Nevis Experience, cont.

Jan 4, 2006 and it will be 65 in Memphis TN today! I don't really miss winter, but it just feels odd for the weather to be so nice in January.

Last episode, I had gotten settled into life on Nevis and made a couple of friends that helped me through the transition. I just never really felt comfortable on Nevis. The heat and mosquito's and ants.. oh my! The house I stayed in had no windows and many holes in the screens, so I fought mosquito's constantly while there. Without AC, I began the mornings hot and went to bed hot.. the few fans I had at least made it bearable. Of course, the ants were a bother, but didn't bite me or make much noise, so I left them mostly alone. Early on during my time there, I knew something was bothering me about Nevis, other than the heat and bugs, but just couldn't place it... then, I realized that the thing was the poverty and poor housing etc... this was just like the poverty and ignorance of my childhood in Eastern Kentucky, on in "paradise". The chickens in the streets, shanties thrown up anywhere to provide shelter for the poor, trash and junk lying in weeds near the school, men taking a piss by the roadside,.... all this and more was the reason I felt so uneasy there, these were the same things I disliked about Eastern Kentucky and still do! Also, I never felt comfortable there because I knew I had a wife and daughter in the states and if anything were to happen, I was helpless to get to them. I always felt trapped on Nevis, in part I suppose do to my own claustrophobic tendencies, but also because I had spent my entire life able to hope in a car and go most anywhere I wanted. On Nevis, I could just go in a circle for 30 minutes or so... but, I had to survive and I did. One of the traits that is most useful in a human being is adaptability and those that adapt the easiest to a changed environment tend to fair better. The lone saving grace for me was my office and my job... I had a nice AC'd office with Internet access and teaching API and II is very therapeutic for me. I slowly but surely became a bit more comfortable there and my wife stayed in contact with me, so that I at least could feel attached to my family. Not getting any loans, I had to survive on the 1800/mo stipend (USD), so I was always counting, planning and plotting to be able to pays bills on Nevis, eat, by gas and still send money home to my family. Now, looking back, I find that I actually miss Nevis somewhat... the slow paced lifestyle, no traffic lights and just a simpler way of living that harkens to days past. Of course, I could only live there again if I made enough money to be able to fly back to the US whenever I wanted or needed. I would bring my family the next time and my daughter would love the beached and ocean. Of course, my wife doesn't do well in hot sun and with bugs, so we would have to deal with that. The best times for me, other that my work at MUA, where in the evenings when I could sit on my porch, enjoy a few Caribs or Rum and coke and watch Nevis go by. I would bring out my small fan, get a good book and sit until the sun went down and the mosquitos drove me inside (fewer mosquitos found there way through the screens). I was on Main St. leading into Charlestown, one way, so there was a lot of traffic, cars and pedestrians. I have always enjoyed people watching and this evening porch time was very relaxing for me. Also, I found a Chinese restaurant in Charlestown were the folks were very nice and the chicken/fries fairly decent. I guess it is the simple things in life that make it better after all.... a cool drink, a good book, a porch to sit on and a Chinese restaurant that reminded me of home... well, that was good for me. I enjoyed this chance to reminisce ... one last episode will detail by last few weeks there and my trip home!

Good day