It's been a quiet week in Nassau...

It's been a quiet week in Nassau. People are talking about a big new resort that China is investing in (2.4 billion dollars) and will provide many people with jobs here called Bahamar. They are going to tear down three existing hotels and build it right through part of my commute. Supposedly they are going to start digging up the road in a few months.

After practicing their song at the church

School is going well. Kelly was out sick most of the week, so it was fairly quiet around the office. The kids were practicing a song they will sing tonight for Kari's going away party/service at his church. And I've been working on the kids' final examination study guides.

The Allens have had a quiet week as well. David goes to different islands to do work with counseling centers there once week. And Vicki has been wrapping up her term this week at the college.

I spent a couple evening this week with an older lady named Suzanne Black. She is a friend of the Allens and is a local white Bahamian who has spent a lot of her life with the upper crest of Bahamian society. She has lots of class and refinement (in that respect she reminds me of my grandmother Mimi a lot). She's taken a liking to me and she's told me all about her life: 'overcoming' two battles with cancer, being a member of some prestigious clubs in London and New York, being the president of the richest club in the Bahamas for a few years, and her rocky family life. She took me out last night to a nice little restaurant down the street called Indigo's for dinner. It reminded me of the Tree House Cafe on Bainbridge-- nice quaint place.

On the bus to church with the students

I also met up with the pastor of the emerging church, Christian. He was actually a very nice guy and we had a great conversation about art and beauty. He's a rather eccentric artist/musician type with a thought or opinion about everything. I hope we can find some more time to hang out. 

My book on Beauty is coming along slow and steady. I'm at the research stage of accumulating quotes and ideas to flesh out later. It's a great project to be working on here. The Allens have tons of books-- poetry, theology, history, etc. So I've been using their bookcases as a library. Plus David has been great about recommending authors and books for me.

I was on a run yesterday morning and I decided that it was time to cut my beard. The season was over. My students haven't seen my face yet, and I'm sure they will freak out like 11 year olds do.

And I'm totally loving my scooter. There's nothing better than cruising along the ocean. Sometimes I go right along with the waves, and it feels like I'm surfing on the road. It's great fun.

This Sunday, after I went to my church at 7am, I head out west to the richest Anglican church on the island, St. Christopher's. It is in a country club, and I had to promise the security guard at the gate that I wouldn't 'cruise around' the club before or after the church service. It was a small church and had a bungalow feel. But after going there, I'm pretty sure that I won't be back. I didn't feel like I would fit there very well.

I'm looking forward to this coming week- I have a concert to go to, a meeting with my pastor at my church, and THREE thanksgiving dinners to go to at different places!