Post Secret!

This is not my Post Secret but was on the website for the week! It screamed my name and a lot of other PCVs may experience the same feeling!

Volleyball!

I am proud to announce that in the first round of my Volleyball League, the Acers (the team I set for), finished 5-3. We lost to a team who is undefeated and also last years champs. The other team we lost to, well we just did not play well!



Our last game was last week, where we played in Marigot. Marigot is where the International Airport is and about one and half hours away from my my house. To say the least, I was feeling a little car sick by the end of the trip. When I got home I went right to bathe then bed! On a positive note, We won the game against the Acers and most of the girls got to play so that was good!



I am not sure when Round 2 begins. We will play each team once more and then the top four teams will go on to Semi-Finals! I am getting excited!

I just found this website about the league so you can check it out, read some stories, and look at some pictures!

http://www.dominicavolleyball.com/

The Wall of Cards!

I just LOVE getting cards and mail! It makes me smile, it makes remember that people have not forgotten me and lets be honest, we ALL love getting mail (that is not bills!)

Every card I get I put on my mail in my spare bedroom! It gives the room some love and some color! I proudly say because of my AMAZING friends and family, I have about 80 cards on my wall! In ONE Year I have RECEIVED 80 cards! I find that breathtaking! It is not just about the card but the love behind each and every card on that wall!

Leap Frog!

My sister is LOVELY for many reason! One is she is out of this world mother, an incredible package sender, a marvelous support system to her younger sister, and this girl can find a DEAL!



For my birthday, I had ask her to get me some Leap Frog Dvds, for the computer! They are amazing learning tools. The one I had asked for is all based on letters and the sounds they make, a task I struggle with!



This past Tuesday was the test run for the DVDs! Man... did they pass with flying colors! The students were singing a long with the letters sounds and asking me to play the DVD over when it was finished! I am going to show them every other week and do other activities on the off weeks.

Swearing-In!

April 14th was a VERY exciting day for 10 incredible individuals! They became official volunteers! It the same event that took place for me about a year ago!

PS- Can you believe I have LESS then a year to go! Ok it is only about five days short of a year but still it is crazy to think!

I was honored to be there, see them take their Oath (A similar one to the President- all government workers have to take it!), then do a 'Radio Show' in Creole (the local language), and take them out to lunch after! It was such an amazing day and I am looking forward to getting to know them, seeing the wonderful work they are going to do! I feel like a proud Mom! This is a picture of the New Group!

Eastern Caribbean 81! They are the 81st group that has been sent to the Eastern Caribbean!

Glorious day are needed!

The only way to describe today would be simply Glorious! A day I need a day I have been longing for since around Easter. Since Easter I have been in a blah kind of mood, there was not a lot going on because of the Holiday, I was not seeing my students, and I felt like I was not getting a lot done. My schedule was re-arranged because of the new Peace Corps Volunteers and sessions they were having. There really are not a lot of things in my life right now that are constant (I am not saying that in a negative way), expect for my schedule. When my schedule was thrown off a little, this then threw me off a little. But I am back on track!

But anyways… today was Glorious! There is no other word to describe it! I enjoy my Mondays usually, it is the first day of the week, arts and craft with the students, and it is just a good day! But today, I had such a productive day, just what I needed to get me back up and going! I went to my worksite and we are waiting to see if a function is going to happen so there is not a whole lot going on for two individuals to be doing! I headed over to the Peace Corps office where I simply rocked out life! I had three forms to fill out and then I finally was able to print out some crafts/activities for the Library Camp that is happening this summer! I am enjoying organizing the camp but it was kind of a thorn in my side because it was half done for the longest time. But today, Week #1 COMPLETE!!! YaY! I was so excited, I put together a schedule, my friend is taking a look at it and then I am passing it on to the Library to see what they think! Now onto Week #2 which is about half done!

Before I knew it, it was time to head over to the after school program where I was greeted by all of my little ones and one of the telling me she misses me! It was sweet! We did some homework and then I was off to do arts and crafts! For crafts, I gave each student a paper ‘fish bowl’ and had they fill it up with all of their favorite animals found in a fish bowl. Then the students took different types of beans and popcorn kernels and glued them onto the bottom as rocks and what not! They turned out good! I was proud of them!

To top off the day, I found out I have two volleyball games this week! I think it is last two games of the season. It was a short season. I am not sure if they like a league playoffs, but we shall see!

Glorious Days are good for the soul! Keep you motivated and keeping one wanting more from life!

Birthday Fun!

Well a few days ago marked me starting the 24th year of my life. I do have to say the 23rd year was pretty amazing! I have had more adventures, more lesson learned, more experiences, and more personal growth in the last year then I have had in a life town. It was marked with moving into my own place, living by myself for the first time, living on an island that I was still trying to figure (to this day I am still trying to figure it out), starting a new job, and basically starting a new life for the next two years of my life.

If you would have asked me a year ago what I thought my past year was going to be like, in a million years I could not of every image the marvelous life I have lived. I would of never imagine that 7 strangers from 4 different states, with 7 unique personalities, would be become my family, the individuals that understood the full me, the ones I call when I want to quiet, and the ones I call to celebrate with me. These individuals will ALWAYS have a special and exceptional place in my heart. Nobody else will FULLY understand what we went through, the lifestyle we lived for the past two years.

You know, it feels goods to be 24 years. I feel wiser, I feel personally stronger, I know I have a better understand of who Michelle Nicole is! It is empowering and an up lifting experience for me. With the year I just had, I cannot wait to see what the next 360ish days have in store for me. Only God knows and I am excited to see the spectacular journey he is about to take me.

The actually Birthday, My Birthday was on a Thursday. Thursday are usually my favorite days but with school no in session they are not as exciting but because it was April 8th, the excitement grew. My self and Austin (PCV) did a presentation with the trainees about their budget and money and all of that good stuff. Then it was off to work for a little while. After work, I met back up with Austin to eat lunch and chat for a while. Once lunch was over, Alicia (PCV) met us in town to go and hang out until it was time to catch our buses back to ours homes. I was very excited to reach home knowing that I would be talking to my bestest that night! She is fantastic and I do not call her enough, she just brings so much joy to my life and makes my heart smile!



Friday! Five of the Seven PCVs (One is out of State and the other is with her Family!) all met up to hang out at the Beach all day long! It was great to take a Sun Bathe, Play in the Sea and just be surrounded around all of these amazing individuals. It was relaxing, it was fun, it was exactly what the doctor order to rejuvenate the spirit! Then once we came back to town, Austin’s landlord met us there and we hung out with some of the trainees that were still in town. Then it was time to head to my house for MEXICAN night! Again, it is something so easy to make but none of us eat it enough! Three other friends came up for dinner as well, I had just enough seating and plates! HaHa! Again, it was great to eat really good food, Beth and Alicia cook it all so I could chat with the company, and again just be surrounded around all of these individuals who cared about me and wanted to celebrate with me! It was a low key night filled with laughter, debate, and good conversation! A night I will not forget, a night that will always remind close to my heart as one of the best birthdays I have had! Yes, I missed my family and my friends back at home but Friday was filled with my ‘another’ family, my family who is on this journey with me!