Cake Making!

It is amazing what you can do when you have time on your hands and nothing else to really do! :o) It is my agencies Christmas Party and I was in charge of bringing cake!


- Basic Homemade Yellow Cake with Red/Green Sprinkles Placed in it before I baked it -


- Melted Chocolate Chips in the Middle of the two cakes!-



- Finished Project! Peanut Butter Frosting and Decorations (THANK YOU MOM!) It is hard to see but it says 'NYC' which is the agency I work for-

Pictures!

Camp Pictures Cont.

Life Can Be A Beautiful Mess!

Beside the Volleyball Camp my afternoons were filled with an amazing MESS of glue, gittler, markers, goggle eyes, and everything inbetween!

The Libary had requested a Peace Corps volunteer to assist in the Libary Camp they were having. It is in the capital city so I thought what a great time that would be! Man did I sure have fun and meet some simply precious and amazing students. By the end of the week there was about 30 students there! For the most part they were very good and well-mannered while other times not so much! With children you roll with the punches and don't forget to smile!



Anyways... all of the crafts were Christmas related then we had a little party at the end where we decorated cookies and ate some cupcakes and other sweets. I sent those students home on a sugar rush! It was a great way to tell the students about Christmas in Michigan, and SNOW, and the fun we have in Snow, and how Christmas is just a little different then I am use to! I truly enjoy to ask the students at the end of the week what they liked best because their answers always seem to amaze me by their simple but pure responses.



My mini success story has nothing to do with Arts and Crafts but rather a mini change in character! For the whole week, I did my best to install 'Please, Thank You, and May I' as I lead by example! I find it to be extremely important for children to learn and use those words. Everytime if a student wanted to use something I would have them say a 'good' sentance for them to get the item and I would make sure I rewarded them. One of the older boys, he was about 14 or so and a riot but had a little sass to him! On Thursday, the last day of camp, he was helping to clean up and moving a table. The table had students art projects on it and he said to the group, 'If any of you have crafts on the table can you PLEASE move them!' My heart melted as he said that! I told him how proud I was of him! SUCESS!

C'est une belle vie

What a busy but amazing week I have had! It was jammed packed with ALL of my favorite activities! Playing volleyball, doing crafts with little ones, baking cookies, sleep over parties, and decorating cookies! Truly I could not of asked for a better week! To top it all off there is only five more days until CHRISTMAS! Friday was the first time some had wished me a Merry Christmas and it made me smile ear to ear!


-He was the son of the Sports Officer that was cute as a button and will be an amazing athlete when he gets older -

Here is a little more detail about the activities I had last week. Myself and Uno who is a Japan International Cooperation Agency volunteer (very similar to the PC but he is from Japan) held a Volleyball Camp held from the 14 December 2009 to 18 December 2009. The camp was open to female athletes going to Secondary School in the Roseau Central Area.



Uno and I meet a week before the camp started to develop a schedule of drills and skills for the week long camp. Then it was time to put those plans into place! The skill level of the girls was very low so it was basics that we started with! It was amazing to see the skills of the girl improve in just those short few days. Since there was not a lot of girls Uno and myself were able to provide a lot of one-on-one attention to the girls. In addition, there was a guy there who we play volleyball with that help, Julie (the PCV), two coaches from the Secondary School, and a man who is the Sport officer for the area. There were a lot of people there to assist the girls!

A Little Christmas Part 3

On Saturday I went to my FIRST Chritmas Function! My villiage is know for their flowers! We have a Flower Show Site and a Flower Show Group! The Flower Show Group (Which I am part of), had a Christmas Carol Celebration! The band you see in some of the pictures is a called a Jinx Ping Band from my villiage! It is local muisc!




- My Dancing Partner ALL Night -



- The Band -

A Little Christmas Part 2

What better way to Celebrate Christmas then MAKING COOKIES!! So... for about a week now we (the PC girls) have been trying to figure out a time that works for all to make cookies together! It has been a struggle but on Friday I ran into Alicia (PCV) and we decided we were going to make cookies!



We made two different kind- "Magically Surprise Cookies" and "Swedish Spritz Cookies" with a little Dominica twist because we did not have a cookie press so we just made them into circles and decorated them with some sugars and sprinkles! (THANK YOU MOM the decorations can in GREAT handy)!



We made the Spritz cookies first and when a recipe is for 5 dozen you know there are going to be good! So we doubled the recipe so Alicia could give them out to her neighbors and co-workers for presents. As we were making these cookies and I was tasting the dough, I thought to myself these taste very familiar but I have never made them. I took a look at the recipe ONE last time and it said butter, sugar, egg, flour, almond! I thought to myself that sounds really familiar what cookie could that be.... Any Guess?!?! It is the 'S' cookies we make! We made them a little different and the dough was a little more 'doughee' but there were still a little taste of home!



- The Taste Testers -

The Santa Hat you see me wearing! I did not bring that from home but rather my dear friend Alicia gave it to me for Christmas! Naturally there is a story behind this random but amazing gift! My BESTEST Beth from back at home made me a calender with pictures in it for Christmas. The picture she decided to use for December is the below picture. So every year (I mean EVERY year), our lovely Mother makes us wear these hats when we open our Christmas Presents! Jennifer and I are not always a fan but we understand it means the world to Mom and she means the world to us so we just do it. The two newest additions to the family (Andrew and Austin) even got one too! I was telling Alicia about it and it made her laugh out loud, so on Friday she came in with a gift for me and it was the Santa hat so I could have a little piece of home with me!

A Little Christmas Part 1

Well.. Christmas is 12 Days Away! For me it is really crazy to think because what normal reminds me of Christmas does not happen on the island! There is no running around to get last minutes gifts, fighting the snow storm roads, salt marks on the jeans, and wearing layer after layer of clothing to stay warm as you run in and out of the stores. For me there is no Fleece Fabric laying on the living room floor with dad keeping time to see how fast it will take Mom and I to finish the blanket, or stockings hanging by the window, there are no sweet candies in the jar on the desk, or a whole lot of extra stuff that was once in the living room and is now in my room! :o) There is not a little man running around, a crib in the family room, and toys everyone!



Rather, there is sunshine and rain! A little Christmas Tree that now has a taste of home to it, a Santa Hat from a Dear Friend, and a Christmas Lighting Ceremony! A few of you have called me out on being homesick right now! Honestly, I am a little, if I could just come home for Christmas and then come to my Dominica I would! I cannot stay too long because I have work that needs to be done here. Also, I have a Christmas to Celebrate in Dominica! As I struggle to find reminders it is Holiday Time I do things that I would do in the States with a little Holiday Twist!My Christmas Day Plans are still up in the Arm but all I know is that I will be surrounded around ones that care and adore me!

D Cold!

Well for about the past week I have had D Cold! It started off with just a little nose and throat... then turned into nose, throat and ears.... and now we are at the no voice and cough stage! I have a volleyball camp and arts and craft camp next week so I am hoping it finishes today! It is fine though! Nothing I cannot handle!

Anyways.. On Thursday was the worst day! I went up to my Landlord's house to see if she had any ginger! Ginger cures anything from the Cold to a Stomach Ache. Just grind or pound ginger (the thing in the grocery store that looks like a root- that I did not know what it was until I got here), boil it with some Cinnamon and nutmeg with a little sugar and you got yourself some ginger tea! As I walk up there asking for some ginger she is like "You got the Cold... Come Awhile!" At this point honestly I was annoyed, I just wanted to make my tea and go to bed and not go on some tourney! But she just goes outside her house with her knife and cuts some roots of this bush I have looked at about once a day! I do not know the name but it helps with the cold! So the picture above is what my Landlord gave me to help my Cold. Who needs medicine when you have bush remedies!

The Finished Tree!!

The Students at my afternoon program completed their decorations for my tree so now the Tree is COMPLETE!!

Christmas Tree..

"Oh Christmas tree, oh christmas tree, of all the trees most lovely
Each year you bring to me delight, meaning in the christmas night
Oh Christmas tree, oh christmas tree, of all the trees most lovely






The other day I put up my Christmas Tree! I have decided I needed a little Christmas Decoration because without the cold winter weather it just does not feel like Christmas Time! My little 'Charlie Brown' Christmas Tree brings me some joy! Today I am going to have my students make me some Christmas Ornaments to hang out my tree!

Moments...

That is a picture of Scott's Head, the southern most part of the island. It is always where the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean Meet. To the right is the Atlantic and the left is Caribbean.

I may have already talked about this but it is that near and dear to me, I am going to talk about it again! There are many moments that I experience daily that I wish everyone in the world could have that very same moment. I can tell you about them, show pictures, but it is not the same, the feeling is not there, the touch, the vibe, the situation.

Moments of having to hold onto the wall because I am about to fall over as the children run to simply embraces me! I am never quiet prepared for that moment and I am sad for the day it will stop! I hope it never does! It always takes them a moment before they come running. It is like; their little minds think “Is that really Miss standing in the door, YES it is… ATTACK!!” They greet me every Monday and Thursday like they are my long lost best friend I have not seen in years! Pure Joy… Pure Love!

Other Moments as I am walking through town and my island mom will YELL out her car window “Like Your Hair Michelle” or ‘Your Trendy!” So Honest and So True! Man Am I lucky to have her in my life. Today while I was meeting with the individual in charge of the PCVs on island, he was with my island mom last night and he simply said, “Man she (My island mom) Loves you!”

There are always Moments of Rainbows, Shooting Stars, and Blankets of Stars every night. I hope these moments never lose their effect, their awe, their ability to warm my heart!

The View!

This a picture is of the View I normally see every time I am playing Volleyball! A Beautiful Rainbow over the Mountians! Breathtaking Every time!

HIV/AIDS March

December 1st was National HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The organization that I work with a long with the Red Cross, HIV Response Team, and Women's Bureau all team uped to do a Silent March through the capital with our signs, candles, and t-shirts. We called upon the youth of Dominica to take a stand against HIV/AIDS and show their support by walking wiht us! As we were walking though town, we blocked traffic to make our point even stronger! There was about 50 Youth that came out a long with a few different Youth Officers. Here are some pictures of the walk!

Success

-Our Turkey -

Thanksgiving was a HUGE Success!! There was little to no hiccups in the day and it was very relaxed! I had to go to work in the morning to do my reading program and some office work and when I came up about an hour or so before dinner… the house was calm, filled with laughter and lots of helping hands making some last minute preparations!

The Menu:
Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
Green Bean Casserole
Rolls
Cranberry Sauce
Baked Mac and Cheese
Fig Pie (Which is Green Bananas, Tuna, Cheese and some other stuff all mixed together then baked like a Casserole)
Veggie Plate
Cheese and Crackers
Corn
Pumpkin Pie
Pound Cake
Peanut Butter/Chocolate Bars


- This is at the PCVs House Who Hosted Turkey Day... We Had the Turkey Hands and Colored The Pictures That Day -


It was a very filling menu and all of the food was DELIOUS!! I could not have asked a more amazing group of individuals to spend the day with and to start new traditions with. I am holding onto the old traditions but grateful and excited to start some new traditions here in Dominica!


- The Group with Their Turkey Hands... Minus One-

I hope you all enjoyed your Turkey Day!

Turkey!

Yes... You are all correct I am about to write a whole blog about Turkey!!

As you all know, Thursday is Thanksgiving, one of my favorite Holidays and a Holiday Dominica does not celebrate understandable. The Peace Corps and a few neighbors have decided to Celebrate Thanksgiving with a little Dominican twist to it all! Yes we will have the normals such as, Turkey, Mash Potatoes, Yams, Pumpkin Pie, Rolls, Green Bean Casserole. But we will also have some special treats such as Mac and Cheese, local juices and Fruit Cake!

Another PCV, Alicia and I are in charge of the Turkey. Man has it taken over our lives! There is only one place in town who sells turkey large enough for the amount of people we are serving. I go over to the place to my check out the scene of the Turkey and what not. As I get there I am at basically a MEAT MARKET! There is just frozen meat everywhere... WAY out of my eliminate! As I have asked numerous times for a Turkey someone finally pulls out a Turkey... but not any Turkey rather a BUTTERBALL! :o) HaHa! I call Alicia as I am leaving the store before I say 'Hello, How are you' and what not... All I say is 'LET'S TALK TURKEYS!' That is when our worlds started to reveal around this Turkey!

After many chats with Alicia's Mother.... many debatable text message back and forth from myself and Alicia we have decided to get the Turkey on Thursday. Do a natural fridge defrost and if need then we will do a rapid defrost. All of this Thanksgiving and Turkey talking makes me smile and laugh out loud! For all of the PCVs have never really planned a Thanksgiving Dinner before but it will ALL come together in true Thanksgiving with a little Dominican Twist Fashion! :o)

HAPPY TURKEY DAY ALL!!!

Normalacy!

Inspired by reading a Blog from another PCV in St. Lucia I am going to go on a little ramble about "Normal!"

I have always had a struggle of defining what Normal truly is and now in my life I cannot even begin to try to express what normal is. As I am sitting her listening to DMB on my lap top in my basketball shorts and t-shirt drinking some tea life seem remotely Normal. Until I look alittle closer. It is currently DOWN POURING outside... I know my bathroom will have a puddle in it because the ceiling is linking... the cloths that I washed in the rain are hanging on the line OUTSIDE (I hope they do not blow away or get even more wet!)... I converse with my parents via computer screen... I have not heared the sound of my BEST Friend voice in over 7 months and I killed a MASSIVE moth without even blinking an eye. Normal... Yes! I relay on someone else to get me to work, town, grocery shopping, and anything else I need that I can walk to. My life is not complete without hearing little voices yelling "Miss Miss"... hugs and little ones playing with my hair. Everyone seems to be extremely interested in my life even though it is not that interesting!

And then there comes to the simple task of life that become a lot more difficult. The task of sweeping the office I work in at 8:30AM in the morning leaves me Dripping in Sweat. The simple task of going to Town could turn into an hour bus ride!

I am not complaining.... It may sound like it but honestly I am not, simply describing the life I live here. The thing is, I have almost forgotten the 'simple/convenient' life I had in Michigan! I enjoy the moments that are not as 'simple' as I am use to because during the moments of waiting amazingness always happens... I have become a lot more relaxed and I do not have as many nervous tummy days! Life truly is good!!

A Day of First and Homemade Canons…

Yesterday was an amazing and interesting day to say the least. It was filled with First Time Events, Surprises, and Random Acts of Kindness

Let me break it down for you! The Morning started with me heading to the office just for me to leave moments later. The driver came by to pick me and the books up to bring them to the Primary School. Those books are the ones from ALL of YOU and also a program called Kiera’s Book Club. After I spent the afternoon in the office doing computer/paper work it was off to town to be a Post Women for the day! I had to delivery paperwork then I went and pick up the Peace Corps Mail. The office staff are at a week long training off island so I am in charge of the mailbox key for the week. A responsibility I am taking very seriously and it was great to put the cards and packages slips in the mailbox because I KNEW how much joy I was bringing to my fellow PCVs. I just got a bill but that is OK because my mailbox is filled with Joy A LOT!!

Anyways… on to more important things. Today was the first day of my practice. I am coaching High School girls (13-16) volleyball. It was a lot of fun today! There was a total of six girls but a few others said they will show up next week which I am excited about. There skill level is very low which was expected because volleyball is not as popular as it is in the United States of America. We kept it low key and easy today just working on passing and then ended the day with a Relay Race. We have a lot of work to do but I am excited and I hope the girls share my excitement.

Then after coaching practice it was time for me to go and play some Volleyball. Luckily as I was walking to the bus stop (running a little late) a fellow teammate of me yelled “Get in the Car!” Man was I Thankful for the ride because if not I would have been late (or should I say latER). Today, I was suppose to practice with the National Team. They had asked me to play on their team which I felt very honored about. The Coach was not there so me and the boys once again played! Then the coach showed up and my FIRST NATIONAL PRACTICE began! It was just three us so we did lots of setting and hitting so the women could get us to me. Now some of you may be wondering if I can play on the National Team not being a Dominica Citizen. I had the same question but the answer is Yes (Kinda). I can play in the Eastern Caribbean Tournament but WHEN we win that I do not think I can go on because I am not a Citizen and they start to check passports. Even to play in the first round would be amazing! The women practice twice a week so I am excited. It just feel normal, again Kinda, I am outside on a sport court playing volleyball until the sunset! The Coach is very knowledgeable and nice. We were chatting as he was driving me to town to get a bus and he ended up just taking me up all the way which I was very grateful for!

While I was playing volleyball I see these boys (when I say boys I would say between the age of 10-13). They were starting a fire but when I looked closely I saw they had a little set-up going on. They had two concrete bricks and two thick pieces of bigger bamboo. They one bamboo on each brick and the bamboo had a hole on each end. Then the boys put plastic/plastic cups in them and set the end of the bamboo on fire and plastic shot out of the other end. Basically it was a homemade Canon. Many of you made be thinking, that is really dangerous and yes you are correct. It was more dangerous for the boys then us. The canons were pointing away from us but I was wondering they may burn off their eyebrows. Everyone lived through the fun!

I am flipping through the channels trying to watch some TV before bed and have back round noise while I am typing. You know what I find… the CMU vs Ball State Football Game! When I left them in the 2nd CMU was up 7-0! I will have to check online to see who won! For you CMU fans… who is the Browne (Number 27) cat? He is all over the field and his name was said like 15 times in 5 minutes...

Off to Bed I Go...

Time Change!

This Time Change is Killing Me. As everyone in MI pushed their clocks back one hour... DA has stayed the same. I simply cannot wrapped my fingers around the time change!

I am at the airport a little bored... So I decided to call my Mother. It is 7:15AM DA time, my thought process was "Mom will be up getting ready for work." As I called it rang about three times when a quiet, sleepy voices says Hello?!? On the other end is Me... UP for Three House... cup of coffee in the blood and bubbly as can be. Mom was a little confused but the minute she realized it was the Princess (Me) and not the Queen (Jennifer) (even though she would of had the same reaction for Jennifer), her voiced changed. It was now the voice I always know when my I call my mother... up-beat and full of joy! She was simply thrilled to hear me. One of the many reason why I love her.

Another reason why I love her is because when I asked her if she had the day off (still thinking it is 7:15AM in MI), she so calmy says No Michelle it is 6:30AM. After I said I am sorry a few times, her sweet joyful voice saids 'It's Ok'

I am back!

-A Beach in S. Lucia-

It is good to back in DA! Where it is ALWAYS raining... the mountains fill the sky... people know me by name... and I feel at home!

This is a 'Journal Entry' I wrote while in the Airport of St. Lucia coming back home!

I find myself sitting here- crossed legged in a comfy lever couch at the Airport in a Coffee House. As I am sitting her it is makes me miss the coffee houses back at home where the vibe is rich- the coffee is strong and the conversation is hot. I am sitting in Rituals which is the Caribbean 'Starbucks' (Black and Green) where is the coffee is over priced, the crowd is stiff and the drinks are weak. Around me are couples… new and old… conversing about travel times as they make their way home to the States- Jealous? Nah... I am going back to my Dominica where the sun is bright... the vibe is alive… and the food has soul behind it. After a great work vacation I am ready to go back to see my little... visit the shop... and catch up!


- Peace Corps Re-United-

Anyways... I spent one week in St. Lucia- 3 days on Vacation... 2 Days of Meetings… and 2 Days of Travel. At the moment I am running on two hours of sleep and hoping I make it through security with my bag that I should have checked in! (I made it through with no problems!)

When I arrived in St. Lucia... I directly headed to the beach that borders the airport. I sat there drinking my Lime and Passion Fruit Juice. I was lucky enough to have a PCV and her friend pick me up and take me to lunch. It was great to be greeted by a familiar face and to eat pesto pasta! I walk around the capital... making friends… looking at shoes... St. Lucia is a lot more developed and tourist centered then DA. I will not bore you will all of the details but rather my three days went something like this: days of endless chic chat- lazy days on the beach- THREE days with NO water- FIRST bucket bathe- sand volleyball- HOMEMADE corndogs- fish fries- and visits by children!


- The View of The Dominican Stadium from the Airplane -

After an amazing three days it was time for the VAC meeting. It was great to catch-up with the VACs of the other islands! In a nutshell the meeting was extremely productive and lots of topics discussed… problems solved... and laughter exchanged!

The weekend ended with friends getting together- stories exchanged- and Chocolate Chip Pancakes!

Independence

Independence Day for Dominica is November 3 but the week prior to the actual day is filled with Music Festivals, Parades, and Matches. Also, during the time you will find Dominicans wearing National Wear. The picture above is me and another PCV in our National Wear Skirts!

If you want to see check little students (My Pre-K Students I read to for the Big Readers Little Listener Program) Click HERE!

In the Album you will find Heritage Day Photos, My Pre-K Students in their National Wear, The Primary School Students during their Independence Day Celebration, and Pictures from Creole Festival!

ENJOY!

Let me tell you something...

Today was such an amazing day at it is only 1:00PM. I figured I should share with all of you about my amazing day and hope you are also having a GREAT day!

It started off with a GREAT cup of coffee and some morning company. Two of the PCVs spent the night last night because Dominica had Creole in the Park. Which is an outdoor concert for four days before the official Creole Festival which takes place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Windsor Park Stadium.

Anyways, I walked onto my porch this morning to put my trash on the street and there was a bunch of bananas waiting for me! YaY! I made it to work on time was able to talk to my bestest for a minute. I had a really really good meeting with a gentleman who works for the Ministry of Sports in regards to developing/working with a volleyball program. A program is already developed so I will be meeting with them next week to set up a practice schedule for the secondary schools. There will be a Championship in the beginning of January thru February. We are getting the girls and boys skills up to par so they are able to compete.

As I was walking back... I stopped to get some Bananas, an amazing apple, and my favorite Hi-C Juice Box. It was a Great Snack/Breakfast! The Sun is shinning and town is busy with people and music in the stores.

Then it was Big Readers/Little Listeners program. Because of the Independence Season, it did not happen which made me sad but I went and hung out with the Pre-K students for awhile, they met me at the gate which separates the Primary School and their Pre-School. It was amazing to be greeted by such pretty faces, lots of hugs, and a few giggles. We chatted about brushing teeth (don't ask how we got on that topic) and they all ensured me that they brush their teeth EVERY night... the ones in the WAY back... and even their tongues. What really got me was when the students and I were talking about what they watched on TV, the little voices where like "Dora, Sponge Bob, Cinderella" and then a little voice in the back said "Micheal Jackson!" LOVE IT! It made me smile ear to ear! They are ALL so lovely! Their happy, joyful souls makes my day!

Last but least was a comment from my mother who I just simply love. This was her response to an e-mail story about me I had sent her. "You go girl!!!! Nothing wrong with a little junk in the trunk!!!"

Working as One...

This pass weekend was Heritage in my Village. Each year the Sunday before the week long festive start for Independence day, a different village will host Heritage Day. This year it was my village's turn. It is a day long event which includes a Church Service in Creole (The Local Language), the opening of the Flower Show Site (My Village is KNOWN for their flowers), an exhibit of flowers, fruits, veggies, arts, and cultural sculptors, and we ended the night with a cultural gala to demonstrate the different dances, songs, and traditions. One of purposes of Heritage Day is to showcase, understand and be proud of the past. Get into the roots so they are not forgotten!

Click HERE for Pictures!

Before all of the above can be done, there was A LOT and I mean A LOT of work to be done! The prison system has an amazing program for the prisoners who are on 'good behavior!' They are able to leave the prison (with a guard) and do different type of work all throughout the island. A lot of the work involves beautification of land, building stages for events, working on houses. If a prisoner comes into prison with a skill and are on 'good behavior' then they are able to go on these special outings. My landlord's husband is in charge of deciding what prisoners are able to assist in the different actives. There is a cost that is involved by hiring the prisoners to do the work, but it is a great deal less expensive then it would be to hire a contractor.

The program is amazing because it allows the prisoners to feel a sense of accomplishment, rewards good behavior in a positive way, and help the villages a great deal. To be honest, we (my village) would not of been able to do all the work we did with out the GREAT assist of the prisoners.

One of the days I had the opportunity to work with them and help clear out the playing field. I did most of the moving the branches to the burn pile as they were on the side of a cliff thing cutting them down. I did not even know how they got up there let allow cut things down from that angle. It was good to interact with them, I do not know nor do I care to know why they are there.. the men were just humans, working hard, playing some football, and enjoying themselves. There was a sense of respect for me as I showed them the same respect.

At the end of the day we are humans, we all make mistakes, some mistakes are greater then others but we make mistakes. If we all look back on our lives, there could be a time when we made a mistake but did not get caught. Sometimes the difference between prisoners and non-prisoners, is one got caught and one did not. These men got caught the act and now have to pay for the consequence of their action. But the individuals do not become dead to society but help to up lift the island. They are still able to use their skills and help to in better the island!

Joys over the last couple of Months!

Joys over the past couple of months that must of stuck because I can still remember them

1. Playing really good volleyball, connecting with my hitters, and hearing the boys ask if they can turn me into a boy so I can play on their men’s team
2. Random text and messages from my lovies back at home
3. Seeing the face of my landlords daughter when I delivery her the card from her pen pal!
4. The students SOOO excited for Arts and Crafts Monday!
5. Another successful year of ‘Big Readers, Little Listeners!’
6. My nearest and dearest letting me be there avenue for giving!
7. A spare bedroom filled with School Supplies, Education Material, Crafts, and the Cards… more then materials but rather LOVE!
8. When one of my pre-schoolers, after she asked me to use the toilet, she comes back, grabs my hand, as her little hand is in my mine I do not feel that her hands are wet, I ask “Did you wash your hands” she looks at me with her big brown eyes and a “Simple No was all I got!”
9. An amazing support system on the Island!
10. Keeping their word- doing what they say and saying what they do!
11. The shoppe owner taking good care of me and making sure my fridge is always filled with fruits and veggies!
12. Students faces lighting up for craft time at the after school program!
13. Being told I was raised in a Humble Environment
14. Shooting Stars and making wishes!
15. Finally making a connection!
16. My peace sign of pictures!
17. Seeing my quiet village, take on the challenge successfully when called upon to pull the village together for Heritage Day!
18. Sunsets
19. My tutoring Program!
20. Giving a child a sticker for doing well!
21. Students ASKING me for homework to do!
22. Giggles from little ones!
23. This conversation
Rob (A PCV’s Boyfriend who came to visit)- Michelle, they hug you a lot
Alicia (PCV)- Yay, Michelle likes to hug!
24. My lizards that think my house is there personal juggle gym!
25. My Card Wall
26. Stickers!
27. Sweet Mema at church
28. Friends coming back from the States with Chocolate Chips and Hand Mixers in their hands!
29. The sea
30. Morning Text Messages (that are usually my alarm clock)
31. Neon ABCs
32. Ice Pops on a HOT Afternoon!
33. The coolness that is coming over my village and the island in a whole

Birthdays

It was my Supervisors Birthday on Monday and I decided I wanted to make him a cake! My dear PCV, Julie just got back from the United States of America, and brought me a hand mixer and I am in LOVE, it makes making cakes so much easier and smoother!

The below picture is of the cake I had. It is a homemade; Almond cake, swirled with a chocolate and peanut butter mixture. The homemade frosting is peanut putter flavored, with a butter scotch chip D on it! I had made some cupcakes as well and they turned out amazing, so I am hoping he enjoys his personal cake as much as I enjoyed making it!

Drum Roll Please...

... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM!!!!!

Today is my lovely Mother's Birthday! She loves when I give shouts outs to her in my Blog so, this one is ALL about you Mom!

My Mom is an amazing women who can carry the weight of the world on her shoulders and the stressers of others in your heart. She does this extremely gracefully without every missing a beat. Everything in her life has a specific spot and items will not get accomplished if they are not written on the Dry Eraser Board.

She is a women with great achievements under her belt. She raised (with the help of Dad), two amazing youth ladies, that have grown up with unconditional love and support. We were able to learn, explore, sometimes fail knowing our Mother alwayed had our back, was there to greet us with a hug, and tells us "It will ALL work out in the end!"

My mother is the MOST selfless person I have ever met. She is always putting her family before herself. Making sure they are all taken care before she concerns herself with her own needs. If it is eating a cold dinner because we are asking her to get more stuff from the fridge, driving my sister and I to practice, school, friends, etc or listening to all of our stresses, concerns, and problems without us every saying Thank You or asking Mom how she is!

But Mom, Today is YOUR Day!! I hope you do everything that will make your soul dance! I am extremely grateful to have your unconditional love in my life, I can feel it even 1200 miles away. I miss your hugs and getting ice cream but there will be plenty of time for that when I get back! ONLY 113 days left until we are reunited!! You deserve a day that is ALL YOU!

Lots of Love ALWAYS!!

HELP!

Yes, I am always calling on ALL of you for help! I do not need materials this time but rather KNOWLEDGE! As I am tutoring remedial reading, including learning/recognizing the ABCs, sentence structure, phonics, spelling, ect. Any topic having to do with literacy, I am working on. As you ALL know, I adore children and LOVE working with them, but I am not a teacher I am a social worker. At times, I feel like the information is over my head and I may not be taking the correct approach.

I plea to you ALL of you, my AMAZING readers, if you are an educator, a parent, an adult, that has some useful tools (websites, strategies, worksheets), I could use PLEASE PLEASE fill me in on them, as I am continuing to do my own research! You can leave a comment or e-mail me a garavami14@gmail.com with the suggestions!

A MILLION THANK YOUS!

Halloween!

A few people have asked about Halloween and if children in Dominica celebrate Halloween similar to as in the States. The simply answer is No! There are no haunted houses (even though there is an amazing house that would be PERFECT for a haunted house), craving pumpkins, dressing up or treat-n-tricking. From talking to a few individuals, both young and old, the main feeling I have received is, Halloween did not catch on like it did in the States. I have explained to many individuals what Halloween is all about in the United States of America and the different activities that children partake in during the Halloween season.

I was thinking about having a little Mini-Halloween party but this year, Halloween is the same week/weekend as our Independence Day time. It is a very busy week/weekend in Dominica. Independence Day is filled with Creole Music, Local Bands, French Music, gatherings in the Botanic Gardens, and a three day Music Festival which takes at the Stadium. On top of all of that Heritage Day (which is the Sunday before the Festival begins), is in my village this year. To add a Halloween party to the mix would be far too much in an already busy time of the year.

Do not worry Grandma! Those stickers will be used! I will use them in the school the Tuesday before Halloween and share with them some stories about Halloween and maybe even do some educational work based on Halloween!

Let's Fly Away...

This past Monday, myself and the after school children made some good old fashion butterflies. You know the ones with cloths pin or pegs as it is called in Dominica, and coffee filters. It is a GREAT, easy, and low supply craft project. The students seemed to enjoy it a lot. Thanks to you, the students were able to give the butterflies a little extra touch with Pipe Cleaners and Goggle Eyes! The students were being picture shy but I did capture the below moments! Enjoy!

border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394455605383682370" />