Cute Moments... Cute Stories... Cute Students

Numerous Cute/Funny moments happen to me often, I just love it!

On Monday, the After School Students and I were making Carnival Mask and as I am helping one of the Five Year Old Students trace out the Mask Template, he looks at me and says "Miss You Have Pretty Hair!" And then continues to trace!

That Same Day, another five year Student, who I asked if I could sit by him on the ledge and he said "Of Course Miss", as he moved his little booty over then continued to tell me how the board we were sitting on might break! Anyways... we continued to chat and he pointed up and was said "Miss Look!" It took me a minute to find what he was looking for but it was a bird on some electrical tour of some sort. Then my little friend said, "The Big Is Going to Poop in the Sky and Die, Miss he is going to Poo Poo up there!" As he was laughing! I am not sure where he was going with that but he wanted to let me know!

Again, one of the younger students, looks at me and says "Miss I like your dress!" I was wearing a skirt and shirt that day! It is so pure and honest when children say something to you!

I was walking to work on Wednesday to meet only three baby cows in the middle of the street! It is was the cutest thing, the pot holes were filled with water and at each pot hole they stopped to drink some water. Naturally as I passed them, they gave a nice strong MOO!

Rainbows! Amazing Rainbows going through the Mountains into the Sea! Breath taking Rainbows everywhere I look!

I cannot think of any more! So Enjoy these and if I think of More I will put them up! :o)

A Break Through...

Today I did my weekly therapy/empowerment work with the Women. Today, like most Wednesdays what very well! I just truly love what I am doing there and I know the women can tell and so can I! After the group sessions, I meet with the women individual.

Today, one of the ladies and I were chatting, she is a very strong-willed individual that likes to stick to her ways, but I can tell her wheels are starting to turn in another direction! Anyways.. so she was speaking about how she was getting vexed during the day and was ready to explode. Then she thought, she thought about all of the items that we had discussed one on one, or have discussed in a group, and she changed her thinking. It click and she did not do the action but rather took a minute!!

WHOO-RAH!! Because you may not understand the full situation or may not realize how big this is but she CHANGED Her Thinking! It clicked and she allowed it to click and CHANGED!! It is AMAZING! I made sure to praise her for this development and how big this is!

Success for now!!!

Carnival 2010

This Saturday was the opening Parade for Carnival in Roseau! The actually dates for Carnival is Feb. 15-16 (Monday and Tuesday)! I will actually be off island for the event visiting my parents so I am trying to do as much 'Pre-Carnival" activities as possible.

It was an AMAZING parade filled with color, music, dancing, etc! Moments like these one can truly feel the vibe and amazing energy Dominica has! During the Parade there was numerous floats of local business, organizations, the Princess and Queens who are competing this year.

The history of Carnival dates back to when the Slave gained their Independence. Carnival always take place the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday! It is a time for individuals to 'Free Up' themselves, dress in costumes, dance in the streets from sun up to sun down and simply enjoy themselves!

Click HERE to see More Pictures!

Hugs!

Now Hugs are usually this amazing sense of joy and love. But the other day, hugs did not offer the same source of joy.

As I have mentioned numerous times when I go to the after school program, I get over taken by hugs and the other day... I was literally 'over taken by the hugs!' Sit back and enjoy the fun little story!

So as I was getting ready to leave I was in the court yard saying good bye to the students. They did not want me to leave/wanted to give me one last hug before I left. When one student gives me a hug all of the others join suit. This time as they were three deep giving me a hug... they started to push... I started to loss by balance.. and before I could say "STOP I am falling!" I had fallin and now I have a nice 'raspberry' on my knee.

Usually it is a joyous experience but this time it ended in a strapped knee and a little blood! :o)

- Please feel to laugh and smile it is humorous, only ME would get a fall getting a hug! -

Things I Love!

1. Austin’s Smile, him waving to me even as he is melting down, and his wonder and awe of the world around him
2. My Mom, Jennifer (Sister), and Calendars. You are wondering how all three are related well, my sister made me a Calendar with pictures of the family, Austin, etc and my mom gave me an agenda I can carry around with me. One of the many amazing things about the both of them is their attention to detail. As I was looking through the Calendar from Jennifer, I started noticing not only American Holidays but also Dominican Holidays. It almost made me cry (In a good way) and warmed my heart to see how she took the time to look up the Holidays put them on the Calendar and that she recognized how I am living in both worlds (kind of). Then my mother. I was sitting with a friend and he was telling me about things to do in Barbados and I was flipping through my Calendar and saw my Mother had wrote little messages on random days throughout the agenda. I cannot want for the time to come again when I see those messages, and I have a feeling I will need a little smile when the weeks come!
3. The little boy at the pizza place today that was simple striving for attention. I opened up a gateway for him by simply saying hello and before I knew it he was holding my hand and as I walked away he was like “Look Me!”
4. Having a filled house! I had some of the PCVs stay at my house; it is amazing to not be a lone!
5. Having the after school programme back in swing after the Holidays
6. Items falling into place for the volleyball tournament I am co-planning
7. The ability for me to see how I am gaining more patience, a stronger back bone, and a different character
8. Danny Cox’s CD
9. My Host Mom!
10. The Sunset, the stars, and every moment in between!
11. My Flip-flops
12. Finding PRETZEL!! My Withdrawals have been taken care of !
13. Less then a Month until the Family is re-united!
14. The women in my Therapy Group! They spark a fire of passion in me similar to the ladies I use to work with in the States. It is like I am alive again!

Tragedy

Tragedy is NEVER easy. News reports, pictures, stories on the internet ALL pull on the strings of the heart. The pictures may bring tears to your eyes, make you look away, or move you into action. I find tragedy is easier when an individual is removed from the situation. It is easier when one is not directly related, does not know anyone facing the hardship, or never been to the country it has affected. But still, even with those above facts, the news has the amazing ability to touch ones heart with pictures, stories, and interviews.

There was a massive (which is an understatement) tragedy in the Caribbean this week. One would have to be living without internet, television, or news reports to have not heard about it. I am speaking about the Earthquake in Haiti.

I first want to Thank everyone who has been concerned for my safety, I do want let you ALL know that I/Dominica is physically safe, but emotional, well that is a different story. I also want to inform all of you; it is a common miss-understanding of Dominica (which is where I live) and the Dominican Republic which shares a boundary with Haiti. Yes, Dominica is remotely close to Haiti but not as close as the Dominican Republic. See the map for a visual understand! It is VERY common for people to get the two mix-up and sometimes packages end in the Dominican Republic instead of Dominica.

Back to my Dominica and the Tragedy, there is a large Haitian population of immigrants in Dominica. The tragedy has touched home for many individuals in my community as they are unsure of the safety, well-being, or life of many of their family, friends, or country in general. The Tragedy has touched home for me as some of my students are Haitian and I know they are not aware of how their family is doing, a traveling priest on the island has lost family members and has not heard from some of his family members. Haiti is a poor country and may never rebuild after the earthquake as wiped out their country. For a long while, there will be individuals tirelessly looking for individual, medically assisting individual, passing out basic needs, and doing what they need to do get the people of Haiti back on their feet.

It is amazing and warms my heart to hear all of the Aid Haiti is getting, how the country has come together for a common good but this also saddens me because why does it have to take such a tragedy for the World to come together. [Stepping onto soapbox] The world should be able to come together for the common good when tragedy does not hit but lets be honest, tragedy hits every day, yes not to the exact of Haiti but there is hardship, struggles, and people dying because they do not have the basic need EVERY DAY! I am talking all throughout the world and in the United States of America. But you do not always see people coming together for that! Next time you pass someone on the street and they look hungry or thirsty and you have extra to give, then GIVE. Don’t think just GIVE! I am not suggestion money, but food! I am a woman that should take her own words of wisdom. [Stepping off her soap box]

In six months or a year or after that, let us NOT forget Haiti, they will still need assistance, people volunteering, and prayers.

Language Fun!

Well I have been meaning to do this for awhile but never got around to it to be honest. But today I am in the mood. In Dominica, the individuals speak English and also Creole. Creole is best described as a slang French. To be honest, I can say a few little things in Creole but to have a simple conversation I cannot do. It sad to say but the language is slowing not being passed onto the next generation. On the positive side, there are a number of village who speak A LOT of Creole, I would say that is the Number One Language the villagers will speak.

But even though everyone is speaking English, there are some words that are used a little differently then you may use them in Michigan! Laugh a little with me and enjoy the translation!

OK- Used for ANYTHING! Saying Hello, Acknowledging you hear someone but do not want to talk to them, a response use to answer “How are you”. I would say I say ‘OK’ about 20 times a day if I am in town!

Liming- Hanging out usually enjoying a drink

Jump Up- An outdoor concert that will go on until 4 or 5 the NEXT MORNING!

Free-Up- Similar to a lime but a little more intense. Usually music is involved but not as intense as a Jump Up.

To Free-Up or Relax Yourself- Very similar to a Lime. Just hanging out, enjoying people’s company. Taking your mind off stressors and just enjoying your self

Check your scene- You are at a Lime or a Jump Up and you are just seeing who is around what is going on.

Check yourself- You are getting out of line, making a scene, etc. Making a fool of yourself.

Noise or Making Noise- Getting into an argument with another individual.
Passin Me Straight- You sees someone in town, in the village, on the block and you do not greet them. In Dominican people are ALWAYS making a general greeting, you walk onto the bus you say a general Good Day, you go to the Shoppe you say something, so to not say something is extremely rude.

The Block- A gathering place in a village where there usually is a Rum Shoppe close by and a hand full of people

Top- Up- Putting more money on your phone

Ivy- Cool- Used very simple as OK! Can be used as a question or statement

You Understand- Don’t take it personally; the individual is just making sure we are all on the same page

You Ok, You Safe, You Ivy- All common ways someone may greet you

I Blessed, Everything Blessed- Common ways to answer the question of “You Ok!”

What is the scene?- What is going on tonight, what are you up to?

Come awhile- Come here now

Awhile- Any amount of time from at the exact moment to an hour from now

I there- Common way to answer, How are you?

True- Used ALL the time to show agreement and at the end of statements to make it a question

Nah- Used at the end of a sentence to make the sentence negative. Explain: ‘I am going on the block, Nah’ Translated- I am not going to the block

Slippers- Flip-Flops, rarely worn outside but worn in the home and at the workplace

Pear- An American Avocado

Cute Story!

Cute story of the week! On Thursday I went to my after-school program for the first time since Christmas. When I got there naturally I was greeted with hugs, hugs, and more hugs! Then one of the little ones dark brown eyes meet my eyes and he says, “Miss I have missed you!” It broke and warmed my heart at the same time. It was so simple and so genuine.

Life!

As I lay on my floor listening to Danny Cox (Thank You Mom and Dad!) in my skirt, tank top, and a scarf around my neck (weird combo I know), I have developed writers block. For the first time I do not have much to say to my faithful readers! I do not have any new pictures to display, no new stories really!



It was just your typical week after a Holiday. Monday was a Holiday because the new political cabinet was Swore in, so a Holiday was given so Dominicans could attend the function. I did not attend the event but heard about it after. There were numerous reasons why I did not attend and a few reason why I should attend but at the end of the day the reason why I did not attend outweighed the reason why I should go! Because of Monday being a Holiday, school did not start until Wednesday, so I did not see my students this week but did makes LOTS of copies and lesson plans for them for the upcoming week! (Thank You ChuChu Family!)!



Wednesday I did start a new program. Once a week I am working with four women doing therapy with them. It will be focused on gaining self-esteem, behavioral change and thought process, re-uniting with family and friends, healthy relationships, etc. I am very excited! I have met with the women twice and they just as excited as I am about the process. I am doing group with them and then meet with each woman individual every other week. So far so good! I LOVE to work with children and tutoring but it is great to be able to apply what I learned for four years at university!



(If you look closely the rock was engraved 'Mitchel'- Sometimes in the DA that is what people call me or how they spell my name. The rock was at the top of Boiling Lake)

Also, at Month End myself and another volleyball player are planning a Beach Volleyball Tournament! It will have a men and women league and we will be playing twos! I am excited, it is my first volleyball tourney I have planned! It is going well but it is approaching quickly and we need to get moving! Monster Energy Drink will be our main sponsor a long with Dominican Beverage and Brewery and I am hoping for one or two of the cell phone providers as well! I will be playing with the other Peace Corps Volunteer and naturally we plan on winning! :o)



One last thing! Every since my friend left I have between a little motivated to cook! It quick impressive for this girl to cook and enjoy it! I LOVE to back but to cook is another story! I think it has a lot to do with I do not like to eat a lone and I enjoy to feed people. To me, making a good meal and not sharing it is a waste! I am trying to get over it and I have made homemade hummus, crunchy chicken, and I had a little splurge and bought some asparagus (very expensive!) and made some really good chicken, asparagus, alfrado sauce (also a splurge) pasta! Yummy!

For a girl that thought she had writer block sure had a lot to say!!

Until Next Time…

2010

I cannot believe it is already 2010! For me that is crazy to think! I have almost been living on Dominica for ONE YEAR! It as almost been ONE YEAR since I have hugged my mother, held my nephew, laughed with my Brother in-law, been shopping with my bestest, and hung out my sister! On January 2, 2010, it will be 11 months since I have first placed my feet on the beautiful soil of Dominica!

New Years Eve was a very calm and content day for me! I had a PCV from Grenada staying with me from December 26, 2009 to January 3, 2010. Myself, Alicia (A PCV in DA), and Alyssa (PCV from Grenada), spent the day on the beach, the weather was not the greatest, it was a little raining and what not, but we made it work! Then we all came back to my house to make dinner, hang out, and bring in 2010! We made an amazing Eggplant Lasagna, Sautéed fresh veggies from the Shoppe owner’s farm, and some tostadas (Fried Plantain (Part of the Banana Family) with a Ketchup, Mayo, and garlic sauce)! VERY Good!!

Since we are one hour behind New York, we watched celebrated News Year Day twice! Once for Dominica time and then again for New York time! Again, like all Holidays, it was bittersweet! I was grateful to be with Alicia and not by myself, but every year I spent it with my Bestest Beth and then this year it was just a phone call/text!

Every Step is ONE Step Closer!

‘Every Step is ONE Step Closer!’ Coach Scott Wooster told me that one day when I was in High School running during Track Practice! More then likely I looked like I wanted to die and stop but as he told me that I pushed just a little harder and finished the work out!

On Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 8 crazy souls decided we wanted to accomplish and finish one of the hardest hikes in Dominica! Boiling Lake! Boiling Lake is a 5 mile hike each way with about 15,000 STEPS!! It is fine to re-read it, I did say FIFTEEN HUNDRED STEPS!!! We are talking up hill, down hill, smooth, narrow! Yes some moments I wanted to die, I wanted to stop, I did not want to finish! I did not think I could climb one more step, cross one more river, or put my foot in front of the other just one last time. As you are hiking, you must finish, there is no helicopter circling the area to pick up tired walkers, nobody will carry you on their back when you are tired, it is YOU and only YOU!! The hike takes about 6 to 8 hours to complete! The irony of it all is once you get to this LARGE LAKE that is boiling, in the back of your head you are thinking, I have to get back, and I have another 3 hours to go! One I had it and our guard said “Welcome to Boiling Lake,’ my face light up with such great pride and sense of accomplishment as the guard gave me a knock!

We did, all eight of us finished! We achieved our task, we can cross off one more thing off our ‘To Do’ list! We laughed, we shared moments, we have memories to hold onto from the hike! Many are not even prove enough to take that first step of the Hike but we took all 15,000 and made be a little sore, but together we did it! Together, we accomplished one more thing on this journey! Together we proved one more time we are truly pretty Bad Ass!

Click HERE for picture!

Thank You!

Every blog I write I could say a Thank You and it would still never be enough! I would like to Thank EVERYONE for all of the Christmas Notes, Cards, and E-Mails! A Thank You to ALL who thought of me on Christmas because I was thinking of you as well! A Thank You for making it just a little easier, for making smile me while I just wanted to cry (or letting me cry)! A Thank You for loving not only on me but on my children as you sent candy canes, stickers, and window clings! But most importantly, a HUGE THANK YOU for instilling in me the traditions, the memories, and the moments that make Christmas Christmas!

Christmas Day!

December 25, 2009- Christmas Day with a little or a lot of a Dominican Twist! I was in Roseau for Christmas Day staying by a friend of mine! Honestly it was crazy to wake on Christmas Day and not run to the living room to see if Santa made it to my house, to open gifts with my sister and now Andrew and Austin. To wear those silly hats mom loved! It was weird to be sweating wearing shorts and a t-shirt in December. Everything that was Christmas for me was not there. No cold weather, no family, no presents under the Christmas Tree, no Christmas Tree, no coffee that Dad made! Nothing that for the past 22 Christmas was there for me! Yes it was hard, and in true Michelle, Christmas fashion, I had a “Michelle Frustration Moment,” that I got over a lot quicker then I normally do!

My Christmas day went a little like this! After waking up and eating breakfast, we just hung out around the house watching TV and what not! I was getting antsy so I went for a walk! There happened to be a Cruise Ship on the Bayfront, so I decided to head that way! I spent most of my Morning, hanging out on the Bayfront, watching people, the sea, and just pondering about life! In a million years I would of never thought I would on an island that I called home, in the sunshine, with my feet in the water on Christmas Day! Once I got back, I found out our plans had got cancelled so it was time for Plan B or C! We went over our friends house who was having family over for Christmas! She has an amazing house, with a beautiful outdoor veranda that wraps around most of her home, with amazing company, great food, and a great view! Our lunch was very similar to a Thanksgiving dinner! There was Turkey, Ham, Lamb, Hummus, Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows, Green Beans, and for desert there was even those ‘Sugar Cookies that come in a tube that you cute apart with a christmas 'stamp' on the front of them!’ Amazing, it was a taste of home! The host of the party is dating a gentleman who lived in Michigan! Not only Michigan, but in TROY! What a small world even in the island!

Christmas in Dominica is all about Friends and Family! Going from one home to the next, drinking some juice, eating some food, but most importantly just spending quality time with individuals who you love and care about! At the end of all it that is the most important factor is to surround yourself with individuals who love and care about you!!

Christmas Eve

This day is HUGE in Dominica! All of the stores in the capital, Roseau, are open MUCH later then usually, till about 10:00PM! There are people BBQ on the corners, liming with friends, doing LAST minute shopping and just taking in the hype of Christmas Eve! Many individuals that live in the country and do not come into town often are in town for Christmas Eve, the streets are packed with the young, the old, and every in between. For the first time during the whole Christmas Season, I felt the hustle and bustle of the holiday season! There was almost a sense of panic to finish their shopping, meeting with friends, and just enjoy themselves. Town was ALIVE, it was marvelous!



Naturally, I had to be in that scene! I went down around 8:00PM just to check it out but did not have anything to buy! I ran into some friends of mine, got some AMAZING BBQ chicken from the mother of some students from my Library Camp and just walked the streets of Roseau. It was crazy to see all of these Dominicans in one place, almost a little overwhelming! It was good to see the country celebrating Christmas because with the Elections and what not, people were more focused on Elections then on Christmas, so it was simply great to see Christmas being celebrated!



Of course, I missed the traditions I am use to on Christmas Eve of going to church then getting dinner with Grandpa or our newest tradition of going to the Christmas Store, the Holt’s Church/House then back home. It makes me thrilled that Austin is getting to experience and start his own traditions because being a way I have a more appreciation for the traditions my parents had have with us as children into adulthood! It is what gives the holidays a special twist and treat to them. It makes the holidays memorable!

+ The Pictures are from what I was doing the Day BEFORE Christmas Eve! Don't be jealous that I was in the sun/sand instead of shoveling snow! +

Poker Night!

OoO Mine! Where do I even begin! It feels like a long time since I have blog and a lot has happened. It is the Holiday Season with a little Dominica Twist. The Elections are finally over and for about a week we (Dominicans) can actually celebrate the Christmas Season and not be totally concerned with the Elections anymore. The Elections were on December 18, 2009 and the unofficial results were announced on the same day! The final day, Saturday, the OFFICIAL results were announced. On Friday, some of my friends and I had a Poker/Election party at my friends's home! It was a ROIT! The Dominicans that were over have never played poker before but rather just watched it on TV. Myself and other PCV (mostly the other PCV, Austin) taught them all how to play. I know a little bit how to play but not really! My friends loved it, we did not play for real money but used chips and all of that good stuff! My friends caught on really fast and after all of it they were like, ‘Now I understand a little more of what I see on TV!’ It was fun to share a little of American Culture and fun with my friends!