at long last

before i get bouf by all and sundry, i figured that after i finally got secure net access at home, i should set up one of these blog accounts (bouf = hit. probably french roots). i have lots of pictures to put up so they'll be up shortly. i was instructed when i left to take pictures every day. that hasn't quite happened, but i've taken pics of the exciting things! *shrugs*
i need to work on regularly charging my batteries for my camera because they kind of suck. if i use my cam three times, or leave the batteries in for more than 3 days, it dies.... generally at the most inconvenient times.
yesterday, it died as i took pictures at the temple by the sea (in waterloo, trinidad). yesterday's trip was awesome. the tour guide was above and beyond my expectations. in addition, seeing the temples and the murtis and talking about the other religions brought out the things we had read about in the text.
i completely forgot about charging it up for today's trip to the war museum. it was really cool to see how trinidadians played a part in world war one and two.
cool fact: in WWII, trinidad was considered a strategic point of entry to control of south america. there was a map that showed underwater mine fields and weaponry coverage of the bay. and of course, there was the military base in chaguaramas. we also go to walk through a stripped BWIA plane. it had been dismantled, sold to the museum for $1, brought over in 9 trailers, and reassembled as funds allowed. one of the students quipped that they should have paid $2 and gotten the plane ready-made!
in other news, my gran is in the country. YAY! i made my first trek from west to east to go see her when she came in from the airport. i love when someone comes from canada to trinidad. all the relatives show up at my gran's sisters' place in curepe to visit because visits from canada are few and far between (because it's not cheap kelvin!). for me it's like christmas because the only time i'm in a roomful of relatives at home (canada) is when it's a holiday or special occasion. at my gran's there were her 2 sisters, my auntie debbie (my gran's niece, her brother's daughter), my auntie bernie (my gran's other sister's daughter) showed up with her sons, then auntie suelo showed up (bernie's sister) and then auntie debbie's dad came. out comes the food, drinks, and jokes. instant holiday!
pray for my grandad's health. he's been diagnosed with cancer. right now, doctors are pretty optimistic, and he himself is in much better spirits than when i saw him last. my mom and family friends are taking care of him.
go super mom!