Update...

Let's see....alot has happened since my last update.

Thanksgiving was cool...my English roomates and myself went to a local restaurant and had the biggest meal we could afford. IT wasn't turkey and stuffing, but I couldn't complain.A massive plate of peas and rice, barbeque chicken, a salad on the side, hot sauce, and a corona...Happy Thanksgiving indeed.

I've finally gotten an ATM card. Living in St. Maarten without an ATM card is too stressful. The banks close at 3pm daily...and they are NOT open on the weekends. Very inconvenient, indeed. But I got that sorted out...direct deposit is initiated...so I'm good. When I went to the bank the last time to sign for my ATM card...the teller went under the desk as if she were playing hide and go seek...moments later she came back up with this huge book with worn pages and a faded cover. She opens this monstrosity, while I stand there perplexed, and tells me to sign "here". It was then that I realized that it was a ledger. I knew thats what it was because it was the only thing it could be. I saw other people's names, account numbers etc. and as I'm signing my initials, I couldn't help think to myself, "This is not the most efficient system of record keeping.". I then proceeded to walk out with my new ATM card and...bought a corona (probably) lol.

Last week on one of my days off, my co-worker took me and my roommate (who is also a co-worker) to the very top of the island....all the way up the sttepest and narrowest road I've ever seen...and living in Western Pennsylvainia for four years, thats saying something. It was a gorgeous view as one might expect, which reminded me of a very real fact...I need to get a camera soon. Some things can only be seen to be understood...my Christmas gift to myself will be a waterproof and shock proof camera...One good thing about this island is that there are 2 prices....one for tourists...and one for locals... plus, since St. Maarten is so small...you see the same people everywhere...a bar, a  club, restaurant...then you walk into a store to buy....lets say a camera, and the guy that owns the shop bought you a shot the previous night...or you both went jet skiing the previous day....pretty cool...but pictures will be uploaded beginning Jan. 2011 hopefully.

P.S.
Hearing Christmas music when its 85 degrees is ....odd...but I like it.