Togas, Sailboats, & Beach Volleyball

Last night we had a Toga Party to celebrate the birthdays of Lauren, Rebecca, and Kris. It was really funny to see the assortment of sheets that everyone wore because I don't think one of us owns white sheets here. We also realized that it's our 6 MONTH ANNIVERSARY since joining the Peace Corps...can you believe it?! We all went around the circle and each made a heart-warming toast of our gratitude for one another.

The next morning we peeled ourselves out of bed and all went to Grand Anse Beach to watch the Annual Sailing Regatta. There were dozens of colorful boats, food vendors, and live music everywhere you looked. I also met up with some of my volleyball friends and played 4-on-4 for hours, which was exhilarating! And I'm pretty sure I took half the beach home in my bathing suit.

Tufton Hall Waterfalls

Today Kris and I hiked up to Tufton Hall Waterfalls in Victoria, and it was quite the all day event. The first part was hiking up the hills and through the bush to get to the river, and then the rest was climbing up a series of smaller waterfalls (and I say smaller only in comparison to Tufton itself). Kris had done the hike a few times already and wanted to make it as challenging as possible for me (thanks buddy), so we were literally climbing through the cascading water at times. My little arms got quite the workout.

Oh, and I think Kris would agree with me on the highlight of the hike:

I was pretty giddy since we were almost to the big falls, and I saw this big branch hanging across 2 rocks and thought it would be fun to swing on. So I jumped up and grabbed on with both hands...bad idea. What I didn't know is that the branch had wood rot. *cracking sound and Rachel down* The branch snapped like a twig and I fell right on my butt in the water! It was pretty funny because the minute I grabbed on, I felt it give way, but it was already too late...

And of course this is the one time Kris is behind me and sees the whole thing. He was worried that I broke my tailbone, but I think all I damaged was my pride. We couldn't stop laughing about it later.

Dear Miss Rachel

One of my 10 year-old girls at the Limes Program gave me a letter today (along with a picture of Michael Jordan...?) that made me realize this is where I'm supposed to be.

Dear Miss Rachel,
How are you and I hope you are fine and I hope I will love you and love you forever. I don’t care what people say. I love you and Miss Simon and Miss Hopkin because when I did not have any books in my bag is what you give me, books and growing. While all you getting old and I will study the kindness you do for me and I will never forget all you.
Ezra

Obviously blogging wasn't my New Year's Resolution.

2008 has begun in a whirlwind as we all met with our community partners to discuss the details of our job descriptions, marking the ending of our Integration Phase and moving into the "real deal"...which partly worries me because then what does that say about what I've done so far? But no bother, I am working with some fantastic women and am very optimistic about what lies ahead. And together, we have an assortment of projects lined up that will keep even MY itchy feet from going anywhere.

One of them being the Health Fairs held every Saturday in a different town where medical clinics aren't available, run by Dr. Szauer (who began the prison HIV program) and my main community partner Ann Hopkin...who somehow manage to do these free clinics in their "spare time." I couldn't ask for 2 more dynamic women...they are like the Odd Couple meets Laverne & Shirley. They never cease to inspire me or make me laugh! For now, I have the all-important job of measuring and weighing the patients (and practicing my tactful responses when they ask me if they're overweight). I can't seem to keep myself together enough to prick fingers (or "jook" as they say here) at the blood sugar station as of yet, but someday I'm hoping to work my way up the ranks.

Happy New Year's 2008!

I can't tell you how excited I was to find out Grenada has fireworks! And not a bad showing for such a small island either. My friends and I enjoyed the pyrotechnics as we sat on top of Fort George, drank some champagne, shared our New Year's resolutions, and then danced in the open courtyard as the rain ushered in the new year.