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Every Moment is a New Beginning -Elie Wiesel

 

Photo by Ken Bryan
This week felt like the beginning of reality setting in.  Last weekend we were allowed to leave our hotel compound for the 1st time since arriving--but we could only go to the beach!  This was by no means an inconvenience--I mean look at that view reflected in my sunnies! It felt so good to relax, rest, and recharge on the white sand and the warm, clear water.  I had a moment while on the beach: "I live here now."   Had a return trip to the beach on Sunday, which required us to walk as the shuttle does not run on Sunday.  The walk down was fine--but up was another story.  I am not being hyperbolic when I say that the hills here make the hills in Seattle look like nothing!!  But it was well worth the effort! 

The reality of what I'm going to be doing also set in a bit more this week as our training intensified.  We had several excellent sessions on how to teach reading and the science of teaching reading!!!  The researcher-professor in me was OVER THE MOON to be in a place where we are learning data-informed teaching.  We had our 1st trip to a school this week--look at us all ready for our 1st day.  LOL. 

Photo by Jose Montero
I was in a kindergarten classroom with another trainee.  This time, we were just there to observe.  SO many differences from a US classroom.  There is prayer 4-5 times/day.  Students call the teachers "Miss"(no last name) and it is ok for them to come up and hug you or hold your hand.  We spent the whole day at the school and during lunch, one student snuggled up next to me and started poking and then stroking my forearm with one finger.  One of our trainers told us this might happen--the student was fascinated by my white skin.  Another one of my fellow volunteers, who has rather hairy arms, had a student ask "What happened to you?"  LOL.  I loved their energy and got to see some really good examples of effective teaching and classroom management.  This week, my partner trainee (we are technically Peace Corps Trainees until the time we are sworn in) and I will teach a lesson to our kindergarten class about the environment and why we want to take care of our environment--come back next week to get all the details!

Sculpture near the Castries waterfront

Yesterday we had a scavenger hunt in the capitol city, Castries.  This was the 1st time we took a bus--and I learned a lot!  There are no schedules for the buses, stops are often just
on the side of the road (no sign) in the neighborhoods.  When leaving from the city, the bus will wait to go until it is full, which is great from an environmental standpoint.  And--the buses are actually vans and when they are full, they are FULL.  I witnessed an amazing act of balance yesterday as a woman had multiple bags from the market and a flat of 4 dozed eggs balanced on her lap--and she had to get up multiple times as people exited!  

The reality of how fortunate and grateful I am is with me every day.  I often remark about how genuinely lucky I am to be able to have this experience at this point in my life.  I am happy to share it with you all--thanks for coming along for the ride!  

A lovely sunset from this week



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