Hike I Hiken (Part 2)

Alicia had two of her friends come and visit who were big hikers and I had a friend who was working in Dominica who LOVES to hike. We decided that we would do Segment One. It is a shorter/easier hike with AMAZING views and picnic spots a long the way. It goes from the southern most point to again sulfur hot springs in a neighboring village. We had to go up, up, and up to the top of the mountian only to be greeted by a beautiful view of Scotts Head and a great resting spot! Over all it was a fanastic hike and I could not of asked to go with a better group of individuals!

Hike I Hiking (Part One!)

I have been hiking (or trying to) more often. It has been easier in the last month or so because there have been friends of friends visiting who wanted to hike. I have had many opportunities to hike with them.




As mentioned before Dominica is building a National Trail which goes from the southern most point to the northern most part and in the dense rain forest. It has fourteen different segments and I have done about four. The Dominica Waitukubuli National Trail could be an amazing tourist asset for back packers, individuals who the hikers go through their villages, and Dominica in a whole!




Julie, Mary, and I all decided to go hiking! We did Segment 3 which passes RIGHT through my village and ends at the Sulfur Hot Springs. It took us about five hours at a steady pass and a stop at my house for lunch! There was slippery spots where tree saved us for falling and a part we almost got lost!

Proud Moment

Tuesday while I was walking down the little hill at school to head home one student comings running at me. My first thought is... "OoO someone got into a fight or something" but it was the complete opposite. He comes running at me with a HUGE smile on his face yelling Miss Miss! As he gets closer with pure excite he says "Miss look what I did!" as we was holding up a paper that he received 100% on and a sticker! He was so proud of his work and I was thrilled he wanted to share his achievements with me!

Enjoy your Thursday!

Where have I been?

I have been right here in the amazing island of Dominica. I have been trying to take in all of the little (and big moments) of life here! My mind has been far and engulfed with thoughts of the future, the new life that will begin in April, and this marvelous life in Dominica which I am leaving. In good old fashion Michelle style, I have not been good with communication with Family and Friends, I have been baking a lot, and spending many days and nights with my head in the clouds wondering "What is next?"

My Mother new phrase to me is "Michelle, Do not worry your little head!" I will try not to worry and simply embrace the last two months I have here!

Caterpillars!

Once a week I do arts and craft projects with the Grade 4 students at the Primary School. This week we made Caterpillars! One of my FAVORITE crafts and I wanted to share it with them!

Crosses

About two months before Christmas I received an e-mail from Alicia were she forwarded me an e-mail from her friend back in the States asking if I was willing to help. Of course I cannot say No to a friend asking for help!

It was an e-mail asking for 100 local and homemade crosses for Alicia’s church in the States. They do a Good Friday activity for the children and at the end they like to send them home with a cross. Alicia asked me because you knew I had the student power and the creativity mind set. I have to admit 100 crosses overwhelmed me slightly but I love a good challenge.



After speaking with Mary (A PCV) we decided we would use a part of the coconut branches to make the crosses and than local madgros (the National Fabric) to get the cross together.

With the amazing older students and a little touch of my love by me and Alicia after the students finished we were able to make 100 plus crosses within the first half of the day.

In exchange for the cross, Holy Trinity Church of New Jersey has donated $150USD for the purchasing of books for the Library!

Christmas Craft Camp!

This Christmas time I was very busy with many activities which really made it feel like Christmas time this year, more than last. The finally Christmas activity I did was put on a four day, two hour Christmas Arts and Craft camp through the Roseau Public Library.



We had about 20 to 25 students there ranging from five to fifteen. Just a few days before the camp I received an amazing package from Grandma, My Mom, Jennifer, and Courtney that was basically a life saver! It had cute Christmas crafts in them, glitter, and treats for the students at the end of camp. We made Christmas ornaments, angels, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, snowmen, and many more.



My favorite was the last of course because we always have a party! This year, we did a craft in the first half and during the second half of camp we decorated Christmas Cookies and I was able to be Santa’s little helper filling up their homemade paper bag Christmas Stockings with all of the goodies from my family and Courtney! It was such a joy for me to watch the students decorate their Christmas cookies with frosting, colored sugars, chocolate chips and snowflake sprinkles. During decorating, I was working with the five to eight year old children and I had asked them if they had decorated cookies before and only two little hands of the ten rose! It was pure and simply joy to see them eat their creations and the fun they had covering their cookies as high as possible with sugar!



I also joke that when I have children all of the bad karma of sending children from my camps home with a sugar rush will get me tenfold with my children.



Another camp, another success!