Moo Cow Trail

Our home: Kootney Resorts. It is located near the top of Moo Cow Trail.

Moo cow trail. I wish so badly it was paved.

Our front Yard

This little guy lived with us for a few days.

Our shower is huge so I hung a clothesline in it.

Palm trees and a beautiful sunset

Riding my bike to the beach to watch the sunset is quickly becoming an obsession of mine.

Working out

This week was the first time on the island I actually got my butt out the door to work out. Running to the market last Saturday got me pumped for finally getting into shape. The first day I went I decided to run outside during the middle of the day. Bad idea. It was too hot! So a couple days later I tried out the gym. It was great! I love being able to breathe here. Back home it is so hard for me to breathe. The air is perfect here. After going to the gym I treated myself by watching the sunset on the beach.

After running outside. (well dying of heat and walking most of the way)

Not such a pretty picture. 

Much better! Running in the air conditioned gym. Then watching a beautiful sunset! 

Island living sure does have some awesome perks!

Friday

Today I was a very busy girl and now am a very tired girl. I worked this morning then spent most of the day cooking because Stephen and I fed the missionaries tonight. It was really a lot of fun having them over. They really know how to invite the spirit into your home and they are really nice. After dinner they left us with a short message that was exactly what I should be working on.
I also made cinnamon rolls for the first time. I have always wanted to try them out but always thought it would be too difficult. If I do say so myself I think they turned out pretty amazing. For the most part I am really enjoying all the cooking I am doing here on the island.
Tonight is especially nice because Stephen stayed home to study after dinner. Even though I don't get to talk to him I enjoy being able to see him. It's pretty much Friday date night in a way. Can't ask for to much when your married to a med student.

Weekends

I realized something this weekend. I have never had a job where I had the weekends off...until now! It is so fun having a Monday - Friday job and knowing I have every weekend off. So I thought I would blog about my weekend activities because it is so exciting having them. Saturday mornings I usually go to the market. The market is where you can get really good produce and fish for a better price than the grocery store. It is only open on Saturdays. In order to get really good food you should get there around 6:00 am. I haven't been that ambitious yet. I have been going around 8:00. The other option on Saturdays is going to Roseau. The school will send a transport of students and spouses for free to the capital to run errands or grocery shop every Saturday morning. Everything is cheaper in the capital so it is really nice to have it available each week. So far I have just been trying out the market because it is closer. The market is a half hour walk away. That is where I went this Saturday morning with a couple other ladies from the branch and their kids. We jogged there which for me was a bit difficult. I haven't run in such a long time. It did feel really good getting the exercise. We had a good time at the market and afterwards went for some ice cream. (real ice cream) It was delicious.
Afterwards we had a relief society get to know everyone activity at the church house which is fairly close to the market. It was a lot of fun. It is really nice getting to know the other ladies here on the island. They are such a great support system to have.
On Sunday Stephen and I went to church. Church is only two hours here which I must say is pretty great. Stephen came a little late this week because he had an EMT shift this weekend. He will have 3 to 4 shifts throughout the semester where he is on call for the day and night. It's pretty fun for him. After church each week we spend the day relaxing and spending time with each other. We Skype with my parents every week after we get home from church and then face-time with Stephens family after dinner. That is always fun getting to see and hear from family. The best part of the day this Sunday was going for a walk with Stephen. We went and visited some friends for a few minutes, then walked to the Annex and picked Guavas. After we went to the beach. We found a closer beach to our house which is only a 5 minute walk. It is also more quiet and secluded there. We got our feet wet in the ocean and watched the sunset together. It was a perfect way to end the week. I am so blessed to get to spend as much time as I do with Stephen. He tries to study as little as possible on Sunday which means we get to spend more time together. I am so blessed that we are such a happy couple. I just love every amount of time I get to spend with him.

Saturday Market

This is how we buy our fish in Dominica. Think its clean enough??

Just buying two pounds of Mahi Mahi

Ice Cream!

Stephen in his EMT shirt. He has to wear it while on call. Such a handsome man!

Our Sunday walk

One Month

One month ago today we left the United States and headed off on our new adventure here in the Caribbean. It has been an exciting month to say the least. I can now say that I feel like we are getting into the swing of things. Stephen's first mini is done with, our barrels finally came, our house is now looking like a place to call home, and I am getting used to my new job and getting used to living the life as a med school students wife. Things are going really well here in Dominica. As I mentioned Stephen finished his first mini and is glad to have it done. He has been working so hard with his studies. I am so very proud of him. Because he had an exam we were able to spend the rest of that day together. Exam days are happy days here on the Island, at least once they are over. They mean I get to spend time with my husband after going weeks of only seeing him for an hour or two a day. After this test we decided to head over to Cabrits with a few other couples. It is about 3 miles from campus. We went snorkeling and collected some shells. Later we had dinner with Stan and Taran and their kids. It was a great day!
Our barrels came about a week ago and it was quite an exciting night opening them up to see what he had packed almost a month and a half earlier. We were so happy to get some America! It was better than Christmas.
I started my job on the Island the same week that Stephen started classes and I am really enjoying it. I work with a boy named Jack. He is so sweet. He has Autism and needs an aide with him while he is at school. So I work with him at the prep school Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 12:00. I love having a job while living on the island because there is not a lot to do around here. A typical day for Stephen and I is waking up together and heading to school/work at around 7:45. I will sometimes see Stephen after work before he starts studying if he works out that day or decides to come home to eat lunch. I get home around 12:30 every day. I will usually go to IGA (the grocery store) at least once a day, usually on my way home from work. I can only carry what will fit in my bike basket. I buy bananas every day and I make bread at least once a week because it tastes so delicious home made and I don't like the bread at IGA. Then I make dinner for Stephen every night around 6 or 7. He usually stays home for about 45 minutes to an hour which is really nice. Then he heads back to study not getting home until about midnight. Some days I will go to the pool or the beach. I have started reading a lot which has been a lot of fun for me. That pretty much sums up a typical day here on the island.
I can't believe that we have already been living here for one month. Also Stephen and I were married 5 months ago today! It has been the best 5 months of our lives. I am so happy that I have him in my life. I am such a lucky girl to have found him and I look forward to spending this life and all of eternity with him.

Having Dinner together after Stephen's first mini.
Notice the bug spray on the table. haha bugs are everywhere at night!

 Hanging out at Cabrits!

 Poor Fishy

 Better than Christmas when these came.

Some nights Stephen will study at home for a bit when he needs to use the white board.

 

 Yummy bread

This is Jack. At the end of each day we get to go for a walk to the beach.