Greetings from Sunny St. Kitts

(Another St. Kitts view!)

Hi Everyone!

Well I made it to St. Kitts... I've been here for almost two weeks now, and I have to apologize for not writing sooner.  I'll fill you in on all that has been going on since I've arrived:

The flight down:

It was uneventful, thank goodness!  My bags and I all arrive in St. Kitts on time and in good order!  Upon arrival I was taken away to Keys, the village I live in to get settled in.

Getting down to business:

BANKING:

Upon arrival I wanted to open a bank account... seems normal right?  I needed to have a letter from my bank in New Jersey that says I've been banking with them in good faith - meaning I'm a good client, and I had a letter but they were not happy with the way it was addressed.  So I had to have my bank in NJ make a new letter and the fastest way to get it here is Fed Ex - well one little piece of paper is VERY expensive to send down here.  So that is a little frustrating but it is all done now.

SHIPPING:

All of the stuff that I shipped down arrived down here on a holiday - so it took a few extra days for the cargo to be unloaded off the ship.  Once it was ready I got a call from Tropical Shipping and I went to get it.  Another lengthy process... first you have to go to the cargo warehouse.... there you are met by a Customs Officer.  The Customs Officer opens up all of your packages - takes EVERYTHING out!  Then they determine how much they think it is all worth and then charge you a duty (or tax) on what your brought onto the island.  After that, you have to go to the customs office - which is NOT even in the same building so I drove over there and got that all taken care of.  You have to pay warf tax for the cargo ship's docking fees, then wait in about 5 different lines and then go back to the cargo warehouse to have someone with a pick-up truck take it to your house! Fun huh!!  The good news is that is all arrived in one piece and I've unpacked and feel way more settled in!

CARS:

I've been car shopping for days - because let me tell you taking the bus is NOT fun!  It is a fun experience but it gets old after a while.  My friend here on the island, Bulley, is a mechanic - so he and I have been going everywhere looking at cars - but they are VERY expensive - and you don't get much for your money.  So as of yet I've not purchased one.  I'll get there eventually though - especially by the end of the month when school starts back up.  So that is one of my projects!  I do have everything ready to go for when I do find a car though... I have an insurance policy I just have to bring the car information to them, and I have my number plates (license plates) ready to go too.  That is half the battle from what I'm told.

Living de life mon!

As for the rest of things.... it has been fun spending time with my friends down here.  I have major moments where I miss home a TON!!  But for the most part it has been great.  I've had the chance to go out sailing on my favorite boat, a 78 foot catamaran called the Spirit of St. Kitts.  It sails from St. Kitts to Nevis and back.  It is a snorkeling & lunch trip.  I just get to tag along when I want because my friends work on the boat. I've also been getting some sailing lessons and they let me sail the boat in open water all by myself!  I've learned what coordinates I'm to look for on the compass, as well as the distance from shore I'm to stay and how to make the wind stay in the sails... so that has been fun!!!  Just call me captain Vics!  

The other day while sitting on the beach I got to 

play with a 10 month old monkey, 

named Cindy, she was wearing a dress and a diaper - and was so friendly she was sitting on my shoulder just hanging out - it was really cute!  There are monkey's all over the island, they are called, Green Vervet monkeys.  So cute!!

I hope that this latest post finds all of you doing well and enjoying your summer.  Sorry for the delay in posting I've really been busy!!

Love,

Ms. Vics