Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.” Mark Twain

The oldest lady on the island, lives down the street for me. She turned 112 yesterday!!!! Can you imagine living over a century and seeing your country change completely. She was born in 1898....yeah I know. Living your life to fullest and taking time to appreciate the small things is very important. You only have one life and I think many people work so hard to try and find a way to balance it. However, if everyone was able to achieve that perfect balance, it wouldn't be called life. The pitfalls, the road blocks, and the lessons we learn make us who we are. I believe its a true blessing to live this long and see history actually happen and not have to read about it.

“Old age is not a disease - it is strength and survivorship, triumph over all kinds of vicissitudes and disappointments, trials and illnesses.”- Maggie Kuhn

Updates

I know I have been gone for a while, but life got a little crazy. Lately, I have been noticing the power of "Mother Nature" Hurricane Season just ended and now we are in mosquito season :) Instead of carrying an umbrella everywhere, I carry OFF :) I have a few pictures of the water and its aftermath after a storm.  In other news,I have really been embracing my sweet tooth lately. I along with some other volunteers visited a popular ice cream parlor in Port Zante. Port Zante is a place where most tourist visit when they come in from the cruise ships. I had the yummy cookie monster (chocolate chip, chocolate, and fudge). Also, I have fallen in love with.......soy ice cream!!!!!!! There is this great stand (I Queen's Ice cream) in the Independence Square in the capital that sells non- dairy and low sugar ice cream. I along with another volunteer spoke with the owner yesterday, her name is IQueen and she makes the most delicious ice cream ever!!!!She makes regular favors "vanilla and chocolate" during the week and fruit flavors on Friday :). The options this week was pistachio mixed with guava and mango mixed with coconut. I went for the mango mixed with coconut and lets just say it made my day. I never thought any ice cream was better than mint chocolate chip, but I was wrong!!

Shipwreck

All of the volunteers and staff came together to celebrate our accomplishments as the newest PCV's (Peace Corps Volunteer). The restaurant was 20 steps from the ocean. Can you say beautiful? The food was great and the people were very nice. Shipwreck is a bar and grill that many people come to visit. You can sit underneath a small cabana and grab a book or magazine provided by the restaurant. It was a very laid back atmosphere, which I can appreciate. I also saw a monkey and my first mongoose in the same territory. Ive been pretty busy lately because I am volunteering for the World AIDS campaign here. The campaign was kicked off this month to inform people about their choices during the holiday seasons.In a few weeks a AIDS march will take place and be a visible response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Federation. I'm excited for the things that will come. I'm learning how to be patient and allows things to happen as they should. I feel as individuals we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do everything perfect. What is perfect? I'm learning that every path that we take on this journey called life is meant to teach us something and meet people who will give us the best lessons of our lives. Oh yeah and its mosquito season, OFF has become my new perfume of choice :D Experience the opportunities presented to you and if you dont see them as yet, go out and find them.- brykimso

My internet is down

My internet is down due to the storm that knocked out our electricity. However, my school has wireless. Blessings are everywhere :) The lack of communication with my family and friends was altering my mood a bit. However, I told myself that what I am experiencing now is only temporary. I had some weekend plans that fell through due to the weather but hopefully, I will be posting some new pictures. I found this quote that pretty much sums up my feelings now. Enjoy the experience.

Watch your thoughts, for they become your words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become your character.
Watch your character, for it becomes you destiny.
- Anonymous

Appreciation: The hardest struggles in life, make the best stories and novels -brykimso

I often times forget how powerful the word appreciation is. I have realized how often people tend to work for that "pat on the back". However, I have learned that people work and do so to the best of their ability because of the passion they have for their career. Often times I hear the teachers say, "I'm going to educate the nation's youth". Educators have enlightened and stimulated the minds of the most notable and intelligent people in the world. I consider everyone in the world to be a part of that category. We all have come into contact with educators in some shape of form. How many times have we as a society showed our appreciation? I found a few quotes that made me think about the impact of educators and the power of appreciation and gratitude. I am experiencing the impact of appreciation.

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well” Voltaire quotes  
 “Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.” Sarah Caldwell
“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” Frederick Keonig
 “Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.” Winnie the Pooh
“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” Ashley Smith 

Pictures

Updates :)

I have finished training as a Peace Corps Trainee and now....I am officially a Peace Corps Volunteer!!! I have been very busy and experiencing St. Kitts. So far I have seen a fire dancer and gone on a treasure hunt on the island. I also had the opportunity to be on a local show here called Talking Point and we talked about the impact of tourism on the island. I had a personal triumph today :) I was able to get my clothes off the line before the rain. It may not sound like a huge deal but I think I'm developing the Kittian intuition. I also taught my first dance class to Form 1 students (11-12 years old). I also heard a young woman talk about her experience with breast cancer and the importance for both men and women to know their bodies.  I'm hoping to get some time to go out and take some nice photographs. I am living the experience until then.