We are here!

This is our fourth day on the island. It is Sunday. We got ready for church and waited by the road to be picked up by Serge who drives a little transport bus/van. Our church is a skinny three story lime green building. Church starts at 10. Today I counted at least 35 people but less then 50.

It feels like we haven't been home too much in the time we've been here. Let me briefly catch you up. (I intend to blog every Sunday. We'll see how it works out) Our flights went well. The kids were great travelers. We had a little scare in St. Maarten when our tickets said STANDBY!! We were worried we might not be able to get on the plane. They reassured us we would be able to get on the plane and then we were worried we might not be able to sit together. They took care of us and allowed us to board first so we could all sit together. When we first got here to Dominica my Facebook friend (and friend of a friend and cousin to a sister from our Caldwell ward) Cami met us at the university. After we got some information there, called our mothers, met the landlord, and got all our luggage to our apartment (which I should mention we were lucky that all 10 of our checked suitcases made it with us) we went to Cami's for a new years eve party. It was nice to meet some people and have a place to relax. We stayed past until 1am and were walked home. We all slept until 1pm the next afternoon!!! Thursday when we finally got up we got ready and went on a tour of campus. We splashed our feet in the ocean and went to Cami's for her son's birthday party. That day went by FAST! It gets dark here around 6pm every night and the sun comes back up around 6am every morning (which I haven't yet witnessed) We went out on day trips on Friday to Red Rock (we tried fresh coconut at one of our stops!!) and Saturday to Roseau the country's capitol. The trips were fun and when we got back yesterday we got our swimming gear together and hit the beach before dark.

I have a thermometer that typically reads 81 degrees. It is very humid! Kari's hair is curly here and mine is pretty frizzy! I had a cockroach on my kitchen floor yesterday! Thankfully it was dead! We haven't had too many issues with buys yet but I have noticed we all have a mosquito bite or two here and there...

As a tourist, I'm having a great time but then I come home and remember all I have to figure out. Our suitcases have exploded all over our apartment. We have so much to do. On the list is Mark (re)teaching me how to put pictures on the blog.... We have taken tons of pictures! Sorry you have to wait :)  I expect this week to be pretty busy, crazy, stressful and fun! School starts next Monday the 12th.