Written March 10th, 2010

I haven’t written a serious blog sense July 2009! Let me summarize what has happened since last July. I am sure there is much detail left out but Ill do my best while being brief.

I visited home for the first time in July. Visiting home revitalized me. I spent my time with the people I care most about. To be honest with you, over the past two years the appreciation I have for my family has grown. I think more about how nice it is to live close to home, even if home life has its occasional drama. Before I left for St. Lucia I was determined that when I return to the states I would live at home for the holidays then, make my way out to California and settle myself there. However, the longer home is not readily accessible the more I just feel like moving back to Austin; home being only a 3 hour drive away. On many an occasion while living in St. Lucia, how I would have killed to retreat home, just for the weekend.

I came back to Lucia feeling grounded and more myself. I had been in a pretty big rut. I came back with the renewed understanding that it is important to be who you are regardless of the culture you are in. When you move to a new country with a different culture from your own adaption is essential to your wellbeing. This adaption process, for most, happens naturally, and it need not be over analyzed. I have spoken with several volunteers about this adaption process and its relevance to maintaining ones identity. When you are in Peace Corps, there is an overemphasis on adaption. They tell to observe the way people dress, eat, think, act, etc. you can begin to feel like the more you adapt, the more you lose who your know yourself to be. After all, you are actually changing certain pieces of yourself. For example, its not common place in St. Lucia for men and women to be platonic friends, so maybe you decide to be less friendly with men, and this just doesn’t feel right to you. Perhaps you are used to going out in jeans in a t-shirt, but all the young women are dressed very sexy so you feel you need to ‘adapt’ and mimic the styles, and behaviors of the people around you. You get caught between staying true to yourself, and ‘adapting’. It really is a fine line. After being here for two years, I say that most people adapt naturally and there is no need to over emphasize or force the adaption. Be culturally sensitive but stay true to who you are. When I went home last July I realized how important that is. I have found that there are many things I do or ways I act here that are taboo or just different from the way locals live, and I think that is ok.

There have been a few complications with my work here. Actually, who am I kidding, it’s been frustrating and difficult nearly every single day. Creating a successful, sustainable program that produces results is not easy as it is; now try doing it in a place where people have different priorities, work-ethics, and management styles. Nevertheless, I have made WhyTry a success, or course, not with out the help of my community partners.

The first thing that happened is I revised my original proposal to include funding for a week long training of 80 – 100 secondary school counselors, teachers, and community youth workers. In mid march of this year all school counselors will be (and now have been) trained and certified in facilitating the WhyTry Program. The training is necessary to help create sustainability. I have been quite luck actually and have a lot to be thankful for. Not only did JQ Charles Group of Companies agree to extend our funding to $10,686 USD with a promise for further funding, but Why Try has agreed to do the training for a fraction of the usual costs. The week long training is marketed at $15,000 in the states for a group of 100 and they have agreed to do the training for $2,500 + travel and accommodations for the trainer! It truly is a blessing.

We started the pilot of 4 schools in district 2 in January and we are now half way through the pilot. The counselors from my initial 2 schools are practically running the program all on their own now and have really taken ownership of the groups. Currently we have 96 students in the program between the 4 schools.

Also, the Ministry of Education put in a request for a new volunteer to come in to replace me for when I have to leave in October. JQ Charles has stated that they only feel comfortable funding the project further if Peace Corps is involved. This would make certain that there is a volunteer championing the project and ensuring its continuation as her primary work task. Washington granted the request and Elizabeth arrived in February and is currently going through Peace Corps training. If she decides that she likes the project and makes it her primary project, I will be returning home in October. There is a chance of me extending my stay if things don’t work out for her for some reason, or if it seems that the expansion into more districts will require the support of two volunteers. If all goes as planned, we will hopefully be getting 10 more schools their materials next year and the last 10 schools the year after.

I will begin writing the new proposal soon. I created measures to track the success of the program but I will be revising these, as J, the president of Why Try In who came down to conduct the training, has sent me some very valuable tracking measures. That is where the program is now.

We also had a huge media launch for the program at the beginning of the current school term. I gotta say, it was really neat and I felt so honored that the work I am doing here was becoming so big. I gave a speech to the principals, vice principals, counselors, JQ Charles CEO and business managers, Peace Corps staff, and Ministry of Education officers. I was also interviewed by one of the national media networks and got to see myself on national television that evening. All very nerve racking, very cool, and very useful to my professional development. Since then I have been interviewed at the why try training and got to be in the paper and news again. Eek!

Finally, I was also involved in the planning and implementation of our first Peace Corps Expo in St. Lucia. We got the idea from the JOCV Japanese Volunteers who had a JOCV Expo. At their expo they introduced the public to what JOCV does and Japanese culture. We had a day long Expo from 10 – 4 where we set up different activities that reflect the work we do here as volunteers. We also had cultural displays, food, and games. The expo was held the first weekend of March and was a huge success. I would say that nearly 1000 people flowed in and out throughout the day. My main station was creating compliment boxes with kids in the youth development/life-skills corner. We also had chess, disability awareness, trivia, US map with our locations, face painting, an information corner, and a steel pan performance by us volunteers that are learning to play the steel pan. We even did the chicken dance. It was an enjoyable day.

Okay this has gotten too long, and I will add some of my journal entries from between then and now a little later.

Alright everyone. It has been soooo long!!! I will putting a new post soon. I have a lot of updating to do. I am working on something to put up in the near future. Stay tuned!

Last month Haley and I partnered with the US Navy to complete a community outreach project. The Navy was in Castries Harbor to deliver various goods, and they contacted Peace Corps. It was decided that they would spend a day with about 15 boys from the Boys Training Center, a residential center for boys that have committed crimes in the community and are too young to incarcerate and for boys that have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect.

Each boy was paired with a Sailor who gave them a tour of their ship, The USS Oak HIll (LSD 51) while speaking with them about discipline and the importance of having goals for your future. The boys then ate lunch on the ship before boys and sailors returned to the Boys Training Center for a football (soccer) match.

Needless to say, the boys had a good time beating the Navy guys in football!

I was very happy with how the day turned out. These boys tend to lack positive male role models, especially ones that will take the time to spend a day just with them. You could tell it was a day they will remember for the rest of their life.

I also found it very fulfilling to work with the Navy, the captain and chaplain of the ship were nearly begging for more community outreach opportunities and plan to contact Peace Corps in any future visits to the island. It was very refreshing to see them excited to be involved and thankful for the opportunity to do a little bit of humanitarian work. It made me proud to say that I have had a cousin serve in the US Navy. Below is a post from an editorial on the US Navy's website.

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=46307

Oak Hill Sailors Complete Community Outreach in St. Lucia

Story Number: NNS090619-12

Release Date: 6/19/2009 5:07:00 PM

From USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) Southern Partnership Station 2009 Public Affairs

USS OAK HILL, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) recently completed its first port visit in Castries, St. Lucia, since departing for its three-month Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2009 deployment.

More than 300 Sailors and Marines, as well as several foreign liaison naval officers (LNOs) from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, made an impact on the island by participating in community relations (COMREL) and Project Handclasp projects.

As part of Project Handclasp, the crew delivered 37 pallets of sanitary and medical supplies, textbooks and toys to local medical agencies, schools and orphanages.

Oak Hill Chaplain Lt. Robert Bailey said, "It was a chance to give back to the local community and show the true Navy spirit."

"Projects like this display that the Navy is about partnership and friendship," said Bailey. "Whenever we have the opportunity to help others, it gives them a more personal representation of what the Navy is and not what the media tells them."

The crew also had the opportunity to spend time with and mentor approximately 15 boys from the Boys Training Center under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security in Massade, Gros Islet. The crew welcomed the boys aboard for a ship's tour and lunch, then joined the boys back at the center for a game of soccer.

"The COMREL went extremely well," added Bailey. "Having the opportunity to meet with the children, we were able to show them that they can make a change in their lives."

"Wherever the Navy goes, we are American ambassadors," said Capt. Brad Williamson, the commander of the SPS 2009 mission. "Whether we are participating in Project Handclasp or community relations projects, we are not just representing the Navy but everyone back home as well."

Oak Hill is participating in the combined multinational naval and amphibious operational exercise with maritime forces from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay.

Oak Hill is also supporting the multinational amphibious exercise known as Southern Exchange 2009.

I am coming home to visit from July 22nd to August 8th, WOOHOO!!! I am counting down the days already. I can't wait to see everyone. Austin buddies, I have not forgotten you July 30th - August 3rd!!! Get ready for some Barton Springs!!! I would says, lets go to Campbell's Hole, but I here the rivers are pretty dried up this year. I miss you guys!

I have 'unofficially, received funding for a project I am working on here in excess of $6000 USD!!! AND, this is just the beginning. The company, JQ Charles also says they are interested in providing financial support to roll out the Why Try Program in all secondary schools ISLAND WIDE!! GOIN NATIONAL BABY!!! Now, the first phase is our pilot of the program in all District II schools; that's 4 schools. This will be during the 2009 - 2010 school year. After I complete a project analysis and submit my report to them, they will decided if they are going to, 'officially', provide support to the remaining secondary schools across the nation!!! Pretty cool, huh?

You might be wondering about when my Peace Corps service will end then. Well, if all goes as planned and nothing changes (which who knows how likely that is) I may apply to extend my service for the sustainability of the project.

Monday was a Holiday in St. Lucia and some of the other volunteers and I went to the Senior Games. They had everything from 100 meter dashes (more like 100 meter trots) to 1,500 meter speed walk (which lasted 20 minutes) to cane racing. Yes, I said it... CANE RACES!!! I swear the guy that one this race wasn't a real cane user! He was totally faking it! I half expected him to twirl his cane around as he walked upright over the finish line. We had a volunteer, Diane participate in the Senior Races, too. She placed in the top 5. GO DIANE!!

Anyway, we carried on Andy and Eric's tradition from last year and placed quarter bets on who would win, who would loose, and who wouldn't finish the race!! If you guest the looser and your looser couldn't make it over the finish line, your winning pot got doubled. I walked away up 15 quarters! Woohoo!! It was great fun; an event I will definitely be attending next year. I have pictures of the stadium and everything in my slide show. Check it out!

Also, I trust I don’t have to explain why I posted this… silly… cheer leading video. Just watch it… Need I say more? ;-) OKAY, i couldn't get the video to load... will update later

I went turtle watching two times, only a day apart, last month. This is a picture of me with a Leatherback Turtle. This particular turtle's shell measured about 5 feet 2 inches long! They were marvelous to see. I got to see 4 turtles over the course of two nights. The first night we saw only one turtle and that wasn't until about 4am. We walked up and down the longest Beach in St. Lucia for hours before stumbling upon the turtle in the middle of laying her eggs. The second night we saw 3 turtles, all between 9 and 10pm! You just never know when they will come up to lay. From March to the end of April, 100s of mama turtles come to lay their eggs in the sand. They dig a hole about 3 feet deep and lay approximately 100 eggs or so. Of those 100, anywhere from 1/4 - 3/4 will be fertile eggs. Another fun fact is that these turtles swim back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean, but they always lay their eggs on the exact same beach from which they were born! I thought that was kinda cool. Anyway, you can check out more pictures in my slide show, but we slept on the beach and the next morning we made bakes. Bakes are these yummy fried biscuts that taste great with slat fish inside. Anyway, I plan to go back to Grand Anse Beach soon to see the turtles hatching. They hatch in the months of May and June.

I just wanted to tell everyone I miss you and can't wait to see you when I visit in July!!!!

I cant wait to tell you all about the work I have been doing here, the beach, hiking, turtle watching, steel pan, and of course the guy I have been dating for the past 5 months. That is pretty much my life here in St. Lucia; Peace Corps work, beachin' it, hiking, Steel Pan lessons, boyfriend, and the general hangin' out!

Oh and by the way. I went with Lloyd the other day to visit his brother. He has this huge cashew nut tree by his house and they decided to roast some cashews. I had heard previous horror stories from volunteers already about eating cashews in st. lucia. The general consensus is "Don't eat the freshly roasted cashews, you will get a rash from the oils." Now not only is the cashew nut my favorite nut (next to the pistachio of course) but the boys also had their doubts about this 'mystery rash.' They were absolutely certain that you only get this rash if you eat the cashew if they are not roasted completely, because then all the oils dont come off the nut.

What do I have today... A cashew nut rash on my wrist. BOO!

However, I must say, the cashews were really yummy. It was definitely worth the mild irritation!

LOVE!

From April 27th, 2009

This is a journal entry that I meant to include in my blog about a month ago.

Today the teachers Union has another meeting with the Ministry. We will know shortly if the strike will continue. If it continues all public school children will be out of school for an indefinite period of time (until the Ministry agrees to increase the teachers salary by 7.5%).

Luckily for me and our kids, my IPP at Compre is a Seventh Day Adventist Church member. SDA members are usually discouraged from participating in strikes or any other potentially volatile political action. This includes any political action that involves slander or smear tactics; that is not to say that this dispute involves any such misconduct. In fact, the only details I really know are: a. The Ministry promised to increase the teachers’ salary by 7.5% during the strike that occurred last year; and b. Teachers did not receive their increase, as promised. Nonetheless, my community partner, although she is permitted to be part of this particular union, will still be attending school. Thankfully, this allows us to still work on the many things we set out to complete this term.

At the beginning of the term, the counselor at Compre and I created a schedule for the final term through to September when school starts again. We plan to design and facilitate a Peer Mentoring Workshop in order to train and prepare the 20 new Castries Comprehensive Peer Mentors. Peer Mentors assist new students in their adjustment to the school, especially Form 1 students, educate their peers on healthy life style choices, and are expected to be role models that provide mentoring and counsel to fellow peers.

We are also organizing a workshop for the new Prefects. Prefects are well behaved students that are selected for the purpose of managing a classroom when a teacher is absent. The Ministry of Education does not have substitute teachers on staff in the same way we do in the States. Instead, a student Prefect takes charge of the class. Their workshop will focus on school rules, class room management and conflict resolution. Then, of course, we are continuing the “Why Try?” Program. Why Try is a program that works with at-risk students to help them attain unlearned social skills necessary for positive growth and achievement. It was developed by Social Workers in the States, WooHoo!

Currently, Castries Comprehensive and Sir Ira Simmons have a total of 27 ‘at-risk’ students that are regularly attending “Why Try?” groups every week. Securing funding for additional groups for the 2009 – 2010 school year has also been in the works. I completed a rough draft of a proposal in February, and the District II counselor is still preparing the final product, which will then be sent to two different funding sources. The hope is to run a ‘formal pilot’ of the program in each of the four District II schools. Positive results will then be used to secure funding for the implementation of “Why Try?” island-wide. Even though the program has been running in Vaux Fort, the success of the program has not been empirically measured. I measured the students’ base-line level at Compre and Sir Ira but the program has not been run in a methodical way, neither under optimal conditions; obtaining all the necessary materials has been a challenge.

We will be measuring the success by collecting and analyzing the following data:

- group member, parent, and teacher surveys will help us to establish a base

line and monitor changes of particular behaviors, characteristics and basic

social functioning.

- Changes in attendance, suspension, detention, and drop-out rates

- Grades and CXC pass rates

- Observed progress in group

Additionally, some people have been asking me “What makes at kid at-risk?” In general, many different factors can put a child ‘at-risk’ in life. However, the term always needs to be considered within the context of which you are working. For example, children born in poverty are considered at-risk because they are less likely to receive a quality education, they may get involved with drugs or crime due to the different stressors of poverty, and they are more likely to be malnourished and/or go untreated for different health problems. That is just listing a few. For the purposes of “Why Try?” at-risk school children are those children that are at-risk for not completing school successfully. Since we are wanting to make the pilot as empirical as possible we will need to be specific in defining how we intend to identify at-risk children. For our use, a child is considered to be at-risk if they meet 1 or more of the following criteria:

- Poor grades in over half of the students subjects

- Having ever been suspended from school

- Poor school attendance or truancy

- Low self-esteem, as determined by teacher and counselor

- Having more than 1 school detention

- More than 1 referral to the principal’s office

- Inability to concentrate or follow instruction in the classroom, as

determined by teacher

- Scores low on social-skills survey

- Cannot identify at-least 3 adults that are supportive of them

Hey All!

I just wanted to pop in with a breif update. Things are going well in St. Lucia. I am in the middle of conducting an 8 week HIV/AIDS workshop for a mens youth group. It is going really well, and we have had a good turn out. In the last two weeks of the workshop I will be helping them to develop a community action plan for a project about health wellness and HIV/AIDS prevention.

I have also been facilitating moe Why Try groups - going well

Lastly, Jazz was all last week. I went to a couple of events, but my hope is to participate in the festivities more next year!

Anyway, back to school stuff.... more later

- oh yes and the strike is on hold until the end of the month

April 23rd, 2009

Term 3 of the 2008 – 2009 academic school year was due to start this past Monday. However, Monday morning I noticed an inordinate amount of un-uniformed kids running around in the ‘yard’. Usually by about 7:30 AM kids speckle the roadside in their various school uniforms. For a moment I was confused by the scene; it was the first day back from a two week break, and I was wondering why any matters were not dealt with during the scheduled break. My confusion faded as I began to find out what was going on. Parents in the community were mentioning something about the teachers union going on strike! I was told that school would resume Wednesday. I had no real way of confirming this information though, as I have no internet or TV and my phone was lost on the beach 2 weeks ago. When I arrived at school Wednesday I heard the details. Apparently the Teachers Union was given notice last Tuesday that they would not be receiving the 7.5% salary increase that was promised to them by the Ministry. They held a meeting on Monday and vowed to strike on Thursday for 3 working days if their adjusted salaries were not in the bank by Thursday morning. They did have school on Tuesday, though the attendance was low, as will be for the rest of the week. No student wants to pay bus fare for no reason.

Today the increase did not show up in the banks and no teachers went to school. I still went to the school, where I found out even more information. People were talking about the Prime Ministers announcement that the government does not have the funds for the raise. The Union plans to meet again with the ministry on Monday and continue the strike if no agreement is made. I heard that teachers went on strike for over a month once and they are prepared to strike again!

This is the second occurrence of teachers striking since I have been in St. Lucia. I have also witnessed a strike by the gasoline dealers. Everything slows down when this happens. I just feel bad for the students. Many students are in the middle of major examinations at this time and the strike risks appropriate preparation for them.

Friday April 14th, 2009

What is Paradise? For me and many others it seems that paradise is being in the authenticity of nature, experiencing nature in its most beautiful form; untouched, unmodified, land unturned by humans. This is why many people escape to the tropics; to experience the pureness of nature. Even the brutality between different species in paradise seems simply perfect. But didn’t man evolve from the earth? Evolve. The work implies that there are levels higher than the last. How are humans of a higher level when all that we create is seen as a destruction of nature? Of that which seems most pure? Of that which we want to escape to in order to experience a little bit of paradise.

Are we not of this earth as well? How is it that we continue to destroy what is most precious to us? We even do it without second thought most of the time. We do it almost compulsively. It’s in our nature to drive ourselves further and further from paradise. Ironic, isn’t it?

Monday March 30th

Yesterday Haley, Embert, Lloyd, Sam and I hiked through the bush from MOnchy to Labonn. We stopped at Lloyd’s grandfathers house. Lloyd lived there for about 9 years when he was growing up. His grandfather is about 72 and in excellent shape. He was a fisherman that retired only a couple of years ago. While we were stopped his cousin serves us some chilled rain water as a refreshment. From Labonn we hiked down to a beach called Dophin beach. The beach is on the east side of the island. From the beach not one person or house could be seen in all directions. We limed on the beach for some time and I learned how to skip rocks on the ocean waves. Embert and Lloyd went exploring and returned with a gigantic tortes shell! The shell was at least 2 feet in length! We took pictures with the shell and decided that the sound of a turtle is Mahhh… none of us had ever heard a turtle before…

After the crew convinced me that “NO” I would not succeed in getting the shell through customs we proceeded to hike on a small trial to the Sashe River. We stopped againby a small, but lovely, 7 ft. waterfall on the river. The waterfall poured into a 12 ft. deep swimming hole. The river was just as secluded and private as the beach. On our way to the bathing spot we had to follow the river up stream a bit. Lloyd had stories of how kids from the local village used to wash clothes and take bathes at the river. You could still see soap stains on the rocks, Lloyd said it was looking like somebody still comes to wash there.

At the swim hole we sand some songs, gave thanks for our blessings, and dove into the pool off the rocks. Just when dusk was arriving and the mosquitoes started biting, Embert made a small smoke fire out of coconut husk; he says it helps keep the mosquitoes away. Just before night fell upon us we hiked up to the road from the river; not an easy ascent. I can’t imagine climbing up just so with baskets of wet clothes! We passed a pig farm on the way home. It’s spring and all the piglets were funning about. We made our way into Monchy just as the sun disappeared over the horizon. It couldn’t have been a better day. The only thing… I fort my camera! Good thing Haley had hers!

March 26th, 2009

Pleading with the Lord

I’m Beaten and Bruised

Feel used up and abused

My minds so confused

Not giving up though, I refuse

Not hearin your words

Is this what I deserve

I’m weak and alone

Dear Jesus take me home

Waitin for a sign all the time

Something to tell me

Waitin for a sign all the time

God’s guidance to lead me

But it’s not always there

And I begin to fell life is unfair

Waitin for a sign all the time

Waitin for a sign all the time

I’m immobile, I’m still waitin

No action to take, must be something I’m missin

Dear Jesus lead me, I need your guidance

Hope’s my only lifeline, I’m still waitin

I will wait all my life

But understand this wait brings me pain

I need one of your signs

Just need some clarifying

Is this independence you give me

A sign of your trust and love

With your approval I’ll move forward

Trust my heart and trust me

Wednesday March 18th, 2009

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the blessings in my life lord

My dreams, goals and aspirations are for you lord

And even when I think that I’m not enough lord

You seem to life me up and show me I’m enough lord

Find Jah

Know thyself

And when you’re strong

Go find love

Dream big

Let your spirit lead

Don’t give up

You’ll have all you need

My house, my job, my man are blessings from you lord

Done somethin right to deserve this from you lord

Must thank my mama for her guidance and words lord

Find Jah

Know thyself

And when you’re strong

You’ll find love

Dream big

Let your spirit lead

Don’t give up

You’ll have all you need

She Said

Don’t you cheat, don’t you lie, don’t be negative

Find good friend, set good goals, live with integrity

Most of all dear, fill your life with positivity

Find Jah

Know thyself

And when you’re strong

You’ll find love

Dream big

Let your spirit lead

Don’t give up

You’ll have all you need

My friends, my car, my life are sent to me by you lord

Done something right to deserve this from you lord

Thank you for my mama, I’m so blessed lord

Find Jah

Know thyself

And when you’re strong

Go find love

Dream big

Let your spirit lead

Don’t give up

You’ll have all you need

Mama Said

Don’t you cheat, don’t you lie, don’t be negative

Find good friends, set good goals, live with integrity

Most of all dear, fill your life with positivity

God Bless

March 26th, 2009

Your Life

Life ain’t an easy break

There are those that have opportunity to take

Then there are those that hit the wall

Everyday they take a fall

But God gives us what we need

and never more, so take heed

Discover what it is that sets you free

Gives your mind and heart a life of ease

The tricks that life’s never as it seems

One minute your on da right track

But wake up the next day to see

You’re on a different train than dat

People hurt people along the way in life

They just searchin for happiness in life

You’ve gotta observe your affect on others in life

And don’t let da people abuse or use you in life

Your life is you life

Be humble with your life

Follow your dreams

And set your sail free in life

Life ain’t an easy break

Older I get, harder it is to hear my spirit

What I think and feel is sometimes wrong

And I’m left with no certainty in nothin at all

Tuesday March 17th, 2009

The closer it gets to moving time, the more excited I get about moving. I am happy to move to a place that is more private and closer to my work.

I am starting to consider that St. Lucia might very well become another home to me. It really is possible to have all I dreamed of. To have a home in the states and a home under the Caribbean sun would be wonderful. There are many opportunities for work here for a Social Worker. I could teach at the college, assist at the mental health hospital, promote healthy relationships, etc. I only wonder what job I could have that would enable my travel back and forth between St. Lucia and the states.

I could buy property and rent it in the states and live in the Caribbean or visa versa.

I could build a vacation home near the coast in St. Lucia

This is all just speculation.

March 15th, 2009

Haley, another Peace Corps Volunteer has taken the lead in putting together a committee to design a Peace Corps Expo. We had our first committee meeting yesterday to brainstorm ideas for the expo. The idea is to hold the expo in Castries in a high traffic area. We want to introduce people to what Peace Corps is, what our goals are, what the volunteers do, past and present sustainable projects, and have a cross cultural experience.

Wednesday March 11th, 2008

The impoverished areas of St. Lucia are largely unseen by both tourist and a large majority of middle – upper class Lucians. Those that live in better homes have better access to good roads, buses, and shops. Sometimes the poverty stricken ghettos are only one or two blocks away down a beaten path that a car can hardly pass through. Unless you live in, grew up in, or know someone who lives in these areas, you can spend your whole life with no reason to ever explore those rugged paths. Well off individuals that have access and can afford water and/or electricity often times don’t even realize there are people living just a stone throw away that don’t have running water and use out houses. Recently, I spoke with a local St. Lucian that was astonished when I told her that some St. Lucian’s still use pit toilets and can’t afford electricity; she could hardly believe me. Furthermore, a volunteer recently reported to me that one of her community partners made the comment, “everyone has at lease one computer in their homes these days.” The reality is, only about 10% of the islands households have computers. This is how hidden the poverty in St. Lucia can be.

Tuesday March 12th, 2009

My Why Try? Groups are running more smoothly this week. Sometimes all these kids need is someone that will relate to their potential, relentlessly. To many times teachers, parents, and other adults only see the troublesome side of adolescents. They need an adult that wont give-up on them, just the same way we try to tell them to never give-up on life.

I must tell you, I think a large portion of their respect is greatly related to how I dealt with a situation that occurred 2 weeks ago. In the middle of session 2 of the girls commented back and forth about how they have white people. This was my first experience in St. Lucia of blatant racism. When the comments came I was stunned. I was so upset that I couldn’t even process the comments and just brushed over them as if they didn’t even occur. Later that day we called the two students to the office to address the comments. Strangely enough, both students were surprised to hear I was upset by the comments. At first, I attempted to put them in my shoes by asking them how it would make them feel if I said “I hate black people.” Both students were confident that it wouldn’t matter to them. Dormillia, my community counterpart had to help me understand that most St. Lucians have never experienced racism and because St. Lucia is a black nation, such remarks against black people have little power and are not seen as a threat.

I spoke with the students about the climate of racism in America and how it is very offensive to make such comments. I talked to them about the dangers of lumping people together according to race and how that is the attitude that lead to enslavement of black people. The girls responded that they were not talking about me, but about “White white people.” I asked each of the girls if they have ever had a white friend or known a white person before. Both stated that they have never even had one conversation with a white person before me. They hear stories about white people and from that know that all white people only want to come to St. Lucia to take their money and kick the people on the street. Neither of the girls had ever directly experienced either. I told them that I do not support acts of hate against St. Lucians or any black people and encouraged them to try to make a judgments of people based more on their personal experience rather than the stories they hear from other people. I let them know that they are welcome to speak to me and ask me questions anytime they want.

Last week Dormillia and I spoke with the entire group about the comments that were made the previous week and let them know there is no tolerance for hateful comments in Why Try? Clearly, my response to the situation gained their respect.

Bonjou from St. Lucia everyone!

Things are going well here under the sunny skies of St. Lucia. I will give you an update as to the latest happenings.

First – I am moving from Babonneau to Marisul! After 4 months of living in a house that is part of a tire shop, has men around a lot, is continuous mosquito infestations from the mosquitoes breeding in the tires, always has water problems, and is never quiet I am finally relocating to a more comfortable location! Sad thing is…. Now I am a little attached to Babonneau! The little kids holler out “Ms. Ashley, Ms. Ashley” as I walk by sometimes; there are several projects in the Babonneau community that are of interest to me; and it just feels like home now. Of course I will miss my lovely sunset spot too! Since I am up in the hills, I get to see the sun rise and fall. There is a log at the edge of the field by my house and it has become my sunset spot on many occasions now.

On a positive note, my new place is not only walking distance from work, BUT the beach is only a 5 minute walk away as well!! Isn’t that super fantastic!

I will give you the pros and cons of my of leaving my current place

Pros:

Get out of tire shop

- smell

- men

- noise

- mosquitoes

more privacy at new place

will be near work

- save money on bus fare

- get more exercise

will be near beach

- get more exercise

will be on a main bus line

- easier to get home at night

- save money on bus fare

Can have a dog at new place

Cons:

Lose fruits on property

Lose microwave

Lose hot water

Lose TV

Not as convenient to work in Babonneau

From all of that, I chose to move.

Second Ting – I am still doing steel pan on Saturdays and hiking on Sundays. Last week I hiked a mountain called Piton Flore and this past Sunday we went snorkeling. I finally got to use the snorkel gear mommy and daddy sent, and it was GREAT! Now, you all know how curious I am about EVERYTHING, yeah? Well, during our first 7 weeks of Peace Corps training we had a whole session on “Things That Sting”. Of course, sea urchins were on that list. Sea Urchins are those cute prickly black things that grow between the coral rocks in the ocean. They look kinda like those prickly toy scrunch balls… yet pokeyer (don’t you just love making up new words?). Well, I made the crazy decision to pet, yes I say PET, a sea urchin while snorkeling this past Sunday. The first one I tried to pet was a little guy and I got a feel on him but nothing I was satisfied with. I found me a larger fella and swam down for a soft brush over his spines. “OUCH! HE BITES” The larger guy wasn’t so happy to have me messin’ with his arms and legs. So, a sea urchin sting hurts a bit, but it’s not gonna kill ya. One of my friends responses to the sting was, “I like that about you, you truly live” She said, “It’s like that saying, denying yourself any part of life through fear is not living.” For true, for ture!

Third Ting – My projects… My “Why Try?” Program is making much progress. I hope to have the funding proposal submitted by the end of the week. Junior Achievement with the younger kids is fantastic. They get so excited to see me; stickers really do go a long way! My HIV/AIDS project is progressing in Babonneau. For the ropes course thing, I hope to be work more on that in the near future.

I am really starting to settle into my work. Although there are days that are frustrating and I ask myself, “and why am I doing this for free,” most days are rewarding. I know that I am having an impact on the men, women, and children around me. Through working here in St. Lucia, I have realized though that the impact of the work I do back home as a social worker is no less valuable than the work I do here. All places have their struggles. People everywhere need support from others and assistance making it to the next level. It looks the same here and there, and people respond the same to the help here as they do there. We are one!

Fourth and Final Ting – This entry wouldn’t be complete without another random story right? The other night 4 of us were driving down the road when we spotted an opossum crossing the road. The driver slams on his break and my other friend is jumping out of the car before it’s even come to a complete stop. In one snatch, he grabs up the opossum by the end of its tail. I’m right on his heals because I had never seen an opossum up close before. Then as cars drive by my two Lucian friends start shouting things in Patois. It took me a moment to realize that they were trying to see the opossum! My friend, who is also an American girl, and I watched while laughing hysterically at the situation. I wish I had my camera on me. My friend took a couple of photos with her pocket camera. No one wanted to buy the opossum for $80 EC so the boys decide they are going to try and sell the little guy to the shop down the road. My friend gets in the car, arm hanging out the window, holding fast to the opossum. I couldn’t get over myself! It was the funniest sight, indeed! Nonetheless… the shop owner wasn’t in and some other guy ended up taking him with a promise to pay for him later.

2.24.09

This past weekend I met an interesting character. Meeting interesting people that have bizarre stories and adventures to share is all part of the fun of exploring a new nation. His name was Francisco, a tall gangly character with a scruffy chin and neck. His fingernails were dingy, his teeth revealed signs of chain smoking, and his hair seemed to be plastered with gel that hadn’t been washed our for several days… But, now that I think of it, his half spiked hair style must have been placed so by the natural oils that must have been accumulating on his scalp for weeks without washing. Even though his shorts were tattered and his vest faded he was chipper and jolly; clearly the rum flows freely on his ship. Anyway, he passed me as I was sitting eating a sandwich and asked if I would like to take a walk with him. I could tell immediately that this was an intriguing man, but honestly, I just accepted his offer because I wanted to bum a cigarette.

Turns out that Francisco is a sailor; I should have known, and somewhere between coffee and rum Francisco told me all about his live as a sailor. Briefly, he mentioned what he refers to as his ‘past life’. Before sailing the seas endlessly he was a professor of philosophy at a university in France. Six months ago he retired from his job, gave up all his possessions, family and friends and decided to start sailing. He bought a boat and has been sailing around the world for 6 months with no real plan on where to go next or for how long to stay. He only dreams of finding a sailor girl to join him on his adventure, find a cozy place on the sea shore to settle, build a house, fish and live out the rest of their days. Sounds romantic, huh?

Before St. Lucia, Francisco spent 2 months in different parts of Africa. He sounded like a character straight out of a story book; speaking about how mystical Africa was and how lovely and kind people are all over the world. His tales were incredibly marvelous. It’s incredible how some people are able to just take a risk and go anywhere their heart desires. After our chatter came to an end the sailor sipped down his last drop of rum and went back to the marina; I think he had a chess match to attend on one of the other ships.

2.19.09

Last week EC78 (the 78th PCV group to serve in the eastern Caribbean) had its first in-service training. This training is held two times over the course of our stay in St. Lucia. Anyhow, on our first day of IST our PC trainer had us share some of the cultural bloopers we as volunteers experienced during our first 6 months in St. Lucia. Some people shared experiences about getting on buses just after having a Lucian shower (getting caught in a torrential down pour without an umbrella) and having the driver curse under his breathe the whole way home; experiences of forgetting to open a meeting with a prayer; and stories of how accepting a crate of fruit from a male community member can make him think you are going to go to bed with him. There wasn’t much for me to contribute to the bloopers wall… until today, that is. In fact, my cultural blooper came with great consequence, and has lead to a doctor who has been seeing volunteers for 27 years no longer being willing to treat Peace Corps Volunteers!

Several months ago I went to see the doctor for the treatment of an ongoing headache I was having. It was my first doctor visit in St. Lucia, and a bizarre one, at that. First, the doctor asked me the details of my ailment; nothing out of the ordinary yet. Next, she proceeded to check my throat, eyes and nose; still nothing unusual. Things go a little strange when the doctor asked me to remove my shirt. With hesitation I did so, but I was very uncomfortable, and I was confused as to why she was asking me to do so. She pressed on my abdomen a little, then asked me to remove my bra, too. The request was met with no explanation as to why I should do so, I was given no cover, and it was obvious that she did not intend on leaving the room while I undressed. Naturally, I was shocked by the nature of her request, thus asked her to repeat herself, “You want me to remove my bra, too?,” I said with surprise in my voice. She confirmed, “Yes.” I feeling very uncomfortable with the request, as I had no understanding of why she was asking me to disrobe, so I asked her, “Why do you want me to remove my bra?” Clearly offended, she responded, “Well, I was just going to check your breast for you, but I don’t have to!” I told her “No, I don’t see that its necessary; I just have a headache!” I left the office that day feeling that the incident was mighty peculiar and I ran the scenario by one of my supervisors, whom is Lucian. She confirmed that the procedure was normal.

Nevertheless, my response to her turned out to be extremely offensive and led to her decision to no longer care for Peace Corps Volunteers, after 27 years of service! Apparently, it is uncommon for patients to question doctors in this culture, and in fact, it is viewed as a questioning of their expertise. It is normal for doctors to give you a complete physical for anything, no matter the ailment; this is actually better service than we get back home. Additionally it is not customary for female doctors to give a cover or leave the room for female clients.

This has been my largest cultural blooper, and I feel awful about it. I have decided to write the doctor an apology in regards to my misunderstanding. Also, I believe the next group of volunteers will be receiving a written notice titled, “What to Expect on Your First Doctors Visit!” Well… OOPS!

Friday Feb 14th, 2009

Vegetarian Peanut Noodles Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

For the peanut sauce:

• 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

• 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed

• 1/4 cup vegetable broth

• 1 Tbsp. sesame oil

• 2 Tbsp. teriyaki sauce

• One “thumb” of ginger

• Zest and juice of ½ lime

• 2 Tbsp. chopped peanuts

• Pinch red pepper flakes

• Black pepper to taste

For the pasta:

• 250 grams (1/4 package) linguine or udon noodles

For the stir-fry:

• 1-2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

• 1 tsp. sesame oil

• 3 carrots, sliced thinly into matchsticks

• 1 cup broccoli florets

• 1.5 cups bean sprouts

• 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced thinly

To serve:

• Green onions

• Chopped peanuts

• Sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS:

For the peanut sauce:

1. Heat a small saucepan over low-medium heat.

2. Add the broth, peanut butter, garlic, sesame oil, teriyaki sauce, grated

ginger, lime zest, lime juice, and peppers to the pot, stirring gently.

3. Heat through.

For the pasta:

1. Bring a large pot of water to the boil and cook pasta until al dente. The

noodles should be cooked but still slightly firm in the middle, not slippery

or mushy. Firmer noodles are desired to hold onto the sauce better.

2. If using udon noodles, cook according to minimum cook time on package.

For the Stir-fry:

1. Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat and add one tablespoon oil.

2. Add the vegetables and stir-fry for several minutes, until all vegetables

are tender-crisp.

To serve:

• In a serving dish, toss the cooked and drained pasta with the peanut sauce

and vegetables. Garnish with green onions (scallions), chopped peanuts, and

sesame seeds.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed

• 1 roma (plum) tomato, seeded and diced

• 1/2 medium green bell pepper, diced

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 1 small clove garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 lemon, juiced

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl, toss together the garbanzo beans, roma tomato, green bell pepper,

onion, garlic, parsley, olive oil, and lemon juice. Cover, and chill until

serving.

Wednesday February 11th, 2009

Today I participated in a grant writing workshop as part of my Peace Corps training. The workshop was invaluable! One great thing about the way Peace Corps structures its in-service trainings is they allow the volunteers to provide feedback on what additional training would be most useful. Then, Peace Corps designs our bi-annual trainings on the topics identified most by the volunteers.

Currently, I am working on two funding proposals, one to be ‘officially’ submitted by the Ministry of Education and the other to be submitted by Hope Academy, a new non-profit organization working to increase opportunity for success for children living in poverty. Both proposals will be submitted to major funding sources, and while I have had some exposure to grant writing, I have never written an entire official funding proposal. Nevertheless, I was suffering from writers block, despite my enthusiasm for the opportunity to play such a large role in these two projects. However, thanks to the workshop from today I feel I have all the tools needed to write a well-received proposal!

The proposal I am writing on behalf of the Ministry is for funding of “Why Try?” in more of the secondary schools, to be rolled out in 3 phases over 2 – 3 years. The second proposal is for the development of a ropes course in Babonneau. The ropes course will support the mission and vision of Hope Academy and help to build confidence, self-esteem, and team work among the students of Hope Academy

Exciting stuff!! Exciting stuff!!

2.7.09

I’m sitting at the Rodney Bay mall waiting for Haley to walk down from her place. There is a flea Market sale down the road and we need new clothes. The sun, salt water, and walking has all but worn out everything we have. The last sale I got a pair of capris, 2 dresses, and a shirt for 10EC. That is $4 US!! After the sale, Haley and I will spend the day at the beach before proceeding to steel pan practice at 3:00. Our steel pan instructor thinks that we will be good enough to perform with Pan-Orama in July!

Saturday Feb 7th, 2009

New tattoo ideas

Across my upper back, irie pa bon

Direct translation – alright not good

What it stand for – blessed imperfection

On my left shoulder, a social work symbol, a St. Lucian flag, a peace corps symbol

On the top of my right foot, a mandala

Entry from 2.6.09

The other day Haley, Lloyd, Sergio, and I went to Pigeon Point. We found a geocache; very cool. All day was a blast. We ran around, took pictures and played volleyball all day.

I have been cooking a lot lately. I have been learning how to make some good one pots, bouillon and dumplings. I made some lemon butter garlic sauce today for tuna (in a can of course).

One Pot – a bullion consisting of all or any combination of the following:

Lentils, dumplings, rice, noodles, plantain, green fig, onion, garlic, pumpkin, any vegetables, etc, etc.

Most often, a one pot is sure to contain lentils and dumplings.

You get the point?

Throw a bunch of food in a pot and let it boil!

Entry from 2.4.09

I’m at American Drywall, the building Elaine’s office is in. She works for the Chamber of Commerce. We are about to walk down to a Chinese restaurant, if you can really call it Chinese, down the way for lunch. I just facilitated my 3rd “Why Try?” group at Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School. The participants are in form 2 & 3, which is the same as grades 8 & 9 in the U.S. I am working with them on using positive motivation to overcome challenges in their life. Running groups in St. Lucia is significantly different than the groups I have run back home. Like I have said before, counseling is a new concept in St. Lucia. I think that the study of psychology has transferred the value of self-reflection and introspection into main-stream society in the states. In St. Lucia, it seems to be something that only a minority practice. Introspection requires a certain degree of critical thinking, and these skills develop at an even later stage of life in St. Lucia. Critical thinking is not nurtured in the same way here. I find that the young girls, especially, are not accustomed to reflecting on their feelings, thoughts, and actions. When I ask them questions about their thoughts and feelings, they have a difficult time verbalizing them what they might have been feeling or thinking in a situation. It follows then, that they have difficulty understanding how their thoughts, feelings and actions influence one another. Nevertheless, I know, at the least, that these girls will benefit from the “Why Try?” Program because it will develop their ability to reflect on their own thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Furthermore, they will develop a habit of processing and understanding the affect they have on situations that occur in their own lives

Entry from 1.28.09

Why Try is going well. I have faith that the group will continue to grow and develop. Hopefully, we will see positive change in the kids, even though the conditions are less than ideal. The lights in the small, cramped room are out. This means that we must leave the door open. Of course, this leaves the group open to distractions, mainly by other students popping their heads into the room. I am also understanding the problem of over extension. I didn’t think I was over extended, but now I have found myself divided into so many places that I am having trouble keeping up with it all.

Wow,

So i just got done transcribing what felt like 100 journal entries to my blog and now my fingers are to tired to write a current one! Sorry about not blogging at all this month. I am starting to feel like a Peace Corps Volunteer, if you know what I mean. My time is becoming filled with more and more Peace Corpsy things and paying $4 on the round trip for Internet at the coffee shop is seeming more and more expensive and like it takes up too much of my time.

Anyway, my "Why Try?" groups this week went really well. The students enjoyed the group; which says a lot for students who hate being involved in anything! I could also tell the counselor that I am working with at Sir Ira learned a lot.

Saturday, Haley and I started Steel Pan lessons in Gros Islet. It seems like my previous music training served me well, cause I am picking it up nicely. Our teacher says that Haley and I will be good enough to play in the July competition when it comes. Cool! It feels nice to create music again.

Tomorrow I am probably beginning my first Karate class. There isn't any kung fu, but I should adapt well.

So, that's the latest!

(written 1.20.09)

Today is inauguration day in Washington. It is a little surreal and euphoric. Millions of people, all ages and all races are huddling into Washington to see his swearing in speech. They have been crowding in since early morning. There are still 4 hours until he gets sworn in, and I can’t peel my eyes from the TV already! I feel so proud that America is turning a leaf. Hope is being restored. My greatest fears are NOT being realized. Perhaps Americans are not as apathetic and ignorant as I thought. This is huge. I can’t even describe the enormity of the day. I will leave the eloquent descriptions to historians and literacy writers. Just months ago I was bitter, angry, and cynical about America, Americans, Americas future, and the president. But Today I am PROUD!!

(later this day)

I spent the day at the Lime with Haley, Lois, Scott, Elaine, and Lloyd. It was incredible. Elaine popped a bottle of bubbly and we shouted “CHEERS” and “HOORAY” at high noon!

(written 1.20.09)

Today is inauguration day in Washington. It is a little surreal and euphoric. Millions of people, all ages and all races are huddling into Washington to see his swearing in speech. They have been crowding in since early morning. There are still 4 hours until he gets sworn in, and I can’t peel my eyes from the TV already! I feel so proud that America is turning a leaf. Hope is being restored. My greatest fears are NOT being realized. Perhaps Americans are not as apathetic and ignorant as I thought. This is huge. I can’t even describe the enormity of the day. I will leave the eloquent descriptions to historians and literacy writers. Just months ago I was bitter, angry, and cynical about America, Americans, Americas future, and the president. But Today I am PROUD!!

(later this day)

I spent the day at the Lime with Haley, Lois, Scott, Elaine, and Lloyd. It was incredible. Elaine popped a bottle of bubbly and we shouted “CHEERS” and “HOORAY” at high noon!

(written Monday 1.19.09)

Today is the day before the inauguration of Barrack Obama, our nations 44th President!!

It is so very exciting. I have such hope and faith that he is going to put America on a good path. There has been nearly 24 hour coverage of the impending event all weekend and all day today. Interestingly enough, today so happens to be MLK day, and tomorrow the first black president will be sworn into office. It’s incredible, really! I don’t really know what else to say beyond that but, I will be at the Lime in Rodney Bay all day and night tomorrow watching the event on their large flat screen!

(written Monday 1.19.09)

Today is the day before the inauguration of Barrack Obama, our nations 44th President!!

It is so very exciting. I have such hope and faith that he is going to put America on a good path. There has been nearly 24 hour coverage of the impending event all weekend and all day today. Interestingly enough, today so happens to be MLK day, and tomorrow the first black president will be sworn into office. It’s incredible, really! I don’t really know what else to say beyond that but, I will be at the Lime in Rodney Bay all day and night tomorrow watching the event on their large flat screen!

(written 1.19.09)

In two days I run my first two “Why Try?” groups at SISSS. WISH ME LUCK!!

Getting approval for funding from the bursar at Sir Ira hasn’t really been a problem at all. However, things are delaying at CCSS and funding has been a huge problem… and it is the more highly ranked school. Huh!

(Written1.16.09)

I went with Cliff today to view the land that he and his wife want to put a ropes course on. Actually, their vision is even larger than just a ropes course. His wife developed a non-profit organization called HOPE that is currently pitching its proposal to the ministry of education. They will be delivering educational opportunities to children that live in poverty. Kids that enter their program at the primary school level will receive free tutoring by trained teachers, shoes to go to school in, and lunches on the school lunch programs. They will also attend camps over the school breaks, where they will get to receive additional tutoring and test preparation in various subjects from math and English to foreign language and mechanics. In addition the kids will get to attend a summer wilderness camp at the ropes course where they will work on building life skills, self-esteem, confidence, and team-work. The first phase of the program will be launched in September when school starts (including the shoes, lunch and tutoring).

I have been in touch with some companies that help design ropes courses in the states and they all seem willing to help out in any way they can. I am getting a good feel for what it takes to develop and maintain a course. Very interesting, very interesting in deed. Nevertheless, it looks like my summer work is cut out for me. Hand me a cutlass and lets go clear the land!

(written 1.15.09)

Today and executive of JQ companies offered to fund the “Why Try?” program that I am running at CCSS and SISSS. Now all I need to do is write a project proposal! Piece of cake, ya? Very Very Exciting! We are hoping to expand to the other secondary schools as well! He says that the project is just the thing JQ Companies is looking to support, and that the funding can be rolled out in stages. Woohoo!

(written 1.14.09)

Jah!

Jah guide my heart, guide my mind

You always know what’s best for me

Jah guide my heart, guide my mind

I know you’re always there with me

Open up my eyes and let me see

Jah you have never forsaken me

Jah guide my life, be my light

Bring me back from uncertainty

Jah guide my heart, guide my mind

You always know what’s best for me

Jah guide my heart, guide my mind

I know you’re always there with me

I don’t always hear ya

I don’t always see

My minds not always clear, ya

But I want to be free

Bring me back Jah from all that’s unclean

I’ll rise up and follow your righteous lead, yeah

(Instrumental break)

Jah, I’m a mess when I ignore ya

And blessed when I explore ya

My heart is sometimes tore, ya

But its you Jah, I always wanna live for, ya

Jah guide my heart, guide my mind

You always know what’s best for me

Jah guide my heart, guide my mind

I know you’re always there with me

(one more verse needed here)

(chorus needed here)

A mess when I ignore ya

And blessed when I explore ya

A mess when I ignore ya

And blessed when I explore ya

(written Tuesday January 13th, 2009)

It is very frustrating trying to start a project in St. Lucia! Everything misses its deadline and happens at a snail pace. However, things keep moving forward if you stay on task. Really though, it does seem like everything that can possibly delay a project is bound to go wrong. Telephone lines down, loosing rosters, not enough funding, consent forms not getting returned, internet down, no free rooms, blah, blah, blah! Every week is something different. I understand why they need my help getting “Why Try?” off the ground, but sometimes the relentless set backs are so discouraging to even me! I did run into a great opportunity today, though. One of the teachers at CCSS wants my help developing a ropes course, and I am very excited about the opportunity. I will be talking with him more later in the week to see how I might be able to assist him.

(written 1.6.09)

It’s me, It’s me!

Hey everyone!

Yesterday I turned 25!! ONE-QUARTER of a century old!! Woohoo! Well, I wanted to go to this (very American) restaurant bar called Plantation Brewery because they have food, darts and a pool. However, as we walked down the barren streets at 7:00 on a Monday, it didn’t take long to learn that birthday darts and pool might be turning into birthday lime on the street with a bottle of Chairmen’s Rum. Apparently, everything closes down on Mondays… everybody parties to hard on the weekend to make it out on a Monday!

So, yes, Plantation Brewery was closed, so we tried a Café called Jungle; Closed. Pizza Pizza; Closed. Rituals (the coffee shop I always go to for their internet access); Open. Woohoo!! Nothin better than coffee and donuts on your 25th birthday… at least I had something to shove a candle into. I was also special enough to receive the St. Lucian traveling purse for my birthday from Lois, whom had previously received the purse on her birthday from Judy, whom had been given the purse by her host mom.

Furthermore, I did get to play pool on my birthday after all, cause Haley and I, along with a couple of my Lucian friends sought out the one and only little hut with a pool table that was open on a Monday this side of the island. We even got to play for free, woohoo!!

So, I would say, it feels quite nice to celebrate your 25th birthday as a Peace Corps Volunteer on the little island of St. Lucia!

OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA!

Last night was election night in America! St. Lucians have a tremendous amount of support for President Elect Barack Obama. There is even a Caribbean island Barrack Obama song that is played on the radio here, produced by a local artist. I’m trying to get a copy to send you guys. The Embassy invited us to a watch party in Castries last night and that is where I found myself at 7pm last night, my time. There were so many people there and it was so loud that some of us decided to leave and I ended up watching the results come through at Haley’s house. St. Lucians were hosting watch parties all over the island. When Obama was announced as the President Elect St. Lucians celebrated along with America. The streets were loud; people were shouting and toasting the occasion. It’s incredible how much interest the locals have in the election. Right now, as I type there’s a man and woman sitting behind me, both St. Lucian. They are speaking about how they loved Obama’s speech. One man is talking about how he was afraid Obama would get assassinated during his speech! St. Lucians, were watching along with us, and along with many other nations. In moments, Obama and the American people took a major step in repairing our image around the globe.

I tell you; last night I became a proud American, for true.

(Journal Entry from Monday October 27th, 2008)

So, I just spent the past 30 minutes cutting 1 pea size hole into each of 3 different coconuts. I was determined to get the coconut milk! The last coconut is still draining in this moment… its been about 5 minutes… gives you an idea of how big, or should I say how small the hole ended up being.

When my landlord, Mr. Bailey gave me the coconuts followed by a remark of “careful not to cut yourself” I just smirked. I didn’t know if the remark was a sexist one or not; oops, sorry Mr. Bailey. Ooh, my coconut just finished draining!

Anyhow; the whole coconut fiasco started at about 8 o’clock this morning when I went to greet my landlord with a ‘bonjou.’ He was just gathering some coconuts onto the driveway. Don’t ask me how he got them out of the 15 foot tall tree. He did say once that he used to climb the trees, but certainly he can’t do it anymore! Anyhow, he asked if I wanted some of the coconuts and I graciously accepted the offer. He started slicing the skin off of about half of the coconut with a machete. He did this with 3 of the coconuts and it looked simple enough. However, he did cut too deep into one of the coconuts and all of the milk poured out onto the driveway! He offered me the 3 sliced coconuts and told me to just cut a whole into them when I was ready to get the milk, and “oh” he says, “be careful not to cut yourself.” I put the coconuts in my refrigerator and am just revisiting them now.

3 coconuts filled up one small glass pitcher. I decided to put the empty shells back in my refrigerator to ask Mr. Bailey what I should do with them. I know that on the inside they have a nice coconut lining that I can’t figure out how to get to. I think I might need to borrow his machete… and some advice for how to poke a hole into a coconut!

I swear in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) tomorrow! I made it! So, there are a few project ideas that I am considering. I will just list them out here.

1. Liaise between organization that offers SAT prep courses and teachers at secondary school to train teachers to provide SAT prep to student athlete and other students.

2. Develop a Healthy Intimate Relationships course with guidance counselors for students at the secondary level.

3. Implement the Why Try program with at-risk youth at the secondary school level.

4. Partner with another volunteer to do an HIV sculpture project in the schools that increases awareness and reduces stigma of HIV.

5. Help develop a Peer Health Advisors program.

6. Create a Girl Guides group in my community

(Journal Entry from Sunday October 19th, 2008)

I really just don’t know what to document anymore about me experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Just about everyday is novel, but novelty is so common that it seems trivial and unimportant to speak of it. Newness is the norm in my life to the extent that things seem just the same. The other day I found myself at a house across the street from the Pastoral Center in the town of Marisule’s East Winds. The Pastoral Center is where we spent our first 3 days in St. Lucia. Strangely, when I saw it I didn’t recognize it, even in the least. I suppose this is because the context was different and my perceptive lens has changed. I could swear when we first arrived on island and drove to the Center the road and view were different. The road was smaller and more rugged than what it is now. The view was more expansive and foreign. Now, the road seems normal and the view familiar. My Lucian lenses are becoming clearer.

I find myself wondering what it would be like to never have seen roads the size of airport landing strips, roads that pass over one another in the sky and building that reach the clouds. It must be wondrous to see those things on TV. It is even beginning to amaze me. What is it like to never have seen snow or hail, to no know what it is like to have mail delivered to your front door? What is it like to be astonished that there exists a place in the world where all the children own lap tops and IPods? A place where all adults have their drivers license and cars. It is beginning to seem extraordinary even to me.

My friend asked me today about clubs in Texas. I had to correct him and assure him that ‘No, all the clubs are not like Girls Gone Wild’. He thought the club scene would be one of girls running around topless and guys having sex with them on the dance floor. I was astonished that I was being asked this in all seriousness. Then I realized, this is what they get to see on TV commercials, which leads me to another topic.

Currently, I am living in a third world nation which has access to the media and technological merchandise of the industrial first world nations. Through cable television and advertising St. Lucians are exposed to the luxuries that Americans have access to, e.g., more fast-food chains than you can name, IPods, IPhones, fashion, accessories, fancy cars, large universities, pools, Wal-Mart, enormous ball stadiums, high rises, restaurants, new shoes, boats, spas, etc, etc, etc. What do you think exposure to this media does to the ‘have nots’? Well, the same thing it does in American culture; it develops an appetite. The local markets are no longer satisfactory and the people hunger. People find themselves wanting the McDonalds, Wendys, chain restaurants, Wal-Marts, and more merchandise. They welcome the large corporations. They bring jobs and wealth they say. They don’t see how these things drown out the local markets, breed consumerism, promote materialism, increase dependence, and depersonalize society. Why don’t we show that in our media? The constant exposure to the advertisements of large businesses in the states sadly makes them want those businesses to come to St. Lucia. I wish that instead, Lucians would be driven to develop technology and projects here so that their labor won’t be exploited later by American business owners.

I don’t know, it’s just my initial thoughts and logging of the subject and I need to reflect on the topic more at a later date.

(Journal Entry from Saturday October 18th, 2008)

I spoke with a Rasta today. I was at a birthday party with my host mom and he was sitting by himself. He was one of the birthday woman’s 10 children. I told him that I wanted to learn more about Rastafarianism from a real Rasta rather than just go on what I have read on the internet or through word of mouth. He said there are many different movements but the main thing with all of them is that they don’t judge people based on color or way of life, that we are all part of the human race. I asked him why Rastas are vegetarians and he said that it is because we are all animals and we should respect life. I didn’t quite understand why he thinks eating fish is okay though. He was not too eager to talk about his religion to be honest with you. He told me that it would be best for him if I just asked specific questions rather than just ask him to tell me a bit about his religion. It was an odd conversation.

Talking with him got me thinking about some of the youth development goals of St. Lucia and how some of PC’s policies and procedures make it difficult to satisfy some of the goals of St. Lucia’s youth development efforts. In some of our youth development training sessions we discussed the importance of trying to reach both the attached youth (those that are reachable through various schools and organizations) and the unattached youth (those more difficult to reach because they are not attached through schools, work, or organizations). FYI: Youth is defined as anyone between the ages of 7 and 35. Now, it occurred to me that a large majority of the unattached youth are Rastafarians. This is because many Rastas are against working for ‘the system’. They make their own way and live off the land. Many of them live in poverty and with this comes the pitfalls of poverty; lack of education, and resources, increased drug addiction and crime, and deterioration in health. Of course we would want to reach the unattached youth.

However, there are many obstacles to reaching the unattached youth. The inherent ones, to mention a few are, their lack of interest, lack of availability, lack of visibility, and the ‘systems’ lack of connection with the unattached youth. As if these things aren’t enough, PC policy adds another barrier. Any PC volunteer that ‘appears to be associated’ with anyone who does drugs, including marijuana, will be sent on the next plane home. This policy in and of itself seems to be a good policy and the reasons for it are obvious, however, the policy, unfortunately and unintentionally creates a potential barrier for PC volunteers who want to help St. Lucia to reach the unattached youth. Working with the unattached youth may mean making connections and building relationships with some people that are more likely than the attached youth to be involved in drug activity, in most cases the activity is only smoking of marijuana. This would risk damaging the PCVs image in the community by being associated with Rastas and risk being sent home. Does this mean I should not be part of the initiative to reach the unattached youth? Regretfully it is decidedly so.

(Journal Entry from Monday October 13th, 2008)

PC training only has one week left, WOOHOO!!!

My gosh! It’s been excruciating to sit in the training room for hours on end every week. Surely, training has got to be the hardest part. It doesn’t require a lot of brain power, but it requires insurmountable quantities of patience and tolerance. Usually 10% of PCVs drop out of the PC before every being sworn in and now I understand why. It isn’t because they are homesick or incapable of doing the work. More than once in the past 6 weeks of training I felt like calling it quits because of the ridiculous dog and pony show. Some of the PCVs in the past may not be willing to put on their clown face for seven weeks, but our group has persevered and broken a PC record; not a single person in our Eastern Caribbean group has gone home yet. We must be a tough group!

(Journal Entry from Saturday October 11th, 2008)

Yesterday, the tropical wave hit. I am still uncertain as to what exactly a tropical wave is, but the symptoms so far seem to be rain, rain, and more rain. I don’t think it has stopped raining once since yesterday. The degree to which it is raining has oscillated between a soft mist and torrential downpour, but the rain is relentless. I speculate that a wave is a series of storms that are too unorganized to be considered a tropical depression. Nonetheless, the ‘wave’ has caused quite a commotion.

Highlights:

Mrs. B gets a call from our neighbor. Mrs. B excitedly tells me that the river that runs parallel to the road, just 100 yards away is overflowing, and the water is at our neighbor’s doorsteps!!

Mrs. B and I run to the veranda to find the water creeping halfway up our driveway!

I grab my camera to capture pictures of the dude across the way wading waist deep in water!

I run outside to find tons of people lining the streets holding their umbrellas watching the street too flooded for traffic to get through!

Even when the water recedes the people remain watching in amazement as a steady flow of traffic passes through the neighborhood; more traffic than any of us have ever seen come through the neighborhood!

Talk on the street is that the traffic came from the friends and families in surrounding areas that were phoned and wanted to see the flooding! OH MY!!

(Journal Entry from October 4th, 2008)

Sometimes it is hard to process my experience here. I wish I had a video camera on my shoulder to take with me everywhere I go. Then you would get to soak in all the sights and sounds along with me. So, let me try to capture for you my experience in this moment.

I close my eyes. I hear the soft beat of some Soca tunes cascading from up the road, a baby’s cries pierce through the open windows of my neighbor’s house, and the rumbling of rocks crunching under the wheels of passing cars, trucks and buses. I hear a friendly 'beep beep' between two cars that are familiar with one another, and the occasional sliding of minibus doors as passengers find their stop. There are construction workers hammering down the road, birds chirping, roosters crowing, dogs barking and the usual hissing sound men make as they watch a pretty lady walk by.

I open my eyes. I see a couple chatting on the veranda across the way, lines of laundry hang in the afternoon sun, and my neighbor is sweeping out her house with a broom made from palm leaves. The mango, guava and banana trees rustle in the cool breeze, a young boy runs through the street barefoot, and a couple of stray dogs rummage through the litter on the street for something to satisfy their hunger. I see a mountainous landscape covered in lush greenery, dotted with lovely houses that are raised on stilts. Then there is the sky; oh the clouds. Everyday I make it a point to watch the sky. It is extraordinary to always see in the sky so many different types of clouds, of all different sizes, and at different altitudes. As I look up I see the three main types of clouds, the Cirrus, the high-level wispy looking clouds; the Cumulus, the mid-level puffy heap clouds; and the Stratus, the low-level gray clouds with breaks of clear sky in them. There are also all different combinations of these three main types, and I don’t know their names, but it is a sight to see. It is truly beautiful. This doesn’t happen in the sky back home. Finally, every once in a while I see Rasta’s gallop down the street riding their horses bareback, though not at this moment.

Then there are the smells. The flavorful scent of the breadfruit, veggie, beef stew that my host mom is making drifts to the porch from inside the house, and occasional a catch a scent of the marijuana smoke that wafts from a few of the near by houses.

(Journal Entry from September 29th, 2008 9:30pm)

For the past week I have been watching the CNN and BBC coverage of America's financial crisis. I saw the news of major banks and creditors failing, watched as congress purposed a 700 billion dollar bail out bill, and watched as that bill was voted against in the House. If I, a well educated woman am left confused and uncertain, I can't imagine what must be going through the minds of the average American... fear.

It makes since to me that we cannot live on credit forever, eventually debts must be repaid. If banks lend money to millions of people that can't afford the debt, they risk inability to repay their major lenders and financial partners. I am not surprised in even the mildest sense of the word that this is happening. I only don't understand why this is the moment; what straw broke the camels back? Perhaps the answer to 'why now?' is insignificant. Americans spend beyond their means and eventually we will reap what we sow. This is not only the fault of the large corporations that okay bad mortgages and market their products in seductive ways. We as a people are responsible for entertaining our appetites. We are obese, not just in weight but in mind. However, having an understanding of this alone is not enough. We must also understand and come to accept that when we stop our glutenous consuming the engine will slow down. Retailers will down size, some will even go out of business. The immediate result will be a loss of jobs and it is inevitable. Pumping money into the machine will be worse. They say it will prolong the inevitable, but my main concern is that it doesn't confront the underscoring problem and work to change the mentality of overspending that got us here. It works to encourage the gluttony. Rather, we need to promote individual and corporate financial responsibility. Yes, America, let's band-aid the problem once again.

We need to focus on the real problem, but does anyone know how to begin to tackle the real problem? The obvious answer is to suck it up, and start living within your means. If you need a credit card to buy it then don't buy it. Save! When people gamble with their money, they take a risk. It is not the governments job to replace the money you gamble away. Now I wont pretend to have all the answers, but I know that some things are certain... Most Americans live beyond their means and this excels the problem at hand. I wish that we would stop spending our energy on acquiring the latest and greatest Ipod and start spending our energy on expanding prosperity on a community level. I feel for all the people that will lose their jobs and homes through this financial awakening. It is a tragedy. We need to work as a people to make responsible and economical decisions and also work to instill compassion, charity, and neighborliness in America and in the world.