T-Day....so full...so good.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
So what are you thankful for? Do you know? Do you need to think about it for a moment?

Today was a good and very filling day. But let me backtrack to last night.

Brandon and I made the trek from north leeward to the Mespo on the Windward side to go see our pal Shelby--the secret keeper of apple pie making. We had ourselves a blast making apple pies entirely from scratch....lots of dough, green apples, and plenty cinnamon & sugar later we were doing awesome We made 5 pies, but only 4 made it to the feast. Of course, we had to taste test the pies for scrumdidiliumptiousness and it most certainly was. We even had apples filling mix leftover and we super snacked on it....I think we need a dentist stat. I haven't had that much sugar in a long time and we got mega-giddy. ^_^ Shelby fed us an awesome chili she made the night before and fried up some breadfruit chips to go with the guacamole we we also made. It was a blissful food night. In the morning, I climbed an orange tree and helped pick some lemons in her backyard to make for a super breakfast, but it couldn't compare to the yummy times awaiting us. (pics below)

The Taiwanese (Republic of China) Embassy had approached Mr Cool, our boss, about opportunities to become more involved with the Peace Corps. It wasn't long until the Ambassador offered to host our Thanksgiving Day event and join their volunteers with ours. The Taiwanese have 4 volunteers on St Vincent, each working in a very specific area for 2 years. The Ambassador is currently working with the Vincentian government (and after his gov't) to begin crafting their volunteer program to be more similar to the Peace Corps model of local community residence and activity. How cool is that? We were informed that the Taiwanese have a strong civil society and take great pride in their international outreach. They are certainly quite active here, much to the benefit of the Vincy people.

All of the traditional American dishes were prepared by volunteers (except for a pie and cheesecake) and the Taiwanese contributed their own native dishes. It truly was a feast to behold and no offense to my fellow volunteers to worked hard on their dishes--but I totally pigged out on the Taiwanese food! There were many vegetarian options from both groups. The atmosphere was very pleasant and the climate was great for the day. There was so much food leftover that the embassy provided us with little plastic bags to make our own take-away. Wonderful! So I currently have some very tasty treats awaiting me in my fridge for tomorrow. ^_^ (pics below)

In other recent stuff
--This was in the newspapers from this past weekend, but I forgot to mention it previously. I found this both funny and scary...
Recently, 2 boys--11 and 12--managed to sneak into the airport after dark over the fences, cross the tarmac, gain access to a jet that was staying overnight, feast on snacks and drinks, and fall asleep to be discovered the next day. Now that is a bit funny for kids, but think of what they could have been...scary.

--I wanted to hang out a bit with the other volunteers after we had our T-Day celebration, but I had to get back to my village for a 5pm meeting. I got there a bit late, 25 min or so, which many Vincy's would still consider on time. Who was there? Nobody. >.< Could a couple of people gathered and dispersed before I arrived? Those who were in the area for other reasons told me that nobody else had been around there for awhile. That was the only downer today and it was an important meeting for a tourism group I'm working with.

--Got into an interesting topic later this evening. There is an upcoming netball (similar to basketball and typically played by women) tournament and there was a woman arguing with a man about the required uniform to play the game. She said that her team would like to have the permission to wear pants (I think we could have called them shorts) as part of their uniform instead of short skirts. The man said that he is going strictly with the rules which are international and declare that women must wear the skirt as their playing uniform. It got rather heated and was my first sighting of a gender inequality--since boys who played didn't have to wear skirts. A previous tournament hosted by other people did allow women to wear pants upon request. This time the woman said that she felt it was indecent for a christian woman to wear such things--even with tights underneath. After I left them later, I asked a couple younger (potentially more open-minded women) in the village about their stance. They promptly defended that women should wear skirt regardless and men wear shorts for netball. Puts a spin on the gender perspective.

And now....pictures. ^_^
--oh yeah, I'm rapidly earning the nickname, paparazzi. It's fun to have a nickname, but I haven't figured out if it is given in fun or annoyance yet...














So Good...

Warm welcome from Ambassador Lee

Showing us US states with the names in Chinese. Way cool.









They were surprised at how well I could use chopsticks, even right or left handed

What appeared to be a small racket was actually a bug killing device of coolnes. ^_^

They doubted my ability to eat pumpkin pie with chopsticks.....I won. Btw, hats off to Steph for making a super scrumptious pumpkin pie.

Searching for green gold and now free texting!!!

Another day in Caribbean...
For some of us--like our Florida volunteers, the weather patterns and warmer climate this time of year are normal. Personally, I've been in warmer places, but I don't think I've ever gone a full year without seeing a 'northern' winter. A couple people back home tell me about how cold it is getting and snow will be right around the corner. I certainly won't get any of that down here. A bit strange, even surreal to the mind--wet and dry season only, when I'm used to 4 seasons back home. Speaking of wet--it's still raining plenty here. It's now been 7 days straight with breaks in-between the down pours; heard it is supposed to go through Saturday. No worries for me though, just makes transportation a bit more difficult (they don't like driving in the rain and don't drive as late in the evenings) and tends to keep people from attending meetings in the village.

Spring Village is a more rural village, mostly farmers here. Even many of the people who don't farm as a livelihood still maintain some sort of agriculture to supplement themselves. One of the major things they farm here is banana. There is even an organization called Fair Trade that correlates the farming efforts and production. I got all excited to hear that there were so many banana farmers here and figured that it would be raining bananas. I really like them--they taste great and are extremely good for you. Funny thing--I can't really find any for sale. I'm surrounded by banana farmers and don't see any on the street corners here. Sure, I can find them in town--but I want to try and buy more of my local foods in the village if I can.

I see plenty of plantain, but no banana. haha, I learned by doing that ripe yellow plantain is still tricky to get out of it's skin and really doesn't taste good at all when raw. I managed to get another member of the banana family--called a fig (not to be confused with the date type of fig). It is smaller, chubby, and a bit sweeter--and they need longer to ripe. There is also another member of the banana family here called a grindy--also rather tasty. Grindy, fig, and banana are all ok to eat ripe--so those will be the ones I search for later. Plantain are nice, but I'd rather eat ripe than cooked fruit. Sunday, I am supposed to be getting up early (5am?) to meet up with some of the banana farmers and go work with them in the mountain. I've seen them coming in before, boxing up blue bags of banana that go onto large flat bed trucks to be exported later. They told me that if I really wanted banana, it's best to get some from them when they come back from the mountain. ^_^ The hunt will soon be over! lol, I've also learned from them that there are 2 sub-types of banana....but I can't recall their names. One is more like what we find back home and the other is a type that is preferred here. Perhaps I will find the difference. I joked with one of the locals that we should do a blind taste test and see if they can identify which of the banana types they are eating.

Banana, Fig, Plantain. I haven't seen red banana here, but the grindy looks more like the red ones--only yellow when ripe.


Yesterday I finally got to deliver a letter to the Ministry of Education officially requesting that I be allowed to use the school's computer lab to teach computer classes. The school principal says that it is ok, but I needed her to give me the letter--which I've been waiting for +/- 2 months now to receive from her. Finally, Tuesday I drafted the letter myself and brought to her for her edits and signature. Sometimes we just have to do things ourselves...now I wait for the red tape to clear and I will have some very happy locals. ^_^ The only thing I don't like about the computer lab is the operating systems on the computers. They used to have older desktops, kinda slow but usable for sure, that had Windows XP. Some time before I arrived, the ministry had them changed to these little box things (smaller than micro cases if you've seen one) that don't even have floppy or cd drives on them--just 2 usb in the front. I think they are flash memory based (didn't see a fan on it either) since I was told that we aren't really supposed to store things on them. Worst part about them--they are running Windows CE. It is windows, but doesn't run like the conventional windows system that I'm used to and I don't know much of anything about it. I believe that it is similar to what you might find on a PDA running a Windows environment, like 5.0. So there goes all the little training and educational software I was going to use--it's not compatible. Time to get creative again. ^_^ Good times, that's why I'm here.

Keeping on the nerd train...
I was playing around with the plug-ins available for Mozilla Firefox and came across yet another reason why Firefox RULES! They have a plug-in called WataCrackaz AutoSMS; crazy name huh? But this little toolbar (which I usually stay away from toolbars) allows you to select a global region, choose a cell carrier, enter a telephone #, and message to send (suggested under 100 characters) all for FREE!!! Since it sits in the toolbar, I just have to be online and use the toolbar--too simple! Not extra websites to visit or log into. Simply awesome. I've sent a couple texts out back home--but not sure yet if they actually got them. Sent one to my phone here and I got it within a matter of seconds. Sweet....

Getting my yellow fever vacination tomorrow. I don't need it to live here, but one of the other volunteers is taking a trip to South America soon and it is required for her to go there. They needed 3-4 people to get the vaccine in order for it to be feasible to sent the vial to St Vincent.....so I volunteered (yet again....that word is becoming common in my daily life huh?) to get stuck. Not sure if there will be any side effects, but at least I will have the vaccine in case I go on any interesting trips to the Central or Southern Americas.

The PCVs and our staff will be celebrating Thanksgiving this year Thursday the 27th. Our boss, Mr. Cool, has stated we will be joining celebrations with the Taiwanese volunteers and their staff on island. I didn't even know the Taiwanese celebrated Thanksgiving. If they don't, perhaps this is just a good time for cultural exchange. I've met one of them here already, very briefly, and I'm excited for the event. They are making some of their national dishes and we are going to be making some of ours. I am with 2 others on pie duty. I was intending to make 2 pumpkin pies, was even going to make everything from scratch. However--the cost was getting too steep for me, scratch or from canned. So looks like we are having a bunch of apple pies instead. Strange that the apples here are imported, but will be cheaper to create. I've never made apple pie from scratch before so this will be a learning experience. Pie day will be Wednesday. ^_^ Yum. I think we are baking a test pie to see how it goes first....double yum.

Stay safe and well.
ciao tutti
~your local wannabe jedi
~Shawn

Meeting Meetings Meetings

I am seriously going to have to work on organizing all of my notes and filing system. For now, I've been using a notebook the Peace Corps gave us during training to contain all the info I come across during meetings or other functions in my village. Those pages and the extras I tuck into the pages are starting to add up and I find myself attempting to cross check other recorded dates during a meeting and taking too long (well, the Vincentians don't seem to mind).

I'm not really sure about the 'work schedule'--if it could be said that we really have one--of most of my other fellow volunteers. Most everybody else that I am aware of works with the schools or similar institutions during the day and may have an evening activity they lead. My duties seem to be more 2nd shift--going to all sorts of meetings once more people from my area get in from work. This has been leading to some late nights on my part, but I don't mind since I don't have many early morning duties as of yet. That will change....

I've been filling my mornings typically with trips to town and trying to network myself a bit. So far, I've set up shadow time with the SVG Nat'l. Inst. of Technology, a government based organization that facilitates computer literacy courses (the International Driver's License or IDCL) and other advance IT certs (MSCE, MSCA, CCNA, A+, web design, etc.). As soon as I lock down a training facility, I will be teaching the ICDL courses as well and maybe even get a cert myself so I can do advanced work here in Spring (but that can get really costly). I also got to learn where the Lands Department resides--where I can get copies of land surveys and the Physical Planning Department--who carry blueprint info on building structures and requirements. Visited Central Planning at the main government building and am learning the structure of the various ministries and who to contact when I need information or resources. Hopped over to the Ministry of Culture's office and got to meet a research officer, who I hope work with more in the future as I try to revive a few of the cultural CBOs here in Spring Village. Tried to get into the Lions Club and learn more about a recent public speaking event they held--but they were closed. Made contacts at the Center for Enterprise Development (CED), another government organization whose purpose is to train and help promote small businesses here on SVG. Yesterday and today, I got to become more involved with the work of the Community Development Field Officers. So my networking list and how to reach them grows.....because as many of realize that it isn't always what we know, but who we know...

I haven't officially started the tutoring sessions yet. Having a bit of trouble getting the electric current reconnected--between the red tape procedures and the treasurer of the center moved (taking the records with her). Once we get current again, I will not only get the tutoring going, but I can start working closer with the area CBOs. Until then, I might have to try using my place as a meeting location... Not sure if I like the idea, but I haven't seen many alternates yet. I'm being asked more and more frequently by people here when I will start teaching the computer courses and again I'm am waiting the red tape to clear.

Other groups on the table to work with:
--help develop my host group SUDO, a development organization. I hope they will grow to become the keystone of my village CBO framework
--kickstart a 4-H club for leadership growth and youth activities
--form Spring PAC (performing arts club) which would house 3 divisions of interest
--the revived drama group, once renown for its works, but mysteriously went dormant as a group
--the revived steel pan music group, another dormant group but would be open to all musicians
--include a newer public speaking & debate group with possible links to Toastmasters (found out they are here on SVG, but haven't met that group offically yet)

On a more day to day note
I totally failed when trying to juice a guava. I got a bunch of them, mostly rather ripe already, walking back from the beach with a group of kids. I tried to just use my little juicer on them, but made a mess with the pulp and tons of tiny seeds. Ended up with some sorta-decent variety of guava water. Found out this evening when I asked, I was supposed to boil them down with the skins on until the pulp got all mush and just strain it out.

Got some sort of giant foam block for a bed....it slowly makes a large 'dimple' where you are laying. The first few nights were strange, but fine. However, I'm starting to notice lots of lower back pains. Not sure if this is from the foam block or my slouch (which I am trying to be more aware of). No worries, if it persists I will be sure to see my medical officer first thing.

Got to start playing dominoes a bit with the guys near one of the shops. I wasn't very good-trying to play with a partner and not really able to effectively read the board yet. Will probably go back on Thursday when they play again.

Tomorrow night, after my meeting with the local tourism group--I will be venturing out to a playing field with my spotting scope and hopefully a few of the youths and maybe even adults. The moon is nearly full and it should look really nice. I don't have a stand for it and I don't like rigging my camera tripod for it because the kids are too rough. I think I'll grab my cutlass and use the morning time to make a bamboo and rope tripod. ^_^ Go Go Boy Scout Engineering.

Had some tea with my host parents on Sunday evening. We mixed two local bush plants--guinea pepper and shadow vinny--to get a real bold flavor. Very nice. Although I get teased by them every time for not wanting any sweeteners for it.

Before posting this blog, I read in another volunteer's blog about how she feels that the 2 year thing is starting to sink in as a reality. I couldn't agree more. For myself, I wouldn't say it was an uncertainty of why I'm here or a homesickness, more like a reality check. I'm here and things really are different. It is the little things I notice here that remind me where I am. Not just the heat, but long waits for vans that don't pick you up or the interesting times trying to roast my breadfruit for lunch with tiny sticks and the neighbor brings me better sized wood. It is accepting that while I have lived away from my home area before, this will be my first winter without snow (which I actually enjoy). It was thinking that this was a good time in my life to join the Peace Corps and within 3 months of joining, I learn that 2 sets of friends back home are getting married to make it now 3 sets of friends getting married and I'm not sure/doubt I'll be able to attend. My friends are very important to me, so that bothers me. Yet, I feel that the work I will be doing and the reasons why I am here are also important as well. Time to suck it up.

I read a very interesting blog....requires myspace to view it:
Great lil story and analogy with real events; even better if you like Batman

wow....it's late 1:15 here now and WAY past my bedtime.
More to come later I'm sure.

Stay safe and well
ciao tutti
~your local wannabe jedi
~Shawn

Election Day!!!

Today is the big day!
I hope that anyone reading this will have voted today, at least if you're an American and of age.
The U.S. Embassy on Barbados has rented out spaces on the various islands so that the volunteers can gather in groups to watch the results. Our location is a late bar in Kingstown and I really hope that we will get to stay for all of it. Even if someone is declared the winner, I'd like to see the full results as they come in. Sadly with the U.S. recent day-light savings time--since SVG doesn't use it--we are now 5 hours behind Pacific Time. >.<
The rough part will be figuring out where to sleep tonight or how to get around. It will be REALLY late to try and get any buses and taxis are out of our budgets. There are 2 volunteers that live 45 min walk or so from where we will be, but I don't know how many of us can fit into their apartments... Oh well, sardines we will be.

On a different note, some of the local kids and I had our first rock session with general "garbage" we found lying around. We used some old plastic bucket lids, aluminum cans with rocks, plastic bottles, a wood board, small scrap piece of pvc tube and other goodies to make what most would call noise. Eventually we figured out a beat and maybe with enough practice might make something out of it. ^_^

Met last night the village committee that runs the community center. They were happy to have me working with them and we are seeing eye to eye on several things. However, I think that it will be some time before I can get electricity through the building where I need it--mainly the study room I am assembling.

My new home is coming along nicely. I do need to get some air fresheners for the bathroom. There seems to be a funky smell coming from somewhere--maybe the water. There are outside toilet pits with venting tubs....maybe it is coming from there. I haven't pin-pointed it yet, but the air fresheners should neutralize it. I hope. @_@
I did offer to put up a few pics of my place so you'll find some below. good times.

Did an another cooking experiment last night with success. ^_^
I used the local dasheen leaves, which I only seen used to make a local dish called callalou, and cooked it down with eggplant, canned tomato, garlic, onion, and green pepper. Add some spices as it cooks down and finish it by using the excess water to cook linguine and presto! One pot tasty goodness. ^_^ I made too much, lol, so I'll be eating my creation for a couple of days. Well, looks like I'm back on lots of carbs....there goes the 10lbs I lost already. hahaha

Stay well and be safe.
ciao tutti
~your local wannabe jedi
~Shawn

my place:

PHONE!!!

Hey out there in Never Never Land.
I got a cell phone today! Of course, if you want the phone #--you'll have to email me and ask for it. No way am I going to post that on the www. lol.
Here's a pic of it and if you click....you'll get a link to the specs.

It is a basic run of the mill phone, but that is GREAT! Shiny things attract unwanted attention....so it is good to have the ugliest, most unwanted looking phones we can get. Plus Nokias like these are very durable and have great battery life. ^_^ It does have one really cool feature that I've never had before.....a led flashlight on the top of it. It's very blinding bright!


Last night I made fake-beef chunks fried rice for my host family. It turned out really well and everyone enjoyed it. LOL.....sometimes they joke that I'm turning them vegetarian. It doesn't help that I am slowly cooking here more and more.

Went to an environmental group meeting for my local area the other night. It was good to meet green-minded folk, but the meeting lacked structure. It seems over the next year we will be transforming a local beach into a tourist attractive area with protective areas for the river that feeds the sea. I'll probably be able to help out on that--lots of good, sweaty work. ^_^ Many of the group members were happy to have me attend and poured their ideas at me. It will take a bit of time, but I think I need to let them know that I'm Peace Corps and not a miracle worker. I help empower, instruct, and assist--not wave my fairy wand and make their dreams come true.

YEAH!!! I'm totally looking forward to the presidential debate tonight. I suppose I'm glad to have access to CNN out here in the Caribbean. I certainly wasn't counting on having it.

Speaking of the Caribbean.....did you know that several parts of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy was filmed here at St. Vincent? There are 3 film sites I believe here around the island--a bit of an attraction. I haven't visited them yet....but I will! Arg!

I'll be meeting with my country director next week. I hope to get some solid info on what I can post in terms of pictures online. Perhaps I'll be able to put up lots more. ^_^
And if you're interested in not only the babble I post, but are interested in hearing from other Peace Corps volunteers I serve with....I will be posting links to their blogs on the side of the page.

Stay happy and well.
ciao tutti
~your local wannabe jedi
~Shawn

Wow....am I doing this?

Hey readers! ^_^ Thanks for coming back again.
Lots has been happening in a short period of time. In fact, our 2nd week on island seemed to go by fairly quickly. Sadly, I had to wait until now to say anything--well, I can't always get online. >.<

Since the last post.....
I got to intern at a primary school....I worked with the 6th grade teacher and it confirmed for me that there really are needs in literacy and math skills. Today I am supposed to be observing again--but since there is no 5th grade teacher--yeah.... I got to step in. I have no clue what the heck I am doing and I think the kids know it. Ug....I am typing this during the lunch break and really don't want to go back...

Been playing dominoes! I've borrowed the host family's set and brought them to training. After playing a bit with the other trainees--my host dad let me play with him at his local hang out. Those guys are SHARKS! I totally got my butt kicked in. Oh well, practice practice practice.

There is an ocean/rivers clean up this Saturday all over the island--as part of a bigger initiative with the Ocean Conservancy. I hope to take part it. :P I've also found out about chances to help with the sea turtle conservation efforts. Those projects don't start till later in the year--but I am excited for the opportunity. Hunting/Eating sea turtle meat is illegal during most of the year and eggs illegal all year round.....but it happens. In fact, there are several threatened/endangered species on the islands--but people hunt them anyways. Grrr.....

Got to try something called 'doubles' the other day. It is kinda like a chick pea mush served on a type of tortilla bread and usually topped with various sauces--mango, cucumber, hot, and/or tamarind. It was delicious and only EC$3!!!

Had my first real meeting with my assigned community group on Saturday and got to learn some of their needs here in the village. It is still far too early to tell exactly what I'll be doing for sure. However, literacy numeracy, small business skills, financial accounting, and basic computer skills seem to be topping the list. They are also interested in restarting a local drama club....really excited to have me help with it....but I don't know the first thing about it. mur.

Sunday, I got my first sunburn while learning some plumbing skills. I got to help cut, fit, and run steel pipes to help get someone their first indoor plumbing. It was a good feeling.

It gets really dark here quick--pitch dark by 7ish. For some reason I get really tired early and have been getting up around 5am. I don't think I would have ever gotten up so early if I didn't have too...

I got a group of school kids out to play frisbee and run races last night. They loved it. Now, they are asking me all the time if I will be going out to the park area again. Many of them know my name. For those who know me....you know how awkward this is for me. Ug....one day at a time.

I want to upload some more pics, but I have to get back before the lunch break ends....so glad I am not assigned to a school. I will try to get more pics up next time.

ciao tutti
~Your wannabe jedi
~Shawn

Live from SVG!

Hey all you out there that are not here! ^_^
So I here I am, blogging away from St Vincent. I am tucked away here in a little village--but not allowed to say where exactly. Shortly after arrival on the island--I met up with my host family where I'll be staying for a few weeks. They are helping me learn to get around and shop here, as well as help immerse me in the local dialect. Yeah, English is spoken here, but the dialect is tough to the foreign ear. They are good people and are taking great care of me. They have a couple grandkids that live with them--10 and 5yrs old. So for those that know me, this is going to be interesting. They even went out of their way to get me "vegetarian chunks"--which are some sort of dried soy pieces that rehydrate into tasty morsels. : ) After a few weeks, I get to have my own place--we'll see what sort of new adventures that will bring.

Until then, what have I been up to?

• Watched my host dad play dominoes with his friends--people here REALLY enjoy that game
• Watched a football (soccer) game
• Danced at a make-shift party....mostly reggae music
• Gone through a day of Peace Corps Training--another tomorrow
• Began a mapping project of my village....it is going to be a hard project--wish I could say more on that one.
• Opened a local bank account and wandered the downtown Kingstown area--it isn't very big
• SWEAT PLENTY!!! It's been hot and humid for sure.
• Learned to hand wash my clothes and hang dry.....this is going to be interesting. ^_^
• Went to a local church. No I'm not converting--but it is a good chance to meet the locals.
• Taught the kids I live with how to make paper airplanes and paper 'face' puppets.
• Taken some pics, but will need time to get any uploaded. Probably not until I am on my own (7 weeks?) and can take the time to do it.
• Gotten to see many different foods in the capital market. Saturday is the big outdoor vegetable market--that is going to be awesome! (if I get to go....)
• Rode local buses (more like mini-vans) and they are hella packed! For those that have heard of the jam-packed trains of Toyko at rush hour....imagine that but much hotter. >.<
• Eaten something at my host home called breadfruit. Apparently it is a staple food here--originally brought over by the European rulers in order to feed the slaves. It looks like a giant, green, round sphere that grows on trees. It can be made many ways--cut and roasted then fried it tastes like french fries.
  

Well, I'm sure that I have done more....but I am can't recall at the moment. More will come later for sure. : )

St. Vincent (Vincys) people are really warm and friendly. Also, the Peace Corps is really well known on the island--having been here for many years. In fact, I learned that head staff guy here--really loves his job, partially because he had "interventions" and learned from Peace Corps members twice in his schools while growing up. To his knowledge--those volunteers didn't know what became of our current head of staff, but it shows how time can yield great results from the seeds of assistance that we are planting. There is an American medical school here on the island and tourists come and go....so at times we are mistaken for people with $ ...lol. But once people learn that we are with the Peace Corps, they usually become extra friendly. --Not to say that we will be getting extra breaks, but at least we would be charged local prices.

On transportation.....the roads here would seem treacherous to most people back home. They are close winding roads that wrap around the mountain curves and create a somewhat circular pattern around most of the island. From around the 100k population, perhaps 20k have cars or buses or taxis. People typically drive very fast but stop quick and pass on the roads often. To avoid accidents, they honk all the time to get walking people off the road or to warn others of driving around corners. Catching a bus can be VERY difficult if you are not at the right place at the right time--usually when it leaves its main terminal. Buses also usually run 6-7ish and not on Sundays....so let's hope I don't get stuck out somewhere late. Even official taxis can be REALLY expensive. Oh yeah--they drive on the left.

I have not gone to the beach here yet, but many of them have black sand from the volcano. Yes, it is an active volcano--supposedly the 2nd most studied next to Mount St Helens. Its last eruption was in 1979, so let's not hope for the next Pompeii.

One of the volunteers told us in our gossip time at training about being offered (and accepting) to eat a sea turtle's egg in a Guinness beer. This really threw me off and I put that up there on the things I would not do....like eat monkey (even if not a veg-head)--which happens on St Kitts. I later learned that there are legal times and locations to collect sea turtle eggs. This is just one example of my having to adjust to the local culture and not approach with a bias. Just some things will be harder than others.....much harder.

So look for more later....hope everyone is well. ^_^ Drop a comment to keep me posted on what is going on in your half of the world.

ciao tutti
~your wannabe jedi
~Shawn