What do you do in the Peace Corps?

Well I know it has been a little while since I last updated my blog, and for a few days now I have been wanting to update it and tell everyone about my job here on Dominica, the only problem is  Im not really clear what it is yet. Dont get me wrong, I know why I am here and I keep myself busy everyday but I have yet to find that one project that stands out from the rest. I guess I will tell you what I do know rather than what I dont:

I am attached to the Town Council here in Portsmouth. The Town Council is the local government here in Portsmouth and maintains the town. I stop by the office three times a week to help with daily work. Mostly preparing bills, attending the council meeting, things like that. However I am too new to take on larger projects as of right now, which is eventually the goal of my Peace Corps work. For now I am just trying to earn trust and get to know people.

Also the other larger set back, other than being a new young American that no one knows, is things here in Dominica move at a different pace then I am use to back home. That is to say, things move slower here, a lot slower. Im not saying they dont get things done here in Dominica; there is just a different focus then back home. And it takes a lot of time to build relationships and to earn the trust of the community, it also takes a long time to plan actives and get things done. By the time I get home, I will be the most easy-going person you have ever meet. I thought I was patient before, but that is tested here everyday.

I am also attached to Roosevelt Douglas Primary School. I visit the school at least once a week, if not more, and work with the students there. Right now my main focus is with one of the first grade classes, you can see the photos of the kids and me. Some days I grade papers, some days I read to the kids, and some days I help some of the students who are falling a bit behind. Mostly giving them one on one time with tests and projects. Every time I am there I am nearly knocked over when I walk in the doors by 40 or 50 kids who all want hugs. :)

One of my main goals that I want to accomplish at the school is setting up the library, the school is a brand new, they have been open for a year, and the library has still not been set up. However like I said before things move slower here. The lady who is working on the library has been on vacation since I got here, so I am still waiting on her return to start this project.

When I am not at the town council or RDPS I fill my time with as many other activities as I can. For example today I just got back from volunteering at CARE for the elderly. Today we did Meals in Wheels and distributed soup, rice, and bread all over Portsmouth. On Friday I went to a near by village named Cottage and helped a friend put on a movie night for the youth in the area. And soon I hope to start going to a Steel Drum group and learn how to play. Every week I also take a trip into town to get mail and visit the bank, and do shopping. And on top of it all I am teaching myself how to cook the food here, and we all know I dont really enjoy cooking that much. There are tons of other random things I do here but like I said Im still trying to work towards a bigger project.

I dont know if that made any sense to anyone but me. Its really hard when someone asks you what you do in the Peace Corps because there are so many different elements to it. Not only do I work here, but I am also trying to learn a new culture and integrate into the community. Everyday I do something new, I meet new people, I learn something new about Dominica and about myself, and everyday I have to remind myself to take it one small step at a time.

Its Official!

Well its official now, I am an official Peace Corps Volunteer!!! I am no longer a trainee because yesterday we had our swearing in ceremony! Its so crazy to think that I started this whole process over a year ago and now here I am living in Dominica as a PCV!

The ceremony started with a prayer, as do all the official events and meeting here, follow by the singing of Dominicas National Anthem and the American National Anthem. Then our APCD Patrick spoke and the Country Director, Margo. Mostly just a brief overview of what Peace Corps is and what they are doing on the island, followed by a congratulations to the soon to be volunteers.

Then our host families were recognized. Really without them the transition would have been much harder for all of us. They all got to come onto the stage and receive a certificate from the PC thanking them for all they do. Both my host parents were able to attend so that was really great to see them up there.

After that it was time to take the official oath. We all had to stand on the stage and raise our right hands and swear in as official volunteers. I felt a little dorky up there with my hand in the air repeating the oath, but it was actually really cool when you think about it. Then we got our certificates and our Peace Corps IDs, a pin and a patch. Like I said Im official now!

Then came the part I was most nervous about. We had to give a presentation in Kreyol, the local language here. We decided to do a skit on what we have experienced so far on the Island. Here was my line:

Flex, Mwen pa yon etyodyan Ross. Mwen se yon ofisya Peace Corps eve jodi a nott ka organize yon jou spo an pak-la nou vle tout moun vini.

Basically I said:

Flex (the host of our radio talk show) Im not a Ross Student, I am a Peace Corps and we are having a sports day in the park tomorrow and everyone should come.

Its a running joke here that everyone thinks just because I am white and living in Portsmouth I am a Ross student (it is an American medial school here in Portsmouth), in fact I dont even have to find buses to come home from the capital, they find me.

The skit actually went really well and we got a lot of laughs out of the crowd. Following the skit Alex did our vote of thanks in Kreyol , she did a great job and everyone could even understand what she was saying. And that was it. We had refreshments after and I was able to spend some time with my host mom.

And to end the day, all the volunteers on Dominica got lunch together. Which was nice, we were able to relax and chat and just enjoy the idea that we are now official Peace Corps Volunteers!!!

Good by training and hello working!

On My Own Again

Well the day has finally come; I am now living in my own apartment here in Dominica! I moved out of my host familys house yesterday in the pouring rain after going to the market in the rain to stock my new house with fresh fruits and veggies! I spent the entire day yesterday cleaning and unpacking and was able to transform this tiny apartment into a home by the end of the day. I think its going to be a great place to live for my two years here.

I live right in the heart of Portsmouth, directly across the playing field, a 20 second walk to my school attachment and a 2 min walk to my job. Everything I need is a short walk away, from the bus stop, to shops and restaurants, and everything in between. There is also a little restaurant close by that has pizza on Friday nights! What a great place to be living.

My apartment is attached to my landlords house. Their house is L shaped and my little place is under one side of the L. We have a little courtyard with grass and flowers, and a cement wall surrounds the entire place (doesnt sound nice but it is), just out side the gate there are more beautiful flowers. I have my own gate that I use and my own little porch to sit out on and lime (chill).

I have a one-bedroom, one bathroom apartment. The living room, dining room and kitchen are all in one. ☺ I have wireless Internet!!! Cable TV (yeah I know I just said I have cable TV  crazy!) And the Pice de rsistance, I have hot water!!!!! I took my first hot shower yesterday since leaving the Untied States. It was lovely!!!! It will probably cost me an arm and a leg but oh well its so worth it!

Last night was my first night sleeping in a place all on my own since I moved home from Fort Collins. Im not gonna lie, it was a little hard to fall asleep, I guess I just felt a little lonely after constantly being around people for 8 weeks straight. But I finally did fall asleep, after a bit of skyping, chatting with the other volunteers, and some TV to distract me, and I slept well through the whole night. And in the morning it felt great to wake up in my own apartment.

All in all its an amazing place to live and I am very happy to be here. I also uploaded lots of photos and a video tour!

Oh and special thanks to Aunt Patti and Uncle Al, the gorgeous piece of art hanging in my living room is all thanks to them. What would an artist house be with out a little art on the walls right? It really makes my house a home!

Happy Easter!

Just wanted to say Happy Easter Everyone from Dominica!

I just celebrated with a 3:30 hour Easter Mass. It was a very beautiful very long (10:00pm to 1:30am) mass, so Im off to bed. Goodnight!