Holidays 2006

It’s been quite a busy time out here on St. Kitts! Things are just starting to settle down and get back to normal out here, or some form of normalcy I guess. For the last 3 weeks or so the island has been stirring with activities from Christmas programs and dinners, to carnival shows and parades, to weddings, and also New Year’s celebrations. Needless to say, it has been quite chaotic but fun nonetheless, and I thought I’d catch you all up on how I spent the holidays.

First, I had the opportunity to take part in a Christmas program at my local church. They had nominated me to play the mother in the children’s play, and I couldn’t refuse! It reminded me a lot of the plays we did at New Hope, my church when I was growing up. I was just glad to know that they wanted me to be a part of it. It went well and I think an acting career might be in my future!

Then on Christmas day I received a phone call at 5:30 am. It was my host father Charles. He just wanted to be sure I was still going to the 6 am church service. I was so tired that morning. I thought I was going to die before the service ended. You really can die from exhaustion you know! But I didn’t, and I got to go home and sleep afterwards. I must tell you though… while napping in my room my neighbor was blasting some music, like always. This time, instead of dancehall reggae, it was some Celine Dion, a little Shania, and I distinctly remember hearing “Hungry Eyes” playing. I figured they must have slowed it down for Christmas!

For the rest of Christmas day I enjoyed a family dinner at my host-aunt Paula’s house, complete with saltfish cakes, macaroni pie, and mauby! The men sat around and watched football, just like back in the states. Except, it was “soccer” not American football! Then the meal ended with some intense dominoes playing. Dominoes is the past time out here in the Caribbean.

The next day I rode into town with my friend Eddie around 5 am and got to watch some of the first J’ourvet troupes start jamming outside of town. We then headed to the circus (picture with the clock tower) and met with other volunteers. Once the troupes started jamming through the circus they started having little mini jams on the side roads, and we all found our way to the wet-down. It was great!! I ended up not going home till about 8:30 pm… only after heading to the beach to relax after all the jamming (“jamming” is basically a mixture of dancing, moshing, and plain old jumping… it was like being at a rock concert).

The following weekend I had a wedding to go to. It was my host-sister’s wedding. I along with my friend Rushi, manned the guestbook and programs. It was a hard job, but they knew I could handle it. I really enjoyed getting all dressed up and wearing make up and feeling like a girl again. I realized though, Kittitian weddings are not that different from American weddings. I still got pestered about getting married myself, and they were actually scoping out guys for me there. The locals in my community are quite convinced that I will marry a Kittitian and never leave!

Well, that then leads me up to the New Year. I spent New Year’s Eve at home relaxing. I thought my only options were church or an expensive party out at the hotels. Most the other volunteers went to church, but I was all churched out that point, and I just wanted to be home. I quite enjoyed it until I saw fireworks over on Nevis and then told myself I would be over there next year. I then went the next day to take part in the grand parade in town. I was part of the Small Island Voice clean up troupe at the end of the parade.

So, that’s basically the last 2 weeks in a nutshell. I’ve put up pictures of it all. Please take a chance to look at them because they illustrate a lot more than what I can write. Happy New Year to everybody, and I’ll inform you soon on projects I am working on.