New Jersey Visit

Hi All-

I know this blog update is LONG overdue.  For that I apologize.  Things get mighty hectic in life.  The end of the school year was busy and fun.  I can't believe I've been living in St. Kitts for over a year now.  Time sure does fly.  

In June, Javin went to Barbados to once again try to get a US Visa.  We tend to forget as Americans how lucky we are that we are free to travel pretty much where ever and whenever we want.  Other people are not so lucky in this world.  If you live in St. Kitts and want to travel to the US, you must first apply for an appointment at the US Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados.  Once you are granted a date you must book your flight and hotel.  In the meantime, you must prepare the necessary paperwork (Embassy forms, job letters, bank statements, background checks, and any other paperwork to help your cause).  Most people are turned down several times before getting a Visa, some never are granted a chance.  They are given no reason, just a "no".  It is so sad, good people try spend hard earned money to try and get a chance just to VISIT the USA.  For Javin, it turned out that the third time is the charm.  He was granted a US Visa for a period of 10 years!  Yippeee.... planning for our summer trip began the night he returned from Barbados with his Visa!

After school let out for the summer, Javin and I ran a summer "Adventure Camp".  Camp was two weeks long, Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm.  We had anywhere from 12 - 22 kids each day.  We had to hire an additional counselor & a bus driver.  Our campers & I had a blast.  We did all sorts of different things each day.  Our top adventure was zip-lining 200 feet about the canopy of the rainforest.  We also spent the day on a beautiful catamaran.  We did lots of hiking, took a Caribbean cooking class, spent afternoons at the beach on water trampolines... the whole nine yards.  It was a great two weeks and all of the campers had a blast.  The parents said it was the best camp to date and already started booking slots for next summer.

When camp ended we had a few down days then off to Jersey.  Things always go smoothly right?  Of course not... the day before we left Javin had to have a tooth pulled on an emergency basis.  So our trip started out with Javin in discomfort and I felt horrible about that.  Once on our trip he continued to have some discomfort but was a trooper for the most part.  The week after we arrived I took ill, and wound up with a nasty case of sinusitis and on antibiotics.  NO FUN!  It also turns out that Javin is allergic to shellfish and had a horrible reaction to shrimp and calamari (yea calamari is shellfish, who knew?).  Anyhow - those were the unexpected quirky things.

We had a great time in NJ visiting with family & friends.  Of course, the time went too quickly so I didn't get all the time I'd hoped for with everyone.  However I'm so grateful for the time that we did get with them.  Here are some of the highlights of our trip.

• Statute of Liberty

• Dorney Park with Eileen, Gabi, Melody & Emma

• Canoeing on Kamphee Lake in Bloomingdale - so pretty

• NYC for the day (Top of the Rock, Central Park, Times Square, Rockefellar Plaza, FAO Schwartz, Toys R Us,  Hard Rock Cafe and more).  Our excellent tour guides were Diana & Steve.  It was a great day!

• The Great Falls of Paterson & Lambert Castle (did you know the falls are now a NATIONAL PARK?)

• Canoeing 8 miles down the Delaware River with the Moran crew

• Many trips to Ritas with Meg C.

• A family BBQ

• A friends BBQ

• A great party at J Mo's house with my former Riverdale co-workers... thanks Eileen & Jen

• Mini golf with Eileen

• Eating everywhere (as these places are new for Javin) Wendys, McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Nathans, Outback, even Hibatichi, NJ pizza & bagels too

•  Whole day with the Moeller crew at the pool laughing and having fun.

• Going to Harley Davidson & other bikes stores for Javin

Javin and I really enjoyed our trip - the great quality time with friends and family, and all of our sight-seeing.  It was really great.

Now we are back in SK.  My parents arrive here next week for 7 weeks in paradise.  Just about when my parents arrive a hurricane MIGHT be coming our way - so please say your prayers that it spares us here in the Caribbean.  

I hope you are all having a great summer... I can't believe it is almost over.  I go back to work August 27th.  

Write/e-mail when you get a chance!

Love,

Krista/Ms. Vics

PS - pics to come soon!