a miniature glass of the dark beer.
But most of all, we've shared a lot of laughs as we navigated this little island together. While we will miss Gerry and Felicity terribly, we are happy for them to be reunited with their friends and families in Ireland. They've lived abroad for two years now, as Gerry worked for Digicel in Anguilla, St. Lucia and lastly Tortola.
After a whirlwind trip through South America (a belated honeymoon) and a stop in the Big Apple, the pair will return home, just in time for Christmas.
To Gerry and Felicity, we wish you the very best! Michael and I loved getting to know you both and we'll surely miss you around here, especially on those nights when we turn a "sneaky one" into a "sneaky three." Safe travels! Hope to see you soon - on your turf next!
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