Hike Challenge Cont...

During the Hike we had to complete four challenges as a team:

1. We had to tag different trees through the first segment of the hike! Good thing we had Simon who knows his trees! After we tag the tree there was a clue to tell us the next tree we had to find!
2. Then after we climb up a VERY LONG and Muddy Steep Hill (Had to use ropes to get up)we met our next challenge! We had to put together a puzzle of the National Trail Logo! We finished that no problem then it was off to go back down that muddy steep hill! Basically I held onto the rope and slide down! It was a RIOT!
3. Spider web! This was a team building challenge that they do at Summer Camps a lot. What was in front of us was a wood frame with rope wrapped across it making it appear to be a spider web. One at a time we had to cross through the 'spider web' not touching any of the rope and not using the same 'hole' as another teammate. We had no problem and sent Lee (the 8 year old) right through the top hole to the arms of another teammate!
4. As we continued down the hike, we even ran a little, it was a race and all! Our last challenge was the stretcher race! These stretchers did not have wheels but more what they would use in a war setting. A heavy piece of fabric wrapped around two metal poles! We had Lee (who is about 50lbs soaking wet!) get on the stretcher and down the muddy hill we went! We were slipping and sliding and falling all the way down! My butt was a muddy mess by the end!

It was GREAT! We ended up finishing 3rd! Not too bad!!

Hike Challenge!

This past weekend myself, Alicia (A PCV), Alex (A PCV- from the new group) and her youth group all came down to the center of the island into the rain forest to do a hiking challenge!

Check out this article to read more about the Waitukubuli National Trail and event!

There was four different events going on
1. The Iron Man- It was a race that spread through the whole trail- Teams of two- One male and one female with one being over 30 years!
2. Fun Challenge- What I did! Teams of five with two individuals being over 40. We had the most diverse group! A 58 year old, an 8 year old, two Americans, two Dominicans from one village and one Dominican from other village!
3. A Photography Competition
4. A fun little thing for the children! (I cannot remember the name!)

I had such a great time and our team did well! We finished the challenge in about 1.5 hours and I was so proud of our 8 year old! He did AMAZING! Not once did he complain and he rocked it up the steep mountain better then I did!

Check back to hear more about the challenge and the place we got...

Birthday!

Nobody Panic... My birthday is not until April! But this week was Mary's Birthday! Mary is a volunteer who has been her for about 6 months. She is part of the newest group on the island! For her birthday we decided it would be fun to have a beach lyme (hang out) so that is what we did! We went towards the north of the island to a beach called Coconut Beach.



It was GREAT time! Almost all of the volunteers were there and we just hung out, worked on our tan, the boys throw around an American Football, and floated around in the water! There were these cute as a button cabins (very cheap) right on the beach so we decided it would be best to rent from for the night!



The sunset was BEAUTIFUL! I found myself on the deck, camera in hand, just taking in the moment! I am trying to do that more, taking in moments, seizing opportunities! Yes, I have 8 months left, but time goes quickly here and don't want to have any should of, could of, would of moments!



I told Mary I would like to recreate that day for my Birthday as well!

Where Was I Jumpin...

Last week, Zak (one of the guys who is writing the book) and I went on a Hike with Kelly our Guide! We started about three hours late but I met some very nice people while I was waiting for Zak!



Kelly was a great Guide! He made me laugh with his little remarks he made. Some of my favorites: 'You might get wet' (As we are crossing this waist deep river) or as I am trying to climb from the river onto the rock, he tells me to step to my left. As I step I fall into above waist deep water and his remark 'There is a very important rock missing there!'



The walk was across and a long the river. We were always climbing up and down rocks, through rivers, seeing and holding a crab a long the way. During the walk I was able to see 5 different waterfalls, one was 'named' after me when we finished! It was beautiful! I made many many awe moments and simply in amazement of the beauty, the natural untouched, God created beauty which was surrounded around me! Words cannot describe it one must feel it!



As we reached the last waterfall, Kelly tells us we can jump! So, I decide that I want to jump! I wish at this point I could say, "OoO Yea... I went right to the edge and jumped!" No, I would not be telling the truth! It took me about 5 minutes, numerous pep talks to myself, a few counting of one... two... three and Zak telling me I was not a Chicken Sh*t and could do this! After about five minutes I JUMPED off a rock ledge about 10 feet up into a waterfall! It was AMAZING!! How many people can say, I jumped off a rock into the waterfall, in the middle of the rain forest! Simply breathtaking! As I came up I just laid on my back as the waterfall was coming down on me! I felt a live! Gold Star for the Day! I jumped one more time so Zak could take my pictures of the jump! They turned out pretty cool! One day I hope to get them and show them to all of you!

That was my adventure for the day!

Jump I Jumpin!

A common phrase in Dominica is: Walk I Walkin, Jump I Jumpin, Smile I Smilin etc! You get the picture!

Always, about a year ago I had met up with these guys through an old Peace Corps volunteer who are writing a book about Dominica. This travel book is different, it is written by old Peace Corps volunteers that served in the country and 'backpacking' type individuals. It gives a more a local feel for a traveler who is looking to travel local and not stay at a nice hotel, take tours, etc. Check out there website HERE

The guys are back for the month of August and I happened to run into them in town and was able to do three hikes with them! They are a blast! These guys have such joyful and open spirits. They go where the wind takes them and seizes every opportunity that comes their way. They never meet a stranger. They came into my life at a good time. August is always a little rough around the corners for me. My summer camp is July and I am crazy busy loving every moment of it and then August hits like a pile of bricks and I am not as busy as before!

With them around, to quote Coach Beth: "They lite a fire under my ass!" A fire of joy and appreciation from the amazing life I live!

Check my blog in a few days to see where I was jumpin....

Little Moment #5

This will be my last 'Little Moment!' I have saved the best for last!

When I came home in June, my sister had given me a very interesting gift she had found! It was an apron, but not your ordinary rather, a HOT pink and polka dotted apron with two pockets and some ruffles! Let me tell you, it makes me smile! Also, this apron carries some fun powers! I am not a lover of cooking, I am more of a lover of baking but a girl does have to eat some real food! When I put this apron on, it just makes me love to cook! The apron plus some really good Caribbean Music, you will find me, singing, dancing, and chopping away in the kitchen! Cooking as become a joy for me! It is amazing what an individual can create when they have time, fresh produce, and a little fun with it!

It reminds me of a story I was reading a while back, from individuals who were incarnated in prison. She is a Jamaican who is living in New York. This quote rings true to me:

"... And hallelujah, God gave us noes and taste buds along with ears and feet. What would music be without the cooking and eating that went with it?... no mater what the recipe called for, the key ingredient was music. I'd sway to the beat as I stirred the pot or cup up vegetables. Cooking is hard work, but cooking to music eases your fatigue and makes you lost rack of time. Cook slowly and patiently for the best results, and let the beat of the music be the pulse of your soul"

Craft Time!

I am always crafting! With students, with PCVs or by myself! I find being here I have gotten more creative and can you almost anything to make a craft! I cannot throw a tin can, plastic bottle, or cardboard without thinking to myself... I could use it for this craft or that craft!



Brian, a PCV called on the assistances of myself, and two other PCVs to help with the arts and craft part of his camp! I gathered the supplies and off we went!During the first half, we made glass bottle cap magnets. Decorated the inside of bottle caps and put a magnet on the back. While some were doing that, another group was beading necklaces and bracelets!



The second half, all of the students made bugs and faces out of tuna tins, plastic jar lids, and glass jar lids. It was fun to use the goggly eyes, glittles and some pipe cleaners!



It was a riot! The students seemed to enjoy it a lot which makes me happy! Even one of the sweet campers gave me her bug she made!