Almost Noël

I haven't been blogging much on account I've been really busy...that's a joke. Unless you consider practicing the mandolin, waiting around, and thinking, being busy. Rather I've just been lazy about blogging.

Some highlights since my last update: 

-watched a very beautiful meteor shower. My friend Katie spent the night and around 1:30am we went outside and saw them. It's really dark out here in the countryside, making the sky full of stars, it was really amazing.

-went to a Christmas soirée for my school. As usual there was lots of music, drums and dancing. And as usual I was forced to dance in front of people. It was a good meal though...

...a part from being able to still see the fish's eyes and teeth

-went to the rhum distillerie right down the road from my house

Distillerie Damoiseau

A really awesome sculpture outside the distillerie. You can't really tell but it has Pablo Picasso-esque sketches on it (also if you can't tell, it's a French bulldog).

A dog sleeping with it's tongue sticking out!

-I climbed a palm tree

-learned a popular creole Christmas song from my students "papa nwèl di nou bwè wroom" meaning, Santa Claus tells us to drink rhum...

An interesting mural at a boulangerie

Tomorrow night I'm going to a Gwo'ka dance class with my teacher. Gwo'ka is the traditional dance here. It's very carribean, with lots of drums. Should be interesting, I'm starting off in the beginner group, also known as pieds lourdes, heavy feet.

Sorry for everyone in winter right now, but I'll be there soon, and I can't wait.

Decèmbre sept

I woke up this morning to the sound of a dying pig. The squeeling was pretty unbearable, and now they are cutting my old friend into pieces on the terrace.

I told my landlord that it was sad and she said "oui, mais il faut tuer pour manger".

In other (nicer) news, I've got some pictures from the week.

A neat looking car at the flea market

A loti, it's like the Indian version of a Bokit. Very delicious, much less greasy.

There was a strike on Thursday, so I took the day off, I definitely deserved it after my two half days of working this week... So instead two other assistants and I went to Pointes des Chateaux. It was absolutely beautiful.

It's the farthest east you can go on the island.

Yesterday, we went to Deshaies. I think that may be my favorite city on the island. The beaches there are amazing. The waves crash right at the shore and are really powerful, I heard they get very dangerous in January and February, but they are great for bodysurfing. 

Last night I went to the marina, where they had "les chanteurs Noël" Christmas carolers. But not just any Christmas carolers, they were carribean Christmas carolers, meaning loud drums, dancing and creole.