J'ouvert

I attended my first J'ouvert celebration on Monday. J'ouvert is celebrated on many islands within the Eastern Caribbean and other cities around the world. J'ouvert is a celebration that involves calypso and soca bands and their followers dancing through the streets. The celebration starts well before dawn and peaks a few hours after sunrise. Some the origins of Carnival coincide with the emancipation of slavery. Emancipation provided Africans with the opportunity, to not only participate in Carnival, but to embrace it as an expression of their new found freedom.Others say, slaves were banned from masquerade balls of the french and the slaves would stage their own mini-carnivals in their backyards — using their own rituals and folklore, but also imitating and sometimes mocking their masters’ behaviors. Also, people would cover their bodies oil and paint to avoid being recognized. I woke up around 4am to go to town with another volunteer. We got a great seat at a restaurant and watched the parade from above. It was great to see young and older people having a great time. It was a great experience and Im glad I went. I experienced Carnival :) 

It is amazing how much people can get done if they do not worry about who gets the credit." --Sandra Swinney

I was given the opportunity to help build a demolish and rebuild a house for a citizen of the community. This man is 80+ years old and he worked for the government for 55 years and the Department of Youth Department decided to make a difference in his life. The man is called Country in the neighborhood and he has such a friendly and greatful spirit. I feel very blessed to be a part of rebuilding someone's home and providing them with joy and hope. All of the material used was donated and often times throughout the day he would say "Who's stuff is that?". We would say "Its for you" and he would say "Wow, really for me?"  I imagine that seeing you home demolished would be devastating to me, but seeing all of the people who came out to rebuild would be a breathtaking experience.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed. It is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead

HIV/AIDS "Small aids to individuals, large aid to masses " -Maria Mitchell

Today is World AIDS DAY!! I am volunteering with the National AIDS Secretariat which is a great organization. It also apart of  the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Unit. Every year there is a HIV/AIDS march that brings about solidarity and awareness to the community. It was a great day and people from different schools and professional organizations came out to show support. I was responsible for recruiting volunteers which was my first real responsibility as a volunteer. I also passed out different forms of contraceptives and educational packets to people in the community. It was interesting to see how much of a stigma is associated with sexual activity and I learned to be very discreet in handing out information. I found this made people more comfortable with accepting information or forms of contraception. Now, I am participating with the Ride the Bus Campaign and the People's Show,the latter will air live. The Ride the Bus Campaign is great way to inform people, I along with a health educator jump on a bus and talk about HIV and create a discussion about sexual health and awareness. I will have some pictures from the Campaign and the Talk Show  :)

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