Author: neosoul

September is the month we start teaching. Today we heard about our pay. We get a living allowance of $1350 EC per month. This includes $24 US for travel and leave. We will get an amount equal to this to settle in on our island of assignment.

We also have been getting walking-around allowances of $10 EC a day. We received $100.00 in Dominica and $130 for St. Lucia. From what I hear the homestays have been getting $50 a day to take care of us. Madeline was talking about how she hasn’t gotten the rest yet.

In our handbook they have suggested percents for us in our budget. One thing I plan to do is save 10% in a savings account. We were told today that our pay would be placed in a checking account. Some volunteers said the checking did not earn interest so I plan on having a savings account for what I am not using.

We also get $200 per month as a readjustment allowance when we return to the states. Half of that I’ve asked to be placed in savings bonds.

July 31

It was hot and sweaty making it very difficult for me to sleep with all the sea water. I did get to brush my teeth before bed and wash a little bit. Because it was so hot, Madeline thought it was a sign of an earthquake or hurricane coming.

There have been two earthquakes since I came to the Caribbean. One was on July 12 while we were in a taxi coming from Melville Airport to Roseau. None of us felt it. The other was here on St. Lucia last week. It was in the middle of the night and although something woke me up, I am not sure it was the earthquake. I thought I felt the bed shake that night but again was not conscious enough to be certain.

The earthquakes may be related to St. Lucia’s volcanic activity which has increased recently and enough to change its status. Both St. Lucia and Dominica have volcanic activity and sulphur lakes but Dominica’s volcano is dormant, I think. This does not mean it is dead.

Either way I think the biggest concern is hurricanes. This concern will last until September.

July 30

I did not see any accidents today but did hear that yesterday’s accidents resulted in two deaths. Today was Sunday and it was a much quieter day.

To start the day Dave, Hugo, and I went to church. We met Catherine and Betty when we arrived at 7:30 mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The mass was much more typical of the mass at St. Hedwig’s [my church in Kingston, PA where I grew up] with the organ music and old white priest giving a mass shorter than the one in Grand Bay. Near the end of the mass David pointed out that there was a bat underneath my kneeler -right next to my foot. He pointed out later that there was a worm coming out of its head.

After church we ate breakfast, napped until noon, had lunch, and went to Vigie Beach. Catherine went along and while were there we saw Bill Gaynor, Carole, Brad, and Em.

When we arrived home we snacked, watched wrestling and Madeline getting excited over it. The water went off again today and returned barely near bed time.

July 29

Celebrations and relaxation occurred this weekend in the form of the “jump-up” and a picnic at the beach.

Last night David and I took a transport to a Texaco station to meet Mikki, Jay, and their homestay near where they lived. We then got another transport to Gros Islet’s “jump-up,” a party with music from huge stereos in the street and people selling food and drink. There were also some restaurant/bars that had their own music and enclosed dance floors. I impressed a few people with my dancing which was nothing too outstanding. I suppose I just exceeded their expectations.

The next day we left after 11AM for the Pigeon Point Beach above Gros Islet. The water was warm, clear, and beautiful. Madeline brought breadfruit salad which I had a small hand in preparing. I diced it and peeled some skin. The peeling was difficult for me with the knife.

Almost everyone was there. Bill Gaynor was not and David Matheny chose to explore the island. On the way back we saw two accidents on the highway.

July 28

Today in training we were warned about how rumors could bring us a separation if the rumors are about Peace Corps Volunteers using drugs. Richard Pyle explained this during his overview of policy in the Eastern Caribbean.

In addition to that and the creole lesson, we heard about the experience of a deaf Peace Corps volunteer, planning lessons in the EC, and we had to sing during our report on our language instruction. We sang the National Anthem of Dominica and a little ditty about how sweet Domnik is. 

In the middle of all these activities Jay and I walked around town looking at all the stores. We went to an art gallery with all types of paintings about St. Lucia by St. Lucians. I bought two of the most expensive postcards ($1.50 EC).

Beside this nice, clean, organized gallery there are many other stores in St. Lucia. The supermarkets are well organized and products seem plentiful everywhere. 

To celebrate the end of the week’s sessions a third of the PCVs went to the Pink Elephant for drinks. Most were Dominican. 

July 27

My abilities at ironing must have improved since my homestay did not make me take them off so she could iron them. The rain from tropical storm Arthur kept the chickens quiet so I was able to sleep until 5:30 after a night of having trouble falling asleep due to anal itching. They have predicted three hurricanes this season. I hope Arthur is a failed one of the three.

After two bananas, toast, and guava juice we went off to a day of discussions not lectures on education in the E.C. After a lunch of an apple and guava juice (I threw away my sandwiches again), we learned some dirty  words in patois. We also learned some dances and about common areas of stress. We were also treated to creole poetry and PSAs created by Felix. 

We arrived home for a casserole dinner and “Days of Our Lives” which Mary Frann of “Newhart” was a character. Like many people, Mrs. Clauzel wondered why she watched soaps even though it seemed stupid sometimes.

July 25

For breakfast I would have loved to have eaten all of the damn chickens making noise outside my window at 5am. I read a chapter of Catch-22 and took a shower until it was time to eat. I ironed some of the wrinkles out of my pants but not enough to satisfy Mrs. Clauzel who made me take them off and ironed them for me before I left.

In addition to that she made us breakfast and our bag lunch. Breakfast was only toast and juice because unlike David, I passed on the egg. She made corned beef sandwiches which I didn’t eat. I only drank the juice and even passed on the mango.

After I drank the juice, I had my medical interview during which I confessed that I was not sexually active when asked what forms of contraceptives I used. My blood pressure was 110/60, told I was young and fit, and that I didn’t look my weight, 145 lbs. 

In addition to that interview I also had one with Dick Pyle, Country Director, whose wife is best friends with Mikki Jarvis [I think that was my college Spanish professor]. He was very good at complimenting me and acknowledging my skills and abilities.

July 24