Peace Corps celebrates 50 years

This year commemorates 50 years of Peace Corps service all over the world. Countries everywhere are celebrating in their own ways. The Eastern Caribbean is unique in that it is made up of islands, therefore each of the 6 islands are also observing this time in a variety of ways. Us Volunteers in Dominica have been working for months planning a week of festivities which begins on April 4th. The 3 groups on island have been working for months to put together events, raising money, getting speakers and reaching out to returned Peace Corps Volunteers back in the USA. The week has an exhibit Mon-Thurs displaying Dominica and each village where our Volunteers live and serve. Peace Corps will be present to talk to visitors throughout the day. Community projects continue throughout the next couple of days. When Thursday hits the Peace corps Trainees will swear in as Volunteers. That ceremony is followed by a "Hello/Goodbye" dinner with all Volunteer groups.
Friday is the big end of the week event in which we are holding a luncheon with special speakers and honored guests from each village. We will hold a ceremony, eat a lunch, show a PCV video and mingle amongst each other.
Lastly Saturday consists of our island wide youth service event. "Go Green" Roseau is an environmental friendly day in which young people will clean different areas followed by an environment speech to end with giveaways.

Phew ... this is just a run down. Should be a good celebration & I am just trying to find time to attend everything ;)
You will see photos and get an update as the week passes.

This is it....

I am officially in my final month of Peace Corps service. I imagined this to be a time of saying goodbyes and slowing down work. The opposite has happened. The school has me busier than ever with events along with my daily duties. Youth events are continuing and I am currently planning for my big final project with them. Along with that working hard to hand of duties to the Youth Nights may continue without my presence. Lastly is the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Peace corps is this year, 2011 so the PCVs are working hard to make it a memorable one.

Many thanks go out to Dewitt Middle School 5th grade class!! They just put on a fantastic performance (from what I heard) at their school; a fundraiser to send books to Dominica. They successfully donated 9 large boxes of books to the primary school I work at. (This is their 2nd shipment during my service). The students witnessed the delivery of them today and were amazed! They then got the opportunity, since we just got our internet, to FINALLY read the American students' blog, talk and thank them! Chatting will continue "across the ocean" among the children!

The Youth group had officially elected their executive board and cleaned out the Kindergarten classroom that was our meeting place; it is now more "hip" and youth oriented. The final project we are planning to do is a beach clean up centered between our three neighboring villages. We will gather as a large group of youth to clear the beach of trash and coconuts, cook some local food over a fire and spend the afternoon playing sports on the basketball court! I am praying that all goes well, we get the funds we need and attendance is high; that we are supported and it can be a great way for my last project and sending off event.

Time is flying, I am excited to get back home to my family and friends, however a bit nervous to leave the life & culture I've adjusted and known for 2 years, as well as the beautiful children and great people I have met. Thanks to the Peace Corps I have had a life changing experience :)