The Most...

The other day I was talking to my friend Rashawna and she was telling me about an interesting idea her step dad sent her for a blog entry I loved the idea so much I asked if I could do the same thing. Here is what her dad wrote: In the first 8 months can you remember the time you were most afraid? Tell me the story. How about the time you were most lonely? Most happy? Most silly? Most awe-inspiring? Most sorrow for the sadness of the place? Most filled amazement at the wonderfulness of the people? Most struck by the beauty? Most angry and frustrated? Like I said, a great idea for a blog entry so here I go

Most Afraid- The plane ride here no I am just kidding, well kind of! I dont know if there has been a time I have been really afraid I mean leaving home was pretty scary, and sometimes when the power goes out in the middle of the night and you hear voices outside that no picnic either but I really feel safe here and havent had too many scary moments. I am lucky I guess!

Most Lonely- There are two moments that stand out in my mind for the loneliest. The first would be my first day here on the island. For over a week I had been surrounded by people constantly, sitting in training, eating meals together, even sharing a room at night, and forming such tight bonds so fast with everyone around me. And then we get to the island and my host family picks me up to take me home. I had to leave everyone at the airport, with no cell phone and no idea if I would have Internet at my new home  so basically no way to contact anyone I knew.... I still remember sitting in my host familys living room not understanding a word my host sister was saying, eating food I had never had before, and feeling so out of place. I felt like all I had was me Of coarse the next day I went to training and saw everyone, eventually we got cell phones, I had Internet, over time I understood my host sister just fine and was very comfortable in my host familys house. And now I know, that even when its just me thats ok, I like me, and eventually things that seem strange and out of place will come together.

The other would have to be the night before any holiday The holidays themselves are not lonely I am generally surrounded with people and I find it fascinating to see how Dominicans celebrate holidays. But the night before when I am laying in bed I cant help but think back to what my family and friends will be doing together the next day and what I am missing out on. Eventually after sad thoughts and yes even some crying I realize how blessed I am to be here, and that soon enough I will be back home to celebrate with everyone and I feel better. (Often I skype my mom during these times  lucky her!) Then the next day I wake up ready for another Dominican adventure!

Most Happy- My trip to Antigua and my Birthday Beach Day stand out as very happy times but I dont think I have a most happy moment because I am normally happy here. I have my ups and downs like anybody, but overall I would say I am happy here. I think island life had done me good. I wake up happy to be where I am, I am happy to be doing the work I am doing, and I am happy to be me! I am blessed to be here and I remember that everyday multiple times a day and I try to spend the day living up to that blessing. I feel like I am growing as a person and that I am doing good things all this makes me feel happy a good 98% of the time.

Most Silly- I find a lot of things in Dominica to be silly from the random comments I get to some of the situations I find myself and others in. Things just run differently here and often I choose to laugh about them rather then get frustrated or annoyed. But I would have to say the little children here take the cake for being the most silly. Everyday is a new adventure with the kids you never know what funny thing they are going to do or say next. Life looks much more simple through there eyes. I love how they are not ashamed to ask to touch my white skin or play with my hair or ask me weird questions. My favorite comment out of a kids mouth came after I got my nose pierced, I walked in and this little girl looked at me and says What is that in your nose TAKE IT OUT! I couldnt help but laugh!!! Another image that stands out in my mind was when I saw this little boy named Marvin (he was my adopted son for the Carib Territory fieldtrip) running down the road with three goats on a leash and the biggest smile I have ever seen!

Most Awe-Inspiring- This is probably going to sounds a little strange but my most awe-inspiring moments normally hit me when I am on a bus. Weird I know, but here is why: When I take my weekly trip to town I am normally sitting on a crowded bus listening to my iPod and letting my mind wander for the hour or so it takes to get there. And ever so often amidst the random thoughts we turn a corner and there it is the ocean, the amazingly huge ocean, right there 10 feet away from my bus, and I cant help but think about how amazing this island is and how blessed I am to be here. Whenever this happens I cant help but to take a moment and think about how proud I am to be a Peace Corps Volunteer, and how this experience is going to be with me for the rest of my life and help shape me into the person I will be.

Most Sorrowful- This moment actually happened when my parents were visiting. We were driving around killing time, till my laundry was done, checking out parts of Portsmouth that I had never even been too, when we drove past this little shack, for lake of a better word. My mom was the first to notice the little house; it was packed with so many people, children and adults alike. The laundry was hanging outside and as a result most of the kids running around were naked due to the fact that their only cloths were there on the line. Here we were driving around in our car waiting on laundry to be done for me and this family was literally washing the only cloths they had. Then when I thought I couldnt feel anymore, I recognized one of the little girls and realized I knew the family caught in this cycle of poverty.  She is one of the sweetest happiest kids I have ever met despite her home life. It really made me realize how bless I am and that there is a reason why I am here doing what I am doing.

Most Filled Amazement at the Wonderfulness of the People- This moment happens daily here on this island. Everyone is so willing to help anybody not just their friends or family but literally everyone! I remember my first day of training and my first bus experience here on Dominica. My host mom road with me all the way to the PC office to drop me off and to show where to wait for a bus, where to get off, how to pay, how much to pay you know all that stuff you never think about till you realize you have never done it. After training my host day was going to pick me up (he is a bus driver) and take me home. Well turns out he got busy with a bus full of tourists so he called and said I would have to make it back without him. He told me where to go in town to get a bus and to tell the drive to drop me out the house. I found the bus stop (Im still proud of myself for that) but the only problem was I didnt have any idea where the house is I mean I knew it was in Portsmouth but that was about it (hey I had only been there a day so dont judge.) Anyways I walked up to the bus and asked, Do you know where Wayne McLawerence lives thinking that was a stupid question so I wasnt prepared when the drive said yes of course he knew the McLawerences and would drop me there! (I soon found out that everyone know everyone else on this island) Not only did he drop me there, but also he went out of his way to drop me at the front door, and over some pretty crazy roads too. And not one person on the bus was annoyed at the detour!

Most Struck by the Beauty- Literally everyday! This place is more beautiful then you can image and it never ceases to amaze me. Everyday I walk out my door it hits me, and I never get tired of seeing ocean!

Most Angry and Frustrated- There have been a number of times that I have been frustrated on this island, and most time I just remind myself to relax and find the humor in each situation. However the other day that tact didnt pull through. Last week, when I was teaching my art class at CALLS, was by far the most frustrated I have been! My kids were crazy, out of control, and wanted to test me it was too much! There were fights, kids punching the walls, no one wanted to do their work, I got flipped off, and each student magically got allergies to dust when the time came to clean up. Their disrespect was almost too much for me to handle. Somehow I was able to pull trough the class (all 2 hours of it) and make it home, where my poor mom had to calm me down over skype. Now that I have had some time to relax I know that these kids have had a rough life, and it will just take time for them to respect me. They dont have much consistency in their lives and probably no one to trust or anyone who had really cared about them until CALLS. I guess it just a little reminder why I am here and why I decide to volunteer at CALLS in the first place they just better be nicer next week!

So thanks to Rashawnas step dad for the great blog idea! It was great to sit down and think about all these things like a trip down memory lane!