New Life Change

I've thought about it for a while, but finally decided to stick with my idea--I'm no longer a meat eater. My cholesterol has always been really bad, with no change from dieting, but there was one thing left to test. I want to see if cutting meat out of my diet will affect my cholesterol in any way (but that's not the only reason why, I'm just particularly curious about that aspect). Honestly, I've gotten bored with meat. When prepared properly, there's a different story, but most of the meat here is cooked very unhealthily (ex: chicken fingers/burgers/fried chicken sandwich/etc). Today started the change, and no it's not an April Fools joke! 

 :) I love fruits and vegetables, even though there aren't many vegetarian options here at UT, I will make the best of it. On the bright side, I am not cutting out seafood because fish has omega 3 oils (very good for cholesterol) so I will up my fish-consumption once I get home--and actually have a fresh supply! 

My Monday classes were canceled for April 5th, which means--4 day weekend for me! Couldn't be happier, I definitely need the break. I hope everyone has a joyous Easter! The only thing that could make it better is if we were all back home dying Easter eggs and smiling with friends and family. 

A Change Of Pace

Because of all the health issues I've been dealing with, I've decided to make a few changes. Number one is to cut out meat from my diet as much as possible, but definitely not because I don't like it--trust me, I do. It's the easiest way to decrease my fat intake, which will hopefully aide my cholesterol on lowering. Secondly, I plan on drinking a lot more water than I do now, because it seems like I always have a headache. Third on the list is to try to stop worrying about others, and put myself first. That's probably the most tiring aspect of my life, and may be the most detrimental to my health. 

I'm still waiting on results from medical tests to come in, but I'm not worrying. Whatever will be, will be. All I can do at this point is figure out how I will handle whatever comes my way. I want to be more positive :) so I just have to be patient! 

Worst Possible Scenario

Last night around 11:00, I decided to take a shower before hopping into bed. I've always wondered "what should I do if the fire alarm goes off while I'm in here?" ...and apparently I'm really good at predicting the future because that's exactly what happened! 

I was the lucky one who had to run downstairs with wet hair (mind you, there was still conditioner in it) and stand outside for 20 minutes in 50-something degree weather with a robe partially on, and a thin blanket wrapped around me. 

But did anyone help? No. Did anyone feel sorry for me? Nope. Everyone just laughed at me, even my "friends" which was the best part of all. I want to give a big THANK YOU to all of those people, and I hope that you are put in the same situation one day--it's really fun. 

TO ALL OF THOSE WHO SAY "my life is a joke," "my life sucks," or things like that...I can assure that nothing is more embarrassing than what I had to go through last night. The END.

Bye Bye Spring Break!

     Spring break is finally over and I could not be happier! Why? Because it means that there are only a few weeks left in the semester, and then I will be on my way home :) I haven't been there since mid-August 2009, so I'm LONG overdue for some relaxation! Let me rephrase that...I'm long overdue for a LITTLE relaxation because I'll be taking summer courses, yay? It's alright though because that just means there's less stress for me to deal with once I come back to UT.

     My plans for the summer as of now are, like I said, to take a few classes, and do a lot more painting. It's one of my only stress relievers that actually helps, and it's been a while since there's even been time to paint anything. I love just lying in the sand, painting what is just two steps in front of me. Only 53 days until I'm home! 

Spring Break

I have a feeling that I won't be having the best spring break possible this year.  Instead of being home and moving into my new house, I'm stuck in Tampa, really cool.. :(

It all started off with a broken phone and waiting for an hour in the Sprint store, and creepy cab drivers saying "I've been waiting all day for you baby...do we have a date?" No, we do not. How will I spend my break? Oh, you know...just going to doctors appointments, doing homework (of course I get assigned a lot over break, should have known), and attempting to find food because EVERYTHING minus the cafeteria is closed for the entire break. It should be really interesting....slash horrible!

Honestly I just want this break to go by as fast as possible. On the bright side, 2 months and 2 days until it's HOME for the summer!!! I miss my island home.

Buccaneer Resort, St. Croix, USVI

February 28th

Guess what? I've been thinking about changing my major for a while now because I realized that psychology (my current major) doesn't interest me as a whole. There are certain aspects about the field that interest me, mainly biopsychology, but everything else would simply feel tedious to take classes in. That's not the case for criminology, however. I have looked through the classes offered for a criminology major, and every single class sounds interesting and exciting. I can see myself working in the field with a criminology degree, and believe that there is where I would be happiest. Tomorrow is the day that I will make the step, submitting a change of major form. All I can do is smile :)

Aside from that, my life isn't so interesting right now. I'll be stuck in Tampa over Spring Break because I cannot afford to go back home (*waaah*) but I'll try to make the best of it and get school-work out of the way even earlier than I would have.  I'm looking forward to a week of slower-paced life since, as you all can tell, it's been like I was in a high-speed chase for the past 4 or 5 weeks.

I hope that everyone doesn't begin relaxing TOO early, remember that midterms (if you have any) are this week. I only have one that I know of for certain, but there is one where my teacher will not tell us when the exam takes place. I'm particularly excited for that one....NOT! Good luck to all, take care!

Island food!

Today was the first in a while that I actually felt the warmth of the sun! Obviously it made me miss my home, but I soon realized that what I miss even more is the FOOD. 


SOME of the things I miss include: fungi, oxtail stew, goat roti, spicy doubles, saltfish pate, puerto rican seasoned rice, fried fish, johnny cakes, peanut punch, sorrel, tostones, ginger beer (carbonated ginger tea, no alcohol), guava berries, souse (not the cold, lunch-meat type thing in the states), lobster, curry goat, breadfruit chips, blood pudding, cow tongue, dumplings, conch ceviche, tamarind balls, callaloo, purple tania, beef tripe, chicken hearts, and passion fruit


Only 2.5 months until I begin the feast of champions! Can't wait.. :)


Here are pictures of some of the foods I mentioned.

 Tostones (twice-fried green plantains, dusted with adobo and served with a garlic/lemon juice sauce.)
 Sorrel (tangy fruit typically used to make juices or tarts.)

 Blood pudding (yes, it has real blood, and rice in a sausage casing.) Sounds gross, but everyone that I have introduced to this delicious food agrees that it is something amazing!

 Oxtail stew (much-like beef stew, but with pieces of beef tail.)

 Spiny lobster (possibly the most delicious thing on the face of the planet!) This is one that I baked myself :) 

 Breadfruit chips (sliced and fried in vegetable oil, dusted with adobo.)

 Chicken hearts (typically fried, they have a delicate flavor. Yum!)