First update from the Virgin Islands
Sep. 1st, 2006 05:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nowalmartTo get everyone caught up:
Flew from Boston to Atlanta on Monday. Spent Tuesday in Atlanta, getting ready. Early Wednesday morning we (my new roommate and I) flew out of Atlanta. After going through security (and rechecking bags) in Atlanta, Orlando, and San Juan, we finally got on a plane destined for St. Thomas, USVI.
We were exhausted on Wednesday night, so we pretty much decided who is sleeping on the futon (her), who on the bed (me), got some dinner, and promptly crashed for the night.
Yesterday, on Thursday, I got up a little early and did a bit of exploring. I found our source for Internet access, the K-Mart, and the local grocery store. I came back with a wDSL modem. Ten minutes later we were up and online. (Note: 12 hours later, a very faulty wireless LinkSys router took us offline, only until today when a NetGear replacement was procured.)
Yesterday continued with grocery shopping and basic supply shopping at K-Mart, along with my roommate, Amber, taking tons of pictures of the cruise ships and the iguanas in the trees.
This morning I got up a bit early, took a lazy morning, and then headed off to my only scheduled job interview on the island, at the Antilles School as a substitute teacher. Two hours later I had been hired on not only as a substitute teacher, but also as a private tutor, and as an afterschool supervisor.
Some clarification on the last position: I basically make sure that kids are not just wandering around the campus, and are instead either being picked up by parents, involved in an afterschool program, or are in the library studying. It involves being outside in the sun, walking around the rather hilly campus. The pay is decent, as well.
The afterschool position is a sure paycheck. I figure that with that paycheck, plus at least 1-2 days a week subbing, I should be making at least enough to pay the rent. Tutoring, plus trying to drum up some Mac support/training work should be enough to live pretty comfortably. We will see.
About the apartment: We live on the bottom floor of a medium sized house. You walk into our apartment and you are in a small hallway. Turn to the right, and it opens into our living room (also Amber's bedroom). The bathroom and kitchen are straight ahead of you, as well. Turn to the left and you enter the (my) bedroom. Not a huge place at all (the kitchen is big enough for basically one person to stand in), but definitely big enough.
Our apartment overlooks Havensight. Havensight is where all of the cruise ships dock on St. Thomas. The boats come right up to shore. It is interesting at night, listening to the announcements being made over the ships' PA system. In the late morning, we can wake up to the ships as they pull out of port. Our deck provides us with a nice view of Long Bay, with Hassel Island off in the distance.
One other thing, which some people might find most important of all. Since I could not bring Ponies with me, people were suggesting that I get another pet. My lease does not allow for pets, though, and since I am not sure how long I am going to be here, getting anything with a commitment is not a great idea. Luckily for us, we found that our bathroom already has a resident, a house gecko, who has since been named Jill.
Every morning we have a "Where is Jill now?" search.
Without further ado, a picture of Jill:
Flew from Boston to Atlanta on Monday. Spent Tuesday in Atlanta, getting ready. Early Wednesday morning we (my new roommate and I) flew out of Atlanta. After going through security (and rechecking bags) in Atlanta, Orlando, and San Juan, we finally got on a plane destined for St. Thomas, USVI.
We were exhausted on Wednesday night, so we pretty much decided who is sleeping on the futon (her), who on the bed (me), got some dinner, and promptly crashed for the night.
Yesterday, on Thursday, I got up a little early and did a bit of exploring. I found our source for Internet access, the K-Mart, and the local grocery store. I came back with a wDSL modem. Ten minutes later we were up and online. (Note: 12 hours later, a very faulty wireless LinkSys router took us offline, only until today when a NetGear replacement was procured.)
Yesterday continued with grocery shopping and basic supply shopping at K-Mart, along with my roommate, Amber, taking tons of pictures of the cruise ships and the iguanas in the trees.
This morning I got up a bit early, took a lazy morning, and then headed off to my only scheduled job interview on the island, at the Antilles School as a substitute teacher. Two hours later I had been hired on not only as a substitute teacher, but also as a private tutor, and as an afterschool supervisor.
Some clarification on the last position: I basically make sure that kids are not just wandering around the campus, and are instead either being picked up by parents, involved in an afterschool program, or are in the library studying. It involves being outside in the sun, walking around the rather hilly campus. The pay is decent, as well.
The afterschool position is a sure paycheck. I figure that with that paycheck, plus at least 1-2 days a week subbing, I should be making at least enough to pay the rent. Tutoring, plus trying to drum up some Mac support/training work should be enough to live pretty comfortably. We will see.
About the apartment: We live on the bottom floor of a medium sized house. You walk into our apartment and you are in a small hallway. Turn to the right, and it opens into our living room (also Amber's bedroom). The bathroom and kitchen are straight ahead of you, as well. Turn to the left and you enter the (my) bedroom. Not a huge place at all (the kitchen is big enough for basically one person to stand in), but definitely big enough.
Our apartment overlooks Havensight. Havensight is where all of the cruise ships dock on St. Thomas. The boats come right up to shore. It is interesting at night, listening to the announcements being made over the ships' PA system. In the late morning, we can wake up to the ships as they pull out of port. Our deck provides us with a nice view of Long Bay, with Hassel Island off in the distance.
One other thing, which some people might find most important of all. Since I could not bring Ponies with me, people were suggesting that I get another pet. My lease does not allow for pets, though, and since I am not sure how long I am going to be here, getting anything with a commitment is not a great idea. Luckily for us, we found that our bathroom already has a resident, a house gecko, who has since been named Jill.
Every morning we have a "Where is Jill now?" search.
Without further ado, a picture of Jill:
