Friday, February 6, 2009

My Peace Corps Top Ten

The Top Ten signs you are a Peace Corps Volunteer, in the Eastern Caribbean, EC 78, Currently living in Choiseul, St. Lucia....

10. Suddenly showering has become less of a priority and your hair does not get washed more than a few times a week. You consider a warm bucket bath more fulfilling than a cold shower.

9. Popcorn, Oatmeal, and water are three of your main food groups.

8. You randomly run into your Priest in your office and he kindly reminds you that he has not seen you for awhile.

7. At least once a day you are told you are beautiful. This is flattering at first until it happens when you have been sweating for an hour and your are wearing shorts and a t-shirt. You suddenly realize that everyone just says that and it has nothing to do with you. But you are still flattered every time you hear it. Or you are told... "I like to see you."

6. Even though your dog has passed away, your veterinarian gives you rides in order to hit on you. He says that if you move in with him (and his 2 daughters who are almost your age) then he will "take care of you."

5. You receive odd text messages from random men you have met. More than once I have received, "I love you" from people that I hardly know. There was also the text message about someone wetting their pants...but I won't get into that one."

4. You get to work everyday by hitching rides with strangers. It saves you $1.50 EC (The bus fare) and it is surprisingly reliable form of transportation.

3. Running and reading are daily activities, as well as illegally watching movies on the internet.

2. You wake up every morning to a view of the Caribbean Sea and Gros Piton and every night you can watch the sunset over the water and shower while looking out the window at Gros Piton.

1. You are frequently awakened by your cell phone alarm randomly going off in the middle of the night. Even though you set it for 6:30AM. If the cell phone does not wake you up it is the goats/sheep dry heaving/puking outside of your window. (This has happened at least 6 times in the past few weeks.)