So much time...so little to do
As I've mentioned in previous posts, I spend a lot of time alone since Luke has to study so much. Last term Luke was not as busy, but this is one of his busiest terms. In addition to labs and rotations at the hospital, he has many classes which all require large amounts of studying. I've been asked how Luke is doing in medical school. This term, especially, is very challenging, so Luke has started a new study routine. He leaves on the 7:35 AM bus, and he is usually in class from about 8 AM to 3 or 4PM. He has an hour for lunch, but he eats at school. Regardless of when his classes end for the day, he stays at the school and studies in the library until he can catch the 5 PM bus home for dinner. He heads back to school on the 6 PM bus to study in the library until he takes either the 9 or 9:45 PM bus back home. It is incredible how much information he has to study and learn. He works so hard! Many students fail a few classes this term, so he is doing his very best to pass everything. He is part of a club on campus called the Society of Medicine and Surgery. A few times each term, they have clinics where they learn how to do different medical related procedures. He attended an EKG and intubation clinic last term. This term, he went to a suture clinic. They used pig skin to learn how to suture.
As you can imagine, I have plenty of free time. Without having a job or a car, it can be difficult to find things to do. I've had many people ask me how I spend my days, so I decided to write a post about just that.
When I sit down and think about it, I have found quite a few ways to stay busy. Our apartment complex has a pool, and I really enjoy going out there and attempting to get a tan. The pool isn't anything fancy, but I'm so grateful for it.
The beach is a thirty-minute walk away, but for safety reasons, I don't like to walk anywhere alone. I do wish we lived closer to the beach because the beaches here are beautiful!
I've been busier this term since I started selling food to other students. I sell calzones, cheddar bay biscuits, and cinnamon sugar doughnut muffins. It's been wonderful for me since it gives me something to do and gives us a little extra money. Some afternoons, I've made fifteen calzones! I make them in batches of five, so making calzones has kept me busy!
I cook to sell on Mondays and Thursdays. It always amazes me how grateful the students are that I'm cooking for them. It does free up their time since many students are single or are here alone with their families still in the states. In addition to cooking to sell, I also do all of the cooking and baking for Luke and I. I've enjoyed trying new recipes and creating a few of my own. Recently, I've been making bagels and bread to make panini sandwiches.
Our apartment came with cable television, and we actually have quite a few channels. I've been enjoying getting to watch some movies and shows, but in May, we may lose cable TV. Thankfully, we also have access to Netflix and YouTube, so I'll still have plenty of things to watch. Since I have an iPad, I'm able to FaceTime my parents and some other family members. Technology is so wonderful! I was able to get some free books on my iPad, so I have plenty of reading material. I also have a coloring book. I have games on my phone and iPad to keep me entertained. A friend of mine gave me some puzzles, so I can keep myself entertained and use my brain a little bit. Thankfully, I'm not the only spouse here, so sometimes the spouses will get together. Last Friday night, a group of us wives went out to a restaurant. Those times are so rare for us, so it was really fun and special.
I also have plenty of time for exercise. I brought a yoga mat down this term, so I have been able to do some workouts at my apartment. If I want to use weights or equipment, there is an open air gym on campus that I have access to. Since it is an open air gym, it gets very hot. There are fans to help cool it down, but it's still in the 80s while working out.
On Friday evening, I enjoy going on campus to play sand volleyball while Luke plays hockey on the basketball court. Each term they have a volleyball tournament and a hockey tournament. Last term, the team Luke and I were on won second place in the volleyball tournament. We had to play four games in a row at the end, and our second to last game, we beat the champions by ten points! Maybe we'll do better this term.
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| Luke is in the white T-shirt |
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| Luke's first time sutures |
As you can imagine, I have plenty of free time. Without having a job or a car, it can be difficult to find things to do. I've had many people ask me how I spend my days, so I decided to write a post about just that.
Most people dream of the life I live. This life has its downsides, but I get to live on a Caribbean island and don't have to work or clean my house. Our apartment comes with a maid cleaning service, which has been such a blessing since I don't have cleaning supplies. I'm doing my best to enjoy this laid back life since I don't know when I'll have this much free time again. At times I feel like I'm wasting my time and feel like I'm not doing anything productive, but Luke constantly reminds me that he's so grateful that I'm here and that I do a lot to help him.
When I sit down and think about it, I have found quite a few ways to stay busy. Our apartment complex has a pool, and I really enjoy going out there and attempting to get a tan. The pool isn't anything fancy, but I'm so grateful for it.
The beach is a thirty-minute walk away, but for safety reasons, I don't like to walk anywhere alone. I do wish we lived closer to the beach because the beaches here are beautiful!
I've been busier this term since I started selling food to other students. I sell calzones, cheddar bay biscuits, and cinnamon sugar doughnut muffins. It's been wonderful for me since it gives me something to do and gives us a little extra money. Some afternoons, I've made fifteen calzones! I make them in batches of five, so making calzones has kept me busy!
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| Calzone dough all rolled out |
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| Toppings on the calzones |
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| Ready to be put into the oven |
Our apartment came with cable television, and we actually have quite a few channels. I've been enjoying getting to watch some movies and shows, but in May, we may lose cable TV. Thankfully, we also have access to Netflix and YouTube, so I'll still have plenty of things to watch. Since I have an iPad, I'm able to FaceTime my parents and some other family members. Technology is so wonderful! I was able to get some free books on my iPad, so I have plenty of reading material. I also have a coloring book. I have games on my phone and iPad to keep me entertained. A friend of mine gave me some puzzles, so I can keep myself entertained and use my brain a little bit. Thankfully, I'm not the only spouse here, so sometimes the spouses will get together. Last Friday night, a group of us wives went out to a restaurant. Those times are so rare for us, so it was really fun and special.
I also have plenty of time for exercise. I brought a yoga mat down this term, so I have been able to do some workouts at my apartment. If I want to use weights or equipment, there is an open air gym on campus that I have access to. Since it is an open air gym, it gets very hot. There are fans to help cool it down, but it's still in the 80s while working out.
On Friday evening, I enjoy going on campus to play sand volleyball while Luke plays hockey on the basketball court. Each term they have a volleyball tournament and a hockey tournament. Last term, the team Luke and I were on won second place in the volleyball tournament. We had to play four games in a row at the end, and our second to last game, we beat the champions by ten points! Maybe we'll do better this term.
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| The sand volleyball court to the left and the basketball court to the right |
Of course, there is always laundry to be done or dishes to be washed. We do not have a dishwasher, so all of the dishes need to be washed by hand. Our kitchen sink is very small with hardly any space next to it to put dirty dishes, so many times it seems like a bigger task than it really is. The laundry room is on the bottom floor of the building next to us. There are four washers and two dryers. We do not have to pay extra to do laundry, and we have a locked cupboard in the laundry room to keep our detergent.
I also do some online transcription through a website called transcribeme.com. The transcription takes me a long time and doesn't pay very much, but at this point in life, even fifty cents in the positive seems wonderful!
I signed up for an affiliate link for the Daily Grace Company. I really liked a lot of the items they sell, and I was telling people about them anyway, so I decided that I might as well get compensated for it. If you purchase anything from the Daily Grace Company, please use my link right here. Please do not in any way feel like you have to purchase anything. :)
Recently, I found a new way to earn a small income. A classmate of Luke's knew I cut Luke's hair and asked me if I would cut his. I was nervous, but thankfully, the haircut turned out quite well! I'm so glad that my mom taught me a few tips about hair cuts.
Our weekends consist of grocery shopping on Saturdays and church on Sundays, with studying in between. At church, I've been able to play the piano for the Sunday morning service, and occasionally for the Sunday evening or Wednesday evening services, as well. I've really enjoyed getting to serve in that way.
I signed up for an affiliate link for the Daily Grace Company. I really liked a lot of the items they sell, and I was telling people about them anyway, so I decided that I might as well get compensated for it. If you purchase anything from the Daily Grace Company, please use my link right here. Please do not in any way feel like you have to purchase anything. :)
Recently, I found a new way to earn a small income. A classmate of Luke's knew I cut Luke's hair and asked me if I would cut his. I was nervous, but thankfully, the haircut turned out quite well! I'm so glad that my mom taught me a few tips about hair cuts.
Our weekends consist of grocery shopping on Saturdays and church on Sundays, with studying in between. At church, I've been able to play the piano for the Sunday morning service, and occasionally for the Sunday evening or Wednesday evening services, as well. I've really enjoyed getting to serve in that way.
While there are times I get bored and lonely, I have plenty of things I can find to keep me busy. Writing this blog is one of them, so thank you to everyone who takes the time to read it! :)
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