Peace Match

September 21, 2009 is World Peace Day! With the help from Puma and different organizations in Dominica, the NYCD (The agency I work for) with collaboration with the other agencies was given the opportunity to host a “Peace Match” in honor of World Peace Day. The event took place on October 9, 2009. It was a football match for boys that were under the age of 13. A football academy from New Town and Bathe Estate competed against each other. These two teams are big rivals in the adult league, with Bathe Estate usually winning! This match was different, New Town pulled a 5-2 victory over Bathe Estate. This game was not about winning or losing but rather sportsmanship, respect, and PEACE. Most importantly they were able to come together, show good sportsmanship, and be part of something greater then themselves. The winning team received a special World Peace Day Puma football, a World Peace Day Puma t-shirt, and a trophy. Overall it was a great success; there was a good showing of parents, children, and other adults. I was able to see some of my Primary School children which is always fun to see them outside of school. Enjoy the below pictures. The lighting was hard to work with so the pictures are not the greatest but hope you enjoy anyways!

Wish I Did Not Live A Lone..

There are numerous moments I wished I did not live a lone. Like the times I do not want to make dinner just for myself, want some one to talk with, or just some company. Then there are moments that I do not mind living a lone, I can watch whatever I want on TV, listen to my music as loud as I want, and it is my schedule, I do not have to work it around anyone else.

The moments that I really wished I did not live a lone is when something funny happens and I wish I could share the story with someone that was actually there. Since nobody was there, I will share the story with all of you!

I have a few geckos, similar to the little guy you see on the insurance company, hangs out in my house. They are not troublesome (usually) and mind their own business. They are actually good to have around because they eat all of the bugs! There is one that comes into my house at night, and hangs out in my bathroom. By the time I get up it is usually outside or I see its tail wiggle out of my sight. The other day, the gecko was feeling brave and decided he wanted to play on the inside of my shower curtain. I was not aware the gecko was there because I could not see him and as I went to move the shower curtain to clean, I touched the gecko, I yelled - he jumped, onto the shower floor. After laughing a little and pulling myself together, I needed to get him out of the shower and back to his window. The little guy could not climb the wall because it was wet, it was hilarious watching him, jump to the wall then fall, jump to the wall then fall. Finally with my pink basin in hand I was able to redirect him to the shower curtain - to the window - so I was able to bathe in peace!

Little Moments

October 8, 2009

I know I am always talking about the little things in life, the little joys, and the little moments. This entry is no different! I must stay focused on all of those little ‘things’ because I know that one day all of those little ‘things’ are going to come together for something amazing! When I was still living in the States, I was a very ‘BIG Picture’ kind of girl, but here in Dominica I learned that it is not about the Big Picture but the events it took to get there. It is a learning and growing experience everyday, it is helping to shape who I will be one day! ‘ Life is not about the destination but the JOURNEY!’ Something I have always believed in but now I LIVE it! Anyways… Here are some of my little moments I had today that made my soul dance!

1. Today I did the Big Readers, Little Listener program with my Grade 5 students. Like always it was a success. The students are really starting to get the hang of reading to “Pre-K” students. I have tried to explain; they must not only read but ask questions to keep their little minds engaged. We had some moments to kill after the students were done reading but the Pre-K teacher was not back yet. So I decided to play a game of Simon Says, without the Simon just giving commands. When I ask the students to put their hands on their heads, they found that to be the silliest gesture they have ever done and the room broke out into giggles. It even made me laugh. I had the students put their hands on the heads a few times and for some strange reason each time, the giggles and belly laughs came out!

2. Another moment happened at the Big Readers, Little Listeners Program today. I had said Good Afternoon to the Principal who was upstairs from where we were and I asked her how she was? Her responds was very unique but warmed my heart “Just watching my students teach my students!” The thing is; she taught 5 of the 8 Grade 5 students who were now reading to her new Pre-K students. It was amazing to know to the cycle that is forming!

3. As I was waiting on the bus this afternoon one of the Pre-Schoolers from the Village was sitting in front of me. She knows me well since I have been to the Pre-School and see her often in the village/on the bus. She turns around and ask me “Where are you from” I answer with the village that I live in. She was not looking for that answer rather from where I was born. Just at the moment she took her two little hands, one in a high five shape and the other one right above it horizontal from the first. Yes, she made the shape of Michigan, both lower and upper peninsula with her sweet little hands. I ask her if she remembers we showing her, and she shyly nodded her head and hide under the seat. How sweet is she to remember the shape of my state and showing it to me!

4. Last by not least. I do not talk about my Landlords very often but today I will. My Landlord’s husband is always giving me bananas or ‘Pears’ which are avocados, humors me, and just making sure I am OK! Just recently, I have decided he does not like when I walk in the village by myself (Even though it is COMPLETELY SAFE). We are both part of the Heritage Committee and whenever the meeting is over he will wait for me but in a fashion of him not waiting for me even though I am aware he is waiting for me, but I play it off. Today, I had to walk just up the road and it was dark (now it gets dark around 6 or 630), I did not realize it was him until he was right in front of my face (My night vision is REALLY bad). We were chatting, he asked me where I was going and then another man from the village came up and My Landlord’s husband was like “now you have someone to walk with Michelle.” I continued to walk until the other man catch up and hear my Landlord’s Husband in the distance say “Take good care of her for me!” It just good knew someone is looking at for me but not over protecting. I am appreciate of him, no one can replace you Dad, but he watches over me like I am his daughter!

Tutoring!

As I have previously talked about, I do tutoring with Children from Grade K- to Garde 4. As you see the table is filled with neon cards with the ABCs on them. I use them A LOT for all of the children just in different ways depending on the age group! Enjoy the pictures of my Grade 2 boys!

Honesty

I learned if someone is looking to hear the honest truth about life they should just speak to a five year old, because you will hear it.

While I was walking through town yesterday I ran into one of my little ones who lived in my village. She is from Haiti (where they speak French) and is still working on her English but is VERY good! As I sit with her sweet soul, she looks at me and says “How is your day going?” I just adore her little voice. As we are chatting she continues to fix my hair as it flies away. Making comments of how my hair is flying everywhere and her hair is not! But what she does not realize, my hair will always ‘fly away’ when the humidity is like 100+. As we were there, she points every fault I have, commenting and pointing out each ‘button’ (pimple) on my face, the sweat that is running down my face, the freckles on my air and to top it off, she messed with my outfit! :o) What I always LOVE is when the little ones comment about my nose. She was no different, asking numerous questions, touching my nose all of that good stuff. Simply amazed how long my nose is! Whenever she would ask, why something was different then her, I would simple say “Because God made me that way!”

Was I offended, NEVER! Her honesty made my day and made me smile from ear to ear! She is such a joy in my life!

Here is a picture of her sweet face!

Big Readers, Little Listeners!

We are BACK! Today was my first day of ‘Big Readers, Little Listeners.’ An IMMENSE THANK YOU goes out to everyone who has donated books to me and the students. I used some of the books today with the program.



Like always it went very well. I now take the Grade 5 students because they enjoyed it so much last year and was not able to do it very long due to school ending. Some of the Grade 5 students were new because they were in a different Grade 4 class next year.


September 24, 2009


Anyways… The pictures of the little ones!

Love

September 26, 2009

As I sit on my floor circled around me is Crayons, Colored Pencils, Stickers, Glue, Books, Pencils, Pencils and MORE Pencils, Paint, Scissors, and Education Material: I think to myself “I AM My Mother's Daughter.”

My spare bedroom, WAS filled with boxes of supplies, unorganized birthday party supplies, crafts, bags of crafts, boxes, etc. It was too unorganized for me. While in town I picked up two baskets and began to organize, sort, label, and place! I can actually see the school and craft supplies I have. Just now, I put together my first package to bring to my school filled with pencils, crayons, folders, pens, and erasers. Inspiration came while going through the crafts I have and ideals for Monday Craft Class have developed!

I am not writing this to tell all of you, my crafts supplies are organized or that I like to control things in my life and I do that through being crazy organized with things. But rather as I was surrounded around my craft supplies, books, school supplies, etc, it was more then just ‘Things,’ it was LOVE! The love of my family and friends surrounded me in the ways of Glitter (which is all over my leg right now), glue, COLORS, and Stickers!

I just now found a note my mom had placed in a box that was filled with about 100 Pencils, it read “Only Because I Love You and Your Dominican Students would I do this for you (Sharpen ALL the pencils for me which is an AMAZING help)! That right there is LOVE, it is love for individuals that you all have only met through pictures, my stories, my blog.

Another thought came to mind while I was surrounded with all of that LOVE. My senior year of college, I interned at an agency called ‘Everyone Women Place.’ It was a domestic violence shelter in Muskegon. There is one day that I will never forget, it is when I was in the downstairs lobby with the Volunteer Coordinator (she reminds me of my Mother and what I would be like when I am 50 years old). We were chatting about volunteering and donating items. Some individuals are hesitate at times to give or donate if you do not have a direct contact that you feel confident in. As the positive soulful individuals we (My self and the volunteer coordinator) are, we came to the conclusion that EVERYONE wants to give and donate what they can, they just need a trusted avenue or individual to go through. Everyone’s heart disirers and needs to give back in their own special way.

Ladies and Gentlemen, you prove our conclusion correct. Honestly, when the school year finished in Dominica, I left feeling a little stressed and overwhelmed with the lack of supplies I had for the reading/math programs, arts and crafts, etc. Now, I am sitting here still feeling overwhelmed but for a much different reason. Now I am overwhelmed with all of these supplies and trying to find the best way to give them out in the most useful structure. I prefer this overwhelmed much more. The day I sent out the e-mail asking for books, I was not sure of the response. But how dare I question the souls of my family and friends. If you ask, you shall receive, if God Willing! Man did I receive!

The overwhelming Love and Support that was shown through the act of school and arts supplies is breathtaking. I wish that each and every one of you could sit with as I place a sticker on a child's homework assignment or the collar of their shirt when they complete the tutoring session or the moment I busted out the ‘Spiderman’ Math Cards.

Thank you for allowing me to be your avenue of donation! A billion Thank Yous could NEVER be enough to truly show how grateful I am. Thank you for the trust you have put in me. Most importantly, THANK YOU for LOVING ON my Dominican children!!