10 Days in Dominica, Day Eight

Day Eight- Does your spouse like it here?

I'm pretty sure my husband is indifferent to Dominica. He doesn't hate it here, he doesn't love it here. I occasionally hear him complain about various things like the food or weather but most of the time he is too busy studying to really care. I know that he's enjoyed the few trips he's had the time to go on and also just the adventure of being here.

One of the things Chris loves about the island is the scuba diving. We really enjoyed getting certified together and going on all the different dives. He would go every week if we had the money time.

I'm glad he isn't a Dominica hater like most of the students.  I think it is silly to choose to come here and then complain about it so much.  Accept where you are, enjoy the good the island has to offer, and then appreciate America more when you go home.

Ichthyophobia

Hi, my name is Katie and I am afraid of fish.  Specifically the idea of eating fish or touching fish makes me feel all ookey inside.  I get this weird feeling in the small of my back that makes me wriggle when I think about either of those things.  Also, I have problems with smelling fish or being too close to fish.

I know what you are thinking, how do I handle scuba diving?  First of all, I wear a wetsuit while diving to minimize the chances of actual skin contact with a fish.  But there is also something magical about scuba diving because when I'm down there, it's like being an observer in a completely different world.  The fish don't care that I'm down there watching them, and I do my best to give them (and me) some serious elbow room.

I've had some recent encounters with fish that have made the people around me curious.  This last week we went to dinner at Iguana Cafe where they primarily cook fish.  The guy next to me ordered shrimp, so I thought I knew what was coming.  Instead of typical American shrimp though, the waiter puts this massive crayfish down right next to me.  I immediately jumped up with my plate because it felt like the extra long antennas were going to touch me or my food.  Uck!

While snorkeling in Champagne Bay I pushed the limits of my fear by being so close to so many fish.  Snorkeling there was beautiful, but there were just too many fish at once.  At one point, there were several schools of fish that kept surrounding us, and I ended up swimming directly behind one of my friends hoping her movements would make the fish swim off.  I started to get all queasy inside and felt the need to get out of the water immediately- which makes no sense at all.

I like to call my problem a "mental allergy."  Rationally, I know fish are not going to hurt me.  I know that eating a bite won't kill me.  However, I just can't bring myself to eat or touch one. 

What's really interesting is how my fear of fish effects other people.  There's always a person who wants to trick me into eating or touching a fish.  And always a person who sympathizes because they have their own {irrational} fear.  The latter are usually the kind I ask to taste-test dishes that look 'fishy.' 

Scuba Steve

To become scuba certified, you have to do something like 10 hours of book learning, and then 7 different dives/levels where you prove your underwater skills.  I got stuck at numbers 3 and 4.  One of the skills on this dive is that you have to take off your mask underwater and replace it.  After that, you have to take off the mask underwater, swim for one minute, and then replace it.  I could barely let water in my mask before freaking out on the first two days.  After 3 instructors.. and 3 dives.. I did it!!   Or in the words of my scuba instructor, "You owned that skill!" I guess the third time really is the charm!