A Little Christmas Part 1

Well.. Christmas is 12 Days Away! For me it is really crazy to think because what normal reminds me of Christmas does not happen on the island! There is no running around to get last minutes gifts, fighting the snow storm roads, salt marks on the jeans, and wearing layer after layer of clothing to stay warm as you run in and out of the stores. For me there is no Fleece Fabric laying on the living room floor with dad keeping time to see how fast it will take Mom and I to finish the blanket, or stockings hanging by the window, there are no sweet candies in the jar on the desk, or a whole lot of extra stuff that was once in the living room and is now in my room! :o) There is not a little man running around, a crib in the family room, and toys everyone!



Rather, there is sunshine and rain! A little Christmas Tree that now has a taste of home to it, a Santa Hat from a Dear Friend, and a Christmas Lighting Ceremony! A few of you have called me out on being homesick right now! Honestly, I am a little, if I could just come home for Christmas and then come to my Dominica I would! I cannot stay too long because I have work that needs to be done here. Also, I have a Christmas to Celebrate in Dominica! As I struggle to find reminders it is Holiday Time I do things that I would do in the States with a little Holiday Twist!My Christmas Day Plans are still up in the Arm but all I know is that I will be surrounded around ones that care and adore me!

D Cold!

Well for about the past week I have had D Cold! It started off with just a little nose and throat... then turned into nose, throat and ears.... and now we are at the no voice and cough stage! I have a volleyball camp and arts and craft camp next week so I am hoping it finishes today! It is fine though! Nothing I cannot handle!

Anyways.. On Thursday was the worst day! I went up to my Landlord's house to see if she had any ginger! Ginger cures anything from the Cold to a Stomach Ache. Just grind or pound ginger (the thing in the grocery store that looks like a root- that I did not know what it was until I got here), boil it with some Cinnamon and nutmeg with a little sugar and you got yourself some ginger tea! As I walk up there asking for some ginger she is like "You got the Cold... Come Awhile!" At this point honestly I was annoyed, I just wanted to make my tea and go to bed and not go on some tourney! But she just goes outside her house with her knife and cuts some roots of this bush I have looked at about once a day! I do not know the name but it helps with the cold! So the picture above is what my Landlord gave me to help my Cold. Who needs medicine when you have bush remedies!

The Finished Tree!!

The Students at my afternoon program completed their decorations for my tree so now the Tree is COMPLETE!!

Christmas Tree..

"Oh Christmas tree, oh christmas tree, of all the trees most lovely
Each year you bring to me delight, meaning in the christmas night
Oh Christmas tree, oh christmas tree, of all the trees most lovely






The other day I put up my Christmas Tree! I have decided I needed a little Christmas Decoration because without the cold winter weather it just does not feel like Christmas Time! My little 'Charlie Brown' Christmas Tree brings me some joy! Today I am going to have my students make me some Christmas Ornaments to hang out my tree!

Moments...

That is a picture of Scott's Head, the southern most part of the island. It is always where the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean Meet. To the right is the Atlantic and the left is Caribbean.

I may have already talked about this but it is that near and dear to me, I am going to talk about it again! There are many moments that I experience daily that I wish everyone in the world could have that very same moment. I can tell you about them, show pictures, but it is not the same, the feeling is not there, the touch, the vibe, the situation.

Moments of having to hold onto the wall because I am about to fall over as the children run to simply embraces me! I am never quiet prepared for that moment and I am sad for the day it will stop! I hope it never does! It always takes them a moment before they come running. It is like; their little minds think “Is that really Miss standing in the door, YES it is… ATTACK!!” They greet me every Monday and Thursday like they are my long lost best friend I have not seen in years! Pure Joy… Pure Love!

Other Moments as I am walking through town and my island mom will YELL out her car window “Like Your Hair Michelle” or ‘Your Trendy!” So Honest and So True! Man Am I lucky to have her in my life. Today while I was meeting with the individual in charge of the PCVs on island, he was with my island mom last night and he simply said, “Man she (My island mom) Loves you!”

There are always Moments of Rainbows, Shooting Stars, and Blankets of Stars every night. I hope these moments never lose their effect, their awe, their ability to warm my heart!

The View!

This a picture is of the View I normally see every time I am playing Volleyball! A Beautiful Rainbow over the Mountians! Breathtaking Every time!

HIV/AIDS March

December 1st was National HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The organization that I work with a long with the Red Cross, HIV Response Team, and Women's Bureau all team uped to do a Silent March through the capital with our signs, candles, and t-shirts. We called upon the youth of Dominica to take a stand against HIV/AIDS and show their support by walking wiht us! As we were walking though town, we blocked traffic to make our point even stronger! There was about 50 Youth that came out a long with a few different Youth Officers. Here are some pictures of the walk!