It's Official - All Over Again

Hurricane Omar blew out to sea and both St. Kitts and Nevis have repaired most of the damage it caused. The weather is once again 'perfect' every single day, with the average temperature in the mid-80's and with the humidity about the same.

This week was spent meeting with some of the folks I will be working closely with, finding out-of-the-way stores and exploring downtown Basseterre, and filling my refrigerator with food to last more than 2 days. Being surprised by a large, totally naked local man standing on the sidewalk on the way to the IGA (I think he was a wee bit intoxicated) was not exactly what I thought I would find at the local grocer but it sure added a little bit to a typical day!

Two events really stood out and made this past week very special. Because of Omar, we had our 'official and very proper' swearing-in ceremony reduced to standing around a speakerphone in the PC office and repeating the Oath of Office to a voice from St. Lucia last week. This Friday, with all our home-stay families, high-ranking government officials, our training instructors, new work friends and bosses and the Eastern Caribbean PC Country Director in attendance, we 12 dressed to the 9's and once again had the Oath of Office for a Peace Corps Volunteer administered. I was asked to sing our National Anthem while Alyssia Sellman from Texas, who had brought her violin with her, played. We were entertained by a wonderful local musical group who sings Caribbean folk songs, bored by very long, political speeches, inspired by several of our trainers who took the time to get to know us, and made their speeches pertinent and meaningful, and finally overwhelmed realizing that 'this is the moment' that really makes us "official" PCV's and that for the next 2 years this is our home. Barry, who has been here for a year, volunteered to take photos of the ceremony with my camera. I winnowed 330 down to just under a 100 and have attached 5 to give you an idea of what the ceremony was like.

5) - Our EC Banner,
4) - Take the Oath
3) = the entire EC78 group with our PC Staff.
2) - Abdul-Karim Ahmed & Me (our very favorite trainer)
1) - The Deputy High Commissioner enjoying the free food!

The other fantastic event that occurred yesterday is that Abdul invited me over to spend the day on Nevis. We've been here 9 weeks and it was the first time we could officially go explore the other 1/2 of this 2-island nation which is only a 45-minute ferry ride away.

And what an island. It is so different than St. Kitts. Much smaller and much more beautiful. Because it has always been the home of the 'gentry', it is much cleaner, the living much more up-scale, the hotels (including the Four Seasons) much more posh, and the beaches are really glorious. I have been asked to work on the marketing and PR for the upcoming Caribbean Film Festival held in May as part of Nevis' Culturama and which Adbul is spearheading. That reason was a great excuse of a day of pure enjoyment as we explored the island, met many of the locals, enjoyed a wonderful lunch and just completely relaxed. Conversation was non-stop and topics bounced from work, to very serious island-related problems, to the silly and mundane. Adbul, born on Nevis, educated from the age of 10 in the UK and the States, returned home only 4 years ago with a goal of getting involved in his community and really making a difference for his people. He is now the government-appointed community cohesion director for the island and very seriously considering running for elected office. I took gobs of pictures and will post only a few but for anyone who comes here for a visit, a day or two on Nevis is mandatory!

Lastly - most of you had your clocks "Fall back" last night. We in the Caribbean don't participate in this very American tradition. So until the States 'Springs forward' I am now 1 hour ahead of the East Coast, 2 ahead of those in the Midwest, etc. etc. I'm going to try and remember that I am now 4 hours ahead of my son in CA and not wake him at some ungodly hour in the middle of the night the next time I call to check in!

Well, that was my week. Today is set aside for laundry and scrubbing the floors and straightening up the apartment and NFL football, which now won't start till mid-afternoon. TV prime time starts at 9 p.m. and runs till midnight. ARGH!

You all enjoy your day and I'll be in touch next week. Take care of each other!

ReAnn