My own kind of Paradise

Today I went through Sanctuary orientation. Orientation for most companies is boring paperwork and rules, but not at Kiawah. Orientation is more like a string of motivational speeches about how we can help each other, guests and the hotel. The speakers throughout the day weren't random hotel employees, but the top managers (GM, director of rooms, director of F&B, head of engineering, director of the spa, and head of group events). We also got to tour a room. Almost all the rooms in the Sanctuary have ocean views. The one we got to see was gorgeous with a huge balcony and shutters separating the bathroom and bedroom so you can see the ocean while showering or taking a bath if you would like.


Orientation finished at 3:30 so there was lots of daylight left and I wasn't hungry yet so I changed into my bathing suit and wandered over to the beach. I received a quick paddle boarding lesson and then ventured out into the waves. The waves definitely beat me up and I swallowed my fair share of salt water, but overall it was successful. I've found another workout for after work, another perk of working on an island with 10 miles of private beach.

I'm almost as good as this guy

This champagne shore watchin' over me
It's a sweet sweet life livin' by the salty sea
One day you can be as lost as me
Change your geography and maybe you might be

Knee deep in the water somewhere
got the blue sky breeze blowin' wind thru my hair
only worry in the world
is the tide gonna reach my chair
Sunrise, there's a fire in the sky
never been so happy
never felt so high
and I think I might've found me my own kind of paradise

Come on in
the waters nice
find yourself a little slice
grab a backpack
otherwise you'll never know until you try
when you lose yourself 
you find a key to paradise

Living the Dream

When you ask someone how they are, you expect to hear "good," "fine," "well," or something along those lines. Come into the recreation department and you'll hear many other things (part sarcastic, but mostly serious). Lately the popular answer has been, "living the dream." Even though it's part sarcastic, there is a lot of truth to the answer. 


On Saturday it was only interns/seasonal workers holding down the nature center. Leslie, Katherine, and I closed the center and then decided to go for a bike ride. We are constantly suggesting places for guests to go ride, but we haven't ridden to many of them ourselves. So we ventured out to see exactly where we are sending guests (and to see where all these people who are dropping bills live while at Kiawah).

The start to our bike ride

Vanderhorst Plantation

The path to the marsh tower

The marsh

Catching crabs to use as bait

bike ride to the beach

Kat and Leslie

Saying hello to the insanely warm ocean

Me and Leslie

Should have worn flip flops

Doesn't get more gangster than Kiawah

Kat and her boyfriend

Intern love

Going to the marsh tower

Kat, Leslie, and Me

My afternoon at the Spa

I love my job. Even though there isn't much money left over after buying food and gas (My frequent trips up to up to Goose Creek/Ladson don't help) and paying the rent I love my job (look at the title of the blog for a hint).  I have yesterday and today off and I am spending the days relaxing.
Monday night I slept 11 hours; all 11 hours were amazing and much needed. I woke up at 9 and had a big breakfast before I headed out for my workout. By the time I finished my bike ride, run, laundry, and bank run it was already 1pm. Time to get ready to go to "work." Instead of putting on my khakis and polo I opted for a sun dress.
I was running a little late and didn't arrive at the Sanctuary until 2:00. After being greeted by name and given a tour of the spa, I quickly changed into my bathrobe and sandals. I then headed over to the lounge where I waited for Missy, my masseuse for the day. I had a 30 minute massage that went by way too quick. Luckily, my time at the spa wasn't over after those 30 minutes. I then went into the solarium where there were complementary veggie wraps and fruit and a million good magazines. After an hour or so of reading and snacking I made my way across the hall to the hot tub where I read a Charleston design magazine. Next came the sauna. I don't think I have been in a sauna since before my grandparents moved houses in Florida. My time in the sauna yesterday was definitely different than in Florida (relaxing instead of being rowdy and I didn't splash the water from my hair onto the coals trying to make steam).
I finished up the day at the spa with a shower. It wasn't just a shower though. It was stone and had two shower heads, one normal and one where the water comes straight down from the ceiling.

That night I headed to Mellow Mushroom (a pizza place) to celebrate a friend's birthday. This is the same place I surprised my friends the first night I came back to Charleston, and the excitement of being back with these sailors hasn't worn off yet. Not even a little. I can't get enough of them. I already have plans with at least one of my friends every day (or night) from now through Sunday.
So, even though I'm not making bank, I love life here on the Islands (and near the Navel Base) and I wouldn't want it any other way.


A few pictures of the spa from Kiawah's website

Solarium

It's been way too long

My boss had me work a few hours one morning so she could go on a private photography tour. I got off work at 11 and had nothing to do for the day so I decided to go kayaking. Kayaking at Kiawah is way different than Kayaking on Marsh Creek Lake. I started in the Kiawah River and had to fight the wind and currents until I got into the marsh where everything calmed down. The paths through the marsh were only wide enough for one boat and at most points were not wide enough to turn  around. In the picture below I got stuck when I reached an oyster bed and I had to paddle backwards until I got to a bend where I could turn around.

Kayaking thru the marsh. Lots of oysters and pluff mud

Raccoon tracks?

 I also got to explore Kiawah by bike last week. Katherine, Devon ( both are recreation interns),  and I joined a 2 hour bike ride around the island. The naturalist took us all over pointing out wild life and explaining how the ecosystem works.

Bike tour of Kiawah

I made it to Virginia. After work last Friday I drove to Fredericksburg, VA for Marielle's graduation. I was exhausted, but it was worth it. After a 3 hour nap (during the  ceremony) on my dad's shoulder I was recharged for an amazing lunch, a bike ride, dinner, and all the other family activities (like looking for people to take picture of an put in the People of Walmart page).

Sara and Marielle

Mares and I