More Pictures

Andrea's surprise birthday party thrown by
the Inglesia Biblica Baptista!


Happy birthday Andi! (With Tatiana's step
daughter, Karey, and another friend from VBS).


Classroom #1


Classroom #2


Laughing at Lori's scuba diving video.



Turns out Lori is better at doing flips above water
than underwater.


Before sign language class - with Leon (also
from Parrots Dive School), Tatiana, and Karey.
We had a great time learning American Sign
Language so we could communicate more with
each other on dives.


With Pedro - the shower handyman (he also
helped us with our Spanish!)


Iguana Station - never got to go in though...
the owners closed for the day to play volleyball.


On the boat to Laguana Beach.


Pool at Laguana Beach Resort- We took a
day trip!


Lori and Leah!


Last Day of School.


Kathryn and Leah with their teacher Ivis.


Lori and Mom with their teacher Carolina.


Mango Inn for Pizza - A rare treat!


Visiting with Tatiana.

Utila Paradise - The Complete Song!

"Utila Paradise" (To the tune of Amish Paradise or Gangstars Paradise)

As I walk to the market on the only road here, I take a look at that boy and he’s drinking a beer. But that’s just normal on this island you see. You know we pay 20 a day for electricity. At 4:30 in the morning the rooster crows. We wake up really sweaty, cause the wind doesn't blow. Fool. And I’ve been burning and scratching so long that, even Pedro thinks that my mind is gone. Soy una chica de isla and enjoying it here. My departure date is something the local boys fear. But if I finish all my homework and you get yours done, then we’ll have an island party like in 1821.

The bugs bite you day and night living in Utila Paradise. Pumped water once or twice living in Utila paradise. Don’t make us eat more rice, living in Utila paradise. The boys here are way to nice living in Utila paradise.

A local man hit me with his cart last week, I just smiled at him as he ran over my feet. I really don’t care, in fact I wish him well, I’ll just boycott his store and the things that he sells. And we don’t ever drink the water even if we are parched, we’d have internal problems that last until March. Divers never wear gloves but we got a cool mask and my buddy agrees I really look good in black. Fool. Decompression sickness may be one of your fears, but we haven’t used the chamber in so many years. And don’t get hurt ‘cause you won’t get help soon, the doc’s only in from ten til noon.

There’s no Chick-fil-a, no Wendy’s, Starbucks, or Mcydees. We’re stuck without fast food here, living on a thousand calories.

We’ve lost power more than twice, livin in utila paradise. Internet would sure be nice, livin in utila paradise. Waters out, I have soap in my eyes, living in utila paradise. But you’d probably think it bites, livin in Utila paradise.

Purify some water; buy some peanut butter; make a jelly sandwich; soon I’ll make another; think your really sweaty? Think your really hot; well I know I a million times as sweaty as thou art.

Fuimos a la cuevas y vamos a la playa; donde esta elado tender en pasada. And don’t complain or don’t be whiney or else my mama gonna sic a barracuda on your hiney.

Thunder shakes your house at night, livin in Utila paradise. Buy food at an inflated price living in Utila Paradise. Have no rules or traffic lights, living in Utila paradise. But we all think its nice, living in utila paradise.


...stay tune for the "music video" coming in October!

WHAT LEGS LOOK LIKE LIVING IN UTILA PARADISE!

Amanda's legs.


Kathryn's Heal.


Lori's legs.


Leah's legs.


Andrea's legs.

Carribean Dreams? More like Carribean Nightmare!

Our apartment building is called "Caribbean Dreams." We have 2 apartments in a complex that was built this past April. However, they are falling apart right and left! Pipes are leaking, toilets don't flush, the circuit breakers are always popping, and the water tank is always running out. Last night the water ran out while I was washing my hair. I had to go next door to the Mills house to rinse off. Since the showers run on electricity, Andi and I have been shocked when we turn the shower off. The shower also has a tendency to smoke and spontaneously spit out water even when it is off.

There is not much else to report this week. Diving has been a blast! I finally mastered the skill of removing and replacing my mask under water without inhaling the ocean! The reefs are beautiful and we've seen so many interesting aquatic creatures. Tuesday all nine of us (4 Webers plus 5 Mills) are going scuba diving together for the first time. We are renting an under water camera and will post the pics here in the future.

Adios for now,
Lori


DIVE PHOTOS NOW POSTED BELOW!!!!!!!


Dive Parrots!


Putting our gear together.


With Tatiana (our wonderful dive instructor
and Parrots owner) who sadly couldn't go with us
this time since she blew her eardrum on a dive
a few days earlier.


Heading out to sea.


Getting ready to descend! The Caribbean
waters are SO clear.


Buddy Team #1 - Lori and Andi.


Buddy Team #2 - Bonnie and Leah


Buddy Team #3 - Kathryn and Amanda


Buddy Team #4 - Mrs. Mills and Stephanie.


Trumpet Fish.


Coral and Danielle (our divemaster).


Divers everywhere!


Surface interval break.


Andi's 12th birthday.


Goofing off between dives.


Our best attempt at an underwater pyramid.


The birthday card Tatiana made for
Andi from the staff at Parrots.


Lori - Floating like Buda.


Leah is extra confident under the
water. No need for the mask or
regulator.


Kathryn, floating upside down.

Weber Sisters (minus one) - Kathryn, Lori,
Leah.


Mills Sisters - Andi, Amanda, Bonnie,
Stephanie.


Unloading the boat.

This week in Utila- by Kathryn

I am continually intrigued by the Utilan culture. Things are so different from the US. For example, last night, they had a parade through the streets, complete with a marching band. These parades have been happening at random times. The first week we got here there was one at 5am. I think it is in preparation for their independence day which is September 15.
I am occasionally annoyed by some of the things people do here, though. A few people in particular. Our neighbors find it convenient to blare their music at all hours of the night. They have it so loud that what we hear sounds like a normal volume. I can only imagine how loud it is for them. It wouldn't even be quite so bad if I didn't have to get up early for a morning dive. And since there is no one to complain to about the noise, I began praying for the next best thing. A power outage. I never thought I would ever pray for a power outage in my entire life. I love electricity and I miss having it to power AC. But that is beside the point. we did get a power outage last night. Lori and I were so happy we went to go to bed. But as soon as we laid down, the power was back on and so was their music, louder than ever.
Diving was as amazing as I thought it would be, or would have been if I hadn't been sick. Breathing under water is awesome. The regulator sounds like Darth Vader. The fish swim all around you. You are in another world. Our second dive site yesterday was called the Moonhole. We got to do all sorts of flips and tricks. We even did some matrix moves. The Mills will be going with us on one of our fun dives where we will take pictures. Sadly though, the rest of our dives have been postponed since Tatiana, our wonderful dive instructor, blew out her eardrum on one of her dives. She has to go to La Ceiba for surgery. Pray that the surgery will go well and her ear will get better.
I got to play the piano at VBS this week. Even though there is a language barrier, music is universally understood. Even at church, where I don't understand much, I understand music. A lot of songs are the same as in the States.
Well my time is up. I hope everything is going well in the States and that nobody is getting hit to badly by all the hurricanes.
Until Next time, Hasta la vista baby.

Here are some pics:


"Leah wants to eat grapes with Kathryn."


Leah jumping off the dock at
Parrots Dive Center.


After swimming.


Crabs are to Utila as Fire-ants are to Texas!


Nightime walk to the beach.

UPDATE! Independence Day (September 15th) photos now posted :)


Trying to stay cool watching the parade.


Kids walking in the Independence Day Parade.


This little girl loved Mrs. Mills' hat.


Amanda labeled the parts of the body on Leah
in Spanish. She proudly wore them on her body
all day.


Climbing up the Utila water tower.


View from the top of the water tower.


Watching fireworks.


Resting in the "bunk hammocks" after a long
day.