This Saturday past, the tourism group had a fund-raiser bbq at a political rally. Now I know Peace Corps volunteers are not supposed to get involved with politics, but the rally was for anyone--I even saw opposition party people there--and I was there on a fund-raiser. That being said, it was fun. We were getting ready for it early during the day and we were set up till there till after 1 am. Wah, what a day. Got up at 530am for banana shipment too. Let's just say I road up into the banana fields lying down in the back of the truck with my hat pulled over my face. It got some good laughs from the locals that ride up with us.
This is our regional area rep--the Honorable Dr. Jerrol Thompson. He is the Minister for Telecommunications, Science, and Industry
And this is the Prime Minister, the Honorable Dr. Ralph Gonsalves
This week the kids on are Easter break for 2 weeks. This means that I've still been going to our community center library for study time, but nobody shows up. So I've been filling that time by doing a bit of research and typing up computer lesson study sheets. In some of my free time, I'm slowly building what I call a 'learning resource cd'. The idea is that it could be distributed to other volunteers and villages with computers; when inserted it would give a browser with subjects and contain videos, documents, and internet links on a variety of topic areas.
We'll see how that turns out. No rush on it with everything else going on.
They say when you get a craving for a particular food, you are missing something in your diet that the food you are craving may help fulfill. Some sort of physio-psychological link if you believe it--I do. But what if you just have the munchies and they don't go away? Lately, I walk into my kitchen and feel like snacking--but I don't buy lots of snacks and I can only eat so many bananas till I get into trouble. ^_^ lol So I'm left with the snacking urge that I haven't been able to knock the past few days. I have these super tasty little cracker--Shirley's biscuits in regular and ginger--but they really aren't good to eat in mass quantity. >.<
Still on food...
Not sure if I said this before, but we have a dry soy protein food here called Chunks. It runs about EC$6-7 for an 8oz bag and looks like dry dog food. Not to let looks be deceiving, but they are probably the coolest food I've found here yet. They are great in many dishes, but let me bow at their supreme tasty value when added to a stir fry. And I don't know what happened to my soup tonight. I've been making plenty of soup using pumpkin as a base and it is really good--mixing up what vegetables to add, mostly fresh, local goods. Tonight I did pumpkin, eggplant (a staple lately), christophene (a green starchy food), carrots, and beans--simple, harmless, and tasty. I think the problem came when got the urge to add a can of green peas. Gave it a funky smell. Boo. First kitchen failure in awhile. >.<
hehe, I'll have to fix the palate with some wonderful chunks dishes later on.
I totally got nailed by an April Fool's Day prank today. Got a message from another volunteer saying they did something stupid and were being asked to leave the island. It seemed a very plausible thing and I was totally taken in by it--called that volunteer to call him an idiot and I got nailed. So funny--I didn't even realize today is already 1 April. Wow, it's April already....
And now a clipping from this past weekend's newspaper, The Vincentian, From the Just Ask Ole George (a sort of Dear Abby) and copied word for word:
My boss has it too!
Dear George,
I have tested positive for the HIV virus and since that time (1 month ago), I have not slept properly. I have not told anyone and I do not see myself doing so anytime soon. I look good and the men are going crazy about me, especially the men in my office. My boss has been on my case for the last couple of months or so. He treats me like dirt at work. I had to give in to his sexual demands when I first applied for the job, and since that time he has been using me for his fun stick. I have not told my boyfriend, and further more, he trusts me completel. My boss brags to me on the amount of women he has been through and he finds particular pleasure in getting women who have their husbands or boyfriends, to give in to him. He offers good money if you go his way. If I am HIV positive, I know he has to have it as well because we always had unprotected sex. I am only sorry for his wife. I intend to carry my little secret to my grave and I am going to teach the men of this country a lesson when it comes to tampering with another man's woman.
Way Out
Geez...I empathize with her anger and frustrations--but that certainly is not a good thing to do. Many more people will become HIV positive because of the actions of her ad people like her should she act upon the words she wrote. This is not a good thing. Sadly, even though there is enough HIV awareness/condom usage education--the facts of the day still show vast numbers of people not using them even though they could recite the jingles and facts flawlessly. Ultimately, it is the decision of the individual--not matter what work others do, we can't make those choices for them.
And with that I'm gone.
Second star to the right and on till morning....
Stay Safe and Happy
ciao tutti
~your local wannabe jedi
~Shawn
1 comment:
Any one who use's Hiv as a tool for revenge is politicaly incorrect. People who carry this disease, and don't tell their partner's are wrong. I myself do not have the disease, but I do come from experience that it can destroy or build strong relationship's, my brother who I Love very dearly in my heart has full blown AIDS, and yes he is gay. I lived with my brother for several years when he was in the first stages of Hiv, from having shingles to loosing weight, and not having enought strenght to get up in the morning. With a lot of tears,hug's and talk's with my brother he is still around. I try not think about it, but I know one day I will loose my brother, not from old age, but from Aids, and no matter what I will still love him with all of my Heart. Wheather your Gay,Straight, or Bi, NO ONE need's to use this disease as a tool for revenge. ~ Peace ILL USA.
Post a Comment