International Year of the Youth

The fiscal year of 2010 is International Year of the Youth (IYY) and Dominica had an amazing opening ceremony last week! As I walked into the venue (just on time and about 30 seconds before the president arrived!), I was pleasantly surprised to see it filled to the max and I happen to get a seat towards the front! The ceremony was filled with many young people performing songs, poems and a play! In addition, many of the ministers delivered speeches to encourage and motivate the youth!



For the remaining of the fiscal year (until August 2011), my agency and the Youth Division will focus on promoting the youth! There will also focus on mobilizing the youth groups in the different districts, my agency will hold their annual Youth Awards, and the year will end with a large Youth Festival that I will just have to hear about via e-mail!




Overall, it was an excellent way to keep off IYY and get individuals and the country excited about YOUTH!

Christmas Crafts!

It is hard to believe but Christmas is truly right around the corner! I even have some lights up in my kitchen but REFUSE to put up my Christmas Tree until AFTER Thanksgiving! I am organizing a Christmas Arts Camp with the Library again this year and have been getting in the Christmas season because of it!

Last weekend, I was sitting in spare bedroom amongst all of my crafts and was just in awe! As I was trying to find craft ideas I was thinking how I would NEVER again take a craft store for gratitude, but while I was getting my supplies together, all I could think of is how I am sitting in the middle of a craft store. I even called my Mom that morning because I had to share my joy with someone! Never in a million years would I think to myself, “I need 15 pairs of scissors” and pull out all of those pairs, I am use to working with 4 for a group of 20+. The same with glue, crayons, pencils, and construction paper, all hot items in the craft world! I have and can use all of these items because of all of you! All of you for loving on my students and your generous hearts!

I am leaving in 5 months, it is as simple as that and these students will no longer have all of the lovely American crafts I can supply or an endless supply of new pencils. Just because I am leaving does not change how generous your hearts are. I urge all of you to find a school and ‘adopt’ it! Children in the states need endless supply of pencils, erasers, and sharpeners. The students need scissors and construction paper just like my students! I thank you for allowing me to be your giving outlet and pray that you will continue to give and make children smile as you have been for the past two years!

Update!

Here is a little point update on my life in the last few months (I find it is needed)

- In beginning of November I handed over my VAC responsibilities to volunteer
- I am currently planning a Christmas Parade for business houses to showcase what they are selling for the Christmas season and to kick off Christmas
- I will do a four day long Christmas Arts and Craft Camp with the Library
- Through Alicia I was given the opportunity to make locally made Crosses for a church in her area
- I am currently applying for Graduate School which I have a love/hate relationship about and would not be able to do it without the loving (sometimes tough love) support from my mother and my sister!
- It is started to get cool in my village which makes me want to drink coffee all evening and sometimes I do
- I am still doing my Big Reader Little Listener program with a new group of students and it warms my heart every time I go to it
- I am working with the school once a week during small group remedial reading work and seeing the progress in the students is remarkable
- I am still greeted each Tuesday before I reach the top of the hill of the school with many hugs and excited faces
- I am starting arts and crafts at my Primary School with the grade four classroom
- My work site is planning an island tour for World AIDS Day (December 1st)! We will be passing out and sharing information about HIV/AIDS as well as passing out condoms to community members
- I am continuing to to therapy and last week one of the ladies I am working with had a "I get it moment!" It made me happy knowing I have reached her
- I have five months left of the Peace Corps…

Joy and OatMeal Cookies!

A few weeks ago now was my two my nearest and dearest birthdays! We went to the beach to celebrate and had an amazing time! Naturally, I had to provide something sweet for the both of them! One of the, Brian, I traveled with him the weekend before and he commented how he loved Oatmeal Cookies, PERFECT! Then Alicia, well she loves anything with peanut butter and chocolate, Peanut Butter Frosted Brownies it is!

What was so great about this whole thing had nothing to do with the day we celebrated but rather making of the desserts! It is never fun to bake a lone so I invited my landlord’s daughter to come down and help me! She loves to bake just as much as I do! We put on our aprons and in the kitchen we went with Rihanna singing in the background! She is such a joyful young lady and was the positive energy I needed! It is amazing to watch the carefree attitude of a fourteen year old as she is dancing in my living room with a spoon full of cookie dough! That is joy! That is carefree and is what I do not ever want to lose!

Pumpkin Pie!

Last night I made my first Pumpkin Pie! Let me tell you... it caused my pressure to rise a little and the crust needs a little love but it looks really good and the filling taste good, which is all that matters!



I needed a little support from Alicia and some helpful hints from Mom, but I am excited to cut it and taste it this evening! I also made a little pudding pie with some of the extra crust I had! The filling is a pack of chocolate pudding, a pack of vanilla pudding, a big scoop of peanut butter, milk, and some vanilla essences. I need a little work on the crust but I am happy with my first two pies!!



I hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving and remembers all the amazingness that surrounds them every day, in moments, in people, in life! I could never say I grateful I am for all of you, your love, your support, and your motivation! THANK YOU!! Love You!

Grateful!

I have missed many days but here are some items I have been grateful for lately:

1. My mother who lets me snap, is honest but loving, and says silly things to make me laugh
2. A sister who in between chasing around a VERY active and sometimes sassy but ALWAYS a cutie 2 year reads my essays for University
3. For a bestest who understands
4. My porch
5. Random Text Messages
6. Receiving a Christmas Package in November! (Now I just have to WAIT!)
7. My neighbor and the evenings she keeps me company
8. Leather Couches and American Football

Turkey Time

It is almost Thanksgiving! Similar to last year all of the PCVs are getting together to have Thanksgiving! In good old fashion Thanksgiving style it will be one big pot luck with all the volunteers bringing their favorite dish!



This year I am feeling brave and decided to make a Pumpkin Pie! Ladies and gentleman, this is no normal Pumpkin Pie, but as natural as you can get! I will be making the crust from scratch and pumpkin pie filling from a locally grown pumpkin! No canned pumpkin for this girl! But I do have to say, I have a little help on my side! My neighbor who is the head baker at the local restaurant is going to guide me because my two experiences with pumpkin where not the best!

Tonight, I made the crust and it chilling in the fridge as I type! And tomorrow, we will be making the filling and baking the pie! Wish me luck!! Pictures of the final product to come!