QW # 11

Just another Manic Monday!

Except... not really. I remember with vagueness the awful nature of that first "real" day of the week when the world starts turning again and it is the nose to the grind stone.

That was post-Caribbean living. When I had a job and school and a million other things to do. Life sometimes gets busy here, but never does it ever hold a candle to the chaotic mess I always seemed to get myself into back in the States.

http://life-love-laughter.tumblr.com/post/10837834843

"You're off to great places. Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way."

-Dr. Seuss-

On this not-so-manic Monday I am reflecting on what will become of me in the upcoming months. What are some projects I will throw myself at what mountains do I have to climb? Last term I did a lot with PAM. But now that is over, I will find another way to volunteer.

Think of a mountain. Climbing a mountain is tough! The path might get steep, the trail may narrow and be rocky. There might be times when you think you can't go on and you just want to stop and catch your breath -just like life. But when you get to the top of that mountain think of how proud you will be, and just imagine the view!

And best of all, think of all the mountains you can see from the top, you can save those for another day. ;)

I think of what metaphorical mountains I have in my life. They are great opportunities and learning experiences that require work and effort. And oh yes, you can bet that they are scary. But when you get to the top you have a fulfilling sense of accomplishment.

So wake up and put on your hiking shoes. Today is the day to climb your mountain. No more standing at the bottom looking up, get on your way!

"What-ish Waters?!" aka PAM Christmas Party

Last Thursday Ms. Francis the secretary at PAM invited me to the PAM staff term wrap-up/ Christmas party. Since I ended up not going to PAM at all that week, I wanted to be able to go up and see everyone again and say goodbye/ Merry Christmas.

But what I forgot was that "This is Grenada" aka "tig."

TIG: ABBREVIATION; "This is Grenada." informal. Used pretty frequently in the country of Grenada to sum up exasperation at every day, "Grenadian" things. 

Usage:

(spiteful) Just killed a cockroach the size of a cat. TIG

(funny) Today I spent 15 minutes stuck in line of 10 cars, because of a stalled Learner (student driver). TIG

(observational) I realized N.Y. Bagels on campus rips you off. TIG

(pondering) They sell locally packaged pork chops at IGA, never seen a pig on the island. TIG

So you get the picture. There actually used to be a website where students would post their "TIG"s to commiserate together. Living in a country and culture that is different from my own, I get it.

Without further ado, let me introduce "Mannish Waters." The soup I was able to sample at the PAM Christmas party, cooked over a fire pit, was interesting. I have sampled some local cuisine, and aside from breadfruit dishes, I guess I don't have much of a palate for it.

Like any good research-hungry, BA-holding, just plain curious individual I had to learn more. Turns out the soup is originally Jamacian (it seems most Caribbean food does).

Wiki's picture was spot on and provided the most concise definition:

"Mannish water is a goat soup in Jamaican cuisine. It is believed to be an aphrodisiac and is made from various goat parts, sometimes including the head, brains and heart."

As far as aphrodisiac, umm... I came home and fell asleep. Sleep slightly out won puking. And let me tell ya, if you think breath after a nap normally stinks, I couldn't breathe from post-nap-mannish-waters breath. TMI? But in all fairness, maybe goat brains and heart are an acquired taste and once I savor and crave them, the aphrodisiac magic powers will come.

<--Then, I ran across this photo accompanied by this caption:

 "The ingredients are a bit intimidating for a first timer but once you get a taste I can bet you'll be hooked...The 5th quarter (head, entrails and legs) are the featured ingredient in Mannish Water."

I, personally, don't think "hooked" was the word I was looking for. And I am no PETA President, but I will spare you from the other pictures in that Mannish Waters How To page.

If you haven't run out to get your piping hot bowl yet, I know it's probably because you are waiting for a recipe, all 20 ingredients, and I read that it is just fine if you would like goat testicles in there as well. 

I also noticed the Food Network offers a recipe for it in their "holidays and parties" section if you'd like to whip that up for your loved ones this holiday season. To help out, you can purchase Mannish Water Ram Goat Flavor Soup Mix at Amazon.

And a select few of you might get some packets from our local MNIB in the foreseeable future!

PAM Wrap Up

Well, my volunteering at PAM was cut a little short this week when the secretary e-mailed me and said that since this is the last week of school, it is a week of half-days, so there was no need for me to come teach.

But I did get a couple more pictures the last time I was up there. The girls were finishing up most of their projects, using the sewing machines to make little zipper pouches out of their "chicken scratch" work. I must say it is pretty funny to see teenage girls sew. They want the cute zipper bag without all the work. Renica, the assistant clothing and textiles teach, gets pretty sassy and frustrated with them. This also involves a lot of the girls breaking the serger and sewing machine and Renica sassing at them and fixing it. The serger is always where it gets intense, as the girls usually work together, one holding the fabric and controlling the foot pedal, and the other helping to guide the fabric straight.

Pretty much I did a lot of sitting around, with some answering questions and helping with supplies such. But overall the girls have really taken a liking to embroidery and just like to do their own thing. It is great to see them get so creative.

I thought this one was pretty clever, Princess, the girl who is doing this one is pretty lazy, so this is a big thing for her!

I was really happy to see that the embroidery seed of desire spread to the other students!! The second year girls are really getting into it. Seeing all of the cool supplies and beautiful work the other girls have produced has really got them interested.

One of the second year girls made this fun little pac man purse, which is a combination of "chicken scratch" and cross stitch.

After searching every craft and fabric store downtown I learned that Aida cloth used for cross-stitch is recognized, but not sold anywhere here. At one point this lady looked at me, rolled her eyes, and sassed, "Good luck."
Thanks.

And in case you were wondering, none of the girls ever want to be in the picture with their work. Haha. I don't know if I will be returning to PAM next term, the clothing and textiles permanent teacher will be back, so there won't be much of a need/ time for me to teach a class. But I am looking for other volunteer options to keep busy.

PAM Update

I continue my volunteering at the Programme for Adolescent Mothers up in Mt. Parnassus. Since we got supplies things have really gotten rolling. Here the girls are working on their first project, making a panel for a pillow.

Most of the girls really enjoy it and they take the supplies home and work on it there. The girls came up with their own designs and I told them to try to do a variety of stitches on their designs. I think all of the girls put their child's name on the pillow and/or their name and their boyfriend's name.

That was all before I left for Thanksgiving. I gave them a project to work on in the two weeks I was gone. It is a type of embroidery/ cross-stitch called "chicken scratch." I learned this one from my mom, who learned it from her grandma. My mom used it to make a beautiful tablecloth for me as a wedding gift. Here is a picture of the center of the tablecloth. It also has chicken scratch on the corners as well as a eyelet ruffle, very fancy!

When I returned to PAM I didn't teach anything. I walked into the classroom and all the girls were already sewing and stitching! I felt pretty useless but it was awesome because it was such a change from when I first came to PAM. At first the girls would sit around and do nothing and stare at me when I taught. But now they are working on projects in between classes and getting right to work when they get to class! It is fun to see them so excited and proud of their work. They are turning their chicken scratch work into purses. Kyadisha was the first to finish hers, she was helping the other girls with putting the zipper in the purse.

I only have three more times going up to PAM before I am done and they are off for break. I am trying to think of what else I could teach them in that short time. I know some of them are pretty checked out, mentioning every ten minutes that "school is already over." Haha. I've been there before.

QW #4 (Quote Friday #1)

I know I am so cutesy with my "Quote Wednesdays"

If only they had some staying power.
Today it will be "Quote Friday #1"
Haha

QW #4

"If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try." -Seth Godin

In my life observations, human beings tend to keep the status quo and live within their comfort level. We might not take chances because the consequence, good or bad, is just unknown. 

I first thought of this when I read, "We always fear the unknown," in what was to become my favorite novel, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. 

About a month ago I decided to do something that scared me. 

I sent an e-mail to P.A.M. (Programme for Adolescent Mothers). You can check out their website: http://programmeforadolescentmothers.webs.com/mission.htm

The mission of the organization is:

"To empower teenage mothers and pregnant adolescents by providing counseling and continuing education through an integrated programme of traditional academic subjects, skills, training, health and family life education and parenting and family planning; thus providing a bridge over which they can cross into a promising future."

Having had done some work with adolescent mothers in El Salvador, I thought maybe PAM would have an opportunity for me to volunteer with them. 

Right away I got an e-mail saying they wanted to meet with me the following business day. 

I guess I have gotten really lame over the past 3 years or so because I remember a time and a place when I was doing stuff like this -non-profit interning, lesson planning, volunteering, and new territory navigating all in a different language. But now the thought of just finding and meeting the director of PAM was scary. 

On the day of the meeting I said a little prayer and left Ross a note with contact info in case I never returned (just kidding mom... ha...ha). 

With bus change and directions I departed on what I would find to be a three-bus, hour plus affair to PAM in Mt. Parnassus.

View coming up from the driveway, the other side has the most incredible view of downtown and the ocean. 

I was horribly late, but I was able to meet with the director and one of the instructors to figure out what they could do with me.  They decided that they would like me to help with the Clothing and Textiles class for the first year girls. 

Since the initial meeting I have been back twice to get to know the girls and begin teaching the basics of embroidery. The director has a project for the girls to embroider tablecloths for the restaurant they have (the girls learn how to cook and make meals for restaurant customers).

It is a pretty daunting task. I feel like I don't know what I am doing, but mostly I just really hope that what I am doing is worthwhile to the girls and what the directors and other instructors want.

I did something scary, I did something terrifying. And so far it is a good thing.

What is one of the scariest or most uncomfortable -but good situations you have pushed yourself to do?