First Glimpse of Dominica

So many things have happened since I’ve last written. Isn’t that how it always goes?

I sat waiting in my terminal at the airport until my plane came to take me to Dominica. I must have been sitting there for about 3 hours. It was scheduled to leave at noon but I found out that there was a plane leaving right before mine to the Dominican Republic. They started boarding for that flight at 11:30 so needless to say, my plane was late boarding and taking off. I walked out onto the boarding wing and noticed that there was no plane hooked up. The plane was on the ground about 300 feet from the wing. We had to walk down the stairs, get our carry-on baggage checked, and then climb the stairs up to the turboprop plane. Interesting. 

We flew over the ocean, and seemed to begin the descent into Dominica right after our take-off. I saw the carribbean sea for a while before we landed and then touched town. The airport was definitely smaller than any I had ever been in before. It seemed as if it took forever for me to get my passport stamped and retrieve my checked bag. But shortly thereafter, I walked outside to find my beautiful friend Mitzi waiting for me. I was so excited to see her after my long day of travels. I met Susan, a friend of the Loy’s. The three of us got into a taxi while the taxi driver loaded my things into the back. Driving in Dominica is very different than driving in the US. Steering wheel is on the right, there are only lines on some of the roads, and people honk at each other in what seems like another language. I’ve been told there are about 7 different honks that communicate different things. I don’t understand. Also, the roads might be the curviest, twistiest, craziest things ever. I had no idea that I got carsick until I started having to ride on curvy roads at about 50 mph. My somewhat recent trip to Fredericktown initiated me into the “I get carsick club” but this was a new level. I sorta felt like I wanted to die.

After what felt like an eternity, we arrived to the Loy’s apartment. Then followed a long chat with my wonderful friend April, a small group Bible Study at the Medical University, a hike up the hill to the apartment, and much needed sleep.

Our next day was filled with a day trip to a small hot pool in the ocean, lunch at an fresh outdoor Mexican restaurant, and snorkeling at Champagne Beach.  It’s called Champagne because there are tons of little bubbles that start at the bottom of the ocean and make their way up to the surface. There’s a volcano underneath that produces pressure, hence the bubbles, hence the name Champagne. I was slightly nervous to try the whole snorkeling thing, but it turned out to be quite easy and really enjoyable. It took me a couple minutes to get over the fact that I could see the fish (gross) and I was actually just a couple feet (or inches at times) away from them. Or maybe I wasn’t over it, it’s still disgusting. But it was also very beautiful all at the same time. I saw a couple of sea turtles here, which is apparently not a frequent occurrence. Pretty successful snorkeling trip if you ask me.

After the 45-minute drive back from the trip, we unloaded our things and relaxed at the apartment. Even though the island is only 30 miles long, it takes a very long time to get anywhere because the roads go up into the mountains and all around winds and curves. No more are my days of hopping on the interstate to get 40 miles away in 30 minutes.

Life slowed way down without me realizing it for a while. I was caught up in observing the culture, the people, food, landscape and ocean. While I was marveling at the newness, I failed to observe the change of speed. My trips to Argentina gave me a preparation for life here. In Argentina, things were slower than in the US but not quite like things are here. Maybe it comes with island living in general. 

Thursday was another fantastic day out on the island. A group of four of us went to this place called Titou Gorge. The water was freezing which was painful at first. But after a few minutes, it became normal and refreshing. The water had rocks at the bottom, it was surrounded by a giant cave-like structure with holes in the roof. Large plants were hanging down from the top and there was a small spot where the sunlight peeked through down into the water. There was a large waterfall above the pool the drained into the little pond area. The bottom of the waterfall marked the end of the cavernous pools. April told me that the water is not usually as fast and gushing as it was the day that we went. I was determined to swim to the end to feel the waterfall in my hands. It took a few attempts but I managed. I realized later that I now have some small battle scars on my fingertips. I shimmied along the rocks to get to the waterfall and my fingers got scraped up from the rocks. Worth it? Of course.  Outdoor lunch followed the gorge experience. After that, we took a small trail to another waterfall. The one waterfall really turned out to be two and there was a beautiful little viewing point for us to look out from. I loved it. There’s something about a waterfall that I find myself being lost in. There’s something incredible about the natural beauty that God has created. I’ve never seen anything so wonderful that has been made by the hands of men. I could watch water being tossed, splashed, and poured down rocks for hours at a time. I can’t even watch TV for hours at a time. I think there’s a part of everyone that connects with nature in an unexplainable way, a very deeply beautiful way. Sometimes there’s too many commercials, too many movies, TV shoes, video games, websites, text messages and phone calls that stand in the way of people accessing that divine place of man meeting God’s creation of natural beauty. I wish more people could experience this, more often.

We came home after the adventurous day for another small group in the evening. It was a women’s group that met at the apartment. It was a fantastic time. Everyone was warm and open to share their lives. Mitzi tells me that its an effect of the island. The natives here are so culturally blocked out that people from the US have such an instant bond. Also, island living can make one feel very lonely so people are incredibly open and giving in their relationships here. It makes sense. But the women that came all had such interesting stories and I was able to see the beauty of the Lord in all of their lives. It’s so exciting to me that I could feel such a strong connection and bond with five women that I had just met on a island that I had just arrived on. I was thankful.

Today, we had water aerobics class in the morning. The instructor was telling us about how she and some friends have been hiking a 120 mile long trail through the mountains. Her story included chiggers, machetes cutting down trees, and climbing ropes up the incredible inclines. Talk about an adrenaline rush! Sometimes, life here seems like a fairy tale. I love the views, the ocean, the greenery (it comes in just about every shade you could imagine), and the landscape. Simply beautiful. I’m hoping that spending all this time outside will get me into better shape. All I see here is beautiful defined legs on all the native women. I wouldn’t mind experiencing the benefits of walking everywhere for about a month. We’ll see what happens.

I’m working out my struggle for understanding the next step of my life. I think this island is teaching me to be peaceful and patient. I’m learning to simply wait. This is good for me.