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.

Had to get a closer look...

So I had to get a closer look. How can you not be part of this Puerto Rico tradition. Just hoping we get invited over for dinner! 

This little piggy was walking down the road just a couple hours ago. Island life...