First Day/Orientation

Deciding what time to get up was both easy and hard. Easy for me because the roosters were rousing everyone before 6:00 a.m. and looking at the view of the harbour out my window inspires you to get up and get going. To me this seemed like a good time to go out and do yoga on the deck facing the harbour. It was nice to be in the fresh air and get a good stretch to start the day. I do need to remember however to put on bug spray before venturing out as my legs are apparently tasty!

We woke the boys and they had a breakfast of peanut butter and bread (there is no toaster) and Owen opted for half an apple. Then it was off to the dreaded shower. It is a suicide shower, as they are commonly known. An electrical element heats the water in the shower head. You touch the shower head when it is on and there is a good chance it will be your last shower. Brent was brave and went first and said it wasn’t too bad. He was right the water was warm enough for me to wash my hair and not shiver. Aiden went next and Owen went because he was ordered to. However after about 10 seconds he realized it was quite pleasant and happily washed his hair without protest.

Getting new clothes on, belts and ties and school shoes took way longer than we anticipated. But the result was worth it, they looked great. Owen has two shirts, one yellow and one blue. Aiden will always wear white. We headed out for the school almost 20 minutes early, not really knowing how far the school was by foot. Turns out it is four (harrowing) minutes. The roads in Grenada are narrow, very, very narrow. Add to that having to remind yourself which side of the road traffic is coming from, deep gutters and steep drop offs, it is like walking through a very narrow obstacle course! Aiden needs reminding to be no more than inches from the side of the road, as he tends to move towards the center the farther he walks. Owen seems to realize the risk and doesn’t need to be reminded to stay at the edge of the road.

On the way to school, a rooster walked across our path and we decided it was good luck. Once we were at the school the boys were supposed to go up to the assembly hall, however Owen had different ideas. Aiden went up the way he was supposed to go, Owen decided that couldn’t be right and he stayed put in the main yard. We explained to him that he either needed to follow Aiden or ask someone for help. After floundering for a few minutes he found a student to ask and proceeded to head away. Mission accomplished.

At 11:00, Brent and I attended an orientation with NEWLO, PAM, Silvan McIntrye (an esteemed police officer) and Mr. Peter’s (?) a local poet and playwright. It was nice to hear what everyone had to say and while there were no new revelations it was nice to meet Sister Margret and Ms. Lawrence.

We just squeaked back to the school for 2:00 p.m. when we thought they were done, Brent stayed to walk them home and Samuel and I proceeded to the house to do some paperwork. We were also able to get cell phones set up. Ironically I think most people on the island have fancier phones than I do. Since I almost never used my cell in Canada, it is taking getting used to having a phone turned on in case someone calls. Brent is having the same problem he had in Canada, pocket dialing people! Good to know some things don’t change.