Typically Untypical Day

I was asked to write a "Typical Day" piece for incoming volunteers. I am not sure that Peace Corps will actually use it because let's be honest, they might be looking for something a little more straightforward and I have found my life is a twisting, wonderful, often confusing ride these days. Anyways, I enjoyed reading over it and thought it would be worth sharing.

I would also like to extend my sincerest gratitude for everyone's love and compassion the past few months. It is through others that I continue to find myself. It is in that universal love that I continue to find hope.

My typical day, well that’s funny to say because since I arrived, every waking moment has brought anything but what can be called typical. So instead of trying in any way to suggest that my experience is par for the course of a Peace Corps volunteer or that I am doing it “right” because I was asked to write this; I have decided to write about what a typical untypical day in the life me, just a regular person who also happens to be a Peace Corps volunteer, is like living on the small island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Good days begin early in the morning. If my eyes open at 6am, I have enough time to do laundry by hand, prepare my lessons for school and to listen to all of the latest island tunes. I walk down to school, passing new friends along the way. There are more and more to talk to every day. At school, I take a deep breath and try to help kids believe in themselves. I let them be goofy. I give them hugs. I smile and let them know the world is their oyster. And plenty of days, this simple task seems monumental for that you will quickly see: poverty, injustice, abuse and oppression have created such a grave situation that to even begin to think about turning it around can often times be overwhelming. But don’t worry because despite there being a large task ahead of us, the volunteers, the rest of my day is always filled with more “hellos,” hugs and moments that make you realize how sweet Vincy life is.

If I could do it all over again, that is to say if I could have known something prior to arriving on the island, I wish that I had spent time thinking about how I can stand within my own power as a female on this island. The culture can be tough. You will be told that you are sexy and sweet more times than you thought possible. You will be challenged by the school environment and the speed of the vans. The heat can be overwhelming as well as the wash. You will see many familiar things in the stores but will be limited by your living allowance. All of the sudden, the things you took for granted will no longer be available or they will come at a high price. Music here can be loud. Life here can be loud. But amongst all of that noise, I know that if you try, you will find a special kind of peace, one that can only be found when you are forced to join others in community to make existence more bearable. So please, also, prepare yourself to have the time of your life. We are so excited for your arrival. Get ready for the whole experience, it is beautiful. That is the only thing I know for certain. Your next two years as a Peace Corps volunteer can be downright gorgeous if you do it your own way! Please pack all of the things you are good at; there is a place for your skill to be shared on this island.

Update from the Group

By Jay Hinton

While waiting for Autumn to wake from a nap, I am looking out our window towards a back street of Layou. My view consists of a few homes on a tropical hillside with a large knob mountain behind them. One home is painted peach and white while the other is unpainted cinder block. Occasionally a car or person will pass on the road in front of the houses as the warm breeze blows and dogs and other animals can be heard in the distance.

I've been thinking of what it's like to be a brief stranger in a strange land. Often as our group walks around town there are many people we pass who just watch us without saying a work. On this island, "clear skinned" people are pretty uncommon so it just makes sense that people want to have a look at us. There are also those who will greet us with a "Good Morning" or "Good Day." On the other tend of the continuum we have had people that have spent everyday with us and that is what has really made me feel welcomed here. WE have gotten to know people who have gone out of their way to transport us, play with us, cook for and eat with us, organize behind the scenes for us, care for minor injuries and just be with us.

Carrying this thought forward, I thought of people who are in my home community but are not in their home culture or who just don't fit the mold of society. Am I the person just watching them pass by without saying a word? Sometimes I am. Am I the person going out of my way to help provide them with comfort, understanding and friendship? Sometimes I am. Can I do better? Absolutely, I can. Will it make me uncomfortable? Probably. But now I know that's what I need to strive to do more of.

There are teachers from Jamaica who will be in Cullowhee this summer. How can I/we go out of the way to befriend and help them? There's a family in Cullowhee from South Korea. There son is in Noah's class. We've already had some interactions with them but how can I kick that up a notch? There are students on our campus from Saudi Arabia. I've made friends with one but it's been mostly on my terms and turf. How can I/we expand on that? There are people in our community who have basic needs that aren't met or who are suffering due to negligence or abuse. I help some with them but it's mostly non-relational help. There is a Hispanic congregation in our church, what are we doing with them?

The experience here in St. Vincent has reminded me that Jesus gave the ultimate example of the power of relational living with those who are different and in need. He showed us amazing things can happen if we'll just take a step or two away from our comfort areas. I don' t think he wants me in a place so far from comfort that I feel in danger but being in a place of evolving challenger certainly feel like the example of Jesus for me.

And the shadows darkened the door...

By Jennifer Hinton

It sounds like the start to a good chapter in a suspense novel. Something dark and dreary is sure to happen but in this case each time the shadows darkened the door, there were hushed squeals of delight as small throngs of Vincentian children fought for viewing space of the mural that was coming alive on their library wall. Each time a class passed by for PE or there was a break time or lunch, faces would peer in through wire-covered windows or the library doorway to catch a glimpse of the progress on the artwork. Bert, one of the grade 6 students who loves art but often receives little praise in that area, drew most of the mural with Ashley, one of the Wesley Students. He has been granted permission to spend his Friday painting side-by-side with us, making his space theme creations come into a colorful view. I especially enjoyed watching Noah do a short video interview with Bert about his artwork and how and why he was chosen for the project. While he'd been quite reserved with me, he was proud to tell Noah he was a good artist and a capable choice for the job.

Honestly, I 've enjoyed watching my kids with the Vincentian kids immensely each day. One boy-only a year older and just as skinny, has decided Noah needs a "big brother." Another told me that he and Noah were "conducting business" the other night when they were discussing beautiful girls. Autumn has enjoyed the attention of a few of the quieter girls who like to read with her, and of one little boy who is at our campsite each evening nicknamed "Little Man" who will run circles and play board games with her.

Back to the library painting, which is serious business. Along with Bert's mural, I got a Vincentian flag on another wall and Co-Co bordered a door in Victorian curlicues. By the end of the day, after we had enjoyed a wonderful potluck luncheon from the teachers at Layou Government School, we could then clear all of the shelves and other furniture out of the room. Jay, Kimberly and Noah stayed to help three of our Vincentian friends--Tony, Gosnel and Joel--paint the floor. Our hope is that by Sunday we can have the floor dry so that we can touch up our paintings, replace the shelves and fill them with all of the books that the group has sorted by reading level, stacked, labeled and stamped. Sarah is going to have a group of grade 6 students manage the library and hopes they someday will have money for a computer and bar code system so student will have a more sophisticated (Dewey decimal) system for searching and checking out books.

What I really love about the new library space is that it is to be an encouraging space where each student is to be uplifted and respected. Sarah is hoping to make it a place where only positive reinforcement is utilized-- a safe haven for learning. As we've poured over the books that are about to go onto freshly painted shelves-- both the old classics that were there and the new paperbacks that were donated- we often gushed with delight about the joy reading has brought throughout our young lives. My school and hometown libraries brought me sanctuary and took me to exotic places like St. Vincent-- all within a mile of my home. I pray this library is both the sanctuary and exotic escape I loved-- for these children, I now love also.

Noah

So if you would believe it, my first time to the hospital in St. Vincent was with Noah, the 9 year old volunteer from the Western Carolina Group. Noah was playing in the school yard and accidentally fell and landed face first on one of St. Vincent's finest schoolyard hazards, a big rock. Well, I am happy to report that Noah survived a full trip to the hospital and is looking straight gangsta here in St. Vincent. He has earned his street credit and I am most proud to report that he didn't earn his cred through hurting others but by living in a way that embraces that simple connection we can have with all of creation.
The following two diddies are for Noah and his dad, Jay. I also want to report that I have an addition to the Mr. Morris story/ "Please only read when sober" blog and I will get that up as soon as the group leaves and I have time to write more.
As always, thank you to everyone, everyone, everyone for being here in spirit. I am there in spirit!

Of A
I am of a land where the kids are forced to be rough
Where nurses tell little boys that falling down and standing back up is the way to become a man.
Where you meet friends as you wait outside the hospital praying for grace and mercy.
I am of a God that brings privileged 9 year olds to play
With those that have been left behind by the world.
I am of a God that places my abuser in the path of righteousness and forgiveness.
I am of a God that is ever-loving.
And that is how, I’m not freaking out.
Deep inside me, I know that peace will reign forever and that my rough boys are going to shower love on that sweet boy.
So
From them, he gets a little bit braver
And
From him, they get a little softer.
Yes
Indeed
I believe that these tiny accidents are miracles working.
God is right in front of my eyes.


For Jay
Dear Dad
I want you to know
That I am impossibly strong.
A real superhero of sorts because
I am a young man who values people.
So know that I will probably fall on my face many more times
And there are sure to be many heartaches ahead but that is
Because
I put myself out there
I embrace my vulnerability yet I never stop running
God has big things in store for me this lifetime.
So be brave, father.
Trust God, father.
Your little man is going to make the world a better place
And
All those scars
That you look and see
How short life can be.
Those scars
They are me.
Strong
Brave
Steady
A warrior of peace.

Update #3

By Molly, A true leader of the heart

Before we started our trip to St. Vincent, I was unsure of what to expect. However, as soon as we got through customs at the airport, I knew that I was about to have an amazing time. I was the first person to walk out of the airport and I was greeted with a very warm welcome. Every person I have met has been very welcoming to every one of us! Even though we have only known our new friends for a few days, it seems like we've been friends forever.

Walking into the school on Monday was an experience I will never forget. Every child we saw seemed overjoyed to have us there. The best feeling I've had since being here is when I am at school and all of the children hug as many times as they can. All the children here want is love. Love from their family, love from their friends and love from the community. It's made me become more childlike. Childlike in the sense of carefree-ness but most importantly, childlike in the sense of being a child of God.

To have the opportunity to be here in ST. Vincent and show the children and other people int he community love is one of teh greatest things we could ever do on a mission trip.

Since being here, we've been referred to as many thing by many people, Vincentians and Americans alike. "Americans, white, miss, them." And we have referred to the people living here as many things as well. "Vincentians, black, them." However, being here makes you start to think of many things like why do we, as Americans, as Vincentians, as neighbors in the same global community need a distinction? In the end, the biggest lesson I've learned so far here is that THEY are not THEY. THEY are US and WE are THEY. Regardless if the relationships are between different countries or within the same country. We are all created by one Father. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. Experiences like the one we're having now, are once in a lifetime and to learn that it's okay to look at someone as only another child of God during this experience is something that I feel everyone should get the chance to have. You can definitely experience it in another country but more importantly, you can experience it in your home country and in your own neighborhood.

Opportunities like this are very special and I want to challenge everyone, myself included, to see them out and act upon them in ways that Christ would.

Update from the Group!

By Kimberly, One Special Young Woman.

As a photographer, I have a strange sense of beautiful. Most people see a beach as a beach and nothing special but I take the time to appreciate it and the surrounding objects and the way the light hits it and see it is beautiful, then I try to capture it as best as I possibly can.

As I have been in St. Vincent these past couple of days, I’ve wondered why I see beauty in some of the tragic things, like the tin shacks across the street from the ornate houses or the the trash in the streets that no one seems to think twice of or the overall poverty in general. Today, we went to Dark View Falls with several Vincentian men and women and we got to know them a lot. At first, we had the awkward silence of trying to find something to talk about but as we swam at the falls we began to get comfortable with each other. By lunch, we were all having a great time. And as we all got to asking questions about each other’s culture, with questions as strange as “Do you say ‘huh’?” I began to admire the beautiful spirit of these people and then began to understand why I see beauty in so much. I see the spirit in those with large, ornate houses who left their home when they were young to seek opportunity abroad and came back when they were old and successful to make a life for themselves, and those with poor shacks, I see the beautiful resiliency of those who will not quit despite their circumstances.

And on the way back to camp, as we rode the bus, they shared their joy with us as we all started standing up and dancing to the music of both of our cultures, having the time of our lives. And despite my strange sense of beautiful, I think everyone was able to see the world as I see it for a moment and agree, that it is, indeed, beautiful.

Update from the group!

By Christin Wilson

No matter where you are there are a few things that don’t change no matter how far you go from home. If you can find those connections then home really is where the heart is…

*Kids are kids, we played, we danced, we sang.

*Although it is only our first day we have already been reminded, (while rolling down a hill, or playing a make shift skip it with a branch from a tree) that we were all children once. If we try hard enough then we will find that child that we once were, and I really think that is the first gift that the children of St. Vincent have given the Wesley group.

*First impressions last

*As soon as we saw natives the whole group yelled “Good morning” and waved and it had the same meaning that it would have if we were walking to class at school.

*The sunsets are beautiful

*As we set on the hill and looked out over Bequia and Kingston and it was breath taking, as it is when we are sitting on the beach at home.

*It’s hot when it’s hot

*We were all sitting on a van and I look at the little girl sitting next to me and she says “it’s really hot” and I was thinking “Yess” I’m glad the natives think it’s hot to.

There are differences that may give the Wesley group some trouble: like the heavy dialect, the van rides, the dance moves (that the Americans cannot keep us with), and the heat. Those are things that I think that we will learn how to live with in the ten days we are here. While we are constantly remembering that this is not our home, we are also constantly being reminding that this is their home that they are kindly sharing with us for ten days. Yes the life style is different and maybe the way they think and the way they dance.

But at the end of the day people are people and if we take the time to make that connection with the people around us then we have no reason to ever feel alone. People like food and good conversation, and when we mix those two things together then it’d be amazing that what we can learn from each other. We could always use a little more love and that’s why the 15 of us are here, to show God’s love in a way that others can feel it. The truth of the matter is that as soon as you give away that kind of love it comes back to you….

Technical Difficulties and Sunny Skies!

I just wanted to report that I had some technical difficulties this weekend and that the journal updates for the WCU WSF Partnership for Peace will be up this afternoon! Sorry for the delay!

I also wanted to let everyone know that the group has arrived safely and has had a RIP ROARING good weekend! The group has already made new friends, seen a waterfall, volunteered at a boy's home, partnered with primary school students to make a difference, tried new food and enjoyed two of St. Vincent's beautiful beaches! Everyone is in good health and good spirits. The challenges of a completely new environment and oppressive heat have been unavoidable but I will report, as the group outsider, that everyone is shining with resiliency. Sunny skies are here to stay!

Do something great today in celebration of the great things that are happening in St. Vincent!

Some People

Just ROCK!

No seriously. I have come to realize this over and over and over again since my arrival in St. Vincent. I know that I was aware of it while I was in the states but something about being far from home has opened my eyes to all of the wonderful people in the world. These are the people who take time. They take time to be with their friends and family. They take time to show everyone love and respect. They take time to make the world a better place.

This coming Friday, I am lucky to be joined by a group of these super souls! A group of students (and their leaders and their leader's kids) from the Wesley Student Group of Western Carolina University are coming to SVG!! Together with the Layou community, they will help revitalize a school library and create a learning space that begs children to come inside and explore. They will help the school utilize a HUGE book donation from the International Alliance for Child Literacy (more on this in a future blog!) that will ensure that every student can borrow a book every night of the week. Yep, I said it, some people just ROCK!

And since you rock and they rock... we will be keeping a daily journal and posting it here! It will be a great way for the students to show the progress in the library and for me to show an intimate piece of my volunteer work in St. Vincent.

To get the party started, the group created a video that can be seen here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNjYdiNY-_I or by searching "St. Vincent" pre-trip on YouTube.

I am thrilled to have these Partners in Peace coming to my beautiful island home and I feel so downright lucky to know that there are people like this all over the world. Surely, if we all joined together, we could move mountains.

So Freaking Important

Disclaimer: If you choose to read this please go to the end. I come off as hostile and itchy at the beginning but I promise to turn it around by the end. Sometimes, I just have to say what’s on my mind folks. Thanks for loving me as me.

S*it ain’t easy

Pardon my French but I just want everyone to know that my life ain’t easy. To steal a fellow volunteer’s words, “I dare you” to give up your sweet "developed" world life. I dare you to say goodbye to your friends, family and dog and move to a place where you know not another living soul. Oh, by the way, we are also going to make sure that you stick out like a sore thumb. I dare you to try to have enough faith in your support system back home that they will call you, write you and send you Thai curry and deodorant (thanks sweet Pablo) on a regular basis to ensure that you won’t forget that you are loved. I dare you to put yourself in a position that is in line with most of the world; you won’t make any money, you won’t have much hope, everyday you work your butt off(literally) and never have much to show for it. Then we are going to throw in wrenches like violence against you and your community, words of hatred and modern day oppression. We will send tourist through your town on buses so they can take pictures of you like you are in the zoo, make assumptions about how you live, and also be so afraid of what “you people” might do that they never stop the bus to 1. Ask permission to take your picture and 2. To introduce themselves and develop a friendship.

You would think I am joking. Actually, you would probably want to cover my mouth and tell me to go back to telling all of the endearing stories about how your neighbors have you rolling on the ground making Michael Jackson “Thriller” videos on your front porch but you cannot silence me. Those stories are living here too and I am going to keep sharing them but I want to make a stand. I want to tell you why those stories are so valuable to me. Every morning, I find myself opening my eyes again despite sometimes telling God the night before that it would be okay if they never opened up again. Every morning, I unlock my 6 (no joke) different security devices and head down the road to help kids believe in themselves. Every morning, I hold my head high and know that the world does not need me giving up hope. The world does not need to me to shut my eyes. The world needs me to take care. The world needs me to not forget about others.

As I write this, I know, more than anything, that “s*it ain’t easy” applies to everyone; regardless of where you live, the color of your skin or the amount of money in your bank account. All we have to do is look into the world and see people hurting. My friend just lost her mother. My friend just got raped. My friend did not eat dinner last night. My friend is going through a divorce and feels alone. My friend is in a relationship and feels alone. My friend has to figure out how to be a parent in this crazy world. My friends are having a hard time. I get it. I am in the boat with you. I have an idea and I hope it works because honestly, I am tired and I am alone and I feel like giving up.

My idea is that we come together.

Seriously, let’s try it. If you are going grocery shopping, invite a friend. If you are watching baseball, invite a friend. Whatever you are doing, stop doing it alone. If it is not possible to share in the moment, then share afterwards. If you are afraid that no one cares, send your story to me. I will listen. By you acknowledging me as a witness, I can acknowledge that what you are doing in the world is pretty darn fantastic. Pick up the phone. Make a two minute call to your friends and family to tell them that you love them.

Being busy should no longer be an excuse. Being busy is going to be the end of us.

I beg this of you.

If you are a parent, make an effort every single day to tell your children that you love them; absolutely. unconditionally.

If you are a friend, take advantage of every moment you have to spend time together.

If you are a family, develop ways to stay together; despite distances and differences.

If you are a human, take responsibility and help someone.

The world needs you right now.

I need you right now.

You are so freaking important it is unbelievable.