Alphabet Zu (A–B–C–D)

As I sat on the front stairs of my humble abode, soaking in the morning breeze, I thought all about those P Things from Puerto Rico and realized my home island has a whole alphabet of wonderful things waiting to be shared. Since my blogging adventure is coming to an end this month, I figured the perfect way to conclude this journey (at least for now) was with a highlight reel of my life on this island—from A to Zuka.

A is for Apple

Classic, right? "A" is for Apple. Except where I come from, “apple” isn’t always edible. In fact, the only apple tree I’ve seen on island is the Manchineel. Up in Wisconsin, where apple orchards are plentiful, sitting beneath the shade of an apple tree sounds like a lovely way to spend an afternoon. On island, sitting under a Manchineel can lead to burning, blistering, and even temporary blindness.

Thinking to take a bite of one of these apples? I definitely wouldn’t recommend it. There’s a reason people call it the “death apple tree.” Remember that old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away?” Well... not the small green apple-like fruit on a Manchineel. Us pups plan to stick to Fuji apples from the market. I recommend you do too.

B is for Basketball

I love when my family takes me along to play basketball. For the life of me, though, I can’t figure out how they get their balls to bounce. Maybe it’s because theirs are full of air and mine is full of coconut water.

C is for Church & Chicken... but NOT Church’s Chicken

Our lovely church home sits atop a hill, and at the bottom of that hill is some of the best chicken on the island.

No, I’m not talking about Church’s Chicken (though we have one of those here too). I’m talking about the Chicken Shack in La Reine. Their slow-roasted chicken and johnny cakes are a family favorite.

D is for Dust

Dust. Saharan dust, to be precise. Every summer, dust travels all the way from Africa to St. Croix, filling the air and giving the island a hazy, smoky look. It can make life a little harder for people with allergies and asthma, and it definitely makes things feel extra toasty.

But the dust isn’t all doom and gloom. It actually helps suppress hurricanes and often creates spectacular sunsets. Lots of people travel thousands of miles to visit St. Croix. It makes sense the dust would too.

Well, now you know your A, B, C, D's...Check back for E, F, G, and H soon!!