I finally have some time to write about my brief but fabulous visit to St. Lucia since Washington, DC is covered by 15 inches of snow this weekend, and that the front door of our condo is literally covered with so much snow that we cannot open the door.
I arrived at St. Lucia airport around 10pm on Thursday, Dec 3. Oh boy, the trip down there took me almost whole day with a layover in Miami. CMEx arranged a lady to greet us and led us right through the custom. I am liking this VIP treatment. While getting into our taxi, I was told that it would take close to one hour to get to my hotel and the roads would be quite windy. Oh boy….. I was immediately reminded that St. Lucia was a former British colony by their driving on the other side of the road and me constantly walking to the wrong side of the car.
My first impressions: People were friendly. Air was warm and breezy. VIP treatment. Beautiful (all-inclusive) hotel. I was ready to take a break from cold and wintry Washington, DC. Tomorrow I will begin my adventure in St. Lucia, this beautiful Caribbean island and friend of Taiwan.
(There is a custom checkpoint for St. Vincent and Grenadines at the St.Lucia airport since it is the next island country. St. Vincent and Grenadines is also a diplomatic ally of Taiwan, just like St. Lucia.)
這個週末華府下大雪，下了快十五英吋，我們公寓門口積雪高到門沒法打開，所以一整天待在家裡，終於可以好好花心思整理我在聖露西亞的所見所聞。
話說我抵達聖國是十二月三日星期四晚間十點多了，花了快一整天的時間才到，中途在邁阿密轉機。到了聖國機場，會議籌辦單位安排一個小姐歡迎我們，竟然不用排隊等通關，這個VIP的待遇不錯哦。坐上計程車後看到司機先生坐在右手邊才想起來聖國過去是英國殖民地。不過接下來幾天我還是常常走錯邊，一再讓司機先生提醒我。司機先生說還要一個小時才會到旅館，我的老天啊，加上聖國比華府晚一時，那我到旅館不就是華府半夜時間，還好他人很好，於是我和另一個會議參加者（一個才十六歳的加拿大女孩！很勇敢吧，自己報名參加）就一路聊天。我簡單說一下因為聖國是少數承認台灣的邦交國，所以我受邀參加這個會議，討論是否可能推動旅美台僑旅遊聖國，增進兩國的友誼，並順便促進聖國觀光事業。我大概介紹一下台灣的外交處境，小女孩年紀雖小，聽得還津津有味，還問問題咧。
我們中途經過聖國首都卡斯楚斯(Castries)，我蠻訝異這個大約六百二十平方公里，人口才十六萬的小國，星期四晚上十一點多竟然車子還川流不息，還塞車。比我過去去過的幾個加勒比海小島比起來，車流量多了許多。
到了旅館後，第一件事就是上線，因為昆布勞可能等很久，趕快向他報備我人已安全抵達，我也該早點睡覺，好準備迎接我明天在聖國正式第一天的行程。想到明天開會我一個人都不認識，也是會議可能唯一的亞洲人，心情有點緊張咧。既來之則安之，我就快樂大方迎接這個人生中特殊的一次經驗囉。美國有一句話 – 踏出你所熟悉的領域(step out of your comfort zone), 才會成長與新體驗，不然人生不是很無聊嗎。
（在機場等行李時看到一個聖文森的海關檢查，覺得很有趣，照了張相，因為聖文森也是台灣的邦交國。原來聖文森國是聖露西亞最鄰近的群島國.）
St. Vincent check point at St. Lucia airport
