So, I just wanted to let you all know that this month is going to be sparce for blog posts. It's crazy busy and then I'm going to the states for 2 weeks, which is going to be even crazier! So just an update as to what has been going on.
We got our books from Hands Across the Sea! The kids love them! (I'm going to try and post pictures soon!) I just finished processing the last book yesterday! The kids got excited each time I finished a shelf. The kids are loving using the library, we just have to get them used to the concept that they read them and bring them back :)
I've been working on the PC cookbook for the EC. This project will be finished next week!! Computer club finishes this week! The kids asked me if I was going to have it over "summer break." I told them that we would have it again next summer, but then quickly caught on they were referring to Chrismas break (these next 3 weeks)! I told them that I'm going to the states for a couple weeks and am cleaning the computers next week, so we can't. One of the boys told me that when my two weeks in the states were over, to not even think about staying, but get right back on the plane and come back!
Next year Global Volunteers is bringing some groups (about 5 I think) down here. So this next week I'm doing some work for them to find out about supplies.
I'm working on the next issue of the Serious Ting, and getting ready to come to the states! When I'm in the states, I'm going to my old middle school and talking to a class that I've been talking to with the WWS (world wise school) Program.'
It's a busy December, but I love it! I can't wait for the new volunteers to get here the end of January, but I know that signals that a current class of volunteers is leaving (and that I only have a little over a year left). Time flies! Next we have to start working on a visa for that boyfriend of mine....I want to keep him after PC (with a different title though) but that's a story for a later date :)
Friday, December 9, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
And then it hit.
I don't think there is any other holiday that my family celebrates (that I have been gone for so far) like Thanksgiving. I think today was the first real time that it hit me that I'm away and I'm missing stuff. I was moody all week and it didn't really hit me until today what it was. I know that everyone back home is celebrating and I don't get to be with them. When I was at college, I could drive home and supprise them; I can't do that now. In order to get home, I have to fly. I miss stealing food from my mom, and sitting behind the counter talking to her. I miss chilling with my dad when he is driving my mom crazy (and talking about hockey with him)!! I miss sitting on my little sister and annoying her. I miss listening to the wisdom of my older sister. I miss just being with my younger sister. And of course I miss playing with my nephews (and I can't miss playing with my nieces because I've never gotten to play with them) and seeing my brother-in-laws. It's the family that I got used to seeing and now can't see that I miss the most. It's just one of those days. Alls I can say is December 17th. That's the day I fly home for Christmas.
Now don't get me wrong. I love my family here. My PC family is amazing. My host family I lived with during training I still talk to and love. My boyfriend, that thinks I'm going crazy this week because I've been moody and not myself but helps me get through it, I love dearly. And my friends that I have made here, who check on me, see how I'm doing, and who I love hanging out with, I feel very fortunate to have found. I am thankful for my life here, and I would not have changed my decision to be a PCV for anything, sometimes I just wish I could be two places at once.
Now don't get me wrong. I love my family here. My PC family is amazing. My host family I lived with during training I still talk to and love. My boyfriend, that thinks I'm going crazy this week because I've been moody and not myself but helps me get through it, I love dearly. And my friends that I have made here, who check on me, see how I'm doing, and who I love hanging out with, I feel very fortunate to have found. I am thankful for my life here, and I would not have changed my decision to be a PCV for anything, sometimes I just wish I could be two places at once.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Money!
This past week I went to St. Kitts for a couple of days. I realized that the value of money has really changed in my mind. While looking at souvenirs, which were priced in USD (US dollars), and having to pay (as I am currently paid) in EC (Eastern Caribbean), I realized how expensive things really are. Say you are walking down the street and see something for $5.00 USD, that same thing for me is $13.50, which might not be so bad; but take a look at a simple souvenir t-shirt for $20.00 USD. That would cost me $54.00! (Exchange $1.00 USD = $2.7 EC) While as an American traveling, that exchange rate is great! You’re like, “oh, my money is worth so much!” But as someone who lives, works and gets paid in EC, that conversion back is like, “oh no, that thing is so expensive there is no way I can afford that!” Take into mind that this is also on a PCV (peace corps volunteer) living allowance.
I’m not writing this to complain. I realized that when I was signing up for PC I was signing up to be a volunteer. I write this that you may remember and think of the local people when you are traveling. Be aware of the actual cost of things, and be aware of how much the USD is actually worth.
*Pictures coming soon...hopefully!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Say What!?!
It has been another busy week. I had disaster preparedness/first aide/cpr training on Tuesday of this week. It was an optional overview, and since my CPR training expired in August, and I'm nervous about hurricanes (we're almost through the season!!) I attended. It was a good training, and I'm glad I went!
I spent the night in Castries, and then attended IST II (In service training 2) from Wednesday until Yesterday. I learned more in some sessions than others, and made some great learning assessments about myself, how I learn, and different teaching styles.
On my way to IST I saw the first car pulled over by a police officer here. I was shocked. Over 10 months here and a car was finally pulled over!
I am now getting ready to go to St. Kitts for a couple of days. I am anxious to get back to my community being gone for so long. It was hard to go back for less than one day and then leave again. But the next time I have to spend the night out of my community after this trip is when I go to Ohio for Christmas! It doesn't feel like November. The trees are green, with leaves on them. It's warm (sometimes it feels cool! aka in the 70s with a breeze!) I love it though!
I spent the night in Castries, and then attended IST II (In service training 2) from Wednesday until Yesterday. I learned more in some sessions than others, and made some great learning assessments about myself, how I learn, and different teaching styles.
On my way to IST I saw the first car pulled over by a police officer here. I was shocked. Over 10 months here and a car was finally pulled over!
I am now getting ready to go to St. Kitts for a couple of days. I am anxious to get back to my community being gone for so long. It was hard to go back for less than one day and then leave again. But the next time I have to spend the night out of my community after this trip is when I go to Ohio for Christmas! It doesn't feel like November. The trees are green, with leaves on them. It's warm (sometimes it feels cool! aka in the 70s with a breeze!) I love it though!
Monday, November 7, 2011
November 28, 2011
The election has been called! Yesterday the Prime Minister announced that the election is going to be held November 28, 2011 (it had to be before March 2012).
Being here through election season I have learned a lot about parlimentry government. I learned that Prime Ministers are not elected. I have learned there are not elections every year (something I took for granted. While I've voted around 7 times, a person my age here has voted once.).
I am most excited that the election has been called because that means I can wear red for Christmas!! The political colors here are red and yellow (there is a third party that is green, but the two major parties are red and yellow). I have not been wearing these two colors since around August/September to avoid being labled as part of one party or the other (Peace Corps is nonpolitical). I have some really cute shirts that are these colors, so I'm really excited to be able to get them back out after the elections (even though I'll probably still wait a week or so after the elections to wear them).
So while it's elections tomorrow in the US, we have elections here at the end of the month. Happy Voting!
P.S. While usually I am EST, since daylight savings time took effect, I am one hour ahead because we don't observe daylight savings.
Being here through election season I have learned a lot about parlimentry government. I learned that Prime Ministers are not elected. I have learned there are not elections every year (something I took for granted. While I've voted around 7 times, a person my age here has voted once.).
I am most excited that the election has been called because that means I can wear red for Christmas!! The political colors here are red and yellow (there is a third party that is green, but the two major parties are red and yellow). I have not been wearing these two colors since around August/September to avoid being labled as part of one party or the other (Peace Corps is nonpolitical). I have some really cute shirts that are these colors, so I'm really excited to be able to get them back out after the elections (even though I'll probably still wait a week or so after the elections to wear them).
So while it's elections tomorrow in the US, we have elections here at the end of the month. Happy Voting!
P.S. While usually I am EST, since daylight savings time took effect, I am one hour ahead because we don't observe daylight savings.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Jounen Kweyol
Wow! Again, it is crazy here. We just celebrated Jounen Kweyol. ALR was a hosting community which means that people from all over the country came down. Jounen Kweyol is the celebration of the Creole culture. It was a lot of fun to see everything that happened! I have more pictures on my fb page.
I talked to someone that Friday who grew up in St. Lucia and always comes to visit during Jounen Kweyol. He asked me where I was from. I said Ohio. He said Cincinnati, Ohio. Turns out he grew up listening to a radio station from Cincinnati in St. Lucia!
It has also been one year since Hurricane Thomas hit St. Lucia. We've almost made it through another hurricane season (the end of November is the end of it). Watching the weather and learning the patterns has become a lot of fun for me!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Overwhelmed and packing
I've been doing some reflecting this past week on what it was like to come to St. Lucia. Part of this is because I went down south and saw the airport I came into, part is because we're getting ready for our group coming in the end of January, and the other part is because I'm getting ready to take a trip back to the states in 2 months to see my family. If there was one word to describe what I felt that day it's overwhelmed. I had no clue what I was getting into, where I was going, and what the heck I was doing on this small island that I had never heard of until about 6 weeks before this! But I am oh so ever glad that I decided to come. I feel lucky to be on St. Lucia and in the village I'm in. The people are awesome and love PC! They look out for me and make sure I'm ok. I get to take my time and learn the language (I suck at languages, but I really want to learn kweyol so I'm learning phrase by phrase word by word as I need to use it or what to understand what someone else is saying to me).
When I was packing last year to come (which I did the day before I left) I had no clue what to bring, so I looked at blogs to get ideas as went according to the PC packing list as well. There are a lot of things that I wish I brought, some things that I wish I didn't bring, and some things that I'm super glad I brought! (PS this list also serves as my Christmas list for my sisters and parents as the things that I wish I brought I'm either going to be buying at Christmas or getting as presents!!)
I'm so glad I brought an accordian file folder! All those papers that you get a PST (pre-service training) add up. I was glad I brought it to keep things organized going back and forth! I love all the skorts I brought. I have to "dress up" aka buisness casual, every day for work. It's really hot, so the couple pairs of pants I brought usually say in my drawer (though all the guys wear dress pants and polos) and I wear skirts and skorts to try and keep cool. I'm also really glad I brought shirts that can be dressy or casual depending if I put them with shorts or a skirt. A really cool packing tip I read was to pack things in kitchen containers. This was really helpful because those containers are expensive. Before I left, my aunt gave me this "beach bag." I never thought I would use it; however, I use it everyday and it's almost worn out! I even had to sew the handles on to reinforce it. I use it for shopping, the beach, carrying my laptop around, carrying other things around, and going to pick fruit. I'm also super glad for a couple other presents I got. I love my kindle! I also love the baby powder that I was given! So helpful! Oh, and my computer was a necessity! I'm also really glad I brought a present for my host family. My host mom is amazing. I still go and see her whenever I can.
Things I wish I didn't bring: so many socks. I got some new black socks before I left home and haven't even opened the package. The PC packing list said we needed passport pics for local permits and stuff, yeah, that was a waste of my money. I also brought clothes that were a little too big for me. I've lost some more weight while being here, and so they're really too big for me.
So if I could have brought an extra suitcase I probably would have! So here's what I wish I had brought: A football or some type of sports equiptment (an in with the kids as well!), more daily clothes and shorts. I brought plunty of work clothes, but not enough for around in the community or at my home. My buisness suit. There have been at least two times when I would have worn it. Personal hygine products: body wash, shaving cream, ect. These thing are all really expensive. I did get some shaving cream on sale! More shoes and clothes! I can never have enough of these. At least once a week I wish I had another pair of sandles because mine have already worn out (I ordered some tevas and am picking them up at Christmas!).
So as I'm thinking about going back to Ohio for Christmas, I get kind of sad as well. While I miss my family and can't wait to see them, I would love to see a Lucian Christmas and I'm going to miss my island home for two weeks. Maybe next year my family will come and see me :)
When I was packing last year to come (which I did the day before I left) I had no clue what to bring, so I looked at blogs to get ideas as went according to the PC packing list as well. There are a lot of things that I wish I brought, some things that I wish I didn't bring, and some things that I'm super glad I brought! (PS this list also serves as my Christmas list for my sisters and parents as the things that I wish I brought I'm either going to be buying at Christmas or getting as presents!!)
I'm so glad I brought an accordian file folder! All those papers that you get a PST (pre-service training) add up. I was glad I brought it to keep things organized going back and forth! I love all the skorts I brought. I have to "dress up" aka buisness casual, every day for work. It's really hot, so the couple pairs of pants I brought usually say in my drawer (though all the guys wear dress pants and polos) and I wear skirts and skorts to try and keep cool. I'm also really glad I brought shirts that can be dressy or casual depending if I put them with shorts or a skirt. A really cool packing tip I read was to pack things in kitchen containers. This was really helpful because those containers are expensive. Before I left, my aunt gave me this "beach bag." I never thought I would use it; however, I use it everyday and it's almost worn out! I even had to sew the handles on to reinforce it. I use it for shopping, the beach, carrying my laptop around, carrying other things around, and going to pick fruit. I'm also super glad for a couple other presents I got. I love my kindle! I also love the baby powder that I was given! So helpful! Oh, and my computer was a necessity! I'm also really glad I brought a present for my host family. My host mom is amazing. I still go and see her whenever I can.
Things I wish I didn't bring: so many socks. I got some new black socks before I left home and haven't even opened the package. The PC packing list said we needed passport pics for local permits and stuff, yeah, that was a waste of my money. I also brought clothes that were a little too big for me. I've lost some more weight while being here, and so they're really too big for me.
So if I could have brought an extra suitcase I probably would have! So here's what I wish I had brought: A football or some type of sports equiptment (an in with the kids as well!), more daily clothes and shorts. I brought plunty of work clothes, but not enough for around in the community or at my home. My buisness suit. There have been at least two times when I would have worn it. Personal hygine products: body wash, shaving cream, ect. These thing are all really expensive. I did get some shaving cream on sale! More shoes and clothes! I can never have enough of these. At least once a week I wish I had another pair of sandles because mine have already worn out (I ordered some tevas and am picking them up at Christmas!).
So as I'm thinking about going back to Ohio for Christmas, I get kind of sad as well. While I miss my family and can't wait to see them, I would love to see a Lucian Christmas and I'm going to miss my island home for two weeks. Maybe next year my family will come and see me :)
Friday, October 14, 2011
2nd grade, football, computer club!
2nd grade, football and computer club. You might wonder what all three of these have in common. My crazy week!
Tuesdays I'm at the infant school school (for the school day, I have computer club at the primary school in the evening). I'm supposed to be doing a computer class for their kids, but since they're still working on getting their computers set up, I haven't been staying. This week both of their grade 2 teachers called in sick, so the principal asked if I would take over one of the classes (she later informed me it was an all boys class). I said sure, and thus started my day which reminded my why my father does not have all the answers to my life. (Dear Dad, I am not cut out to be a teacher no matter how much you think so.) Those boys were crazy and wouldn't listen to anything I said. We accomplished a couple things though! Some of the students now understand how to "borrow" when doing double didget subtraction, and they wrote some sentences about a picture I drew! All that from 9-2:30!!
Thursday we had a football match in the afternoon. The school is broken up into 4 houses that play sports and compete against each other. So we had two different games. I have never seen anyone so excited about football! The students were cheering, running around, and having a lot of fun! The village came out and watched. They were cheering for thier favorite team as well! It was more excitment than I ever saw at a football game before (and my sister made it to state finals!). The second game when to shoot outs. There was soooo much pressure put on these students. There were people lined up around the 18 (and kept coming closer and closer to the goal!). Next week is the finals! I can't wait!
Computer club is in it's fourth week! It's going great! The kids are really excited about it (they love playing games on the computers). I have about 50 kids that come to the club (the school has about 180 kids)! Needless to say it's crazy!! But I love it!!
Tuesdays I'm at the infant school school (for the school day, I have computer club at the primary school in the evening). I'm supposed to be doing a computer class for their kids, but since they're still working on getting their computers set up, I haven't been staying. This week both of their grade 2 teachers called in sick, so the principal asked if I would take over one of the classes (she later informed me it was an all boys class). I said sure, and thus started my day which reminded my why my father does not have all the answers to my life. (Dear Dad, I am not cut out to be a teacher no matter how much you think so.) Those boys were crazy and wouldn't listen to anything I said. We accomplished a couple things though! Some of the students now understand how to "borrow" when doing double didget subtraction, and they wrote some sentences about a picture I drew! All that from 9-2:30!!
Thursday we had a football match in the afternoon. The school is broken up into 4 houses that play sports and compete against each other. So we had two different games. I have never seen anyone so excited about football! The students were cheering, running around, and having a lot of fun! The village came out and watched. They were cheering for thier favorite team as well! It was more excitment than I ever saw at a football game before (and my sister made it to state finals!). The second game when to shoot outs. There was soooo much pressure put on these students. There were people lined up around the 18 (and kept coming closer and closer to the goal!). Next week is the finals! I can't wait!
Computer club is in it's fourth week! It's going great! The kids are really excited about it (they love playing games on the computers). I have about 50 kids that come to the club (the school has about 180 kids)! Needless to say it's crazy!! But I love it!!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Thanksgiving in October
So last Monday was Thanksgiving. Since there were no traditions that I could find for Thanksgiving, the Boys and Girls Club aka The Superstars Club! decided to go to the beach! We had a great day with 19 kids taking part in our outing! It was fun, crazy, and I wouldn't have been able to survive without Louise and Luthur keeping track of the kids, making lunch, and keeping everything on track! They're the ones that really made this happen.
Life has been soo busy lately! But I love it! I'm hoping things get settled down this month with computer club and get into a rhythm so that way I can focus on the library. We're so excited to be getting the books for the library! (So if you haven't had a opportunity to give yet please do!)
I visited a new church this morning (the Penacostal church right in front of my house). I've been singing with them for a while now (their service starts before the one at the Catholic church that I've gone to) and really liked going there. There is also a Baptist church in the village that I would like to try out as well. I felt more at home in the Penacostal church than I've felt at the Catholic church (the people at the Catholic church have made me feel at home, it's the style of preaching, the songs, and just more all around what I'm used to). But life here in the Caribbean is going great! Keeping busier that I ever thought I would, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Time to go meet with the SuperStars Club! And life continues on...
Monday, September 12, 2011
You did what!?!
So far in Peace Corps I've done several things I would have never imagined. Some crazy, some just crazy to me...enjoy!
1. Get my immunizations in the middle of the street...with everyone watching! The dr was in a rush, I said it was ok, so I got two shots (flu and my second hep A) in the middle of the street. Far cry from mom having to trick me into getting them in 7th grade!
2.Hich hike. I've always done it safely (with someone else) and usually taken rides from people I know. I've found it's really fun to ride in the back of a truck!
3.Helped get a magazine published. This one is still in progress. I got an email shortly after I swore in about the Serious Ting which is the Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean magazine, so I signed up to help however needed. So not only do I have a story in it, I helped edit some of the articles in the magazine, and I got bids, approved the copy, and am picking the magazines sometime this week!
4.Asked for directions and learned to speak up. I've never been one to ask questions. Ever. I hate asking for directions or showing that I don't know something (I think it's the Faison in me). Almost daily I have to ask where something is, ask for help, learn something new, or speak up and tell the bus to stop (yes mom, I've progessed from kindergarten when I missed my stop home and didn't tell anyone).
5. Learned to laugh at myself. I think this one is key. I always took myself too serious and never learned to laugh at mistakes I made. I always just got embarassed. While I still get embarassed, I've learned to laugh at mistakes and take them as learning experiences.
I know that there are more things that I've done that have been "crazy" and I will do many more while I'm here. I'm learning and growing every day. I love it!
1. Get my immunizations in the middle of the street...with everyone watching! The dr was in a rush, I said it was ok, so I got two shots (flu and my second hep A) in the middle of the street. Far cry from mom having to trick me into getting them in 7th grade!
2.Hich hike. I've always done it safely (with someone else) and usually taken rides from people I know. I've found it's really fun to ride in the back of a truck!
3.Helped get a magazine published. This one is still in progress. I got an email shortly after I swore in about the Serious Ting which is the Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean magazine, so I signed up to help however needed. So not only do I have a story in it, I helped edit some of the articles in the magazine, and I got bids, approved the copy, and am picking the magazines sometime this week!
4.Asked for directions and learned to speak up. I've never been one to ask questions. Ever. I hate asking for directions or showing that I don't know something (I think it's the Faison in me). Almost daily I have to ask where something is, ask for help, learn something new, or speak up and tell the bus to stop (yes mom, I've progessed from kindergarten when I missed my stop home and didn't tell anyone).
5. Learned to laugh at myself. I think this one is key. I always took myself too serious and never learned to laugh at mistakes I made. I always just got embarassed. While I still get embarassed, I've learned to laugh at mistakes and take them as learning experiences.
I know that there are more things that I've done that have been "crazy" and I will do many more while I'm here. I'm learning and growing every day. I love it!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The good and the bad
Being a PCV is not like what I thought it was going to be. There are more ups and downs, moral decisions, completely bored straight to completely craziness, more building children in ways that I didn't even imagine when I was signing up for PC. I'm beginning to realize that I cannot express all that happens to me in a blog. Peace Corps is one of those things you have to live to fully understand. Even each Peace Corps experience is different!
This week of school has been amazing, busy, crazy, and awesome! First of all I got to celebrate my 26th birthday in St. Lucia on Monday! I was so ready for 26. This week I have been working on the computer lab, getting ready for computer club, setting up more computers, getting the kids to sign up for the boys and girls club, as library assistants, and begging them for patience about the computer club :)
Two of the kids asked me for help with math, so right now we're working on addition flash cards after school. So many projects so little time! It has made this first week fly!!
This week of school has been amazing, busy, crazy, and awesome! First of all I got to celebrate my 26th birthday in St. Lucia on Monday! I was so ready for 26. This week I have been working on the computer lab, getting ready for computer club, setting up more computers, getting the kids to sign up for the boys and girls club, as library assistants, and begging them for patience about the computer club :)
Two of the kids asked me for help with math, so right now we're working on addition flash cards after school. So many projects so little time! It has made this first week fly!!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Victories!
Thank you to everyone who gave to the project for the school library! We met the goal of $500, but Hands spent $1000.00 on books for my school, so if you didn't give and would still like to please do!
It's the little things that make everything worth it here. Last night I was hanging out with one of the PCVs from Castries that came down for the evening with some friends. When she was getting ready to leave we went and met the person she came with who was talking to some people from the village. Her friend introduced her to the guy, then the guy from my village looked at me and said that he didn't know my name but he knew that I was theirs. AKA I live here :) It was great!
Things are coming together for the 50th anniversary celebration and the other projects I've been working on these past couple of months. September is crazy because most of them are getting in full force or wrapping up this month. The magazine I've been working on is getting printed, the 50th celebration occurs, the project to come up with a project histroy on St. Lucia kicks off on Friday, VAC elections are Friday (which I'm running in against one of my friends), and those are just side projects that have nothign to do with my real job at the school! School starts, we're stating computer club, we're hoping to start a school newspaper, the library is going to get up and running again (which means new library assistants to interview and train), the library is going to get cleaned and we have Literacy day next week!!
But as for tomorrow, I'm going to the beach to celebrate my birthday, and I'm having two of my friends over on Monday for my birthday dinner (tacos!!).
I hope September is good to all of you as well!
It's the little things that make everything worth it here. Last night I was hanging out with one of the PCVs from Castries that came down for the evening with some friends. When she was getting ready to leave we went and met the person she came with who was talking to some people from the village. Her friend introduced her to the guy, then the guy from my village looked at me and said that he didn't know my name but he knew that I was theirs. AKA I live here :) It was great!
Things are coming together for the 50th anniversary celebration and the other projects I've been working on these past couple of months. September is crazy because most of them are getting in full force or wrapping up this month. The magazine I've been working on is getting printed, the 50th celebration occurs, the project to come up with a project histroy on St. Lucia kicks off on Friday, VAC elections are Friday (which I'm running in against one of my friends), and those are just side projects that have nothign to do with my real job at the school! School starts, we're stating computer club, we're hoping to start a school newspaper, the library is going to get up and running again (which means new library assistants to interview and train), the library is going to get cleaned and we have Literacy day next week!!
But as for tomorrow, I'm going to the beach to celebrate my birthday, and I'm having two of my friends over on Monday for my birthday dinner (tacos!!).
I hope September is good to all of you as well!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
HELP!!
Wow! The school year is here and I can't believe it! We start school on Monday (my birthday by the way). So in honor of my birthday, the kids I'm working with, and the new school year, I am asking you (yes you) if you to HELP!! I have been working hard here for next to nothing (it's called being a volunteer, in fact I was looking at camp jobs and there I would make almost as much in a week as I do in a whole month here). Because of my sacrifice, I am asking you to sacrifice as well. I have posted a couple of times about the library that I'm working on here at the school. Well, we need books!! Books are super expensive down here and a lot of the books we have are not age appropriate (trust me 4th grades don't care about Madeleine Albright).
If you just give the amount of your favorite book, that would help me so much in my work here! I now have a we pay page: https://www.wepay.com/donate/141730 It is easy to give and would help the kids here. I was listening to some of the teachers talk the other day and they were talking about a 4th grader who cannot read. If I can get books in that the kids are excited about, I can help them learn how to read those books and improve the reading levels of those kids that can read. Check out Hand's Across the Sea's website http://www.handsacrossthesea.net/ They're an awesome organization!
Please donate, and consider it my birthday present.
If you just give the amount of your favorite book, that would help me so much in my work here! I now have a we pay page: https://www.wepay.com/donate/141730 It is easy to give and would help the kids here. I was listening to some of the teachers talk the other day and they were talking about a 4th grader who cannot read. If I can get books in that the kids are excited about, I can help them learn how to read those books and improve the reading levels of those kids that can read. Check out Hand's Across the Sea's website http://www.handsacrossthesea.net/ They're an awesome organization!
Please donate, and consider it my birthday present.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Who would have thought?
During PST (pre-service training) we were given a lot of information. One thing we were given was a sheet that talked about the ups and downs of being a volunteer and the different stages. I thought, "I won't follow this, I'm the exception." I only bring this up because of something that has happened lately. One of the stages on that sheet was somthing that you thought you'd gotten over and wouldn't bother you really getting to you. These past couple of weeks, that has happened! It's something little that has just been able to get under my skin over and over. Who would have thought how valuable that little piece of information was in realizing that this is normal :)
Computer lessons are finished for the summer! It was great fun, but I'm glad to get started with the school year! This September is going to be CRAZY! It starts with school and my birthday (on the same day), continues with Luthur's birthday, getting the PC EC magazine printed, more meetings than I've been in ever, and the 50th celebration of the Peace Corps. It's going to be a lot of fun, but I'll be glad when it is over and life can return to normal, whatever that is!
Computer lessons are finished for the summer! It was great fun, but I'm glad to get started with the school year! This September is going to be CRAZY! It starts with school and my birthday (on the same day), continues with Luthur's birthday, getting the PC EC magazine printed, more meetings than I've been in ever, and the 50th celebration of the Peace Corps. It's going to be a lot of fun, but I'll be glad when it is over and life can return to normal, whatever that is!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Summer, Summer, where did you go?
The summer is coming to a close. While the weather is still the same, school is about to start...well, September 5th (on a side note-how dare my birthday not be a holiday in St. Lucia while it is one in the US? I mean really!?! And the first day of school as well lol!!) so it's coming. We have one week of computer lessons left (which went very well!! The kids showed up for them and learned a lot!), one week for teacher planning, and then SCHOOL!!
It's kind of nerve wracking starting a new school year.We're starting new projects, continuing old ones (like getting the library books in October from Hands Across the Sea http://www.handsacrossthesea.net/ please check them out and consider helping us if you haven't already), and changing some things up! We'll see how it goes!
I have a bunch of meetings coming up (I don't think I've ever been to this many meetings in my life!!) about our 50th celebration for PC and other projects.
I'm continuing my war on ants (not Aunts, because I love my Aunts), and I will win! So if you have any ideas on what I can do to kill them all please let me know!!
And...for those of you who think alls I do is go to the beach, I've been swimming once this entire summer! (And I live 1 1/2 blocks from the Caribbean.) Oh, well! I can always make that a goal for the winter :)
It's kind of nerve wracking starting a new school year.We're starting new projects, continuing old ones (like getting the library books in October from Hands Across the Sea http://www.handsacrossthesea.net/ please check them out and consider helping us if you haven't already), and changing some things up! We'll see how it goes!
I have a bunch of meetings coming up (I don't think I've ever been to this many meetings in my life!!) about our 50th celebration for PC and other projects.
I'm continuing my war on ants (not Aunts, because I love my Aunts), and I will win! So if you have any ideas on what I can do to kill them all please let me know!!
And...for those of you who think alls I do is go to the beach, I've been swimming once this entire summer! (And I live 1 1/2 blocks from the Caribbean.) Oh, well! I can always make that a goal for the winter :)
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Short Term Missions
I've never really been a fan of short term mission trips. That's not saying they don't do any good. I've just never really liked the concept. (Now my older sister met her husband on a short term mission trip and for that I'm glad!) Maybe I have a little too much of my father in me. As he has always said, and this is paraphrased, why not just send the money over, use local people to do the building projects, and then reach the local people by giving them jobs and ministering to them while they are working and how you treat them instead of asking someone else to pay for your vacation. This concept has only been strengthened while I've been living in St. Lucia.
Now you could say, why Sara, you're living in St. Lucia and working on tax payers dollers, how can you even say this? We're paying for you to be there. Notice, I did not say long term missions. I said short term. I'm here long term. One of Peace Corps Policies is that they don't place a volunteer in a place that a local could be employed in. If I wasn't here, no one would be assigned and getting paid to be doing the work I am doing.
The longer I am here the more I think it is important to understand the culture you are in. If you do go on a missions trip and preaching, ask the missionary or a local to go through your sermon with you to make sure it is sensitive to the culture you are going into. That it is applicable to that culture. Learn as much as you can about the culture you're going into.
I live in one of the poorest villages in the country. I've seen people here jump at the chance to work (there has been a lot of construction going on the last few days and people have been working hard). So, examine the reasons you're going on this trip. Would the money be better spent hiring local people? What are you going to do? Is it taking a job away from a local? Running camps is a great thing because what I find most is that we need voluntary manpower for activities for the kids.
All in all, just make sure you're doing more good than harm, building the community (both the one you're going into and the community of believers), and not just a good feeling for yourself.
Feel free to disagree and leave comments as to why :)
Now you could say, why Sara, you're living in St. Lucia and working on tax payers dollers, how can you even say this? We're paying for you to be there. Notice, I did not say long term missions. I said short term. I'm here long term. One of Peace Corps Policies is that they don't place a volunteer in a place that a local could be employed in. If I wasn't here, no one would be assigned and getting paid to be doing the work I am doing.
The longer I am here the more I think it is important to understand the culture you are in. If you do go on a missions trip and preaching, ask the missionary or a local to go through your sermon with you to make sure it is sensitive to the culture you are going into. That it is applicable to that culture. Learn as much as you can about the culture you're going into.
I live in one of the poorest villages in the country. I've seen people here jump at the chance to work (there has been a lot of construction going on the last few days and people have been working hard). So, examine the reasons you're going on this trip. Would the money be better spent hiring local people? What are you going to do? Is it taking a job away from a local? Running camps is a great thing because what I find most is that we need voluntary manpower for activities for the kids.
All in all, just make sure you're doing more good than harm, building the community (both the one you're going into and the community of believers), and not just a good feeling for yourself.
Feel free to disagree and leave comments as to why :)
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
What I'm still getting used to...
So living in a new country (or any new place) there are certain things that you have to get used to. While some things I've pretty much gotten used to and don't really phase me anymore, there are still quite a few things that still throw me off. Here are a few of them:
1. NEMO (I don't know who they are) can shut down the whole country. Ok, so we've been having storms these last couple of days and today NEMO shut everything down. No one is going to work or doing anything (I basically feel like I'm grounded!). I'm used to the county being shut down, but a whole country still blows my mind!
2. Van can mean van or it can mean a pick up truck. A pick up can also be called a flat van. It is NEVER called a truck, a pick up, or any combo of the two!
3. A nylon is a plastic bag. This is one I'm getting used to, but at times I still have to think twice about it!
4. Pyrited movies are ok. (I'm not saying that they are morally ok and to go ahead and make all the copies you want, I'm making a statement about the culture here.) Not only are they sold everywhere, but they are also shown on tv.
5. Soup is not a winter food! Well there is no winter, and we eat soup/one pots all the time.
6. Along the same lines, hot chocolate is not for after you've played in the snow. You can drink it anytime!
7. You watch storms coming for days. For the storm system that just came through/is still coming through, we started getting warnings about it and watching it on Friday/Saturday. Part of this is because I'm in Peace Corps and they are concerned about our safety, but I also got texts from my phone company about the storm coming.
8. The water can get shut off. I'm used to the electricity going occasionally, but the water? I'm still trying to figure out when it's going to get taken and when I can expect it to stay. I just determined to always save water :) I'm actually lucky at my site and have water a lot more than some of the other volunteers!
So this is what I'm still working on getting used to right now. I love it here and don't mind changing/adapting some of my wording/behaviors to live in this awesome new culture!
1. NEMO (I don't know who they are) can shut down the whole country. Ok, so we've been having storms these last couple of days and today NEMO shut everything down. No one is going to work or doing anything (I basically feel like I'm grounded!). I'm used to the county being shut down, but a whole country still blows my mind!
2. Van can mean van or it can mean a pick up truck. A pick up can also be called a flat van. It is NEVER called a truck, a pick up, or any combo of the two!
3. A nylon is a plastic bag. This is one I'm getting used to, but at times I still have to think twice about it!
4. Pyrited movies are ok. (I'm not saying that they are morally ok and to go ahead and make all the copies you want, I'm making a statement about the culture here.) Not only are they sold everywhere, but they are also shown on tv.
5. Soup is not a winter food! Well there is no winter, and we eat soup/one pots all the time.
6. Along the same lines, hot chocolate is not for after you've played in the snow. You can drink it anytime!
7. You watch storms coming for days. For the storm system that just came through/is still coming through, we started getting warnings about it and watching it on Friday/Saturday. Part of this is because I'm in Peace Corps and they are concerned about our safety, but I also got texts from my phone company about the storm coming.
8. The water can get shut off. I'm used to the electricity going occasionally, but the water? I'm still trying to figure out when it's going to get taken and when I can expect it to stay. I just determined to always save water :) I'm actually lucky at my site and have water a lot more than some of the other volunteers!
So this is what I'm still working on getting used to right now. I love it here and don't mind changing/adapting some of my wording/behaviors to live in this awesome new culture!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Carnival!
Here is a video of one of the bands that came through!
Pigeon Island
Girl Guides Bake Sale!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
My how life has changed!
Before I get into how my life has changed I just want to give a shout out to Kelly Carr. Thanks for you comments! My blog is being crazy and not letting me post replies, so just know that I'm reading them and enjoy hearing from you. I also got an Echo church post card from Beth this week! Made my day on Friday!
One thing that I never owned or used in the US (as far as I can remember) is a grater. Now I have no clue what I would do without it. I sometimes even consider buying a second one because mine always needs washed. What do I use it for now that I didn't need it for before, you might ask. Well, first of all cheese. As my mom can tell you I love cheese! Grated cheese is so expensive (I've even stopped buying sliced cheese) so I use my grater for that. I grate garlic, tumeric (didn't even know what that was before I came here), carrots, and even green bananas (aka green figs- for veggie burgers). But my favorite thing to use the grater for is to make "local juice"! Today I grated sour five finngers (better known as "star fruit" in the states) and made juice with that! I've grated magoes for juice (and taken an allergy pill with it, but oh so good!) as well. How my kitchen life has changed.
When I would go shopping in the states I knew in general what good prices were for things (and if I didn't know I just called Mom!). I also knew what products were supposed to look like and could tell if they weren't good. Not so here. For the most part, people are great about helping me with the things I don't know. I feel like I can ask anyone in my village and even random people all over for help. Asking for help is something that I've had to learn. I like to know things and be seen as competent. Oh, how my life has changed.
I can look at my life in so many different aspects and see how it has changed. When did I ever thing I would actually want to learn a second language? When did I ever think I would be look at as a computer expert (oh I'm not even close!)? When did I think that I would some days struggle to even understand english? Or to remember what a band-aide is called (it's a plaster) or what nail polish is (it's cutex), and is it called a pier or jetty (oh it's a jetty, call it a pier no one will understand)? And when did I think that I would use the spanish I learned in high school to figure out what day and time something is on tv (some of the stations have all of the commercials in spanish)?
Oh yes, how life has changed and how I love it!
One thing that I never owned or used in the US (as far as I can remember) is a grater. Now I have no clue what I would do without it. I sometimes even consider buying a second one because mine always needs washed. What do I use it for now that I didn't need it for before, you might ask. Well, first of all cheese. As my mom can tell you I love cheese! Grated cheese is so expensive (I've even stopped buying sliced cheese) so I use my grater for that. I grate garlic, tumeric (didn't even know what that was before I came here), carrots, and even green bananas (aka green figs- for veggie burgers). But my favorite thing to use the grater for is to make "local juice"! Today I grated sour five finngers (better known as "star fruit" in the states) and made juice with that! I've grated magoes for juice (and taken an allergy pill with it, but oh so good!) as well. How my kitchen life has changed.
When I would go shopping in the states I knew in general what good prices were for things (and if I didn't know I just called Mom!). I also knew what products were supposed to look like and could tell if they weren't good. Not so here. For the most part, people are great about helping me with the things I don't know. I feel like I can ask anyone in my village and even random people all over for help. Asking for help is something that I've had to learn. I like to know things and be seen as competent. Oh, how my life has changed.
I can look at my life in so many different aspects and see how it has changed. When did I ever thing I would actually want to learn a second language? When did I ever think I would be look at as a computer expert (oh I'm not even close!)? When did I think that I would some days struggle to even understand english? Or to remember what a band-aide is called (it's a plaster) or what nail polish is (it's cutex), and is it called a pier or jetty (oh it's a jetty, call it a pier no one will understand)? And when did I think that I would use the spanish I learned in high school to figure out what day and time something is on tv (some of the stations have all of the commercials in spanish)?
Oh yes, how life has changed and how I love it!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
They're hungry, will you feed them?
Yesterday at lunch I put some new books on the shelves that we got from the Ministry/District Education office. They were some easy reading books that look really neat. I wasn't sure if I should put them out or let the teachers use them for class (because they came with reading guides and notes). Well, the kids saw them and there was no turning back! Since yesterday at noon all the books have been checked out at least once (one of the kids even checked out one of the books that had the questions and reading guide in it and checked the book that went along with it). I've seen kids (boys!) in the library checking out books who hadn't set foot in there before. They're hungry for good books to read! Literacy is a huge issue in the Caribbean and in St. Lucia. These kids are taking ownership of their library (and becoming library assistants to help others check out books). They've asked for the library to be open at least one day a week this summer. Having books available that the kids want to read will help improve their reading ablility. Will you help "feed" by children? Check out how you can help. http://www.handsacrossthesea.net/HandsWishLists.htm I'm the first school listed in St. Lucia.
Monday, June 6, 2011
So busy, yet going no where
Some days I feel like I have so much to do. I have my to do lists, several of them, and my plans, and yet I'm either at the wrong place to work on them, don't have the material, there isn't sufficient time, or I just don't want to start something new with so many other things going on! My calendar is always full of work, I keep busy with friends, church, Girl Guides, and other commitments that I just sometimes get overwhelmed and shut down for a little bit. My roommate and I in college would, at times, shut ourselves in our room and just watch movies and read. I feel like I need one of those weekends, but it's no where in sight. I never realized how much time cooking, cleaning, doing dishes, and laundry took! Now that I'm having to fit all that into my schedule, makes for some crazy times. Props to moms who do all this and more!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Time Flys
I cannot belive that it's already June. This month comes in several ways. The end of reading month. The beginning of hurricane season. The start of my 5th month here. The beginning of Carnival season. The real beginning of girl guides and the start of activities. Settling down in the library and getting the library assistants going. Trying to get this computer lab all up and running.
This job stretches me more than I imagined it would. I love it more than I thought I would. I'm busier than I thought I would be. Time is going faster. Life is different, harder, but I love everyday of it! I'm starting to pick up Kweyol words! Learning has become a way of life. I've gotten thicker skin. Things that used to bother me don't anymore. Oh, and I'm getting better at pool even though I still suck at it!! But life is good, and I can only see it getting better!
This job stretches me more than I imagined it would. I love it more than I thought I would. I'm busier than I thought I would be. Time is going faster. Life is different, harder, but I love everyday of it! I'm starting to pick up Kweyol words! Learning has become a way of life. I've gotten thicker skin. Things that used to bother me don't anymore. Oh, and I'm getting better at pool even though I still suck at it!! But life is good, and I can only see it getting better!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Reading Month
So the students are really enjoying getting to check out books from the school "library" that you saw in the last post. They are going through these books like crazy! My only issue is I don't know their reading levels. One 5th grader "read" through a book in a day, filled out the form for the reading competition, and brought it back for a new one. I told him to get a harder book and helped him pick one out. A teacher who came in when he was leaving informed me that he can't read. She had him last year. So we're working on figuring that out too!
So it really disturbs me when guys old enough to be my father hit on me (and then tell me age is nothing). If you were dating when I was born, please look at me as your daughter and not a potential date!! It's hard enough getting the guys my age to speak to me with respect and not expecting to sleep with me, let alone fighting the mentality of the whole village! I'm looking for friends, not a boyfriend. Check out this conversation I had with a couple of the guys in the village. T
So it really disturbs me when guys old enough to be my father hit on me (and then tell me age is nothing). If you were dating when I was born, please look at me as your daughter and not a potential date!! It's hard enough getting the guys my age to speak to me with respect and not expecting to sleep with me, let alone fighting the mentality of the whole village! I'm looking for friends, not a boyfriend. Check out this conversation I had with a couple of the guys in the village. T
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Reading/Library
These pictures are the room we want to move our library into.
The problem: Literacy is a real issue in the Eastern Caribbean and St. Lucia. I worked with a student when I was visiting organizations who was probably 16 and couldn't tell the difference between the word he and she. Reading effects not only how well they do in school, but in St. Lucia you test into your high school. If you can't read, you don't do well on the test and don't get to go to a good school. This therefore continues to effect you in your profession and the rest of your life.
The plan: We want to move the "library" to this other room (which we are cleaning out) and make it into a resource room that our special education classes can also meet in for extra math and reading help. We want to promote a love of reading and raise the reading levels of the students. We will do this by having various activities (we're celebrating reading month right now) and hopfully forming reading clubs, additional help sessions for students struggling, forming a library club so the students are taking care of the library and promoting reading on a daily basis.
How you can help: I'm working with an organization called Hands Across the Sea http://www.handsacrossthesea.net/ They're going to help us get more books (we have one bookcase of fiction books for 190 students) that are geared for our students and we're hoping they help us with shelves too! So you can help by partnering with Hands Across the Sea. They buy used books (and new ones too) that are in used condition and ship them down to us. I've even found out that you can earmark money for our project! If you have old books gently used books that are age appropriate for 3-6 grade and would like to ship them to Hands Across the Sea you can do that as well. (Consider even donating the price that your favorite book costs.)
In the end: Reading is important to life. These kids are hungry for books and reading (I asked one student what he was doing over his break and one of the things he said was reading the book he checked out before break). But they're going to go through the books we have in no time at all.
 |
| I love to read! So when my school wanted me to help with the library and get it put together I was super excited. Then I saw the library... |
Yes these pictures are our current library.
These pictures are the room we want to move our library into.
Yes that's a class on the other side of those chalkboards. We're hoping to put up a plywood partition to make the library a second (actually a third because there's two more chalkboards father down and another class) room.
The plan: We want to move the "library" to this other room (which we are cleaning out) and make it into a resource room that our special education classes can also meet in for extra math and reading help. We want to promote a love of reading and raise the reading levels of the students. We will do this by having various activities (we're celebrating reading month right now) and hopfully forming reading clubs, additional help sessions for students struggling, forming a library club so the students are taking care of the library and promoting reading on a daily basis.
How you can help: I'm working with an organization called Hands Across the Sea http://www.handsacrossthesea.net/ They're going to help us get more books (we have one bookcase of fiction books for 190 students) that are geared for our students and we're hoping they help us with shelves too! So you can help by partnering with Hands Across the Sea. They buy used books (and new ones too) that are in used condition and ship them down to us. I've even found out that you can earmark money for our project! If you have
In the end: Reading is important to life. These kids are hungry for books and reading (I asked one student what he was doing over his break and one of the things he said was reading the book he checked out before break). But they're going to go through the books we have in no time at all.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Cricket and the waterfall!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4706nU4ukMc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dSUaBEbkEY
Here are two videos of the cricket game that I went to on Monday. It was West Indies vs. Pakistan. The first video, that dancing and horn went on for 3-4 hours!
I love this puctyre becayse you can kind of see the people on the other side of the score board who move the numbers!
The West Indies team! The captain is from St. Lucia!
Some of the fans for Pakistan. I love the green outfit!
Me at the waterfall.
A pineapple growing!
My favorite picture of the waterfall
Luther after he peeled the orange with his cutlass aka machete!
Splitting open the coconut. This one was bad so we didn't get to eat it, but we (ok I know nothing about coconuts, so he) found another one!
Just some pictures and videos that I thought you guys might enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dSUaBEbkEY
Here are two videos of the cricket game that I went to on Monday. It was West Indies vs. Pakistan. The first video, that dancing and horn went on for 3-4 hours!
Just some pictures and videos that I thought you guys might enjoy!
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