1/3rd of our population and all of our future

Children. As most of you know, one of the issues I am the most passionate about is human rights. In particular, those of children. So when I found out that Tasha was working with the Children's Home of SKN, I was really excited at the chance to get involved. The home is basically a shelter for abandoned orphans under the age of 18 with no where else to go. Since Tasha was elected on the board, she is requesting me as an official PCV to work with them. We've talked about some possible projects, including a mentorship program in collaboration with SOS, and a transitional home for the kids when they have to leave. The home can use some institutional strengthening and capacity building, which is where I come in =) I feel really good about being able to help them out (fingers crossed!)

I'm also feeling really good about my networking skills, because I was able to introduce Tasha to Deborah Cool, one of the most resourceful and productive women I have ever met. Thanks to Deb, we have US$350 million to start a children's hospital in the federation =) And we are going to be able to build a Diabetes Management Center as a part of the hospital. AND Tasha is hopefully going to be able to do her work as an animal assistance therapist at the hospital! Hopefully we will be able to turn it into a teaching hospital, and I can't wait to see how this progresses. This past thursday, we had what was supposed to be a DASKN meeting (the website- http://www.daskn.org/ is up and running now!), but it ended up being a really awesome session with Tasha, Deb, George and myself discussing the Children's Home, hospital and fundraising ideas.

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today".

Easter weekend

Saturday I went to my first national football game at Warner Park. Not American football, I guess 'soccer' for most people. It was SKN vs. Guadeloupe, and we won! Patty was spending the night at my place, so I dragged her along but I think she enjoyed herself too. It was a lot of fun to hear some of the local men getting really into the game, their commentary in dialect was pretty interesting.

David & Ingrid are fully integrated with their Kittitian flag color shirt and headband =)

On Saturday David, Ingrid, Anne, George, Patty and I spent the day at  Bird Rock Beach. It's a little out of the way and hard to get to, but so worth it for the private little cove. We did some snorkeling and even tried to fly a kite. We unfortunately didn't get too far with the second endeavour.

Ingrid let me borrow her snorkel gear and I got to see some zebra fish, eel, black coral, sea urchins and sergeant majors.

Yes, that's a ziploc full of the cookies I baked

This is about as high as the kite got

I loved how the Kittitian and tourist kids were playing together without thinking twice about the differences between them.

Today I went to the Easter celebration races at the Horse track. I've been meaning to check it out for a while now, so when Kelsey said she and her parents were going today I thought it was just as good a time as any other. I actually ended up running into quite a few of my Kittitian friends too. I even placed a really small place bet (meaning there would be a payout if my horse won either first or second place). I only won XCD $2.5 (a bus fare into town!), but if I had bet to win I would have gotten XCD $37. Oh well, at least I didn't lose!

 

Kim was wearing her Kittitian gear, it's a big thing to use every excuse to dress up over here

They had a Brown Sugar fashion show too and a concert with Infamus. While we were weaving our way through the crowd trying to get to the exit, a fight broke out (we got shoved around a lot). Apparently there were some guns involved... but we were ok. Security kicked em out.   

Little updates

The weekend before last I was over on Nevis for a Pink Lilly fundraiser at the Riviere House. It was a silent auction that I think went extremely well for a first time attempt. We were there till past midnight forming and filling out spreadsheets and coordinating all the information, but we pulled it off in the end. There is a lot of room for improvement but hopefully we learnt and will be able to pull off a better event next time!

Last weekend was Peace Corps Day on Nevis. It wasn't at all like the one in St. Kitts. Last minute it was switched over to a booth at the Agricultural Fair, meaning we basically had one table under a tent for all 17 volunteers and 4 staff members. Chris and Geoff decided to split us up into shifts, so we got to spend some time checking the rest of the fair out.

It's hard to believe these cute little mongoose were brought to eat all the snakes on the island...

And this little critter wanted to eat the cows haha

Yes, Kelsey is talking to the goats

He was by far the cutest kid that desperately wanted to answer a question and win some beads

Kelsey was obviously asking a very difficult question

Saturday was Chris's made up holiday- St. Scheister's Alcoholiday. Apparently its something he's done for around 5 years now? He made shirts for the day and everything. It's basically an all day party starting at 9.00 am with foosball, pool, swimming, food and all around fun. It was at a really nice estate...

 They turned an old sugar mill into their house, that's the entrance to the kitchen 

The gorgeous view from the top

Sunday was Julie Ann's birthday and it was also the St.Kitts-Nevis channel swim. I had a couple of friends actually take part including Tasha (I LOVE her), Royston, and Maggie. I was treating Julie Ann to the Marriott breakfast buffet for her birthday, and Miles offered us a ride on his boat over to St. Kitts that morning from Oualie (the beach all the swimmers were starting at). So we got a chance to wish Maggie good luck before heading over.  

This is what happens when Miles turns his back...

I was nice and gave him back his boat

Me passed out after the buffet

Blood is thicker than water

I think I'm in love.
Sophie sent her latest ultra sound and I can't stop marveling at the little profile and tummy and the arms and all the parts that make the miracle that is going to be my sister's first little bundle of joy. I don't think I can explain how excited I am to be an aunt. Or how much I already love my Pooh Bear (that's what we've been calling the baby). I can't wait for the diaper changes, and the baby sitting, and later the parks and zoos we'll go to and the strollers to walk and the swings to push (and eventually the baking we'll do together, hehe).
eeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! I can't wait!