Life's a beach!

This winter has seemed especially long and cold with more snow than we have had in the I don't remember how long! We had another storm yesterday and it's predicted that we'll continue with a series of storms every other day for the next week or two! Aaaack!!!! I'm SO tired of the snow! So what's a girl to do? Well, I just dream of a tropical paradise of course! It helps that I've actually been there, done that although it makes me long for the warm gentle island breezes and tangy scent of the ocean. Oh how I would love to be there right now. I've had so many incredible experiences on the island of my adopted home. It's been two years since I was there last and the itch to return is getting stronger all the time. This is a bit of a journal entry from my last trip. Sit back and enjoy!


We made it!!!! It's almost 11:30 pm and I'm sitting here on the veranda of our hotel room, listening as the waves gently lap up against the shore. I can't believe I'm actually here again! It's so surreal and yet so familiar. I almost feel as if it was just last week that I was here, although the changes to this tiny island are evident. More growth, more people...some aspects are better while others are worse. The island seems cleaner than I remembered it being, and the new buildings and houses appear to be built better, but the poverty still exists. As our plane landed, all I could think about was the fact that I was once again on the island.

We were greeted, after coming through Customs, by so many friends and loved ones. They welcomed us with open arms, fresh wuts and leis made from the plumeria and other flowers that grow in abundance here. Each person that shook my hand either placed a wut on my head or a lei around my neck. By the time we were greeted by everyone, I was thoroughly laden with the frangrant blossoms. The excitement in their eyes mirrored my own. We loaded all the luggage on to the hotel shuttle and began the trek to the hotel. The moist air felt like a warm blanket being wrapped around me and I breathed in the sweet frangrance of the island.

2nd Day

Another great day! It started out bright and early! The time difference is a killer here. Before 5:00 my eyes popped open and after laying there for forty minutes I finally decided to just get up. I sat out on the veranda for about an hour just enjoying the peace and tranquility. It was great! We got ready and headed to church and what an experience. If you have ever heard a group of islanders singing hymns, you'll understand what I'm talking about, but it was like angels singing. Even though the services were all in a foreign language and I couldn't understand a word that was being said, I loved every minute of it.


After a short nap, we loaded up and headed to the Laura end of the island. Laura is the most beautiful end, like a tropical paradise, and we played around on the beach searching for shells. We then drove around Laura finding friends. We met with several, but many were still at church services so we'll have to go back out another day. It was so wonderful to just among the people and children followed us everywhere we went. It was great! We stopped at a roadside stand and bought papaya, raw fish, and cooked breadfruit. I could hear my island friends smacking their lips in the back of the car as they enjoyed the island fare. You would've thought they had died and gone to heaven! We had so much fun and laughed and giggled the whole time.

When we were in Laura, we stopped to talk to a few of our friends and it was amazing to see all the children come out from behind the trees and inside the houses. Before long, we were surrounded by them and we began tossing little toys and candy. Wow! You would've thought it was Christmas! They were so excited and squeeled and giggled the whole time. K, one of the guys with us, joined in the fun and before too long, he was chasing them all around. It was a riot! They were all disappointed when it came time to leave. We then began the hour long drive back to the hotel. I had forgotten how green and lush everything is here and the drive through that end of the island is so beautiful. We watched as a rain storm moved it's way toward the island and by the time we got to the hotel, it hit. It rains almost daily here, but so far it's been only at night. Talk about a down pour, though! But it left just as quickly as it came and everything smelled fresh and clean again.


3rd Day

Another great day! So many things going on all at the same time and I don’t know if I can get it all written down, but I’ll try. One family that came with us took on a project of helping their birth family put a roof on their house and spent the day with them in their village. What an amazing opportunity for them! My friend and I took a taxi to try and find them and after walking around for about an hour, we gave up. Little did we know that we walked right by! Later on we were driving by and saw them so we got to go see the project in action. It was incredible to see all those men up on the roof, hammering and nailing away, with B right in the middle. It was great!

Meanwhile, K, M and D had their own adventures. They headed out to Laura for a fishing and snorkeling expedition. They had such great fun and came away with lots of stories to tell. K reported that they didn’t see any sharks, just big slimey sea cucumbers. K thought the people with them kept calling them turtle pooh, but finally figured out they were saying turtle FOOD! For awhile there he was thinking that must have been one big turtle to have such a gigantic pooh!! Pretty funny!

We drove to J’s house (B’s mom) and I took lots of pictures and video of the kids out playing in the yard. There was one group of boys singing and playing a ukelele and it was a riot. I made them play a couple of songs for me. Wow! Talk about talent! It was so much fun to be there. I just can't get enough of them all!

While I was with J, a marching band came down the street. Now, keep in mind that the main drag is only a two lane road, so the little band stopped traffic in both directions. They marched past the hotel and around the corner to the government building and then stopped to perform there. I don't know if they were just practising or what, but it was like the pied piper. Kids streamed after them and there was a huge crowd around them by the time they stopped at the government building. They were actually pretty good, too! The last thing I expected to find on the island was a marching band!

After spending the day with J, E and I had a nice relaxed dinner in the hotel restaurant. While we were sitting there, a huge rain storm made it's way across the lagoon. It was the most incredible storm I've ever watched! As the sheet of rain made it's way towards the hotel, it blocked out everything in it's path so that by the time it made it to the hotel, you couldn't even see the lagoon. We sat there in amazement, and then it passed as quickly as it came.


What an incredible trip this has been! I'll try to get back on in the morning and continue the adventures. I'm a little sunburned, a little exhausted and thoroughly happy. That sums it all up for me!

6th Day

Today was a special day for all of us. First, we took a drive out to the beach again to enjoy the white, sandy beaches. We had a great time chasing around little crabs and searching for shells. The tide was up so there wasn’t as much beach but it was still fun to watch the tiny shells scurrying along the sand. I taught everyone how to gently blow into the shell to get the crab to stick it’s head out so that we could carefully remove him from his home. When we had been there earlier in the week, there were quite a few people at the beach enjoying the water and picnicking, but this time we were the only ones there. It was so quiet and peaceful. Before, there had been several people out swimming in the warm water but this time, the only sounds were the gentle breeze and the soft lapping of the water. The first time we went out, there was a group of little boys playing on some rocks out in the water. A few of them had shorts on but several of them were playing in the water completely naked. It was cute to see those little brown bums!

After our jaunt to Laura beach, we headed to A’s grandfather’s place where they had prepared a feast for us. The others drove back to town where their families were throwing similar parties for them. There were so many people who came for our party! They fed us the most delicious meal of chicken, fish, rice, beru, bobo rice that was actually colored yellow and orange, and other island fare. The interesting part was that they had also made pizza and cinnamon rolls! I don’t know if they did that for the benefit of us Americans or what, but it was all so good. After eating, they talked a little and thanked us for coming to their country and then they began singing for us. As they were singing, they came up to each of us and shook our hands and gave us gifts. By the time they were done singing, we were all laden with beautiful handicrafts. Then they asked us to say a few words and we each took turns expressing our gratitude and love. It was such a tender moment for all of us, one that will stay in my heart forever. The people have so little here and yet they are the most generous, giving people I’ve ever met. They will give you the last bit of food they have and the shirts off their back, and apologize that they don’t have more to give. I am humbled by the generosity and love they have shown me.

This trip had been such a dream for me and as I watched it all unfold before my eyes, I came to the realization that there is so much good that can be done for so many people. Will those things we brought change lives? Probably not, but for a minute I felt their burdens lifted. The images have been etched into my heart and I will never forget the joy and sparkle that I saw in so many faces. Once again, I stopped to think how spoiled we Americans are. My children will never know what it means to go hungry or go without. It's my hope that some day, my children will be able to see what it's like to help someone who truly needs the help.

Leaving the tranquil, slow paced lifestyle of the islands is always so hard for me. Each time I leave I feel as if I'm leaving a part of my heart and soul there. As I embraced each dear friend one last time, the tears were streaming down my face. It's almost more than I can bare! I know I will return again someday, but until then all I will have to do is close my eyes and my memories will take me back.