Over the last several weeks, well I guess since we got here! many prayers are been lifted up for many different things. And my how God works in such special ways to answer our prayers. Like when Andrew was doing the whole vet school application process I prayed for an adventure...boy did I get one big adventure. Though nervous about the adventure to St. Kitts I knew God wouldn't have given us such a big adventure if we couldn't handle it. It has been hard at times but He has continued to answer our prayers, both big and small. Though overwhelming, many prayers were answered this past week....
We started off our week with finally deciding where we will be living next semester and hopefully for the remainder of our time here. We picked this awesome house up in Fort Tyson Rise. We overlook the Atlantic but can also see the Caribbean! Hopefully our back porch will be the prime location for all of the whale watching I intend to do. Apparently a few were spotted last week but I clearly did not see them! Our house has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, large kitchen, fenced in yard for Duke, and a sweet little swimming pool! Our new home will be shared with Leann and Brayton Hill. They are simply an amazing couple and we can't wait to share in all of these wonderful vet school adventures together. Brayton is the student and Leann the spouse which is just perfect! They are in their second semester down here and are enjoying it. Leann is a teacher at the Prep School on campus and teaches 1st and 2nd grades. They are from New York and were married down in the Outer Banks last summer - AMAZING! We are truly excited for this next chapter and are very blessed to have made such great friends.
What's next? Oh yes! We test drove a few cars last week and settled on the cutest little blue SUV - wanna be. I say wanna be because it is truly a very tiny little SUV, but it is a perfect little island car for us! And Andrew turns out to be quite the haggler too! Andrew talked him down $1500, which is good for an island car. The steering wheel is on the opposite side, which is taking me some getting use to. Andrew is a pro, of course. Oh the little blue car has this little mirror on the hood that looks like a snorkel, funny. Another funny aspect about looking for vehicles down here is that the superficial things didn't matter at all to us like they would back in the States. We didn't care about color, interior, features, dents, etc none of that mattered! All that mattered was reliability and if our potential little island car would make it up certain hills; funny how those things change. We were both very nervous to purchase the car. It was the first time either one of us had made a purchase that large, especially without our parents, but we did just fine. We drove our little island car to the grocery Saturday morning and then took her to the beach that afternoon. It's funny though, we both keep expecting something to break or for her not to turn on! We are told with island cars "it's not if they break, it's when they break!" - Oh boy! But we talk sweetly to her and cross our fingers that she behaves!
The grand news of the week, especially for me, is that I was offered a job last week working for the Research department at Ross U. How cool is that??!! I'm over the moon about it. I think it will be a perfect fit for me while I'm down here and will only help mold me for a career in research. I will speak to HR this week to confirm the details. It truly was a God send and I am blessed with an incredible opportunity that will open many doors.
Aside from the amazing job opportunity, I have also been asked to join a research team here at the university. The project is out of this world and truly the neatest thing! I have a strong interest in reproductive physiology and plan on going for PhD when I've finished my masters. I don't know exactly what area of reproduction but I think something with horses or pigs ( I do love pigs!) But this oh so incredible research project will be dealing with lionesses in Zimbabwe! Now I have no promises of going to Zimbabwe, which is fine, but I would go tomorrow given the chance! For me the privilege is to work on this project and be a part of so many aspects. To be on a published paper would be absolutely phenomenal! Oh I'm getting excited just writing about it! And I get to work with some pretty incredible and brilliant people that I know I can learn a lot from!
Now Dad! Don't go getting worried about grad school! I am doing awesome! And plus I do much better when I have more on my plate! Ask and you shall Receive....
View from our back porch - Atlantic Side
Caribbean Side
More Atlantic - Where I plan to see my whales
Our little blue island car
See the Snorkel?
I could not be happier for the two of you! Congratulations on the residence with Leann and Brayton, the new island car, your new research job, and the reproduction research project! This all so exciting. :)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to a proper housewarming when the four of you move in together. :)