My first two weeks here have gone relatively smoothly. Leanne and I go running every morning, which means waking up at 5:30, which for here is relatively late. Interesting fact, Grenadians hate the sun. They do everything they can to avoid it. Therefore if one is going to exercise it means waking up before the sun comes up. So, when in Grenada, do as the Grenadians do. Anthony, my host father, exercises in the morning as well, so after Leanne and I run around the port along the water I meet him at the track and walk some laps with him. When I get back Anthony has picked coconuts from the back yard and cut it open for me to drink with breakfast. It’s a pretty nice way to start off the day. This past weekend I got to go to the BBC which was amazing. Leanne and I spent the whole day there, and then met up with the other volunteers later in the afternoon.
I am the third volunteer to live with the Josephs, and what’s awesome is that the other two girls who have lived with them are still on island, Katie and Stephanie. Let me explain, there are three sets of voluneets on island right now: the group that has been here for two years and is getting ready to leave (EC 81), the group that has just finished their first year (EC 83), and us (EC 84). Having Katie and Stephanie as a resource has been wonderful. I really enjoy listening to them discuss all the projects they’ve done and talk about all their friends and the types of things they do on their spare time. Katie also works at one of my work sites which has also been really helpful.
As a peace corps volunteer we are given a primary work site and a school attachment. The school attachment is one day a week and only lasts 6 months and is meant solely to help us integrate and meet more people. The primary work site is the job which we are meant to be our full time job. As time progresses we are then suppose to pick a secondary work site based on our interests. My situation is a little different because I’ve been assigned two work sites: The Limes school for special education and The Lutheran school. I’m a little disappointed that I’ve been placed at two schools, only because I do not see myself pursuing a career in the education system, but we will see how it goes. There is however a children’s home, The Belair Home, which I am very interested to check out. Katie also works here so before training is over I will be given the opportunity to shadow her.
This past Friday my host family took me and Leanne to a cook out their friends were having. It was really fun except for the fact that I was more or less falling asleep on myself (I have found that I am very tired here). It was a very interesting social scene. When we first got there the men all gathered in a circle and began to talk and drink heavily while the women sat on the outskirts. My host father kept asking me if I wanted a drink I kept insisting that I was fine, however he thought I was just being shy so he kept asking. Finally when Leanne and I agreed to have a glass of wine, my host mother looks over at me and goes “don’t be getting drunk now! I aint driving you home!” I’m pretty sure they think that we Americans can’t handle out alcohol.
The one thing that I can’t get over here is the driving. Every time I get into a car I think back to when my mom use to take me driving when I got my permit and she would grip the side of the car out of fear. I can honestly say that there are not road rules. People drive at all kinds of speeds, pass each other as they please, and on top of it there are not side walks! People and cars share the road. So I haven’t decided which one is scarier, walking or being in the passenger seat.
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