Easter and Beyond

The Easter weekend was one of fun, work, sleep, church, relaxation...

On Thur (Holy) we had classes but it was not beyond the afternoon so we stayed a bit at school and did some work, then I went home. Fri I stayed home and fasted and did more work.

Saturday I went to school to work on a group project but didn't end up staying very long which was fine with me. I then left to go to town, but I was terribly disgusted by the music that was playing in the bus that I came off and went to a supermarket instead. I got some of what I wanted; others I was not willing to pay their prices and I know I could wait. Caught a decent bus home and chilled a bit. In the night, classmates and I went to the Oistins Fish Festival. It was cool. We waited for food for a bit. The food was not the greatest. I danced a bit (and was told I could be drunk), we chatted and walked and took pics. I happened to have left my keys at home that night but fortunately my landlady was up and didn't mind having to let me in.

I got up at about 5 am to get ready for church. That was new for me because Easter Sun services I am used to are at 9am. But it was cool. I got to be home early and sleep before getting up to do more work. Monday I did more work...nothing much to speak of.

During the week, I had classes, work on another group project plus an individual one. I ended having to contact people back home but I think I did ok. It was indeed a relief to submit the reports and be free to enjoy and rest for my sanity break that I have been waiting for for a while now. Now I need to decide what I am going to do with my friends and plan accordingly because I really want to enjoy this week and renew my sanity.

New Adventures Indeed!

So this weekend was fun!

I started a new course on Thursday that is called Environmental Impact Assessment. We got group assignments, one of which required us to visit different places as groups. At first our choices were limited (sea mamal or plantation stuff), but then at the last minute she threw in another one about wind farms and I was sold!!!

Our group had 4 people, the other 2 groups 5 each. One member of our group (default) was not at school (or in the island). So the 3 there planned our strategy. So Fri morning we set out to visit a wind turbine in St. Lucy and then the site we're proposing to put up more in St. John. The taxi we took was a cool; the driver was like a tour guide and even stopped for us to visit the Mt Gay factory and take pictures at scenic locations during the trip at no extra charge.

On the way home I started to feel sick and I also got a headache, so I slept.

Saturday was not so hot. I was supposed to go to town with a friend but felt sick and was in pain so that didn't work out.

Sunday I went to church in Boscobel, St. Peter. It was nice. I left there and then went to the Kendal Sports Club to go "paintballing" (I think that's what it's called). And boy that was fun! Admitedly it was scary at first to hear the guns go off and holding it and all, but once on the field, it was scary as well as exciting.

Above is me in gear, and unfortunately I did not get to take a pic with the guns but we plan to go back so no horrors. We decided to split the team into the courses since half of us were climate change and the other in the coastal stream. On the field, it so happens that he (guide/owner) decided to split us and ended up spliting the group into exactly how we decided we were gonna split it. The first section involved grabbing a flag in the centre and returning unhit to the corner you belong to. If one is shot (with or without the flag), you must return to the corner, count to 5, and then return to the game. The first round in section 1, my team got the flag. We switched ends of the field and the other team got it on the second round. The third round was mine- I braved the shots and went to get the flag. And boy was that an adrenaline rush. I hear dem balls hot and I hate pain but I managed to go through without anyone hitting me. The last round (second section) was just shooting the other team. So happens that there wasn't really a winner since most people ran out of shots including myself (mainly because I shared some of mine and some fell out the canister holding them while I was running).

After that tiring exercise, we chilled inside and waited for our taxi. I got home and ate (and headache kinda went) and relaxed. Work awaits, but I doubt tonight is that night. We'll see.

So I can say I had a good weekend!

Bad Morning that Could be Beter or Worse

Today we had a group presentation to do that is worth 25% of our final grades for this course of Vulnerability to Climate Change and Impact Assessment. The didn't quite start out right...

I woke up late. Not because the alarm didn't go off, but because I was tired (left school 10 something) and got much "extra" sleep. On my way out, I grabbed my watch (nice, brown, leather-band watch that I treasure very much) and stuck it in my pocket so I could put it on on my way. I step outside (in slippers) and it starts to rain. Great! Already late so no turning back for shoes. Then half way to the NCF parking lot where I am supposed to meet the bus, I go looking into my pocket for the watch and realise that it isn't there. This turns my mood further down. I get to the car park and wait...wait...wait! The damn UWI bus didn't come at all. So seeing this was after 8 and my presentation is at 9, I go to catch a bus. The ZRs (mini-buses) were all full or playing loud music (and still relatively full), so we waited for the blue bus (Transport Authority/gov. buses) to come since we saw it.

I got to school in time, but things would have been sooo much better had the morning started out better. What is worse is that I thought about turning back to look for my precious watch and take the regular bus to school, but decided not to, so I kept mentally beating myself up because had I done that, I would have been able to get to school on-time and not waste time waiting on the UWI bus that did not turn up.

The presentations we ok I think. I was less than perfect because somehow I managed to zone-out a bit during it (while I am presenting, yes). So that being over, it means I can now try hard to focus on the material more in-depth for the exam scheduled for Wed. Long days ahead...

Grades

Last semester I could say I did pretty well. All A's. One course this semester already produced a (surprising) A, and more grades are yet to come. I will keep believing that I did well-enough to continue this streak, but truth be told, only God knows. One of the two grades I do not have is for a course that I've had issues with (to put it mildly), so I'm hoping...I really do want a distinction for this MSc. degree.

Down

I'm back in Bim 4 days now, and unfortunately I am not sure things are getting better. Last couple days were somewhat surreal, particularly when I recalled grandma's funeral. But today somehow it hit home a bit and that, plus others things that I will not mention just had me down. Couldn't focus well. It's sad though considering the day started out well- I went to church, took communion and went to Sunday School.

I have 1 week of classes for this course left, and the exam is next Wed. I NEED to regain focus. So I am praying hard that I do. I cannot afford to fail or start doing poorly having come this far. And I am working hard to honour Grandma so failure is not an option.

Here's to walking out in faith and declaring another A.