Week -1

Hey friends,

There's no one at the Buffalo Bills bar in Dominica today- not even me. I think we're all aware that 2010 was a building year and we're saving our enthusiasm for Chan's 16- 0 team in 2011. Although everyone at the Bills bar in Dominica loves the Steeler's song "Here We Go". (My dad just informed me that the Steeler's stole the melody from the "Erie Canal Song", what punks.)

Seriously though, I've been debating about a blog name for weeks. (Especially as I've threatened to make very many blogs; I feel like I should make this one really good.) Last night I dreamed that through some amazing error in the NFL we found out that the Bills were actually in the AFC championship today. I've already been in Buffalo for too long.

Last week I spoke to my island director who is a native Dominican (yes, they are also Dominicans). I was trying to inquire about whether I should expect to have access to the interwebs and a refrigerator without sounding like a jerk. Patrick told me that in addition to a flushing toilet, the interwebs and perhaps a refrigerator I will also be able to watch the NFL. (He watched the Jets/Patriots game last week and asked if I was a Giants or Jets fan but I saved my tirade about Buffalo not being near NYC or part of the Northeast for my arrival.) From that conversation I give you my blog. Also dahm-in-EE-kuh is the proper pronunciation for the island. My apologies to all the people I said it to incorrectly.

I fly to Miami on Thursday (1/27) and from Miami to St. Lucia on Friday where I will have a week of training before I depart for Dominica. Hopefully I'll get to talk to most of you before I leave, but if not I'll miss each and every one of you a lot.

For the people I haven't seen or talked to since I was reassigned: I was reassigned to Dominica. Dominica is home to a boiling lake, active volcanoes, frequent hurricanes, an abnormally high percentage of centenarians, and the Caribs featured in Pirates of the Caribbean 2. (I love sequels.) Robbie Sozanski has been describing it as the island in Jurassic Park, hopefully that helps with your image of the island. Doesn't that description make me sound tough?

Here's a pretty picture of Dominica that I didn't take:

Next week in the Caribbean!

Erin