moving

moving to tumblr...

until some new, hotter thing appears on the net.

follow me here

caitlinbig.tumblr.com

newyears2011

so new years eve, 2010 i moved to asheville, nc. i've got a new job. a new house. and so much excitement for all things new. let's go universe...hit me with your best shot.

and just for the record, the major resolution this time around...

be open to vulnerability.

check this TED talk:

brene brown at TED

and a few more, as discussed in a convo with the lovely vgc:


12:45 PM V: what are some of your goals mamma
me: be more honest
be more vulnerable
fail at something and be ok with it
12:46 PM Vanessa: oooo nice vulnerable is good
ncie
me: read read read
V: nice....
me: bike bike bike
V: love love love
me: and really give to my job
love love love for sure
me: i like being strong and confident, etc. i think it's totally valuable. especially in terms of being a rolemodel of a strong women for the kids i work with, but in the rest of my life. i want to be more open.

and i would love love love to write more. either on this blog or a tumblr or (if i can really get my act together) some freelancing gigs.

we shall see.
big love.

early salt thanks.

who would have thought. salt is teaching me things.

i'm learning to write. yes yes.

i'm also learning about living alone. granted, i'm not super psyched about it. i'm much more fit and socialized to the communal living situation. and i'm happy to have realized it now.

today's gratitude to a certain lady who can teach me all she wants. and yes, that is an open invitation. (school can stop being too busy any time now.) any way. today i'm excited about adventure. i'm excited about being adventurous now. not later. now. yeah, yeah, i'm in school and should be 100% focused on salt and writing and documenting - but when have i ever been able to 100% focus?
but if i've learned anything from the late-twenty types, it's that no matter how pumped i get about writing now, i'll still be stressing life and future 4 years from now, 8 years from now. this is only compounded by the fact that i'm not career oriented. so i'm here now. and i'll be somewhere else in the summer. and somewhere else in the fall. and this is life. so why not live every moment to it's fullest now? why stress the future? why not be grateful? why not be adventurous?

in other words, some day i'll settle into a routine. some day i'll stay in a place longer than a few months. (or maybe i won't). but until that day, i'm taking every chance i can to experience life. to live. so, as much as i dig salt, it isn't a means to an end - rather, it is a step in the grand and undefined journey.

and for this revelation today, i'm grateful to the late-twenty-somethings. i hope you realize how great you are.

newyears

so this is really a test of my discipline. i was systemmatically and institutionally disciplined in high school and college, but am i capable of self-motivating and/or making goals and seeing them completed?

here's the test. and there are benefits as well. i mean, i can only get better at writing by..writing. so here goes...

the last time i blogged i had no idea what would become of the postgrad c.little. well, i'm happy to report that i am alive and well. i moved to boston for the summer and held down an office job and played frisbee and was introduced to bsg.

since making the tough decision to leave boston, i have yet to settle. i spent many weeks teaching outdoor education in northern michigan, a job which i adore. if only it wasn't seasonal work.

and since mid-october, i've put 5300 miles on my car and flown to california and central alaska (on two separate trips). i've spent at least one night in illinois, missouri, california, colorado, alaska, virginia, massachusetts, and new jersey.

why travel? why explore?

why not wanderlust?

per beth's request.

she asked how it felt to be 5 weeks away from graduating college.

well, beth, it feels pretty fan-tastic (mostly). firstly, last year's graduates have returned, or will be returning, for a little spring frolicking. thank you all. also, though the weather doesn't realize it yet - it's may and with that comes the need to be outside more than in.
these are the things i fill my time doing:
i do all i can to avoid starting papers (read i'm doing this post instead of starting a sociology paper due tomorrow), i climb, i write, i do work for class when something is due, i wander, i do a lot of laughing, and i worry every now and again about the future.
it's strange because i know that i won't just fall off the face of the planet once i graduate. i will end up somewhere.

we are living history.

today is january 20, 2009. a date that will most likely fade into the blur that consumes the rest of my long term memory. i'm positive, though, that i will not forget where i was when i heard obama's inauguration speech (a packed wanamaker hall) and i'm committed to not forgetting the feeling associated with his rhetoric of peace and call for global responsibility and interdependence. today was one of those rare, once every 8 years, days when americans can be proud of their nationality. my only hope, like many, is that this feeling does not fade and that our over-confidence in the new president is not inappropriately placed. godspeed obama. and may you be clever enough to convince the populous (and press) that each of your promises are being kept.

to solidifying my memory and yours, i've decided to create a bit of an historical archive. the part about all of this is that these speeches will be quoted in our kids' history books. stand by. and do note the graying...

dnc 2004 speech: 7/27/04; boston

"Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes.

Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America.

There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America.

The pundits like to slice and dice our country into red states and blue States: red states for Republicans, blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too.

We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states.

We coach little league in the blue states and, yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states.

There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq, and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq.

We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.

In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism, or do we participate in a politics of hope?"

dnc 2008 speech: 8/28/08; denver


2008 acceptance speech: 11/4/08; chicago


2008 inaugural address:1/20/09; washington d.c. (and j. roberts botching the few words he was responsible for today)


in lieu of a separate snide remark and for the sake of clarity, the oath of office, according to article II, section I of the constitution of the united states of america should read: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States."

"My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and co-operation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms.

At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we, the people, have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

We have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labour, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and travelled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and ploughed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.

The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - that a nation cannot prosper long when it favours only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defence, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spectre of a warming planet. We will not apologise for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defence, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honour them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths.

What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have travelled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America."

you're a good man, obama. keep your head up and try not to let the politics of it all get you down.



obama 2012.

lest we forget.

we've come quite far since august 28, 1963, but we cannot forget where we have come from. the struggle is not over. there is still unfounded discrimination and hate. we all can do more. if on no other day of the year, spread love today.



"i have a dream. that my 4 little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. i have a dream."

bring on b. obama.

the moment happy-go-lucky blogs turn into rants.

i just need to get it all out of my system before the quarter starts for real.

on that note, the following is an exhaustive list of my current pet peeves:

1. profiling

i've recently concluded that we, as americans (at least), are incapable of accepting the phenomena of individuality. we must categorize, and we make countless excuses to do so.
i was recently subjected to an impromptu jung-myers-briggs personality test. the results say that i'm an infj and leave no space for a combination of isfj, intj, or entj characteristics (not to mention the various other combinations of e/i, n/s, t/f, or j/p). from a test like this someone can, apparently, tell me what i'm best suited to do and like in life. all that from four simple questions. so, thanks to the test, it is concluded that i'm fit to be a counselor. go figure. and i fit into a short synopsis on a website. here's me: http://typelogic.com/infj.html.

can i, or anyone, really be figured out that easily - and, if not, why must these sorts of quizzes exist? what larger purpose to they serve? are tests like this meant to benefit the test-taker or those who interact with him or her? in other words, do these tests offer the test-taker some sort of comfort in the sense that, 'hey, you aren't alone. look it, you are exactly like this kind of person. you're normal.' or is it for the friends of the test-taker to understand how to best interact with this aformentioned friend.

i'm also quite offended when, upon meeting me, people i have NEVER met react wide-eyed and say something similar to (and i quote) 'oh, caitlin, you're the one that smashed herself.' to which i must respond, 'yep, that's me. i'm doing much better, thank you. happy new year. what's your name?' i think i've proven that these sorts of injuries do not have to be an eternal crutch. yet, it seems i've found another use for categorization: limitation. by placing people into an understood and unquestioned group, it is possible to associate a list of predetermined limitations to them - rather than to take each case as an individual one. which, granted, might take a bit more empathy or compassion in order to allow the time to ask individualized questions and get to know strangers. i am aware, however, that this may be too taxing of a task for some. if that is the case, please do others the kind favor of keeping your small talk focused on the weather and specifically directed away from any vaguely personal topic.

this all leads to a rant that's been forming about profiling. just because someone looks a certain way, acts a certain way, or hangs out with certain people DOES NOT mean that he or she fit any sort of mold. again, stop trying to categorize. let people just be who they are - don't scare them into being someone that they, for all intents and purposes, resemble. cherish individuality - to its fullest - not only to the point where it is uncomfortable because you are unsure how to properly interact. i know it's a radical concept. let it digest. then think about how you act versus how you are perceived and whether or not you work to maintain some sort of perceivable image. then ask yourself why. i'd love to hear your thoughts.

2. when people write the word your when what they really mean is you're (i.e. you are).

3. when there is no other traffic around, yet my light is red and i only want to make a left hand turn.

4. drafty windows.


thanks for reading and here's to a productive quarter. if my calculations are correct, i will write what should total nearly 150 pages in the next 10 weeks. awesome.

as the goose fattens.

and we're home...

barbados wrapped up sweetly and smoothly, but not without a delightful pattern of people giving me free food. two women, one of whom i worked with (mrs. ford) and the other i only knew because i walked by her everyday as i made my way to the bus stop (merl), both voluntarily made me a barbadian delicacy: conky. this labor-intensive delight is enjoyed by all on the island during the month following barbadian independence day. the trick, though, is that it must be made in the home. in other words, there are no conkies to be found in the frozen food section of the local supermarket. and i must say, their work paid off. d. e. licious.

let's see. we swam with sea turtles (and puffer fish) in the open ocean. a definite highlight there. that same day included jet ski rides and a few lazy hours on a catamaran (i'll post pictures later - the files are on my other computer).

internships ended, but not before all the walls in campwood were painted peach and then overly decorated for christmas with santa puppets, frilly streamers, cheap mobiles, and, of course, a tree with borderline tacky decorations. oh, how i'll miss it - and the cutiepie children.

a note on the music preferences since returning from barbados. highest on the current list are rihanna and beres hammond. rihanna, well, she's from barbados, sings well, and did wonders in distracting the roommates and me from the group drama that emerged in our final week. and then beres is notable after seeing him in concert at the barbados gymnasium. smooth reggae. totally one love type stuff.

arriving stateside, i was a bit bombarded with some pretty serious world news - and i'd thought i'd done so well at keeping updated on the newsworthy moments of the globe...

check this out:


a few days ago, an iraqi journalist threw not one, but two, shoes at the president of the united states during a press conference. this is one of the greatest signs of contempt in the middle east - here's wikipedia's explanation:

"In the Arab world, shoe flinging is a gesture of extreme disrespect.The shoe represents the lowest part of the body (the foot) and displaying or throwing a shoe at someone or something in Arab cultures denotes that the person or thing is 'beneath them.' Showing the bottom of one's feet or shoes (for example, putting one's feet up on a table or desk) in Arab cultures is considered an extreme insult."

bush's clever retort: "size 10, he he." the man then got tackled by a couple secret service men, the others - do note they have sworn to take a bullet for the president - stood back, laughed, ultimately failed to respond. but it does make you wonder how no one saw it coming. i mean, honestly now, the CIA must have had some sort of tip. bring on the conspiracy theorists. ten bucks says the journalists must remove their shoes at the door at the next press conference - or better yet, sit naked (adding ease to the public speaking tip of imagining your audience naked...). needless to say, our favorite shoe-tosser has made it big. he now has several facebook groups devoted to his work. those of you with facebook, search the name muntadar al-zaidi (or just shoe thrower if spelling the arabic name is too taxing of an activity (and understandably so) for winter break, and take your pick of "all hail the shoe thrower," or "let's make the bush 'shoe-thrower' a hero!!!" or, my personal favorite, "free the shoe thrower guy." just great.

in other news - amy poehler has left snl. here is one of her finest moments (palin 2012):


a sad sad day. i suppose it just calls for a poehler lookalike to run a botched campaign for public office (a la the unforgetable sarah palin/tina fey brilliance).

more on the news highlights later. i've got a final in 5 hours and have yet to study. so for you prin kids that wanted the semester system instead of quarters (so that we'd be more like everyone else - something they teach against in grade school, mind you), imagine that finals week is just wrapping up and that lovely worry free lifestyle of sleeping in and tree decorating has yet to begin. my best wishes to all come the fall of 2010.

to lime is to hang out.

so thanksgiving in barbados came and went. and per usual, the day was filled with joy, gratitude, and cheer. we did have a coma inducing meal to cap the night off, but the day mostly followed the standard routine. which means, yes, a routine has begun. class in the morning, internship in the afternoon. but more on that later.

before i get too much into the day to day, my thoughts on this year's thanksgiving: as needs to be done every thanksgiving, i took a look back over the year. there have definitely been some ups and downs, ins and outs, etc. but we've made it through. and i'm grateful for everyone that stood by me during tough times. and if i had to pinpoint one thing i'm most grateful for this year, it's love. namely the heartwarming smiley, pure, no-strings-attached love. people actually do care about one another and that, my friends, is inspiring. keep it up.

my internship has shaped up beautifully. the first day i went to the national child care board to sort out logistics of where i would spend the remainder of the trip. we, mrs. corbin, mrs. simpson, and i, decided that work in a home for children up for adoption and foster care. their age? baby-babies. the little ones would not have been my first choice, but since the older and more responsive ones go to school during the day, the droolers have my full attention. so everyday i hop on one bus, then catch a second, and then stroll down a government housing neighborhood to reach the lovely little house with the small playground out front. the kids are such cuties. there are 5 baby-baby boys, 1 baby-baby girl, and 2 toddler boys. they sleep, eat, get bathed, laugh, and mostly just watch you. (i'd show you pictures of them, but it's illegal to take their pictures - something about privacy.) and the ladies that work there are delightful. most of them have worked there for decades and just love working for others and being nurturers to those children that, arguably, need it most.

but more than all that, they love love love obama. fortunately, i love love love obama too, so we have some good talks and political rants. it's fun to see american politics bring tears of joy to foreign eyes. oh the power of hope. reminder: bush's last day in office is january 20th. stand by.

this past weekend was packed, so i'll give you the play-by-play:

friday morning we all got up early and did some lawn care - and garbage relocation) for the christian science church here. and honestly, it's looking pretty good now. apparently they have monkeys living in the yard, but i never saw any so i'm putting off believing it.







the rest of friday was spent running errands - grocery shopping, doing laundry. we've totally accepted that we live here.

most of satuday was spent cooking caribbean food under the instruction of a brilliant chef named ann-marie and her team (most notably a lovable man named sam). the day started in the fruit and vegetable market and then continued to the fish market. i never thought i'd see a fish go from living, to scaled, to boned, to prepared, to cooked, to eaten all within a few hours. talk about fresh.





the large guy on the bottom there is a dolphin fish - aka mahi mahi:

also on saturday i saw a grown man chase a two dollar bill down the street. (editor's note: 2 dollars barbadian is equivalent to 1 dollar american.) that man was my professor. we tease him incessantly.

the 47th anniversary of the barbadian independence from britain was sunday. so, naturally, independence day celebrations began saturday evening and will continue until monday night.

sunday, naturally, evolved into a day of music. in the morning, the group traveled to a formal breakfast locale only to be serenaded by a world touring barbadian gospel choir. and we were sitting front row. late night sunday found a few of us in an open air reggae club featuring a live bob marley tribute band. their rendition of 'no woman, no cry' is a definite highlight of the trip. and i'm loving that sunday was bookended by incredible live local music.

the holiday ends tonight and the country will get back to work tomorrow. and i guess that means we will too...

let's start with the story behind the name barbados.

barbados update numero dois.

so any tour guide will tell you, and for those of you who don't know, barbados is portuguese for "bearded one" which comes from this tree that uses long vines as an alternative root system. the vines grow from the top of the tree and eventually reach the ground, which is when they take on their supportive role. so that's that.

since i last wrote, a number of things have happened. we've gone out of the hotel. we checked out a couple of restaurants, first mamma mia (a pizzaria) and then the green dragon (serving more typically barbadian - or bajan - food). honestly, i prefer the green dragon, there is more of an authentic feel.

we all took a trip to the grocery store. all of us. needless to say, the store knew we were coming long before we got there. once in, i can honestly say that i haven't seen so many imported items in a foreign grocery store before. the guilty pleasures ranged from several competing brands of crunchy and smooth peanut butter (peter pan, jif, skippy, and some generic, yet foreign, brand), nutella, betty crocker cake mix, a variety of milk alternatives (almond, soy, rice), a cereal isle to rival any american selection, and, of course, hershey's chocolate shell topping. all in all, a complete experience.

friday night included some pretty incredible dancing by my two roommates. they starred at the weekly fishfry in front of an audience of, at least, 200 jealous onlookers. few others had the confidence to compete, but those that did made for some solid entertainment and there are definitely some fans crossing their fingers the american students stop by next week.

a man named ted entertained us yesturday. he gives bus tours of the island - and apparently has led tours for the past 20 years. check out the hotel website - it advertises him: http://www.coconut-court.com/activities_tedstour.cfm
(by the by, we are at the coconut court hotel)
so ted definitely put on a good show. he showed us the best sites, sang us some songs, and provided us with some fine food. we adore him.

so the school part of all of this starts for real tomorrow. or somewhere near there. i think i'm working/playing with orphaned children, but who knows. all should be made clear tomorrow.
people here just move in a relaxed sort of way. things happen when they happen. appointments happen within the hour they are scheduled to. and it's quite nice to just be expected to slow down. very much my style. and i have no intention on getting back up to speed when i get back in the states. fair warning.

and with that, here are some pictures to soothe any lasting concerns that barbados isn't gorgeous:

the little fella is ted's son, lee.










climbed on up to have some quiet time (photo credit for these two: emily peck).




and then climbed this one:


and the sunset from our balcony:


until next time...take it easy.

we've unofficially named the dove andromeda.

for all those that were worried, we've made it. safe and sound. of our small pod of 13 (10 students, 2 professors, 1 rc - to manage the funds and promote good thoughts) only one bag was lost in transit. i'm hoping it is only slow to arrive and not, heaven forbid, lost lost.
and yes, it is as beautiful as all of the tourbooks and websites allege. my room is shared with two lovely women. their names - emily and molly. and we have a view of the ocean off of our balcony. and by view, i clearly mean that the ocean is, at a conservative estimate, 200 yards away. not too bad.
because i've been asked, the smell is definitely tropical and humid. but it lacks the delightful zest of rotting fruit and trash that has been known to bombard the olfactory nerves on previous tropical adventures. how refreshing.
we've been told by the teachers that we are expected to take a hint from the culture and relax. watches off. pleasure reading on.
the school part of all this starts in about an hour, but i'm hoping it maintains the relaxed feel. (fingers crossed on that one) but then again, weren't the teachers the ones that told us to calm down in the first place?
so yep. it's balmy and marvelous. and the ocean is real and has a legitimate seabreeze.

i know it's a hard life, but some one has to lead it. more later...

for now, here is the view from my balcony:





(oh, and the dove referenced in the title of this post lives on our balcony.)

barbados it is.

the countdown begins for serious now. two days until i land on the beautiful and tropical island in the south caribbean. i'm thrilled for a couple of reasons. firstly, i'm out of dodge of this sudden winter coldness that has decided to sit in the midwest. secondly, i'm all about being tan for the depths of winter. also, and on a less shallow note, i'm excited to observe and interact with another culture - especially one entirely devoted to tourism. it should be worth reporting. check back here for details and, fingers crossed, photos. oh, and i'm writing a lengthy paper on the rum culture. that's right. alcohol. watch out prin, i know it exists.
time to prepare. now, what to pack for my month vacationing...i mean studying...abroad?

yeah, i did it.

i followed the crowd and created a blog. actually, i was afraid that this url would be taken before i ever got a chance to tell the world my story via internet blog. what a scare. i'll admit, though, i do feel pretty twenty-first century chic now that i have my own webspace.

i don't know where this blog will go or what purpose it will serve, but do stay tuned. judging from my tendency to travel, i do suspect that this posting business will become something of a habit as i venture to those forgotten corners of the world that still manage to have even the shoddiest of internet connections.

here's to the future.