ram-ble [ram-buh'l]

 ... intransitive verb. 1. a: to move aimlessly from place to place b: to explore idly . 2: to talk or write in a desultory or long-winded wandering ...

yep , that about sums it up.

Last week I was having a moment of “outsiderness”. I felt that I had to be doing something wrong because after 6 months, I still have days where I feel like even more of an outsider than when I first came. I was in my head all week. Part of Integration is networking. I’ve never been the best at networking; it just feels so forced and calculated from my experience. But integration as a whole, the blending in with a new community is a bit different, that seems more genuine and natural to me- so I thought.

The tricky part of having a set time frame in which you are expected to be integrated into your community is finding the balance of what feels natural to you and what has been “proven” to be successful. Spelled out black & white in books, manuals and handouts- successful integration seems like a pretty attainable goal. It’s a little different once you live it. I find myself questioning habits, patterns, preferences, values, morals- pretty much all that I have known myself to be. (Losing yourself (identity) to find yourself ( core ) right?)

Do I compromise and scale back on being opinionated at work or do I use it as a moment to reveal I actually do have thoughts independent of the previous volunteer? Do I walk home because I like the exercise or do I accept a ride offered to me so that next time I WANT a ride you won’t pass me by? Do I give the Van driver my number after he studies my every curve so I can have another way to get home after 6pm or say no out of protest for being looked at like a 6pc chicken dinner with fries on the side?

Self talk-(Patience. Simplicity. Compassion.)

Also, the monotony of casual small talk is beginning to take a toll on me. Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening. Hi, how are you? You Good? Good Good. Fine, yes? Great. Ok, buh bye. Rain ah come again?, more rain? The monotony of being monotonous is enough to drive one mad. ( Yes, at times I am the crazy lady who walks around talking to herself - well I just mouth thoughts, no sounds come out usually)

RAMBLE: R-A-M-B-L-E, RAM-BUH'L

It's like Netball but so much better!

Last week I  was a camp counselor/assistant coach for a 3-day overnight basketball camp. The camp was put on by  Adonal Foyle and his Kerosene Lamp Foundation.  I must say I was quite impressed by the camp. The popular sports here in St. Vincent are  Cricket , Futbol and Netball. Volleyball is somewhere in the middle. Basketball is along the lines of Tennis I believe. There are a few courts and a few organizations that attempt to offer competitive leagues to those interested, but generally they don't get too much attention.

This was the first year that the foundation held an extended overnight camp. They wanted to make it more intense and comprehensive for the campers. The kids not only benefited from physical activity and the many by products that come out of organized sports like discipline, respect and focus; they also participated in daily life skills sessions.

From 9-2 the kids attended sessions including : sports psychology, reading, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, and Sports not Drugs just to name a few. Then they loaded up into buses to head to the basketball courts. From 3-6  they were involved in various stations where they were taught an array of basic basketball skills.

I truly had a great experience and I am so happy I was able to be apart of the camp. ( And of course get a lil 2 on 2 in on the side) . Although long and draining, it was worth every minute of it. ( Especially relieving the sleep deprived camp counselors at 8am from the night shift! haha, brave souls )

The highlight for me was  seeing a 13 year old female  picked to be part of the All-Star team. The foundation is doing great things. Check'em out!

Photo by H.dollins
PUMP IT UUUP! GET HYPE LINES

Photo by H.dollins
...MORE DRILLS

Photo by H.dollins
GET LOOOOW, 123 DEFENSE

THE  PC CREW

Adventures with Elvis

Tiny Friend we met along the way

ELVIS, DETERMINED TO GET SOME COCONUT WATER!

After the 2nd unsuccessful attempt to visit the Montreal Gardens, we settled for a tour around the mountains with a new found friend- Elvis. He is an interesting little guy, friendly and very in tune with nature. Although we didn't make it into the gardens because they were closed, we still enjoyed an amazing trek through the lush hills nestled in the heart of the valley.

Surrounded by the magnificence of life, nature, and beauty- it really helped put things into perspective. Perceptions of problems, daily stressors, anger and hurt that have fueled parts of your existence all seem to become very minuscule when you accept the vast offerings from nature, just for that moment. The chaos of  the mind quiets with ease once you openly receive what is generously being presented to you. Taking a step back an soaking in the bigger picture, how we are all so very interconnected allows a stream of life/love/pure energy to rejuvenate your spirit and soul. Thank you Elvis :) And special thanks to Candice for "WOmaning" up and surviving the hike in her chucks!!

Vincy Mas 2011 ( Soca Monarch & J'ouvert)

So Vincy Mas has officially ended. Back to life as we knew it before all the madness. Special thanks to Candice and Wilmina for traveling down to see me (and check on me haha) and take in my first carnival experience in SVG. Love you ladies!!!   Great time for sure but I am TIRED.

  School is out for the summer so I am in the process of restructuring my schedule with a few exciting projects I will get to work on from July- September. I will post more about them once my words come back to me. For now, enjoy a few pics!

Soca Monarch with the girls :)

Soca Monarch Pre- game

Down n Durty, Soca Monarch Style

Candice arrives!

MY LITTLE WOMEN VISITORS!! :)

Candice's T-Shirt band Jump up!

From Tyrone , GA to Edmond, OK to SVG- this one is a lifer :)

'NUFF SAID

Still clean, must be about 1 AM

Miss Dominica - J'ouvert

J'ouvert

83 Love!! - J'ouvert

J'ouvert (3 AM ish)

J'ouvert- ( 4 AM ish)

Graduation Day ( Grade 6)/ Canouan w/ Girls Home ( Pic update for my non facebookers)

The grade 6 boys

The gyals playing Go Fish

Graduation Day!

Grade 6 Graduation

My wonderful Principal and IPP

Canouan w/ the Girls Home

The gyals

Natalie Patrice, loves her!

Grade 6 Prom, fresssh to death!

They all looked so nice

Ladies night @ Girls Home

Didn't quite get to the Taboo game, next time Sisters

NatP doing it up Trini style ( Bakes n Shark)

..." There is a certain balance of letting nature provide what it may"...

A dear friend of mine wrote this in response to a post earlier this month concerning Apathy. I felt moved to share this with other volunteers that are serving and may need a gentle reminder from time to time or even for applicants that may read this prior to starting your Peace Corps experience. :


"Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there and I am prepared to expect wonders."...since you are reading Thoreau, I think.

You have already identified the seed. The dilemma I see is that you are not familiar w/ the species of plants you are harvesting. Some, my dear, will sprout like bean vines at the first sign of spring waters. Others will require diligent tending to the soil, as well as experience fighting off the parasitic setbacks that are native to the region. The wise gardener recognizes that there is a certain measure of tending, and then there is a certain balance of letting nature provide what it may, and that a whole crop may not be harvested, despite the toils of labor and love.

Finally, there are seeds that will not reach their full potential in life until the cultivator is lonnng and gone. The roots of the aspens, the wisdom of the old oak, the reverence of the redwoods, all evidence of that reality. The bonsai takes careful pruning before it is considered a work of art. But the first cut decides the next cut, and the next cut, and the next. Be the first cut where you can. Be the center ring of a 9000 Year old Norway spruce where you can.

You are blocking your vision with anticipation of perfectly timed corn rows, when in fact you have the collaboration of seeds that haven't shown you their colors. The fruits might not ripen until 20 years down the road, when one recollection of one spirit that said one thing just right, pruned just the right limb, provides the life-giving profundity that you assumed to be lost in the limited ideas of what you envisioned as "getting thru" or not. It might not be the grammar limb, or the math limb, or anything taught in books limb..those might likely be of no use...compared to the one day that some piece of you became some memory for them. And that they needed nothing more".  
 - MeadowO.

                                                         

                                                  ~Some people are just good for the soul~

Wish List Update

A little goes a VERY LONG way!  Check out what a small donation can provide for students at my school...

Cane End Government School

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Ave Stephen-Weeks, Principal; 175 students

Jessica Greathouse, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer

Background from Jessica Greathouse: "This school, in the beautiful, agricultural Mesopotamia Valley, would like to enhance literacy among the students by exposing them to a variety of literature. A significant number of students are below grade level.

Thank you very much for considering a donation to Hands Across the Sea, Inc. in support of Jessica’s school project. This link explains the donation process. http://handsacrossthesea.net/HandsWishLists.htm , and here’s how you can ensure that the funds sent will go to Cane End:

1.You can be sure that the funds will go to Cane End because there is one person who speaks with all the volunteers, has access to PayPal and who tracks all funds, and that is me. There are no other people involved. Every single donation that Hands Across the Sea receives goes across my desk and I assign them all. If I don’t know who the funds should go to I always ask the donor by sending them an email afterwards asking them.

2.Towards the end of the PayPal process, there is a comments/message field. You won’t see it in the first step. Please write that you would like the donation to go to Cane End or Jessica Greathouse’s school.

If a donor forgets to write a message, I send the PayPal donor an email asking them what school they’d like to donate to.

3.If you want to make double sure, you can write me an email telling me that you just made a Paypal donation to Jessica’s school. My email is Harriet@handsacrossthesea.net.

4.Finally, if you feel more comfortable writing a check, you can write the name of the school in the memo line. Checks should be made out to:

Hands Across the Sea, Inc.

411 Walnut Street

PMB 4218

Green Cove Springs, FL 32043


http://handsacrossthesea.net/HandsWishLists.htm