This weekend turned out quite well. Given the frustration of waiting around for things to happen during the week and trying to sort out the system, the weekend is a nice break from it all to do touristy things. Saturday morning, Kristen and I caught the navette (boat) from Fort de France to Trois Illets where we had the intention of going to the Maison de Cane (where we could learn about the cane sugar/rum making process) but this is Martinique where the buses don't run on Saturdays. We even briefly thought about renting a car... for 25 Euros? no way. Frustrating. But after exploration around the area, we found ourselves back at the port, standing infront of a boat advertising Plongee, or in English, scuba diving. So we went in, talked to the guys who were really friendly and then thought about it. Why not? After a few hours at the beach, we returned to the boat and started on our way.
We were both pretty nervous but determined. Beforehand, we had lots of time to swim around and look at the reef with our goggle/masks on. The water was phenomenally blue and there were some really pretty fish. The scuba diving part itself was really hard for me. I guess I have a tough time distinguishing between my mouth and nose for breathing which resulted in choking a few times. It also doesn't help that I have a terrible fear of drowning. But, I did it and it was fun if difficult and scary. Unfortunately, I got my first sunburn that Saturday but consider myself lucky that I managed two weeks without one.
Sunday was fun, too. Gilbert, a cousin of Kristen's host family, took us out on a long driving tour of the island. We checked out St Pierre which was the capital and "Paris of the Caribbean" until Mt Pelee exploded in 1902 and killed 30,000 people. We also drove up to the mountain which Kristen and I will summit before we leave... but not in the afternoon when it's hot. Then, Gilbert drove us all around Martinique showing us different little cities and we saw the Atlantic coast of the island and lots and lots and lots of banana farms. It's really beautiful here which at times makes up for the frustration of everything else.
Yesterday night, we made granola. Being in the kitchen is comforting but doesn't quite feel the same. I miss having my own space and privacy and ability to be independent most of the time. However, I have been doing my best to make the situation work and get the most out of my experience. Nonetheless, I've been pretty homesick for the past few days. So it goes.
Well, today is Monday and I'm starting another week of school. I hope this one I will actually have all my classes and find some of my books and discover new ways of occupying my time, of which I seem to have an excessive amount free.
love, Bethany
We were both pretty nervous but determined. Beforehand, we had lots of time to swim around and look at the reef with our goggle/masks on. The water was phenomenally blue and there were some really pretty fish. The scuba diving part itself was really hard for me. I guess I have a tough time distinguishing between my mouth and nose for breathing which resulted in choking a few times. It also doesn't help that I have a terrible fear of drowning. But, I did it and it was fun if difficult and scary. Unfortunately, I got my first sunburn that Saturday but consider myself lucky that I managed two weeks without one.
Sunday was fun, too. Gilbert, a cousin of Kristen's host family, took us out on a long driving tour of the island. We checked out St Pierre which was the capital and "Paris of the Caribbean" until Mt Pelee exploded in 1902 and killed 30,000 people. We also drove up to the mountain which Kristen and I will summit before we leave... but not in the afternoon when it's hot. Then, Gilbert drove us all around Martinique showing us different little cities and we saw the Atlantic coast of the island and lots and lots and lots of banana farms. It's really beautiful here which at times makes up for the frustration of everything else.
Yesterday night, we made granola. Being in the kitchen is comforting but doesn't quite feel the same. I miss having my own space and privacy and ability to be independent most of the time. However, I have been doing my best to make the situation work and get the most out of my experience. Nonetheless, I've been pretty homesick for the past few days. So it goes.
Well, today is Monday and I'm starting another week of school. I hope this one I will actually have all my classes and find some of my books and discover new ways of occupying my time, of which I seem to have an excessive amount free.
love, Bethany
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