Moments of Gratitude

I look so forward to 5-6 pm every night when i get to see one of my most favorite parts of Grenada...The sunset. The colors are so beautiful and i find such solitude when i look up and see the ocean in the distance.

I have had alot of time to myself the past week. Often down time brings thoughts of homesickness, loneliness and frustration. But when i begin to feel these emotions i know the one place i need to be is on my veranda enjoying the view and beauty of the tropics. My neighbors sometimes ask if i ever leave that seat because every time they see me I'm there in dream land. I find myself looking to the sky remembering all the people that are up there looking down on me and probably creating that beautiful sunset. My great grandma Doherty who was such inspiration, my hard nosed Grandfather who told me to follow my dreams and my dear friend Janet whose life ended to soon. Its moments like these you realize how short life can be, but also how fulfilling and wonderful the memories can become. I hope one day when I'm up in those beautiful clouds someone remembers me as the person that never was to quick to appreciate the small things, did everything she could for her country, lived life as a hardworking humanitarian and was never to busy to laugh.

Carnival Launch Party!

Hello all! I haven't had much to update on so i apologize for the lack of blog posts recently. BUT, i have something very interesting to update you on today. Yesterday i went with about 4 other volunteers to the SpiceMas 2010 Carnival Launch Party held at the old National Stadium. Carnival is the largest celebration of Caribbean culture and travels throughout the islands over the course of a year. Here in Grenada, Carnival is held August 9-10. The Caribbean's Carnivals all have several common themes all originating from Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, based on folklore, culture, religion,and tradition, not on amusement rides. Carnival tradition is based on a number of disciplines including: "Playing Mas"/Masquerade; Calypso Music and crowning a Calypso King or Monarch; Panorama (Steel Band Competition); Jouvert morning. In anticipation of the upcoming Carnival celebrations the island held a launch party to get people excited and officially open up the Carnival season. I'm very excited to see such an integral cultural experience for the first time in Grenada and i hope it is a blast!

One of the highlights of the Launch Party last night was the Jab Jab. Jab Jab is a devilish carnival character of the Caribbean islands that is more mischievous than evil. Like many other masqueraders at carnival time, they smear themselves with black oil, and wear horns to play at being the “diable” (French for devil). They often carry around pieces of meat in their mouths, dead animal heads, chains and plenty of USED motor oil. Disgusting right? The minute they reached our area the smell of a mechanics shop filled the air. After the initial shock of bloody meat in their mouths and motor oil all over the place, me and the other volunteers started to ponder the cultural significance of the Jab Jab and after some research i found it fits right into the cultural history of Grenada.

I have attached some pictures of the day. If you have a weak stomach please scroll really fast. haha.

Licks...and not like a lollipop.

"Boy, if you don't behave ima send you up to get some licks"

This is a typical line used in the classroom of Grenadian schools. Its used more as a scare tactic then as a truthful line. Teachers use stern, condescending language to get the attention of children, but its taken as normal language by the students. Often times i cringe as i hear a teacher yell at students and have even found myself jump in fear. American students would wilt away in their chairs and start crying at the tone of Grenadian teachers voices, but its the culture here and something I'm learning to accept.

I've heard stories from the other volunteers of teachers and principals giving students licks, but had never seen it myself until today. Licks is the term used for swats or spankings in the school systems. I come from a school district in the States that still uses this form of punishment (though its not effective), but seeing it happen to a 1st grader today sent chills down my spine.

Shackim came to school this morning filled with energy as he always comes. This young boy is the class clown and filled with so much energy i can feel him running circles around me. He is such a bright little boy when he can sit still long enough. The teacher called his name this morning for lunch money and i saw the look of shame in his eyes.

"Shackim, where is your lunch money?"
"Miss i don't know"
"Yes you do son, show me your bus money and your lunch money"

Shackim knew his lunch money was long gone but he wasn't going to tell Ms. Mitchell that, so he kept his head down not saying a word. Until that is a fellow classmate jumped up and down saying "i know i know, Shackim spent it before he got to school on beef stew". Beef stew? I haven't had beef stew since i have been here, so i was a bit lost as to where he found beef stew, but apparently he found beef stew at the corner shop before school and spent his bus and lunch money. I found this particularly funny, but the teacher sure did not, and sent him right up the hallway to the principals office to get his "licks".

As we proceeded with class i knew i was in for a surprise today and sure enough i got it, in the form of shock. I could hear the principal yelling at Shackim and then WHACK WHACK WHACK, then some more yelling. Shackim belted out in tears but no student seemed to notice the noise,as this was nothing new to them. I watched the students proceed with their work like nothing had ever happened, and as Shackim came back in the class with his eyes full of tears no one looked at him, for they knew he got what he deserved.

It was an eye opening experience to see the students and teachers not second guessing the act of licks. This culture is centered around aggression which has caused many of the islands cultural problems. But how do you change something so deeply embedded into a society? You cant, or at least not in the two years i am here. So i must learn to accept something different and make the small impact that i can.

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.