Category: St. Lucia

15 July

Sunday (7) morning I went to church. I arrived an hour too early. The travelers’ guide said service starts at 8:30. It actually started after Bible Study.

Monday after sessions Carol (from Grenada), Diane, Cindy, Donald and I headed off for pizza at Key Largo. When we arrived we learned that they are closed on Mondays. We ate Chinese at the Ginger Lily instead.

I went to the St. Lucia Creole lesson on Tuesday. Donald, Jack, Annette, Cuss, and Bertha were at the class taught by Michael and Ara?mel. Annette, Cuss, and I went to eat at D’s which had a large number of male couples and no females.

Wednesday I had a chance to go to Castries at lunchtime. I ate at Kentucky Fried Chicken. There was no electricity and consequently no air-conditioning.

Thursday I saw Carol from S. Dakota. We had drinks with Marshall on his way home from St. Vincent. We went out to eat at Capone’s.

Friday I went to Bertha’s to wash my clothes in her landlady’s washing machine. I also visited the Clauzzels. Then it was Gros Islet with the whole gang from training.

Saturday I want to Schwazel to see the arts and crafts center where Jim works. He drove us back to Castries via Soufriere. I went back to his house after I learned he would climb the Pitons.

Yesterday Denise, Christof, Jim, Mariness, and I left to go to the base of Gros Piton. It was a challenging trip because it was so steep. The mosquitoes were also out in force. I even got some small cuts.

This morning I woke up without the alarm clock. I was surprised at how tired I wasn’t. Leigh and I got dressed and hopped on a bus to Vieux Fort. We then caught a transport for the long ride to Castries. I took a taxi back to the hotel to arrive at 8:15. I ate and went to the sessions. I felt tired then. I made it through our short meeting without falling asleep. I picked up my clothes at Bertha’s and I met the gang to go to the Ginger Lilly. We were lucky to get a free ride home.

Today a lot of people were feeling ill. Some may have been affected by the shot. Others may have been affected by the tap water they drank the last two weeks. Even the training staff was feeling ill maybe due to a meal.

For my last dinner with the Clauzels David and I were served tuna, kingfish, green beans with carrots, and peas with rice. We had jello and banana cake for dessert. 

We’ve been fed well here in St. Lucia and I’ve felt well. I’ve eaten almost everything I’ve been served except for the lunches. The only lunch I’ve eaten are the Johnny-Cakes with ham, parts of the J-Cakes with cheese, and a couple of cold fish cakes. I’ve thrown the sandwiches away at lunchtime.

Even though I’ve been drinking the tap water at the school where our training was held, I’ve not had diarrhea or any illness. I felt feverish after the typhoid shot but otherwise have been healthy. I’ve even been perky the last couple of days.

August 3

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