The worst storm in 25 years. Even the hurricane is not that bad they said.

Many people lost their companies and everything here. I now see things from a different perspective and I really respect those people more than anybody.

On Monday the storm was at its worst. Everyone was asked to leave Encuentro the beach where my surf school is located.  The sea took off the surf schools and restaurants. The beach owner looked at the sea and looked sad and I saw from his eyes how fucked up he was.

I asked who would take care of the animals on the beach? He told me the nature will take care of her owns.  The sea came all the way around us and the most of the buildings collapsed. I know I should not have been there. I promised my parents and teachers that I’ll stay out of there!!!!

I was scared but at the same time I have never seen anything so powerful and beautiful to cry about sorrow and also about its beauty.

Only me and the surfing school owners stayed on the beach. I wondered if they were disturbed by my presence. At the same time, I saw a girl who tried to steal surfboards that had been taken to concrete blocks from the sea. I said to the beach owner and the security man of matter and they got the boards back. I’m angry that people have no respect, surf school owners have already lost their buildings and some asshole tries to steal their boards as well!!! Where is humanity and respect??? People are so selfish!!

I thought they wanted to stay undisturbed on their own and look and mourn in peace, but even though they welcomed me, they said it would not be safe here. For some reason I could not just leave and leave all the animals there so I stayed on the beach. I know, I know I know stupid!!!

In Finland, in conditions like this, everything is locked in. Here, they tried to save buildings from the creeping beach so that boards, loose material and everything would not enter the sea. This made me fall in love with them more and more. These people will always stay in my soul and heart for respecting animals and nature.

I am learning to understand the sea and how waves always come in cycles. Bigger waves do not come to the shore, but after the big ones they get smaller and they hit the beach and over. In the dark you cannot see anymore because the waves are so pig that come to the shore but you also learn to listen to the sea and the sound of it because of the rush to leave. A few times I ran into a dog in the back. I slept on the beach with dogs and ducks. I was scared, but I’ve never slept so well that night on the beach. I was thinking that if the wilderness has decided today is my last day, I cannot help it.

In the morning I woke up when the rooster crowed, and I discovered I’m alive and the sea has calmed down a little bit. I went home, changed clothes and went to the grocery store and bought them pineapples, chicken, biscuits, lime fruit salad and, of course, food for dogs and chicken and went to help people rebuild in the buildings and clean up the trash. They were so grateful to me and they told me how much they all respect me. They said there are people and hundreds of surfers all the time, but whenever they need help there’s nobody except me. I was grateful to them that I was welcome to their big family. I really respect those guys.

I have a free day from my work on Tuesdays so I had the opportunity to help people on the Encuentro beach. My job is at Kite beach in Cabarete, about 5 km from Encuentro beach. I went to check what the storm had done but my work place was spared from the biggest destruction, even though the sea had destroyed the terrace. I returned to Encuentro beach after a few hours and EVERYTHING was already rebuilt; the new cafes, restaurants, schools and everything. Every year there is a storm, but this was the worst for 25 years. I told them that I wrote about this and they were very grateful that people would really understand that even in Paradise life is not always easy!

In the evening we sat and ate fish and there was a beach owner and his manager and people from other companies. I asked them is it certainly ok that I’m here. They all said they like me, that I am really helping them when no one else cares, and they respect me for bringing them food and for all the help. At the same time, I felt like a VIP that I had the chance to see the fury of the sea. In fact, not many people in their lives can see and learn to understand the sea. Something so beautiful with the turquoise colour. Of course pictures and videos never show the reality, but my eyes will never forget that beauty.

I must tell a sad thing, one little boy, the ocean ate the little boy which is so sad. Even in Cabarete, there are big damages in companies I do not know if there are any more casualties there.

This is my most valuable post and I am dedicating my greatest respect for these people. And for once, I’m proud of myself that I could be helpful to someone who really needs it. The storm is now calmed down and maybe tomorrow I can go surfing again <3

RESPECT CABARETE <3

BUT STILL HAPPY WHITE GIRL IN CARIBBEAN