I graduated!!!

It is official, I have graduated Peace Corps training! This is almost as exciting as graduating college, except that we were only in training for 7 weeks and unless you really mess up, everyone graduates. It is exciting though that I don't have to go to Castries anymore. I am in my community for good! This Thursday I have a meeting with my point person (my boss in the community) to discuss my 3 month work plan. This will give me more direction with my service because for the time being I just kind of float around and do whatever I can. For example, this week I am going to the school (which is where I am typing right now) on Tuesday. Then Tuesday afternoon I am going to the "Centre of Excellence" which is a training facility for young athletes. I volunteered to help coach the football players in skills training and today is my first day! I don't want to take on too much responsibility because I know that the program meets twice a week after school, and since I will be working with 13 schools in my district developing after-school programs I should keep my time after school open. Alright, so I have been learning Patois for 7 weeks now and though I am far from fluent, I think that incorporating a new language into my vocabulary has hurt my English. So I apologize from here on out for any grammar, punctuation, spelling or poor word usage for the next 2 years....

I DIGRESS... Tomorrow, (Wednesday) I am attending a meeting to plan events for Independence Day on February 22nd. Then I need to go to Vieux Fort to get money out of the ATM. (Side Note: I have to travel 3o minutes by bus in order to get to an ATM, so I need to keep an emergency $4 stash around near the end of the month. ) I need to get money because I have been out of propane since Saturday morning. Since my stove runs off of a propane tank I have been with my over for a little while too long. It did teach me some alternative cooking methods though. I have had tuna salad sandwiches for a few days and I realized that I can use my coffee maker to heat up water for noodles. Needless to say, I am currently starving and getting money for another gas tank tomorrow is a necessity! On Thursday I am meeting with Mr. Mathurin (my Point person) and after I set up my 3 month work plan I will have more direction for the next few weeks. Friday I am planning on going to Soufriere to hang out with some of the other volunteers. Unless my point person has other plans for me. The Peace Corps has taught me to be flexible and more laid back. Otherwise I would have had about 7 nervous breakdowns already. Luckily, I came in with an open mind and that has helped me a lot!! I am trying to think of a few cute stories to share but right now my mind is blank... Last weekend was "Jounen Kweyol" or Creole Day. It is the national holiday celebrated in St. Lucia and Dominica and it is a celebration of the Creole Culture. Many people dress up in traditional outfits made with Madras fabric. It is a plaid with red, yellow, and green. Most of the Creole outfits involve the fabric. The day was celebrated at the school on Friday and then on the field for the entire community of Sunday. We had a good time, drank a few too many Pitons (that is the local beer), and learned a lot about St. Lucia culture. I can't think of any good stories right now, I am still waiting for internet to be installed at my house so once it goes in I will be able to write exciting stories and hopefully post some pictures. Until then, I have a lot of photos up on facebook. I hope everything is going well in the United States. We are having a Peace Corps Halloween party on Friday and then an election party on Tuesday hopefully to celebrate my candidate's big win!! We will see... I love and miss everyone and hope that you are having a Happy Halloween!!!

Love,
Kelli