burned to a crisp!

So the scuba club hosted a great beach fest on Saturday! Kudos to Allie for great planning and ideas! Jen and I carpooled out to Cockleshell which is one of my favorite beaches on the island. When Justin came out, that is where we went snorkeling and saw a big sea turtle and other beautiful sea creatures. Anyway the beach fest was a blast! My team (jen, allie, meg, and me) got second in the vet question relay. And the team that BARELY beat us was 5th semesters and we are only second so that should tell you that we are all pretty much brilliant :)

However the bad news is I fell asleep on a beach chair for a few hours and got burned. BAD. I my sunburn is so bad it looks kinda maroon. I never knew I could turn that color! OUCH!!!

This weekend is the 25th anniversary of independence in St. Kitts. Think 4th of July for the states except because it is so recent they have so much pride in the country. It is not like in the states where your grandfather's grandmother's great-great grandmother was a child when we gained our independence. People my age remember St. Kitts being under the rule of another country. Which is fairly awesome when you think how much they have accomplished in the last 25 years of setting up a new government; switching from sugar cane harvesting as the major economy to an eco-tourism economy; trying to integrate the technology of the 21st century into an island with limited means and education; and they have been actively trying to promote social aid projects like social security and free education. Today I am proud of St. Kitts.

Unfortunately this pride is being marred by the fact that the island is having a gas shortage. Apparently the hurricanes (at least that is what we have been told) are holding up the ships that bring gas to the island. This is not America in that if the station down the street is out you just drive to one of the next 15 gas stations. I have only seen about 7 gas stations on the island and these 7 serve the entire population of St. Kitts (about 40,000) plus the students and tourist that are on island at any given time. This is one of the times that I am happy to not be living in the more developed area around the resorts but in a residential area about a 15 minute walk from school.

In other worlds of academia...
My big sister Em had her white coat ceremony for dental school this weekend! My dad (a dentist) flew up and watched her and just from talking to him I could tell that he was really proud and it was a very nice ceremony. Getting a white coat is a milestone in any type of medical school. It is a sign of accomplishment and knowledge. With a white coat, your school is showing their trust in you as a professional. It is a symbol to the public of intelligence and a source of aid. For those of you with white coats do not tarnish them because those without them are working very hard to earn it. I am so so proud of Em. She not only survived but excelled after Katrina, moving across the country, dental school, boards, and is going to be one awesome dentist!!! Way to go Em! (and yes I am bragging.)

Oh in other news
It is only 17 days until I am going to be an Aunt!!!! (Anna is having a little girl--Madeline!)
Katy's (younger sis who is an awesome pitcher) softball team won their district! More news on that later as I haven't talked to Katy yet to get all the details!