Joys (Picture to Come in the here future)
1. SLEEPING IN!
2. Going to the school and having the K students that were misbehaving while I was trying to teach them simply light up and yelling "Miss, Miss" while I walked up
3. The K students were eating Snack and I asked this little boy what he had- he did not have a snack, and I commented me either it is OK. About 5 seconds a little one of the sweet K students handed the student without a snack a handful of chips and other one gave him a half of sandwich. It was sweet as could be.
4. Surprise Ice Cream treat at Lunch
5. Not having to pay for a ride down or up today from my village to town. $7.00 SAVED!
6. Starting to read "Eat, Pray, and Love" while sitting on the Bay Front
7. Reading to the Pre-K students while a group of four girls were just giggling the whole time. They reminded me of how I probably acted when I was 4
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Adventures of Washing Cloths..
Today I did Laundry. I started last night but it is a little longer process then I had excepted. So Yesterday was my test day and today was the REAL DEAL! It is not as easier as throwing the cloths in the washer and then throwing them in the dryer. So I would like to walk you through the process of doing laundry Dominican style.
First you fill the machine with water by using a bucket then you add the laundry detergent. Once that is completed throw in the cloths.
After you go through the 15 minute wash cycle twice it is time to grab the cloths out of the water and ring them out the best you can. I had a local tell me “I can tell you aren't a custom to doing laundry like this” as I struggle to ring out my cloths properly. Once you ring them out you put them into the blue bucket with fresh water to get out the soap. You dunk and ring out twice.
.JPG)
Then you put the cloths in the swing dryer. Heaviest cloths at the bottom.
.JPG)
Once that is completed you hang them on the line for the fresh air to dry them.
.JPG)
Repeat and continue until all cloths are washed.
Usually by the end of this I am wet from about waist down and my hands are freezing from being in the cold water for all that time! :o)
The key is to do the whites first because you use the same water for all of your loads. You just add a little fresh water in. Yes, some of you may be thinking, aren't you washing in dirty water. The answer is Yes, kinda, but we all make it work!
First you fill the machine with water by using a bucket then you add the laundry detergent. Once that is completed throw in the cloths.
After you go through the 15 minute wash cycle twice it is time to grab the cloths out of the water and ring them out the best you can. I had a local tell me “I can tell you aren't a custom to doing laundry like this” as I struggle to ring out my cloths properly. Once you ring them out you put them into the blue bucket with fresh water to get out the soap. You dunk and ring out twice.
.JPG)
Then you put the cloths in the swing dryer. Heaviest cloths at the bottom.
.JPG)
Once that is completed you hang them on the line for the fresh air to dry them.
.JPG)
Repeat and continue until all cloths are washed.
Usually by the end of this I am wet from about waist down and my hands are freezing from being in the cold water for all that time! :o)
The key is to do the whites first because you use the same water for all of your loads. You just add a little fresh water in. Yes, some of you may be thinking, aren't you washing in dirty water. The answer is Yes, kinda, but we all make it work!
Just the Joys of 4/29..
Joys of April 29, 2009
1. I mentioned to one of the bus drivers how I was looking for Mangoes and he hurried me on his bus because it was filling up. Later that night I hear a knock on the door and it is the bus driver with two bags of Mangoes in his hands for me. He commented “if you ever need Mangoes just check me and I will get you some.”
2. My landlady inviting me up to enjoy some Pizza
3. The true power of a little TLC to a young boy who slammed his thumb in the door
4. Talking to my Mom and Dad!
5. Sharing my journey with other PCV that understands
6. A lovely walk down and back up the to the village I lived in
7. The truly sincere amazing and giving hearts I witness everyday
1. I mentioned to one of the bus drivers how I was looking for Mangoes and he hurried me on his bus because it was filling up. Later that night I hear a knock on the door and it is the bus driver with two bags of Mangoes in his hands for me. He commented “if you ever need Mangoes just check me and I will get you some.”
2. My landlady inviting me up to enjoy some Pizza
3. The true power of a little TLC to a young boy who slammed his thumb in the door
4. Talking to my Mom and Dad!
5. Sharing my journey with other PCV that understands
6. A lovely walk down and back up the to the village I lived in
7. The truly sincere amazing and giving hearts I witness everyday
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Joys and Pictures of 4/28
Joys of April 26, 2009
1. Meeting Shirley in the Morning for Church
2. Having one of the elders be so delighted to see me
3. Helping her walk to the transport that was given her a ride
4. Her telling me if I came by to see her “ She will leave me something when see passes”
5. Sunday Lunch with my Landlord
6. Attempting to learn to that is OK to be Idle on Sundays because you do not have a choice
7. Playing Pool at the Local Shop and them not beating to bad!
8. The CD Sal made me
Joys of April 27, 2009
1. Being able to update my blog
2. Chic Chatting While Waiting for the Bus (Always helps to pass the time)
3. The Smell of a Freshly Baked Cake that I made!
4. My Grade 4 Students excited and WAITING to read to the Pre-K Students tomorrow
5. The invention of Online chatting :o)
6. Having a GREAT mix of Business plus fun and relaxation
7. Knowing that over 80 pictures of my nearest and dearest from home, my new friends from Dominica, and beautiful nature will soon fill my apartment! (THANK YOU JENNIFER)
8. The ability of two minds to think together to come up with a REALLY CUTE Idea!
Joys of April 28, 2009
1. A Little K Student Point To The Picture of the Girl After I Make A “Meow” Sound because he said “You just made the noise so it must be a girl”
2. Random Stories K Students can tell you
3. A GREAT game of “Seven-Up”
4. Going on a wonderful walk and making it home just before it started to rain
5. Doing laundry in the rain (The washer is outside and I have to hang my cloths outside in a covered area)- I was not really thinking before I decided to do Laundry
6. Lots of Hugs from my Students
7. My landlord greeting me this morning with a BUNCH of Bananas (I have been wanting Bananas for a few days now)
Let Me Explain..
A few of my pictures need explanation that frankly I forgot to do. So I am going to explain now. You may need to refer back to the picture.
Picture from April 18, 2009
That would be MY AMAZING view from the little porch I have in front of my house. It is when the sun is about to set over the Caribbean Sea.
Picture from April 19,2009
That is one of my FAVORITE items I have in my kitchen. It is my THREE shelve SNACK Container. It is where all of the snack bowls start :o). Anyways... all of the food is recognizable because they are snacks from home except for the “DUX” wheat crackers. They are a small packet of nine crackers. I would compare them to “Club” crackers in the states but they are wheat and have a sweet taste to them. Also, if you look to the left of the “DUX” wheat crackers you will find a bag of cookies. Those are my FAVORITE cookies in Dominica. They are called “Festival Chocolate.” The cookies come in vanilla and strawberry as well. They are your basic chocolate cookie with vanilla filling inside. Not even close to “Oreo” though, the cracker is much thinner and not as sweet. (I never thought I could talk so much about crackers.)
Picture from April 20, 2009
That is a view from the north of the Island right outside of Portsmouth. We went to Port Shirley to learn about the history of the Island and we were in a castle type building and that is the view from the outside of a window.
Picture from April 21, 2009
This strange but DELIOUS fruit is called a “Sour So.” Also makes really good ice cream and juice! It has an amazing combination of sweet but sour. It is a very sassy fruit because if the fruit touches any sort of citrus it will not ripe. The key is to eat it as it is getting soft but not black. The fruit has large black seeds in the middle and it is best to eat it with a spoon. The texture is very soft and a little stringing, I cannot think of anything it compares to in the States. You can pull back little chucks of it from the center.
Picture from April 22, 2009
That is the MOMENT I became an OFFICIAL PEACE CORPS VOLLUNTEER!!
Picture from April 23, 2009
That is all of the LOVELY cards I have received so far. They make me smile knowing these people care and are thinking of me. I am going to hang them on the wall of my spare bedroom.
Picture from April 24, 2009
Well, those of you who know me, know I LOVE containers. It is another one of my FAVORITE items in my kitchen. Those are the containers that sit on my counter. They also serve another GREAT purpose. In MOST apartments/house there are these little food ants (they are a tad bigger then the red ants in the STATES). I am not joking they travel in groups of ATLEAST 50. It is very important to keep a clean house and no food around. So many individuals keep items in the refrigerate so the ants do not get to them . Since they are in the containers they are safe.
Picture from April 25, 2009
That basically explains it self. Those are my Grandparents at my “See You Soon” party. It made me smile so I posted it.
Picture from April 18, 2009
That would be MY AMAZING view from the little porch I have in front of my house. It is when the sun is about to set over the Caribbean Sea.
Picture from April 19,2009
That is one of my FAVORITE items I have in my kitchen. It is my THREE shelve SNACK Container. It is where all of the snack bowls start :o). Anyways... all of the food is recognizable because they are snacks from home except for the “DUX” wheat crackers. They are a small packet of nine crackers. I would compare them to “Club” crackers in the states but they are wheat and have a sweet taste to them. Also, if you look to the left of the “DUX” wheat crackers you will find a bag of cookies. Those are my FAVORITE cookies in Dominica. They are called “Festival Chocolate.” The cookies come in vanilla and strawberry as well. They are your basic chocolate cookie with vanilla filling inside. Not even close to “Oreo” though, the cracker is much thinner and not as sweet. (I never thought I could talk so much about crackers.)
Picture from April 20, 2009
That is a view from the north of the Island right outside of Portsmouth. We went to Port Shirley to learn about the history of the Island and we were in a castle type building and that is the view from the outside of a window.
Picture from April 21, 2009
This strange but DELIOUS fruit is called a “Sour So.” Also makes really good ice cream and juice! It has an amazing combination of sweet but sour. It is a very sassy fruit because if the fruit touches any sort of citrus it will not ripe. The key is to eat it as it is getting soft but not black. The fruit has large black seeds in the middle and it is best to eat it with a spoon. The texture is very soft and a little stringing, I cannot think of anything it compares to in the States. You can pull back little chucks of it from the center.
Picture from April 22, 2009
That is the MOMENT I became an OFFICIAL PEACE CORPS VOLLUNTEER!!
Picture from April 23, 2009
That is all of the LOVELY cards I have received so far. They make me smile knowing these people care and are thinking of me. I am going to hang them on the wall of my spare bedroom.
Picture from April 24, 2009
Well, those of you who know me, know I LOVE containers. It is another one of my FAVORITE items in my kitchen. Those are the containers that sit on my counter. They also serve another GREAT purpose. In MOST apartments/house there are these little food ants (they are a tad bigger then the red ants in the STATES). I am not joking they travel in groups of ATLEAST 50. It is very important to keep a clean house and no food around. So many individuals keep items in the refrigerate so the ants do not get to them . Since they are in the containers they are safe.
Picture from April 25, 2009
That basically explains it self. Those are my Grandparents at my “See You Soon” party. It made me smile so I posted it.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Joys and Pictures 4/23-4/26
Joys of April 23rd, 2009
1.Getting FOUR Cards in my Mailbox Today
2.The AMAZING Card I got from my family (THANK YOU AUNTIE PAT for Organizing)
3.A Chi Tea (Again THANK YOU AUNTIE PAT)
4.Popcorn on the Stove
5.Making Salsa for the first and winging it with the ingredients I have
6.Almost burning my mouth and lips on hot sauce (wish someone could of seen the panic in my face and I grab for the milk in the fridge in hope that it would help)
7.Potentially playing VOLLEYBALL Tomorrow!!
8.PCV visitors tomorrow!!
Joys of April 24th, 2009
1.Getting to Play VOLLEYBALL
2.Playing on “Sport Court” instead of Cement
3.Because of the connection I made- I can play every Friday and have connection with the NATIONAL TEAM
4.Potentially playing on the TEAM in their league and have games against other villages
5.Hanging out and having dinner with ALL the PCV
6.A BEAUTIFUL Sunny Day
7.Having one of the PCV call my apartment “Homie”
Joys of April 25th, 2009
1.Hanging out with Shirley
2.Having Shirley take me to town so I could get my larger items for my apartment
3.Apartment FINISHED!! - Until it is picture decoration time :o)
4.ICE CREAM!
5.Getting a lot done plus taking two naps!
6.A WHOLE lot of late 90s and early 2000 music in my life!
Joys and Pictures 4/18-4/22
JOYS of April 18, 2009
1.Be Greeting at my new apartment by a girl jumping for joy and a BIG hug from her
2.Getting settled into my apartment
3.An apartment that you can feel the love when you enter
4.A Perfect Plastic Shelve Unit for my SNACKS
5.A GREAT nights rest in my new apartment
Joys of April 19th, 2009
1.Laying on the floor and taking a nap (Because of lack of carpet I have NOT laid on the floor for about 2 months- and I sure miss it)
2.A DELIOUS lunch prepared by my landlady
3.A DELIGHTFUL chocolate cake made by my next door neighbor
4.Getting more adjusted and set-up in my apartment
Joys of April 20th, 2009
1.A BEAUTIFUL sight as the PCV and myself traveled to north part of the island
2.Spending time with another PCV just chic chatting eating Chocolate Cake
Joys of April 21st, 2009
1.A surprise Easter Candy treat curiosity of another PCV package
2.Hanging out in Town with anther PCV with no agenda just enjoying
3.A GREAT Walk through my village
4.As I was walking, I ran into the other village I lived in kids as they were walking home from school
5.Two FANASTIC Hugs
6.Being an OFFICIAL Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) TOMORROW!!!!
Joys of April 22nd, 2009
1.Recognizing individuals on the Bus
2.Watching the movie “Freedom Writers” randomly on the TV
3.Hanging out with all the PCV Today!!
4.Becoming an OFFICIAL PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER!!
5.Eating a Rotee for Lunch (It is a Dominican version of a Burritos)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)