#30daythankyou

#30daythankyou

Day 8: I am thankful for all those who took time to donate to Hands Across the Sea in efforts to raise funds for a shipment of books, school & art supplies to Cane End Government School. You guys are truly appreciated!!  :

** MEADOW OVERSTREET**, Kara , Bridget Woods,  Astrid Prudent, Jessime, T-Free!, Aunt Gloria &Uncle Rodney, Aunt Vikki & Rinson, Solimar & Mateo :), Celesteeee, Doc Anita, Ilona Gordon, Danyel Hickling and Jocelyn Taylor. 

And thank you to Harriet and Tom for doing what you do.Thank you!!

Day 9:  I am thankful for Everlyn, you are so on it!

Day 10:  I am thankful for Lizzie and her circle of peace movement!
Day 11:  I am thankful for my Grandmothers and their ongoing support :)

Day 12: I am thankful for the Yoga instructor who shared her practice with me today.

Day 13: I am thankful for all the wonderful PCVS in Dominica who showed us around their beautiful country! (Alex, Wil, Amirh and Sam)

Day 14:  I am thankful for Wil and Alex!! You guys are truly amazing. Thank you.

Day 15: I am thankful for to Father J. Christmas and his generous heart.

Day 16: I am thankful for the van driver who squeezed me in today.

#30daythankyou

#30daythankyou- Myquaterlifespace.com


Day 5: I am thankful for my Principal , Mrs. Ave Stephens Weeks and Mrs. Rouna Burke for their ongoing support and encouragement with everything I do inside and outside of the school.


Day 6: I am thankful for Camille A. and her divine Yoga offerings she shares with this island. My neck , shoulders and spirit thank you soo much!


Day 7: I am thankful for Biggs not only for her amazing care packages but also for always  checking in to make sure I am solid on the inside.

#30daythankyou

So I am joining this 30daythankyou campaign started by aspiring author  Kenya Jackson. The 30 days of gratitude was inspired by her countdown to hearing news about a recent proposal she submitted to HayHouse, very exciting! The 30 days is also in memory of her mother who transitioned from this life 17 years ago. What a beautiful way to honor her spirit.

Check her out at Myquaterlifespace.com  and feel free to join the campaign.


Day 1: I am thankful for My Parents - I love, admire , respect and appreciate you both more than words can ever express.


Day 2: I am thankful for Mr. E for giving me a ride home in the rain today :)


Day 3: I am thankful for baby M, the newborn  spending the first 6 months of her life in prison with her mom. I get to hug and love on her a few hours each week. Her sparkling eyes and innocent smile brighten my day so much.


Day 4: I am thankful for Michelle Saulters- my heart sister :) I can't even begin to express my gratitude and love for you in this post because this will turn into a novel. *cheers* to many more nights filled with fishnets and fancy penguins :)

For the Love of : Simplicity

I was chatting with another volunteer that just completed her 2 years of service about how my school year was going. Almost automatically I responded: " It is great , I enjoy the kids but not so much what I am doing with the kids. I could stand to be there just 2 days a week". I think many of us share the sentiments that teaching might not be our life's aspiration. I have said this in many previous post but shot out to My mother and all my friends that are dedicated, passionate teachers- you all have a gift !!


Anyway, so I am on my spiel about wanting to find a way to reach the kids and connect with them in my own way but also feeling as if the need to help them strengthen their reading and writing abilities is far to great to bypass.


She commented on having similar thoughts over the last two years. She said it all became pretty simple after having a close friend that attended schools here his whole life tell her " All I needed was someone that cared, someone like you that showed they care".

(I can't speak on all of the schools here but some of them continue to utilize fear based tactics to keep order. Some of them still use physical lashing as means of discipline, belittling and berating as means of correcting. Often times the students have been so conditioned by this method of learning it is difficult for them to respond to a more egalitarian, empathetic method. )

In that moment - ...well yea, a lot  made sense. So simple. Why do I keep trying to make this more complicated than it is?? *chuckle*  ...just keep showing them that you care, period. Got it!

This one, is a handful. Mirror work in the flesh!
 She keeps me soft hearted during trying moments.

First year at the top Secondary School for Boys! So proud of him.

"Sovereignty of the imagination is the greatest liberation"

In honor of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Independence Day on October 27th, I attended the Annual Independence Lecture put on by the University of the West Indies. The guest speaker was  Dr. George Lamming. I knew nothing of him prior to this talk, however I felt strongly compelled to attend. I am glad I followed my gut on the WHAT and allowed the HOWS to be ironed out along the way.


Dr. Lamming's official lecture was "Rethinking Perspectives on Independence". Being honest, the hour plus talk did not do it for me. It would have been heaven for a history buff though! Thank goodness patience is one of the many virtues being fine tuned during my Peace Corps experience. Once the formal speech was done the floor was opened up for the Q&A session and before I knew it 2 more hours had passed! This 84 year old precious white haired artist/poet/philosopher- creator in every sense of the word began to reveal his true vibrant colors. His words appeared to transcend chronological age, linear time, color, region, religion...he spoke from his hearts truth, his experience with the dance of life- Wisdom.

The discussion shifted to more of a focus on modern citizenship and social issues that currently exist in St. Vincent in the Grenadines. Much of the Q&A was centered on the education system. It was so refreshing to be amongst individuals that are not only aware of the problems that exist in their country, aren't afraid to verbalize this problems to "save face" but most importantly crave CHANGE and ACTION. I am just about 2 months into the 2011-2012 school year and this burst of energy and light was right on time.

Some points made by Dr. Lamming that stuck out to me:

• The purpose of having a higher education campus such as the University of the West Indies in SVG should not be solely to produce academics with degrees. The University should expand its mission to include producing citizens that will transform the current reality of its people for the better. The education system doesn't need more teachers doing the same thing, it needs to be completely transformed from within.

• A culture of collaboration over competiveness appears to have greater benefits, especially in the world of politics. When one party wins, 50% of the people are disenfranchised for 5 years. This cycle of competition serves very few.

• The foundation of primary school education should be founded in the arts. The Arts sharpen your observation skills, release the imagination, cultivates higher order functioning. Dr. Lamming focuses on reaching out to kids at the primary school level . He emphasized this is where the major change needs to occur. Dr. Lamming inquired if St. Vincent created an environment in which imagination has a place to live.

• He went on to criticize those who seek PhDs as "Terminal Degrees". Meaning, some people lose their lives to academics, knowledge, facts. They lose sight of humanistic side of research. He wonders how effective one can be if they spend years upon years reading about life and people instead of experiencing life and people.

• And in closing, as most people above the age of 80 often do (rightly so, they have earned it!) - he completely removed his filter and spoke very candidly about "off shore" campuses and institutions from other countries coming into the islands and setting up shop. He spoke on the underlying implications of hosting "parasites in paradise".

...to the little people , to life, to imagination *cheers* Dr. Lamming. Thank you.

...virtual hugs

The past few weeks have been wonderful. I am finally feeling at home here, enjoying the school year (I LOVE the little kiddos). I am creating opportunities to travel, collaborating on some powerful exciting projects (VSPCA, Basic Computer Skills @ the Women’s Prison, afterschool reading group with STAR APPLE, mentoring at the girls home and HIV/AIDS outreach with CARE SVG) . I am full in so many ways.

At the same time I have continued to ensure I have my down time to indulge in inner work. This has become essential to maintaining my sense of balance and stability here. Reading, writing, reflecting...I crave this space - transformative, truly.  

As the countdown nears to my visit home in December about (10 weeks out), I remind myself not to get caught up in plans of the future.  This can be quite difficult on some days (I have already started a list of places to go, people to see and  things to eat!) . At times I miss my friends and family more than I ever imagined I would. In those moments, I try to give thanks to the feeling of love and life shared between those I hold close to my heart and I .  

My wish is  to continue to live each day fully here, keeping in mind that each day is indeed a gift. 24 hours of this life on earth that I will never get back. One less day in my 27-month experience as volunteer. Yet also one more birthday, one more celebration,  or family gathering that I am unable to attend.

As I countdown the days until I am in the comfort and presence of my loved ones, I try to remember to continue to breathe in all that is before me.

This might sound dramatic but it is as if I am existing within two worlds right now. Slowly giving more of myself to one  while reluctantly retreating a little more each day from another. I guess that is part of exploration? You must set sail in order to reach new lands.

~Drifting somewhere in-between~

...so when skyping just doesn't cut it, just know I miss you guys- very  very  very much.

“love one another, but make not a bond of love:
let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf
sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.”
― Khalil Gibran