Karaoke, shopping, zoo visit, mid-term evaluation ...

I've been too busy to write much, mostly with internship and seminar obligations. But I have made some time for fun and new friends. A few weeks ago I attended Sr. Debbie's 50th birthday party in South, in the city of San Fernando. I sang karaoke, and Sr. Bernard said she saw me come alive. "That's the real you," she observed.

 At left, Sr. Debbie is amazed at the candles on her cake. At right, Sr. Bernard listens to another partygoer share a story about Sr. Debbie as a youth.

One of the kids there mistook me for a nun, which was quite disconcerting. When I said I wasn't a sister, she assumed I was in training to become a nun. I will burn the dress I was wearing. No, really. ... Anyway, the birthday fete was an all-day affair, with food and karaoke and dancing and libation. Sr. Bernard can really dance.

Another fun outing was today, actually, when I went shopping with my friend Jenna. She's a psychologist at St. Dominic's and is helping train me. She escorted me to town for a retail therapy session, and we further established rapport by trying on dresses, picking out make-up and earrings, and expanding my cultural competence by finding Trini keepsakes I can take home to remember my time here.

Jenna and Hope both love purple.

I got this great batik cushion cover, which I plan to hang when I get home. At first I thought I'd use it in my living room of my future apartment, as it would go well with my yellow chair. But I don't want Lucy and Leon loving on it too much. So a frame seems safer.

This batik cushion cover features the national flower and national bird.

A few days ago I went to the Emperor Valley Zoo. It was fairly small compared to zoos I've visited in the US. There were a couple of animals there I'd never seen before though, so that was very cool. I plan to hit the botanical gardens soon. One of my favorite features of Trinidad is the bright, beautiful flowers.

A Capybara (foreground) and a South American Tapir

As to the reason I'm here ... I'm enjoying the internship, but I had a rough couple of weeks. The chronic stress of getting adjusted to all the new finally got to me, and I got sick for a bit and couldn't work a full week at one point. Sometimes the only way out is through, and I'm definitely through the worst of it all. I did pretty well on my mid-term evaluation and foresee actually managing to pass and graduate as planned. (Yes, I was doubting this, despite the encouragement from other people).

At any rate, all is well now. I aim to enjoy my remaining two months as much as possible without ruining it by second-guessing my competencies all the time. That's the plan, at least. Wish me luck!