Day # 37 Teaching the TH sound

This morning I went to training and we got to meet some of the other Peace Corps volunteers, we talked about gender roles and relationships it was interesting to here about the differences in countries.   After lunch we headed to are school so we could teach for the second time, I really didn't want to teach, but I didn't have any choice. Ssuprisingley it went better than yesterday. we chose to teach the TH sound based on evaluations that we received from the school. We had 5th graders from the special education class. They really liked are games that we played and they understood are concept, but best of all we received a better score than yesterday. I still do not want to become a teacher but I can understand some of the rewards that you would get from it. It was a short one hour class that we thought but we planed it and made up all of the games. When returned to training we had t debrief. I was happy when the day was over, I like training I feel like I am learning a lot but they are long days. When I got home I ate and showered so that we could go shopping for tomorrow. I am so exited about tomorrow we are going to a street dance party. I would have waited to tell you tomorrow but I don't know if my blog will get done tomorrow due to the fact that I am going to be out late and I have to be up at like 3am so get ready to catch my flight to Grenada. Any ways so Jezel, my host mom went out to Rodney bay for cloths. I got one work shirt, and 2 going out tops so that I cam be prepared. After that I got my last birthday gift, it was an hour massage from my aunty. It was so amazing I have never had one before but i was in a hole different world when it was happening my mind went blank and I was so relaxed. I truly needed that I think. It helped relive stress and the nots in my body. She used coconut oil and the room was beautiful. When I got back I started to pack, it is so sad packing I am not ready to leave I feel like I am just getting started here in St. Lucia and I am happy here. I don't think anything will ever replace how grateful I a for having this host family that loves me so much I want to come and see them a few times while I am still a PCV. Any ways I am all packed other than my laundry and bath stuff. I'm a little over wait but I think it will be ok. I realized when I came that I had to much carry on so  I packed some of that stuff. I was so happy that the Peace Corps decided to send my first aid kit, mosquito net and my paper work for me to Grenada so I don't have to worry about that.
ok all I am going to bed I am so exited about going out tomorrow and going to get a small replacement camera because of corse I am having problems with mine still.
night night                          

Day #36 My 24th Birthday

This morning was great I woke up and got dressed, headed out to eat some breakfast. While I was eating breakfast my host mom gave me a bag to open and her mom sang me happy birthday.  My gift is amazing it’s a t-shirt that has a family photo on the front that says “Happy Birthday Allie We Love You” and on the back there is a picture of me and it says “Stay As Sweet As You Are”, so now I have a t-shirt to remind me of my first special host family in St. Lucia, I love them so much I cant wait to come back and visit them. I don’t know if I told you or not but my host mother also had a skirt and dress made for me so now I have something to where on some of their traditional days. It makes me so happy that they love me. Any ways so I have my birthday shirt on for my first day of teaching. Also host my aunt bought my birthday cake so that was special.  After that my host father took all of us to school, that was a nice change.  My host father is grate person, father and businessman; he’s smart and loving of everything around him. When I got to school everyone loved my t-shirt. One of the activity’s we where going to start involved us standing in a circle so everyone sang me happy birthday and they asked me for a speech. I am such a bad public speaker but I just told everyone that “I was happy to have a new family to start my new journey”, I do feel like I have made some good new friends that are all at my leave and have been threw what I have to get where they are in life. Its an amazing feel to find yourself fitting into a puzzle you didn’t know existed.  The day has just started and there is more to come the teachers are back to work today off of their strike so I have my first student teaching to do, all keep you posted. 

Teaching      

So we ended up teaching a 3rd/4th grade class with 8 students. My host cousin was in my class that I was teaching so that was fun. Todays subject was successes and how they achieved them. So we used a palm tree for are explanation. They put their helping factors on leafs and their successes on coconuts. It was fun but they didn't understand the difference between successes and hobbies so that was where we went wrong but we didn't want to correct them because they where getting into it and having fun. We got a 42 out of 50 so thats not to bad. We have another one tomorrow. This teaching experience was good but it confirms that I don't want to be a teacher.  When school was over I headed home and gathered the family so that we could go t the host family appreciation night. All of the host families got awards and the PC had dinner for them so that was a nice thing to say thank you. When we where done all of us went to the movie theater we saw Warm Bodies It was a cute movie. Then we all played game it was a lot of fun. My day was perfect other than the teaching part.

Love you All good night               

Day #35 Party Time

Today was a fun day I went class and then came home with Gabi and Chase I gave them a tour of the chickens, explained how the farm worked and then we watched Yanick try to light the bamboo. Bamboo bursting is when you add a flammable substance to your hollowed out piece of bamboo its kind of like fire works but just sound, smoke and flames. After that Briget, Elsabeth and Vatisha came and the party started, My host mother was coking up a storm. She made aqua witch is like a fish patties, back (bread), chicken wings, cocoa tea, salad, and plantain salad. An extra bit of excitement was Marvin decided he was going to DJ for me I felt to special. The girls also decided that they where going to dance for everyone, free internment. It was so much fun to dance and have my family their with me I could not have all 25 of them but I had the 8 that lived closes come over. It was grate even my PCV friend got to cook and try new things. It was an amazing evening that ended with Champagne and home made wine. It was good wine too.

DJ Marvin 

good night friends and Family    

Day #34

Today was a good day because I didn't have to teach, I don know why but I am scared to teach. Any ways we talked today about the support we would get if we where assaulted it was a a dark subject and I did not really like it, but I found out that we will get a lot of support if it happens so that is good. We got out early so I rushed home so that I could work on the farm, to my luck I made it just in time they where going to unload the truck agin. So I helped Mickey collect the bags when they where done dropping the grain into the silo. It was a good night I got to take a lot of pictures, but they are ones that you have already seen for the most part. To nights going to be an early night because I'm tiered and I have time to catch up on sleep. Im getting sad that I only have 4 more days left. I have to leave at 4:00am to get to the multi purpose center by 4:30 am saturday. boy that sucks!              

Day #33 Pigeon Island National Landmark

The first part of my day I was working on the chicken farm I cleaned a bunch of eggs and then I helped box them up. I love it when they say WOW your fast for just learning, I think I could do it as a job. Pigeon Island National Landmark is where the British and French came to fight for the land of St. Lucia. Today their was also a food fair with all kinds of food booths, Japanese, Philippines, Jamaican, Guyana and sweets. We got to try a lot of different things and it was all yummy. We also walked to the top of the fort to see the canons and prison cells. After the food fair we went into Rodney Bay to meet my host mother's son who is a police officer,  the pizza pizza had music playing and people everywhere. It was a fun night. If you want more information on Pigeon Island National Landmark I aded a website for you to go to

 http://slunatrust.org/sites/pigeon-island-national-landmark

Soca music

St. Lucia we love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtgHyIv9jG4

Soca Music

http://www.socafreak.com/lucian-soca-2012.html

Ps. Thank you Marvin for giving me like 10,000gb of music

Day #32 Iron Chef (Best In Show)

Today was one of the best days that I have had here I got up early so that I could help the family cook for the Iron chef competition, We where going to make  Plantain salad and ripe plantain sandwiches. I was exited because I live plantains, and their was no tomatoes. We chopped, cleaned, boiled, and mixed all of are stuff and put it together. I was so exited when I saw what we had created. We where running late but that didn't matter because one of the 4 judges was running late so where running on St. Lucia time as they say. Any ways everyone was their and people where already setting up to show the judges one of their two plates. People made all kinds of different things, pies, pasta, salads and sweets. We where the last to show the judge what had put together but they thought that it was one of the most creative dishes, they seamed happy with what we had done. When it came time to find out the results we all had this feeling that we had won something but we didn't know what. They called best use of local staples, most creative, most pleasant, and then last of all best in show. THAT WAS ME!!!!!!! I never in anything so it was so awesome to finally win something my hole family went up with me. I really love my host family and they love me. My next host family has some really big shoes to fill. I wish that St. Lucia was my host country some times because I am getting so comfortable here.  

Day #31 the dump

So this morning I was up at 6;30 and on the chicken farm by wish. Today is the day that they tack all of the chicken wast to the dump. Why do you ask am i interested  in this, well because i waned to see how they manage their countries garbage. So we loaded up the truck and took a nice drive threw the country to the dump. The dump is a well organized place that didn't smell. Mot of the people burn their trash. It took about an hour to get all of that done. When we came back we did the rounds and fixed up some stuff around the chicken houses. I don know why but I really do enjoy being around the boys. Then I was asked to attend a fashion show at a local primary school. I didn't really want to go but my host sister had won Calypso yesterday and I missed her performance and she was going to sing agin and I wanted to see. But also my friends doughtier we in the pagent. It turned out to be a well organized tradition. My friends daughter ended up winning. It was like the miss america but in a school version. They still had to dress up and answer questions. The school even had food. it has been a long day so I will update this more tomorrow along with pictures. Night night          

Day #30 Poetry Slam 2/21/13

Today we are supposed to be doing assessment on children's literacy. We are supposed to be provided with some school children from the primary school. We also found out last night that the union might be having a meeting during the school day so we will have to see if we get are kids to asses or not. So surprisingly we did end up getting all of the struggling readers to asses their literacy levels. It was a short but efficient test. We had to ask are student to read a list of made up words to us out loud, if they mispronounced it we were supposed to write it down. When we where done all of us as a group talked about all of the commonalties that we saw in the students, and things that we would have changed about the way the test went. Both of the fifth grade girls that I had where good readers. I am glad that I got them because I was really nervous to have to test someone on something that I was not good at. But it worked out. When we where all done with that we received an assessment that a teacher had done with a student and she were supposed to create a lesson plan based on the problems that we saw. It was good practice because next we had to get into are groups so we could start planing are literacy plan. We got a group of about ten 5th graders that have debilities. I am so exited about working with these kids it will be my first time teaching and working with the special ed population. We planed some fun stuff like BINGO and a picture to word matching game. When I got home I decided that I wanted to go and work on the farm, they where sone for the most part but Marvin was still their so I did the rounds with him and then he gave me some of his soca music. He is such an amazing person, he works hard always has a smile on his face and he's always ready to help other learn. When I was done uploading music to my laptop he started showing me how he DJ's. It was fun mixing the different songs. I got ready shortly after because I was going to go to the poetry slam but it got canceled due to a CD release. We ended up down in Rodney Bay, dancing the night away and walking on the beach with rum-punch.

Day # 29 Planning

Today was more literacy training, we created some projects to work with are students with. It was frustrating but good because we have are literacy practicum on monday, we have not yet started to design that yet as a group we are still finishing up are other practicum on life skills. Its hard working in a group with people of all personalities each person wants it their way, but I think thats part of learning process. Not much new other than that.  Tomorrow is going to be more intreating I'm exited. you'll have to read my blog to find out why.  

Day #28 Literacy

Today was a good day I was always entertained in training today but I did find out where some of my biggest weakness are. Today we started are literacy training going over all kinds of terms and ways that we can teach are class for are practicum. I discovered that I didn't know what what half of the terms where or how they worked. This is one of those things that just does not fin into my brain the way that it should. I have trouble with spelling, grammar and reading. I don't think that I even read up to the level that I am supposed to be at. It took a lot of work from my teachers and family to get to where I am today. So I am concerned about teaching literacy to young children that struggling already I don't want teach them something that is wrong. Although on a positive note if their is a child with any kind of disability I can relate to them and try to help them, show them the tricks that helped me learn when I was in school. I also hope that this helps me become stronger in my weakest areas. I did talk to my manager in Grenada about my problems with literacy and that I don't really want to teach that kinds of things but if I have to it will have to be laid out for me and spelled checked before I address the class. He understood and assured me that I am sill going to be a good asset for the school that I will be working in. Latter in the day we got together in are groups for are first teaching in the school that we started the other day. I think that it is going to be really fun and useful for the kids. It going to be about their support systems and accomplishments in life, how they got their and who helped them. Its going to be very interactive and hands on. Thats how I learn.                      

Day #27 Palm Tree

Today in training we got in are groups of three so that we could talk about we where going to teach are classes. We where assigned class and given a manual to get ideas from. Are group will be teaching at the primary school. We decided to create a hands on assignment for the kids to talk about their goals and achievements. We drew a palm tree including ruts and each part of the palm tree represents something for example the routs are where they got their inspiration from and the base of the tree is the support system. We are going to have the kids fill out coconuts will be their accomplishments. We are going to have them talk about who helped them achieve their goals. I think its going to be fun for them to stick them on the tree that I drew for them. When I got home it was relaxing I uploaded my pictures and talked with my family. After dinner we went next door and I got my fitting for my dress that I am going to have made. I am exited about that it will be made with traditional fabric and lace.      

Day #26 Drive threw volcano

Today was the dive threw volcano, so we started the day nice and early. I was exited and I felt so spoiled to see that we had a buss waiting for us. One of my host fathers friends drives a bus so he decided to take us. He stopped at all of the few points so we could take pictures. We had about 12 of us all together, each one of them loves to take pictures so that worked out in my favor. We took 300 picks today.  It was amazing to drive around the island and see the mountains, people and surprises along the way.  We stopped on the side of the road so that I could get my picture taken with a snake, all of the girls where scaredy cats. First we drove up to diamond water falls it was so beautiful, the water is grey from the sulfur of the volcano, yes it is still alive its just sleeping. We had lunch all together in the rain forest it was very nice. My host mom cooked all last night and this morning so that we would have lunch. After that we headed up to see the sulfur springs, it was so amazing to see the pools bubbling away, right net to that was yellow rocks and steam. It even had a nice little guest center with a movie and explanations. After that we headed down to have a sulfur bath. So warm and the water was flowing and grey. We smeared the fine sulfur all over are bodies because it is supposed to be good for your skin and general health. That was a lot of fun. It was a long day so we started are 1hour 45min trip back up to the house. Along the way we had to stop because someones car had flipped over and people where all around. The man in the car survived and was sitting up but gosh its scary t think about. Here it is tight corners, steep hills and fast moving cars. But I am safe at home in bed.
Thank you so much to my host family for taking me out. Pictures coming soon.

xoxoxoxo        

Day # 25 Zip lining / cultural event

Ok so saturday was amazing we got to do the zip line and the sky ride. We took a tram threw the rain forest tree tops. When we got to the top of the mountain we hiked for 15 min while are tour guide pointed out different types of ferns, trees and flowers. It was an amazing magical place. We didn't see any animals other than birds, not even a snail. I was tariffed to do the zip line but once I got strapped in I just went for it. We did 9 zip lines threw the tree tops, I was trying to take pictures while I was flying threw the trees but I was to nervous. Their is a lot that you need to do, keep your head back, hold on to to the bar and keep your feel up. It was a grate feeling to so something that I was scared or, and now I can cross that off of my bucket list. It was a grate day.

Then It was on to the cultural night with the Peace Corps. We all had to get are families to work on something to the rest of the group. We did a skit on how people used to do house work in the old and days. We made a broom from sticks, soap from leaves and used a corn husk to wash are cloths. My host mother narrated and my host sister acted with me. A lot of people dressed in the traditional clothing for their presentations. People did poems, songs, skits and much more it went from 6pm-9pm. It was a lot of fun. I was so tiered after that I couldn't write on my blog but here it is so enjoy.    

Day 24 nothing special

Today was boring other than the face that we are planing for the zip line tomorrow that should be fun if all works out right. I am so exited I'm going to take lots of pictures.
Coming soon love you  

Day #23 Valentines day

Watch this!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMKzLycjKMU

So this morning I awoke to this sweet video that made me cry. I feel s special that Joe put that together for me. I was sad that I had to rush off to training. Today we where supposed to go over debilities in the community, and I feel that they could have covered a lot more areas of it, but oh well. It was a very long day and I cant wait to go home and see what my host family has planed for tonight.      

Day #22 Chicken FEED!!!!!!

So agin training was long but I learned some valuable things about giving criticism to my students and teaches. We also had are second Kreowl lesson. I am having a hard time with the language but I think that I will be abel to pick some of it up, thank  goodness that Grenada's national language is english. After training was over I had my first interview, I was worried but it was nothing like I thought it was going to be. We just talked about how I was doing as a hole, host family, training, safety, and mentally. They also provided us at the beginning of the week with a hand out to fill out asking us questions based around what we had been learning. So that went well. I was exited when I got home because the boys where still hard at work with the chickens and I was asked if I wanted to some and watch slash help. I was so exited because a big truck was sitting outside and the boys had to unload all of the feed from it. It was crazy how fast they unloaded is and their was more than 400 bags of it. I ended up talking to the customs agent while they unloaded. In the Caribbean as I'm sure you all ready know their is a big problem with dug smuggling so they have to come out and inspect trucks that come from Jamaica and other such places. He was a very nice man, we talked about the PC and about things around town. I really wanted to help the boys unload but due to y back problems that I had in the past I don't want to add any extra stress to it. I did lift 3 bags just to try it and yes each bag was 55lb. once we had more than 500 bags in the shed we moved to the silo. The boys had to set all of the bags up, open them and dump them in. I was exited because they showed me how o open them, it was a bit tricker that I though it would be. They however where supper fast at it, so I just had to stay out of the way. I cleaned and helped one of the younger guys pick up trash. It was supper fun I dont know why I am drawn to the farm but I like it a lot. When that was said and done I when with my host father into the heart of the capital to drop some of the boys off. I had never been to that area before way up high on the mountain. We had a nice talk. When I came back I showered because I smelled funny and ate dinner. all and all it was a good day. I am truly amazed at how hard some people work in the world. I give you guys props for that.Im going to miss them all when I leave St. Lucia.                    

Day #21 youth panel

Today started off slow in training but after we lunch we went to a youth panel, it was a grate experience. We had 6 young men and woman who talked to us. The first was a young man who was educated and interested in theater. He expressed the fact that many people in St. Lucia don't think that you can be a dancer, or that art is really a career that you can have. The next was a 19 year old boy who had drooped out of school but had found his way back onto the right track. He talked to us about bulling in schools, drug, gang activity and how he discovered what it was like to be on the right track. After that was a young woman who decided that he community needed a change so she started a program where young kids come come and work on the communities well being together. It became a safe place for young boys and girls who had challenging home lives. It was sad to her about the abuse, mental and physical and what they had to do to survive in the world that they are living in. One of the most touching stories came from a girl who was almost raped by one of her teachers, she became a teen mother at the age of 17. She talked about why their is so much teen pregnancy, about HIV/AIDS, and how men treat woman in the Eastern Caribbean. One of my favorite speakers works in the National skills development center, it is one of the most amazing places, they take in people who have little to no life skills and train then for careers. It is a program that offers internships along with the education in a work environment. They also offer HIV/AIDS and other STD teasing, free contraception as well. Last but not least we had a young man who was influenced by a peace corps volunteer who came in 2007 if i remember correctly he started a pole vaulting program. To this day they have competitions and he went to represent St. Lucia and got second place. I think its so amazing to see some ones secondary working so effectively. He was promoting healthy habits and sports. The day ended well and now I am off to bed because I need an early night.

Day # 20 Tiered

Today was training agin we went over some more strategies for working with are students. Today was primarily about strategies to keep are students intrigued in what we are teaching but we also talked about all of the ups and downs we will have emotionally threw out are tour. They tried to provide outlets for us to go to when we are feeling alone or stressed out.  I have three more weeks to go in St. Lucia before I head to Grenada. I found today when I met my grenada director for the first time that I will be delivered strait to my host family from the air port.  It still amazes me that I have started my tour in the Peace Corps. I had so many fears before I came here, things are coming together slowly. I know I have just started my trip of a life time and it is amazing, I know that I have so much more to go threw, achieve and over come.  It was a a long day and I am tiered. I think that I a fatigued from all of the new things such as environment, people and training classes. I am having so much fun so I am hopping to be my peppy self shortly. On a happy note I love being an older sibling its fun!    

Day #19 Dauphin Beach St. Lucia

Today was my lazy day, so when I woke up I finished my blog from last night and washed my laundry. Some I had to hand wash but I got to use a washing machine for the rest so that was nice. When I was done with that I went into my room, I wanted to Skype some people but no one was up yet so I ended up falling asleep in bed before my host dad called me to eat lunch and get ready to go to the salon to get my hair done. I think I was spoiled today I got my hair corn rowed, nails painted and toes done as well. In St. Lucia they like bright colors so my toes are purple yellow and green. I like right colors so that worked out grate. By the time I was done Jenna was their to pick me up and she had all of the girls with  her, her mom to, her moms grate and supper funny. We went up the mountain to Dauphin beach. It is a historical beach because Carbs and Arawaks came and settled their.  So we saw some of the drawings that they had done on rock, we even got to see some of the rocks that they carved out and used to eat out of, and mack food in. On the beach their are small coconuts and lots of almond trees, the almonds are naturally salted from the sea water. It was a good trip, we all had fun. When we got back it was time for dinner and resting.   

Some of the local almonds and the plates of the Caribs.

Day #18 Chicken Farm

Ok so yesterday was a full day of fun. I started the day off by meeting Chase and Gabi for coffee. I had a vanilla chi ice tea, it was so yummy. After that we took several busses to get to are consolidation point. All that means that if their is some kind of disaster, or tropical storm working that we all go and meet up in one place. So when We got their we went over the handout and got a tour. When that was all done Me, Chase, Gabi and Myra went up the street to Rodny bay mall that was interesting. I wanted to hurry home so I could get started on the chicken farm. when I got home I ran up stairs got changed and headed down to the chicken houses. I really like the staff that I got to work with. My fist job was to clean the eggs. they supply eggs to almost all of the north part of St. Lucia so they clean thousands of eggs every day. I was exited because I surprised by being so fast, and I only broke 2 so that was good. After I got threw all of my eggs we went to go collect eggs so that we could finish cleaning eggs and package them. It was interesting to watch the chickens reactions when I would take their eggs. It was so cute because Arron my host brother who is 5 decided that we he was going to help me collect eggs. It didn't take very long because we only collected from one are of the chickens the rest had been collected before I got their. I did get to help feed the chickens well I got to watch,  I cant lift huge sacks of feed. I helped the boys with the switches that turned the comvaer belts on and off. My host dad loves his chickens and he does a check every day to make sure that everything is working properly. After that it was clean up time. I am hopping to go and work their agin next saturday so I can do some of the other jobs. I had a lot of fun getting dirty and getting to know the staff. When we where all done cleaning up my host mom took me on a walk and showed me some more plants that can be used for cooking. She was also trying to teach me some Kreol but its kind of like math it doesn't fit in my brain, but I'm going to keep trying. Then it was time to get ready for dinner. We all went to one of the local pizza places, it was crazy they had a kids playground, bigger than anything I have ever seen, it had one of those bungie    rides that you see at the fair pulse cotton candy. After dinner we got some ice cream so yummy I had raisen rum. It was a bit late but we walked threw the mall agin and window shopped. It was a good night and i got to see the island lights from on top of the mountain. It was a good day and I took lots of pictures so look on my face book.
              

Day #17 The conch horn

I like training because I learn something new every day but it is hard to sit still all day. Today we talked about creating relationships with teachers and are students. So the tittle of this post is conch horn because today while we where in class we kept herring a loud honking sound and it turned out to be that when ever they go around sounding of the horn it means that they have returned from fishing and that they have fresh fish for sail. They drive around down every street blowing the horn.After all of are classes We walked to the corner store for a popsicle, I was also looking for post cards but they didn't have any so I went looking for my host sister. She was not their so I headed home for supper. That was about it for the evening I made some more juice that was fun. I have also been spending time with the family.  I am exited for this weekend.

Its been a long week so I'm going call it an early night

Day #16 Lemon grass tea

Today was a good day I woke up to the girls coming in with the cat and they all cuddled up with me and we talked. After that I went out for breakfast and tea. Todays tea was lemon grass it was sweet and mellow it just so happens that it grows all over the island. Then I got ready for training, I decided to where my safari dress. I started walking with some of the Peace corps girls but today it was so hot. Half way down one of the trainers stopped and gave all of us a ride, it was very nice of him. Today in training we talked about HIV and AIDS, reporting problems and scenarios. When I came home I ate some banana stew with chicken in it, then we went to are workout class, that was fun. When we got back to the house I learned how to make some candy from one of the local plants I cant spell it but its called tamarind. I also made juice with it. I am learning so much from my host mother its amazing. MY host father IS super smart and nice as well, I think he is going to teach me how to do my books. He owns his own business so I can look at his as an example.  I am so exited because saturday I am going to help out on the farm.

ok well good night all
sweet dreams      

       

Day # 15 Poet The Poet

I know that some of you  might be getting tiered of me talking abut training but I find training to be very interesting. Today we talked abut adolescents behaviors. We broke into groups and worked on scenarios involving teen pregnancy, drug use and schooling, We then placed them on the chart where we thought they should go. Once we placed them on the chart we all got back together to discus are findings. Latter on in the day we had a man come I can't remember his name but her was well known in the community, he was an author, poet, who was also very good with the history of St. Lucia. So he told us about how the people got their and mixed the history with his poetry. He was a very good speaker. Class ran over a bot but I think that was good because I got to ride the bus all by myself, I did good I didn't get lost, and I walked their for the second time today. I feel good about all of that I feel like I can adapted. On a side not when I got home Arron gave me first kiss he's so cute, Ive always wanted siblings and now I have 3.  We also went over to my host moms house and she made me ginger tea wow was that spicy. Any who Im pooped time for bed good night all love you.

             

Day #14 walk to training

Ok this ones going to be short I am so tiered. Today instead of taking the buss I walked probably a mile and a half maybe more down to training with some of the girls, I think I will do that every morning for exercise and to save some money. In training today we talked about how how wont to be seen as individuals, social cues and are host families what we noticed that was different from the U.S. When I got home I ate dinner split pee sup with bananas, potatoes and lamb. Then we went outside and roasted corn that we got off of the street, it was a bit hard so we ended up playing with it having a corn fight. When that was done one of my host sisters decided to try and corn row my hair that was funny she ended up making a doughnut (bun). I felt like a part of the family I really like that.

Sweet dreams all Love you miss you  

Day #13 multipurpose senator

6am I woke up so that I could get ready with the girls so that I could ride the buss together. Its my first day of training. Rochelle showed me how to catch the buss and helped me pay the right amount that was fun. I walked up the street so that I could get some exercise in, it was nice and cool out. When I got their the secondary school next door brought the kids over to sing the national anthem. We also had a police officer come in and talk to us about the crime in St. Lucia, how things are handled and how to prevent them from happening.  Today was also an overview of how are training to become teachers is going to go week maybe week. I found out that I will have to plan how to teach a class and then actually teach students while being observed. Its gong to be hard but I am going to learn so much for when I am in Grenada. It was a long day but I think the best part was seeing my friends and eating my lunch that my host mother made for me it was so yummy. After I got back we went to a workout class. It was a lot of fun to dance to their music and watch all of the woman work out. I was starving when I came home so we ate some of the fish that we got from the market. I don't really like fish but my host mother made it really good with bananas, plantains, bred fruit, and some other yam. When I was done with diner I showed the girls photo booth they thought that was so funny. We had a good night :)                

Day #12 Church and hiking

I don't really go to church often but today was one of those days where I needed to go. My host family goes every sunday. So when I got up I got dressed and headed out for breakfast both of the girls said that I could not where slacks so I decided to let them help me pick out a dress, before I new it I was doing their make up and helping them pick out earnings. I feel like i am already a part of the family and its just day 2 of being with them. Church was long but they sang beautiful songs and they even announced that the Peace Corps was their, I felt welcomed. Half way threw the service Genevieve took me outside for a cool juice and biscuits (cookies) it was a nice break from everything. After church we headed home for lunch, it was a big lunch plantains, rice, beens, potatoes, and salt fish with bananas. When we where all done we went out to take somme pictures of the chickens Then we went on a hike to see where my host mom Genevieve was raised. It was an amazing house that we had to hike threw banana fields and threw a stream to get to but it was fantastic we all had a grate time and her mother came along with us and we stopped at a butter factory that slaves built and worked in, her mother worked their. Now it is not running its falling apart and plants are growing threw it but its a beautiful stunning sight to go look at. My host mother has shown me how many of the plants in the are are used as food sources, roots, fruits, vendables and good for sinks. They have such an easy life style use what you have around you and I am so exited to be learning how to use it because I think that I will be more healthy and safe if I live by that way of life. By the end of the day we/I had taken 130 pictures we had so much fun. Who need tourist things when you can have history, food, and family time all at once. Such an amazing family that was chosen for me.

good night all I have training at 8am so its time for bed          

Day # 11 Host family

Today was the beginning of an amazing day. I finished packing and went down to breakfast, after breakfast I had to go back up to the Pastoral center to make sure that my bags made it on the buss. At 8:30 we headed into the center of the island to the multipurpose center where we would then be meeting are host families. We sat at tables as the host families trickled in. It was a strange feeling but everyone was very exited and the atmosphere was grate. As they called us up one at a time were where matched with are families. My host mother is an amazing woman, she and her husband run an egg factory, they raise the chickens, collect the eggs, clean and distribute them along with having 3 children.  When I fist arrived to the lime colored house I already felt like I was home. I was greeted by two young girls one 12 and one 10 the other was a five year old boy who fell in love with me right away. She showed me to my room. It was a crazy happy moment for me when I opened my door and the light was so strong, happy and calming, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. The colors and textures of the room are amazing and over look the island. When I was done she gave me a tour of the premises. I got to see where all of the chickens are kept, fed and the eggs are cleaned. All of the men working inside are very nice and I cant wait to go and get dirty and learn the egg triad in my spare time. My host mother also showed me all of what the islanders call ground previsions (things that come from the ground) all of the roots, spices and fruits. After that was done we went back to Castries market to get food. It was an amazing process that we went through to get good prices and qualities of fruits, fish and everything ells you can think of. It was a different vibe on Saturday compared to sunday and the week days. They had a street market and people where playing music, dancing and selling more things than I had seen before at that market. I had my first coconut and jelly. They chop the top off and you drink the  water inside after that you give i back and they cut it in half and create a spoon for you so you can eat the jelly from the inside. Its like chewing on a jelly fish but its refreshing after walking a long time in the sun. When we returned home I made dinner. My host mom helped me but I did everything, it was potatoes and chicken and salad. I also made sweet apple juice, blended the apples, sugar and strained it. Everything is better for you because you make it yourself. I am going to be a healthy cooking pro when I get all done with the Peace Corps. We had a good talk after dinner and then I when into my room so that I could blog and get some sleep for church in the morning. Yes we had that talk and  think that we are all on the same page. I think I am going to like church every now and then so that I can meet some new people and here the music. Any ways I am so exited for tomorrow.

goodnight people            

               

Day # 10 Creole

Today was an interesting day for the most part. Today was are first Creole language class. I think that I did surpassingly well, I did have help some help from Ms. Gabi who's mother is from the islands. We sang songs and worked on key sounds their ate 32 letters in their alphabet including sounds and mixtures of letters. After that we talked about are host family expectations.I cant wait to meet my new family and get to my country and get started on my assignments and projects. Tonights dinner was a bit different we had dinner under the starts and we had music, dancing and it was fun for a last night here with the group. I am so thankful for my trip to Africa I did learn and take away so much information that I am using here with the PC and I really like to go back before they stop going. Any ways I am all packed I don't have to have each bag at 50lbs, because I'm just moving to a deferent part of the island. Im happy, exited and sad that I will be leaving my new group of best friends but we have such a strong bond so we will be exited to go and see each other on each of are islands.

Sleep well world
Love you
Allie