Concerts, Weddings, and Carnival... Oh My!!

So here I sit baking some cookies and killing time before I head out for my first run in almost a week (I've been fighting off the sickness that has been going around). I realize it has been a while since I wrote on here and I can easily say that there is not much to report, but you all know that can't be the case! Christmas, New Years, and more importantly CARNIVAL has passed since last I blogged anything... and another wedding as well!

Christmas came first but as you all know Christmas isn't just one day, and it's the same here. There were concerts to attend and amazing dance recitals to see (though thanks to a broken toe I managed to skip a wonderful dance performance). My friend Deirdre had told me that, in her opinion, Christmas didn't start until the Anglican church in Basseterre held their annual concert. She was right! I attended that Monday the week before Christmas and had a smile on my face through all the choral, instrumental and solo performances. But no Caribbean concert would be complete without some sort of a steel pan melody, and I've never before been such a fan of "Carol of the Bells" until I heard it through the beats of the pan.

Christmas began that night for me after the concert, and the next day I withdrew money which I had saved nearly all year to buy the supplies I needed for my first Christmas cookie baking experience. Well, it wasn't really my first. I had made them at home all the time with my mother, or more correctly, I decorated them all the time! So this time I was master baker and decorator. I saved the money because I knew I had a lot to make and ingredients on this island can be pricey! There were no cookie cutters I could find so I borrowed some from a fellow volunteer.

That Friday before Christmas, and 2 days before our program at church, I stayed up baking nearly 130 or so cookies. The next day I had Avi, my host cousin, come and help in the decorating. It only took about 4 hours, but at the end every cookie was decorated and individually wrapped and ready for the program the following night. Needless to say they were a hit, and now I have a job of making them again for next year. I'll just have to be sure to put them in the mail in time to make it for the holidays.

Christmas day was just as last year. I was up early and ready for church services at 6 a.m. At one point I guess the disgust I felt for being up so early was on my face, and Johanna looked back at me from her spot in the front of the church and made a laugh, which then prompted others to look my way. I had to laugh too. I looked terrible! Baggy eyes and all curled up because there was actually a cool breeze blowing. I was so tired and cold. I looked like I was in pain and they understood. Everyone here knows I am not a morning person. Anyhow, I made it through and went home for a mid morning nap before I baked my scrumptious Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread Pudding for our dinner later on. I spent the day with the Chapmans and their extended family again. We then spent the remainder of the day helping Johanna put things together for her wedding on the 29th.

I was excited for this wedding because Johanna is the one host sister I knew best since she was living at home when I was there. I had a chance to get to know her fiance (now husband) as well, and even met his extended family during the whole World Cup Cricket frenzy. So I was excited to know that I would recognize most people at this ceremony. Hanna had Rushi and I as guest book attendants like we were at Carlene's wedding last year.

The ceremony and reception went quick, so quick that all I really remember is how stellar that bacon-wrapped chicken was. In reality the whole thing took nearly 5 hours and my feet felt it. I wore my heels that haven't been used since I left the states. I now remember why I love sandals so much.

During all of these festivities I was also helping to decorate and prepare for our Carnival troupe. It was the same troupe as last year, the Small Island Voice Clean-Up Troupe. Our theme was "From Trash to Treasure". We wanted to emphasize the "no littering" campaign and also show crafty uses for once discarded trash and what not. We had lots of fun decorations going into the parade on January 1st, but by the end of the day, and 4 hours of marching/jamming later, things were falling apart.... including me!! I was so tired come the evening of the 1st that all I could dream about was slipping into my bed and pulling the covers over my head and shrinking from the world for at least a week or so!! Well, it ended up being nearly 2 weeks!!

Yep. Things have slowed down and I am trying to get started into the projects again and figuring out what I can accomplish for my last 8 months here. Though I haven't done much because I have suffered from insomnia which then led to this flu thing going around. I have basically been a walking zombie all month. Nothing that a few days of rest and self confinement can't cure. I have been home a few days now doing nothing much but sleeping and eating and I am starting to feel up for social activities now. I am sure as soon as I get on my first bus in days I will get some comments about where I have been. It's nice to know that if you are not seen for a few days they start to wonder!

Anyhow, that's it in a nutshell. I would have offered to show pictures of all of this, but thanks to my lapse in attentiveness, I accidentally erased all the photos in my camera leading up to the Grand Parade at Carnival. I yelled and cursed at myself for about 5 minutes then quickly got over it. There were some great pics in there, but oh well. I managed to not erase the ones I took of the parade afterwards, so you can check those out in my albums. Enjoy!

Happy New Year!