We're finally "home"

Hello!!!!

We're home!!

We flew from Dominica to Antigua last Saturday, the 15th. Spent a few days there getting oriented to the island, got haircuts, and even took a boat trip to swim and hike on Great Bird Island.

The administrative assistant in our Antigua office is a gem! She flew with us to Barbuda on Wednesday to help us move in, show us around, and introduce us to some good contact people. Jim was especially excited to meet a man who is starting a vocational woodshop class. Somehow it involves computers too. That's just exactly what Jim wanted to do here! There is also a school home ec program that might need some help. That perked me up! We're supposed to use our first three months just settling in, meeting people, finding out what programs are wanted and needed without making commitments to a particular program. That might be difficult!

Our house is modest, but livable. It's a two-bedroom concrete-block house in the village with white 12-inch white tile floors, nice high wood beam ceilings and lots of windows. It's 700+ square feet including the front porch. Electricity, indoor plumbing, a refrigerator-freezer, a gas stove, and a big fenced in yard. Before this adventure began, we didn't expect so many conveniences!

As I write, "Jicky" is in the middle of his 6:30 – 7:15 a.m. (or so) daily broadcast of praise and village news (Friday's news was that the electricity would be off from 8am to noon). He must have some huge speakers, because you can hear him all over the village.

Saturday our agenda included finding a beach! We ARE in the Caribbean after all!! BTW – it's pronounced "care a BEE un"

Our ongoing agenda also includes housecleaning. Ha! If you've ever lived in a rental house, you know what I mean! So far we're making some pretty good progress.

Guess this is getting a little long. And it is getting hot here in spite of the nice breeze. We taped some mosquito netting over the back door frame so we can open the door to get the breeze without the mosquitoes. The windows all have screens, too. Front door has no screen – yet!- so it stays closed.

We miss you, but are not homesick yet. We're still enjoying our adventure and anxiously await news from you! We will eventually have Internet here at home. (Can't wait!) Meanwhile, we hear there is an Internet cafe here... maybe we'll figure that out today.

Bye for now!!

Sharon & Jim