Categories
Montserrat

April 3, 1991

Galway’s Soufriere, a boiling crater rising to an altitude of 1,700 ft.. I remember the smell of sulphur.
Categories
Montserrat

April 2, 1991

Memorial in Plymouth, Montserrat.
Categories
Antigua Dominica

April 11, 1991

11 April 1991

Friday March 22 we had a party for Micki, Jay, and Sue Buehl. I made sugar cookies. I ate so much junk food I had trouble sleeping.

Saturday (23) I woke up early for our 6:30 start for Boiling Lake. It didn’t rain all week but it did that day. Tony and I went on the hike. We were joined by a friend of Ann Mills. His name is David, who is from Liverpool. Two African RPCVs joined us, too. They turned back when it got too windy. The weather really made the trip unenjoyable. It was wet and cold. My teeth were chattering. We could hardly see the lake because of the mist. It cleared up a little and the views were better on the way back. I was sore for quite a few days after that especially my knee.

Sunday Micki, Jay, and I went to the Anchorage for lunch and a tan. It was nice to relax and enjoy the time with them. Art and Peter were also there.

Monday I said a tearful goodbye to them and left my watch, soap and facewash behind.

School was boring all week. There wasn’t much to do. Wednesday I left early (before report cards and medals were given) to meet Jay at the beach. Catherine, Don, John, and Joel were there, too. Don and John stay overnight.

I made them French toast the next morning while I began making pierogis. I finished them in time to leave for Roseau for the weekend and Maryann’s Easter dinner.

On Good Friday Catherine and I met Micki and Jay at the airport to say our last goodbye. It was sad but not enough to cry. I knew it was time to get over it. Yolanda the nun fed me meat that night.

We had a great dinner. The pierogis turned out great. We played Outburst and “Put the Tail on the Rabbit.” Before I went back to Portsmouth I helped Sue Kelly with Lotus 1-2-3. I was really happy to help her.

Tuesday I got a package from Jane. I had just enough time to listen to her tape before I left. I got most of my “office” work done before I took the plane to Montserrat. The plane was late. I missed my connection. Rick did meet me when I arrived on a later flight.

Wednesday April 3 we saw Galway’s Soufrière and Estate. We then went to the beach. I saw Air Studios in the mountains. Thursday I walked up Chance Peak. It was a molehill compared to Dominica’s mountains. 

Friday I went to Antigua. I explored Shirley Heights to the fullest extent. I had a delicious meal of snapper at The Inn at English Harbour.

I made it back Saturday and luckily quickly caught a transport. I brought back quite a few groceries. I also had champagne for breakfast. It was mixed with O.J. I stayed at Dana and Karen’s. They had a breakfast for two volunteers going away. David was there. 

Categories
Antigua

April 6, 1991

St. James Club and Willoughby Bay in Antigua. April 1991 taken from my plane I left Antigua to go back to Dominica
Categories
Dominica

March 22, 1991

Portsmouth Secondary School (PSS) Sports Day at Benjamin Park.
Categories
Dominica

March 23, 1991

Tony takes a look at Boiling Lake. March 23, 1991
Categories
Dominica

March 23, 1991

The Valley of Desolation. featuring hot streams and sulphur springs. The valley floor is covered with a thick mat of mosses and lichens and occasional yellow-and-white-flowered thyme and grasses that can survive in the harsh environment.
Categories
Dominica

March 22, 1991

Portsmouth Secondary School (PSS) Sports Day at Benjamin Park.
Categories
Dominica

March 20, 1991

20 March 1991

At the last volunteer meeting (March 9) Judy Scholzen chaired the meeting. She had come back from the U.S. just a few days earlier and resumed her role as lead volunteer. She came through Portsmouth on Sunday (March 17) with Sue Fitch on the way back from dropping someone off at Melville Hall airport.

This morning I woke up after an emission and took a shower to prepare for morning devotion at the Methodist Church. I left the house at 6 AM, the time the service is supposed to start but I was there before it began. Murphy arrived after it started. He noticed a book in my hand. It was the book Teaching to Change Lives. Jane had sent it to me in her last package. It was primarily geared to teachers of Sunday School or Bible Study but it was relevant to teaching Math. It reinforced many of the elements of effective instruction.

I gave the book to Murphy as we left. He gave me a ride right to my steps.

I listened to the news and had a cup of Milo. With the war over the news was shorter and had some stories not related to Iraq. I left for school after brushing my teeth, washing the dishes, and reading some of the Billboard Jane sent me.

School was not about educating today. I taught form 1JC despite their resistance. We practiced finding the third angle in a triangle with two angles measured.

After that I gave my marks to the teachers and read some more from the book Peoples of the Earth. I also thought about third term.

Close to breaktime I went to the store at the bottom of the road. I bought a Milo bar and went to visit Brad. He was still recovering from his sinus problems. 

I went back to the staff room. Mr. James, Mrs. Hyacinth, and Mrs. Gordon were speaking about the male teachers sexual exploitation of the students. It was quite revealing. I left sometime near 1:00 PM.

I went home to eat macaroni and cheese, read my Bible, and wash the floor in my bedroom. I didn’t get any mail at the Portsmouth post office. Brad got three pieces of mail. As of 5:50 he hasn’t picked them up.

Categories
Dominica

March 19, 2021

19 March

I went to Roseau on March 8 for our Bible study meeting. It was the first time I had seen any volunteers since I wrote my letter (although I did talk to Catherine and the Petersens a couple of days earlier). Yolanda wrote me a congratulations note on my Newsweek letter. She was surprised to hear that it became controversial.

I got some good news that day. My dad sold my car. Adam wrote to say he might come down.

I also bought a money order at the Royal Bank of Canada. I had to go to the Ministry building to fill out a form because I was converting more than EC $100. It was for a US $40 check to the Dickinson Fund. I haven’t sent it yet because I may be elected lead volunteer.

We had a volunteer meeting March 9. Maryann explained my situation to the volunteers. She advised them not to repeat my mistake.

Maryann asked me if I would accept the lead volunteer nomination. I said yes with the understanding that I would have to get a phone. The election ends March 25.

Sunday I got a ride from Mahaut to Portsmouth with a TM teacher. I took her address and phone number. I thought Catherine or Bill might be interested. 

Students were being taken out of class to qualify and prepare for the sports day. It made for a nice easy week especially since we had a workshop on Wednesday. 

Brad went to see the doctor Friday. He has problems with his sinuses and can’t work this week. He also bought a TV while he was in Roseau. 

Saturday (March 16) I bought celery. It was the first chance I had to buy it here. Pat Klinger showed me some she bought once before. A lady asked me if I wanted to buy some as I was walking up to Brad’s place.

Micki and Jay came for a visit in the afternoon. They rented a car. We went for a ride on the Indian River. Tony came along, too. We went with Randolph. He was the guide he came up to ask around New Year’s. We got him down to $5 per person. He gave us a short uninteresting ride.