What a Ride

Whoa. Today was definately busy. I've only really been able to sleep about 4 hours in the morning, lately. This isn't because I don't have the time to sleep more, but rather my body keeps waking up after only 4 hours and resists being put back down. So, I got up around 10 and turned in my epi extra credit homework, filled out an 18 page course evaluation for the program (ack), then decided to go apt hunting and ended up bus hopping for most of the afternoon. When I got on the bus I asked the bus driver if he could drop me off at such and such an address. But he got caught up in a conversation and forgot, but was really cool enough to go off the route to take me to where I needed to go when he realized that.

The first place I visited was a one bedroom cottage with a seperate living room, very narrow (1-1.5 walking space) kitchen, bathroom, and "ocean view" veranda. It's in a very nice part of Lance Aux Epines, right on the bus route making that much more convienant. It's also only about a 10-15 min walk from Paul and Kate's. Rent is $650/mth and comes with water. It's "fully furnished" meaning it's got basic furniture (table, bed, basic cooking items, stove, fridge, washing machine (no dryer), and some odds and ends. It doesn't come with a/c but it's got a nice breeze that it gets from the windows. Though, I'm sure during the wet/hot/summer season it gets a bit more stuffy. I must say though that I like it. Kind of reminded me a bit of Taiwan housing. But it was simple and small. The issue was brought up by a classmate as to whether or not I'd be lonely... well, I hadn't really thought of it before, and I think prob so. I do like having a roomie... but I think I'd be okay on my own. That's why I want to get a puppy/dog. However, the landlady isn't so sure about allowing pets, so that's a bit of a downer. Another thing is that the cottage becomes avaiable at the end of this month and the earliest I would move in would be August. I could pay 1/2 months rent for June and July to hold it for Aug. but if someone was to want to get it before then, well, it's only fair for her to lease it out. So, we'll see. It's located right next to a house the land lady owns which she leases out as well, and there's 2 guys living in the back of the house in another apt. The landlady herself lives across the street in a nice yellow house.

The Street (Easten Avenue)

The back of the cottage (That's the gardener at the bottom)

The View

After looking at the cottage, I had about an hour to burn before the bus came around again, so I kind of wandered the area some. Let me just say that I have not walked around Grenada so much as I have today in Lance Aux Epines. Tried making some more calls for apts but to no avail.

Finally returning back to campus, I made another call and made an apt to see another apt a few hours down the line. So I figured I'd go get some quick grocery shopping done before heading out. I hopped on a bus to Grand Anse and went to Spiceland Mall for about 15 min, then grabbed the bus heading back, got off at CK's for 5 min, and grabbed the next bus from Grand Anse to campus. Put away the groceries, and 15 min later was on a bus back to Lance Aux Epines to look at another apt.

This apt was located much further away in Lance Aux Epines, in a very quiet residential area,right on the coast. Single apt adjacent to the home of the landlady. It is currently rented out to a vet student who's finishing up his 3rd year here at SGU and will be going to Scotland to do his last year of clinicals. The apt seemed a bit more cramped, though that may have more to do with clutter than actual size. The entrance is the double doors seen in the pic. The apt doesn't really occupy much if any of the longer half you see jutting out into the righthand side of the pic. It had a kitchen/living room with a small kitchen island, seperate single bedroom, and small bathroom. But the view and the free access to the coast was pretty breathtaking. There is no a/c and during the day when no one's home, the windows have to be closed because they face the weather side (meaning if it rained it'd all come in). However, rent is only $550 and includes all utilities except electric. Comes with water, phone, gas, etc. Came with the same basic amenities as the cottage and has a maid come once a week. Pets are allowed because the landlady has a 2 year old chocolate lab herself. However, I'm not really as fond of this one... while quiet, it seems almost too quiet and remote. I love the coastline access, but I'm not totally bought by it. Another benefit though is that I would only have to pay a month's rent for deposit that would be applied as my last month's rent to hold the apt. This means I wouldn't have to pay anything extra in reality to have the apt held for August.

The Coastline View and Access

Well, I actually visited this apt with another girl. She was a 2nd term vet student who just happened to be on the bus with me to go look at the place. So we found the place together and talked some. We went to the University Club to wait for the bus only to realize 15 min later that we had already missed the bus and that it would be another 20-30 min before the bus even left campus again. (The apt is past the University Club towards one of the lighthouses. Not that this means anything to most of you... ) So we decided to begin walking since she could prob reach her apt that she was living at before the bus even came by. We saw so many student drivers on the road it was crazy. Almost like the cats on campus. At least 6 or 7 of them. I can imagine that Lance Aux Epines would be an ideal area to practice driving though because the traffic isn't nearly as bad or as busy as other areas. When we came to the road where she'd turn off, we parted and went our seperate ways.

I decided to go to the beach while waiting for the bus since I had at least 15 min before it'd be by the area. The tide had come up but it was beautiful. I had been longing to walk through the waves again, and it was great to take off my sandals and sink my feet into the wet sand and walk through the aquamarine water. The water was very clear this time and I was facinated just staring at the sandy bottom watching the tide come in and go back out. The sun was setting and made for a very nice atmosphere all round, being on the beach with the setting sun, walking through the waters... it was nice and soothing.

As I was walking back up the beach to the road to catch the bus, a guy I recognized from when I walked to Paul's place called to me. I couldn't hear him so I ended up going up to him and chatting with him for a bit. He's a little weird, and I was kind of edgy when talking to him, though I tried not to let that be evident. I mean, I was alone on a pretty deserted beach, the sun was setting, and here's this odd man talking to me about if I enjoyed walking on the beach, and if that guy over there was my boyfriend, etc. Anyways, I told finally told him I had to go catch my bus and walked away only to find that he was leaving too, and going in the same direction. So we ended up walking together for quite a ways. He's a neighbor of Paul's, kind of, and told me that if he was thinking of selling his home for a bigger one, though if they change their mind and decide to rent I'd be welcome to rent from them. He also said that I was welcome to come to their home anytime as they had a very nice house and a swimming pool and all that. Just a tad creepy you know . But it could just be me being paranoid, because he may just be a really nice guy just having a conversation. Nonetheless, I tried to always keep walking behind him or keep at least 3 feet distance between us otherwise. Yeah, paranoia . We ended up walking so far as the strip of restaurants in the area and since the bus still wasn't due for another 10-15 min, I figured I may as well, try one of them since I had yet to get any food from any off campus restaurants. Michael, the guy's name, said he would buy me dinner had he brought his wallet, but I assured him that I was fine and we parted ways.

I decided to go for Choo's Light Chinese Restauarant, since it was "chinese" and I wanted to see what it was like. I must admit though I was highly tempted to go next door to The Red Crab where I had heard rumored they have excellent steak. I'm sure they would have been much more expensive though. I struck up a conversation with Mrs. Choo and she told me that she was looking to rent out a 4 br apt and a small 2 br apt that would prob be most suited to 1 person. She gave me her number I gave her my money, and she gave me my food (Chicken Chow Mein). It was pretty good, not really like the Chinese food in the states, but not really different either. Reasonably priced, 14EC, approx. 4-5USD for a large box. I ended up still waiting longer for the bus, which finally to my relief did come. Though by now it was quite dark.


I went back to my room, polished off my meal, and headed out for the field where the campus was hosting a talent show. I must say I was very impressed with the diverse talent in the student body, and that the med/vet students have time to have bands and the like. Of course, not all were good some were downright horrible, but there was a lot of great stuff. Most of it was singing with or without playing instruments. Lots of guitars. Had a group of girls do choreographed dancing. Two girls swing fireballs. A biochem prof sing Sinatra and dance with a skeleton. An Indian girl do a cultural dance, etc. Overall, it was quite a good time. Beer was widely, though not freely, distributed and the consumption of such was greatly encouraged as, I mean, how great is it to have a day (St. Patty's) you can celebrate by drinking.. or so I am told.
Afterwards, around 10pm or so, I watched Domino with Sherayar, during which I fell asleep but woke in time to watch most of the parts I had not yet seen. And here I type.

Tomorrow, I'm considering skipping out on my Substance Abuse Review class and going on a hike to visit the "Seven? Sisters." Supposedly a group of waterfalls. Either that or going to Sandblast which is supposed to be the celebration of the end of midterms for the first term meds. I've heard it called a wild drunken orgy, though when I actually asked, I was told it's not really all that bad. Right. So, we'll see... I'm kind of more interested in the hike than the Sandblast though Sandblast is supposed to be the event. Kind of like the AMSA party at the beginning of term. Either way, I'm sure fun will be had. Will have to consult with Paul and Kate and see what they're up for. Well, I guess that concludes this apparently epic blog. Makes up I think in part for the lack of blogging in earlier weeks Tootles!