Day at the Beach

I havent been able to break away to the beach for some time now. Between scheduling events, doing activism work and trying to survive the heat, I havent got the slightest chance to go relax on the beach. My village is about 5 miles from the beach but its quite the lug to get there by two buses, which can take around 20-30 minutes. So today i figured i didnt have anything else to do for once so why not the beach? The sun makes me refreshed, lively and appreciative of the experience here on the island. I figured i would post some pictures.















AND my Momma called while i was on the beach. She was jealous!

Down Time

Im sitting here in my nice hard bed with my computer on my lap, pondering life. Im not sure if this is the typical Peace Corps Friday night, but its mine. There are no deadlines to meet, no dinner parties or events to attend. Im still getting used to this slow paced life after just four short months here in Grenada. I came here expecting to be going non-stop all of the time and i sometimes wish it were that way. But then after a long days work i enjoy the time i have to myself on my veranda as i watch the sunset. Its the best of both worlds most of time.

Then there are nights like tonight where i miss my family, my friends and my American lifestyle. As my friends go on with their lives and are making new friends im stuck sitting on my bed on a Friday night. I want so bad to be having a great time with my friends back home, but i committed to do a job here, and im determined to complete this mission. When my mind gets cloudy with thoughts of homesickness i try to remember why i decided to join the Peace Corps and what exactly it means to be part of this legacy. These kids here need me and want me here as long as possible. Its selfish of me to sit here and sulk when there is work to be done. Just yesterday as we were headed to the beach i hear "miss! miss! miss!" and it was one of my students from the primary school running up to say hello. She had the biggest smile on her face and was so excited to show her mom who i was. Those are the moments of solitude where you realize just the impact you are having here.

So for now im going to turn up my itunes and read a book. Its my little moment of realization that im doing this alone...for myself. Thats such a good feeling.

Job Skills Training

After about a months preparation I have successfully launched my first big project as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Since being at the YWCA of Grenada full time things have been really slow, which causes some frustration. Many times when people think of PCVs they assume they are constantly making progress and doing work, but the honest truth is that often times we have to do so much prep work (aka sitting around, building relationships) to get anything accomplished. So after my month of not much to do i finally got to unravel a project named the Job Skills Training. This program is funded through the World YWCA 'Power to Change' Fund and has been reached with great enthusiasm from participants.



The tough economic market around the world has of course hit Grenada too, causing many people to resort to entrepreneurial fields of work, like selling fruit/pastries/goods. Its sad to see that people who have worked so hard through secondary school and went on the community college not being able to find legitimate work around the island as many would think the term "third-world developing" means there should be lots of new jobs sprouting up. It isn't the case.




So the YWCA thought up the idea of holding a Job Skills training for 25 unemployed persons from around the island. The objective of the training is to equip these young people with the interpersonal skills to gain employment on the island. Topics covered throughout the month with be: Effective Communication, Customer Service, On-The-Job Etiquette, Resume Building, HIV/AIDS in the workplace and Small Business Management. I volunteered to facilitate the Resume Building workshop and hope to have the trainees leave with a professional resume.




Today was the opening ceremony and first session which i thought went really well. Grenadians make a BIG deal about opening ceremonies. It seems if you are having ANYTHING, you MUST have an opening ceremony and invite "important" people.

"Yes ma'am we will be having a meeting tomorrow morning"
"OHHHH do we need to have an opening ceremony for that?"

Ok, maybe not THAT dramatic, but events ALWAYS start with an opening ceremony that concludes with a feature address from someone important. Today we had the Governor Generals wife, Her Excellency Lady Norma Glean speak on the importance of jobs in Grenada. I'm not sure what the equivalent of a Governor General is to the American system, but its way up there.

I'm glad that today was successful and that all of our participants are eager to gain the knowledge necessary to be a productive citizen. I hope that their enthusiasm continues throughout the training and that my sanity is spared too. :)


OHHHHHH....and im attaching a picture of a yacht that is apparently the sign of Oprah vacationing on the island. She often vacations to Grenada as well as Morgan Freeman. Her beautiful yacht is placed right outside the bay can easily be seen from all parts of the island. HEY OPRAH!!!!

Forever Remember

Happy Memorial Day everyone. Just wanted to make a quick shout out to all the troops who have served or are currently serving our great nation. Thank you for all you do and helping keep "the land of the free, home of the brave".

Today especially im remembering my friend Janet whose life ended way to soon. You were a great soldier and an awesome friend. Miss you lots Janet and cant wait to see you again. P.S. Thanks for sending the BEAUTIFUL rainbow to Grenada this morning. :) RIP.

Memorial Day

Hello again ya'll! I wanted to take some time to wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day. As everyone back home is enjoying the river, cookouts, cold beer or the lake, I will be doing work on my veranda enjoying the nice rain falling. haha. sounds fun right?

As you prepare your weekend festivities and celebrate the service of the fine young men and women who gave their lives to serve our country in the military, I also have one more request. Take a moment to remember also the over 200 members of the Peace Corps who selflessly served the U.S. and their respected country, but lost their lives during service. Often times people associate Memorial Day with just the military, but let me remind you that Peace Corps Volunteers also serve their countries too. I challenge you to serve each and everyday through small grassroots work, as that is the way to change.

Happy Memorial Day!

"Service is the rent we pay for being.It is the very purpose of life.And not something you do in your spare time."
--Marion Wright Edelman

Peace

Its been a long day. Most days are long in the life of a Peace Corps worker, but today was particularly long. When i can feel the workday coming to an end i think of the one place on this island that i want to be: my veranda.

I wish i could say its quiet out here, but its not. I wish i could say it was cool and calm, but its not. Its everything i want it to be though. Its a plastic green chair and a nice place to rest my computer. Its a place of stillness where i can gather my thoughts from the day and reevaluate my progress. This place teaches me to love nature as i overlook my village and the ocean in the distance. I hear birds chirping, public buses hustling by, neighbors greeting each other and kids skipping to the village bakery. I hear the river water bouncing off the rocks like a sweet song. I see a beautiful church in the distance and can hear the choir praising the Lord while little children throw rocks into the river.



The constant honk of car horns remind me that this village is a family, for there is no one that doesn't know each other. As the hairdresser across the street closes up shop for the night she yells hello from across the road. My neighbor Judy brings me sweet mangoes from the market and we sit on the veranda and talk about our day. The gentle old man down the road knows i love fresh cherries and my supply is never low. All this while i get a sense that maybe I'm starting to become part of this village family. This place is no longer new and unknown to me, but rather refreshing and enlightening.



I find peace and harmony on this veranda for i know that tomorrow yields another day of hard work and frustration. I cant control what will happen tomorrow or next year, but what i can control is the beauty of this opportunity. The gift I've been given to help people is something i will never be able to repay, but i think for what I'm giving these people I'm getting twice as much back from them.

Have it your way?

I sat down at the computer tonight thinking i had some great things to share with people, and it has ALL slipped my mind. Apparently it wasn't that important so i figured i would tell you about Subway, yes Subway.

We have two American fast food places on the island, KFC and Subway. Random combination right? When i arrived on island and heard there was fast food i said a prayer to God that it was Taco Bell. Nope, it sure wasn't. Maybe i didn't pray hard enough...next time God, next time.

Anyways...My to do list today was forever long, so i was running all over town paying bills, standing in the FOREVER long bank line and trying to find gold ribbon (don't ask). I worked at my primary school all morning and left a bit early to start on my list because i had anticipated that finding gold ribbon would be a chore in Grenada, it wasn't. haha. As i was on my mission to conquer town i realized i hadn't ate all day and it was already 3 o'clock. Who would of thought that moving to Grenada would put eating at the bottom of my important list. THERE IS A GOD!!!! hahaha.

So as i was paying my electric bill (and waiting in another outrageous line), I realized that Subway was really close to the place i was going and i hadn't splurged any in the last week, so i could afford a 14 dollar sandwich. haha. Yes i said 14 dollars. Bet your gonna enjoy your 5 dollar foot long now aren't ya? I didn't receive the "Hi! Welcome to Subway" greeting as i walked in the door either, i should of known. Thankfully the menu was still the American Subway menu so i ordered the usual Subway Melt. As my sandwiched moved down the line the lady was asking what i wanted on my sandwich. After every thing i said (lettuce, pickle, onion, cucumber, jalapenos, mayo) she would say, "ok that's going to cost extra". I thought to myself, "why in the world is there a price next to the sandwich if it ALL depends on what you put ON the sandwich?", but i was good and insisted she continue. I got to the register and my originally 14 dollar sandwich was now NINETEEN DOLLARS!!! Can you tell someone to please take off the lettuce, cucumbers and pickles because my sandwich costs too much? UGH! So i reluctantly paid the 19 dollars and took my sandwich, knowing i wouldn't be able to eat for the next 3 days because of my 19 dollar sandwich. I'm kidding...kinda.

After a not so good sandwich that cost me 19 dollars i continued on my mission to complete my to do list, all while kicking myself in the shin for "needing" American fast food. Great marketing Subway...