John's Next Step

My first week on Dominica has been great.  I’m very happy with the homestay family who will be helping me during the last 4 weeks of training.  They are kind and support me and the Peace Corps mission.  Much better than some families who only seem to be in it for the money and to complain.   Homestay is an important part of training but some people are better suited than others to host a trainee.  Still, all part of the cultural adjustment that is part of every Peace Corps experience in every country. Language and island training These last 4 weeks are about learning some of the local language, a French Kweyol, and island specific training.  I’m working hard to learn the language but it will take some time.  We have a good teacher and I hope to eventually become proficient.  I’ll have a lot of opportunities to practice as the language is more commonly spoken in the south, rather than in the north of the island.  Right now I’m just using canned phrases. The other part of the

Did not have time to write this week, but took some pictures ... We took the ferry from St. Lucia to Dominica via Martinique St. Lucia in the background with two trainees in foreground Our great Country Director, MK, with Paul, a trainee, and Martinique in the background Southern tip of Dominica - my site up in those mountains above the second village Trainee in a van going off to the north of the island I will be replacing this great volunteer Fishing village View looking back toward my village - it is in the center dip in the mountains in the background Still working on repairs after hurricane Erika in 2015 Remains of a van washed into the river by Erika. Homestay "sister" and "mom" by the river. Toes in one river - 364 more to go.

Getting the room ready for the children. On Saturday we had everything ready for students on Monday This past week was the climax to the technical training – a week of teaching at a summer reading camp – “Model School”.  Each day was about a 1/2 day of teaching and about 3/4 of a day to prep for the next day – or so it seemed. I taught with two other trainees – Libby and Hannah.  We had a master teacher, Nadia, to help us out during the week. We had an under the sea theme and taught first graders.  We taught various reading practices and skills.  Each day we would teach 2 or 3 lessons, serve snack and lunch, and then get the kids on the bus.  We would meet after class and prepare lesson materials for the next day – making adjustments as required based on feedback. It was very challenging at times -  but also very useful and helpful.  So happy to have done it, so happy it is over. Queue pictures of children: Co-teaching with Libby Working with a small grou

Last week I talked about my hospital stay.  I’m fine and was able to get back to training after a few days rest early in the week.  This week I wanted to reflect on the hospital stay. How we feel about things that happen in life changes the way we see, understand, and feel about the things that happen to us.  Our actions based on those feelings can have a positive or negative impact on our immediate world. I don’t like being a hospital patient.  I was at a good hospital but there are certainly things that could annoy me.  Hospital procedures and all that. I did not bring my prescriptions and my over the counter meds in their original bottles, but in my weekly pill cases for day and night.  Therefore, hospital policy did not allow me to take my own medicine and none of my fiber, iron and such.  I took prescription meds from their stock.  But I had to skip my over the counter stuff for the few days I was in the hospital – not a long term problem. They put me on a low salt and lo

FIRST:  I’m fine.  No worries.  Health issues are common for Peace Corps trainees and volunteers and I’m not the first or even the second trainee in my group to visit the fine hospital on St. Lucia used by Peace Corps.  We have all gotten better with the aid of the caring staff.  Peace Corps takes good care of the trainees and volunteers/ SECOND: I somehow got an infection under my right eye.  I have been having an overly watery right eye and reminded the Peace Corps Medical Officers (PCMO) (a Peace Corps doctor) about the problem on Monday.  I think rubbing my eye to remove the fluid (I know, I know) caused a block or infection in the tear duct or something.  On Tuesday morning I noticed small swelling just under the eye as the infection got started and again notified PCMO.  By Tuesday evening the infection and swelling had covered my right cheek, moved across my nose and over to my left cheek.  PCMO was updated based on the considerable change in a short time. Responding fast, o