Winding Down

I finally got a good avocado!! My first avocado of the season, and no other one will taste as good as this one until next year.... oops! Or shall I say, the next time I am down here. Seriously, my day cannot go wrong after starting it off with delicious buttered toast and avocado, and of course a nice cup of coffee. I'm still in a mild coma state after that delicious breakfast and am now just stalling at doing laundry and showering before I head up to the library. No worries though, no rush. I run on my own schedule these days!

I am down to 4 weeks, and this week marks the start of my "wind down" process. Nearly 2 weeks ago a program complete with dancing, singing, poetry, and a skit (which included me as the nurse) marked the end of Eagle Boys for the summer. Unlike in the states, where I fondly remember still going to Girl Scouts and 4-H during the summer, things here shut down when school is out. I have protested, mainly to my neighbors and local friends, that this is the time when these extracurricular programs are most needed. Kids get so bored during the summer regardless of the ministries best efforts to offer camps for everyone that only take place in July. Come August there is just nothing left for them to do. This has now become one of my many plans-for-change accruing in my head in case of a future, and more permanent return. Of course, I am not seeing that happening anytime soon.

Last week we had the summer camp for the Sea Turtle Monitoring Network. I thought it went well despite some hiccups with last minute changes. I've worked with other camps here and I believe this one was by far the most organized, well communicated, and well executed camp I've seen. You know it went well when even the campers are commenting on how they wish camp was every day of the year! Oh geez. That's nice and all, but I seriously was in bed by 8 or 9 each night afterwards. I am standing by previous statements about the cure for insomnia... CHILDREN!!! I have never slept more soundly than when I have spent a full day with kids. Those who feel the need for pills... come to me and I will show you my "alternative therapy" for sleepless nights!

Ahhh, so now, like I said, I have 4 weeks left. I just need to wrap up some things at the library and at SCHS, and then spend a day doing some tourist shopping (still have yet to get a flag) and I am all set. Homeward bound and I can't wait!

First Farewells and Last Adventures,

My mom has been on me about sending an update, she says people need to know what is going on these last few months that I'm out here. So, here I sit now, letting you in on some of my lasts out here in the Caribbean.

My first farewells began in St. Lucia the first week of June. I was going to my Close of Service for my entire Eastern Caribbean group 76. It was great seeing those faces that were strangers to me only 2 years ago, and to see the changes in character and physical appearance that living on our islands created. Some had beards, others had long hair, and most of us were pretty tan. We no longer radiated this naive enthusiasm of changing the world that seemed to be our demeanor as trainees (more or less our American mindset), but instead there was this impassive, c'est la vie mood that seemed to characterize all of us. I actually noticed this back at MST last year, but now it seems like this attitude has become a part of each of our moral fiber. We'd become weathered to the realities of community work!

Anyhow, I had a great time in St. Lucia. It was a perfect place to end it, back where it all started. We had come full circle, started out with 72 and by COS we counted 56 of us. We ate well, slept uncomfortably in air-conditioned rooms, enjoyed hot water and full pressured showers, took pleasure in a break from the sea and swam in pools instead, watched movies in an actual cineplex, and drank some very filling, yet very delicious beer at a real brewery! I guess for the few of us who hadn't made it back to the states in the last 2 years, it was a taste of what is to come... a preview. It didn't last long though. After just catching up with everyone I felt like we were already saying goodbye and giving well wishes for our journeys ahead. After a week in Lucia I found myself back in SK.




Since my return I have spent the last 3 weeks or so checking things off my list. We had our farewell party on a catamaran day sail for our group and other PCVs and friends. There was the hike to D'os Dane pond, an exhilarating and tiring 8 hour trek that ended with barbecued chicken and beer at Aaron's house in Cayon. Days later we said goodbye to 3 of our PCVs, Liz, Matt, and Lauren. They left for home on the 1st. Then, this last weekend, myself and some others enjoyed our 4th of July with some Australia vs West Indies cricket action at Warner Park. West Indies came close, and lost by a disappointing 2 runs. We still celebrated American-style, with some fireworks out at Frigate Bay. As I watched I thought of all the places I had celebrated the 4th of July before.... Missouri, California, Guam, and now here in the Caribbean, where will I be next year?