Island Girl: La ultima

So today was the last day working at Jen's! It was a stinking busy day, too! They were joking that the word got out it was my last day so people were showin up to celebrate. . . Here are some of the people I work with. . . the pics are from Bastille day but they're my coworkers. . .

This is Marty. . . he's the bartender that trained me. . . Marty and i were a good team. . . we totally split tips equally so it gives you the freedom to tag team and share duties. . . i help him, he helps me. . . every time i start to think i'm doing more work, i remember all that he does for me. . . and vice versa!! we make a great team. . . he said he was sad i was leaving today :( and that i should come back and work for a couple of weeks over christmas break!!!

This is Chantel (Mavis' daughter) who comes in the afternoons and stocks our coolers and paper products, serves ice cream which is definitely more popular for locals and tourists alike in the afternoon, and helps out as she can. Then Jen is in the middle. . that's right, Jen the big kahuna as my dad says. . . the boss. . . the big deal :) She's enjoying a Johnny Cake and trying to keep cool on that blasted hot day. . . Johnny Cakes are a local fried dough treat that tastes a bit like funnel cake. And also, Carly who is the daughter of Charlene, one of the deli girls. . .

Here's another one of Jen enjoying a dance to Big Girls Rule (a Calypso song that was apparently the new song of Carnival this year)

On the very right is Mavis, one of my favorite local people. . . She is hardworking, always smiling (unless Jen's eccentric husband Stanley comes in on one of his flyby's through the restaurant and tells her to get off the phone because this is a terrible time to be chatting with someone--but dont worry she can hold her own . . . she yelled right back at him) and has a great sense of humor. . . i'm hoping this is an example of her sense of humor but my 3rd week working there, she looked at my backside and said to me, "Carrie girl, I think you're butt got bigger since you got here!" . . supposedly that's a compliment in her culture. . . rrrrrrrright :) . . she and Char (see below) do an amazing job of getting their have to's done while enjoying working with eachother in the meantime! I loved popping over there for a little ball of the brownie left overs or a smart comment or just a little break. . . i'll miss you girls!!

Charlene and her daughter Karly

I didn't get a pic of Michelle or the new girl (who is the spittin image of me. ..she is blond, has dark rimmed glasses, and is about my body type . . . a few inches shorter) but they work there too! Oh and Steph and Jacob who aren't pictured either (but there have been other pics of Steph on here) . . .

Nothing more to say about work. . . it was great fun, good experience, decent money :), a good use of my time, a nice way to interact with random tourists from around the world (denmark, philly, CHATHAM NJ!!!, cali, wisc, denver, mexico, and lots of other places), and a great way to get to know some locals. . . .

two customer stories and then i'm closing up for the night. . .

1. lots of senators and other local big wigs frequent Jen's. . . they're definitely big deals but since i'm both unfamiliar with the system and the people here, i dont recognize them to be any different than the sweet old couple that comes in off the boat. . . well, among other senators and lawyers from stt, i met this one who spoke spanish. . . we bonded briefly over that and i served him his normal lunch of the Local Chicken Soup with dumb bread and a can of soda at our tables everyday. . . today he was saddened to hear i was leaving, but said, "You know you will always be welcomed here and have a home in St. Thomas.". . . now let's be serious, its possible that people would say that to anyone . . . it's kinda a vague statement. . . but i really think he meant it!! i mean, he's a big wig. . . his office smells of deep mahogany. . . he doesnt have to talk to just anyone. . . and he was so warm about saying i should come back. . . i know he's got my back!

2. I'm talking to this couple who is from New Jersey . . . close to Morristown (i forget their actual town name...not important) but in our conversations it comes out that he (years and years ago... i think in '67) went to . . . . wait for it. . . crap i forget the name. . ahhh, Oratory Prep!!! THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL MY COUSINS MATT AND JAY WENT TO!!! what a coincidence. . . he actually was the basketball captain there when he was there and since coached his son's teams in basketball and baseball as he was growing up (who would probably be around my age) so matt and jason probably played against hiM!@! what are the chances!?

3. oh then there was the girl who asked me if the veggie chili vegetarian. . . great question. . . super smart gal. . .

4. and the girl who's half of sandwich slid off the plate as i was leaving the kitchen with it. . . so we had to redo that half and when i brought it out to her she NEVER touched it or the basket it was in . . . i watched carefully cause i thought maybe she wouldn't touch it since she was acting full from the app and the first half, so when she left, i totally ate it! it was untouched!!!!! probably shouldnt have shared that on here, hmmm. .. .

k, i promised you 2 and came with more. . i could probably go on, but im sure you're tired of reading by now. . . and i'm tired too. .

Here are some other random photos from Bastille Day

Jay (went scuba diving with him--friend of Sarah's) was a judge for the big fishing tournament so he had to go by helicopter to check out all the boundaries to make sure boats weren't fishing outside the boundaries. . . its an inshore fishing tournament so you had to stay within the marks. . . he asked me if i wanted to come along!!!!!!!!!!! we caught about 5 boats that were cheating and they were disqualified. . . apparently, there is concern about the guy who won, but we didnt see him out of bounds so we couldn't do anything about that. .. this is us before the flight. . .jay actually sat next to the open window so he could take pics of the cheating boats. . . i sat upfront so i could spot them and call them out to the pilot. .. and not get airsick :)

helicopter view of redhook where you take the ferry to st john

View of some random houses in st thomas. . . . cool eh!?

guy who caught big barracuda

another guy who caugh big kingfish and barracuda. . . apparently the biggest fish was a 58 pounder. . . . one kid on J

Jay's son's boat caught a 3 foot shark. . .

i really think the best day to go scuba diving would be the day after this tournament. . . because the fisherman clear that ocean out of the barracuda so you can swim peacefully (or so ill tell myself)