In a world of puppy, monkey, baby commercials....

In a world of inpersonable advertising and odd puppy, monkey, baby commercials there is a small island that still makes things personal. Albeit sometimes loud and obnoxious, it is yet quant and unique. How often are you sitting around the house at 9pm and in the faint distance you here music and advertising that quickly gets louder as the moving soundboard gets closer? Then before you know it you have a van with speakers that rival most concerts you've been to and people walking down the road yelling "good evening" (in Spanish of course) along with other words you do not know, possibly Avacado. Well, tonight just that happened. As I sat watching a video for school the previously mentioned occurred. It was so loud I could not hear my video which was connected to my home stereo system. As often as it can be annoying, I still find myself enjoying it. Usually it is some sort of advertisement for a festival or party the mayor puts on. I don't know that until I come across such a festival or party which usually takes place in a local park or on the street. That's part of not knowing the language here I guess. It's times like these when I sit back and say, wow this is one crazy Caribbean life.

Frozen Caribbean tundra...

Often times living in the Caribbean it is very hot and most buildings have their AC on. Not out of the norm. But today I almost froze to death! It's about 75 out his morning and I had an appointment. As I sat in the waiting room the temperature was rather pleasant. Upon hearing my name I got up and walked into the office. I swear to you it felt like I stepped into a West Michigan winter!!! Maybe the Lord wanted me to get a small taste of what y'all are feeling right now. I was wearing shorts and flip flops. I have been out of the office now for ten minutes and my feet are still cold!!! Seriously? Why in the world does anyone need the AC cranked that high?! No wonder people are always sick here!

I then walk down to a local restaurant to wait for my ride. I walk in and walk right back out. It was freezing in there!! I don't get it, it's not even hot out!! So now I stand outside waiting by a light pole. It's shady with a nice Caribbean breeze. Some times I just gotta sit back and say, "Wow, this truly is a crazy Caribbean life."

Water main break equals water run...

What do you do when a water main breaks and takes out the water of an area of 30 miles? Buy a ton of water! Today a water main broke (which is pretty common, just not this big) and has caused there to be no water for the equivalent of Holland to Grand Rapids. Being we are small island this effects a ton of people. The water at Walmart is practically gone. I have 12 gallons and a case of water to bring home for drinking and doing dishes. This is not only bad in the immediate, but we also have to be concerned about our water reservoirs. This past summer we had the largest drought in 15 years. A major water main break can be a big problem. We are praying that the workers fix this soon. Just another day in my crazy Caribbean life.Not to mention I am headed to pick my son up from football. He is gonna smell and we have to find a way to shower him! Maybe a trip to the beach is in order....? 

Wooden Shoes to Spanish Galleons

-One year into our crazy Caribbean life and I ran over an iguana for the first time. The large dinosaur looking lizards are all over the island. They look prehistoric, with their greenish grey scale like skin and there long tails. They are kinda cool looking creatures really. But they lack any sort of vehicle recognition. They just walk right out on the middle of the burning hot asphalt. Doing 65 on the highway you cannot really avoid them. So today I had the unfortunate encounter, the wheel of my truck and the iguana met. You learn to just accept it, like raccoons in Michigan. They are nice to look at but they are pests very few people want around. 

- You will never guess what we found in an antique shop the other day..... A Dutch Wooden shoe!!!

My wife and I were just walking around Old San Juan and saw this shop. Tucked in the back was a wooden shoe!!! Who would have thought, here in Puerto Rico, in an antique shop we would find this! It instantly brought me back to Tulip Time in Holland. 

A Spanish galleon docked in Old San Juan. As a homeschool family we could not pass up the opportunity to tour this amazing ship! I mean we live in the Caribbean, how can you not visit the same ships pirates used!!! 

No wasting room here! This high stack of palets is just the beginning of what we see people transport here, from overflowing truck beds of metal to small Toyota trucks with two full size horses we see it all. If it can be done, they do it here.

There are always crazy things we see here. Continue to follow me as I share with you My Crazy Caribbean Lifez

Puerto Rico Driving....crazy

http://livinginpuertorico.com/driving/

I had to share his post. This is the best description of what driving is like here! Welcome to my crazy Caribbean life!

PeeWee Football Season and Beer

It's Pee Wee football season in Puerto Rico; after a two month break we are back at it again. The smell of fried food, burgers on the grill, hotdogs and beer. Yup that's right beer. You won't see that in West Michigan! Nothing says family fun like a good game of Pee Wee football and parents drinking. Ok just kidding. I think it's a little odd that they serve beer here and a little unnecessary really. But, that's the culture here. No wonder kids grow up to drink and there are bars on practically every corner. They grow up with it everywhere. It's sad really, kids hanging out at the bar while mom and dad take a few back. You learn to accept the fact that it happens while praying and trying to make a positive impact where ever you go. 

It's also not uncommon to hear a four letter word or two or three or four coming  out of the mouths of not only the parents but the kids themselves. Swearing here seems to be just part of the language which is crazy. It's not seen as a bad thing. This is hard for us as we teach our kids that swearing is not ok. That just part of living a different culture. Even the pastors use profane language from time to time which really is not good at all.

Coming from West Michgan I took things for granted. It is just not the same here, and not everyone cares about other people. It's a journey for sure and there are many time when I sit back and think, wow this truly is my crazy Caribbean life.

Shelter from the rain

The Caribbean life is amazing, sunny skies, 85 degrees year round and beaches everywhere you look. It literally is a paradise and I am blessed to live here. However on occasion, a rather frequent occasion rain pops out of nowhere. It can be sunny and 90 and rainy and 75 in a matter of seconds, and right back to 90 and sunny. With that comes along a few things. First, as it is happening right now as I am walking my German Shepard, you have to find shelter fast or get soaked. Thankfully we were near the baseball field and there is a covered seating area where we now sit to wit out the rain.

Which I sent so bad. The smell here when it rains is so refreshing. Like a fresh spring Michigan rain after a long winter. 

Secondly, and my favorite, are the Caribbean rainbows. The colors and size are out of this world amazing! It reminds me of Gods love every time I see one.

Today is Three Kings Day. Which is the biggest holiday of the year here in Puerto Rico. Gotta love it! Parties, music, food, wisemen riding houses down the street, what's not to love?

It is quite amazing how this whole holiday season from November to February revolves around the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus is truly celebrated here and I love it!

The Caribbean life is full of crazy things. From crazy weird, just plain crazy and crazy cool! This is just another small tidbit of my crazy Caribbean life!