back again!

sorry for being away - turns out blogspot and explorer are not happy together these days -

I'm half a week behind but here's a posting...

Thursday, February 15, 2007

<>Sitting on the side veranda this morning for my devotions, there was a freshness to the breeze that I had not sense earlier – is it that I am becoming more acclimatized or I wonder if yesterday’s independence has created a freshness to my general state of being?

Let me share that day – it started out trying to figure out how to get me into Bridgetown because Basil was still quite sick and Mary was waiting for little Nathan to come for the day. Well, after a few phone calls, it turned out that I was going to drive “my” car (on lease by the MCCA) on my own and that Mary was going to drive behind me with Basil just to make sure I got there OK. Well, off I went, nervous but OK – past St. George’s church, past the gas station, watch that corner with the fast traffic, through the small town and then the 1^st round-about! We had decided it would be easier to get to the city by a different route than the one I had practiced with Basil, so, no sweat – just turning left at this round-about – only one lane of traffic to watch. All went well and I remembered to stay on the left!! Then, the dreaded round-about where I had to go round to go straight!

Deep breath, stay calm, watch for everything and then – go! Well I did it (only later was I told that I almost got clipped by an inside car that I can’t even remember seeing. My prayers for a 5 foot safety zone all around the vehicle worked that moment!). Well I arrived in time for the meeting and Basil and Mary turned around to go home.

The meeting was with Rev. Paul Walfall who is my Learning Supervisor and with Rev. Bourne who is responsible for the pastoral needs of the 2 congregations that I have been assigned to. It was a very cordial and productive meeting because Rev. Walfall had obviously read the internship material sent from The United Church of Canada along with all the material I had sent. Also I had spent Monday and Tuesday of this week working on my draft learning goals and had a fairly clear idea of what learning I wish to accomplish with my time in Barbados. Everything seemed to mesh surprisingly well.

After this meeting, I decided to explore a bit of Bridgetown while making my way down to the Royal Bank of Canada for some business. The inner wharf is only a block away from the District Office where the meeting was and it has recently been renovated for the upcoming Cricket World Cup. The plaza that has been created is quite beautiful and opens up this central part of the city. I believe the open air market used to be here and I wonder what has happened to it?

Walking across the pedestrian bridge, it was funny to experience myself looking as a tourist but not being a tourist and not being a local. I was aware of these differences and I was equally aware that they seemed to matter to me. Walking along the boardwalk was pleasant for I do love the water and with the boats that were docked, the area reminded me of the marina where I walk my dog a lot. Once I left the boardwalk, I found myself definitely in the “tourist” commercial hub. Yet, I had some errands to run – the first to do some banking and the second to get a soya caffe latte (my weakness that I developed in those many trips to Toronto for school). I got it cold instead of hot and thoroughly enjoyed it! Then I needed to find a cheap store where I could find some paper and crayons for some children’s activities I had planned for worship on Sunday. Lo and behold I found a Woolworths – that brought back childhood memories of the Woolworths in my birthplace, Welland, Ontario. Once a thriving chain store, I had no idea it had survived in other parts of the world though they’ve disappeared from my known Canadian landscape. In I went and I was not disappointed on the selection and prices.

Once my errands were accomplished I stopped at the local chicken chain store, Chefettes and bought myself a chicken roti (flatbread type with curried chicken) and ate it by the waterfront. Then it was back to the car. By this time I had decided that I was going to be adventuresome and go do some touring of the south coast ( also I knew that I could avoid those nasty round-abouts by sticking to the coastal highway). So back to the MCCA District Office and into “my” great little car and off I went. Couldn’t do much sightseeing because I was really concentrating on my driving --left hand side, don't forget! --but I certainly did get a sense of the busy hotel district around Rockley Beach and further, the fishing village of Oastis. Then I stumbled on a little area further east along the coast called Silver Sands. Having made a wrong turn and ending up in a dead end street, I nonetheless was met by a friendly homeowner doing some gardening. He directed be to a public beach, saying that I would like it. I took his advice, found it easily and there I had my first chance to see that lovely ocean, walk in the sand and put my feet into the Atlantic waters. How very therapeutic for my soul!

So there I wandered a little bit and took some pictures. As I made my way back to the car, I stopped to call home and see how everyone was doing after the horrible blizzard. Knowing all was well despite the snowstorm, I got back into the car and started to head back towards Gun Hill. Stopping at a garage station, I examined my map and decided to continue the adventure by navigating the small roads through the countryside. It was wonderful though I had to concentrate on the driving and the sun for navigational aid. But I saw market gardening and sugar cane and horse training and a very interesting funeral where the women were mostly in white flowing dresses and turbans and I could hear the drumbeats and the tambourines. I would have loved to take some pictures but it was impossible to stop on the narrow country road nor would I feel right about doing the “toursity” thing with a funeral. I asked Mary later and she told me it was likely the Apostolic Church because their members are known for wearing turbans.

Well the afternoon was starting to fade and I knew it was time to stop the adventure for that day. I called Mary to let her know I was I my way home and I stopped to buy some flowers as a thank you for their hospitality and help. In the little corner market, while mom was fixing a bouquet for me, a little girl and I had a great talk about school and playground games. It was delightful.

I made it home and Basil and Mary were both so happy to see me and hear about my adventures. I was glad to be back safe and sound and full of some sense of one part of this island. Between the sun and the wind at the beach and the very concentrated time of driving my mind was very, very tired.

And so I am back to this morning on the veranda where my rested senses seem to be in hyper mode. I wonder what the day will bring.

Till next time...blessings!