St. John-Adventure to Remember

Story Time! - This one might be long. I will attempt to give you a day in the life of my last 24 hours.

Quick Recap to get you up to speed. Joel was away for the week because he was back home in Utah for a friends wedding. Sales were going well in Del Sol and Cariloha. We both ended up hitting our projections and corporate was super stoked, so they offered to pay for our ferry ride over to St. John while they closed the store this Saturday for us. We had to pick Joel up at the airport at 1:30 so we figured we wouldn't be able to go to St. John.

Friday night it hit me. We can still make it to St. John even if Joel isn't feeling up to it. Our managers had to make an emergency flight back to L.A. for medical reasons and left us their car for the week. If Joel didn't want to go it was no big deal because he could still get to church on Sunday because he would have a car. Jake and I did some quick research to see if there was a place we could camp on St. John for the night. We found some tent's on St. John at a beach called Cinnamon Bay. They were closed for the season.......... WOMP WOMP WOMP WOMP WOWWOWOWOWOW. When did a bump in the road ever stop me? Me being the psychotically optimistic person I am assured Jake and Charles that we could find somewhere to camp, and that if worse came to worse we could always just sleep in the car on the side of the road. (The fun is ALWAYS in the adventure) To my surprise after a little explaining of why this weekend was our window to go. They were on board. We texted Joel.

He said he was up for it. He hates camping and he had no food to take so it was awesome to see everyone get in on the adventure. I LOVE flying by the seat of my pants. Where is the fun in having a set itinerary, with a play by play of exactly how your trip should go. We picked Joel up from the airport, came home, packed our car and headed off.

We were able to hit the early ferry I was hoping for over to St. John, so that we could find a beach, hang out and figure out where the hell we were going to sleep for the night. Once we got to Cinnamon bay we found out everything was closed as advertised online, but for whatever reason the National Park Services leaves the tents up with mattresses and pillows on hand inside. (Only on an island in the middle of nowhere would this be ok) After a night of skimming, fighting off bugs, relaxing, and swimming we retreated to the car to go into town to find some dinner. I had already brought some food (pop tarts, pretzels, green tea, and sheez-it's <--- St. Thomas brand cheez-it's........ we think) We got into town and somehow found ourselves at a little pizza joint. The food was food and the service was slow, but that was the last of my worries. graphic moment coming up to skip just start reading at the next cluster of *'s...... I needed to poop, these kids kept running in front of me to was their hands after playing jenga so it took me a while to get in, but it's ok I was able to get in a little bit of light reading while I was waiting.

Once I got into the bathroom, I was in heaven. these guys were genius, they spliced the wire to the light, and rigged a fan to the wall that blew straight into your face while you were droppin the cosby kids off at the swimming pool. How ingenious! If you have ever pooped in a humid place around the equator, you know how much a fan like this is needed. End of story :) ****************

After we finished dinner we headed back to Cinnamon Bay. SKINNYDIPPIN TIME!!!!! What funny night. I definitely ran a mile down the beach and back.... in the buff. Swimming naked is probably the greatest thing ever. I think that I could probably beat Michael Phelps in a swim contest, but i would definitely have to race naked.

Once we finished skinny dippin it was time to find our camp. SKKKKKKEEEEETCHHHH the trails around the camp sites were sooo sketchy at night especially with the full moon shining just enough light to see, but not enough to see well. We found the tent closest to the water. I figured we might only have this opportunity once so lets make the most of it, or should I say moist of it. The tents were sooooooo bloody hot. Jake and I were the only ones who decided to stay in the tent. Drenched in sweat, we somehow managed to slip off to sleep for good sometime around midnight. We both woke up around 730 and headed down to the beach to take a look around. Here are some pictures of our tent, the beach, and the trails.

After the beach Jake and I headed up to the car to make sure it was still there and to see if Charles and Joel were still in it. -All was in tact. Charles hadn't slept all night and Joel was out cold. We decided to hurry and zip off to Watermelon Bay to do some snorkeling and swimming early so we could get back on a early ferry so Charles could get some sleep. The snorkeling was unreal. So many big fish, best visibility yet, and strong currents, what more could we ask for.

After Watermelon I talked Charles into 45 minutes at Hawksrest Beach, he was a little grumpy and wanted to get back so he could get to sleep, but sleep can wait haha. Besides he just went to Wendy's and didn't even roll into bed until 7.... hours after we got back. Frustrating. We caught the 12:30 ferry home. I know I am probably forgetting some of the greatest parts of the adventure, but my fingers hurt and I want to get off the computer soooo. The end. Today was awesome. Everyone who reads this should go on an unforgettable adventure ASAP. Even one as simple as going for a walk. Get out and get moving.

 

Never stop Breaking Down the Doors

-Kam

It's never too late-

Some days I find it sad that people need to be motivated to better themselves and their lives. Why do so many people struggle at going out and getting what they want out of life? Is it fear? Money? Love? I don't know but I know that recently I have not been as hungry to live every day to the fullest like I was in Durango. I am making small steps to get back to where I was. Reading, Watching, learning a new instrument. I miss school. I need to keep learning. I have a curious thirst for new knowledge right now, and recently I have found myself parched WAY too often.

I remember a customer I had in Durango who bought a ton of things. It was just her and I in the store for the better part of an hour. We talked about our lives, and her children. A song came on that she loved, and we both were singing it, and she said she saw the band live at WOODSTOCK! no way, I wish I could have attended woodstock. (throwing grammar and punctuation out the window starting now) she told me a few stories and she wanted a shirt for herself but felt bad because she didn't like many of the designs I pointed her to a shirt that has a peace sign and flowers on it. she laughed and said she was too old for that. to my surprise i instantly spoke with my heart, "It's never too late to start living" she laughed. i saw the light bulb iluminate. what i said really hit her. she looked at the t shirt like a scrapbook after that. she loved it, she kept telling me stories of woodstock and she said she was super wild  back in the day. she told me she did lots of stupid things and tasted lots of awful drugs and said it was so much fun. It was so fun to hear her story. she said she had never told her kids that she was a wild child or that she attended woodstock. I felt honored some weird way. once she got to the cash wrap she told me to never tell her kids how wild she was. (she was probably in her early 60's)

It is sales like that which drive me to keep selling boring stuff day to day. It is neat to feel like you can ignite a flame in someones life or have your own flame magnified just by selling some t-shirts. I never want to lose my creative spark.  It is what drives me.

It is never too late to start living

Never stop breaking down the Doors

-Kam

4 months left?!

Today is September 18th. One month from when I left Durango. What a month it has been. Sunday night Jake and I went down to Morningstar to skim and swim. The surf was weird and the beaches were torn from the swell the day before so we both stopped skimming shortly after starting. We found ourselves in the water just wading and watching the sunset over Hassel Island. WHAT A SUNSET. This night was exactly what I needed. I have been in a bit of a funk since I have been down here. I am so used to it just being Jake and I that it has taken some time to adjust to two completely new people and how to work our schedules around each others. I am so lucky to share these experiences with someone like Jake. We are becoming the best of friends. It is so nice to have time together just the two of us, to talk over and re-live all of the incredible adventures we have shared the past four months. He is on hell of a kid, whoever finds him will be super lucky. He always says the same about whoever I will find to marry. It is funny that we are so young looking so far ahead but it is so humbling to hear from someone that you respect a lot, that they think "whoever finds me will be super lucky". WOW, speechless

I have learned a lot the past few months. There is no right or wrong way to live life. So cliche, but honestly. I have really been able to see people of all different colors and walks of life in my travels. It is very thought provoking to see what people consider important in other parts of the world. Most of the locals here don't even enjoy the beach, or the ocean. What a sad life it seems. I can see how it would get old fast living on such a small piece of rock in the middle of nowhere.

I would like to think that I have set a high standard of living for myself. I am always looking for things to do. Down here I have lost some of my spark that I had in Durango. For whatever reason I have become content with doing less. I don't particularly enjoy it. I need to start living again. Going to the beach 4-5 nights a week is not enough. I am going to get better at going on morning runs. And spending every second I have free going and seeing something new.

I met a beautiful little lady today outside the store at lunch who works at the diamond store next door. She was so easy to talk to and the conversation was so fun. We are both bread lovers, so she is going to buy me a loaf on Friday from the best bakery on the island so that I can try some local bread. (I hope it is half as good as the bread my dad makes) She was so nice, but she said that she would never let me go to the bakery, because she knows I would be in danger. It is definitely eye opening and saddening to think that some of the best places on this island will be off limits to me just because I am white. I am so thankful for locals like her who are constantly looking out for me. Being a minority is bullshit. The fact that there is even the term minority associated with people is sickening. Why can't the world live as one?

I love and miss you all.

Never Stop Breaking Down the Doors-

-Kam

Another day, Another dollar

The past two weeks have gone by so fast. I know my time here on St. Thomas will go by so much quicker than Durango, even though I am marooned on this rock for 2 months longer than I was in Durango. Life down here is sweet. We are really starting to set in to life down here. The streets are nothing like I have ever seen in the states. There are so many hidden jems down tiny little alleys. Everything is so much bigger in the continental US. Including the people. The locals down here are so awesome. I could watch them all day every day and never get bored. The pitter patter of childrens feet running through the courtyards of the private Catholic Schools on the way to work, the constant beeping of car's horns to tell people hello, the cluck of wild chickens in the park. Everything here is so sweet. Over the past few months I have been reading Walden Pond by Thoreau. It is a super boring book, but some of the best messages I have found in a book are tucked within it's pages. I have really learned to sit back and enjoy my surroundings all the time. My life usually runs 100021203 miles per minute and I always have to be occupied by something, so it has been cool to learn how to just relax and take it all in these past few months. I have been super blessed to enjoy new beautiful surroundings along my observatory journey.

The world is so beautiful. Everyone should do their best to cherish it. I cannot think of anything more beautiful than this world. I cannot honestly think of anything greater than being captivated by nature. I am so glad that my dad used to let me huddle up to him when I was little and watch Nature, or Nova with him. My mom always taught me how to have fun outdoors. She was the one who taught me how to swim. And look at me now, living on St. Thomas improving the same strokes she taught me so many years ago. I am so glad to be living on the island that my parents got married on! How cool is that?!?! Honestly. wow. I feel so close to them every day. Yet I am so far away. If it wasn't for this island there probably wouldn't be a me. Just kidding haha gross. But really though I have the best parents in the world and they are so fun to be around. I am so glad they brought me up and encourage my curiosity. They make me who I am today. And for that I thank them.

Ok enough parent ranting. St. Thomas is the bees knees. Monday night movie night on water island. every day skimming and swimming. Work has been going great. Our bosses talked to the Caribbean sales director and they think we should close the store one Saturday this month and have an all expenses paid trip to St. John. HELL YES! They love the work that we are all doing, and are going to send us to St. John for a day. SIIIIIIIICK we are all super excited. Money is tight, so it will be sweet to be able to go and not have to worry about paying!!!!

I love it down here. I love and miss everyone back home! I cannot wait to share my stories with you all when I get back, but for now this blog will have to do.

Never stop breaking down the doors-

Kam

Sunset

 Yesterday was honestly one of the most amazing nights of my life. Courtney and Andrew (our bosses) told us about a movie showing that happens every Monday night on Water Island. It's 10$ and that includes the ferry ride over there. The movie for the night was The Hunger Games. We had to go. Joel has been reading us the second book every night. We call it our nightly "scripture". Charles and I had never read the book or seen the first movie so we knew we had to go.

Thank goodness we did

The ferry ride over to Water Island was amazing. Honestly I can barely recall another moment in my life when I was so taken back by my surroundings.

This was the view from the ferry.

Arriving at the dock.

(All pictures were taken with my iPhone with no retouching)

The movie on the beach. There was a food cart set up by the owners just outside of this picture. Cheap burgers and drinks. It was such an intimate setting, there was probably about 45 or 50 people at the movie, most of whom are residents of Water Island, so it had a real local feel. 

This will definitely become our weekly ritual.

 

The following night Joel and I went to the dock just off the beach at Frenchmans Cove where the Marriott Hotel is. The dock is about 300 yards off shore. It has become our regular spot to go for a quick swim and hang out after work. Jake, Joel and I call it "Our Dock"

Some great conversations with great people have been on this dock. I will never forget these nights. I wake every morning anxiously awaiting our next trip to the dock.

I am living the life I love right now.

Eyes wide open and a Heart full of passion.

 

Never Stop Breaking Down the Doors

- Kam

 

Cover the Earth

An awesome 2 days!

Last night Jake Joel and I went down to Frenchman Bay to the Marriott resort for an evening swim. It was sweet. When we go we always swim out to a dock about a quarter mile out. It is our own safe spot. Joel carried a large 20 pound rock over to it from shore. He about drowned it was crazy cool that he could carry it so far. Joel and I rode the rock down to the seafloor about 25 feet below the dock. It was a fun challenge to swim down and carry it back up. On our way out there we saw a stingray!!! How sweet is that?! It was definitely a night I will never forget. After we swam we decided to hit the pool like a group of tourists. We met a guy in the hot tub who played for Texas A and M back in the day then later went on to play for the GIANTS and the SAINTS! He was super cool. He had a voice just like James Earl Jones, IT WAS AWESOME. He had a really cool quote that I think I will carry with me forever.

-Cover the Earth, Before the Earth Covers You.


Today we all went to Secret Bay after Joel got back from church. It was sick. Jake and I got some more footage from our go pro's. The video of some of what I have seen can be enjoyed at -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEQeQXIeSMo

CHECK IT OUT! It was super fun to film. I am still learning a lot about how to shoot certain things. The videos will get better with time I promise. But for now it is a start.
At Secret Bay Joel and I saw a SEA-TURTLE!!!!! Such an experience. I wish I had my go pro when we went out. I hopefully will not make that mistake again. I am really gaining such a love for this place. It seems like an island paradise from the pictures but trust me there are places here that rival streets of Compton. I love my family and friends and it is great to hear from ALL of you. Text me if you get a chance. I love hearing from home!

Never Stop Breaking Down the Doors

-Kam