I SURVIVED!!!!

Yesterday was my first big event with the YWCA of Grenada and i think it went as well as expected. For such a small organization we really put on quite the big show. We held a Leadership Training for secondary students throughout the island. Secondary students here are what we consider Jr High-High School age kids in the States. Often times people are so focused on the at risk kids that they forget to honor the achieving kids, so our focus yesterday was letting the high achieving kids know just how great they are doing.

We had facilitators on topics such as conflict resolution, teamwork, self-esteem and moral/social values. Though i wish that it could of been more interactive, the speakers overall were very good. I got the chance to meet the oldest YWCA member on island, who has been a member for over 45 years. I wished i had more time to speak with her to hear some great stories of how the Y originated and such. Maybe i will get the chance later on in my service.

After a long day of organizing, stressing and finally finishing it felt good to come home and know i had accomplished my first of many tasks.

I thought today would be a fairly quiet day around the Y since we had just put on a big event, but what was i thinking? haha. We had our annual office cleaning today. We rearranged things, deep cleaned and even found some fun crafts. I saw a computer box in the corner while cleaning and asked if there was a computer in it. My counterpart told me it had been sitting there for months because no one knew how to put it together. Mack to the rescue! Little plug here, little switch here and BAM, we have a brand new computer to use! yay!

Side note: Ive been hearing from people via email that are interested in joining the Peace Corps and stumbled upon my blog. Its nice to know my blog has some positive influence! :)


YWCA Volunteers

Group picture with their shirts

Realization

I go to my community primary school called St. Paul's Government on Tuesdays. I work with a first grade class of about 30 kids. I knew i was in the right place when locals informed me its the loudest school on island. I've grown really attached to my kids there and cant wait til Tuesday comes every week. But today something happened that made me take a step back and realize what i was here for.

I was sitting in the back of the class as the teacher was collecting lunch money, getting the kids settled and seeing if everyone showed up today. Its not unusual for kids to only come to school 3-4 times a week and lateness is pretty typical. But today it was around 9:30 as one of my students comes straggling in late since school started an hour ago. She was wearing two different shoes, had holes in her white knee high socks, her skirt was dirty and her white shirt was stained with yesterdays lunch. She had this look of shame on her face as Ms. Mitchell walked to the back of the class to speak to her. They were mumbling back and forth to each other so i couldn't make out what was said, but Ms. Mitchell caught my eye and i could see there was a story behind this.

When the bell rang for break about 10:30 I approached Ms. Mitchell to get some explanation as to what this little girls story was. She informed me that this precious little girl has an older sister and brother, both who attend St. Paul's Govt. They are currently homeless, as the dad and mom recently lost their jobs. They are currently sleeping on the beach and have only their school uniforms as clothes. The only meal she and her siblings eat is the free lunch the school gives them everyday, typically some rice and a piece of chicken. My heart was in shatters as Ms. Mitchell was telling me this students story, i had to do something. So as the mid morning break bell rang i called this little girl over and asked if she had a snack for break, even though i knew the answer. I knew i had 5 dollars in my bag, 2.50 of it to get home, but at this point i didn't care, this little girl hadn't ate in over 24 hours. I took her down to the Greens where vendors set up to let the kids buy snacks and let her pick out everything she could buy for 5 bucks. She was in heaven. She looked up and said "Thank you miss, my stomach has been growling since last night," then ran off to play with her friends.

It was this small moment that made me realize just how much i take for granted. As i return to my village and my nice little apartment, she and her family search for food and a place to sleep. Why do i deserve this apartment? I don't.

One positive thing i learned at school today though is that the quickest way to a kids heart is through a digital camera. I busted it out during break and got some hilarious photos. After they pose for the camera its always "let me see it, let me see it!" They LOVE to see themselves on the camera. I'm going to find a way to print them off so i can put them up in the classroom. Here were the results:

Turtle Watching and Enchiladas

When arriving on island and getting the chance to meet some awesome locals I have heard many times that I needed to go see the sea turtles, and last night i FINALLY got that chance. I will recap the night for you:

Ten of us piled into a bus and took the hour long ride up to Sauters, a rural area on the north tip of the island. Now i know what your thinking, the island is only 20 miles tall and it took us an hour to get there? Yes, it did. Welcome to 180 degree turns on the sides of cliffs. :) We arrived in Sauters where one of the volunteers lives. We have 4 and a half vegatarians with us, so we typically eat alot of veggie stuff which is totally ok with me, but when i heard Jacq say she was making us enchiladas for supper i knew i was in for a treat. Im used to the fabulous Del Rio beef enchiladas that make my mouth water, but we have two Mexicans in our group, so i knew they would put up a fight. We feasted like kings and queens off black bean enchiladas, hummus and veggies, salsa and MAYBE a little rum. As Peace Corps volunteers it comes natural to make due with what we have, so when there was only 5 forks and 7 plates for 12 people in all...we busted out the wooden spoons and pan lids...of course for the males! It was delicious!!!

After supper we decided to head to Levera Beach where the turtle watching takes place. Every year in April the sea turtles of the Caribbean Sea come ashore to lay bury their eggs in the sand so that 70-90 days later they will hatch and new little turtles will join the great big sea. This is one of the most amazing things i have ever seen...hands down. These massive creatures venture so far out of their homes to come ashore and lay anywhere from 90-130 eggs. We got to see the momma dig her hole 4 ft in the sand and then for over 45 minutes labor out over 100 eggs, then bury the sand over them and decend back into the ocean. It was incredible to watch these giant creatures gasp and dig all while tons of people were watching them and researchers were helping.

Turtle watching is hands down one of the things i suggest everyone to see in their lifetime. It puts into perspective just how amazing our marine life is and how much we must protect it.

Tomorrow our EC 81 group is participating in the Diabetes Foundation "Pump It Up" walk across town. Im excited to get out into the public for a good cause!

Caribbean Sunset

I don't think there is a better place in the world to enjoy a sunset then in Grenada. We have some of the best beaches in the world, but i can promise we have the most beautiful sunset of them all. Its crazy that i was given the opporotunity to serve my country, serve the people of Grenada, and see this sunset...

So truthful of the Situation

Found this on a fellow PCVs blog from Tonga. Thought it was fitting for the situation of many Peace Corps volunteers who serve so selflessly. Its the little things we do to help people that bring us the most satisfaction. We are striving to make leeps of change, we are living everyday for the little moments that make us realize why we chose this path in life. So here is to all the PCVs serving proudly for the little moments of gratitude:



"If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank and spare change somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. Oh, and if you can read this you are more blessed than more than two billion people in the world who cannot read. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -Mark Twain

being is doing

When people hear the term Peace Corps they often think of remote countries with foreign people, or hippie Americans dying to help people, or the more common one from back home: CRAZY!

Its days like Sundays that i reflect on just why i joined the Peace Corps. Since moving into my own apartment last weekend Ive had LOTS of down time with not much to do. I cant clean my room anymore, there are no dirty dishes and all my clothes are clean. So after trying to keep myself busy in the house i realize i just need to sit and "be." I grab my computer and head outside to my verandah where i can see the beautiful mountains, neighboring villages and the blue ocean. I look out at the horizon thinking that's the way to my home, but I'm content with being so far from that place.

I realize that my understanding of the Peace Corps lifestyle was so naive before coming here. I assumed i would constantly be busy doing things with kids, organizing events and implementing programs. But what i didn't realize is that this place values the down time. Grenada loves to just "be," enjoying the beautiful weather, spending time with people and caring for their homes. I find myself anxious to get out and do something on days like today, where there is no public transportation and the closet village being many miles from my apartment.

So today, after i finish my cleaning, cooking and laundry i have decided to grab my book, head outside and just "be". There aren't that many moments left in life to just relax with a good book and appreciate all the wonderful things life has given you. I will start that today...

Swearing In

Its official, Im a member of the EC 81 Peace Corps VOLUNTEER group now. I officially moved from the trainee group to the big bad volunteer group. It feels so good!