Hey y'all. Were just over a week into our stay here at Maho and are loving life. It's a really good scene down here and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who is remotely interested. It's very doable for anyone who is physically fit, likes the outdoors, and is willing to work in return for a month or longer in an amazing Caribbean spot. We're just about through our first full week of work (tomorrow's our Friday) and we're still digging it.
Daily life basically consists of waking up in our screened-in tent cottage, making coffee and eating breakfast, then heading down to work at 8 for me, 7:30 for Erin. Work in the maintenance department consists of a wide range of projects including tent repairs (screens, vinyl walls), boardwalk repairs, landscaping, recycling and trash collection, collecting water level and propane readings, etc. Basically, keeping this place up and running and in good shape. I really like the crew I work with and am actually learning alot. It's hard work and I'm usually drenched in sweat from head to toe 10 minutes into my day, but I dig it. I like working outside and doing physical work. It's a nice change from staring at a computer screen everyday. And the workday ends at 2:30 which is a short sprint.
At that point, we're about 120 steps away from a fine, white sand beach with amazing snorkeling right off the shore. Last night we walked to Cinnamon Bay, another bay about 20 minutes up the road. From there we snorkeled out to this small island or cay where we were swimming in literally millions of little fish called fry. The fry attract predators and so we some 4 to 5 foot tarpon which are huge. We also saw a reef shark and a sea turtle. We even found the partial remains of an old Cessna plane that crashed into the sea years ago.
After our snorkeling outing, we hitched a ride back to camp, caught dinner and a movie, and returned to our cottage for some reading before going to bed and starting all over again today.
Life down here is not without its pains and sacrifices. As Erin said, there are lots of critters about. I got stung by a small scorpion this AM and stung by a large wasp this afternoon. The wasp sting actually hurts more. And it is a spartan life with few amenities like A/C and hot showers.
But the rum is cheap, the people are great, and island life is good.
Drew
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3 comments:
Drew,
Glad to see you and Erin are having a good time! Have fun and be safe.
Brian Emanuel
Drew,
Are you finding that your bathing suit of choice, the leopard thong,is helping you win friends on the maintenance crew. Be careful snorkeling in that thing - last time you got a nasty sunburn.
Hi, Uncle Drew and Erin! I love when my mommy and daddy read me your blog entries. I'd love to go swimming in that turquoise water, but I think I'd be afraid of those scorpions and other creepy crawlers in my tent. I am glad you know you made the right choice to go to St. John. I'll keep anticipating your adventures and can't wait to see you in Oct. I'll miss you this weekend.
Love and drool,
Mr. B
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