Jump I Jumpin!

A common phrase in Dominica is: Walk I Walkin, Jump I Jumpin, Smile I Smilin etc! You get the picture!

Always, about a year ago I had met up with these guys through an old Peace Corps volunteer who are writing a book about Dominica. This travel book is different, it is written by old Peace Corps volunteers that served in the country and 'backpacking' type individuals. It gives a more a local feel for a traveler who is looking to travel local and not stay at a nice hotel, take tours, etc. Check out there website HERE

The guys are back for the month of August and I happened to run into them in town and was able to do three hikes with them! They are a blast! These guys have such joyful and open spirits. They go where the wind takes them and seizes every opportunity that comes their way. They never meet a stranger. They came into my life at a good time. August is always a little rough around the corners for me. My summer camp is July and I am crazy busy loving every moment of it and then August hits like a pile of bricks and I am not as busy as before!

With them around, to quote Coach Beth: "They lite a fire under my ass!" A fire of joy and appreciation from the amazing life I live!

Check my blog in a few days to see where I was jumpin....

Little Moment #5

This will be my last 'Little Moment!' I have saved the best for last!

When I came home in June, my sister had given me a very interesting gift she had found! It was an apron, but not your ordinary rather, a HOT pink and polka dotted apron with two pockets and some ruffles! Let me tell you, it makes me smile! Also, this apron carries some fun powers! I am not a lover of cooking, I am more of a lover of baking but a girl does have to eat some real food! When I put this apron on, it just makes me love to cook! The apron plus some really good Caribbean Music, you will find me, singing, dancing, and chopping away in the kitchen! Cooking as become a joy for me! It is amazing what an individual can create when they have time, fresh produce, and a little fun with it!

It reminds me of a story I was reading a while back, from individuals who were incarnated in prison. She is a Jamaican who is living in New York. This quote rings true to me:

"... And hallelujah, God gave us noes and taste buds along with ears and feet. What would music be without the cooking and eating that went with it?... no mater what the recipe called for, the key ingredient was music. I'd sway to the beat as I stirred the pot or cup up vegetables. Cooking is hard work, but cooking to music eases your fatigue and makes you lost rack of time. Cook slowly and patiently for the best results, and let the beat of the music be the pulse of your soul"

Craft Time!

I am always crafting! With students, with PCVs or by myself! I find being here I have gotten more creative and can you almost anything to make a craft! I cannot throw a tin can, plastic bottle, or cardboard without thinking to myself... I could use it for this craft or that craft!



Brian, a PCV called on the assistances of myself, and two other PCVs to help with the arts and craft part of his camp! I gathered the supplies and off we went!During the first half, we made glass bottle cap magnets. Decorated the inside of bottle caps and put a magnet on the back. While some were doing that, another group was beading necklaces and bracelets!



The second half, all of the students made bugs and faces out of tuna tins, plastic jar lids, and glass jar lids. It was fun to use the goggly eyes, glittles and some pipe cleaners!



It was a riot! The students seemed to enjoy it a lot which makes me happy! Even one of the sweet campers gave me her bug she made!

Decisions, Decisions!

I am going to type from my heart, it might be a little everywhere, it might be a little hard to follow, but I am hoping it comes full circle! So, here I go!

Decisions... OoO Decisions! They can be exciting, they can be challenging, they can be frusturating! sometimes we make the wrong decisions that turn right and other times... OoO Mine! What a mess it becomes!

Now, don't get me wrong! I am grateful I have the RIGHT/FREEDOM to make decisions. The simply ones of what I would like to wear or eat for lunch. When you have decisions to make you have choices, and with choices brings a sense of independence. I am grateful I was born in the United States of America, home of the free and the brave bc without that I may not be here typing to all of you 1200 miles away. I would not be able to wear my short pants with a tank top, be 24 and not married (even choice my own husband). I am able EVERYDAY to make decisions of what I want to believe, where I want to worship, and voice my opipion (quietly or loudly) about the latest breaking news! Because of the choices and decisions women and men made before I was even born, before I was even thought of, I am able to make these tough decisions, these deciisons that feel as though they will impact my WHOLE path of life, if I choice to go left instead of right my life will take a path that is not right for me!

Well, if that is the case then I am screwed! Royally screwed, to more exact because I have no sense of direction, I get my rights and left messed up, I drive I-95 when I should be on I-96 and lets not even begin taking about east and west! If there is not a land mark I will miss the turn and if I miss the turn I won't realize for hours! (If you think I am kidding ask my father or my mother- they will tell you!)

But the above paragraph makes me smile! That is my life on the road and the real world! I take these leaps of faith, figure it out a long the way. I go on a vibe and hope for the best! I love my daily 'To-Do' list (Honesty, I live for that list!) but if some one were to ask me where I thought I would be in 5 years, panic would come across my face! I think about it, I have goals and I have dreams, I want to live in the moment, I don't want to miss a beat bc I was worried about the future! Then what if something better comes my way, something I never thought of comes my way, that I will LOVE more then I would of loved my first 'Plan of Attack!'

I do not want to miss a moment or an opportunity! But do I! Do I miss those opportunities because I said Yes to this and No to that! Because I did not fill that out, but I filled that out! On the map of life I joined the Peace Corps instead of getting a job or going to Graduate School right away! I became a Social Worker instead of a Teacher! What if I am messing with the 'Plan!' What if I picked wrong! I could drive myself crazy thinking about all of that... but it crosses my mind! I do not want it to appear that I regret ANYTHING, I have choices in my life, but with all these opportunities, Wi PaPa, would life be 'easier' if I did not have them! I would live a simply content life, with family as my center!

You know my FIVE year goal! It is to find this happy and joyful balance of opportunities and simply content life, with family being my center!

Where does this all come from! In 8 months, my journey is 'over' (or has it just begun!) with the Peace Corps! I must make my next move, I must make decisions, I must choose a path! It is frighten, it is fantastic, it is overwhelming, and it is relaxing!

As I get overwhelmed, as I lay my head down at night, I say a very simply prayer: 'God, Guide Me, if I am not suppose to do this or if I am, sending flashing lights, horns, and noise makers to ensure my stubbornness does not get in the way and I hear you!"

Little Moment #4

Many times in my life, I have to stop and think to myself, how did I get here. How have I been so blessed to have many unique and powerful moments in my life. At times I am truly in awe with the life I live. Sometimes it the view I am looking at, an individual I meet on the road who is THRILLED to see me, or a story I have been told. It makes me think "Life is good!"

This moment was no different. After, I stopped and thought, "what events landed me right here, right now, in this moment!" I do therapy with a very unique group of women. They are currently in the State Prison, there are only three of them and I have been working with them since January. For the month of August, all parties needed a little break from 'traditional' therapy. I was sick of talking and they have, had enough of the listening piece. So I decided, lets do Yoga! It is a way to calm the body, relieve stress, and find your center. I called on a lovely PCV to help me in this task, since I do not know Yoga and she is a Yoga instructor!

Afterward, as we were both cleaning up the mats, we just stopped, smiled and said "How did this opportunity found itself presented to me"

Little Moment #3

The world is truly small! People say it all the time, I have said it in the past, but being on this island makes me believe how small the world is! I was waiting to get into where I do therapy and this car pulls up! The man drives gives me a Jolly HELLO! The women sitting in the seat gives me a Hello and then ask a questions I would never of expected out of her. She says, as frank as can be, ‘Are you from Michigan?’ A little side bar, I have met about 10 people who know where Michigan is and about another 5 who have traveled/lived to Michigan, so for someone to ask me about Michigan is VERY rare. There is a large Dominican/Caribbean population in the New York, New Jersey, Florida areas, NOT Michigan!

Delighted she asked me about Michigan, I tell her yes, explain that I grow up on the East Side and went to school on the West Side. She ask what school, I tell her Grand Valley University (Go Lakers!), and she says, “I teach some classes there in Special Education, and have a degree in counseling!

Also excited to have a little connection of home, she made my day!

Little Moment #2

I spent three days in Martinique (as mentioned in a previous blog!). I went there for volleyball but at night time, we went to an outdoor celebration in honor of the town we were in. The outdoor celebration was filled with different type of food booths (Crepes, Grilled Sandwiches, French fries, and chicken), BUMPER CARS, a Carnival Ride, and some Carnival Games. On the last night, we were getting ready to leave because it was raining and getting late and all of a sudden, the sky light up! No my friends it was not lightening but rather FIREWORKS! I was simply in aww… and then had a moment of trips up north for the Fourth of July and all of the memories that come with that. Nobody there really understand the joy those Fireworks brought me. I stood there standing, staring at the colors, wanting to take every moment in. I did not want to miss an OoO… or an Ahh… I just wanted to stand their in silence and ENJOY! It was a pleasant surprise and treat to have Fireworks and I just thought of it as my Fourth of July Fireworks about 2 months late! Rather late then never!

I have attached my favorite Fourth of July picture from my sister, from this year.