I'm comfortably sound asleep in my bed when I'm awoken by a tap on my window. I violently roll over and see its 5:15 am, WHY is some scary man tapping on my window? I go into fight or flight and decide to remain completely still and observe the situation. He walks back and forth past my window, pausing a few times and moving on again. I hear noise in my living room that sounds like a door knob jiggling. I knew he couldn't get in my house as I have burglar bars and bolt locks, but what am I to do? I get up out of bed half asleep and turn my light on to see if he will startle and run, but nothing happens. Grabbing my phone I was determined to call my landlord upstairs:
"Mrs. Gabriel?"
"Yes Mackenzie, whats wrong?!?!"
"Sorry to bother so early, but there is a man outside my window"
"No way, let me get some clothes on and look downstairs"
"He is right outside my bedroom window"
"Oh honey...that's just Andrew, he is sweeping the grass off the walkway"
You might ask who is Andrew? He is my landlords son. He was sweeping the grass off the walkway at 5:15 am this morning. The tap on my window was him brushing off the grass he blew on it while mowing. I thought he was a robber here to destroy my life. I was prepared to die.
I was way wrong...
Monday, July 19, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Funerals
Today my office was closed for a funeral of a young man whose life ended way to soon. It sounds strange to say my office was closed for an entire day, as in the U.S. no business would close the whole day unless it was one of their own who died, but not here in Grenadian society. Death is viewed alot differently and much more emphasis is put on celebrating the life of the person deceased. For days in advance the funeral home doors are open to anyone willing to see the body. As you walk in, there are rows of caskets open with people who recently moved on to another place. There is no private viewing room and no family waiting to greet you, just rows of caskets and dim lights. My counterpart said it's done this way so people can come say their respects on their own time, rather than the pressure of seeing the family, other people, etc. The funeral is followed the next few days and lasts the entire day. Lots of scripture, singing and crying are involved, but i can imagine this funeral had a heightened sense of sorrow.
Last week a boy from Gouyave who just graduated from Presentation Boys College passed away. From what you might ask? Asthma. Now when I first heard this I was taken aback by the possibility that people still die from simple asthma. I've been an asthmatic my entire life as are both of my parents so I know all about the chronic condition. Once I heard he died of complications due to asthma I began to reflect on all of the medical care I have received over the years for my asthma. The 3am ER trips for steroids and breathing treatments; the inhalers and long term medications; the antibiotics and follow up care to combat the issue. All of those things I took for granted over the years this young boy didn't have access to in Grenada. Yes there are breathing treatments at the General Hospital here, but it was a 40 minute trip to the hospital from his village. By the time he could reach the hospital he was already slipping in and out of consciousness and the chances to reverse what was happening were very slim. He passed away....at the young age of 16 years.
This has hit his village and the state of Grenada particularly hard. I have talked to many people about this young boy and not a single person has had anything shy of great things to say about him. He was a driven student who wanted to get an American degree and had such hope for the future of Grenada. He graduated in the top of his class and was involved in plenty of extracurricular activities. He was making his mark on Grenada and was ready to explore the world. But because of the lack of access to necessary medical care that I myself have taken for granted, his life was cut short. My heart cant help by ache for this young man and his family.
Rest in Peace Davidson...
Last week a boy from Gouyave who just graduated from Presentation Boys College passed away. From what you might ask? Asthma. Now when I first heard this I was taken aback by the possibility that people still die from simple asthma. I've been an asthmatic my entire life as are both of my parents so I know all about the chronic condition. Once I heard he died of complications due to asthma I began to reflect on all of the medical care I have received over the years for my asthma. The 3am ER trips for steroids and breathing treatments; the inhalers and long term medications; the antibiotics and follow up care to combat the issue. All of those things I took for granted over the years this young boy didn't have access to in Grenada. Yes there are breathing treatments at the General Hospital here, but it was a 40 minute trip to the hospital from his village. By the time he could reach the hospital he was already slipping in and out of consciousness and the chances to reverse what was happening were very slim. He passed away....at the young age of 16 years.
This has hit his village and the state of Grenada particularly hard. I have talked to many people about this young boy and not a single person has had anything shy of great things to say about him. He was a driven student who wanted to get an American degree and had such hope for the future of Grenada. He graduated in the top of his class and was involved in plenty of extracurricular activities. He was making his mark on Grenada and was ready to explore the world. But because of the lack of access to necessary medical care that I myself have taken for granted, his life was cut short. My heart cant help by ache for this young man and his family.
Rest in Peace Davidson...
Sunday, July 11, 2010
SAVE A LIFE!!!!
Hello Friends! Im doing a little non-Peace Corps blogging today. As many of you might know, I have lost a dear friend to suicide in the past so its a cause i greatly support. I think that if there were more resources for struggling people we could prevent many of the deaths caused by suicide. Im not here to have a religious or moral debate about suicide, Im just simply asking my followers to go to this website below and vote for this cause. Chase Bank is giving out 200 grants to charities that receive enough votes. Im not sure if you are familiar with PostSecret or To Write Love on Her Arms, but both of these are behind this charity. Below I have attached a link and short mission statement of the organization for you to read. PLEASE VOTE!!!!
Peace and Love,
Mack
The Kristin Brooks Hope Center - founder of 1-800-SUICIDE - has partnered with To Write Love on Her Arms and PostSecret.com to develop the IMAlive online crisis support network this year. If the Kristin Brooks Hope Center wins the $250,000.00 prize, 100% of the proceeds will go directly toward IMAlive. Your vote today can help us take the next step in suicide prevention. The Kristin Brooks Hope Center is a non-profit organization founded in 1998 after the tragic death of the founder’s wife, Kristin, by suicide. From the beginning Reese Butler and the Hope Center have been dedicated to suicide prevention by providing easy access to a large network of crisis line workers while helping to break down the stigma and other barriers to accessing help and hope.www.hopeline.com Help us reach the future of suicide prevention today by voting now and urging your friends and family to vote as well.
1-877-VET2VET (838-2838) is a toll-free line for active duty service members or veterans. It is operated by the Kristin Brooks Hope Center
I wish she would've known about this....
Peace and Love,
Mack
The Kristin Brooks Hope Center - founder of 1-800-SUICIDE - has partnered with To Write Love on Her Arms and PostSecret.com to develop the IMAlive online crisis support network this year. If the Kristin Brooks Hope Center wins the $250,000.00 prize, 100% of the proceeds will go directly toward IMAlive. Your vote today can help us take the next step in suicide prevention. The Kristin Brooks Hope Center is a non-profit organization founded in 1998 after the tragic death of the founder’s wife, Kristin, by suicide. From the beginning Reese Butler and the Hope Center have been dedicated to suicide prevention by providing easy access to a large network of crisis line workers while helping to break down the stigma and other barriers to accessing help and hope.www.hopeline.com Help us reach the future of suicide prevention today by voting now and urging your friends and family to vote as well.
1-877-VET2VET (838-2838) is a toll-free line for active duty service members or veterans. It is operated by the Kristin Brooks Hope Center
I wish she would've known about this....
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
St.Paul Government Primary Graduation
Tuesday was the mark of new beginnings for 29 students from my primary school. The Grenada school system is a descendant of the British educational system in that there is primary and secondary school. Primary school here is from kindergarten to 6th grade and secondary school is 7th to 11th. Students here graduate at the age of 16, just shy of their junior year in the United States. The British system is tough to explain but the simplest way I can put it is in two words: Reciting and Tests. Teachers are often seen standing in front of a classroom all day making students recite things (math problems, English, spelling etc) and then testing them on it extensively at the end of the term.
This form of learning has its pros and cons but Grenadians are now finding that their children exit school with few critical thinking skills and have a hard time sharing, verbalizing thoughts and problem solving. The students aren't given a chance to critically think with hands-on activities and projects but are instead required to recite what a teacher is saying followed by a test. For example, my grade 1 students recite things all day, write little in their compositions and then are expected to remember everything they learned that day. Exams were this week and my grade 1 students had an 8 page written test of things they learned in the first week of school.
Anyways...I got off topic. At the end of grade 6 students are required to take the Common Entrance Exam which places them in their secondary school. The entire 6th grade is dedicated to studying for this test because if you do not pass (as 14 students did not), you must repeat the 6th grade and try again next year. If you pass the test you are then placed in the secondary school of your preference and continue your education until the next exam, the CXC, to complete secondary school. If you continue to fail the Common Entrance there is a similar test that can be taken but often times there are students who are 14-15 in the 6th grade because they have failed the Common Entrance so many times. It's sad.
The positive outlook though is that Grenada is looking to restructure their school system to make for less exams, more hands-on learning and more integrated classrooms/schools. Grenada is taking the right steps to ensure every student has the opportunity for a free education, it's just going to take a while.
Attached are some pictures of the graduation ceremony, all THREE and a HALF hours of it!
The choir made up of all grades of students. They sang John Lennon "Imagine"
My school
The graduates getting ready for the procession
The principal, Mrs. Peterkin
The graduates sang a John Mayer song
This form of learning has its pros and cons but Grenadians are now finding that their children exit school with few critical thinking skills and have a hard time sharing, verbalizing thoughts and problem solving. The students aren't given a chance to critically think with hands-on activities and projects but are instead required to recite what a teacher is saying followed by a test. For example, my grade 1 students recite things all day, write little in their compositions and then are expected to remember everything they learned that day. Exams were this week and my grade 1 students had an 8 page written test of things they learned in the first week of school.
Anyways...I got off topic. At the end of grade 6 students are required to take the Common Entrance Exam which places them in their secondary school. The entire 6th grade is dedicated to studying for this test because if you do not pass (as 14 students did not), you must repeat the 6th grade and try again next year. If you pass the test you are then placed in the secondary school of your preference and continue your education until the next exam, the CXC, to complete secondary school. If you continue to fail the Common Entrance there is a similar test that can be taken but often times there are students who are 14-15 in the 6th grade because they have failed the Common Entrance so many times. It's sad.
The positive outlook though is that Grenada is looking to restructure their school system to make for less exams, more hands-on learning and more integrated classrooms/schools. Grenada is taking the right steps to ensure every student has the opportunity for a free education, it's just going to take a while.
Attached are some pictures of the graduation ceremony, all THREE and a HALF hours of it!
The choir made up of all grades of students. They sang John Lennon "Imagine"
My school
The graduates getting ready for the procession
The principal, Mrs. Peterkin
The graduates sang a John Mayer song
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Great Things to Come
I feel as if I have been slacking a little bit on my blogging so I figured I should give a quick update on the happenings of Grenada.
Since last speaking with the blogging world I have been reassigned to a new primary worksite. My original worksite wasn't a great fit for me and there were significant amounts of internal conflicts concerning employees. After holding out and waiting for improvements things just weren't getting better. Thankfully the great Peace Corps staff both on island and in St.Lucia (our headquarters) were completely supportive and wanted what was best for me, that being a site change.
Last Thursday was my first official day at the Grenada National Organisation of Women. Since arriving on island I had been doing some secondary projects with GNOW on Fridays, so thankfully I was already accustomed to the workplace. The ladies at GNOW have had many Peace Corps Volunteers and are eager to have another working with them which makes it such an optimistic atmosphere to promote positive change throughout the community.
GNOW's motto is 'Empowering for Gender Equality' but doesn't incorporate all aspects of the work that's done through GNOW. For a very macho male oriented culture, this organization is pretty radical in their thinking's which really gets me fired up to help. From the time I first joined Students Against Violence Through Education at Pittsburg State University I knew I wanted to be involved in this kind of work the rest of my life but never thought I would find it on a small conservative island in the Eastern Caribbean.
The work of GNOW spans from domestic violence prevention/support, sexual assault, rape, HIV/AIDS, working in schools to promote healthy relationships, promoting legislation and sensitization of the community. My cup of tea right? This organization is powerful on the island and when things happen the news is always asking for a comment from GNOW. Never in my life have I been able to see such a grassroots movement with such potential and motivation to change. I'm getting to see work done in pushing for new legislation against sexual harassment, a protocol being made for sexual assault cases and even participating in HIV/AIDS testing booths. Just last week our organization met with a consultant from USAID that was on island surveying the HIV/AIDS epidemic (which is the second in the world) and was very interested in the work of GNOW.
I'm very blessed to be given this opportunity to move worksites to a more fitting and accepting atmosphere and cant wait to see what the future holds. For quite some time I wasn't sure I would make it the 2 years here, but I've found a new sense of motivation and drive to change and I cant wait to share the experience...
Postscript:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!!!!!! This is one of my favorite holidays in the States and I am sad I cant participate this year but my family has done a great job keeping me informed on the events. I even got to hear the fireworks in the background while talking to a friend, felt like I was ALMOST there.
Love and miss you guys,
Mack
Since last speaking with the blogging world I have been reassigned to a new primary worksite. My original worksite wasn't a great fit for me and there were significant amounts of internal conflicts concerning employees. After holding out and waiting for improvements things just weren't getting better. Thankfully the great Peace Corps staff both on island and in St.Lucia (our headquarters) were completely supportive and wanted what was best for me, that being a site change.
Last Thursday was my first official day at the Grenada National Organisation of Women. Since arriving on island I had been doing some secondary projects with GNOW on Fridays, so thankfully I was already accustomed to the workplace. The ladies at GNOW have had many Peace Corps Volunteers and are eager to have another working with them which makes it such an optimistic atmosphere to promote positive change throughout the community.
GNOW's motto is 'Empowering for Gender Equality' but doesn't incorporate all aspects of the work that's done through GNOW. For a very macho male oriented culture, this organization is pretty radical in their thinking's which really gets me fired up to help. From the time I first joined Students Against Violence Through Education at Pittsburg State University I knew I wanted to be involved in this kind of work the rest of my life but never thought I would find it on a small conservative island in the Eastern Caribbean.
The work of GNOW spans from domestic violence prevention/support, sexual assault, rape, HIV/AIDS, working in schools to promote healthy relationships, promoting legislation and sensitization of the community. My cup of tea right? This organization is powerful on the island and when things happen the news is always asking for a comment from GNOW. Never in my life have I been able to see such a grassroots movement with such potential and motivation to change. I'm getting to see work done in pushing for new legislation against sexual harassment, a protocol being made for sexual assault cases and even participating in HIV/AIDS testing booths. Just last week our organization met with a consultant from USAID that was on island surveying the HIV/AIDS epidemic (which is the second in the world) and was very interested in the work of GNOW.
I'm very blessed to be given this opportunity to move worksites to a more fitting and accepting atmosphere and cant wait to see what the future holds. For quite some time I wasn't sure I would make it the 2 years here, but I've found a new sense of motivation and drive to change and I cant wait to share the experience...
Postscript:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!!!!!! This is one of my favorite holidays in the States and I am sad I cant participate this year but my family has done a great job keeping me informed on the events. I even got to hear the fireworks in the background while talking to a friend, felt like I was ALMOST there.
Love and miss you guys,
Mack
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
4th of July Celebration
You are right, it's not the 4th of July yet but we already celebrated the occasion. Tonight was the annual independence celebration at the United States Charge d'Affairs Bernard Link's house in the beautiful Prickly Bay area of the island. This event is annual and the Peace Corps volunteers are always asked to represent themselves at the event. It was initially very intimidating walking up to the house of a U.S. government official as body guards and security lined the premises. We were cordially greeted by Mr. Link and the top U.S. Embassy official in Barbados as we walked in, both who were very excited to see that 6 of us came to the event. Wonderful food (I haven't ate that well since arriving on island), nice wine, good music and a wonderful crowd of people made the event really special. Its so nice to hear top officials, both U.S. and Grenada, show such support for the grassroots work we are doing on island. They always are so appreciative and great at expressing their support. It was a great event. I will attach some pictures!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Another Near Death Experience
I'm so tired I don't want to get up and go to the bathroom. I left the light on in the kitchen and need to turn it off. I convince myself to just get up and get it over with, but as I stand up i see this creature on the floor. Is it another cockroach? I thought I killed all those for the week. Is it one of those creepy centipede things? Or maybe its just a moth. I go to walk out of my room and it JUMPS at me like it wants to fight. Of course I scream at the top of my lungs followed by &$@%!&#^@*(@)*^$@&*@, but it continues hopping around my room. I go into survival mode and try to figure out how to get this thing (that I still don't know what it is) out of my room and decide the best route is to use a cup. I lean over still in a sleepy daze and the thing jumps out of my way (&$%@*) and under my bed. If I were this little creature I would go under my bed too, because I would know that big human thing wouldn't fit under here to find me.
As I'm moving the bed every each direction and still cursing in fright i FINALLY snatch the thing up in a cup, still not looking to see what it was, and relocate the creature outside. I remember I snapped a picture of the dark spot on the floor before I went into survival mode so I knew I could go back and figure out what it even was, because I sure as hell wasn't going to look in the cup before I threw it outside.
Now...as many of you know, I can be a bit dramatic when it comes to creatures, but it's because I just don't like them. Remember back when I first came to Grenada and that King Iguana tried to eat me? Look back in previous posts if you don't, because I thought then and there my life was over. I knew this is what I signing up for when I joined the Peace Corps. It's an irrational fear that I need to get over and it is on my list of things to conquer before I can leave my service. I've almost mastered the brutal death of large spiders that invade my house, I'm a cockroach killing pioneer and can even swat a mosquito in mid air. It seems every time I master a new skill in the art of bugs/creature/weird scary things another one comes up, like last night at 2 a.m.
So here is what I discovered this morning on my camera. THIS is the creature that had me freaking out...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Ok ok, I deserve to be laughed at here. But last night this thing was MUCH larger, I swear! Like I said, I'm still working on the fear of creatures. Baby steps people!
As I'm moving the bed every each direction and still cursing in fright i FINALLY snatch the thing up in a cup, still not looking to see what it was, and relocate the creature outside. I remember I snapped a picture of the dark spot on the floor before I went into survival mode so I knew I could go back and figure out what it even was, because I sure as hell wasn't going to look in the cup before I threw it outside.
Now...as many of you know, I can be a bit dramatic when it comes to creatures, but it's because I just don't like them. Remember back when I first came to Grenada and that King Iguana tried to eat me? Look back in previous posts if you don't, because I thought then and there my life was over. I knew this is what I signing up for when I joined the Peace Corps. It's an irrational fear that I need to get over and it is on my list of things to conquer before I can leave my service. I've almost mastered the brutal death of large spiders that invade my house, I'm a cockroach killing pioneer and can even swat a mosquito in mid air. It seems every time I master a new skill in the art of bugs/creature/weird scary things another one comes up, like last night at 2 a.m.
So here is what I discovered this morning on my camera. THIS is the creature that had me freaking out...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Ok ok, I deserve to be laughed at here. But last night this thing was MUCH larger, I swear! Like I said, I'm still working on the fear of creatures. Baby steps people!
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