Category: Dominica

5 October

Brad began moving today. He started packing up his belongings yesterday and around 4:00 p.m. Mr. Cyrille, who owns the small hardware store below us, gave him a ride with his stuff to his new place which is in LaGrange directly underneath Mrs. Garaway’s house.

Mrs. Rourke was living there but it was too small for her and everyone was telling her it was too bushy. She has found a new place next to a snackette on the road to the Methodist Church. She is now looking for another place.

I saw her at the bank earlier when I went to see if my transfer was made and to get money for next week. The transfer still had not been made so I couldn’t take out money for rent.  I had to cash my second $50 traveller’s cheque to have money to get through next week. I hope that the transfer is made soon before my rent is due.

3 October

On Sunday the 30 I burned a hole into the cloth on my ironing board and now have an iron with melted cloth on it. It still works but I will never use the steam function again. It is too hot.

On Monday the 1 I mailed my sister Ann Marie’s birthday gifts. The items cost $11.95 and $11.50 to mail them. I was deceptive about what was in the package when I mailed it but I hope the glass jar doesn’t break. I said the jelly was in plastic which was a lie and did not mention the soap.

On Tuesday we did not go to Canefield as expected because Murphy chose to skip and go next week.

Today the apartment was broken into. When I got home from school shortly after 11:00 a.m. I noticed someone had ripped open my letter to David Matheny. I couldn’t believe Brad would do it and as I looked around the house it became clear that he didn’t. A bench was in the middle of the floor, not next to the wall where it was. My screen above my door was ripped, my mosquito netting partially knocked down, and a strip of wood laid next to my bed. When Brad came home his screen above the bedroom door was down, too. His door was unbolted and coins were missing as well as his pocket knife. The only other thing wrong was the back door wasn’t secured.

We reported it to the police. They checked out the apartment and are assuming it was a kid. I called Maryann to let her know. She expressed concern and compassion. 

It is a weird time for it to happen. Brad moves out in a couple days. I will be alone but I don’t feel scared because I think this could have been caused by our carelessness. I hope to be more careful and avoid this in the future.

30 September

I attended Bible study on Wednesday and many more people attended. I sat up in front and have book one. We will get to keep them if we attend all the classes.

I attended another Bible study on Friday, the Peace Corps group I initiated. There were seven of us. We prayed, talked a bit about our relationship with God and reasons for joining the Peace Corps, and shared ideas on Romans 12:1-8. I was very happy that it came off well and we decided to meet twice a month.

Brad and I were lucky to get a ride into Roseau on Friday at 1:00 pm from Murphy Wallace, a friend who lives across the street and attends the Methodist church. Getting out two periods early from school helped Brad and me get to Roseau early enough to run errands, get our shot, and attend Lorrie Pratt’s farewell party. She left Dominica yesterday.

26 September

I’ve completed the second draft of my personal statement for my Harvard Law School application. I hope to have as many people as possible comment upon it. Brad has been reluctant but Mrs. Rouk has agreed to read it if I remember to bring it to her to read.

I also called Harvard today to get answers to questions about parts of the application I didn’t understand. I don’t want to ruin my chances by filling out the application incorrectly.

After calling them I ate, ran my errands of mailing and shopping and went to my second afternoon Math session. Fewer people attended today compared to yesterday.