September 26, 2009
As I sit on my floor circled around me is Crayons, Colored Pencils, Stickers, Glue, Books, Pencils, Pencils and MORE Pencils, Paint, Scissors, and Education Material: I think to myself “I AM My Mother's Daughter.”
My spare bedroom, WAS filled with boxes of supplies, unorganized birthday party supplies, crafts, bags of crafts, boxes, etc. It was too unorganized for me. While in town I picked up two baskets and began to organize, sort, label, and place! I can actually see the school and craft supplies I have. Just now, I put together my first package to bring to my school filled with pencils, crayons, folders, pens, and erasers. Inspiration came while going through the crafts I have and ideals for Monday Craft Class have developed!
I am not writing this to tell all of you, my crafts supplies are organized or that I like to control things in my life and I do that through being crazy organized with things. But rather as I was surrounded around my craft supplies, books, school supplies, etc, it was more then just ‘Things,’ it was LOVE! The love of my family and friends surrounded me in the ways of Glitter (which is all over my leg right now), glue, COLORS, and Stickers!
I just now found a note my mom had placed in a box that was filled with about 100 Pencils, it read “Only Because I Love You and Your Dominican Students would I do this for you (Sharpen ALL the pencils for me which is an AMAZING help)! That right there is LOVE, it is love for individuals that you all have only met through pictures, my stories, my blog.
Another thought came to mind while I was surrounded with all of that LOVE. My senior year of college, I interned at an agency called ‘Everyone Women Place.’ It was a domestic violence shelter in Muskegon. There is one day that I will never forget, it is when I was in the downstairs lobby with the Volunteer Coordinator (she reminds me of my Mother and what I would be like when I am 50 years old). We were chatting about volunteering and donating items. Some individuals are hesitate at times to give or donate if you do not have a direct contact that you feel confident in. As the positive soulful individuals we (My self and the volunteer coordinator) are, we came to the conclusion that EVERYONE wants to give and donate what they can, they just need a trusted avenue or individual to go through. Everyone’s heart disirers and needs to give back in their own special way.
Ladies and Gentlemen, you prove our conclusion correct. Honestly, when the school year finished in Dominica, I left feeling a little stressed and overwhelmed with the lack of supplies I had for the reading/math programs, arts and crafts, etc. Now, I am sitting here still feeling overwhelmed but for a much different reason. Now I am overwhelmed with all of these supplies and trying to find the best way to give them out in the most useful structure. I prefer this overwhelmed much more. The day I sent out the e-mail asking for books, I was not sure of the response. But how dare I question the souls of my family and friends. If you ask, you shall receive, if God Willing! Man did I receive!
The overwhelming Love and Support that was shown through the act of school and arts supplies is breathtaking. I wish that each and every one of you could sit with as I place a sticker on a child's homework assignment or the collar of their shirt when they complete the tutoring session or the moment I busted out the ‘Spiderman’ Math Cards.
Thank you for allowing me to be your avenue of donation! A billion Thank Yous could NEVER be enough to truly show how grateful I am. Thank you for the trust you have put in me. Most importantly, THANK YOU for LOVING ON my Dominican children!!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Projects
This one goes out to all of the Teachers, Grandparents, Aunts, Fathers, Mothers, and older siblings who has ever helped a child or a student with their homework.
I enjoyed every moment (most moments), of working with two Secondary Students this week with their homework. One was a science poster; solids, liquids, and gas. It was my landlords’ daughter who was WAY impressed when I told her I knew the three different types of matters. The other project was making about eight different graphs on the computer and fixing up some data for a survey done about why teenagers smoke Marijuana in my village.
Anyways, I would just like to full out apologize to my Parents and my Sister, who I made help me with my last minute homework far too late in the evening. I now know how it feels now.
September 21, 2009
Anyways, I was excited to help my landlord’s daughter with her project because they met I could use all of my AMAZING Crafts supplies. See the below and above pictures. We were able to use some fuzzy puff balls (Thank You Mama and Papa Fro), glitter and confetti pieces (Thank You Aunt Penny and Girls)! The projected turned out GREAT and I was able to realize some creative juices which always make me happy!
I will keep you all posted about the Grade she got!
I enjoyed every moment (most moments), of working with two Secondary Students this week with their homework. One was a science poster; solids, liquids, and gas. It was my landlords’ daughter who was WAY impressed when I told her I knew the three different types of matters. The other project was making about eight different graphs on the computer and fixing up some data for a survey done about why teenagers smoke Marijuana in my village.
Anyways, I would just like to full out apologize to my Parents and my Sister, who I made help me with my last minute homework far too late in the evening. I now know how it feels now.
September 21, 2009
Anyways, I was excited to help my landlord’s daughter with her project because they met I could use all of my AMAZING Crafts supplies. See the below and above pictures. We were able to use some fuzzy puff balls (Thank You Mama and Papa Fro), glitter and confetti pieces (Thank You Aunt Penny and Girls)! The projected turned out GREAT and I was able to realize some creative juices which always make me happy!
I will keep you all posted about the Grade she got!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tutoring
September 22, 2009
This Tuesday marked the first day of my tutor in the school. Backing up just a little, I go to the Primary School once a week for the full day. It is the same Primary School as I went to last year. This year is a little different. With the assistance of the teachers, I have developed a schedule for the students who are struggling with their Literacy and/or Maths. I meet with three students at a time for about 30 minutes once a week. The students range from Grade K to Grade 4.
Let me tell you, it was a BLAST! We did a lot of ‘Letter Fishing,’ with the younger students. I have A BUNCH of letters on BRIGHT NEON paper, and I put them all in the ‘Fish Bowl’ and then the children must recognize the letter and find it in the fish bowl. The Grade K students who I am working with cannot recognize their Alphabet, so that is my main goal with those students. The older students were making words with the letters. We did a lot of activities with the Neon letters.
The real treat was when I busted out the Spider Man Multiplication cards. Thank You very much Mama and Papa Fro. The students faces LITE up like the fourth of July. It always seems to make learning a little more fun when learning is on Spiderman flashcard. At the end, they asked to play it next week, I will have to make sure I walk with my Spiderman each time.
The first week was a great success. Each session ended with each student getting a star sticker for their collar. It is just the same things that make their faces light up, learning a little more fun, and joy running through their bleed.
My goal with the tutoring sessions is to teach these students in a fun and interesting manner. My goal is to raise their self-esteem and confidence when it comes to their education. Lastly but most importantly, my goal is to have a moment when I am working with a student and the light bulb comes on and it all make sense.
This Tuesday marked the first day of my tutor in the school. Backing up just a little, I go to the Primary School once a week for the full day. It is the same Primary School as I went to last year. This year is a little different. With the assistance of the teachers, I have developed a schedule for the students who are struggling with their Literacy and/or Maths. I meet with three students at a time for about 30 minutes once a week. The students range from Grade K to Grade 4.
Let me tell you, it was a BLAST! We did a lot of ‘Letter Fishing,’ with the younger students. I have A BUNCH of letters on BRIGHT NEON paper, and I put them all in the ‘Fish Bowl’ and then the children must recognize the letter and find it in the fish bowl. The Grade K students who I am working with cannot recognize their Alphabet, so that is my main goal with those students. The older students were making words with the letters. We did a lot of activities with the Neon letters.
The real treat was when I busted out the Spider Man Multiplication cards. Thank You very much Mama and Papa Fro. The students faces LITE up like the fourth of July. It always seems to make learning a little more fun when learning is on Spiderman flashcard. At the end, they asked to play it next week, I will have to make sure I walk with my Spiderman each time.
The first week was a great success. Each session ended with each student getting a star sticker for their collar. It is just the same things that make their faces light up, learning a little more fun, and joy running through their bleed.
My goal with the tutoring sessions is to teach these students in a fun and interesting manner. My goal is to raise their self-esteem and confidence when it comes to their education. Lastly but most importantly, my goal is to have a moment when I am working with a student and the light bulb comes on and it all make sense.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Should of Been in My Living Room..
September 24, 2009
Disclaimer: This Blog Entry Like ALL Others Reflect My Opinion and Thoughts NOT The Opinion or Thoughts of the United States Peace of America Corps. In Addition, These Are Mere Facts and I Am Not Taking a Political Stand In Anyway.
My normal extremely quiet village is a live tonight. It is not a live with music or chatter from the shoppe by my house or from a numerous cars passing by. Rather my little quiet calm village is a live because it is Political Season in Dominica. The elections in Dominica will be held sometime next year. Unlike the United States of America, where we have a specific day for Election, in Dominica the Prime Minister can pick any day to have Election after five years of him being in term. Rumor on the street is that the Prime Minister will call election sometime next year.
There is three main political groups in Dominica; Labor (They wear the color Red), Freedom (They wear the color Green), and Workers Union (They wear the color Blue). When planning events one must be careful not to decorate, send out invitations, make posters, etc. if any of the above colors because it shows support for that specific political party. Labor and Workers Union are the most popular and strongest political party.
Tonight, the Freedom party has become part of my village. They started speaking at around 7:00PM. They are now, even though it feels like they are in my living room, the political leaders are at the Shoppe outside my house with their microphone and large speaker, listening to themselves talk. There is less then 20 people attending the meeting because all of the local surrounding individuals can listen to the men talk from their living rooms in the PJs.
I am girl that runs when it comes to politic. Tonight, I am stuck, in my apartment, listening to the Freedom individuals talk about Dominica, agriculture, and education. It is now 10 minutes to 10 O’clock, for the children who are trying to rest before school tomorrow I hope they stop soon. It is too hot to shut the windows and I do not think it would help anyways. Again… I hope it stops soon.
It is 10:30PM and it has STOPPED!
Disclaimer: This Blog Entry Like ALL Others Reflect My Opinion and Thoughts NOT The Opinion or Thoughts of the United States Peace of America Corps. In Addition, These Are Mere Facts and I Am Not Taking a Political Stand In Anyway.
My normal extremely quiet village is a live tonight. It is not a live with music or chatter from the shoppe by my house or from a numerous cars passing by. Rather my little quiet calm village is a live because it is Political Season in Dominica. The elections in Dominica will be held sometime next year. Unlike the United States of America, where we have a specific day for Election, in Dominica the Prime Minister can pick any day to have Election after five years of him being in term. Rumor on the street is that the Prime Minister will call election sometime next year.
There is three main political groups in Dominica; Labor (They wear the color Red), Freedom (They wear the color Green), and Workers Union (They wear the color Blue). When planning events one must be careful not to decorate, send out invitations, make posters, etc. if any of the above colors because it shows support for that specific political party. Labor and Workers Union are the most popular and strongest political party.
Tonight, the Freedom party has become part of my village. They started speaking at around 7:00PM. They are now, even though it feels like they are in my living room, the political leaders are at the Shoppe outside my house with their microphone and large speaker, listening to themselves talk. There is less then 20 people attending the meeting because all of the local surrounding individuals can listen to the men talk from their living rooms in the PJs.
I am girl that runs when it comes to politic. Tonight, I am stuck, in my apartment, listening to the Freedom individuals talk about Dominica, agriculture, and education. It is now 10 minutes to 10 O’clock, for the children who are trying to rest before school tomorrow I hope they stop soon. It is too hot to shut the windows and I do not think it would help anyways. Again… I hope it stops soon.
It is 10:30PM and it has STOPPED!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Birthday Party!!
Yet another SUCCESSFUL Birthday Party! There was eight children there this time! The number is a really low but at least 8 children got to enjoy some time together, playing, and lots of sweeties! Enjoy my cute little children I spent all afternoon with! Yes... the stickers are being put to good use... sometimes on paper and color sheets while other times on faces!
A Moment...
The original entry was scribbled on the back of a note card in pink pen! But here we go..
As I was having a Michelle Moment (A exhausted, a little crabby, and needed a shower) Michelle decided it was a good idea to take down and rework/reorganize all of my 20+ pictures at 10:30PM with a messy kitchen and a bag that still was not unpacked from the weekend! I should of just gone to bed!
As I have one foot on the arm rest of the chair and the other foot on the arm rest of the couch- it goes dark in my house and I realized outside. The music from the Shoppe had silenced and the lonely street light right outside my house was out! Again, we had lost power and it was not even stormy! As I find my phone in the dark to use it as a flashlight to get my flashlight! I finish my project via light from the flash light and then head outside.
As I step outside, it is quiet I mean REALLY quiet. I could hear each and every cricket singing to the next and every last bug chatting with their friend. When I head outside the exact breath I am breathing is taken from me as I left my head and look at the sky. A blanket of stars is an understatement. There was not a single area in the sky that did not have a star- the North Star shinning the brightest and the others followed suit.
I went from the Crazy, having an OCD moment Michelle to a Peaceful and Calm Michelle. For a Moment I was at peace, the internal calm that offers true clarity of life and purpose. It was me, the lighting bugs dancing around me, the fresh breeze, and the cool crest air. For those moments life made sense, I was not thinking rather feeling. I had a Moment of "You are OK," "You are Strong" and "You Will Make A Positive Name for Yourself" I took one last breath and the cold rain started to fall- I lite my Three Little Candles and Started Writing...
As I was having a Michelle Moment (A exhausted, a little crabby, and needed a shower) Michelle decided it was a good idea to take down and rework/reorganize all of my 20+ pictures at 10:30PM with a messy kitchen and a bag that still was not unpacked from the weekend! I should of just gone to bed!
As I have one foot on the arm rest of the chair and the other foot on the arm rest of the couch- it goes dark in my house and I realized outside. The music from the Shoppe had silenced and the lonely street light right outside my house was out! Again, we had lost power and it was not even stormy! As I find my phone in the dark to use it as a flashlight to get my flashlight! I finish my project via light from the flash light and then head outside.
As I step outside, it is quiet I mean REALLY quiet. I could hear each and every cricket singing to the next and every last bug chatting with their friend. When I head outside the exact breath I am breathing is taken from me as I left my head and look at the sky. A blanket of stars is an understatement. There was not a single area in the sky that did not have a star- the North Star shinning the brightest and the others followed suit.
I went from the Crazy, having an OCD moment Michelle to a Peaceful and Calm Michelle. For a Moment I was at peace, the internal calm that offers true clarity of life and purpose. It was me, the lighting bugs dancing around me, the fresh breeze, and the cool crest air. For those moments life made sense, I was not thinking rather feeling. I had a Moment of "You are OK," "You are Strong" and "You Will Make A Positive Name for Yourself" I took one last breath and the cold rain started to fall- I lite my Three Little Candles and Started Writing...
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Back To School I Go..
Last week was the first week of School for most Students in Dominica. The streets of town were filled with School Uniforms, Students Running Around, and a little more Joy. I did not got to School the first week of school figuring it would be just a little too busy and hectic and I would just add another wrinkle into the mix. At the end of the week, I checked my principle to get my 'Plan of Attack' organized! Monday, I presented my ideals to the teachers in an all teacher meeting!
Michelle's Plan of Attack
1. Doing small group tutor (Groups of 3) with Grades K-4 mostly working on Literacy, Reading, Recognizing Numbers and Letters, and of course having a little fun a long the way!
2. The Arts Program Leader for the 4-H after school program. My 'Island Mom' is the leader of the 4-H Club throughout the Island but I will be working directly with one of the Primary School's Teacher for the program. 4-H focus a lot of agriculture, planting gardens, planting flowers, and local crafts!
3. Big Readers, Little Listeners is back in FULL Swing! The minute I got to school my old Grade 4 students who now think they are GROWN because they are in Grade 5, were asking about when they were going to read and all of that good stuff! So next week I will get that going!
4. A little counseling with the students who are just struggling a little with behavioral, school, etc. Also, working with the Students. Using those Social Work Skills I worked so hard for! :o)
Today marked the FIRST day of School for me! I write this with a smile on my face and just a little more Joy in my Soul! From the bottom of my heart, I love going to the school and meeting with my little children! It is an amazing, up lifting experience to be walking up the hill knowing you will be greeted by children just running after you. The best way I can describe it is, when you go to pick a loved one up at the airport that you have not seen in awhile and the minute you see them your face lifts ups and you embrace them never wanting to let go. That is the feeling every Tuesday when I head to school! I am their long lost friend they have not seen in a Week but in their eyes it has been forever!
I joined my old Grade 4 teacher for the day until I got my tutor scheduling organized! I will be starting that next week. When I arrived they were working on Maths (First thing in the Morning- YUCK!). I noticed that everyone was almost done expect for one of the students. I asked him if he need help and he just looked at me. As I grab my chair, it was me and him, trying to make sense out of place values. After a few minutes of him looking at me with confused eyes and me explaining things with more detail, his friend looked at me and was "He speak French!" That explains a lot, he understands English, it just took him a little longer, I sometime had to choose different words, and talk a little slower! Needless to say we rocked out those place values and finished the homework together! He was so proud of his completed work and with excitment he placed his Finished Maths on Miss desk!
Then there was another little Mister! He was also struggling with his Maths so I had him move over and again it was just me and him and the Place Values! We had to redo most of them so he could get them correct. With a little patience by me, he completed the work, understand, and had a look of accomplishment across his face!
Next was VPA! Visual Performing Art! The teacher asked me if I could teach it because I am creative! On the spot I did not have not any supplies with me expect for my mind that is filled with LOTS of Ideas! I was thinking and thinking, then I thought 'LET'S PLAY CHARADES!' We are acting, we are drawing, we are doing VPA! It was a RIOT to watch those children act out and draw different emotions, playing different sports (Yes I threw in some American Baseball!), and acting like a Mango Tree (One of My Favorites!)! None of the Children had played before so by the end of it they were out of their seats, in my face just yelling out different things in hopes they would get it correct! It was a trip... I was laughing right a long with them by the end of it!
I tell you all of this for two reason! One, I know you ALL love to hear about my daily advantages of Dominica and Life but Two, just to show and prove again life is about the little things! Today made my soul DANCE with Joy and Laughter! Those children do it to me every time! They help me get through rough days and make being on the island worth wild! To be honest, when I came to Dominica, I thought I would make a BIG, life long changes! Yes, that is still in the back of my head, but there is more to life then that! There are the moments of laughing with your students unil you are almost in tears, the yelling of "Miss Miss" when you walk by the classroom! The times that the same Grade 4 student who are now Grade 5 gives you a pound because he is too cool and old to hug! One of my old Grade 4 Student's giving her new teacher some attitude, and me just giving her 'The Look' (Parents and Adults-Know what Look I am talking about), and her knowing she was out of line!
There is something about the power of children, it proves God has not given up on Man! We as society most value children, do not get me wrong, they can be stressors, have attitude, not listen, and talk far too much! We were all children once. There was also someone who honored our opinion, were proud of us when we accomplished greatest, even disciplined us when we pushed the envelope a little far. As adults, lets us be those individuals who support the next generation, let them bring the same joy into your live that you brought into someone else!
Michelle's Plan of Attack
1. Doing small group tutor (Groups of 3) with Grades K-4 mostly working on Literacy, Reading, Recognizing Numbers and Letters, and of course having a little fun a long the way!
2. The Arts Program Leader for the 4-H after school program. My 'Island Mom' is the leader of the 4-H Club throughout the Island but I will be working directly with one of the Primary School's Teacher for the program. 4-H focus a lot of agriculture, planting gardens, planting flowers, and local crafts!
3. Big Readers, Little Listeners is back in FULL Swing! The minute I got to school my old Grade 4 students who now think they are GROWN because they are in Grade 5, were asking about when they were going to read and all of that good stuff! So next week I will get that going!
4. A little counseling with the students who are just struggling a little with behavioral, school, etc. Also, working with the Students. Using those Social Work Skills I worked so hard for! :o)
Today marked the FIRST day of School for me! I write this with a smile on my face and just a little more Joy in my Soul! From the bottom of my heart, I love going to the school and meeting with my little children! It is an amazing, up lifting experience to be walking up the hill knowing you will be greeted by children just running after you. The best way I can describe it is, when you go to pick a loved one up at the airport that you have not seen in awhile and the minute you see them your face lifts ups and you embrace them never wanting to let go. That is the feeling every Tuesday when I head to school! I am their long lost friend they have not seen in a Week but in their eyes it has been forever!
I joined my old Grade 4 teacher for the day until I got my tutor scheduling organized! I will be starting that next week. When I arrived they were working on Maths (First thing in the Morning- YUCK!). I noticed that everyone was almost done expect for one of the students. I asked him if he need help and he just looked at me. As I grab my chair, it was me and him, trying to make sense out of place values. After a few minutes of him looking at me with confused eyes and me explaining things with more detail, his friend looked at me and was "He speak French!" That explains a lot, he understands English, it just took him a little longer, I sometime had to choose different words, and talk a little slower! Needless to say we rocked out those place values and finished the homework together! He was so proud of his completed work and with excitment he placed his Finished Maths on Miss desk!
Then there was another little Mister! He was also struggling with his Maths so I had him move over and again it was just me and him and the Place Values! We had to redo most of them so he could get them correct. With a little patience by me, he completed the work, understand, and had a look of accomplishment across his face!
Next was VPA! Visual Performing Art! The teacher asked me if I could teach it because I am creative! On the spot I did not have not any supplies with me expect for my mind that is filled with LOTS of Ideas! I was thinking and thinking, then I thought 'LET'S PLAY CHARADES!' We are acting, we are drawing, we are doing VPA! It was a RIOT to watch those children act out and draw different emotions, playing different sports (Yes I threw in some American Baseball!), and acting like a Mango Tree (One of My Favorites!)! None of the Children had played before so by the end of it they were out of their seats, in my face just yelling out different things in hopes they would get it correct! It was a trip... I was laughing right a long with them by the end of it!
I tell you all of this for two reason! One, I know you ALL love to hear about my daily advantages of Dominica and Life but Two, just to show and prove again life is about the little things! Today made my soul DANCE with Joy and Laughter! Those children do it to me every time! They help me get through rough days and make being on the island worth wild! To be honest, when I came to Dominica, I thought I would make a BIG, life long changes! Yes, that is still in the back of my head, but there is more to life then that! There are the moments of laughing with your students unil you are almost in tears, the yelling of "Miss Miss" when you walk by the classroom! The times that the same Grade 4 student who are now Grade 5 gives you a pound because he is too cool and old to hug! One of my old Grade 4 Student's giving her new teacher some attitude, and me just giving her 'The Look' (Parents and Adults-Know what Look I am talking about), and her knowing she was out of line!
There is something about the power of children, it proves God has not given up on Man! We as society most value children, do not get me wrong, they can be stressors, have attitude, not listen, and talk far too much! We were all children once. There was also someone who honored our opinion, were proud of us when we accomplished greatest, even disciplined us when we pushed the envelope a little far. As adults, lets us be those individuals who support the next generation, let them bring the same joy into your live that you brought into someone else!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Joys from the Weekend!
This Weekend I went to the Southwest of the Island to spend Friday Night until Sunday Early Evening with the new National Youth Council Executive Board. Every two years a new Executive is Elected by the Youth all throughout the Island. Also, the Executive Board is all Youth of the Island (15-35). Our Goal while we were there was to develop ideas of what as a Committee me are looking to achieve in the next two years. The weekend was filled with a lot of Brainstorming, Tossing Around Ideas, and having some Fun as well!
Joys!
1. Meeting most of the new members of New Executive Board!
2. Being able to Bathe TWICE in the River!
3. Seeing these BRAVE little boys jump off the Bridge into the River! It was crazy to watch! The bridge was like 10 to 15 feet from the river
4. Watching a Basketball Game!
5. Watching some Small Goal Football!
6. Being able to rest a little
7. Popcorn for Dinner!
8. Reading My Sister Blog about Austin Walking to St. Lucia. Check it out HERE
9. An AMAZING Package filled with Craft Items from Aunt Penny!! THANK YOU!!!
10. Phone Calls and Text Messages that are sent simply to Say Hello! :o)
11. A Sky Filled with STARS!!
12. As we were driving Home, watching the Sun Set behind the Mountains and then the Sky filled with Reds and Pinks once the sun was gone!
13. Post Secret Sunday!! Check it out HERE My FAV on is Above!!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
You can see me...
On Television and the Dominica News Online website!
This past Saturday, after about a Month of sometimes stressful planning, it was time to put on the Roseau City Council Award Ceremony. Let me back track just a little. When one of the Peace Corps left early and she placed me in charge with another PCV to help organize the Awards Ceremony. The Council has been planning the event since April but I just jumped on board about a Month ago when ALL of the last minute items need to get taken care of.
Example: On Thursday (2 Days) before the event the 26 Triumphs were still in the United States of America, that same Thursday there was a Tropical Storm so town did not have any power,it was a National Holiday, so the programs were not printed yet, and a last minute addition of a performer was added on Saturday Morning.
Needless to say like everything else, with a few little wrinkles in that day, it all worked out at the end. The Roseau City Council Awards Ceremony recognized several Dominicans who have contributed to the development of the city of Roseau.
The Friends of the city awards, the Environmental Award, the Community Involvement Award and the Mayor’s Award are the categories under which individuals and organizations will be awarded.
Becky (the other PCV) and Myself where the backstage 'Production Team.' Making last minute changes to the schedule, getting people moving and shaking through the awards, and getting water for the MC and Citation Reader! It will not be a career change, too much stress for this girl! :o) Anyways, at the end of the Ceremony the Major surprised Becky and I with a acknowledgement of Thanks and a little Plaque. Another surprise for me was when the Major announced to the WHOLE Crowd and the individuals watching/hearing it live on local radio and TV, that I would be staying in Dominica for the next five years! The crowd roared when they heard that! At the little "After Party," because the Mayor comment I had a few individuals ask me if I was not staying and I had to gently say, 'I am here for the next 2 years doing my service and we shall see what happens after that!'
This past Saturday, after about a Month of sometimes stressful planning, it was time to put on the Roseau City Council Award Ceremony. Let me back track just a little. When one of the Peace Corps left early and she placed me in charge with another PCV to help organize the Awards Ceremony. The Council has been planning the event since April but I just jumped on board about a Month ago when ALL of the last minute items need to get taken care of.
Example: On Thursday (2 Days) before the event the 26 Triumphs were still in the United States of America, that same Thursday there was a Tropical Storm so town did not have any power,it was a National Holiday, so the programs were not printed yet, and a last minute addition of a performer was added on Saturday Morning.
Needless to say like everything else, with a few little wrinkles in that day, it all worked out at the end. The Roseau City Council Awards Ceremony recognized several Dominicans who have contributed to the development of the city of Roseau.
The Friends of the city awards, the Environmental Award, the Community Involvement Award and the Mayor’s Award are the categories under which individuals and organizations will be awarded.
Becky (the other PCV) and Myself where the backstage 'Production Team.' Making last minute changes to the schedule, getting people moving and shaking through the awards, and getting water for the MC and Citation Reader! It will not be a career change, too much stress for this girl! :o) Anyways, at the end of the Ceremony the Major surprised Becky and I with a acknowledgement of Thanks and a little Plaque. Another surprise for me was when the Major announced to the WHOLE Crowd and the individuals watching/hearing it live on local radio and TV, that I would be staying in Dominica for the next five years! The crowd roared when they heard that! At the little "After Party," because the Mayor comment I had a few individuals ask me if I was not staying and I had to gently say, 'I am here for the next 2 years doing my service and we shall see what happens after that!'
Pictures from the Event
- I learned to play the Piano while I was here... JK, I was goofy around with it -
- Myself, A Volunteer for the Event, PCV Becky, and the REAL Pianist -
- The PRODUCTION Team -
- My Island Mom Set Up All of the Awards -
- This is the Set Design, it is suppose to represent what Old Roseau Look like -
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Time Flys When You are Having Fun...
Highlights of Activities I have done in the Last 6 Months! I will try to keep them in some order, from when I first came to present!
1. Lived with my amazing Island Mother for the first 2 Months!
2. Became an Official United States of America Peace Corps Volunteer
3. Started Michelle’s Birthday Club- It has gone one five consecutive months in a row. It is designs to celebrate any birthday from children ranging from Birth to Twelve Years Old. On average there is about 20-30 children there. My Island Mom and I run it each month with the help of older teenagers! Every month all of the children are invited but we sing to the Birthday Children of the Month! During the Party we play with Water Balloons, do a craft project, participate in other running around games, and have juice, pizza, popcorn, and cake. Each child leaves with a sweetie in their hand
6. Moved out of my fantastic Island Mother’s home into my own two bedroom apartment about 5 minutes driving from my Island Mom’s home or 15 minutes walking. It is in the next village over.
5. Started working three days a week at my Work Site. My Work Site is an agency based in town that works with Youth on the National Level. We work hand in hand with other Youth Groups and plan larger activities for the youth of the whole island not just for specific group
6. Started working a primary school (Grades K-6) once a week. While I am there, I was assigned to a teacher and assist any children who need extra help with an assignment. In the absent of the teacher I would run the classroom (there is few to no substitute teachers in Dominica), so if I was not there another teacher would have to manage two classrooms. Many days during break time you could find me sitting on the steps reading books!
7. Started my ‘Little Listeners, Big Readers’ program. The structure of the program is, I have 3 to 5 pre-school age students sit in a circle with one higher primary school child. The higher primary school child will read about 3 books or 30 minutes to the pre-school age children. The goals behind the program are to raise the literacy rate of the ‘little listeners’ by finalizing them with different stories, words, etc. In addition, the goals is to improve the confidence of reading for the ‘Big Readers’ and raise their literacy rate. In addition, it gives the ‘Little Listeners’ a role model to look up to and introduces service learning to the ‘Big Readers.’
8. At my worksite, I assisted in the running of a Leadership Workshop that took place in 6 different villages in Dominica. My duties included compile the data from the surveys, making sure the facilitating were running on time, and learning myself about different leadership styles and techniques. Also, it served as a great tool of networking and meeting different youth in Dominica.
9. Did a dinner once a month with my landlord’s daughter and her good friend introducing different cultures of food. So far, we have had Italian, Mexican, and Traditional ‘Fourth of July’ foods!
10. Started going to Village Council meetings to have a better understanding of what was going on in the Village.
11. Worked with Keira’s Book Club. Which is a program designed to get more books in the primary and secondary school’s library. There was a contest to design t-shirts and logos for the Book Club
12. Somewhere a long the line I learned how to make home made bread, pizza dough, pancakes, and various different sweet treats
13. Planned, organized, and ran a two week long summer camp for 70, 4-13 year old children. The name of the club was “Arts and Expression: Changing Lives.” During the camp we did numerous craft projects, recreational games, guest speakers, and ended the event with a graduation and a display of all of the crafts
14. Started a mini Arts and Craft Program in my village. We meet once a week for about an hour to two hours and do a different craft project each time. We usually ended the day with coloring, drawing, and/or word searches. We have made: sand art in bottles, tie-dye, homemade clay, piñata, and decorated some cookies
15. Spend two days helping out at a Pre-School camp where we tie-dyed, made yummy ‘dirt pies’ and made a village out of cardboard boxes
16. Spend the day at a Special Olympics activity
17. Currently I am helping to plan a Youth Festival that will show off all of the talent the Youth of Dominica have. By having an island wide Talent Show and then other local bands/groups perform
What is up next….
1. Continuing the “Little Listeners, Big Readers” program and hoping to expand to two to three pre-schools instead of one. Getting more of the students involved!
2. Doing a weekly arts and crafts project with the students at the Primary School (I am not sure if I will do it for the WHOLE school or just different grades, or maybe each week do a different grade so they do a craft project once a month- we shall see)
3. Do one-on-one tutoring with the Primary School students either on Maths or Literacy. Each session would be about 30 minutes and I would be working with ALL grade levels
4. Doing a Character Counts program in the Primary School. It is a program centered on six different pillars: caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and I cannot think of the last two on the top of my head. This would be a program that myself and other teacher would be working on together for ALL the students in the Primary School
5. Once or twice a month spending the day in my village’s pre-school
6. Doing a traveling book club with Secondary Students
7. Have the Primary/Secondary school students write and draw the story of Dominica in their eyes
8. I want to start a Women Empowerment Group or a Girls self- esteem group
1. Lived with my amazing Island Mother for the first 2 Months!
2. Became an Official United States of America Peace Corps Volunteer
3. Started Michelle’s Birthday Club- It has gone one five consecutive months in a row. It is designs to celebrate any birthday from children ranging from Birth to Twelve Years Old. On average there is about 20-30 children there. My Island Mom and I run it each month with the help of older teenagers! Every month all of the children are invited but we sing to the Birthday Children of the Month! During the Party we play with Water Balloons, do a craft project, participate in other running around games, and have juice, pizza, popcorn, and cake. Each child leaves with a sweetie in their hand
6. Moved out of my fantastic Island Mother’s home into my own two bedroom apartment about 5 minutes driving from my Island Mom’s home or 15 minutes walking. It is in the next village over.
5. Started working three days a week at my Work Site. My Work Site is an agency based in town that works with Youth on the National Level. We work hand in hand with other Youth Groups and plan larger activities for the youth of the whole island not just for specific group
6. Started working a primary school (Grades K-6) once a week. While I am there, I was assigned to a teacher and assist any children who need extra help with an assignment. In the absent of the teacher I would run the classroom (there is few to no substitute teachers in Dominica), so if I was not there another teacher would have to manage two classrooms. Many days during break time you could find me sitting on the steps reading books!
7. Started my ‘Little Listeners, Big Readers’ program. The structure of the program is, I have 3 to 5 pre-school age students sit in a circle with one higher primary school child. The higher primary school child will read about 3 books or 30 minutes to the pre-school age children. The goals behind the program are to raise the literacy rate of the ‘little listeners’ by finalizing them with different stories, words, etc. In addition, the goals is to improve the confidence of reading for the ‘Big Readers’ and raise their literacy rate. In addition, it gives the ‘Little Listeners’ a role model to look up to and introduces service learning to the ‘Big Readers.’
8. At my worksite, I assisted in the running of a Leadership Workshop that took place in 6 different villages in Dominica. My duties included compile the data from the surveys, making sure the facilitating were running on time, and learning myself about different leadership styles and techniques. Also, it served as a great tool of networking and meeting different youth in Dominica.
9. Did a dinner once a month with my landlord’s daughter and her good friend introducing different cultures of food. So far, we have had Italian, Mexican, and Traditional ‘Fourth of July’ foods!
10. Started going to Village Council meetings to have a better understanding of what was going on in the Village.
11. Worked with Keira’s Book Club. Which is a program designed to get more books in the primary and secondary school’s library. There was a contest to design t-shirts and logos for the Book Club
12. Somewhere a long the line I learned how to make home made bread, pizza dough, pancakes, and various different sweet treats
13. Planned, organized, and ran a two week long summer camp for 70, 4-13 year old children. The name of the club was “Arts and Expression: Changing Lives.” During the camp we did numerous craft projects, recreational games, guest speakers, and ended the event with a graduation and a display of all of the crafts
14. Started a mini Arts and Craft Program in my village. We meet once a week for about an hour to two hours and do a different craft project each time. We usually ended the day with coloring, drawing, and/or word searches. We have made: sand art in bottles, tie-dye, homemade clay, piñata, and decorated some cookies
15. Spend two days helping out at a Pre-School camp where we tie-dyed, made yummy ‘dirt pies’ and made a village out of cardboard boxes
16. Spend the day at a Special Olympics activity
17. Currently I am helping to plan a Youth Festival that will show off all of the talent the Youth of Dominica have. By having an island wide Talent Show and then other local bands/groups perform
What is up next….
1. Continuing the “Little Listeners, Big Readers” program and hoping to expand to two to three pre-schools instead of one. Getting more of the students involved!
2. Doing a weekly arts and crafts project with the students at the Primary School (I am not sure if I will do it for the WHOLE school or just different grades, or maybe each week do a different grade so they do a craft project once a month- we shall see)
3. Do one-on-one tutoring with the Primary School students either on Maths or Literacy. Each session would be about 30 minutes and I would be working with ALL grade levels
4. Doing a Character Counts program in the Primary School. It is a program centered on six different pillars: caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and I cannot think of the last two on the top of my head. This would be a program that myself and other teacher would be working on together for ALL the students in the Primary School
5. Once or twice a month spending the day in my village’s pre-school
6. Doing a traveling book club with Secondary Students
7. Have the Primary/Secondary school students write and draw the story of Dominica in their eyes
8. I want to start a Women Empowerment Group or a Girls self- esteem group
48 Amazing Moments
Today marked the 6 Month Mark!! I cannot believe that I have been living on the amazing Island of Dominica for SIX Months! I can still remember the moment I met my 'Island Mom'for the first time outside the Peace Corps Office, on the dark and quiet streets of Roseau when she greeted me with a HUGE Hug and at that moment I knew I would OK! The first six months has had many up and down! Times I was stressed out and ready to stream while other moments I was so Thrilled and Excited you could hear my joys off the top of Mountain!
Below is a list of 48 Events that I have had in the past 6 Months that I more then likely would of not done if I was still in Michigan!
Forty-Eight Moments I Have Had That I Would Of Not Had If I Was Still Living In Michigan (Some are Serious, Most are Funny, A lot are Random, but they are ALL me)
1. Seeing A Waterfall
2. Meeting 6 other amazing strangers that are in this journey with me and we will develop an unbreakable bond
3. Truly feel the love of my family even 2500 miles away
4. Bake Homemade Bread
5. Finding Contentment (Still Working on that one but getting better)
6. Enjoying Little Moments
7. Killing a Crock Roach without even blinking an eye
8. See Dolphins playing about 5 feet away from me in their natural habitat
9. Sweating at 8:30AM
10. See a LIVE cricket game
11. Walking with an umbrella everywhere I go
12. Greeting almost everyone when I pass them on the street
13. Learn the power of a Hug when you need it the most
14. Be in a River, Sea and the Ocean ALL in the same day
15. Knowing you found your true friend in moments of meeting
16. Trust, I mean REALLY trusting the saying “It will ALL work out”
17. Walking to town because that is my only option
18. Dancing and enjoying live music into 7AM
19. See true selflessness every day
20. Knowing what chicken the eggs I ate came from
21. Once I knew the Chicken I was eating
22. Moments that give me goosebumps
23. Feeling so far away but feeling like I am right where I belong
24. Being Cold on an Island
25. Picking fresh fruit directly off the tree that I have never seen and sometimes never heard the fruit
26. Appreciating the power of touch
27. Being OK with me (Just starting the process but it is moving well)
28. Eating Beans
29. The power and calmness holding a new born as she is falling asleep can bring to your soul
31. Solely relaying on Public Transportation
32. Making decisions based basically on me and me a lone
33. SCUBA DIVING!!!
34. Moving to a new area where nobody knows my name, where I came from, who I am! I could become this brand new person but I found I like who I am- everyone will meet that Amazing City Michelle girl I am with a little island twist!
35. Going on a Boat Ride
36. Feeling- For one of the first times I am really trying to let myself feel and observe moments- sad, angry, happy, joyful, or calm- whatever the emotions I am learning to let myself FEEL it instead of hiding it in the gut of my stomach until someone pushes me over the edge
37. Seeing a DOUBLE Rainbow while playing volleyball
38. Not sprinting to the nearest shelter when it starts raining but letting it pass knowing it will stop in moments (usually)
39. The nearest shelter is usually a LARGE Tree Leaf
40. Taking a HOT SULFUR Bath!
41. Going and Enjoying Hikes!
42. Being in River so Calm, Clear (and Cold) that I can see every last detail of my big toe and the fish swimming around it
43. Picking out my OWN piece of fresh fish from the Sea across the road and having the cook, cook it to order
44. Sleeping outside under a Mosquito Net
45. Witness Sunsets that Color the Caribbean Sea shades of red, pink, orange, and blue
46. Standing on one island and looking into the sea to see another island
47. The power of a horn- it tuts to let someone know not to back into the- to say hello, to warn someone when they are going around a curve- it is used to flirt- to grab someone attention- but rarely used for aggressive or road rage!
48. Did I mention I live on an island…
Below is a list of 48 Events that I have had in the past 6 Months that I more then likely would of not done if I was still in Michigan!
Forty-Eight Moments I Have Had That I Would Of Not Had If I Was Still Living In Michigan (Some are Serious, Most are Funny, A lot are Random, but they are ALL me)
1. Seeing A Waterfall
2. Meeting 6 other amazing strangers that are in this journey with me and we will develop an unbreakable bond
3. Truly feel the love of my family even 2500 miles away
4. Bake Homemade Bread
5. Finding Contentment (Still Working on that one but getting better)
6. Enjoying Little Moments
7. Killing a Crock Roach without even blinking an eye
8. See Dolphins playing about 5 feet away from me in their natural habitat
9. Sweating at 8:30AM
10. See a LIVE cricket game
11. Walking with an umbrella everywhere I go
12. Greeting almost everyone when I pass them on the street
13. Learn the power of a Hug when you need it the most
14. Be in a River, Sea and the Ocean ALL in the same day
15. Knowing you found your true friend in moments of meeting
16. Trust, I mean REALLY trusting the saying “It will ALL work out”
17. Walking to town because that is my only option
18. Dancing and enjoying live music into 7AM
19. See true selflessness every day
20. Knowing what chicken the eggs I ate came from
21. Once I knew the Chicken I was eating
22. Moments that give me goosebumps
23. Feeling so far away but feeling like I am right where I belong
24. Being Cold on an Island
25. Picking fresh fruit directly off the tree that I have never seen and sometimes never heard the fruit
26. Appreciating the power of touch
27. Being OK with me (Just starting the process but it is moving well)
28. Eating Beans
29. The power and calmness holding a new born as she is falling asleep can bring to your soul
31. Solely relaying on Public Transportation
32. Making decisions based basically on me and me a lone
33. SCUBA DIVING!!!
34. Moving to a new area where nobody knows my name, where I came from, who I am! I could become this brand new person but I found I like who I am- everyone will meet that Amazing City Michelle girl I am with a little island twist!
35. Going on a Boat Ride
36. Feeling- For one of the first times I am really trying to let myself feel and observe moments- sad, angry, happy, joyful, or calm- whatever the emotions I am learning to let myself FEEL it instead of hiding it in the gut of my stomach until someone pushes me over the edge
37. Seeing a DOUBLE Rainbow while playing volleyball
38. Not sprinting to the nearest shelter when it starts raining but letting it pass knowing it will stop in moments (usually)
39. The nearest shelter is usually a LARGE Tree Leaf
40. Taking a HOT SULFUR Bath!
41. Going and Enjoying Hikes!
42. Being in River so Calm, Clear (and Cold) that I can see every last detail of my big toe and the fish swimming around it
43. Picking out my OWN piece of fresh fish from the Sea across the road and having the cook, cook it to order
44. Sleeping outside under a Mosquito Net
45. Witness Sunsets that Color the Caribbean Sea shades of red, pink, orange, and blue
46. Standing on one island and looking into the sea to see another island
47. The power of a horn- it tuts to let someone know not to back into the- to say hello, to warn someone when they are going around a curve- it is used to flirt- to grab someone attention- but rarely used for aggressive or road rage!
48. Did I mention I live on an island…
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Special Olympics
On Sunday, August 30, 2009 I had the opportunity to assist in the Dominica Special Olympics. It was an extreme treat to be part of the event since I have not partaken in volunteering at Special Olympics before. It was even more special yet sad, this year because the founder of the Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, passed away on August 11, 2009. In her honor during the open ceremony we shared in a moment of silence to show our respects.
During the open Ceremony, a man from Guadeloupe who is involved with Special Olympics in all of the Creole Speaking Eastern Caribbean Islands: Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and St. Lucia, presented different items he had gathered to the different areas the athletes came from. The Special Olympics were for all individuals with physical or mental disabilities throughout the whole island. There were four separate groups: Roseau (The Capital), Portsmouth (In the North), Carib Territory, and one more area that I am completely blanking on. After the official march of the athletes it was time for the Games to BEGIN!
There were around 30 athletes that represented the physical or mentally disabled individuals of the island. They competed in different track and field events such as: 50, 100, and 200 meter run and walk and a relay race. After an amazing typical Creole Lunch, the athletes were re-energized and competed in standing long jump, softball throw, and a team event of Bocce Ball.
The weather was amazing and the rain held off until the very end of the day which is GREAT for Dominica. It was a true blessing to see the joy on the athlete’s faces when they ware their ribbons or medals with pride. My little Judy said to me “Look Me… Look my ribbons.” Judy has a physically disability in her legs and hips which makes it difficult for her to run and jump. Judy is very witting, determined, book smart, and has a look in her eyes that melts your heart. The goal of the Special Olympics is to have everyone feel and be a winner at the end of the day. Since the athletes train with coaches prior to the event, the coaches have an understand of the different skill levels. The Coaches will place them in appropriate “heats” so the races are close and nobody is being blown out of the water!
At the end of all of it, my heart leaped with Joy knowing these athletes that may be looked down on, mocked, made fun of or just face every day challenges had THEIR day. Their day of Joy, their day of feeling special, their day of interacting with individuals who understood a little more, their day of SUCCESS, their day of being LOVED for who they are!!
Click HERE to see pictures from the event!
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