My first week...

So I decided to write a blog about my time here in the Cayman Islands. One, because people have asked to keep them posted on my trip and two, so that I can look back and remember everything. The first week was a little hard. The hardest part, I think, is that I couldn't call or text anyone and was pretty much alone on this island without anyone to pour my heart out to. I'm a very relational person so that aspect was difficult for me.

Getting down the routine of baby Jade has been interesting, and, as sweet as she is, I'm fully content with not having kids for awhile! I think I've mastered her routine, however, and I am ready for this next week. She is such a sweetheart and I am so lucky I am a nanny for such a happy baby. Her smile really does light up my day. Every morning we go for walks. Yesterday, we went for a walk with the next door nanny and her little boy she is watching. She is from the Philippines and it was really interesting talking with her. I'm also learning how to plan meals, make grocery lists and cook dinner for Jade's parents. It's a little intimidating, but I think I'm getting the hang of that too. Hopefully they like my cooking! :)

I haven't gotten out too much, only because I have felt overwhelmed with everything being new. A few times now, I've gone with Jade's mom to the beach at sunset and walked along the shore as she swam. She is training for a swim race in a couple weeks. The sunset was amazing! Last night I wen to the gym to work out and usually I will be riding my bike there. I'm excited to get all of this exercise! Next week I'm going to focus more on going out on walks and exploring more and start learning how to drive on the left side of the road by riding my bike... uh, SCARY.

Tonight I went with the family to a coworker's birthday party. It was held at an Italian restaurant on the beach. The patio was all lit up with lights and candles and with the ocean as the background and the sound of the waves coming in, I realized I could definitely live here for six months. I would even consider moving here after I graduate, but we'll see what happens. It is SO expensive here. Gas is 4.29 per gallon and that's in CI (Cayman Island Dollar). So take that times 1.20 (the exchange rate) and that's what you would pay in US dollars. I have to stop thinking that way otherwise it will drive me crazy thinking about how much I'm really spending. Anyway, I was at this birthday party and I sat with Jade's parents ( I'm not giving their names just to be safe), a guy from North Carolina and a guy from South Africa who grew up in Britain but was actually born in Spain - how cool is that? Jade's dad is from Malawi so we were all kind of reminiscing about where we are from. And this is why I moved here. A lot of the people here I have found have traveled a lot before coming here and it really motivates me to follow my love of traveling.

I have some things I want to accomplish while I am here:
-go scuba diving
-swim with dolphins
-meet all kinds of people
-get a toned body! :)
-strengthen my spiritual relationship
-get better at beach volleyball
-get some artistic inspiration
-figure out what I want to do with my life because I just to do not feel satisfied settling down in one place

So think of this as an open diary. I will be keeping track of all of these things. Last time I was here I had so many interesting, motivating and inspiring moments and I hope to share anymore to come with those reading. More to come....!