On to the next stage!

I completed training on Friday, passed all my different assessments, so I will be sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer on Friday. We take an oath of office, have a little ceremony that community partners, host families, peace corps staff, and current volunteers will be at.

I'm also moving into my new place on tomorrow, well sort of tomorrow. I had to go get the electricity switched on, and I"m not sure whether or not there will be power in my place yet, so my host family said that I could still sleep at there place tomorrow night if I need to. I'll definitely move my stuff in tomorrow, and start to set up. I only have a week to completely move in, which seems like a lot of time, but I have to buy a ton of stuff and get it from the capital on a bus and for some stuff 2 buses, so its not one quick trip to pick up everything I need. My place is a two bedroom, but with only one bed. I figure I'll use the extra room as a work out/art room, and if someone comes to visit an air mattress may be acquired and put in that room.

Last night I made a broom with my host dad for my new place. Its pretty cool and the Tawnya leaves, kinda like a palm tree, for the broom come from his garden in the hills. After that I went with my host family to a neighbors house to play games, and it ended up turning into a dance party. The whole evening was a great and really started to make me feel like part of the community.

Since I'm moving into a new place, I will be without Internet for a while there. It could be as short as a week, or much much longer. I will still be checking my email at the peace corps office, but I won't be able to be as connected to everyone as I have been. Miss everyone, and hope life is bringing joy to everyone.

Easter Weekend with NO easter eggs!!

Today is the first day of my four day weekend we have off good Friday and Easter Monday. Today was filled with fishcakes, kinda like crab cakes with fish instead, its a good Friday tradition here, one I don't object to. Last night they had a washing of the feet mass, this morning a walk of the cross or something like that, tomorrow is a midnight mass, and obviously the Sunday mass. I'm planning to go to the midnight mass because I'm told it is a nice one that isn't too crowded. Catholicism is a huge part of life here, so its important for me to at least go to church a little to integrate. Plus the church takes an active role in community activities, so I need them to help me help the valley.

Its definitely nice to have this long weekend to relax a bit from training, which we all want to be over, but I've still managed to keep myself busy. Tomorrow I'm doing an island tour all day, then I am going to the midnight mass with my host family. Sunday I'm hoping to go to the Carifta games, which is a tournament for all the best high school track athletes for the islands. My host dad talked of going with family, otherwise I probably won't go because I don't want to go by myself. As for Monday I'm volunteering to help with a cricket tournament to raise money for a community center. For a game I barely understand I seem to doing a lot with it...it seems like its fun to play, but its a ridiculously long game to watch.

I'm almost finished with training, just a week left till our final assessments and we move into our own places!! We then have a few days to settle in, buy things we need, unpack, and then swearing in. Of course after that is the fun part, actually being a peace corps volunteer and doing what I came here to do.

I miss everyone, and hope the weather isn't too dreary wherever you are!

Cricket player warming up at the big cricket match

My host dad cutting up sugar can to eat.

Coconut complete with a spoon to eat the coconut jelly with made from the coconut.

A coconut tree in the banana fields, with a banana shack underneath it.

My host dad holding eggs he found in he shed at his garden.