Arrived in Grenada

I have reached my final destination!!!! We arrived in St.George, Grenada around 12:40 this afternoon to cheering current Peace Corps Volunteers. They were so genuinely excited to see us that it really made the transition easier. They escorted us thru the town in a van (with Katherine MC-ing the event) while showing us the necessary points. We made it to the Peace Corps Office in St.George's and had lunch with the other volunteers while getting to know them. We had a brief discussion about the history of Grenada and all of a sudden the door bell rings. I knew my heart wasn't the only one that dropped, as we knew it was one of our host families. It wasn't mine just yet, but it was awesome to see the family so excited to pick up their new family member.

But the NEXT ring at the door was for me, as my new host sister was there to pick me up. Her name is Sharmon and she is 25 and an attorney in town. We got in the car and she informed me that we were headed to my host sisters 7th birthday party. Now we are in the Caribbean, and I wasn't so sure what exactly Caribbean and birthday party meant, I mean for pete's sake my house keys had a bottle opener on them. We arrived at the house and were greeted by around 100 children and parents in the community. Now if that isn't overwhelming I'm not so sure what is! They were very accommodating and welcoming, so it made the transition easier. After a round of musical chairs, meeting a new friend whose name is Adiah and is 2 years old, and then eating some wonderful bbq, it was time to call it a night.

So after today I feel like I am prepared to take on the task at hand, and I cant wait to start getting to know my family, which will begin at tea time at 6am tomorrow. I'm loving this place, and I'm so lucky to be with this family. They have opened their home and arms to me, and I cant wait to become an official member.


The first sight of my new home.

On to Grenada

Tomorrow embarks another day of adventure as we make our way to Grenada, our semi final destination. We have been here in St.Lucia for a week now and it seems like so much longer. I have already begun my journey of self discovery (while realizing im slightly controlling) and it feels really good.

One thing that has started to give me anxiety is the fact that its culture to be late to just about everything. Coming from an American culture that works off being on time and ending on time, I've found it especially frustrating to know that being late is excepted, rather then frowned upon. We had a presenter yesterday that showed up 30 minutes late, and it didn't even phase him. Its going to be a huge adjustment for me.

Last night we needed to de-stress from a long day of training so we decided to go to a lil hole in the wall bar down the road from our compound called the "stress off bar." It was great getting to use our money for the first time because they use Eastern Caribbean Dollar here, which is alot different. We danced the evening away and got some great info from the PCRV's (Peace Corps Response Volunteer).

Today was really boring training wise. We had the safety and security officer from the office come and talk to us today about unwanted attention and intimacy thresholds in our new culture. It was interesting to hear the way they view certain common tasks, such as if a woman dances three songs or more with the same man it typically means you're going to sleep with him tonight, or that if a woman is alone at a bar it means she is a prostitute. Things in American culture that we just take superficially and don't even think twice about are completely different here, and its very intriguing.

So tomorrow we are headed off to Grenada to another new environment, but one that will be more stable (at least for the next 7 weeks). I'm excited to meet my new host family and hope that the experience will be everything i can imagine.

Here is to the challenge...





These are the group pictures we took today. One is with just the PCV's (Peace Corps Volunteers) and then one with the PCV's and PCRV's (Peace Corps Response Volunteers).

Great News!!!!!

We woke up today not so excited about training today. We havent got the chance to catch up on sleep quite yet, and im not sure we ever will. But we got word that we would be finding out our homestay families today, so we were living off adrenaline.

Today at training we got to learn about all the diseases we could get, and literally got sex ed training like we were in 7th grade all over again. It was quite humorous to hear the lady say "hanky panky".

But the great news i have been dying to tell you all is that we found out our homestay families at the end of training session today. It was GREAT news to hear after a longggg day of training. I will be in the capital of St.George's for the next 7 weeks staying with a family. Then i will move on to St.Paul and will be working at the YWCA, the same thing as the YMCA in the states. I will be starting an after school program and working with kids to establish team sports teams. IM ESTATIC!!!!!!!

I can not wait to start this journey and share it with all of you, but for now its chow time. AKA...rice and beans!!! haha

Always serving,
Mackenzie Garst

Staging and St.Lucia

HELLO ALL BACK HOME!!!!!! I have successfully arrived in St.Lucia for training and Im having the time of my life! Its been a completly hectic week, and im not sure how im going to put it all in words, but i will give it my best shot.

Saturday I arrived in Miami, Florida around 2pm where staging was being held. I got in the cab leaving the airport and said it was hot as hell to the driver, he laughed and said it was cold that day. I knew i was in for a treat from then on. We held staging from 1-7pm at the hotel, which consisted of icebreakers, paperwork, more paperwork, more icebreakers and then FINALLY time for bed. I had some jet lag, but was more exhausted from being so stressed out that entire day. After a great dinner and a terribly sad goodbye to my friend Tia, i was off to bed. But not for long....

We were up and checked out of our hotel Sunday morning but 4am, headed to the airport with 25 other volunteers bound for St.Lucia. Now let me just give you a little insight to traveling with 25 Peace Corps volunteers. Not a single one of us had a bag under 50 pounds, and ALL of us had at least 2 bags. OHHHHH....and we were traveling with an 81 year old PC volunteer from Indianapolis, which just let me tell you...bless her heart, but we were all a little frustrated. We successfully made it thru security and we were on our way to St.Lucia. On the plane i was wide awake (maybe after my 5 hr energy drink,thanks sis), but to say the least there was no hope for any of us sleeping, we were FAR to excited. It really hit me on the plane that this is for real and there was no turning back now. My stomach was churning, but it was a good churn...promise.

After a 3 and a half hour flight we were on the ground in beautiful sunny St.Lucia. Let me set up a disclaimer first. ALL of the volunteers except for me are from the east and west coast, which mainly have had excellent weather this winter. Ok back to the story...we stepped of the plane and immediatly sweat was dripping down my face and my pits were disgusting. Yes, i was sweating in the middle of February. We were greeted by some amazing currect volunteers of St.Lucia and were on our way.



Following a scary scary van ride thru winding roads and wrong side driving we arrived at the Pastoral Retreat center and settled in for the night. We were in for the time of our lives the next day.

We started training today. Its been interesting, overwhelming, exciting and frustrating all at the same time. We've been talking alot about the intrapersonal struggles we are about to face,and how the ultimate goal of Pre-service training is becoming integrated into the culture of these natives. You think you are ready to take this challenge on, but you soon realize some traits about urself you thought were strong, were actually some core weakness' on this journey. Ive learned in just these last few days that i thought i was completly open to this idea, but i have been holding on to the "known", hoping that i wouldnt have to totally bust out of my comfort zone. Well i was wrong. Im constantly being challenged by fellow volunteers, the living situation, the food, the sun, long days, cold showers, bugs and even cows on leashes.

The food here is different. It seems very bland, not much taste to anything. We eat fruits and toast in the morning; rice/beans, some pork (that u dont eat), fresh veggies, bananas (which are in season and DELICIOUS), and some tuna. Its not that the food is bad here, but its been a big adjustment, and id be lying if i said i havent been to bed hungry yet. I miss Mcdonalds. haha.

So as i leave this blog for your pleasure (or so i hope), I want to thank everyone in my life that has given me this chance. The chance to truly make a difference and learn so much about myself in the process. Im so eager to get to Grenada on Saturday and meet my homestay family, but until then i will grasp on the my fellow volunteers knowing we are each others main support system right now.

Always serving,

Mackenzie