Dive Fest!

Each year in July, Dominica has a Dive Fest! It is about a week and half and at the end they have a BIG canoe race! During the week, they will have 'Discover Scuba Diving,' under water camera demonstration, and some other diving events! Each day there is a special event throughout the island!



I did not participate last year but this year the Peace Corps girls put together two teams for the canoe race! One team one 3 Peace Corps Volunteers and a friend. The team I was on was myself, a PCV, and her parents! What happens is, each boat has a captain and two rowers. The two rowers, row out to their teammates who are standing on a floating dock, and then switch, so the other two row back! Understand?



Once of the PCV sunk the boat but still got to race int he finals because the Ross University Team (The Medical School) left! My team ended up winning which was VERY exciting and A LOT of fun!

Yum Yum!

So last night I was feeling to bake and I had asked my tutors to come to camp early to set-up so I decided what else to make besides Cinnamon Rolls! Here are some pictures of the lovely breakfast! They tasted just as good as they looked! Thanks to Grandma I was able to put some raisin in them (I knew I saved them for a reason!)

Week #2 of Camp!

I do not feel like typing but ENJOY the pictures!

Click HERE for Pictures!

"I Feel A Live Today"

The other day, we took our 10-14 year old students to a Nursing Home in Dominica. It was a unique experience for the children but a well received activity. For the older students I am trying to add in community service a long with camp activities. When we went to the Nursing Home all of the residents were outside. The girls spilt up into two groups and made bracelets with some of the female residents while the boys went and played Domino with one of the men.

As I was leaving one of the women who had hung out with three girls grab my hand and said "I Feel A Live Today!" At the moment, it was worth it, the world made sense, my hard work, my planning, my follow-ups, it was worth it for this complete stranger to feel a live again.

I know I am always going back to this, but it hold truth. It is the little things. These girls spent 45 mins of their day, making beaded jewel. They were chatting, they were giggling, they were sharing. It was a moment that touched this older women's heart. Nothing big, no long story, just three girls sitting with one older individual who may never get any visitors, making some bracelets!

How many hearts could YOU touch in 45mins?

We All Have To Wait!

Today at camp, I walked with the eight and nine year old students to the Dominica Broadcasting Station (DBS- The Local Radio Station) to tour the studio and go on the air. We did not go on the air because they were broadcasting live. Regardless it was a good time for all.

An unique thing happened while we were walking there. I was leading the group down the street and we had to cross an intersection. Not thinking much of it, I stopped the car so my students could cross safely. I looked at the car, a big Black SUV, tinted windows, and a 'G' license plate which means it is a government vehicle. Still not thinking much of it, as I crossed the street and safe on the other side, the women looks at me and says "You know you just stopped the Prime Ministry's Car!" I smiled and moved on thinking about the power I had! Also, a moment of, this is similar to stopping the President Obama Caravan, which would never happen!

Happy FOURTH of July!

Dominicans do not celebrate the Fourth of July (it is American Independence, not Dominica Independence) but the Peace Corps decided that we wanted to bring Fourth of July celebration to Dominica!

We had a bonfire on the beach where we made s'mores and cooked hot dogs! Ate chicken, potato salad, noodle salad, and had red and blue cookies. No fire works but there was GLOW STICKS!! It was a GRAND affair! All the volunteers were able to make it expect two, one is off island and the other is feeling ill.



It was NO 'G' Fourth of July but I was able to talk to the Family before they headed to the fire works so, I was there in spirit!

Not just Cinderella goes to the Ball...

Last week I had the chance to go to the Ball! Man was I excited! Anytime I can get dressed up and straighten my hair I am a happy girl! The Grade 6 students that recently graduate celebrated their graduation with a Ball! There was food and music for all and ALL night! The students had a BLAST, danced the night way, all looking ‘top of the line’ in their suits and the girls in their dresses and heal and of course the food was amazing! The mothers can cook! My camera died but I did get two pictures while I was there!

Summer Camp!

It is Week #1 of Camp! No words just pictures!

Enjoy!

Click HERE

More Graduations!

I went to another graduation this week and these graduates were priceless! Coming up to my belly button (if that) and pushing 40 pounds!



These lovely graduates were dressed in their caps and gown, hair done, and well dressed. There attention spans are about 15 seconds, they melt my heart every time I hear them say ‘Miss’ and their hugs can turn a gloomy day into sunshine.



These graduates are my little ones, my little one that partake in my ‘Big Readers, Little Listeners program. The picture speak for themselves of how adorable they truly are!

Love

Love: A topic I usually stay very far away from but also one of my favorite emotions. Love is right up there with Joy! But for the past few weeks I have been moved to chat more about Love! I enjoy how Love comes in all different degrees, love for a child is different then love for a spouse, their is the intense I will die if you love, or the love that makes you safe.



When I was home a while ago, I saw Love. Love in it most pure and unconditional way love. The Till Death Do Us Part Love! The love that is still growing after 60 years. The Love I want to have, I long to have! That amazing, I found my soul mate and want to grow old with you Love.



You maybe wondering what I saw. I saw my grand parents. My grandmother resting her eyes in the chair and my grandfather resting his eyes in the bed, both holding hands! See, my grandfather was sick for a while, spending time in the hospital and grandma never left his side. It was the sweetest site I could have seen, the site of true love.



My grandfather passed away about a week or so after I had seen him. The thing, he had been sick for a while and I made the decision to come home for about 11 eleven days. A last minute decision with little to no worry! But my heart was heavy, I was an emotional mess in Dominica, and just wanted to be home, so that is what I did! I believe in following and trusting your heart! If I did not follow my heart, I would have had to make an even quicker decision to come home for a celebration.



The thing is, my Grandfather passed way on 14 June 2010, just short of his 89th birthday. I kept hearing from my family how their were Celebrating just like my Grandfather Celebrated his life! Man, did my Grandfather jam as much as he could in his 88 years of life. He was an amazing husband, father, grand-father, and GREAT GRAND FATHER! He was a jack all of trades, able to fix anything, mowing his lawn until his children and grandson focused him to sit down, he could tell jokes that would make you laugh until you cried, he had a kind soul, was supportive of all of his children and grandchildren! My Grandfather played an enormous part in my life, taking me up north to look for dears, or Mooo at Cows (that one is for you Grandma), to take me to get ice cram as long as I promised not to tell Grandma I had Ice Cream before dinner, just to go again in the evening. The memories could continue, but these are some of my favorite!

Thank You for showing me Love! Giving me an example to live by! Showing me what living life truly is!

Also! Happy 4th of July to Everyone! This post was purposely scheduled on the Fourth of July because that is my FAVORITE Holiday with the family and where my memories of my grandfather lie the deepest!

Summer Camp!

It is time for round two of Summer Camp and I could not be more excited! We are hoping for 75-80 students this year from the age of 4-14 years of age. Myself and another PCV is going to director it with other PCVs and College Students who will assisting in being Counselors.

Some events we are going to try to do:
- Tie Dye
- Field Trips
- Snorkeling
- Library
- Fire and Ambulance Station
- Tour a Bottling Corporation
- And other fantastic places
- Arts and Crafts Projects
- Educational Fun!
- Culture Experiences
- Venezuela Embassy
- Japaneses Volunteers
- French School

Lots of Other FUN FUN STUFF!!!