There is a monopoly in the Eastern Caribbean, and there is no get out of jail free card for this one. Liat, our Caribbean airline (notice that is singular) is the only current running airline for the region. Most people in the EC know of Liat by using describing words like: late, excuses, late, late, cancelled, late. We fly on this little thing:
It seats about 50 people, but we aren't allowed to sit in the first or last row for who knows what reason, so maybe about 42 people max capacity. Twin prop planes are LOUD, and they shake. Its fun. Want to join sometime? At least the view of our island is amazing!
Our flight path given on our the itinerary stated Grenada to Barbados, Barbados to St. Lucia. Sounds simple right? NOPEEEEEE, not with Liat, the friendly Caribbean airline. We were 2 hours late out of Grenada waiting on THE plane (only one) from Trinidad. Once finally in the air, the pilot announces there are some passengers wanting on this flight from St. Vincent, so we are going to make a little pit stop. Hmmmm. Imagine if a Southwest Air or Delta flight from NY to LA just randomly said they wanted to stop in Montana for a pit stop, maybe a cheeseburger.
So we picked up TWO, yes two, people in St. Vincent and were on our way to Barbados, now 3 hours late. We reach Barbados, only to get off the plane, through security and right back on the same plane. Hmmmm. Finally, we arrive in St. Lucia, 3 and half hours behind schedule and starving. They didn't even offer water! smh!
Anyyyyyyways....We made it safely to St. Lucia and couldn't complain about THIS view, courtesy of tax payers. Don't worry, we get a reduced rate. ;)
Along with this lovely pool view, we received some mouth watering food. This meal would cost us locally about 35-40 EC dollars and it was FREEEEEEEEE. Free things and Peace Corps Volunteers are one in the same. :)
While at the conference one of my favorite activies was giving our EC 81 Grenada group the opportunity to write down our accomplishments as a group. It was an eye opening opportunity to see just what progress and impact we have made the last two years of our service. Alot of times our set backs and failures can make us believe we aren't accomplishing much more than friendships and good memories. But this exercise proved to be a "wow" moment for all of us.
That is alot of progress by just eight volunteers. Then we had to throw in some personal accomplishments, which we took with a grain of humor....
I'm excited about these last three months of my service. Yes, they will be very sad, but I'm optimistic that what I have learned from these people and this country will only project me further into success down the road. I am forever grateful of this experience and cannot say anything but good things about my journey through Peace Corps. These months will give me a chance to sit back and appreciate these small moments that I have grown to love.
Here is to Grenada, and the next step...
