WOW!!!!

Finding time to keep a blog is harder than I thought it would be. I have been here for a week and I have been so busy that I feel like I didn't really have anytime to myself. But, I'm going to start now and make time to sit down and inform everyone what's been going on here.

We arrived at the airport on time last Monday the 19th, around 1o:30pm here (8:30 back in Wisconsin). It took forever to exchange money and get through customs. Once we got through it was almost midnight! The University of West Indies had a van waiting for us when we got there. 2 of the trini students that were in Madison last semester came to welcome us! The Faculty of Science and Agriculture staff that met us (Dexter and Georgie) insisted on feeding us before we left the airport. We ate a restaurant called Royal Chicken. It was actually fantastic. It would remind you of KFC (which they have here too), but the breeding on the chicken was much more flavorful. We got back to teh dorms on campus around 1:30am. Of course we had to unpack a little, so I didn't get to bed until around 2:30. It was such a long day! I fell a sleep so soundly, it didn't even register with me that I was in a foreign country.

The next morning we got up real early and meet with the dean and talk about campus a little bit. No new information, but it was nice to put a face to the name we had heard so much about. After, we spent the day at the beach. The closest beach to campus is Maracas Bay, and that's even a 45 minute drive through the mountains. The roads were horrible!!! and everyone drives like maniacs here.

Anyways, Maracas Bay is known for the famous Richard's Shark and Bake. Its fried shark and bread. It is FANTASTIC!!!!!! There is also a huge condiment bar with every sauce that is popular in Trinidad--and there are a ton!!!

The next day we registered for classes, which was a pain in the ass. None of our information was entered into their computer system. So, we had to run around campus for about 7 hours getting override forms signed so we could register. It was a nightmare!! Then we went to Tunapuna, which is known for their huge outdoor market of fresh food. It's about a 15 minute walk from campus. A very annoying walk since all the Trini males hoot, honk, and whistle at you since you're a white female. There were so many veggies and fruits there!!! I have to admit that it was a little over whleming. I got 5 lbs of tomatoes for 10 TT, which is about $1.75 in the US.

Thursday was a free day. We just did logistical things like get our cell phones and drop off a few last papers. Even after having a free day, I felt like there was no time to just sit back and take stuff in. We were constantly moving and doing things. We went to a movie Thursday night too. A bunch of us, including 3 Trini guys we met, saw "Yes, Man". We have to go to Trincity to see a movie, which is half way between campus and Port of Spain (where my plane landed). It was crazy getting there. We took a Maxi (public van) to a taxi station in the middle of 2 cities, then got into registered (not private!!!) cabs to get to teh mall/theatre.

Friday we went back to Maracas. Apparently we've been there just about the same numver of times as a normal student would in a whole semester or year!!!! The current and waves were wicked!!!! Made for great body surfing. Friday night we were just "liming" (hanging out) in my room with some people we met, when a bunch of guys we met from the other block of my dorm invited us to a dance party on their block--north block. We learned how to wine, which is the popular form of dance down here for carnival. It was pretty crazy trying to get your hips to move a way they aren't used to.

Saturday we took a van tour of most of the Island. we stopped at the Pointe de Pierre, a waterfowl trust. It was sooo pretty!!!! amazing flowers and birds. It was set up to stop the extinction of many birds in trinidad due to deforestation, pollution, and pouching. We had a very knowledgable tour guide, and she was able to teach us a lot about the stuff we were looking at. We continued south until San Fernando. We got out and ate lunch, but then we continued driving. We went all the way east and drove back north. We saw the beach that holds the cool down party after carnival ends. It was miles long, and apparently it is completely crowed when carnival is over. It was crazy windy, so the waves coming off the Atlantic were HUGE!!!! We didn't stop at all, but we saw a lot. About 5 hours later we got back to campus. We went out to a bar on campus, and got to know some of the people that just back to the dorms a little better.

Yesterday I went to Tunapuna with an exchange student accross the hall and my roomate. It was soooooooooo hot in the sun, I got back to my room and felt like i could make a pool from my sweat. We jsut limed for the rest of the night and met some more people that got back. My dorm, Milner Hall, was pretty quiet until yesterday. Now everyone is back and it's crazy loud and fun.

Classes started today. I haven't had a class yet, but i do in 30 minutes. More to come tomorrow!!!!