Pictures of MY Island..

A crazy looking tour bus I say at the Bay Front while all the tourist were getting off the island and I was journal

A view of some of the houses on the Mountain by the agency I am working at.

It is the Bay Front View- where the cruise ships come in and the rain cloud that is ALWAYS over the mountain villages.

The first view of the Ocean I saw on the Way to meet with my host family.

It is very unique because the individuals of Dominica take their island very personally but referring it as "Their Island." I found that remarkable to have so much proud in the place you live.

Island Life...

Well... where do I begin. While I am typing this my pictures are uploading so you all will be able to see what I am calling home for the next two year.

I made to Dominica safe and sound after two flights from St. Lucia. I arrived this Monday at about 6:00PM where I was greeted by my Host Mother and a BIG Hug!! My host mother and her two daughters are simply a delight and a blessing to have around. My host mother is very active in the community and knows almost everyone which will be very helpful when I start working on my different projects with the Youth of Dominica. I have my own bedroom and my private bath room. It is a very nice home. Every evening my host family so patiently lets me cook with her so I can learn how to cook the local food and the other day we went to her friends home to pick fresh grapefruits from her tree. Today on my way home from the gym (I will tell you more about that later)- there was a man selling Coconuts right out of the back of his truck, us girls all got one. First you drink the juice and then you give it back to him so he can cut it again and you can eat the inside. They are not brown and hairy like in the States but rather a yellow/green color on the outside but still white in the inside. My host mother kindly paid for a time membership so I go with her two daughters. It is a lot of fun- it is on the third floor of a building and is just a one room weight room where a lot of the same people come everyday.

Today I went to meet the individuals that I will be working with for the next two years. It is an agency that works with the youth of Dominica all across the island. There is only two women who work in the agency. I will be working on various activities such as World Youth Service Day, A Leadership conferences (where I will be speaking about active listening and empathy). There is a handful of other activities that I cannot think of at the moment- such as a walk for awareness and a Book Club.

I am truly enjoying myself. I live in the rain forest on top of a mountain. City girl is in the mountains and loving it. It rains almost everyday at my host family home- even though we are in the dry season at the moment. There is a rainbow frequently (a few times a week). I have to take a picture of it the next time I see it. I am also surrounded around naturally untouched beauty that I hope I do not take advantage of.

I think that is it- enjoy the pictures on the next post- if you have any questions just e-mail me or e-mail me to say Hello. Hope all is well with everyone!!

Love and Miss Each and Everyone of you!

M

Pictures for your viewing Pleasure..

Outside the Park Finishing our Ice Cream

The Girls Pretending to be in the Jungle

GROUP SHOT!

Waiting is the Game...

Let me paint just a little picture...

Next to me is one of my Peace Corps volunteers Beth (Beth says "Just Chillin looking for Rhianna") also farting around on her Laptop- there is a Security Guard outside to my Left- and a Man wearing a Fanny pack that just walked by.

Well.. you guessed it I am at the Airport in Barbados waiting for my Flight to Dominica.

So... for those of you know I check Post Secrets every Sunday (I am not sure what I am going to do if I do not have a Internet and cannot check them out weekly. Two things I found out is- he is coming out with his fourth book (Christmas Idea :o) ) and the Postsecret above is amazing for the journey we are on. The answer to the questions is Yes- they do have tampons on the island.

Anyways- today is filled with emotions similar to most. There is happiness/excitement to meet my host family and finally get to my Island but their is also nervous and a sense of anxiety that comes a long with that. Then there is sadness as well. We were a close group of 23- that become about 16 and now it is 8. I am going to miss those individuals that I learned about- chatting with and a bond was formed. We will meet again in about 1 year to see the amazing things we have done in our communities. I know they will ALL do GREAT things in their islands!

All is well- simply enjoying the different languages I hear around me (none being English) and the Sunshine that wakes me up every morning.

I do not have a lot to update with you beside I will be living with host family for about 2 months and then I will be living on my own. As time goes on I will be able to update you on events going on and projects I will be partaking in. But for now- we are learning the ways of land and training like crazy!

I hope everyone is doing well! Miss all of you!

Love You

M

More Pictures...

Yummy Ice Cream Treat....
A Daily Set for Us..

Love each and everyone of you who reads this!!

PICTURES....

The Sunset outside my window...The place where we are staying in St. Lucia

The Day time view from my window

It has been a while...

Why Hello WORLD...

Man do I feel on top of the world right now. I am currently in St. Lucia doing trying with 22 other Peace Corp volunteers. On Monday we all of us with go to our separate island and meet again in about one year!

I will be going to be leaving for Dominica on Monday morning with seven other individuals. While I am living in Dominica I will be working with Youth doing national work a long with individual work such as after school activities, one-on-one tutoring, and other activities. Other activity that I am going to be doing is starting a VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE with a cross match with other peace corp volunteer.

Everything is going well with me. Not a lot has developed yet still doing the training. The individuals I am with are all AMAZING and we are going to make a HUG change in the island!

I miss all you!! I am not sure about my Internet access as time goes on but please continue your prayers and love you are sending my way! I LOVE e-mails (HINT-HINT :o) )

Peace and Love

M