The end of the taxi cab era (hopefully...)

I will never again complain about going to the DMV stateside ever again. Not after yesterday's nonsense. It started about 8 AM with a phone call from a guy who is selling his car because he is desperate to get off island TODAY. In the past 2 months he had been stabbed, broken his back, and been almost killed by a hitchhiker he had picked up. He needed out of here so we knew we could get a deal. He came right over in a beat up 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but for $1150 we decided the price was right. Immediately we had to get the title transfered and registered, insured, etc. Step one, find a notary which seems entirely pointless. Then we have to walk to the insurance agency and set all that up. Had to pay up front for a full year and then we'll supposedly get a prorated refund when we leave. Then the DMV, actually the BMV here. I now hail stateside DMVs as beacons of efficiency and speed. Start off in super long line and make it to window one, where of course the woman behind the window is out to lunch so we just have to wait it out because she has to check records for tickets. Next up, window 2 to fill out applications for registration. Take a number. Number is finally called and we pay someone some money. Back to window 2. Given some papers. Now is time for car inspection. What you are about to read is totally illegal but accepted, if not encouraged. There is a guy right at the DMV who you can pay to "get your inspection done". This entails no one actually ever looking at the vehicle because few of them would pass on this island, ours included. He runs around for an hour or more between who knows how many windows but we are finally presented with our registration stickers, and now I'm almost late to work. It was quite the ordeal.

This day of hell will be worth it because it means no more taxi cabs! Allowing that the car holds up. The motor, engine, all that are good apparently (this is Kellie writing this, so all technicalities regarding car troubles are according to Mat), but there is a crazy clicking noise, needs some breaks, and you have to touch wires together to roll the windows up or down. And sometimes you have to wiggle the battery bolt things in order to start the car. But it runs, it runs, and we figure we can get through the next 4 months with it, put a little money into it, and maybe even sell it for a small profit when we leave.

Happy New Years to all of you! Hope eveyone will be safe tonight and have a good time. I will be working from 3 pm to 3 am, so my holiday is pretty much shot. Mat is also working. But we both have the next 2 days off and are going to St. Johns tomorrow to get massages, hang out at the beach, and have a nice dinner. Belated christmas presents to eachother. We love you all!

Wrong Side of the Bed

Yesterday we woke up and walked to the beach. On our way back a bee flew under the brim of my my hat and stung me on my head next to my eye. After pulling out the bee gut ridden stinger the burning began. I suffered only for a short time then went off to work. The Safari driver, the bus system here, tried to charge me a white man fee. For those who do not know he tried to rip me off of a dollar. I refused, he yelled, and drove off. After finally making it to work, I stepped in the back to change my shirt and stepped on two sticky rat traps. Now I have two rat traps stuck to my feet, and they do not come off. After that mess I had a nice family at my table and as was dropping off their beers, I dropped one on the nice lady. A few moments later I was taking them another round and the ice covered beer slipped out of my hand and fell on the same lady. The only good thing about that table was, there was six of them, AUTOGRAT! I hope today is better.

Merry Christmas

Just a quick note. I am going to quit one of my jobs today. The job that I have to wear that awful shirt at. Kellie and I decided that we needed time together and three jobs just did not allow for that. Kellie is still doing fine at her job despite the slow season and the Green House is working well for me. The big Christmas celebration for the island was Saturday which included a Christmas boat parade. For all of you that have seen Portland's your expectations are too high. There was only a handful of ships, but it was a nice addition to the party.

I wish that there were more stories to tell you but nothing realy hapens here. I have a hour comute to work on a thirteen mile long island, kellie has a thirty dollar comute by taxy, and everyone tries to rip you off because the think your a tourist. I hope to get some good dives in this week, if I ever make some money I will buy a underwater camera to show you all how great it is out here.

I got to go some guy is offering to buy us breakfast if we let him get on facebook.

Merry Christmas,
We love you all,

Mat and Kellie

Worm Free!

This week has been very interesting and frustrating. The law here requires you to have a health card in order to work in the service industry. I am now going into the details of what it took for me to get this ever important card. It is rated PG-13 so send your little ones to bed.

It all started with a trip to the hospital where we had to negotiate with the security guard to let us through without leaving our IDs, because we need them to get the cards. Yes if it is the law to have this card you would have thought that they would have already addressed this problem, but no. After wandering though poorly marked hallways we came to the health center reception desk, where we could not understand the Westindi ladies dialect. Luckily some state side person heard our plight and came to our rescue. We had to go to another clinic to pick up our sample cups and bring it back Monday morning.

Monday morning I woke up and held the cup under me and dropped a good sized poo sample into the cup. After I finished gaging I wrapped it up in a plastic bag and hopped on the bus for the hour comute while holding my presious cargo in my hand. The good news is they checked me for but worms and I am but worm free! A few days later I was able to return to the hospital for more frustrating nonsence and picked up my card, glad that is done.

All is well here, the jobs are going good, life is good. We have started renting tv seiries to watch. Right now we are finishing up House, great show. As frustrating as life down here can be, we do not have to wake up early to scrape the ice off my windsheild. We miss fresh food, we are tired of dollar hot dogs and ramen noodles. Thank you all, we miss you.

Job three

After a half mile walk, not kidding, to drop off the trash we stopped at our favorite internet capable restaurant for some food and to write you all. Not much has happened, except I have got a new job at a place called the Green House during the day. Yes that is job number three, but in this economy it is necessary.

This island is so slow, just yesterday we opened a bank account. It takes three business days to actually open. As you all know, that are reading this, we are in the technology age. A few key stokes can give you tens of thousands, but here the largest bank cannot open an account for three days. On top of that it takes a month to get a debit card. I would expect this in Nicaragua but we pay federal taxes here. Welcome to paradise.

Even with all these frustrations we get to go diving in the ocean every day while you are all shivering in the cold. Stay tuned for Mondays excursion, we have to go get our health cards. For all of you that know what that entails feel sorry for us, the rest of you, you will soon see.

Uniform

We woke up to no water this morning, and the landlord's daughter that is taking care of the property is in Georgia, fun times. I have completed my training at Agave and should be on the floor next week. When we came I only wanted to have one job and enjoy the days here. Unfortunately business has not picked up here, but I do start my second job as a snorkel instructor Tuesday. Not bad for a second job. Kellie is doing fine at her job, no she has not sold the $150 blingtini yet but we have high hopes. Came here not quite understanding or should I say appreciating the luxuries of home. You know, such as television, water, power, and peaceful mornings. Each day we are woken up to the wild roosters crowing and then the dogs barking back at them. And I assure you, roosters crow well before sunrise and through the day. And don't get me started on cab fares. But still, the weather is beautiful, the beaches white and sandy, and the water bathtub warm. Great experience, character building. Finaly, yes that is my work uniform.

Just a quick update. The power went out on the island for two days because the generator blew up and burnt down. The taxis are the mob here and make life very difficult. Work is going good for both of us and Kellie's work gave us a Thanksgiving feast. I am trying to save enough money to buy a fishing pole to catch us some dinner because we can't afford to buy much food on this island. Stay tuned for some photos, especially of me in my ridiculous work uniform.

St John

We had the day off so we hopped the fairy to St John. Most of the island is a national park so you can go anywhere your feet will take you. We had some thing to eat in the little town then hiked, on the trail you see in the photo for about 20 min, and ended up at a beautiful beach called honeymoon beach. I am sure you can tell by the photo why they call it that. Or maybe they call it that because you need to be a young couple to make the hike there. After a fun day at the beach we hopped the fairy back for a wonderful night ride back. As hard and stressful this last week has been seeing these things makes it all worth it.

As we were studying Kellie's flashcards for her new job and having some breakfast at Molly Malones today, a giant iguana came up to us. I leaped into the air in surprise just to learn it was begging for food, way better than the pigeons of city life. I have a job at a nice restaurant called Agave Terrace. It is a mom and pop shop, so nice and relaxed but not cheep and always busy. I unfortunately do not start till Monday, and unless you have money there is not much more to do than go lay on the beach, life could be worse.

Patience

Just to let you all know we spent two hours at the power company trying to get our power turned on. NO it is still not turned on. People here don't have any sense of urgency. Six nights in the dark don't seem to be a problem for most people, even after you have paid for it. It has been one week and the frustration is getting to us, but don't worry we are fine. Just a little heads up for anyone wanting to move here. Patience is key!

picks

Here is some pics.

Livin' on the Island

Sorry about the delay on a new blog, but the last few weeks have been a bit overwhelming. I must say it is a bit harder to move to an island than I thought. First, thanks to all of you that helped this happen. Sheila and all of you at the Emanon, I miss you all and thanks again for all of your support. Linda and Cameron at Belly, It would not have been possible without you, and to all of our friends and Family thanks.

The drive to SLC was nice no weather or problems, except the cat for the first 45 min. after that she slept the rest of the way. The week with the families was great, welcome home Chris, Kellie's brother just got back from a Mission. Our parents Finlay met, so it is official we are a couple. The flight was long and made even longer with an emergency landing in the Bahamas, because a lady had a heart attack on the plane, best wishes to her and her family, but be made it.

So far the Island is like the rest of the U.S. except much more expensive. Kellie's box of cereal cost $7 dollars, and it was the small box. Toothpaste is $8 dollars a tube, so to the Coombs, if you send me a box no candy just the necessities. Oh yes some things are cheaper, anything that will kill you such as booze, and cigarettes.

We found a place to live quickly, it is nice nothing special, but it is $500 dollars less than our house in Portland. We quickly found out that we needed a car on the island, the terrain makes walking impossible, so I have been working on that for the last coupe of days. Stay tuned for photos of the coolest POS ever. I have passed out a number of resumes with great responses but unfortunately we are on island time and it takes a while for anything to happen, I will keep you all updated.

Well that is all for now, thanks again everyone I will keep you all updated.

Mat and Kellie

Sorry I can't get the photos to upload stay tuned.

The Plane

Just learning to use this blog. This is the results of my amazing pilot skills. Notice the amazing facial hair.

Hi from Mat and Kellie