Joys of 6/29

Joys of June 29, 2009

Today I went to the Cabrits National Park with my the whole School that I am attached to. The Cabrits National Park is an open-air museum on the north-west coast of Dominica. A long with the National Park there is Fort Shirley. Fort Shirley was built in the 18th-century as a military installations in the West Indies. There is Four different trails that offer different views of the West Coast of Dominica. My Grade Four student took the easiest trail that dropped us right off on top of Fort Shirley.

Joys
1. Meeting a new student for the first time today. Let me explain to you this amazing little lady. She is a Grade Four student that stands around 4 feet tall and pushing 60 pounds but can eat as much as a 400 pound man. She may be a little lady but she knows exactly what she wants and has no problem calling you out on whatever you may be saying. At the age of nine she is a strong, opinion girl with a style all her own. She reminds me of the stereo-type “New Yorker”
2. Going on a little hike through the Cabrits National Park
3. Being outside all day
4. A nice run down to my old village and then a fast walk up (I cannot yet run uphill)
5. Finishing a Birthday Cake for one of my the ladies I work with
6. A Surprise Visitor at my Door Step that I have not seen in a few weeks maybe even a month (I already had a bad since of time and now that I live in Dominica it is even worse)
7. Randomly running to one of my PCVs in Town

I found that in the past few blogs I have mentioned a lot about unexpected this, random this, and surprise that. It seems this is turning into my life and I could not be happier. I enjoy life that is random and unexpected the most. I wake up every day knowing what location I am going to but I do not necessary know what is going to happen while I am there, who I will meet, what joys will come my way, or the stressors that may develop. That is what keeps life interesting and exciting. You have to be ready for anything and helps to remind you that the dishes can wait so you can chat with a friend, or you may miss a show because you are chatting. What is most important is the human contact, the conversations that may seem pointless but are developing friendship, and random drop by that make you smile from your soul!

Coming Soon... the Faces of Dominica....

Joys of 6/28

Joys of 6/28
1. Having a hand to hold of a beautiful child during the whole church service
2. Being at my "island Mom's" house all afternoon
3. Having a moment with my "Island Mom"- the kids were about an hour late for the birthday party. She was sitting outside and instead of stressing about the time, I looked up to see the Magnificent of Dominica and at the moment all worries disappeared and I sat with her eating Peanut Ice Pops enjoying the moment
4. Once the kids got there it was a SUCCESSFUL Birthday Party!
5. Taking a SOLID Nap!
6. An expected invite to a FEST- More LIVE MUSIC, BBQ and dancing! I LOVE the SUMMER Months of Dominica
7. Post Secret Sunday- Another Favorite Post of the Week

Post Secret Sunday!

This is one of the Post Secrets (http://postsecret.blogspot.com/) from the past Sunday. Sometimes I read the Secrets and think to myself- "This Secret was written just for ME" This is one of the those Secrets for me. While in the Peace Corps, I may never make the paper, the radio, or the news website for what I have done in Dominica and the Youth. I am OK with that. While I am here it is about the little things and changes I make. I am not here to change a WHOLE society and the social norms (who I am to say how the individuals of Dominica should run their island- in my eyes they are doing a FINE job) rather it is about touching the soul of ONE child, having a conversation with someone who may have not had a visitor in days, hold the hand of a child as you are walking down the street, pulling out a sticker for the little one that just said their ABC, 123s, and the days of the week or the child that comes over to sit on your couch- not really say a word but color his/her soul away. I believe little acts can change the world- all people need to do is simply, small acts of kindness and one day we will ALL see BIG Change!

Pictures from the Start of the Weekend...

Here are the pictures of my new hair style, the pizza I made from Starch- Dough and All- and My Hair Stylist!

Joys of 6/26 and 6/27

Joys 6/26
1. Meeting some PCVs in Town
2. Not that Micheal Jackson dieing (RIP) was a Joy but the stores in Town were Jamming out to MJ music ALL Day!
3. A Non-Schedule Afternoon Visit
4. A Wonderful Three Year Old that sang me the ABC Song about 20 times and kept me company while I was waiting for my Laundry
5. The Same Wonderful Three Year Old helping me hang up my cloths while working on her colors
6. Once again the same Beautiful Three Year being Vexed when I was leaving because she wanted to come with me
7. BBQ dinner- There is a woman in the Village who cooks BBQ every Friday and Saturday- it is DELICOUS!
8. Developing a dance while waiting for the Chicken to Cook

Joys 6/27
1. Sleeping In
2. The Bar/Shop Playing Fantastic Local Music All Day- I live right across the street so I am able to fully enjoy the Music!
3. A Great Helper for the Two Cakes I have to make for the Birthday Party Tomorrow!
4. Getting My Hair Corn Rolled!
5. Low Key Day but Productive!
6. Learning how to Make Homemade Pizza Dough for the Birthday Party Pizzas!
7. The Sunshine!
8. Last but NOT LEAST My Biggest Joy- We Will Just Say- Lots of Cake Dough, Side Walk Chalk, Card Games (THANKS MOM- Those cards come in handy often), Music, Homemade Pizza on Wheat Rolls, Coloring, and non-demanding Company by an AMAZING 14 year old and 6 year old- and having the 6 year old walk with a Mango to even out the sugar he had! Basically I could not of asked for a better afternoon!

I need your Help my lovely readers! I am having a Fourth of July Party for my Landlords Daughter and Her Friend- What are you favorite Foods/Desserts that you have on the Fourth of July? I am thinking S Mores, Hot Dogs, Pasta Salad, Red/White/Blue Jello, Water Melon, what am I missing? HELP PLEASE!!

When There is 15Mins Left of School...

...And I am teaching! I just pulled out my Camera so the minutes passed a little faster for the antsy students that are ready for SUMMER BREAK. Enjoy the Children that make me Smile every week!! Some of the Students you will see are in their Traditional Brown and White Uniforms while others have white shorts/shirts on with a colored T-Shirt. The reason behind that is on Thursday it is "Sports Day" where they have Physical Education so they are allowed to wear their special "Sports Day" Uniform (Colored Shirt, White Bottoms)






-My Goofy Student-




- One of The Sweetest Boys Just Being Silly-


-Pretending to Read-

Joys 6/23-6/25

Joys of 6/23
I am blanking on Tuesday! The only thing I can think of is I cleaned my Apartment on Tuesday! That was my Joy to finally have some organization and order in my apartment!Also, I went for a walk down to my old village and checked Sweet Shirley who kindly gave me some Plaintains (A Member of the Bannana Family)

Joys of 6/24
1. Doing my FIRST Every Radio Interview about the Summer Camp my work site is hosting! I hope it get to do it again- it is FUN - Career Change?-
2. Seeing Shirley today and helping her out with an Event
3. Meeting some one at the Event that know someone that lived in Michigan. She did not know the city but the way she explained things I could figure it out. It is unique to hear someone beam about the State I grow up instead of me beaming about my new home
4. A Dinner Date with another Peace Corp Volunteer -Yummy Banana Pancakes-
5. A Bundle of Bananas from my Landlord! (Some days I think I am going to turn into a Banana)
6. Sweet Pineapple at my work site!
7. An amazing Blanket that provides not only warmth but COLOR to my room! Yes, strange I know but it gets cold in my Village at night and I need a Blanket!

Joys 6/25
1. An amazing day with my fantastic Students!!
2. The Power of 7-Up or 7 Tappers, Silent Ball, and Cards
3. Playing Cricket for the first time
4. Threw a ball in my bag last minute this morning (it came in handing at School)
5. A sweet Angel on the Bus that was in LOVE with my Cracker Jacks
6. Seeing Lots of People in Town!
7. My Village Bus Drivers (There is about 7 of them that are ALL Fantastic and make me smile all the time)
8. Talking a Nap with the sound of the rain!
9. A Surprise Lunch invite