The LOVE of the Sea

I find this amazing Peace by the water, clarity in my thinking, a relaxation in my body I cannot create anywhere else, and an unspeakable calm. I am not one to jump through the waves or splash with friends. Rather I lay; I sit, and take in the sound of the waves meeting the rocks, the trees swaying in the wind, and the sounds of human nature which surround me.

I have found my secret spot where I love. It is really not a secret or has an amazing beach (the beach is actually rocks) but it is close to home, has an amazing vibe, and a dock where I find myself sitting, thinking about what is next, feeding fish with students, and walking hand in hand with a frightened little boy trying to be brave.

I want; no I NEED to live by the water again!

Humans and Nature

I just finished the book ‘The Samurai’s Garden’ by Gail Tsukiyama. It is an amazing book that kept me company many evenings and days throughout the past two weeks. Towards the end it had many correlations to how I am feeling about the end of my service approaching in the next four months.

There is a passage I wanted to share:

‘ “Isn’t it interesting, Stephen-san,” he said, “how sometimes you must cut away something in order to make it grow back stronger?” “It may seem lonely and barren at first, only to flower again in the spring.” … “We aren’t so different, human beings and plants. We are all part of one nature and from each other we learn how to live.”

… “I won’t say we human beings still don’t have much to learn. Sometimes we love and hate without thought. We expect too much from one another, and often we are wrong. Take that flower,” he said, pointing to the crepe myrtle. “it has a short life span, but you know just what to expect of it. The leaves are turning yellow-orange, so you know human beings have much longer lives. And that makes for many more complications. But in the end, Stephen-san, you can only look back, hoping everything happens in your life is for a purpose…. If it is important, it will stay with you.” ‘

People Come and People Go

For a while now, this blog has been going through my head, deciding if I wanted to post it or not and deciding where the post was really going. Anyways, I may go on a little tangent, it may not make sense, and it may end suddenly but here are my thoughts!

People come and go in ones live all of the time, I am not speaking of people going because they die or babies being brought into this world, rather I am speaking about the individuals you meet on a daily basic, once strangers and now best friends. Some of the individuals may be negative in ones life while others have a positive influence and they seem to come into ones life when they need them the most!

So let me tell, the PCVs came into my life when I most needed them! When I felt most confused about the world around me and where I fit in. Alicia came into my life when I needed her the most! When I met in her Miami (the first volunteer I met) I did not realize we would share many moments of chatting on a bench, eating a meal together, and commenting/calming each other nervous stomachs. I did not realize at the time that she would tell me many moments, "You don't have to explain" because she just understood! Then there is Austin, the sole man of our group who Alicia and I met together in Miami! At the moment of meeting Austin, did I realize he would be a comfort in his man hugs, a sense of relief with his humor, a wise soul I would go to on many occasions! These two individuals will ALWAYS carry a very special place in my heart!

Then there are the hikers they came through when I was in a slump of life! There energy and love for Dominica light my fire once one! If I did not happen to be in the alley by the grocery store and Zak not recognize me at that very moment, my batteries would not of been recharged by their passion for life and free spirit!

Then there are the random students that bring the biggest smile or laughter to my soul or the random men on the street that says something so off the wall the only reaction I have is to smile!

I cannot forget about the ladies and gentleman that have come into my life as friends or boyfriends that have broke my heart just for me to put it together stronger! For those were not wasted relationships but ones I have learned the most!

At the end of the day, people come into your life for one reason or another! Embrace them as you would embrace your best friend for one never knows the impact they may have on your life!

Homemade Tomato Sauce

One Sunday I was attempting to distract myself from the "To Do List" items I was suppose to accomplish so I decided to make homemade Tomato Sauce! Who does that really, I guess just Peace Corps Volunteers with no where to go on a Sunday evening! It was my first time making homemade sauce and I did follow a recipe but it turned out pretty well! I am going to attempt to make more homemade sauce! It is MUCH MUCH cheaper, a lot more natural, and better for me!



As I was making it and the smell of Italian food was filling my house I could not help but think... this must be what my Grandma's house smelled like as a child!

Women ARISE: Success Story!

Below you will find a Success Story for a woman that use to be part of the Agency I worked for. This article is not to toot my own horn but to show you that success happens everyday and here is proof! How proud I am of her!



"After serving a prison term of 6 ½ years for a crime I did not commit, with a history of substance abuse and domestic violence, I began to see myself, after my release back into the community, in a state of desperation and in grave need of some sort of assistance from someone to help me re-established my life, a strong urgency and desire rose up in me to restore and re-defined my life and self to a position that it had never been before, I began to press on in that endeavor. Determined as I was with discouragement, disappointment and despair trying to creep in, I began my quest, to not let the blemish on my once credible name hinder me in my progress in restoring my life. With that goal in mind to obtain gainful employment, my freedom, and housing for myself and my children, I became involved in a program that did just that. Women ARISE.

Women ARISE, meaning Anne ARISE is what the program in Matrix Human Services did for me. With their support in conjunction with my desire in ARISING from my once unjustly circumstances I had obtained the assistance I was looking for. I went from several months of unemployment to the Secretary of the Women’s Program, including Women ARISE.

Being in the program as a client was a great program to be apart of. The kindness, respect, compassion and assistance I received from the program staff was what my heart, mind and soul needed. It gave me a sense of independence I thought I had lost or was discarded due my incarceration. You see, I once was lost and now I have been found. I was blind and now I see that despite my circumstances I was worth something. I was somebody. A woman with potential. A woman who deserved another chance, another opportunity. THAT is what the Women ARISE Program in Matrix Human Services did for me. The compassion, understanding and support I received through the Women ARISE program melted away the blemish, the stigma that was once on my person when I was offered employment within their organization.

Matrix placed me in another category, the category of the successful, the category of the worthy and acceptable despite my past and shortcomings. Matrix Human Services made it possible for me to be an acceptable person in society again. And with that, I am truly grateful. I was able to regain, refocus and re-vision parts of my life that had been dormant due to my incarceration. Because of the opportunity granted to me by the program within Matrix Human Services, Women ARISE, this gave me the opportunity to experience life in a totally different way than I had ever before, and for that reason alone, I am truly grateful.

You see, when one has been released from prison, its a very overwhelming experience. Your being becomes cloudy, unsure, uncertain and a bit fearful of what is to come or what will happen because you do not know what to expect from yourself and others because your seem to be thrown back into this “rat race” called life and you have to fend for yourself.. Well, Matrix Human Services tremendously assisted me in my awkward transition back into society and that was done in more than one way. First as a client and now as an employee and for that I am truly grateful that God saw fit to place this organization in my life for such a time as this.

And with that, heartfelt gratitude goes out to Matrix Human Services."

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!