ICC

One of the main sports played here in St. Kitts is cricket, and the ICC Twenty20 women's matches were held at Warner Park this year (the venue for the 2007 World Cup). Being from Pakistan originally and having an avid cricket follower for a father, I have an advantage over the other volunteers here in that I actually understand the game (or so I think). My counterpart with SOS; Val Henry, is the ICC event manager over here. Before I could even ask, he signed me up to be a volunteer for the matches when I first arrived on island. So my first week back I was working at the accreditation center, meaning we made sure everyone had the appropriate clearances and badges, etc. It was really slow since I came back during the actual matches and most approvals and clearances had already been taken care of the week before.

Some of the volunteers at the accreditation center

One of the volunteers adorable baby, she has the most gorgeous eyes ever!

But Saturday was the Pakistan vs. India match which I wanted to actually watch. So I convinced Kim, Geoff, Patty and Tasha to join me. It was really hot with the sun beating down on us earlier in the morning, but the weather quickly changed its mind and hit us with a downpour of rain. Sadly I think I was the only Pakistani fan, I even wore green and white to represent and got excited when they started playing 'dil dil Pakistan'. Which I didn't realized they play at all games.

Steel band at the park taking a break

Closing ceremonies at the park on Monday after the last game being played in St. Kitts for this series

Getting my volunteer shirt signed by Deandra Dottin

"Deandra Dottin made history when she became the first woman to score an international T20 hundred, when she smashed an unbeaten 112 against South Africa in St Kitts during the 2010 World Twenty20. She reached her century off just 38 balls. The hard-hitting young batsman from Barbados was first included in West Indies' tour of Europe. She is also a handy athlete, excelling in the javelin, shot put and discus."

He sleeps in a storm

"A man seeks employment on a farm. He hands his letter of recommendation to his new employer. It reads simply, 'He sleeps in a storm.'
The owner is desperate for help, so he hires the man.
Several weeks pass, and suddenly, in the middle of the night, a powerful storm rips through the valley.
Awakened by the swirling rain and howling wind, the owner leaps out of bed. He calls for his new hired hand, but the man is sleeping soundly.
So he dashed off to the barn. He sees, to his amazement, that the animals are secure with plenty of feed.
He runs out to the field. He sees the bales of wheat have been bound and are wrapped in taurpalins.
He races to the silo. The doors are latched, and the grain is dry.
And then he understands. 'He sleeps in a storm.'

If we tend to the things that are important in life, our lives will not be cursed with the aching throb of unfulfilled business. We will never wallow in the agony of 'I could have, I should have.' We can sleep in a storm."

180 degrees

No it's not a baking pun. What I mean is the 180 degrees turn it feels like my life took with my visit to and back from home. Yes, I've finally decided that I have many homes away from home, but California is where my heart really is. I missed St. Kitts dearly while I was gone, my parents home and the high school years spent in Kuwait, my college days in DC, my getaway in Ashburn... all places I feel completely at home. But the only place I can imagine getting old is in good old Southern California.

Back to my 180. From the NBA to the ICC, from sushi to yucky cookup, from driving through 5 lane highways to reckless buses and uphill hikes home, from chilly nights wrapped in blankets to multiple cold showers and fans. But oddly enough, the things I thought I missed the most about home, I missed while I was there. I rubbed my feet back and forth through the soft carpet, blasted MY music in the car while driving, drank endless amounts of milk and OJ, and took long hot showers. But when its out of sight, its out of mind. I forget the feel of carpet, the taste of OJ and the power of the accelerator under my feet when I'm here. But when I was home I actually longed for the sound of the damn rooster at night. For a few moments, I was lost when I had to put the car in drive and figure out where I was going instead of just hopping on the bus. I got scared when I walked into the huge mall and left as soon as I could because I was so overwhelmed. I actually converted everything back into EC to figure out how much I was spending!

When I stepped off the plane in St. Kitts, the wave of heat hit me hard, along with the reality of my life here. When we drove up to my house, the little girl who lives across the street actually jumped up and down in her excitement to see me which made my heart smile. The next day I ran inside my house halfway through hanging clothes to dry because there was a monkey stealing mangoes from my yard. Then Margaret told me how dearly she had missed me at the DASKN meetings during my absence. And I experienced some disturbing cultural differences involving a two year old getting drunk on jello shots. Then I had my breath stolen from me on a drive further into the 'country' as I took in the gorgeous view while the sunset. Point being, I've had both ups and downs in less than a week since my return. And they all culminate my PC experience that I wouldn't trade anything in the world for.

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!