My Second Village

My last day in Dominica, which was bittersweet but I would not have ended it in another other way.  I spent a lot of time in my good friend’s village and her village became mine.  I made it a point to go up to her village to see everyone and send her well wishes.  Once again, it was nice to be greeted with smiles, hugs, and familiar faces.  My friend’s next door neighbor made us lunch and I spent the afternoon with her daughter and a friend of mine.  A sweet moment happened over lunch.  After I thanked her for the twelve time, she said, “No problem, you have treated my daughter like family!” My heart melted right then!

 While in the village we went to see the waterfall and bathe in the hot sulfur water.  That moment was breathtaking and refreshed the soul. Words cannot describe how peaceful it is to sit in a sulfur bathe with lush green around you.  One cannot create that environment.  Moments like remind me to be grateful and thankful for the experiences I have had the little island I have been able to call home. 

30 More Days!

30 Days... 30 More Activities!

17 Sex Workers have received ESL classes

14 Letters Written

11 Outreach events to sex workers

11 Blogs Entries

10 Posters printed and handed out to local business to bring awareness to eliminating violence against women and children

8 Volleyball Practices

7 ESL classes with Spanish-Speaking Women

6 Different Beaches

6 Peace Corps Volunteers completed their services

6 Visitors

6 Prison Life-Skill Sessions

5 New Friends

5 Islands Represented in those New Friends

5 Bars which outreach takes place

5 Jobs Applied for

4 Days of Creole in the Park

4 Members on the outreach team 

4 Countries Represented at Thanksgiving

4 Newspaper Article about the Outreach Event

3 Peace Corps Response Volunteers who swore-in with me 

3 Beach Days

3 Day Long Regional Training on HIV and Sexual Violence

2 Orange Events to bring awareness around the elimination of gender-based violence

3 Movies Watched at Cinema

3 Care Packages sent out

2 Meeting Regarding 16 Days of Activism

2 Letters Received

1 Graduation for my ESL ladies

1 Awarenss Activities for World’s AIDS day!

1 International Volleyball Tourney Watched

1 Flash Mob

1 Front Page Cover Story

1 New Friend Left 

1 PCRV who I share my High/Low each day

1 'Volunteer Work Form' Completed

1 Picture of myself on the Internet website for the Orange Day Event

1 New Stamp in my Passport

1 Walking Partner

1 Sleep Over with my Nephew

1 Meeting with Antigua Planned Parenthood Association

1 Grant Written

1 Zip Lining Experience

1 Opening Parade for Carnival

1 Carnival Jouvert 

1 Chair, which offers millions of moments of breathing

1 Grant Budget Updated

1 Grant Summary Updated

1 Meeting with the Men I will be doing Life Skill Training with in the prison

1 East Coast Tour

1 Meeting focused on Lyric Guidelines

1 Meeting to regarding doing therapy in the Prison

1 Workshop regarding Human Trafficking

1 Mango Fest 

1 Tropical Storm 

1 Intervention with a victim of Domestic Violence 

1 Amazing Skype date with my two best friends from graduate school

1 Submitted Grant with many corrections needed

1 Time Swimming with Sting Rays

1 Beach Birthday Party

1 Soul Refreshing Jam Session with new and old friends

1 Meeting Regarding World AIDS Day

1 Antigua Vs. USA Football Match

1 Orange Day Meeting/16 Days of Activism Meeting

1 Meeting with the Manger and Dancers of an outreach site

1 Refreshing trip to Dominica

1 Fundraising BBQ

1 More Trip to the Boiling Lake in Dominica

1 Week of reminders that I made an impact in Dominica

1 Meeting with the Country Director of the Peace Corps

1 Soul is now resting in Peace, Gone but never forgotten Uncle Tom

1 Seamoss Adventure

1 TV Panel Discussion around Gender Based Violence

1 Solo Hike on the National Trail in Dominica

1 Radio Interview for Orange Day

1 TV Interview for Orange Day

1 New Island that is feeling a little more like home each day

1 Trip to our sister island

1 Football Match to engage Men in eliminating Gender Based Violence

1 USA Election witnessed while abroad

1 Visit to the country side of Antigua

1 Thanksgiving Hosted

1 General Meeting

1 Movie Showing and Panel Discussion around Gender Based Violence

1 HIV/AIDS Mark

1 Amazing Experience 

Round 6!

Round Six why not! There is a hike in Dominica called Boiling Lake.  I did it five times a volunteer and added it to my To-Do list while I was visiting.  It is a long hike with many ups and downs.  It takes the average person 4-7 hours to complete it. The boiling lake is amazing but I do it for the sense of accomplishment I feel once I have completed the hike. My old volleyball coach thinks I am crazy for doing it the amount of times I have done it but it gives me a natural high and I am OK with that.

 I do have to say this time around was much harder then I remember.  I do not hike in Antigua and there are no stairs like the stairs for Boiling Lake.  I took my time, took pictures, and enjoy the moments.  Something sad did happen during the hike, my Keens fell apart.  These Keens have been with me for8 years, have hiked the Boiling Lake and various other hikes, I have been in many different states, and a few countries.  I will write to Keen and tell them my story of my first pair of Keens!


After that, I went back to the Office to change and we were off to Creole in the Park for the 3rd Night!