Peace Corps Journals

Quick-Change

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Camille in the Caribbean

2012-02-10 03:56:12

Definition of QUICK-CHANGE. : that changes quickly or that is adapted to changing or being changed quickly (as from one function to another) A few days ago, our trusty community leader Mr. Derrick called asking me to be at the Beach Front restaurant on Thursday evening. In a gesture of community support and healing, we would be walking [...]

happy new year!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines My St. Vincent Chronicles

2012-02-08 22:30:00

happy new year!

ahh bequia...

GSS Cheerleaders at practice

my little students chezroy and reno.

jodel wearing his helmet for once.

“Oh yes, the world will always welcome [dreamers]…As time goes by.”

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines You Are Most Welcome

2012-02-05 19:44:31

Those are excerpted lyrics from one of my favorite songs. It has been a while since I have blogged. Now that this is stated, let’s move on to our Sunday feature. Having attempted to update you periodically over the last 10 … Continue reading →

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2012-02-02 23:55:00

If I knew that you could bribe kids to read by taking them running I would have started doing that approxiametly one year ago when I got here. Today was our first read and run meeting. Every Thursday we will read for 30 minutes and then go on a run. Super extra awesome bonus is that we pass around my ipod as we run. I rather hastily also said that for the rest of the time I am here, whoever comes to read and run the most will win my ipod. Good thing I just have a refurbished ipod nano off of ebay.

I haven't posted any pictures in a long time, so here are some!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2012-01-30 00:51:00

A year ago today I was hysterically crying as we drove to the airport. I didn't stop crying until I had to run to catch my flight in Chicago. Fortunately, crying and running are not very easy to do at the same time. A year has flown by, but dragged on at the same time. One thing is for sure, I have learned a lot.

I have learned...

that mixing your shampoo and conditioner is a great way to speed up your icy cold shower.

making kissing sounds back at the random stranger usually makes them laugh or stunned long enough that you can pass them without any more attention.

sometimes, ask and you really shall receive.

if you think a tropical fungus is growing on your arm, it probably is.

yelling is not effective classroom managemet. I haven't really learned what is, but compliments and hand holding seems like it's on the right path.

salt water cures almost everything.

there is always room for one more in the van.

everyone loves chocolate chip cookies.

doing your launry by hand is really hard and time consuming.

lizards can make nice house pets.

gardening is hard, but it is really exciting when something grows!

people often just want someone to listen.

if it's raining, don't rush, just stay inside until it finishes.

say 'hi' to everyone, you never know what they might say back.

smiling can get you a long way.

WHY JUST ASK THE DONKEY?

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Between Peace & Joy:Life in the Valley Vincy Style

2012-01-28 01:13:00

Why
Just ask the donkey in me
To speak to the donkey in you,
When I have so many other beautiful animals
And brilliant colored birds inside
That are all longing to say something wonderful
And exciting to your heart?

Let’s open all the locked doors upon our eyes
That keep us from knowing the Intelligence
That begets love
And a more lively and satisfying conversation
With the Friend.

Let’s turn loose our golden falcons
So that they can meet in the sky
Where our spirits belong –
Necking like two
Hot kids.

Let’s hold hands and get drunk near the sun
And sing sweet songs to GodUntil He joins us with a few notes
From His own sublime lute and drum.

If you have a better idea
Of how to pass a lonely night
After your glands may have performed
All their little magic
Then speak up sweethearts, speak up,
For Hafiz and all the world will listen.

Why just bring your donkey to me
Asking for stale hay
And a boring conference with the idiot
In regards to this precious matter –Such a precious matter as love,
When I have so many other diving animals
And brilliant colored birds inside
That are all longing
To so sweetly
Greet
You!
~Hafiz

...your energy is where you last left it

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Between Peace & Joy:Life in the Valley Vincy Style

2012-01-28 01:29:00

I went home in December for about 15 days. I am grateful I was able to go home and spend time with my loved ones. I am truly appreciative for all that I have been blessed with in my life. Returning to SVG was a strange unexpected adjustment. Since I was only gone 15 days it didn't cross my mind that a minor re-adjustment was in order.

The first 2 days were wonderful, honeymoon stage all over again. But then something happened. I still can't fully put it into words but I felt pretty detached from the life I had grown accustomed to here. Things were just gray and "blah". I was going through the motions, a shell playing a role.

With time and putting forth the effort to allow things to simply just be (ironic I know, but I had to intentionally NOT try to "fix" things), and support from fellow PCVS on and off island, the clouds gradually parted.

After a wonderful heart to heart with my parents I entered into 2012 with a spark lit deep inside. Yes I have 16 months whole months remaining, but I am all to aware of how quickly those 16 months will fly by. I spent much of 2011 grounding myself , finding my sense of balance in SVG, traveling inward more than I ever have before . At this point, I am ready to fully extend myself and create the experience to be remembered for a 'lifetime'.

It is becoming crystal clear to me that each and every volunteer has come here to experience this time in their own unique way. Comparison is truly death. The beauty of this position is the flexibility awarded (within the confines of being attached to the U.S. government) to give as much or as little of yourself as you desire, however you choose to do so. You can focus on the negatives, allow the constraints to become your ball and chain or you can just as easily focus on the beauty and abundant potential that exist within many budding spirits who are open to expansion, collaboration and fellowship with others.

"My tears were not for Bailey or Mother or even myself but for the helplessness of mortals who live on the sufferance of life. In order to avoid this bitter end, we would all have to be born again and born with the knowledge of alternatives. Even then?" -Maya Angelou

...each day offers the opportunity to see with fresh eyes.

The Fighter

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Valarie's Vincy Voyage

2012-01-27 10:00:00

By S.E. Kiser

I FIGHT a battle everyday

Against discouragement and fear;

Some foe stands always in my way,

The path ahead is never clear!

I must forever be on guard

Against the doubts that skulk along;

I get ahead by fighting hard,

But fighting keeps my spirit strong.

I hear the croakings of Despair,

The dark predictions of the weak;

I find myself pursued by Care,

No matter what the end I seek;

My victories are small and few,

It matters not how hard I strive;

Each day the fight begins anew,

But fighting keeps my hopes alive.

My dreams are spoiled by circumstance,

My plans are wrecked by Fate or Luck;

Some hour, perhaps, will bring my chance,

But that great hour has never struck;

My progress has been slow and hard,

I’ve had to climb and crawl and swim,

Fighting for every stubborn yard;

But I have kept in fighting trim.

I have to fight my doubts away

And be on guard against my fears;

The feeble croaking of Dismay

Has been familiar through the years;

My dearest plans keep going wrong,

Events combine to thwart my will;

But fighting keeps my spirit strong,

And I am undefeated still!

To commemorate the 1 year anniversary of officially embarking on this crazy (and I really do mean crazy) adventure known as the Peace Corps, I wanted to share this truly motivational poem. A very dear friend who served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Jamaica shared this poem with me when I first began the process to start my Peace Corps adventure over 2.5 years ago. It hangs where I can see it everyday, to serve as a reminder that perseverance will get me thru the day. I find this to be very timely, given this past week of school.

Highs and Lows

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Valarie's Vincy Voyage

2012-01-27 02:19:00

As of the second term, I am now the Maths teacher for twoForm 3 classes. This poses plentychallenges. For one, that is 80+ more namesI need to learn. It also means trying tocontrol 40 15-17 year old students, most of which are male, at any giventime. That’s just the beginning of thechallenges. But I love math. Math is what I know and love. It should be easier, right? I also reallylove these kids, even though they trouble me and vex me.

Last week I had given the two classes an Ex. There really isno excuse why they should have done poorly. I taught the lesson and then retaught the lesson. I offered to hold areview session after school. I gave examples. I gave more examples. I brought in demonstrations. Turns out, I failedthem; and they failed the Ex. Most didpretty poorly, and I don’t know if it was something I did, or didn’t do. I wanted to go over the Ex questions in classbefore moving on so I had carried home 80 books to mark instead of waiting tomark them during school. When I showed up to class with their Ex books andready to give them answers no one would listen, everyone was out of their seat,being very rude and very disrespectful to me. I was so upset. I was there readyto help them and they seemingly didn’t want my help. They didn’t carewhatsoever. I was so disappointed in their behavior I actually walked out ofclass. This same scenario happened inboth classes. The whole rest of the dayand that night, I felt so terrible. Terrible that they didn’t even care thatthey failed. Terrible that they didn’t care that I was there to help them, thatI want them to understand maths. Terrible for letting them down, by giving upon them and walking out.

I knew I had to do something. Their behavior was so disappointing;I decided to have a motivational talk with them. I first explained that they really upset meand how they upset me. I also explainedto them that I did not have to come to school every morning and that I only doso because I want to. I told them that I do not get paid like other teachers,that I do this because I want to, not for the money, not because I have to. I want them to do well. I want them to succeed. I know they have so much potential. I am notgiving them homework to punish them. Iam there to help them. I am there for them.

I decided to give each student a piece of colored paper; onwhich they were to write one way that I show them respect, one way they show merespect and a short term and long term goal. These are some of the responses I got :-) :

You show us respect by (I show respect to students):

· Coming to class everyday
· Saying good morning/afternoon
· Taking your time and teaching us
· Trying to help us
· Staying in class when we are making noise
· Speaking good to us
· Using kind words to us
· You understand me
· You help me when I call you
· Answering my questions when I ask
· Helping me understand my work
· Talking to students in a proper way
· Telling students to be quiet instead of sayingshut up
· You always listen to us
· You don’t tell me to shut up
· Show kindness to us
· Coming to class even when no one listens
· Going over the exercises more than one time sothat we can get it
· Teach slow
· Being nice
· The way you teach us all
· “I should show you respect”
· Smiling
· You teach slow and explain
· By not shouting
· You make sure we understand
· You want us to learn and be the best person
· “You always respect us”

I show you respect by (students show respect to me):

· Listening
· Raising my hand and waiting until you come to me
· Being ready for class
· Doing my work
· Speaking properly to you
· Not disrupting class
· Paying attention
· Sitting and listening to you teaching
· Being friendly
· By having [good] behavior
· Doing your homework
· Doing your classwork
· Doing what you say
· “I will stop talking plenty and listen more”
· “Because I have respect for myself and I want tolearn because it not for you it is for me”

Goals:

· Plan my career
· Be something good in life
· Become a sailor
· Meet Justin Bieber
· Start my own business
· I want to be an engineer (this may have beenafter I said I am an engineer)
· Become a lawyer
· Do better in my school work
· Go to college and come out something good inlife
· Read books to increase knowledge
· Live happily ever after
· Be independent and creative
· Become educated
· Get a diploma
· “Get a job to take care of my family and let therest of my life lead my way
· I want to be my own independent woman so that noone can show their self on me”
· Become a chef
· I want to have a hospital for animals
· Become a medical doctor
· Travel the world
· Go to college to be an artist
· Finish school and become something good in life
· Travel the word and pick all different fruits
· Become a nurse
· Strive for excellence every time
· Become a pilot
· Achieve good education and work for my own moneyto be independent
· Be the greatest engineer and architect
· Get a job
· Go to school
· Become a coast guard
· Own my own business and be rich and help poorpeople

These are all actual responses. I only edited the grammar a little bit, but not content.

I also got this response:

Vincy Christmas Tradtions

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Valarie's Vincy Voyage

2012-01-24 17:41:00

Inthe last post, I mostly talked about what I did to celebrate the ChristmasSeason. However, I should point out thevery distinct Vincy Christmas Traditions.

In addition to the Nine Mornings Festival, which I brieflycovered in the last post, there are many other celebrations that are unique toSVG. First off, Christmas is an important season. It’s a time when family and friends come overto visit. That means, the house must bein tip top shape. Many people repaint the exterior of their homes andredecorate the interiors. Women often hang new curtains, buy new “carpet” (morelike wall paper, but for the floor). Remember in the last post when I said Town was crazy from every oneshopping. This mostly included peopleselling carpet on the street; it comes in a giant roll and you just cut howmuch you want, similar to buying fabric at a craft store. Other big-ticketitems being sold in Town were dolls, and other toys, curtains, and otherhousewares.

Food is a critical part of Caribbean Culture. Christmastime is no exception. Christmas isNOT Christmas without the Ham. That’sall there is to that. Furthermore thereare other unique foods that are prepared for Christmas lunch. These include: ginger beer, sorrel juice,black cake, and fruitcake. Before you gawk at the fruitcake, believe me, itsnothing like American fruitcake. Thishas no chunks of candied jellied artificially colored “fruit” bits. Ginger beer is an interesting experience,depending on how strong it’s made. It is made from grating fresh ginger andmixing it with water and sugar and some whole cloves and other spices andletting it ferment? in the sun for a few days, then straining out the gratedginger and serving over ice. Depending on how much ginger is added, it may havea strong bite. The ginger beer my neighbormade nearly killed me it was so hot. When I went by my school’s counselor’shouse, she served me some ginger beer that was much more mild. In fact it was more sweet than hot. AnotherChristmas drink is sorrel juice. This ismade from sorrel or hibiscus flowers that are boiled and or by pouring boilingwater over them. It’s then mixed withsugar and cloves. I do not entirely knowhow to describe the taste of this juice other than very fruity and sweet. Sometimes fresh ginger is added to this aswell. The first time I made this, I madethe mistake of adding too much ginger. Who knew you only needed a tiny bit. Well, I added about half of a whole root. Needless to say, I nearly died from theintensity of the ginger and lack of sugar I added. I should have known there was something wrongwith my juice when it was the color of a deep red rose, and everyone else’s isa pretty light fuchsia color. Black cakeis made from black wine. I don’t knowmuch else about it other than that, but it tastes delicious. It’s not sweet, but it’s pretty dense andmoist. The fruitcake was nice because all the fruit (raisins, currants, andmixed peel) is blended up first, so it’s like regular cake with a hint of fruitflavor. Very tasty!

Boxing day is celebrated inSVG. In my opinion it is just acontinuation of Christmas; a time to visit everyone you did not have time topass by on Christmas Day. You eat, youdrink and you are merry.

Between Nine Mornings (9 days of street parties), CanFest(carnival type fetes), Food, Drink, Boxing Day (more Food and More Drink), what’snot to love about Christmas time in SVG?

Christmastime in St. Vincent

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Valarie's Vincy Voyage

2012-01-24 17:17:00

Although it was weird to celebrate Christmas without 10Fdegree weather and snow (and my family and friends, of course), I had one ofthe absolute best Christmas’s in recent memory. Before I detail my happenings on Christmas day let me rewind to theweeks leading up to Christmas, because those are just as important as Christmasday itself.

First, the school schedule in SVG follows a similar scheduleas colleges in the States. The firstterm ends in mid December after 2 weeks of final exams. About this time manyvillages have annual Light Up celebrations. A lot of villages hang up tons of Christmas lights and decorations inthe village center. About two weeks before Christmas they are Lit Up accompaniedby a full street party with caroling, dancing, music, competitions and contests,and general family fun. The Christmas season officially commences with thevillage Light Up. Shortly after all thevillages have their Light Ups, the Nine Mornings Festival begins. For the 9days leading up to Christmas day there are fetes, street concerts, caroling,music, steel pan, singing, competitions, beach limes, contests, and games beginningat 4am until dawn in many of the villages and in Town. This festival is unique to St. Vincent and isakin to Carnival in many ways. My village held its own Nine Mornings Festival,and although I did not attend, the loud music, still going strong, woke me upevery morning around 730am.

Lets jump now to 4 days before Christmas. I was spendingChristmas by my next-door neighbor. Wehad devised a menu and planned everything out. I spent the 3 days leading up toChristmas Eve in town, trying to run errands and buy food and supplies neededfor Christmas. Town was totally chaotic with people such as myself doing lastminute Christmas shopping. The marketswere totally insane, as food is a big part of Vincentian culture, not just asChristmas time. I had absolutely no food to cook in my house let alone stuff Ineeded to bake cookies for all my neighbors and food needed for Christmaslunch. The next day I spent liming in Town with my neighbor’s daughter and herfriend. We got lunch, shopped, and limed. It was nice to go to Town and not beon a mission to get a zillion things done. For once I walked around and actually took in all that was going onaround me, rather than just running around like a typical New Yorker. However, since my neighbor and I spent toomuch time liming, we didn’t have time to pick up the rest of the groceriesneeded for Christmas lunch. That meantthe next day we had to go back to Town to get food for Christmas DayLunch. This was an interesting trip toTown, as we got a ride with our other next-door neighbor.

After coming home and preparing some of the food (cleaningthe fish-descaling it, gutting it, and chopping it up), cleaning up a bit, andtaking a nap, my neighbor’s daughter and I went to a Concert in theevening. It was free with the donationof 3 cans of food and it was known as CanFest. It was basically Carnival all over again. Unfortunately my camera mash up, so I don’thave any pictures L. Well, CanFest started at 9pmish. Shortly after it started my host sister txtedme to remind me about going to Nine Mornings on Christmas Eve and that shewould pick me up at 330am. Confusing thedays because of the time, I thought we were going on Sunday morning, whichwould have actually been Christmas day. This meant I would have to meet here in town, as there was no way to gethome before 330am. My neighbor’sdaughter and I left CanFest around 230am and walked around Town and got somefood at KFC (well she did, not me), of course it was open. We hung out until 4am when my host sistercame for Nine Mornings. Needless to sayI was exhausted, not expecting to be out until 8am the following day! I spent all of Christmas Eve sleeping. I think I woke up around 7pm to bake somecookies and brownies for Christmas lunch and then went back to sleep.

Christmas day finally arrived and we set up the dining tablewith my neighbor’s fine china, and I brought over the Christmas Tree my momsent me. IT was just lovely. Myneighbor’s daughter and I spent the morning cooking and hanging out. On ourmenu: macaroni pie, potato salad, regular salad, fried fish, BBQ chicken, BBQpork, callaloo soup, ground provisions, ginger beer, sorrel juice, beer,wine. It was a splendid day filled withtons of food and love.

St. Vincent also celebrates BoxingDay. Although I’m still not entirelysure of the true purpose of Boxing Day, it is celebrated in SVG by going to allyour friends, family, and neighbors to visit, eat and drink. I spent Boxing Dayby my Landlord and his family having lunch. I have eaten more food in those two days that the whole week priorcombined. More fish, lobster salad,potato salad, macaroni pie, salad, stew peas, beer. My landlord has a son and a grandson who wasvisiting from Trinidad around my age so it was a lot of fun to hang out withpeople close to my age. After lunch, Iwent by another neighbors for a beer, and then afterwards went to a salt pondfor a sea bath with my Landlord’s son and grandson. The season’s festivities did not end afterBoxing Day.

The following day I spent with theschool counselor and her family. Again Iwas fed and given drinks. We had a greattime and I was very thankful to be included in her family’s celebrations.

In addition to spending time withnew family and friends and sharing in their traditions, my Christmas from homehas yet to end. I am still receiving Christmascards and Christmas/birthday packages.

I hope everyone felt even a fractionof the joy and happiness I felt this Christmas season. No offense mom, but I was so busy andsurrounded by so many great people filled with love I didn’t even miss home!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2012-01-20 21:09:00

So.. I never post on this anymore and I should because I don't journal either, so how am I going to remember all the little things that happen?

Today:
One of my students asked to go to the bathroom and I told him no, so he got ready to pee out the window. I think he was joking, but I can't be completely sure.

My co-teacher tucked in a boy's shirt for him after he refused to do it himself.

The kids in a classrom where they are all repeating the 7th grade actually sat, read and followed along in a book. (Thank you Aunt Susie for those awesome class sets!)

Youth Matters Fixed

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Camille in the Caribbean

2012-01-20 01:16:18

In January 2011, 12-year-old Chrislon Fraser took to the stage in front of a packed dining room at the Rehobot Restaurant in Keartons, St. Vincent. With a calm, confident stride the lanky young musician wearing wire-rimmed glasses made his way to the keyboard, set against the glow of a string of purple lights. Throughout his [...]

Christmas, Californians and 2012

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Camille in the Caribbean

2012-01-15 22:11:39

I traveled home for Christmas this year by way of St. Vincent, Puerto Rico, and Boston before landing in Long Beach, CA. When I finally touched down in SoCal I found my mom at the baggage claim desk next to a Jetblue agent in the same almost-tears I had when I realized I’d just missed [...]

Mzungu Macarena

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines You Are Most Welcome

2010-06-08 19:36:58

Well, that about sums up my day today… What an adventure! After sleeping in our new place (the residency hotel that active Peace Corps volunteers and European yuppies frequent) for about 11 hours, I woke up feeling hot and ready … Continue reading →

Ugandan dwellings- slum and otherwise

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines You Are Most Welcome

2010-06-14 18:08:13

Well, it certainly has been a while since my last post… I was doing so good- sharing my experiences every day. But it evidently was not sustainable, as I have been busy adjusting and getting into the flow of Ugandan … Continue reading →

Burning (Trash and Thoughts)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines You Are Most Welcome

2010-06-19 20:54:21

Stella is my age, 24. She is vibrant, dedicated, hard working and strong. She is also pregnant with her second child- the oldest of which is two and a half. She sits on the cement floor, playing with Susan, while … Continue reading →

Right here, Right now… Ready, set… FLOW!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines You Are Most Welcome

2010-06-28 19:02:31

It’s hot tonight. Maybe it is just the energy from the spinning laptop on my lap- but it seems warmer than usual. My fever broke last night, and this is great news for many reasons- one being that I am … Continue reading →

Island Time

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines You Are Most Welcome

2011-01-30 13:19:18

“Go to the people Live among them Learn from them Love them Start with what they know Build on what they have: But of the best leaders When their task is accomplished Their work is done The people all remark … Continue reading →

Vincy Vantage Point

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines You Are Most Welcome

2011-02-15 20:12:16

I am sitting in my host family’s dining room. The mid-day sun seeps through light jade curtained windows, and the ajar front door (with wooden hanging beads swaying in unison from a light breeze) permits perfect light for writing. I … Continue reading →

Hands Across the Sea

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines You Are Most Welcome

2011-03-01 18:35:11

Hello beautiful friends and family, I hope this post finds you well. I am writing a short blurb to let you know about an amazing opportunity to have a HAND in making a positive impact in my community, here in … Continue reading →

I love my Life!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines You Are Most Welcome

2011-03-11 00:22:12

Hi Friends! I just wanted to share some fun new music with you. Sorry it has been so long since I have posted an update… Each time I post, I’m like, “I commit to write weekly…” But somehow the days … Continue reading →

No matter where I am, I feel most at home in a kitchen…

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines You Are Most Welcome

2011-03-15 19:26:14

It’s true. I love being in the kitchen. Baking, cooking, stewing, brewing, you name- I love it! I love creating new things and morphing traditional recipes (I cannot remember the last time I followed a recipe strictly…). I think it … Continue reading →

Saturday Morning Thoughts

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines You Are Most Welcome

2011-05-21 14:13:47

“Do you have any bread?” the sweat-beaded youth of no more than 11 asked. I lied. “No, I’m sorry.” I had bread, but it was wheat, and I assumed that kids only liked white in this country- along with white … Continue reading →

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-07-16 02:54:00

So, we all know I love to shop. There is not too much shopping here, although I have picked up some great handmade jewelry! To make up for my retail therapy urges I have been window shopping online and have fallen in love with three brands. Maybe I can get a job with one after I am done with the Corps? They all operate out of Uganda and help women reach their dreams. They mix my favorite things, bright colors, handmade goods and dreaming big.

How cute are the pocket skirts?

You can wear them SO many ways!

Ember Arts

Did you ever make paper beads as a kid? I remember my godmother gave me a paper bead kit for my birthday and it was one of my favorite childhood toys. These are gorgeous paper bead creations to the extreme.

I miss shopping with my friends, thanks for virtually shopping with me :)

4 out of 16!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-07-25 23:18:00

Four students are now showing up to tutoring and I couldn't be happier. I know that four out of sixteen doesn't seem like a lot, but I there was awhile when I didn't think anyone was going to show up. They are great kids and we (or at lease I know I am) are having a great time. Our last assignment was to draw a character for a book. After they drew the character we carried it around and took pictures of it in different places. The students then wrote a story based off of the pictures. I am going to print the pictures at the Peace Corps office so they can paste them in their books and have a book of their own!

I spent this week with four of the sweetest kids you could meet. They are my neighbors just down the block. Their mom was asked, short notice, to work overnight on Saturday. The two brothers came up to my house on Saturday morning and asked if they could stay with me that night. On Saturday we baked a cake, made bracelets, played some UNO, did some flashcards, played Mario on the computer and watched a movie. I had promised them earlier in the week that we would go to the beach on Sunday, so after lunch on Sunday we took the 15 minute walk to the beach and spent the afternoon there. The kids collected 3 plastic cups full of shells to put in their new 'fish tank' (a plastic container with some fish from the sea.) They found some cool ones with holes which they gave me to make jewelry.

After the beach their mom called and said that she was asked to work overnight again and that the kids should go home to stay the night and be sure to lock up. The oldest girl is 12 and I asked if they spend the nights alone often. She said they do. I asked if they get scared and she said yes, but there is nothing they can do about it, so I told them they could stay the night again. We played some more games, made popcorn and watched movies. It was a crazy weekend, but I think they had a lot of fun. I don't know if the mom was really at work, but I'll probably find out eventually.

Here's the cute bunch.

Meet Ojavie. He loves doing dishes and using the squeezy (soap) He has kind of stolen my heart.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-08-03 03:10:00

cherish your solitude. take trains by yourself
to places you have never been. sleep out alone
under the stars. learn how to drive a stick shift.
go so far away that you stop being afraid of not
coming back. say no when you don't want to do
something. say yes if your instincts are strong, even
if everyone around you disagrees. decide whether
you want to be liked or admired. decide if fitting in
is more important than finding out what you're doing here.

even ensler

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-08-08 23:10:00

About two months ago I met this man on the van. I was stuck in my least favorite spot, sandwiched between two men in the front middle seat. I had a giant bag full of groceries and the driver told me to let the man sitting next to me hold it. I said I was fine and I got the look I get a lot, which is something like let go of your pride lady, let us help. So I handed the bag over to the very smiley man sitting next to me.

And so the conversation began.

"I would never do someone like you wrong."

"Someone like me?"

"Yeah someone of your complexion."

"A white lady?" Usually I am most skeptical of people that tell me they would do me no wrong. I mean if you weren't going to do anything then you wouldn't say anything would you?

"Yeah, people like you have helped me get to were I am."

"What's your name?"

"Hanes."

His story poured out.

Hanes was lost at see for 30 days. He caught birds out of the sky, fish out of the sea and collected rainwater. A boat picked him up and dropped him off in Colombia, where he couldn't leave until he got enough money for a plane ticket. He made many tourist friends. After his escape from Colombia, he went to prison for drug trafficking (which is what he was doing when he became lost at sea, I assume)

I was skeptical. I asked the driver if his story was true and he agreed. I thought maybe they were in some sort of trick the new girl club, so I asked around and it turns out it is true and Hanes is also connected to some murders.

Last week, I was walking home from childrens' art camp when three guys standing on the corner asked if I wanted company. I politely declined and went on my way. About a minute later one of them pulled up next to me on a pink bicycle.

"Oh, your going to accompany me anyways?" I asked, trying to look annoyed and stand off-ish as possible.

"You don't remember me?"

I instantly remembered (everything except the murder connections) and Hanes, his pink bicycle and I headed on. I don't know if it is me or this man shares everything with everyone, but we walked home talking about his father's death from a stroke, his thirteen year old daughter he wish he took better care of, his relationship with his mother and his recent motorcycle crash.

As we neared the bottom of the giant hill I live atop, I told Hanes goodbye because I did not want him to know which house was mine, although he probably knows anyways.

When I told my Peace Corps friend Valarie he walked me home, she said that he is probably the best person to hang out with, he will protect me. Ha. I guess it's all just a matter of perspective.

Art Camp

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-08-18 14:10:00

Long time, no post! My mom is visiting and we are doing lots of home improvements :) Here is a post from a friend and fellow volunteer about the art camp we both helped with. Hope your summer is wrapping up nicely :)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-09-16 23:34:00

Hi long lost friend,

Here is a picture update of my summer. How was yours?

Wow, this has been a crazy past two weeks. The reading teacher I loved working with was transferred to another school. The teacher that was set to replace her refused to come to our school. I have been the reading teacher for the last two weeks. It has been insane. But let's focus on the positive.

A student came up to me today and said that she owed me an apology. She went on to say how sorry she was for being rude the previous week. It meant a lot to me.

I gave the class I have the toughest time settling down an assignment to write down as many nouns as they could with the letter B. I said I would bring a prize to the person with the most. Four students came the next day with a list of over 100 words!

I took a class of repeating students to the library for silent reading so I could pull them out one at a time to do a reading assessment. While all the other kids were being rowdy and doing anything but silent reading, one kid sat on the opposite side of the library and read quietly to himself.

The smiles on the faces of the brand new Form 1 students when I told them they were amazing artists. It is crazt what the words 'good job' can do.

Room 6 is boys only. They are mostly repeating the the Form 2, but there are some new students as well. I challenged them to write an entire (gasp!) page about what their perfect school would be like. They stared at me with blank faces, but after two class periods and a lot of cheerleading I had some wonderful writings!

The look of pride when a student asks me to spell a word and I tell them to instead and they get it right.

My Perfect School

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-09-16 23:43:00

My school must be nice because every time they wanted to beat the children and also I want them to remove some of the rules. I will want to smell lovely roses and I will want to hear the birds singing and I will want to touch lovely girls also I will want to smell nice food from the tuck shop and lovely snacks also I will want the school to have a boat ride and also I will want the school have a dance every end of term and give us some snack when the dance is done I will want the school to start at 10:00 am and done at 2:00 pm also I would want them to have milk in the fountain so people an drink after lunch and when we going home and also I wwill want them to go on a lunch break until 2:00 so the children will play until the school over so we can go home un till the next day and then we will come back to school for the whole day and do the same thing for the whole week.

When I walk into Keon school I see lost of kids. and kids are stoping on the road for the bus. The bus have in it a T.V. and when the bus reach at Keon school the kids run all arround the school and play with ther friend all day the tuck shop gave al the kid free food an I will like my school on a sea and it summer time an summer over an I am going bake to school days woll be no rules you day should have a pool in the yard day sould they sould give free food everyday to the kids and the kids sould be to play all the game in the class you can be with girls and miss games all not be less boys the more girls miss games well not be lest boys an more girls that will be lost of fun girls and for all the boy the filrs wome will go to the pool an the sea and have fun.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-09-16 23:49:00

Dear Friends and Family,

You have ALREADY helped too much, but if you are wondering if there is anything else you can do, we are currently fundraising to buy art supplies to support art classes at school. We have an art teacher and time allotted in the schedule for art. The only problem is the lack of supplies. Students are asked to purchase their own materials for art class, but most cannot afford it. We are almost half way to our goal of $500.00. Hands Across the Sea is helping make this a possibility. We have made a wishlist at http://www.ssww.com/ where we receive 20% off our entire purchase. When we have reached our monetary goal, HAS will make the purchase and ship them to our school! THANK YOU for all of your support!

https://www.wepay.com/donate/27053

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-09-28 23:40:00

My gas can just ran out. I am now sitting here eating cheese and crackers, under baked cookies and pickles for dinner. I usually feel like I am exaggerating when I say these kinds of things, but the last month has been the most difficult month of my life. I have wrote about my students before, I hope you have a semi-clear view of what some of them are like. They are both heart breaking and heart warming.

The reading teacher that is supposed to be at our school is missing. Enter me, the very unqualified stand in. Props to all teachers out there, you are my hero. I am barely lasting a month, I cannot imagine what it is like to teach for an entire year. I feel like Maria in the sound of music when the kids do everything they can to get her to leave. Today my hair was pulled, the blackboard eraser was hit on my butt, I was called a cheater, boring and mean. In the end they never want her to leave, right?

I have a soft spot for the kids that misbehave. I feel like a lot of times what they are saying is very valid, fair and usually hilarious.

Introducing my favorite and most difficult class. They are all repeating, some of them for the third time. They do not listen. In thier defense, I am probably not the most effective teacher they have ever had. Many of them are choosing to completely ignore everything I say and do not do any of the assignments I give them in class. Currently 3 of the 27 students are passing. Out of the 3 that are passing, the highest grade is 61%. Today I gave them all a sheet of paper. It had their name, their current grade and every piece of work that they had not turned in. I told them they had the two class periods I was teaching to catch up on their work and that I would accept work until Friday. Some began working immediately. The two students that barely know their alphabets stared confused at their paper full of words. One student jumped in the air and shouted, "Miss! You're cheating me!" Another student ripped his neighbor's paper out of his hand and demanded to know why his grade was higher.

I explained that their grades were their choices. (if anyone could hear me over the pure chaos) This was their second chance. If they chose to do their work they would receive a higher grade. If they chose to sit and do nothing, their grade would stay the same. Then a small miracle happened. The two boys in the back with two of the lowest grades, 5% and 20%, began working together on their missing assignments. They read aloud to each other, were nice (a BIG miracle) to each other and finished two of their missing assignments.

Thank God for small encouragements.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-11-10 00:43:00

What's new?
There is a new reading teacher! This means I am now pulling out students from class to work on reading individually! HOW EXCITING! This is exactly what I have been wanting to do and although I have no idea what I am really doing, I love it. The kids are sweet and willing to work hard with me. Although an intense experience, I am glad I spent the time with the classes as their teachers. I feel like I am now familiar and trusted by the students. Only one kid is apprehensive about being pulled out of class. Most are excited and enjoy the one on one time.

I am currently sitting on my front porch with my new awesome porch chairs. I have been wanting porch chairs since I moved in, and I finally got them! I didn't know how I would get them home since I only ride vans home from town and I don't know anyone with a big car. I mentioned to my neighbor how I wanted some and she told me that she has a guy that delivers and sells her stuff and ta-da, I now have two wonderful, sturdy porch chairs!

I have began an extra close to my heart, after school club. On Wednesday afternoons, 11 boys and I will be having a photography club! We had our fist meeting last week. The boys are so excited. They each have a camera (although some extra boys showed up so I am trying to figure out the camera situation for them) and we will take pictures on certain topics each week. The boys will have to write about the topic and their pictures a little bit and then we will be placing them on a blog. I invited the kids to the group based on their behavior in and out of school. I tried to choose the boys that I felt needed something. They are kids who many people say will get nowhere or who although very bright, are doing poorly in their classes. I chose to only work with boys because having boys and girls in the same group can be a large distraction and it seems more boys are falling behind than girls. The two small encouragement boys from my last post are in the club :)

Paging Martha Stewart...

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-11-16 01:52:00

THE SEWING ROOM IS FULLY FUNCTIONAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Mr. Anderson!

Most delicious cookies I have ever made.

Look Mom! I successfully grew something!

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-11-22 00:48:00

GB is a boy that is repeating form 1 for the third time. He rarely, rarely does his work, but he is usally at school. He does not know the sounds of all the letters in the alphabet. In the near year I have known him, I have never seen him smile. Teachers say he is rude, but he has never been rude to me, just non-responsive. On Thursday, GB SMILED. We were working on letter sounds, he got one right, I said good job and he SMILED. That will help me smile for the rest of the week.

Another thing making me smile is the photography boys. We have officially launched our blog! Okay launched is a strong word... but it is live. Click on the photo entitled 'David the Christian' to check out our site.

Apology

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sincerely, Liz

2011-11-22 02:38:00

Liz I am rong to cuast bad wood in The Library and please for Give me and I will never do it again.