Snapshots of a Modest Life

News from the Front Lines

“There’s toenail clippings on the ground.”
“Ooohh, snacks!”
Hilarity ensues.

“Barbados, that’s kind of tropical isn’t it?”

Ah yes, the joy of roommates!!!

Crane Beach. Rated 5th Most Beautiful Beach in the World!

Every time you hear about a place, it sounds like paradise. If you’re talking about Barbados this is mostly true. And then of course there’s the matter of the heat and humidity, oops, I mean, everything here is wonderful, and no, I don’t feel like I need a shower all the time. But seriously, it is very beautiful. My apartment complex, Magic Isle, is on the ocean, and I can see the waves from my window. Nightly I am lulled to sleep by waves crashing on the sand and the crickets singing to one another. It really is beautiful.

Friday night we went to this place called Oistins. The fishermen go there to sell their catches and nightly they grill up some fish. A DJ plays the Barbadian National Anthem, followed by bad dance and reggae mixes of 80s songs. The fish was great, caught fresh that day, and cooked to perfection. The restaurant, if it could truly be called that, consists of picnic tables surrounding on three sides a tarp tent and a stage for the DJ. The cooks fry and grill fish under a colorful fish made of Christmas lights strung across the street. Around the outside of the picnic tables are simple stalls selling Banks beer (Brewed in Barbados), various imported beers, and sodas. The mood is festive as people wait for their fish and chips and dance to the reggae music. Guys from our group received impromptu dance lessons from the Bajan waiters as they strode by with other peoples orders. I got the flying fish, a local specialty, grilled, not fried. It quite tasty, and I was glad to get a flavor of something truly Bajan. A group of people went down to the shoreline and looked at the fishing boats; small and unassuming alone, but in large quantities rather impressive. The darkness cloaked them, making it difficult to see much detail in the boats further from the shore except for the white stripe above the waterline.

The fish in lights at Oistins

Saturday was spent mostly in meetings, although we had some free time in the afternoon. I spent most of it doing Four Laws practice, and checking e-mail at the internet café across the street. I did make it out to the ocean, but only for a short time before having to go back in to eat dinner and prepare for the evening session. That night, the students went out to some coconut trees near the beach (since it was after 10pm and we were not allowed off the Magic Isle property) and just hung out. We’ve done this for a few nights now, and the act has been dubbed “Liming at the Palms.”

First night of liming. (L to R) Big Phil, Scott, Philipe, Katie, Dana, Me, Dan

Sunday after church we went to Crane Beach, rated the 5th most beautiful beach in the world (see above). It was great. There was a cliff to jump off of. I don't think most people would think I would be the type to jump off a cliff, but well, I did, and it was fun, monster wedgie and huge waves aside.

Here's Scott jumping

Here's me jumping

After a long day at the beach, we went to Bubba's for dinner. In Barbados they have this drink called a Shandy Twist. Technically, it's alcoholic, but it only has 0.9% alcohol in it. Even the very legalistic Bajan students don't consider it so, hence, neither do the staff. So we all got Shandy Twists at Bubba's.

My first drink (all 0.9% alcohol content of it)

So anyway, that's that. I'll post some more words and pictures at a later date. Maybe some of the University of the West Indies (UWI) where we're spending much of our time. Oh, and if you were wondering, we've seen more than ten students pray to receive Christ in the last five days on campus! It's amazing, I know.