“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.”
~ Charles Kingsley
“When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.”
~ Clifton Fadiman
semesters here are almost 4 months long with 2 week breaks in August, December* and April. most pretty much all students go home each and every break. August was the second break i stayed on Nevis. which means i am about halfway through the second stretch of 8 months i have done on this little crazy island.
the first time i arrived on Nevis, i knew i would be here for 8 months solid without the comforts of home. but i had no idea what i was *really* in for.
a little later on that month, i wrote about a few things i missed from home. re-reading that post makes me laugh because i was complaining about things like water pressure and Oreos not tasting the same and loud tree frogs and lack of recycling options. i actually stated that the absence of McDonald’s was good thing. which it is. but i have been craving a Big Mac for almost 4 months now!
none of those original inconveniences have changed (obviously), but my perception sure has. i actually like the Oreos here now. and the water pressure doesn’t bug me at all anymore. the tree frogs have subsided into background noise. and forget about recycling! i am just thankful they come get the garbage twice a week and that the donkeys can’t get in my super duper locking lid trash bin!
i have grown to love it here. a LOT. but that doesn’t mean i’m not excited to have more time behind me than ahead of me. and it doesn’t mean i’m not counting down the 218 days till April 17th…
and there definitely are a few things i still miss from home.
1) clothes dryer
oh mercy. if i could afford one thing on this island to make the last 8 months more bearable, it would be a clothes dryer. hands down. i am so tired of my towels smelling like wet even when they’re dry. i’m getting used to wearing clothes with lint stuck everywhere and towels that leave behind fuzz all over your body. i miss the smell of Bounce sheets.
2) drive-thrus
Tim Horton’s (Timbits!!) or McDonald’s or whatever. i want to be lazy and stay in my car and pay through the window and eat french fries from my lap and take sips of fountain pop while stopped at traffic lights.
3) television
okay, i don’t really miss television. after all, i haven’t owned one back home in more years than i can count. but i do miss Other People With Televisions where i can go if i want to watch a particular sporting event.
4) movie theatres
this one should probably be #1 on the list. i REALLY love the whole Movie Theatre Experience and miss everything about the Big Screen and Big Sound. “The Dark Knight” was pretty amazing on Brandon’s laptop plugged into my sound system. but i have a tiny sneaking suspicion that it didn’t hold a candle to the real thing.
5) having friends less than 3 zillion billion miles away
this is another one that should probably be a little higher up on the list. after all, smelly linty towels would be bearable if i was using them to get ready to meet Christina for dog walkies or Karen for an English Bay breakfast or Kev for BBQ beers or Tiffany for a strolling photo walk or Kayla for girly giggles or Shan for drinks at Subeez.
6) seasons
somewhere in the world right now, the leaves are turning insanely beautiful shades of red and gold and brown and falling to the ground and drying up just right for crunching under your feet. the air is getting clearer and crisper and tips of noses will soon grow red. in a few short months that first blanket of white will fall and the entire world will be transformed into a heavenly palette of smooth whites and sparkly frosts. which will shortly turn into mushy browns and slushy gravel. i miss watching the transformation outside while pulling out clothes from my closet that i haven’t seen in months. that said, i’m going to be dang cold when i go home to Saskatchewan this Christmas!
i don’t really need a lot to be happy in life. i am healthy and following my dream with the most amazing wonderful man by my side. no matter where on earth i am, what on earth more could i possibly need??
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*we actually get 3 long lovely weeks in December.
I was wondering if Subeez was still around. Man, that takes me back.
mmmm… subeez… i’m still sad we were only able to get together that one time before you headed off on your adventure! but i doubt very much that you’ve seen your last of vancouver so we will surely do it again (eventually ;)).
What a great post. The bounce sheets smell great here for only 10EC a dry LOL!! I miss the smell of dogs on the blanket and the BBQ grill. Can’t wait to come and experience this cold Sask. winter you speak of! I might even go snow shoeing whatever that is?!?!? LOL : )
I finally find someone that has a use for this crazy dryer…and dang if it isn’t sold out.
http://home-solutions.hsn.com/joy-mangano-closedrier-portable-fast-drying-system_p-3642946_xp.aspx
However…perhaps Ebay?
: (
i’m puoting for you jen, i wish i could come to nevis for one weekend. i’d set up a theatre and a mcdonalds, there would be a dryer on your porch with a 218 day supply of bounce. and 6 inch’s of snow on the whole island.
dream on : )
: (
i’m pouting for you jen, i wish i could come to nevis for one weekend. i’d set up a theatre and a mcdonalds, there would be a dryer on your porch with a 218 day supply of bounce. and 6 inch’s of snow on the whole island.
dream on : )
oops, there goes that darn typo thing again. i tried to catch it before it got posted thus the repeat and the correct spelling of pouting.