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