First trip to the hospital

So i have managed to meet the St.Augustine's medical staff already. haha. I woke up a few days ago with my left ear clogged so i decided it was a good idea to get some medicine. Thankfully Peace Corps takes GREAT care of us here on island, so they got me an appointment very quickly.

As you walk into the medical "center" there is a lone desk with two employees. I kindly greeted them and they told me to fill out the general information sheet. I was there with another volunteer so we sat and scribbled what we could on the paper. After explaining we are kind of homeless, but we found great people to take us in for 8 weeks they let us see a nurse. I followed the lady through a door that said "Emergency Room". I'm thinking its going to be a long hallway with rooms and such but no. One sole room, with a bed and minor medical equipment. Lets hope i never have a life threatening illness where an "emergency" is needed.

After checking my pulse and blood pressure she sent me back into the waiting room to wait on the doctor. About 2 minutes later I'm escort to what i thought would be an examination room. As the door opened it was the actual doctor sitting at his office desk. Now i guess i never really made the connection that in America we say "going to the doctors office," but that really means going to the doctor and him coming to see you in some random room. NOT in Grenada! I plopped down in the comfy arm chair in his classy office as he asked what was wrong with me. I told him i have tubes in my ears, yada yada yada, and said i probably have an ear infection. After one glance in my ear he scribbled on a prescription sheet and sent me on my way. haha. It was interesting that i was examined IN the doctors actual office, and was seen for less then 2 minutes. I love it!

Great first experience at the doctor and lets hope that if i have to go back again its for minor things. :)

Frustration

Rule number 5 in leadership:

5.Good leaders are tolerant of ambiguity and remain calm, composed and steadfast to the main purpose. Storms, emotions, and crises come and go and a good leader takes these as part of the journey and keeps a cool head.


Cool head? Let me define that one too, in my own words of course:

--One who does not jump to conclusions about volunteers, rather LISTENS to their feelings towards the situation and then reacts professionally.

Just a thought...


I cant wait for training to be over!!!!

Whose that guy?

After a long day working at the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, where not much of anything was accomplished throughout a 4 hour meeting i needed some social time. Often times in Grenadian culture there is little progress made on projects until the last minute, then they just throw something together. It stems back to the relaxed slow motion lifestyle around the island. They have no problem shooting the breeze all day, which is a HUGE adjustment for us go getting Americans.

After that awful meeting we decided to head for the Tricentennial celebration at Fort George. About 8 of us volunteers went to see what it was about, but more importantly support one of our trainers who was in charge of the entire event. Once again we had heard it was completely unorganized and was thrown together last night so we wanted to see just how it turned out. We were thoroughly surprised to see quite a view vendors, a crazy Grenadian lady selling herbs, Clark's Court Rum booths, FOOD and good music.

They started the ceremony by introducing members of Parliament, diplomats, ambassadors and other important people i had never seen before. In the middle of the presentation of the new rum on island, in walks a very well dressed man with lots of people surrounding him. Another volunteer leans over and says "that's the Prime Minister dude, he is important!" Sure enough, it was Prime Minister Tillman Thomas of Grenada. Soon enough our trainer Michael tells us to follow him and we were off to be introduced to the President of Grenada. No pressure right?

He was very personable and was excited to hear more volunteers were on island. He wished us the best of luck, snapped a pic with us and was on his way to mingle more. It was so interesting to see the big man of Grenada intermixing with local citizens like it was nothing. I couldn't imagine Obama being able to do that and gave me a great sense of just how personable the culture is here. It was just like he was another person on island as he was working the crowd.

It personally made my job here so far. I was so excited to meet such a person of importance and to hear he was proud of us. Makes you feel like your job here is worthwhile and means something.

The Power of Bluntness

We went to a party on the beach today since its Easter Monday and we had the day off. I went with my host mom and some of her family. We had a great time grilling, eating, swimming and flying kites. I was swimming in the sea when i met a little girl named Sky. She was 6 years old and in the 1st grade. After talking to her for a while her friend ran up to us and the conversation went something like this:

Lexi: "Sky what are you doing?"

Sky: "I'm talking to miss" (aka me)

Lexi: "Why you talking to her? You like white people or something?"


I was slightly caught off guard at first, but after i processed it i really giggled about the conversation. Lexi was also a snappy little 6 year old who was going to speak her mind. She did just that, and gave me a great laugh.

Easter: Grenada Style!

I have survived my first holiday in Grenada and although i missed my Easter basket from my momma, i did really enjoy seeing how Grenadians celebrate. We started off the morning by heading to church at 7am. Ive come to realize that its impossible for me to sleep in here, it gets to hot. So getting up and starting my day early really doesn't phase me anymore. We attended the beautiful St.George Methodist church and received a great service. The choir was great, the sermon was fitting and the people were cheerful. It did make me miss the Easter mass back home but i took what i could get. I did meet a lady whose birthday was yesterday and she was turning 106 years old. I thought it was the coolest thing to meet someone who has lived such a long fulfilling life. She seemed so happy to hear another group of volunteers were on the island and told me she remembered the first group of volunteers that came to Grenada over 45 years ago. IMPRESSIVE!

After church we headed home to quickly get off our hot church clothes and into some more comfortable attire. My fellow volunteer friend Crystal came over this afternoon and we had some good limin time. Limin is what Americans consider hanging out, but here it typically happens in a rum shop or on the porch; we chose the porch. We enjoyed some beautiful weather and had great conversation. Just what we both needed for our first holiday away.

My host mom promised me a great Easter dinner and i got just that. Crystal, Miss June and i gathered around the kitchen and began preparing chicken, vegetables and potatoes. Its amazing how cooking can bring people so close. Miss June told us about the invasion, Hurricane Ivan and her family history. She tells stories that use so much imagery that it seems as if your there. I also learned some GREAT recipes i cant wait to show people back home. I'm gonna be the next Rachel Ray-Grenada style when i get off this island. Watch out Food Network! After preparing baked chicken, stirfry, pineapple potatoes and fried plantains we sat down as a family and had a great supper! I was so happy to sit around a table and converse over a great meal, just like i would do back in the States.

Happy Easter to everyone! I miss and love you all!

Me and Crystal posing!

Fried Plantain and Pineapple Potatoes

learning the ropes of the kitchen


Miss June

Amazing stirfry