Woo-hoo!! It's official! I am a Peace Corps Volunteer!! We took our oath of service yesterday, in front of the country director and other local government people. I no longer have to correct myself and say that I am a "trainee". This is me with my host parents holding up my certificate. I was like a proud little kid who just won the science fair or something, holding up my little certificate. Now, we get to relax for a little bit and try to get settled in. We all move into our apartments on the first of October. I guess I will use next week to start buying things I will need for the place. It is really nice. Only a one bedroom, but it has a bathtub and a killer balcony with a view!! I am excited.

As for the last week or so that I have been silent, I had been kept busy. For a couple of days I went to the primary school out here and sat in on some classes. I really like the Kindergarten teacher, and I think she will be my link to the school and services I can do there. They kept asking me if I would be teaching. I told them I would be more comfortable doing tutoring, after the whole camp experience I find that it is a gift to get the attention of over 5 children at a time. We also had meetings with representatives of the different government ministries, and I had my own little community meeting where I met a few of the active members here in St. Peters.

So, as far as what I will be doing here... once again, I am not too sure. I am very interested in HIV/AIDS projects, and actually am in touch with a woman who has organized a local support group for those infected or affected by the disease. I told her I would love to be of service in any projects they do for awareness and education here on the island. Also, I have planned on being at the health centre for the first week of October during their diabetes and children's clinics. I am becoming very interested in the health field again!! Not that I am turning my back on the environment, but there isn't much going on out here except for a sea turtle project. I will be in contact with them as well, just to see what I could do there. But so far, I am finding the area of public health very interesting, especially in epidemiology!! So, we'll see what I settle on after 2 years out here!!

Real bored. It's 3 o' clock and I finished my day at noon. I got up at 5 am for my power walk with Rushi, then went to the health center at 8 am for the toddler and infant clinic. I just observed while the health workers weighed the kids and gave immunizations. Every now and then I played wrangler for some of the escapees from the immunizations room. Oh, I have a new boyfriend by the way. His name is Lu-Quan, he is shorter than me, and only just turned a year, but it was love at first sight between us!! Ha Ha! He was fun. Anyways, I have no idea what to do with myself right now. I've tried to take a nap but even with my fan on high and pointed directly at me, I still can't sleep! So now I decided to play on the computer. I really wish I didn't have interent access, it would allow me become a little more creative, but I am sure I will get bored of getting on here as well.

I hope everyone has enjoyed some of the pics I have put up. They really don't do this place any justice. You have to be here to experience it!! The smells, the sounds, the heat, the bus rides, the language, the feeling of this place. You all have 2 years to utilize me as a tour guide for your caribbean adventure. Ok, well... now to go see if Florence will pay us a visit or not. I would love for a little storm action out here.

To answer that question, no they can't open beers, but they do drink them and any other alcoholic beverages. Found this picture online. I have yet to capture one on my camera, but I see them often. Actually, I see one often. The rasta goat/sheep herder down the road has one as a pet, so I see it on his shoulder each time he walks by. I've decided against having one as a pet though. Everyonetells me I would have to have diapers for it, and I am not ready for a child yet... dog yes, but nothing that requires pampers.

Camp ended well last week. By Friday I nearly had all their names down, I tried hard since they all knew mine after a day or two. I really ended up missing them when they weren't around and so far this week I have no idea what to do with myself since our training isn't as time consuming. No more camps till next summer, and though I might be in the minorityby saying this, I would really like to do it again! They drove me crazy on Monday, but by Tuesday I was over it and just laughed at everything. If they know they get to you, then they will milk that power. It ended up being a lot of fun. There is a picture of me that a volunteer has of the kids doing my hair. I will be sure to post it once I can get a copy of it.

The weekend was nice and relaxing. Finally got a new battery in my watch; was only $10 EC, not very much. I also learned that "black pudding" is NOT chocolate pudding. Completely far from pudding as a matter of fact. It is also known as "blood pudding" which I did not hear when I agreed to have some!! It is cow or goat intestine, in my case cow, and the intestines are stuffed with rice and spices and I have no idea what else and don't want to know. But I tried it anyways because I told my host family that I will try everything at least once, that's suppose to be part of the experience, right? Well, it really wasn't that bad. I might have even enjoyed it more and asked for a full portion if they had blind folded me first and I didn't see the coil of blood darkened intestine on the plate. So, note taken.

Church rounded off my weekend on Sunday. It's the second Sunday I have gone with the family to church, and it is much like any Southern Baptisit style congregation in the states. They call it a brethren church though. The services last 2 hours, twice a day. Plus Sunday school. Yep, you guessed it! That means I am in church pretty much all day Sunday!! It's not too bad. I get to meet people in the community and it helps me get closer to the fam. Next Sunday I am going with my host aunt to a different church though. I'm not sure what discipline, but she said there is a lot of singing, and I told her that I am aware of that! It really is fun though, to walk in and have people call you by name and ask you about your day. Church is very good for socializing!

Nothing else too exciting. I should be hearing any day now whether or not they have an apartment lined up for me. I want to know because the one they are looking at is on my walking route in mornings and I keep checking things out around it and figuring out what kind of view I will have and where I can run and where the store is. So, if that is not where I will be living then I can stop torturing myself!