What I did on my Summer "Vacation"....

I haven't posted here since June because I did not have a computer, but I now have a new Mac Book Pro and so I'm back! I came up with alot of ideas for blog posts while I was computerless, so I will make up for any lost time.

I have been busy the past 6 weeks or so with summer camps for kids on Dominica, and planning for my new volunteer "job" which starts in the fall---I will be the art teacher full time at St. Luke's Primary School here in Point Michel. I am excited about doing this next school year and have been collecting ideas and adding them to my Pinterest account.

During my leisure time--when I 'm not enjoying a local beach with swimming and snorkeling---I have been creating some fun additions to my rather bare apartment. At first I was a bit hampered--or so I thought--by lack of materials, but then I decided to use what was available.  I had collected quite a few plastic bags so I created "plarn"-- yarn made from plastic bags--- then I crocheted some baskets with the plarn.

Then I created some yarn with old t-shirts, and crocheted this rag rug to brighten my kitchen....it is a bit funky and raggedy but I like it that way, since that is the nature of rag rugs....

Of course I did bring paper and paints with me and I have been making postcards with the intention of mailing them off to family or friends in the US ---but somehow they ended up on the wall of my apartment....

and today I decided also to try out a project I hope to do with some of the children at the school--I created some beads out of paper. I used an old magazine and cut long wedges or triangles and rolled the paper over a knitting needle, glueing down the end. I added some color with markers to give them a bit of pizzaz...

I have mostly been collecting ideas for kids art/crafts that use upcycled or recycled materials (like the projects here) since our supplies are somewhat limited. I will be trying out more of my ideas in the next few weeks, and will post some crafty results here---so do check back. I am sure glad to be back online with my computer and able to post here!

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Caribbean Flower Show Re-Visited

Here is my creative response to the flower show, I must say it felt good to get out the paints and create this....

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Giraudel Flower Show

yesterday I went to the Giraudel Flower Show here on Dominica Island. I was so stunned by the all the beauty that Mother Nature and human hands created together!!!

I took quite a few photos and here are just a few. The flowers were so colorful, lush and gorgeous---I do not think my photos do the flowers and flower arrangements justice, but just give a hint of the splendor which is on display today and tomorrow.

I love flowers and flower arrangements so thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the displays. Two of my fellow Peace Corps volunteers helped to set up the show.

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Some views I See As I walk to School...

This morning I actually remembered my camera and snapped this photos as I walked down the hill to the school where I volunteer...

I am at the top of the hill here...it is a gradual slope. The school is clear down at the very bottom of the hill...

now I am joined on the street by 2 school children in their school uniforms heading to school....

I just continued on down the street, snapping photos on my right and left....

a side street...

another side street

under construction...

and here I am at the entrance to school...Pretty nice early morning walk--huh? I leave the house about 7:40 am and the stroll down the hill takes me about 10 minutes...

but stay tuned folks  because I will be posting photos of the school soon...

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Child Friendly School Mural

The school where I volunteer here in Pointe Michel, the St. Lukes Primary School, held a big celebration to mark their adopting of the Child Friendly School Initiative, an initiative of the Dominican Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, and also supported by the  UNICEF Eastern Caribbean.

The almost two hour event was put on by the children---from a student MC, to the
welcoming and thank you speech. The children excelled with art, dance, singing, drumming, and a poem written by Teacher Christy performed by the whole school, plus they children cooked some of the food and served the food. Three outstanding youngsters were inducted into the school "Hall of Fame."

I had  great time the week before this event watching the kids all practice their parts, and co-creating with the children a small mural to commemorate the adoption of the Child Friendly School Initiative. I created the initial design, traced it via carbon paper onto the chosen wall and some of the 5th and 6th grade children painted the mural.

Then I helped some of the pre-K (preschool) wee ones place their handprints around the design, and a 6th grade girl carefully painted the lettering to complete the mini-mural. they all did a great job, and we had fun creating together.

I took photos all along of the mural creating process, and here are some....

painting the background the 1st day

Everyone wanted to paint or watch the process...

the finished mini-mural----the children in the mural have the school uniforms on...and the school motto is reaching for the stars....

What did I learn from this process? I learned a very valuable lesson that the Peace Corps tried to teach me during our training: Always involve the community where you are volunteering in any project. 

In my usual enthusiastic way, when the school principle Sister Annita asked me to think about a "simple mural design the kids can paint," I went ahead and designed this small mural at home that very same weekend without any input from the children or school staff. It was only after the mural was all completed that I realized my mistake, and by then it was too late. So now this mural graces the school walls but the school has not embraced it like they probably would have IF I had involved them in the design process. I am a bit embarrassed to admit I made this major blunder, but I also know I will never again make this mistake..after all, mistakes are how we learn--correct? and the children and I did have fun painting this...

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