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!

Emergency Room drop off...?

The So today has been an interesting day. Last week I had the pleasure of officiating a wedding. Today, because I cannot fully read Spanish to know where she had to sign at the wedding, I had to meet with the witness to the wedding to get her signature. This is after finding out that I also need a witness to the witness! Like the witness is not enough. So I had my friend sign it! We met at Krispy Kream because that seems to be the central meeting place here in Dorado. Now, I am at the office of Registeo Demographico to turn in the signed paper work. What is interesting is that the office is inside of the emergency room!! Yup, I have to go the the ER to turn in marriage papers, and of course wait in line, again. Of course there are no exterior signs indicating where to go, so I just walked through every door that was open, waiting in line, untilI I found the right location. Praying I have everything I need!

I think what makes the lines so long here is that no one behind the desk ever seems to have a care in the world. It is their pace and that is it! Right now there is a baby crying as they sit and wait for who knows how long. Hey on the plus side there are gum all machines and fans! Yup no air and it is like 90 degrees in here. There is sweat dripping down my back and I am just standing here. Oh well what do you do but accept it. It is a beautiful day however. 85 degrees and sunny. Can't ask for much more on the 4th of January. I'm used to 15 degrees and cloudy with snow! 

One thing I get used to here is if I get one or two major things done in a day, it is a good day! 

The Caribbean has its own pace and its own time. I just learn to go with the flow.

So now that I got up to the front they are trying to tell me that I need the IDs of the people I married! Really!!! They are back in the states!!!! Finally after some "I don't speak English at all" talk a man helped me who was in line. I had all the right paper work after all! That's how it goes here sometimes!!! Now I'm on my way home!

Well that was Nicely unexpected. The boss of the lady who gave me trouble stopped me in the parking lot. He told me that he was sorry for how I was treated and that she should have never treated me that way! Apparently she has been here since 7am and has a bad attitude today. Lord be with her.

Holy smokes! I literally just watch a man try to run over three Iguana. He sped up and then reversed to try to hit them again!!! I know some people don't like them but I thing they are cool.

I need your help

Ok, so as I write tonight I have erased all that I had. I am stuck and I need your help. I need to know what you want. Do you want short blogs on a daily basis as life happens or longer story like posts. I have so much that has happened since my last blog but am stuck at how to share it all with you. I want this blog to be what you want. Please help me so this blog can be as good as it can be!!

Holidays busyness

With all the Holiday activities here on the island I have not had time to post a blog this past week. However I have taken great notes of the past Christmas season here and have experienced some pretty crazy stuff. I will be sharing with you all in more detail later tonight! God bless.