Just a Friendly Stroll

One of my favorite things to do here in Grenada is to take daily walks throughout my village. Its a time for me to reflect on my day and refocus for the coming days. Often times we get so busy fixing things and helping people out that we forget to take care of our personal issues. The problems around me seem to engulf my thoughts continuously, sometimes not even letting me sleep well at night. I'm always contemplating my next move or if my strategy is working for my community.

So when I get the opportunity to take a walk down the road, I make sure to jump at it. The trees make subtle whistling noises, the sun shines on my face and the ocean scenery brightens my thoughts. I cant help but smile at the beauty that is around me, the strength and determination to do all I can do for Grenada, and the absolute joy I feel being surrounded by love.

I have been reflecting on the last year of service here in Grenada, as a new group of volunteers began their journey to the Eastern Caribbean today. It seems like just yesterday I was overwhelmed with anxiety as I boarded plane after plane on my way to Grenada. I remember it like it was yesterday and cant believe its been almost a year. I have made it this far because of one simple word: LOVE.  The love of my family, the love of my friends, the love of my hometown, the love of children, the love of hope, the love of service, the love of complete strangers and the love of myself.

I couldn't do this without all of my supporters. So as I stroll down the winding roads of my village, I cant help but have an unexplainable sense of appreciation. This world has given me so much, how can I ever pay it back?

This world is beautiful...we just don't take enough time to stop and realize it.

Nutmeg, Cocoa and Bananas too!

These are my students practicing their Grenada song for the Independence Day assembly. I love my job!!!!!

Peace Corps Biggest Loser

After indulging in way to much wonderful Grenadian and American food over the holidays we as Peace Corps Volunteers collaboratively decided it was time to lose some weight. So what better way then to have a little friendly competition? And that is how Peace Corps Biggest Loser started. Here are the logistics of how we are competing:



Logistics:

1. 2 months (Jan 14-Mar 15)
2. $15 EC entrance fee
3. $1 for each pound gained
4. $5 for each missed weigh-in, no "make-ups"!
5. Percentage of weight loss determines winner and loser for each week and entire competition
6. Loser of the week must do 10 push-ups, 25 squats/lunges, and 50 jumping jacks immediately on site
7. Winner of fitness challenges will get a 1 pound advantage
8. Challenges will be held bi-weekly before the weigh-ins and are OPTIONAL
9. Weigh-in attire: bathing suit with bare feet or socks
10. Weigh-in every other Saturday (bi-monthly) at PC office (subject to change)
11. Our weight will never be disclosed unless we choose to do so personally.  Steph will weigh participants in a private space, calculate the percentage of weight loss, and maintain the weigh-in logs.  She understands that these cannot be used for blackmail.

Prizes:
Second place gets their entrance fee returned ($15 EC)
First place is awarded the remainder of the money collected
Everyone wins a healthier (and muy caliente) body!

We met last week at the office to have our first initial weigh-in and competed in a nutrition Jeopardy game. The winner of the competition received a one pound advantage at the next weigh-in. Today we met at the beach and had a physical challenge...the obstacle course. Although I didn't win the competition, I did complete the challenge successfully. We had to run in scuba fins, take a sponge and fill up a cup with sea water, carry a ping pong ball on a spoon and finally run to the finish with a wet tshirt on. It was exciting to watch and definitely an activity to get your heart rate going.

We have one more week of diet and exercise before our second weigh-in. Even if I don't win the competition, I'm happy to have the opportunity to lose some weight with encouragement from my fellow volunteers. Its been a friendly competition that we are all enjoying.

Wish me luck!

The competitors

Running in scuba fins is HARD!

Beautiful scenery

La Sagesse Beach

Mr. Crab

Cute kids. :)

Beautiful ending to a wonderful day!

Miss Kaylah and her raincoat.

Shiniah snacking away

Mr. Garcia. That face spells trouble.

Elisha

Miss Smiley

Isn't this face pathetic? haha

Grade 3 students

A Hero Lost

R.I.P. Sargent Shriver

Thank you for starting the Peace Corps, giving me the opportunity to follow my dreams. Your legacy for be remembered forever!

“The Peace Corps represents some, if not all, of the best virtues in this society. It stands for everything that America has ever stood for. It stands for everything we believe in and hope to achieve in the world.”- Sargent Shriver

Good Morning!

Every good day starts with a rainbow...

 And ends with a sunset....



Third Goal

While home on Christmas vacation from Grenada I had the opportunity to work on the third goal of the Peace Corps:

"To promote a better understanding of the host country on the part of Americans"

I participate in the World Wise Schools program through the Peace Corps, which gives me an opportunity to be paired up with a classroom in the U.S., sharing pen pal letters back and forth. Fortunately, one of my best friends from grade school, Ashleigh, offered to be pen pals with a classroom at my school and have been exchanging letters back and forth since September. I am lucky enough to get to hear about the process from both sides and it has been really enlightening to see them get excited about exchanging cultures with each other.

As I traveled back to the States I made an arrangement to surprise Ashleigh's 3rd grade class with their hand delivered letters all the way from Grenada. As I stepped into the classroom and Ashleigh introduced me the kids were filled with excitement to know I was actually real and not some foreign idea they had been writing to. It really made me smile to see how thrilled they were to see their letters and special goodies I had brought them.

I was given the chance to sit down with them and answer any and all questions they had about my journey, the children in Grenada and even what kind of foods I eat. It was so humbling to see them excited to learn about a new culture. I gave their class a Grenadian flag to hang in the room, showed them some Grenadian snacks that local kids eat and then gave them some Eastern Caribbean coins to take home. I think they were happy to get some things from Grenada and I was overjoyed to share the island with them.

Sharing cultures with young children is something I find especially important because it gives kids an opportunity for exposure to ideas they most likely wouldn't get the chance to in their lives. Teachers have such a great ability to teach kids through interactive activities, just like the World Wise Schools program. Initially when I became a PCV I thought "no way, I wont ever have time for that," but now looking back, the partnership with Mark Twain Elementary has been one of the most rewarding parts of my service.

Ms. Houdyshell handing out their letters

So excited to see his letter from his new friend

Her pen pal even drew a map of Grenada

Doing a little Tootsie Roll to get warmed up