FOOTBALL...

Tonight I was able to go to the Football game at the new Stadium in Dominica. For those of you that do not know "Football" is really soccer but they call it Football similar to other countries. About 3ish years ago China gave Dominica a WHOLE LOT of money and assistance to build a new Football and Cricket Stadium. It is located right in the capital town and absolutely beautiful. There was a GREAT showing at the game tonight. Dominica ended up losing 5-0 but it was still a lot of fun. I went with my host family and another Peace Corp Volunteer. Below are some pictures from the game.

My parents went to Dominica about 2 years ago and Mr. ChuChu took a picture of the building being built so there is a before and after effect. Enjoy the pictures...

I am off to bed now. I am going to be with the preschoolers tomorrow so I need ALL the energy I can have so I can match their energy!

A Beautiful Look EVERYWHERE You Look...

Well Everyone where do I begin!! It is crazy to think that in about 2 days I will have been gone for a MONTH!! That is simply crazy to me because it seems like yesterday when I was stressing out about fitting everything into my suite case- carrying my suitcase- and simply staring into Jenifer's room hoping it would pack itself. Nearly 6 months ago, I was sitting at my kitchen table getting the news I would not be leaving until February as the Plumber walks by. Now I am here- in Dominica getting my big toe wet and learning as I go. Look back it makes me smiles- understanding life happens in a specific order for a reason. It seems to all fall right into place like a the perfect jigsaw puzzle life is. There will be always be road blocks, things that YOU want to happen at a specific moment but happen at a later one. I am were I am suppose to be at the moment I am suppose to be there. It is a Magnificent feeling.

This might be a long one because I feel like there is a lot of updating to do. I have a fantastic weekend. Saturday was the baking and then I Sunday I got the opportunity to join a service learning group as they went to Church, a picnic, and the river to "Bathe". Let me break down "Batheing" in the river for you. Sometimes it does have to do with actually taking a shower if the river but for the most part it means simply hanging out in the river. How this river work is- there was rocks on both ends of where we were and a little deeper not so rocky part in the middle. The water was a little on the cold side- and no animals got me which made me happy. It was great to just spend the whole after noon with individuals my add hanging out and chic chatting. The weather treated us well for the most parts. It sprinkled just a little bit on and off some of the day but for the most part it was fine. Dominica is like that though- it will "spit" rain for a moment then stop and start again.

She was our little one that went with us to the River. Needless to say she was passed out about 5 minutes into the van ride.

I am now attached to a School. It is a fourth grade classroom right by my work site. It is GREAT. The children are between 8 and 10 and a simply delight to have around. One of the little boys said "You are Fun" after I got done facilitating a conversation about the GREATEST of TREES!! I get a hug from most of them as they leave and when they come in the morning. I ran into one of the girls in the store on Monday and her face simply light up when she saw me. I am glad for the School Attachment.

That is all I got...

Love and Miss ALL
M

It is Baking Time...

Today was such an AMAZING day! The morning started with me running about 15 mins late (which is not a big surprise) but the plans were nothing set in stone. My host mom, Shirley and I went for a watch throughout the village. We first stop at a woman by the name of Tete. Tete is from Liberia and now lives in an amazing house over looking the city and the water in Dominica. She is marriage to a man who was part of the second group of individuals set to out of the country for the PEACE CORPS!! He was group number 2. I am group number 79 which means 79 groups have been sent to Dominica alone.

And then we walked to a local villager with a unbelievable green thumb and he is he the local Gardner. He was not around but we walked through his garden anyways. After that we stopped by a man who does local wood work. My village is full of artist individuals.

Then it was BAKING TIME!! I set up and measured all of the ingredients for Oatmeal Raisin Cookies just like I use to make at home. Five of the local girls and myself were going to make cookies. The children ranged from 5 years old to 11 years old. I told them I would be done to pick them up (they just live down the road) at 2:00PM. I got there at 2:00PM and they were not ready so I just told them to come up to my Host Mother's house when they were ready. Anyways... we just had a BLAST making cookies. The girls were soo excited to be able to help, mix in the ingredients, and stir them all together. They do not get to bake a lot so it was a true treat for them. So we made about 5 dozen cookies which they LOVED and took some home for their mother and oldest sister (14 years old). Then we had lunch together! I went back down to the spring with the help of the girls. We went on a little adventure on the way up when we were trying to take a short cut through the forest. I did a little hiking :o). The girls and myself had such a BLAST this afternoon. It was a great Saturday!

These are the girls I was baking with. The second picture is of is some of the girls and my Host Mother!

Lets Play The Question and Answer Game..

So, I just a received an e-mail asking me questions about questions regarding my everyday life in Dominica. They were great questions, I want to share the answers with all of you.

1. I get around by either "Bus" which are really 12 passenger white vans. I am lucky because my Host Mother has a car and she works in the same time as me. So A LOT of the times she will just drive me down. But the majority of individuals take the bus or walk.

2. The whole island especially the children speak English but the individuals here have a different dialectic, use different words choices, and they talk fast so at times I feel like they are speaking a different language. But if they speak slower then I can usually follow better but I have no problem asking them to repeat what they said. Also, the older individuals and individuals that live in smaller villages speak Creole which is a broken french- it is not formal written so it is harder to learn. I have language class about twice a week.

3. Yes there is Grocery Stores. Surprise they have ALOT of American food but it is about 3 to 5 dollars more expensive because they have to import it but they do have it. You will not find a Meijer or Walmart type store but it is a good size grocery store with about 10 aisle. All the basic are there. There is also a Subway, KFC, and Rituals (which is a Dominican verse of Starbucks- same colors and all) in where I work. All of the food they use for those two restaurants are imported so it taste just like in the states :o).

4. The food I am eating contains ALOT of starches- they have about 5 different types of Po toes/Yams. I am still trying to learn the names and tell the difference between all of them. They eat a lot of fish and chicken a long with beans. We do not eat a lot of noodles because they get there starch from their pototoes. Also, we eat A LOT of veggies because they are so easy to find and make. The Market is open Monday-Saturday so you can also find fresh fruits and veggies. Also, there is two ice cream places really close so I eat ice cream about once a week! :o).

5. Yes the kids where uniforms. At the school I am at they were brown pants or jumper with a white and brown and plaid shirt. Depending on the School will change the color and style of the uniform.

6. The currency we use is Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC) but a lot of shops will take the USA dollar. The exchange rate is about 2.6. So I buy a liter of water for about 3.50 EC which is about $1.35 US Dollars

7. Lastly, my address for the next two years is as follows:

PO Box 357

8 King George V Street

Roseau Dominica

Just an FYI it goes through Customs, so do not send me any valuable. It takes about 3-6 weeks for a package and about two weeks for a letter.

I think that is it- my lap top is about to die!

LOVE ALL of YOU!

M

It is the Little Things of 3/12 That Keep Me Smiling

Introducing Chocolate- The Family Dog!

I felt like I should blog but was not in the mood for something long- so here it is in a nutshell. Ideal stolen from my sister!

1. Having the opportunity to work on a Easter Egg Hunt where the kids will be goin to about 5 local villages to collect clues

2. Having a 6 year old little girl introducing me to all of the Children at the after school programs

3. Having the 1st graders smile with delight when I let them play with my hair (They LOVE how soft it is)

4. Hot Chocolate before bed

5. Seeing my Peace Corp Volunteers Tomorrow

6. Baking my FAMOUS Cookies this weekend with 5 sisters in the village

7. Going to the Beach on Sunday

8. A Sky Full of Stars

9. Goin to the MARKET on Friday

Love and Miss all of you!! Stayed Tune- I will try to give a more updated version sooner...

Just a short one..

So I was reading another PCT (Peace Corps Trainee) blog, we are still Trainee until our training is over and they make it official at the end of April with a little Ceremony. While I was reading her Blog I was inspired. So I am also go to share similarly to how she shared:

I have lived an amazing short 22 years of life (Almost 23) and touched many hearts a long the way, some I realized and some I did not. Most importantly people have touched my hearts in different ways, it could be the man on the street that makes a comment of how nice I look that day, A friend telling me how I am appreciated, or a client being "mad" at me when I inform her that I am leaving. All of the moments and a millions others have touched my heart.

This journey is about the community, children, and Dominica but this adventure is alsoabout ME. For the first time in a long time I am allowing this journey to be about my continuous personal growth as a Women. I am no longer a "Girl" but a Women that is going to spread her wings farther then she can image. Test her will, fall down at moments but pick HERSELF up, and find her true passions for life. During the Peace Corps I am hoping to find ME at the moment (knowing I will change).

I want to THANK YOU each and every one of you that needs this. More then likely you are someone that is near and dear to me (if you aren't a random) and have helped one way or another in personal growth. THANK YOU for the endless support you have shown me in your own special way because of that I am free to explore, grow as a Women, and see the World!!

It is go time now for ME!

My New Room..

Let go on a little tour of my new home...

That is the road on the way down to my house off the main road that goes through the WHOLE city

The outside of the home- my host mom rents out an apartment on the top and the bottom

My Bed Where I have sweet dreams- It may be messing but MOM take a look IT IS MADE!!

My Dresser and Closet...


My FANASTIC Shower Head

The Inside of my shower that was finished a few days before I arrived

The Sink and Toilet


Sometimes it is just easier to show pictures then example. That is where I am living in a nutshell! Miss and love you!!

M