Staging and St.Lucia

HELLO ALL BACK HOME!!!!!! I have successfully arrived in St.Lucia for training and Im having the time of my life! Its been a completly hectic week, and im not sure how im going to put it all in words, but i will give it my best shot.

Saturday I arrived in Miami, Florida around 2pm where staging was being held. I got in the cab leaving the airport and said it was hot as hell to the driver, he laughed and said it was cold that day. I knew i was in for a treat from then on. We held staging from 1-7pm at the hotel, which consisted of icebreakers, paperwork, more paperwork, more icebreakers and then FINALLY time for bed. I had some jet lag, but was more exhausted from being so stressed out that entire day. After a great dinner and a terribly sad goodbye to my friend Tia, i was off to bed. But not for long....

We were up and checked out of our hotel Sunday morning but 4am, headed to the airport with 25 other volunteers bound for St.Lucia. Now let me just give you a little insight to traveling with 25 Peace Corps volunteers. Not a single one of us had a bag under 50 pounds, and ALL of us had at least 2 bags. OHHHHH....and we were traveling with an 81 year old PC volunteer from Indianapolis, which just let me tell you...bless her heart, but we were all a little frustrated. We successfully made it thru security and we were on our way to St.Lucia. On the plane i was wide awake (maybe after my 5 hr energy drink,thanks sis), but to say the least there was no hope for any of us sleeping, we were FAR to excited. It really hit me on the plane that this is for real and there was no turning back now. My stomach was churning, but it was a good churn...promise.

After a 3 and a half hour flight we were on the ground in beautiful sunny St.Lucia. Let me set up a disclaimer first. ALL of the volunteers except for me are from the east and west coast, which mainly have had excellent weather this winter. Ok back to the story...we stepped of the plane and immediatly sweat was dripping down my face and my pits were disgusting. Yes, i was sweating in the middle of February. We were greeted by some amazing currect volunteers of St.Lucia and were on our way.



Following a scary scary van ride thru winding roads and wrong side driving we arrived at the Pastoral Retreat center and settled in for the night. We were in for the time of our lives the next day.

We started training today. Its been interesting, overwhelming, exciting and frustrating all at the same time. We've been talking alot about the intrapersonal struggles we are about to face,and how the ultimate goal of Pre-service training is becoming integrated into the culture of these natives. You think you are ready to take this challenge on, but you soon realize some traits about urself you thought were strong, were actually some core weakness' on this journey. Ive learned in just these last few days that i thought i was completly open to this idea, but i have been holding on to the "known", hoping that i wouldnt have to totally bust out of my comfort zone. Well i was wrong. Im constantly being challenged by fellow volunteers, the living situation, the food, the sun, long days, cold showers, bugs and even cows on leashes.

The food here is different. It seems very bland, not much taste to anything. We eat fruits and toast in the morning; rice/beans, some pork (that u dont eat), fresh veggies, bananas (which are in season and DELICIOUS), and some tuna. Its not that the food is bad here, but its been a big adjustment, and id be lying if i said i havent been to bed hungry yet. I miss Mcdonalds. haha.

So as i leave this blog for your pleasure (or so i hope), I want to thank everyone in my life that has given me this chance. The chance to truly make a difference and learn so much about myself in the process. Im so eager to get to Grenada on Saturday and meet my homestay family, but until then i will grasp on the my fellow volunteers knowing we are each others main support system right now.

Always serving,

Mackenzie