simply having a wonderful xmas time

17/12/2009
the phrase island time is no joke. today exemplified that for me and it was one of the most hilarious life days so far. all i wanted to do today was go shopping for a few things in town, some hangers, a bucket for laundry, a blank cd, a christmas gift for my host family, some fruits, etc. i was told that the bus would come by my village at 8. apparently that was wrong info because after my cereal, yes cereal!!!, it was about 730 and i walked down the road to see the bus go by. the bus comes early sometimes. i tried communicating with some ladies that were weeding there front yard aka pulling the grass out(?). they said that that was the last bus until 11. i waited there a few minutes while they stared at me and decided to go back to my room. around 10 i went out again to catch the bus. i waited for the hour which was quite lovely. the bus stop stares straight out into the crashing waves of the ocean. the hot breeze made me tired but i stayed awake and the bus came at 1130. the bus was crowded of course but a lady let me sit with her. after she got off a new lady sat beside/on me. she was rather round and didn't mind really crushing me as the bus whizzed around the corners of the island. after about two hours i arrived in 'town'. i attempted to go to the post office. i asked a few people who seemed confused and finally got an answer, it was about 10 minutes away. i walked there in the scorching sun and found the post office, it was air conditioned. when i asked if there were other places i could put the mail to be sent out a 'mail box' she laughed. next i wanted to go to a store i took a taxi because i wasn't sure how far it was and melted on the ride there. after 2 minutes we arrived and after i explained my marital status, all that really matters here, i found a store with hangers. then i realized i had no idea when the bus goes back to my village. only that there is a 'last bus' and after that its a 70 wsdollar cab ride home if you miss it. i headed back towards town and asked some people when the bus came and where i could get it. they said i could wait there, at the bakery, and it would come at 330. it was almost 3 so i figured i should wait and forget about going to the market and other things. i waited until five and got nervous a few other buses went by but not mine. finally someone told me to go wait somewhere else and at 530 i saw my bus. the bus comes late sometimes, really late. it was the last bus of the day so it was as crowded as possible. i did get a seat however. on the bus, people hand out their belongings, babies to others to hold if they have to stand or there is no room. so as i sat ready to finally get going boxes, bags, a broom, and people piled up around me. i was sandwiched between my seat partner and a couple standing to my other side. with every turn i thought they might fall on me or that my spine might crack from the 45 degree angle i was sitting at. after about an hour they got off and i was relieved to straighten my back. an older man was standing near me so my seat partner asked me if i could sit on her lap to make room for him. i spent an hour there which was more comfortable then a wooden seat, but totally dangerous. soon the bus emptied out almost completely because my village is one of the last few the bus goes to as it is at the north middle of the island. i paid and some how got the circulation going to get off the bus and walk up the road home. all i had to show for my whole day were some hangers, but i had a nice day and i am maybe one step closer to understanding island time?…no way.