Update!

Here is a little point update on my life in the last few months (I find it is needed)

- In beginning of November I handed over my VAC responsibilities to volunteer
- I am currently planning a Christmas Parade for business houses to showcase what they are selling for the Christmas season and to kick off Christmas
- I will do a four day long Christmas Arts and Craft Camp with the Library
- Through Alicia I was given the opportunity to make locally made Crosses for a church in her area
- I am currently applying for Graduate School which I have a love/hate relationship about and would not be able to do it without the loving (sometimes tough love) support from my mother and my sister!
- It is started to get cool in my village which makes me want to drink coffee all evening and sometimes I do
- I am still doing my Big Reader Little Listener program with a new group of students and it warms my heart every time I go to it
- I am working with the school once a week during small group remedial reading work and seeing the progress in the students is remarkable
- I am still greeted each Tuesday before I reach the top of the hill of the school with many hugs and excited faces
- I am starting arts and crafts at my Primary School with the grade four classroom
- My work site is planning an island tour for World AIDS Day (December 1st)! We will be passing out and sharing information about HIV/AIDS as well as passing out condoms to community members
- I am continuing to to therapy and last week one of the ladies I am working with had a "I get it moment!" It made me happy knowing I have reached her
- I have five months left of the Peace Corps…

Joy and OatMeal Cookies!

A few weeks ago now was my two my nearest and dearest birthdays! We went to the beach to celebrate and had an amazing time! Naturally, I had to provide something sweet for the both of them! One of the, Brian, I traveled with him the weekend before and he commented how he loved Oatmeal Cookies, PERFECT! Then Alicia, well she loves anything with peanut butter and chocolate, Peanut Butter Frosted Brownies it is!

What was so great about this whole thing had nothing to do with the day we celebrated but rather making of the desserts! It is never fun to bake a lone so I invited my landlord’s daughter to come down and help me! She loves to bake just as much as I do! We put on our aprons and in the kitchen we went with Rihanna singing in the background! She is such a joyful young lady and was the positive energy I needed! It is amazing to watch the carefree attitude of a fourteen year old as she is dancing in my living room with a spoon full of cookie dough! That is joy! That is carefree and is what I do not ever want to lose!

Pumpkin Pie!

Last night I made my first Pumpkin Pie! Let me tell you... it caused my pressure to rise a little and the crust needs a little love but it looks really good and the filling taste good, which is all that matters!



I needed a little support from Alicia and some helpful hints from Mom, but I am excited to cut it and taste it this evening! I also made a little pudding pie with some of the extra crust I had! The filling is a pack of chocolate pudding, a pack of vanilla pudding, a big scoop of peanut butter, milk, and some vanilla essences. I need a little work on the crust but I am happy with my first two pies!!



I hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving and remembers all the amazingness that surrounds them every day, in moments, in people, in life! I could never say I grateful I am for all of you, your love, your support, and your motivation! THANK YOU!! Love You!

Grateful!

I have missed many days but here are some items I have been grateful for lately:

1. My mother who lets me snap, is honest but loving, and says silly things to make me laugh
2. A sister who in between chasing around a VERY active and sometimes sassy but ALWAYS a cutie 2 year reads my essays for University
3. For a bestest who understands
4. My porch
5. Random Text Messages
6. Receiving a Christmas Package in November! (Now I just have to WAIT!)
7. My neighbor and the evenings she keeps me company
8. Leather Couches and American Football

Turkey Time

It is almost Thanksgiving! Similar to last year all of the PCVs are getting together to have Thanksgiving! In good old fashion Thanksgiving style it will be one big pot luck with all the volunteers bringing their favorite dish!



This year I am feeling brave and decided to make a Pumpkin Pie! Ladies and gentleman, this is no normal Pumpkin Pie, but as natural as you can get! I will be making the crust from scratch and pumpkin pie filling from a locally grown pumpkin! No canned pumpkin for this girl! But I do have to say, I have a little help on my side! My neighbor who is the head baker at the local restaurant is going to guide me because my two experiences with pumpkin where not the best!

Tonight, I made the crust and it chilling in the fridge as I type! And tomorrow, we will be making the filling and baking the pie! Wish me luck!! Pictures of the final product to come!

Today...

I am Grateful For... (Saturday 6 November 2010)
1. Chocolate Chip Pancakes
2. XL Shirts on Raining Days
3. The Boy that is willing to give up his shirt
4. Amazing Company
5. Lady Luck



I am Grateful For... (Sunday 7 November 2010)
1. Sleeping In
2. Travel Coffee Mugs
3. Porch Sitting
4. No Electricity
5. Running into an old friend



I am Grateful For... (Monday 8 November 2010)
1. Waking up to the sound of waves and birds
2. Productive Meeting
3. Amazing Food with Amazing Company
4. Texts that make me smile
5. Hugs!




I am Grateful For... (Tuesday 9 November 2010)
1. Getting back to Dominica
2. Chocolate Chip Muffin for Dinner
3. Coffee Chats
4. Great traveling buddy
5. The Sea

Creole Day at School!

The Friday before Independence (November 4) is Creole Day where all of the students, employee, and individuals in town dress in their Creole outfits. The outfits make town so bright and the woman look amazing! On that day, my school had Creole day! After the morning assembly all of the students about 200 students went into one of the larger classrooms to watch their fellow students perform national songs, dance, and plays. The students were working hard all week to perfect their talent and they sure did shine on Friday. For a special treat during break time, they students were able to get traditional dishes/foods which parents had donated. Overall, it was a great day and went a lot smoother than last year! My favorite is seeing all of the pre-schoolers in their Creole wear!

Click HERE for the rest of the phots!

Creole in the Park

So all of last week was a week I had been looking forward to for months. It is my favorite time of the year, Independence Time. During this time, the streets are full of traditional music, dress, and foods. There are dishes with Crab (that you cannot get all year round) and cod fish and fig (green banana). There are numerous culture competitions where primary/secondary students display their culture dress and talent. At the culture events the students are performing traditional days such as the Heel and Toe and traditional songs in the local language of Creole. It is a very joyous and exciting time of the year! There is just a little extra soul!



For the adults and children a like, the Monday –Thursday before Independence Day which is 3 November each day, one of the major cell phone companies (LIME) puts on Creole in the Park. It is exactly what it sounds like. Creole in the Park takes place in the Botanical Gardens, located in the Capital turns into a large music festival. It runs from about 12-7P each day where you can find local foods, vendors selling jewelry and other craft items. In additional, there is popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy and inflatable joys (bouncing castles/obstacles courses) for the children. While all of this going on, there are local and international music performances going on! It just a very chill and low key vibe! I went each day after work because I love it so! It gets a HUGE turn as you can see from the picture and on Thursday the crowd was even larger than the picture represents!

Today...

- A Picture another PCV took from her couch -

... I am Grateful for
1. A Morning Filled With Tea/Coffee
2. Innocence
3. A FREE dress from another PCV
4. Free Willy
5. Alicia Time!

Today...

...I am Grateful for!
1. Cold Jersey Sheets
2. Homemade Orange Ginger Tea
3. Sunshine
4. Might Ducks 3
5. Talking to Mom on Skype

What are you Grateful for...

I am an Auntie!

Yes, most of you know that I am an Auntie to the adorable Austin and soon to be cutie of pie I call ‘Small fry!’

I am also an Auntie to a beautiful Grade K student from my village. She goes to the school I work with and from the first day I started there this year, she has referred to me as Auntie! It is the cutest when across the play ground she will yell “Auntie” and how she does not want me to leave her after break time! She is just sweet as a button and makes my school days all that more enjoyable, especially as we walk hand in hand while I take her to her ‘Next Auntie’s Home’

She is the cutie in the green at Creole Day at school!

Little Amazings

-- Googled 'Awesome' and this is what I found --

Generally speaking, individuals forget to recognize and appreciate the small wonders of the world. There is a website called 1000 Awesomes and it is just a list of all those Little Awesomes that make life all that better. I was listening to a presentation by the founder of 1000 Awesomes and he inspired to write my ‘Little Amazings’ list. During his presentation he mentioned how he loves to hang out with 3 years because they are seeing and discovering the world for the first time. Everything and event is so fresh to their eyes and as we grow up, events get stale. We must remember to take time to enjoy and soak in the ‘Little Amazings!’

Here are a few of mine! I would love for any/all of you to leave your ‘Little Amazings’ as my comments!

My 5 year old neighbor who greets me every time she sees me with this HUGE and excited Hello! Similar to how a best friend/family would greet you after not seeing you for months!
The personalities of the ocean and the many colors of blue it shines
Having a friend wait with me so I did not have to wait in the dark by myself for my ride
The combination of the sound of rain and the palm trees swaying with the wind
Sundays in Dominica
Drinking endless cups of tea
Peeled over in the a fit of laughter
Rainbows
Sunsets
An evening nap after work
Hugs from little ones you do not know
Having people call your name on the street and greet you with a smile
Random text messages from bestest
Cooking/Eating with Friends
Drinking Coffee in my favorite chair while watching the sea
Not having to wait long in line or get cut in front of at the Grocery Store
Live Music
Movies that make you cry
Letters from Jennifer
Holding Hands