from one SO to another

I got this sweet facebook message from an SGU SO who has already completed their clinical rotations (which I found is really called medical clerkship) in Detroit.  She really calmed my nerves about living in/near Detroit!  I thought this might be helpful to anyone thinking about heading to MI for rotations.


Don't be nervous about Detroit. You won't really need to go there for any reason. There are some fun places in right downtown (greek town, mexican town, etc). But we lived write on Mack Avenue by the hospital and loved it. There are cops around 24/7 to keep it safe and a nice community. We never felt uncomfortable. In fact - there were for sure times I felt more nervous about living in Grenada!

Also - I went to Target at Eastland ALL the time. My husband did say they had some crime at night so maybe just stick to daytime hours. The mall is pretty ghetto but I even took my kids to play there at the indoor playland a few times during the winter. I never felt unsafe.

What is your address? Do you know what "park" you belong to? They have private community parks that we spent all our time at. A free pool, one even has a movie theater (GPP)? I hope that you love it as much as we did. Will your hubby be at St. Johns hospital? It's a great one. So lucky you were placed there. What was it on your list? You will be glad in the end. All our friends that went to Jersey and NYC were bummed cause 4th year they had to scramble and find rotations themselves while St. John's sets it all up and you don't have to move around What does your husband want to go into? We just were matched in AUstin TX for ER. We are super excited. Good luck with your adventure. MI is great Let me know if you have any other questions!




Thank you so much for your help Alexis!!
The SO community is really great, I have never even met her and here she is offering all this help!  Awesome!
And now I'm more exited about our Michigan Adventure!

Grenada Friends

I did a post a couple months ago with links to some new some new people I had met in Grenada's blogs but now it is like everyone I know has a blog!  I can't keep up!
If I'm leaving anyone out please let me know and they will be added to the list :)
A list of all the SOs of SGU can be found on the right hand side - including some now in clinicals like Marisa - http://countonme4life.blogspot.com/ who shares some great info and her fiance is currently interviewing for residency! exciting!

Laura - http://lauralackey.blogspot.com/
Laura - http://lauraconley.blogspot.com/
Jessie - http://lovesworthit.blogspot.com/
Kat -  http://grenadaguide.blogspot.com/
Nicole - http://nwoody02.blogspot.com/
Cat - http://www.budgetblonde.com/
Holly - http://hols13.wordpress.com/
Marieke - http://marieke-cappa.blogspot.com/
Emily -  http://emilysevidence.blogspot.com/
Natalie -  http://kingskonquering.blogspot.com/
Taylor - lifeingrenada.wordpress.com
Sarah - http://sarahpalma.wordpress.com/

Midterm Social - Fall 2011

Saturday was my 4th and last midterm social!  Weird!
We had our party on Grand Anse Beach with water sports!  I got to ride the banana boat twice... and it was..... tame. haha.  I didn't get a chance to ride the tube which I heard was a bit more thrilling of a ride.
We had 80 people there all wanting rides, quite a switch from last term when I got to ride the tube 5 times huh?
Good job SO board for planning and executing a great party!

Royal Mt. Carmel Falls

I made what may be my last trip (in the near future) to Mt. Carmel falls last Friday.
I went out on a high note, sliding down the falls without injury!

Read more a more detailed post about my first visit to Mt. Carmel here.

Jump! on the on the front back!

Last week the SOs were busy traipsing around Grenada.  We went to a few of my favorite places, with a few of my favorite people, it was a good week.

La Sagesse Beach never disappoints. It is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I've ever been.  I need to squeeze in about 10 more trips there before we leave.
We spent the morning lounging around, scouring the beach for shells and other things (cricket bat anyone?) and ended the afternoon with some impromptu jumping and silliness.

A few of the lovely SOs there that day.
I am so thankful for the SO organization and all these great women here in Grenada!!

ps. 69 days left.
AND if you don't already know... you can read all about Lee and I's love story over at Newlyweds Bliss today! :) 

they are precious in his sight

I finally have some pictures of Limes from this term!  I got my camera yesterday and have been snapping pictures like crazy.
Limes has been going amazingly well!  Yesterday we had 15 volunteers!
With this many people we are able to break the kids into stations, things run smoothly, and everyone has fun!
On Tuesday we had a music/singing station and yesterday we had a special dancing station!  The kids learned the cha-cha and it was so cute/hilarious!  I will post a video soon!
I'm happy to report that all the children were well behaved, engaged, and no one got sent home without snack!
Success!

This after school program has really made me love my time here in Grenada... I don't know what I would have done without it or these precious little kids.
Please remember them in your prayers because once they leave our program at 5oclock they go back into rough home lives and are exposed to all sorts of things that children never should be.
I am thankful for the 2 hours a day that we get with them and a chance to make them smile.

Reading Station

Games Station

Dancing Station

Worksheets/coloring Station.

If you would like to join us the Limes After School Program meets every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3-5!

better late than never...

anyone who has been reading this blog for the past year has heard about my frustration with the lack of volunteers from the SOs.  I have begged people to help to no avail.... but last Monday afternoon my prayers were answered. 
We had our first visit to Queen Elizabeth Home for the semester & as I approached Charter Hall I was welcomed by a massive group of volunteers.... 19 in total!
NINETEEN!
We had 3 returning volunteers from last term and 16 new SOs!
It was incredible. 

There are only 14 kids at QE right now so we had more than one adult per child and I was amazed at just how smoothly things went.  The kids were engaged and having fun and no one was acting up.

I realize that 19 people each week probably isn't realistic... but if at least half of that group remain faithful to visiting QE each week it will be awesome!

I am getting ahead of myself and daydreaming about how awesome Limes will be this term if we can get that many volunteers.... 

I heard this quote this week "Delays do not weaken the promise of God"

This past year was a bit of a struggle and wouldn't have been possible without the dedication of Amber Gazo, Michelle Nanney, Adriana Pardo, and Jessi Steinz. 
When people were bitter and doubted that we should continue Limes and other volunteer activities we said no.  These programs are way to important to these kids to just toss it aside.
And look what is happening!  So many people want to get involved and help out and I believe that God has sent the right people for the job and I am optimistic about the future.

Welcoming.Touring. Bazaaring. Socialing.

I haven't been the best blogger lately.  The one thing people who I have met who have read my blog have all said is "I like how often you post" or something to that effect...... and then they all get to Grenada and I'm MIA!  Well here is a whirlwind of the past 2 weeks!

I will blame it partially on my frustration with my camera.... or lack there of. My underwater camera is broken & my cannon is on it's last leg (and after our hike to Concord Falls debacle it may never work again) so I haven't been taking many pictures, but luckily all my friends are new to the island and are picture happy!!
So I will be sharing their images from facebook :)

Last week I took a group of girls downtown St. George's to the market and to a couple other stores that have been helpful to me.  It was a fun, but super hot and sweaty day.

playing tour guide downtown and explaining the Cocoa pod

with some new SOs Myra and Laura

Natalie, Laura, Me, and Adriana in the fish market

We also had our Welcome Back Bazaar on campus last Sunday.  So many new SOs came by to talk and pay dues!  The Bazaar is always a fun time because there is food and music and lots of people buzzing around.

my goal for the term is to make a new SO poster! ha!

our new SO t-shirts designed by the lovely former SO Jackie

Lee and I were BOTH spot on with our weight and won free movie tickets!! Date night soon!

Then I took some new girls over to the conch shell graveyard as I like to call it... and my friend Cat and I had a field day with the tiles!! score!!

totally BFFs... who else would ever drag such a thing home?!  it is now a beautiful door stop

 Then on Saturday we had the first Beach Day of the term with the kids from Bel Air Home!

Lee dumping water on a child... and they love it!

 On Sunday we had our CSA (Christian Student Association) welcome back BBQ!  It was a huge success and we had over 215 people in attendance!!  God is really moving in CSA and it is growing and will hopefully continue to work in the lives of students at SGU!  Lee and I are feeling so blessed and so happy that this term there are a ton of new students and SOs who want to get involved with CSA to move it forward!!

Also on Sunday we had our SO Opening Social!  2 free meals in 1 day! yay! haha
We also had a great turn out of the social - about 110 people!  We even ran out of pizza!  I think everyone had a great time & got to mix & mingle.  I am so happy with the new SO board & the term to come!  I think my last term in Grenada is going to great because of all these wonderful people.... although they may make me really sad to leave.....

we ate as many pizzas as Stephanie is tall!!

As you can see we have been keeping ourselves quite busy and Limes, my art class, and my baby sitting job hasn't even started yet!  And there is still more to come! I must blog about our visit to Queen Elizabeth Home & our adventurous/terrifying hike to Concord Falls. 
soon. pinky promise!

301st post!

I didn't even realize yesterday was my 300th post! boo!
oh well here's to 300 and 1!

Things are getting back into their busy swing around here.  Lee and I have both been attending meetings and spending time returning emails and answering questions.
I asked Lee when he'd be home for dinner & he said well I have this from 10-12, class from 1-5, a meeting for this at 5, then one at 6, and another at 6:30, and I have to meet with my small group for whatever.... so..... yea. never.
But he's been home in the mornings which has been nice.

So far 5th term has been a nice relief from 4th term, but I have a feeling that it's going to get bad again and Lee is going to be studying for the USMLE as well this term.  It never ends.

I'm really excited for the term ahead for myself and the SOs!  We have such a great group of women on the island right now who all seem excited to get involved!  I've tried explaining that we can't  start our after school program until the kids go to school.... haha. they're so gung-ho! I love it.  And once we start 3 consecutive months of Limes is enough to wear anyone out, so let's enjoy this calm before the storm!
We are starting our trips back up to Queen Elizabeth this Monday, I'm excited to see the kids & the progress that has been made on the construction of the home.
Beach Day starts this Saturday as well, with the kids from Bel Air, and I haven't seen them in a long time either!! I'm hoping they bring the babies out and I can just sit under a tree and play :)
And I'm hoping to get involved in a project with PAM, more details about that later.

This term I am also the on-site coordinator with REACH Grenada, on the board for OSO, and leading a women's small group through our church!

I figured I might as well go out with a bang b/c when I get back to the States it'll be work, work, work.

Bonfire in the sunset

One of my favorite things I did when I was new to Grenada was go to a bonfire with some friends on Magazine Beach.  My [then] Grenada friends and I had several that first term and it was so much fun... and they were all greatly missed at this most recent beach bonfire.
But one of the facts of life here in Grenada is that friends move on and soon you're the only one left on this island... and you have to make new friends! and then you're the one leaving!
here are my sad goodbyes to some dear friends - Sarah, Amber, and Jessi :(

I'm not ready to leave. not one bit.  I'm trying to find a way to sabotage Lee's 5the semester so we can stay a little longer... haha. not really. and he will absolutely kill me if something does go wrong... and ship me back to America and force me to work.  ugh.

back to the bonfire. 
I wanted to have a get together with some friends and it soon grew into a huge party!  I was so surprised that so many people came... I'm used to the SOs not wanting to come out to anything.. and here they all were with bells on!
We met so many new people I'm still struggling with names... but it will all come together soon, just in time for me to board that plane back to North America and kiss my dream life goodbye...

Lee burning his notes from previous terms!! O happy day! 

picnik :)

Here's to many, many more bonfires with all my new friends!

!

same place, new faces

There are so many new people in the SO organization this term!
The term hasn't even started and I've already met dozens of couples.  This is unusual, but welcomed!  I'm glad people are coming to the island and wanting to get involved and live real lives here.  I know a lot of people who never give Grenada a chance & therefore spend the 2 years here miserable. 
Grenada has so much to offer if you'll allow it!

I went through some of my old posts and found some that I thought might be helpful/interesting to those new in Grenada, because even though I'm old news and have been here forever now... I was new once too! :)

3 weeks in... (probably a great post for new people b/c I wrote it when I was new too! haha)
Adventures in Grocery Shopping
Wish List
Eating Out in Grenada : Restaurant reviews
Grenada 101 
Back on the rock
TIG This is Grenada
Don't jade me Grenada...
My favorite foods here
Grenada on a budget
4th term
Why I Love Limes 

ok that's a lot for now... you can always search for something specific on the right side bar...
if you have a question about something in Grenada I'm sure I've been there, done that & I'm more than happy to help!

want some more of Grenada??

I have some new SO friends on the island that are bloggers!
yay!
we may write about a lot of same thing because we've been hanging out together, but still from different perspectives & I'm sure lots of different things will come up :)

Stephanie - http://thescurlockscene.blogspot.com/

Sarah - http://www.goingglenn.com/

Sara - http://thewhitsittfiles.blogspot.com/

Michelle - http://robandmichellegreer.blogspot.com/

Eden the Turtle.

I am so glad that Lee and I took the time to be witnesses to such an amazing event.
We went with the SOs up to Levera Beach, on the north eastern side of the island (about 1 & half hour drive)
Ocean Spirits is an organization that protects and monitors the laying of eggs of the endagered Leather-back turtles.
The laying season is from April - June (or July maybe) and if you're in Grenada it is a must see!!!

This night we got to see two different turtles!  We watched one lay her eggs and then covere them up with sand, then move over a few feet and dig another hole to confuse predators.  It was incredible!!  She then moved around making lots of tracks in the sand before going back to the ocean. 

Flash photography wasn't allowed because it would affect the turtle's vision and she wouldn't be able to find her way back to the sea, but I had a friend who accidentally flashed a picture and it turned out awesome & she got me in it! haha score!

Here are a few pictures I found online that show the beach and the turtles in the day light!! Both are incredible!!

The island is called Sugarloaf Island, and it looks so cool!!

one turned up on Grand Anse beach in 06, which is really rare

                                   this is exactly what we saw when we watched her lay her eggs!

the freshly hatched babies making their way to the ocean!

see me in the blue! I was really there! haha

and now for my red light pictures, which is all  that we were really allowed.

This summer I am planning on going back up to Levera Beach to see it in the daylight, probably not turtles but the beach and that awesome island!!

The Dilemma

isn't the word dilemma funny.
it just looks like it's spelled wrong.
anyway.
It wasn't that great of a movie.  I was hoping it would be super funny, but most of the time I was left feeling uncomfortable.
be it excessive bad language, or blatant cheating on a spouse, or just odd interactions amongst characters...
I didn't like it that much.

I can however appreciate his dilemma and his unknowing of what to do...
He was a good friend.
but the stuff he went through by not telling
ugh. so annoying
just tell him already!!
a real friend will believe you.
but then I guess there wouldn't have been a movie.

we watched the movie at SO movie night.  its fun to watch a movie with a group of people. 
I'm glad the SOs do lots of fun stuff.

oh me.

I've been searching my email and facebook messages for a particular email... and in the process have come across some pretty interesting stuff!

this is a favorite if mine... a fb message I sent to Lee July 24, 2009.  Less than a month before our wedding, & right after we found out about Grenada... before he was even accepted!!

"the list of things to bring is never ending........... where am i supposed to fit my shoes?? we have to take soooooooo much stuff!! and where are we living? on campus??? and how are we going to live? off loans??? how are we going to eat? ugh i'm stressed out......... we have to live with molly and save money because we're going to be poor to the max in grenada.

but i love you & i'm still a tiny bit excited about this....... i just wonder how long it's going to be until i have a house that's ours and i can decorate b/c i can't even take cute stuff to grenada with me! what am i going to wear there????? are you going to think less of me if i have to re-wear things allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the time?"

and this one

"Hey, I found this blog of a girl who's husband is going to school there and i've been reading it for about the past hour and half straight..... i went back and read the stuff from their first couple months there......... oooooo geez. from what it sounds like she does tons and tons of cool stuff with the SOs and goes out to lunch and the beach and hiking and her husband is in class till 5 everyday & studies until midnight in the library, so she only sees him in the morning and after midnight....... yikes!
if you go to it & go to the bottom to August there are pictures of their apartment... and it's tiny, and there is no couch or stove. but it looks nice.
you should read it... but i will admit it is making me nervous.
she said everyone is very casual and no one wears makeup and blah blah blah... mark my words baby... i will still wear make up. really really good water proof make up. =)"


I should win an award for most the dramatic, shallow, craziest person ever.
but in my defense I was about to get married & had my fiance spring moving to an unknown tropical island on me!

I will say that I am content with the amount of shoes I have in Grenada, only semi depressed about re-wearing the same clothes all the time, and I have continued to wear make up everyday!
I also love our little apartment, it does feel like a home, and I was able to smuggle a few 'cute' things in to decorate.
& the stuff about me doing tons of cool stuff with the SOs while Lee studies the entire day is 100% true.
and we are poor, but we do eat.

doin a little disco dance

Today was our first day back to our Limes After School Program for the term!

Frustrated by busing complications, my spirits were instantly lifted when I came into view of the field and had about a dozen children swarm me.  I literally almost fell over and crushed a few. 
of course we had our bumps along the way...
2 time outs, 3 sent home, and no cookies for good behavior handed out... not too out of the ordinary.
but I'd say it was a pretty successful day.  we had 8 volunteers. EIGHT! ah it was so great to have that much help!

we tested out my new idea of stations.  crafts, games, homework, and circle time.
it went pretty well, and I got to use my new whistle when it was time to rotate. 

but the most amazing thing was......... drum roll please.
we got our building back!!!

Limes is no longer homeless!!!
We can start having classes in the Dynamite Disco tomorrow!!!!

It will be so amazing to have a roof, and chairs, and tables.

A few of us are going over early to clean out the space and organize our supplies. 
I have never been so happy to clean. for real.

Can you believe I am so happy about this building??  a dirty, concrete room with no window screens/bars... and a naked lady painted on the wall? (will have to make sure she's covered up before class)  yep. 

so much to blog about so little time!

note to self:
do not plan the following events all with in the course of a week

1. Limes Beach Day
2. Buying 80 pairs of shoes
3. kickball playoffs
4. Having a huge shoe giveaway
5. organizing a donation drive for unwanted items and collecting said items and storing them at your 300sq ft apartment
6. a Macy's Day Parade watching/ Christmas Craft Party at your house
7. cooking a ridiculous amount of stuff I don't normally make.
8. THANKSGIVING
9. a Bake Sale
10. an end of term sale/donation collecting
11. End of term social event for all SOs
12.  PAM BBQ Fundraiser
13. LEE'S BIRTHDAY
14. all while continuing to run an after school program and visiting the orphanage
15. and while maintaining normal duties such as dishes, grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry, and cooking.
16. oh and an SO board meeting and a meeting with REACH Grenada!

AND! while my husband has a medical school final!! and is in charge of organizing a farewell dinner for 5th term members of CSA on this Saturday!!

but no complaints... everything so far is going great!!!  just a little busy.

and I'm getting ready to go to the movies with some friends and take a break!  I don't even know what the movie is playing.... I just want to sit in the air-conditioning (I forgot to mention that for the past month Lee and I haven't once used the AC and we currently only have 1 working fan) and eat popcorn and drink some orange fountain pop :)

but I'm already starting to feel guilty about Lee's birthday kind of being pushed to the way side... it's on Saturday..... and I have to work at the SO closing social and go to the PAM BBQ.... while he goes to the CSA farewell dinner :( we won't even get to spend much time together!!  we are planning on watching the first half of the Ohio State game together.. and maybe Sunday we can do something nice.

River Tubing!

Last week the SO went on a river tubing adventure on the Balthazar River.
The car ride up was less than desirable... an hour of mountains, curves, and near death experiences.
I took Dramamine.

The guys who work with the river tubing company made it a lot of fun by pushing, spinning, and splashing us!  and singing and cliff diving.
I only flipped over once. haha