Pictures from the last few days on the island - enjoy!

Day 14 - HOME

Day 14 (December 14th, 2013) Even though I had a king size bed all to myself, I didn’t sleep well. Dr. Hansen and I met for breakfast and then took the shuttle to the airport. We checked in outside and weren’t charged for our bags! We headed for security and the line was insane! It went quicker than I expected. We took the plane train to our gate and waited. And waited and waited. The crew was late and when they arrived, maintenance had to be done on the plane. We boarded half hour late and then had to wait another half hour on the runway. The line of planes waiting to take off was crazy long. Thankfully it was a short flight, 2 hours. My sister met me at baggage claim; I said goodbye to Dr. Hansen and we headed to Ankeny. My parents drove down to pick me up; we ate at the Waterfront before heading back to Eldora. I was exhausted. I unpacked a little and then headed to Independence to see my boyfriend. Two weeks is way too long! Iowa is snowy and cold; I am definitely missing Saint Lucia weather! I am happy to be home and excited to complete my capstone project. Only 11 days till Christmas! Thank you all for reading – it was such an amazing experience. I cannot wait to return to the island. Peace, love, Saint Lucia.

Day 13 - Last morning on the island

Day 13 (December 13th, 2013) Last morning on the island. Amelia and I made arrangements with Cuthy to drive us to the beach at 10 am. It was another windy day. We walked back and forth down the beach – taking pictures and enjoying the view. We had lunch at Island Breeze, another restaurant on the beach. We each ordered a rum beach – this batch was very, very strong. I had coconut shrimp and a side salad, Amelia ordered crab back and a salad. The food was so good. I am going to miss the fresh seafood! After lunch, we headed back to the beach. Took more pictures and waded in the ocean. At 12:30, Cuthy picked us up and took us back to the guesthouse. I got a little teary eyed in the car. I was not ready to leave. I showered, packed up, and met Dr. Hansen and Ursula downstairs. George Lee was driving us to the airport at 1:30; our flights left at 4 pm. While checking-in, my checked bag was 6 pounds over, Dr. Hansen generously offered to pack some of my stuff in her suitcase. I guess I bought too much stuff! After the bag situation was figured out, we went through security and waited to depart. The airport had shops so we wandered around and bought last minute souvenirs and grabbed lunch. Dr. Hansen and I were headed to Atlanta and Ursula to Miami; we said our goodbyes and loaded our planes. The plane to Atlanta was awesome. Each seat had its own personal TV. During the 5 hour flight I watched Despicable Me 2, We are the Millers, and an episode of New Girl. Fasted 5 hours ever! We arrived in Atlanta around 8 pm, went through customs and baggage claim, and were in a cab to our hotel around 9 – way faster than I anticipated! Dr. Hansen and I stayed at the Sheraton Gateway – super fancy hotel. I ordered a burger and fries from room service and rearranged my bags so Dr. Hansen wouldn’t have to carry my things. I had a king size bed all to myself. It was super comfy; just what I needed after a long flight. Tomorrow our flight departs Atlanta at 10:30 am for Des Moines! I’m almost home.

Day 12 - Hospital tour, beach & Balenbouche Estate

Day 12 (December 12th, 2013) Cuthy picked us up at 9 am. Lekei decided to stay in Castries for the weekend as she extended her stay on the island to vacation. Dr. Hansen, Ursula, Amelia, and I said goodbye to the Leon’s (host family) and started the journey to Vieux Fort. I wasn’t feeling the best so I sat in the front seat – it was a cloudy, dreary day. It rained on and off during on the drive. I had to use the restroom about 20 miles out of Vieux Fort; it began to pour as soon as we stopped. I got soaked! Even with an umbrella. There are restrooms available to use along the roads, but for a small fee – usually $1 US. When we got to Vieux Fort, we checked into the guesthouse we stayed in the first night. Amelia and I shared the same room we had on the 1st – our first night together  After we unloaded our bags, Cuthy drove us to St. Jude’s hospital. We were scheduled to tour the old hospital with hospital administration. Part of the hospital was burnt down in a tragic fire in 2009; while rebuilding, it was decided to renovate the entire hospital. Progress has been slow due to lack of funds, but the finished product is going to be remarkable. The hospital will have roughly 115 beds when completed. We were instructed to wear hard hats during our tour – ours were robin’s egg blue. There was much debate over the color of the hard hats in the van during the ride from the stadium (current hospital location) to the old hospital. Dr. Francois was certain they were green; another said blue – teal, mint, any shade of blue-green. The group was quite entertaining. We arrived at the old hospital, and were guided by a contractor around the grounds. The hospital has two wings, connected by an outdoor walkway. The hospital includes guest quarters for volunteers – DMU sends med students to St. Jude’s. After touring the hospital for an hour, we were dropped off at our guest house. We changed into beach attire and headed to the beach for lunch. Emily, the medical resident, came with us to lunch. We met her friend, a nurse volunteering at St. Jude’s as well, at The Reef restaurant; her name is Eileen and she is originally from Ireland, but travels the world working as a nurse. I had sorrel juice – a fruit in season during the holidays – to drink. It looked like cranberry juice but had such a unique flavor, very sweet, so good! I ordered a side salad, French fries, and fish fingers. We were all starving. The food was delicious as usual. After lunch, we headed to the beach – about 50 yards from the restaurant. It was windy and the water was rough; the Atlantic Ocean is colder than the Caribbean Sea. We hung out at the beach for half hour or so then headed back to the guesthouse to get ready for dinner. Dr. Hansen made reservations at the Balenbouche Estate, a sugar plantation. The Head Nurse from St. Jude’s and Emily accompanied Dr. Hansen, Ursula, Amelia and I. It was about a 45 minute drive from Vieux Fort; it was dark when we arrived so we weren’t able to walk around the grounds and see the old equipment. The house was beautiful. We toured the home and sipped rum punch at our table on the wrap around porch. There were other guests eating dinner as well; guest houses are available for rent on the property. The meal was served family style. The meal included chicken and caper soup, organic lettuce salad, rice, breaded fish, eggplant & tomato pesto, lentils, and steamed veggies. The eggplant tomato pesto was amazing! I didn’t realize I liked eggplant. We talked about our trip and thanked Nurse Charles for her help. We headed back to Vieux Fort, said our goodbyes and headed to bed. Amelia and I were exhausted. It’s my last night on the island. I am not ready to leave this beautiful place.

Day 11 - Presentation, Market & Game Night!

Day 11 (December 11th, 2013) Today is my boyfriend’s 28th birthday – happy birthday, babe! I feel so bad for missing it, but he was very understanding. This trip has been amazing and I cannot believe we leave Castries tomorrow morning; only 2 more days on the island. This morning I sat outside on the veranda and starting reading Edges of Truth: The Mary Weaver Story – a true story about my friend’s mother, highly recommended – while the other ladies finished up their presentation. At 2, we headed to the Health Ministry. I went to the grocery store to buy Piton beer (locally brewed) while the ladies set up their PowerPoint. The ladies presented to Lisa and her staff: Mary Anna, Melva, Francillia, and Nisa. Their presentation was great! After the presentation, we took group photos and said our goodbyes. We exchanged emails and cell phone numbers. I’m started to get really sad about leaving; we’ve met some really amazing people here. I HAVE to come back and visit, soon! We left the Health Ministry and went to the market. We all had a few more souvenirs to buy. After the market, we stopped at Rodney Bay to pick up dinner. I got Burger King – this girl loves her beef. We took our meals home and all ate in our room. Ursula cooked a dish called tomato rice, a traditional Nigerian dish. I was so full from dinner, but I tried the rice dish anyway. It was so good! I love rice and I love tomatoes! We had rum and cokes with lime. We invited the owner’s daughters, Rianna & Kijahan, to play cards with us. While waiting for Kijahna to join us, Amelia played War with Rianna. Rianna kept shifting through her stack trying to find the high cards – such a little cheat, but so adorable! When Kijahna joined us, we played one round of Crazy 8 – Lekei won. Kijahna taught us how to play Donkey; it’s kind of like spoons. Everyone has 4 cards and you pass a card, taking the one passed or discarding another. The objective is to have all 4 cards of the same suit and then lay your cards down; the last one to lay their cards down gets a letter d-o-n-k-e-y. You get a ‘d’ if you lose once, and then keep adding a letter every time you lose. If you get all the letters – everyone gets to ride you like a donkey ha! This is definitely a school-aged game. We played for an hour at least. The girls were instructed to come to bed at 10, so we played one last game to determine the donkey. Dr. Hansen was the loser, so Rianna got to ride her! So fun! It was a great, great night and a good way to end our stay in Castries. Tomorrow morning, Cuthy is picking us up at 9 to take us back to Vieux Fort. It’s been a wonderful experience. The island is gorgeous and the people are so accommodating – I honestly don’t want to leave. I do miss my family, friends, and the bf! I hope I am able to come back, on vacation this time! Peace, love, Saint Lucia.

Day 10 - Meeting & sunshine!

Day 10 (December 10th, 2013) Last night, after I updated my post, we went to Dr. Hansen’s room to try the cake Mary Anna baked for us. It was delicious! Tasted like banana bread. Wanted to mention that before I forgot! Today was a work day for the other three students – their presentation is tomorrow afternoon. At 10 am, Dr. Hansen and I went to a preschool close to the house where we are staying. The preschool coordinator is well-known on the island as a child nutrition advocate. She does not tolerate junk food or sugar-sweetened beverages in her center. She has created a mascot, jingle, and video that promotes healthy eating. This lady is amazing. She gave me great advice for the educational tools I will be creating. After the meeting, we headed back to the house. Amelia and I had a picnic on the veranda. After lunch, I sat outside and listened to country music on my iPod. It was the perfect laying out weather – partly cloudy with a light breeze. I may have gotten a little sunburnt, but it was definitely worth it! Later this evening, we ate icicles (Mr. Freezie's) with Kijahna and Rianna on the veranda; the girls are 12 and 7 if I haven't mentioned their ages. I'm going to miss their cute little accents! Tomorrow we are heading to the Health Ministry; the presentation is at 3. We are going to the market after to pick up last minute souvenirs. I cannot believe my time in Saint Lucia is coming to an end, only 3 days left on the island. It has been such as amazing experience. So glad I was given the opportunity. Hope everyone is staying warm back home. Peace, love, Saint Lucia.

Day 9 - Health Clinics with Mary Anna

Day 9 (December 9th, 2013) Today was an early morning; we were picked up by our driver, Lucius, at 7:15. I did not sleep well the tonight before and wasn’t feeling the best. We arrived at the Health Ministry around 8 and separated into our groups; Amelia and I went with Mary Anna, while Lekei, Ursula, and Dr. Hansen went with Melva. Mary Anna’s husband drove us to the La Clery Health Clinic. He played Caribbean style Christmas music on the way to the clinic – we enjoyed the ride! Upon arrival at the clinic, we met the staff. Mondays are Ante-Natal clinics (pre-natal), so there were several pregnant women at the clinic. Mary Anna gave a presentation to the patients about breastfeeding, while they were awaiting their appointments. After the presentation, we awaited Mary Anna’s clients; she takes referrals from the doctor for nutrition assessments. None showed up; the weather was cloudy and rainy. Mary Anna explained that many people do not go out if it is raining. While we waited, we discussed what she does during her assessments and about the healthcare system in the United States. She knows so much about our country, and I knew so few about hers. I’ve already learned so much, but I am looking forward to researching more about Saint Lucia’s culture and history. We then went to the grocery store and bought lunch from the deli – turkey sub and side salad. We ate in Mary Anna’s office at the Castries Health Clinic. She made us each a banana cake – she is such a wonderful woman. At 2, Mary Anna had an appointment, a referral from the clinic. During her assessments, Mary Anna takes the clients height, weight, blood pressure and blood sugar. She calculates BMI from their height and weight and shows the client on the chart where they fall in terms of underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. She also asks their occupation, history of hypertension or diabetes, appetite, and allergies (I may be forgetting a few). She then has the client explain their food intake schedule – breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner. Mary Anna gives recommendations after the client has given her all the information she needs. I was going to become a nutritionist, but decided against it. Observing the nutrition assessment made me reconsider my decision a bit – but I am NOT going back to school! After the client, Amelia and I were picked up by our driver and the rest of the group and headed back to our rental. Rianna, the owner’s daughter, brought us a plate of fried chicken, green banana salad, rice surprise, mac n cheese, and twice baked potato. They must have had leftovers from their dinner. Amelia and I shared the home-cooked meal – as always, it was delicious. I am hoping to relax more tonight and get a good night’s rest. I am feeling better. Peace, love, Saint Lucia.

Pictures from the beach & Pigeon Island!

Day 8 - Rodney Bay Mall, Beach & Pigeon Island

Day 8 (December 8, 2013) Best night’s sleep yet! I was exhausted from the previous night. I woke up well rested and ready for the beach! Ursula and Dr. Hansen went to Catholic Mass at 10:30, and Emily and I went to Rodney Bay Mall, while Lekei and Amelia stayed to work on homework. Emily is a resident from Indianapolis we met in Vieux Fort; she is working at St. Jude’s hospital during her three week stay. She had the weekend off so she decided to stay with us in Castries. She was with us last night when we went to Marigot Bay and Dennery as well – forgot to mention in my last post – I’m always tired when I write these posts. Emily & I went to Piranha Joe’s and bought more souvenirs. The store was playing Lady Antebellum's cd - we were both signing along! I have definitely missed country music! We went into a wine and spirits store where we bought local spiced rum – $8 a bottle! Super cheap. We sat and chatted outside for a while until our ride came and took us back to the house. We then got ready and headed to the beach! Lekei stayed back to work on a paper – today is the last day of fall semester at DMU. Thankfully, I finished all my homework before coming to Saint Lucia. We went to the beach by Pigeon Island. We got beach chairs and umbrellas. Amelia and I, along with Rianna and Kijahna (host’s children), headed for the water! It was so warm and refreshing. We swam and jumped waves. Janna (host/owner of the house we are staying) made us lunch – salad with cucumbers, avocado, green banana & salt fish. After lunch, we buried Rianna and made her a mermaid tail from the sand. We then went back to the water! I love the ocean. Around 4, we went on a hike at Pigeon Island; we climbed the smaller hill as the bigger is tougher and we didn’t have much time. The view from the top was amazing. You could see both the Atlantic and Caribbean sides of the island. On top of the hill, there are remnants of cannons used by the French and British, as well as a retaining wall and a shelter. We climbed down into the shelter which was used to spy; there were windows that were used to view the water to look for incoming ships. I took lots and lots of pictures. The climb wasn’t too bad, but a little steep. We couldn’t stay long as the park was closing. We enjoyed our day at the beach and enjoying the history of the island. After the beach, we had icicles (Mr. Freezie's) with Rianna; she specifically asked for them. I can’t believe we’ve already been here 8 days. Peace, love, Saint Lucia. Things to know about Saint Lucia: • The island was owned by the British and the French, seven times each – ownership just went back and forth between the two countries • The French built with black stones, while the British built with brick – some buildings have black stone foundations and brick walls as they were started by the French and finished by the British

Picture of Marigot Bay

Day 7 - Marigot Bay & Dennery

Day 7 (December 7, 2013) Another day sleeping in – yes! So thankful it’s the weekend, however, internet isn’t working which is very stressful for the students trying to complete their papers and presentations. The other three students I am with are enrolled in the Cultural Applications course which studies the culture, geography, and healthcare system of Saint Lucia prior to coming to the island. While the students are here they are assigned a paper and then will present to the Health Ministry; their topic is childhood obesity. So, the internet is essential for them to complete their assignment. It has been working fairly decent the past few days. Anyway, we met to discuss their sections and I lent them some of my papers resources in case the internet is sketchy. After our meeting, we went to our rooms (I relaxed, while Amelia worked on her paper). At 4:00 pm, our driver Lucius picked us up to take us to Marigot Bay. On the way, Lucius drove us through the Community College campus. Some of the buildings were built by the French & some by the British, some buildings were started by one country during ownership & finished by the other. You can tell which buildings were built by which countries because of the materials used. The French built with black stone, while the British built with brick. The oldest building on the island was also located on the campus. The building was used to store ammunition. After touring the college we continued on our way to Marigot Bay. Before driving down to the bay, we went to a store that overlooked the bay – beautiful, beautiful view. I bought local coconut rum; we sampled coconut candy & spiced rum. Cannot wait to have a taste! We took a worn, bumpy, steep road down to the bay. We walked through mangrove trees to the restaurant where we took a ferry boat (small pontoon) across the bay. There is no road so a boat is a necessity to reach the restaurants on the point of the bay. The original Dr. Dolittle was filmed on Marigot Bay; there is a restaurant named Dr. Dolittle’s. We arrived at sunset and the view was fabulous! I didn’t want to leave. Since we were all starving, we didn’t stay long and headed to Dennery to the fish fry. On the way we drove through a banana plantation. When we arrived in Dennery, there were booths set up on the beach selling various fish and lobster, as well as beverages. I got Mahi Mahi and a coconut rum & juice. The fish was so good. There were still bones so I had to be very careful eating it. Amelia and I shared fried bread, white rice, and salad. We also tried the local Piton beer, named after the Pitons. It tasted like Corona. During our meal, we enjoyed the music played by a DJ. He gave a shout out to us over the speaker. The locals are so nice and welcoming. After dinner, we drove back to Castries. We got home around 10 and were all exhausted. Another wonderful day on the Island. Peace, love, Saint Lucia. Things to know about Saint Lucia: • There is no speed limit, you drive at your own risk • There is rarely a street sign, stop sign, or stop light

Day 6 - Market & Lisa's presentation

Day 6 (December 6th, 2013) We got to sleep in this morning! It was much needed even though I still woke up at 7 am. About 9:30 am, we left our residence and drove into Castries to the market. The market is only a few blocks from the Health Ministry. On the right side of the road is the Arcade and on the left is the Market. We went to the Arcade first to find Owanna, a woman Lisa Hunt knew. There were many stands in the Arcade, more touristy items like t-shirts, postcards, scarves, hats, shot glasses, necklaces, etc. I bought a few t-shirts and some bracelets. They had beautiful scarves so I may have to go back! After the Arcade we crossed the street to the Market; the market had more crafty, homemade items. You have to be very careful when crossing the road, especially since Saint Lucians drive on the opposite side of the road than we’re used to. The locals are good about helping us cross. Anyways, the Market had wonderful items, homemade paintings of the items, woven baskets, spices, soaps, sculptures, etc. We all went a little crazy in the Market – definitely contributing to the GDP. I bought a woven bag, two small paintings, bracelets, kissing sculpture, wooden elephant (my favorite animal, maybe second favorite after giraffes), turtle made from malachite (stone), kissing fish sculpture, shot glass with the Saint Lucian flag, more bracelets, cocoa stick (real cocoa to make hot chocolate), and homemade soaps (aloe vera, black, & cocoa butter). This list is ridiculous ha! Definitely bought too much, but most are Christmas gifts  The locals gave very fair prices, and you could even bargain with them to get a deal. After the Market we were supposed to go somewhere local for lunch but did not have time. Amelia and I had Burger King, Dr. Hansen has Subway, and Ursula & Lekei had Patty Shack. It was nice to have a taste from home, even though the local food here is amazing. We took our lunches to go and rode with Lisa to her presentation. Her presentation was at a primary school (ages 5 to 12) outside of Castries about 15-20 minutes. Her presentation was given to teachers regarding childhood obesity prevention. It was a very informative presentation and the teachers were eager to implement some of the ideas/tips Lisa had given them (food day, fruit a week, health fair, recipes, etc.). After the presentation we head back to Castries to the Health Ministry and then to our residence. When we returned, we met in Amelia and mine’s room to show each other our purchases, while enjoying rum & coke with lime. Everyone got such great stuff! Dr. Hansen returns to the same vendors to buy handmade masks for her grandchildren. She also bought he son (he collects elephants) a carving of an elephant from a tusk; it as beautiful. Ursula bought colorful printed outfits/dresses for her sister, niece, and herself. Lekei bought a beautiful serving tray and bowl set carved from wood. Amelia bought gifts for her friends and family, including a piggy bank made from a coconut. After our drinks, we had some downtime to relax before dinner. We met Lisa Hunt for dinner at the Spice of India in Rodney Bay. The restaurant was beautiful; we were seated outside and had such great service. I had never had Indian food before so this was an experience. Lekei’s husband is Indian, so she described the meals to us; it was very nice to have an experienced person to guide us. We had veggie kabobs and samosas as appetizers. I had a blue lagoon to drink; delicious! I ordered vegetable korma – veggies in a creamy sauce with cashews. The meals came with white rice and naan (traditional Indian bread). The others ordered chicken korma, goat, lamb and shrimp. We all tried each other’s meals; the lamb was delicious. I did not try the goat because Ursula ordered it HOT – I do not like spicy, hot foods. For desert I had sapphron cheesecake. It was amazing – I love cheesecake! Kheer, fried chocolate cake, and an Indian donut were also ordered. During the meal, we had the best conversations. We told Lisa about the Iowa State Fair and all the fried food, being a nutritionist she was appalled ha! Lekie told us how she met her Indian husband and their small wedding of 300 people – outrageous. It is crazy to think none of us knew each other before this trip; we all just clicked. Our dinner lasted 2 to 2.5 hours, we just laughed and ate and talked and laughed and ate and laughed; very fun night. After dinner, we said our goodbyes to Lisa and headed back to our residence. We get to sleep in tomorrow as well! We are just going to hang out so the other students have time to work on their paper and presentation. At 4, Lucius (our driver) is going to pick us up and take us to a rum distillery and a fish fry in Dennery. Emily, the medical student we met in Vieux Fort, is joining us for the weekend in Castries. I’m looking forward to a fun weekend – it’s been work, work, work so it’ll be nice to relax and enjoy the island. Missing all my friends and family back home, but enjoying this experience. Until next time – peace, love, Saint Lucia. Things to know about Saint Lucia: • Popular sports include futbol (soccer) and cricket • The bananas are wrapped in blue plastic bags while still on the trees to prevent infection

Map of Saint Lucia

We have traveled from Vieux Fort (South) to Castries (West) and Castries to Soufriere (South of Castries) and back.

Pictures from Soufriere - waterfall, Sulphur Springs, Beacon restuarant, etc.

Day 5 - Soufriere, Saint Lucia

Day 5 (December 5, 2013) Another amazing – but long – day! The internet went out last night, makes for a stressful evening when trying to communicate with friends, family, and the boyfriend back home. The other students were also unable to research for the project they are going to complete while on the island; very, very stressful evening. Thankful the internet has been working since our return from our adventure today. Firstly, we met Lisa at the Health Ministry, and then traveled by van to Soufriere, about an hour and a half journey by extremely winding roads. It was at bit nauseating at times, but the views of the island were fantastic, such lush, green hillsides. The Caribbean Sea is mesmerizing – waters so blue. Cannot wait to go to the beach! It’s such a tease to see the sea while driving and not get to experience it. I would like to come back to the states with some color  When we arrived in Soufriere, we went to the local hospital. We met two of Lisa’s staff, Francillia and Nisa; Lisa’s staff were educating the patients about the 6 food groups and healthy eating, as well as the importance of daily exercise. After the staff spoke, each of us took a turn talking with the patients about a designated topic. Amelia spoke about Dengue Fever; Ursula spoke about exercise and physical activity; Lekei spoke about diabetes; and I spoke about water safety. I talked about how people can get very ill from drinking contaminated water; also, the two ways to purify water to drink: heat and sunlight. The locals were very attentive and asked questions. It was a great experience, interacting with the patients. After visiting the hospital we walked to the old Health Ministry office, attempting to pick up items but we could not get it. We then got back in the van and the driver took us to lunch at Beacon; the restaurant was built on the hill before driving down into Soufriere, the building is very colorful and fully open, exposing the exquisite view of the Pitons. The Pitons are two very distinct mountains along the coast. Lisa had her wedding reception at the restaurant so she negotiated a flat rate for our meal – plus we got a “better” desert than the rest of the customers. Our meal was buffet style; I had rice with carrots, coleslaw, salad, roasted potatoes, and breaded fish. The meal, like the others, was delicious. We enjoyed golden apple juice and had vanilla ice cream and cheesecake (my favorite) for dessert. It rained on and off during lunch but the coolness was refreshing. After lunch the driver drove us to a waterfall and botanical garden. We dipped our toes in the water – it was freezing – and walked through the gardens looking at the various flowers and fruit trees. We then went to the Sulphur Springs – the smell was so strong, but the sight was worth it. The stream rises from the springs and the water flows down to an area where it has cooled down enough you can get in. The sulphur water is supposed to be therapeutic. After visiting the springs we headed back into Soufriere to drop off Lisa’s staff and headed back to Castries. We stopped at a few bakeries along the way, and also at our driver’s house. He has an amazing view of Castries – can see the cruise ships that pull into the harbor. The roads are very, very narrow; the islands drainage system is open 2 feet by 2 feet troughs along the roads. On our way back to the Health Ministry, the front left wheel went off the road and got stuck in the drain. Thankfully, a few locals stopped to help push the vehicle’s tire out of the trough. It was quite the experience and a great ending to another amazing day. Once we made it back to the Health Ministry we took a taxi to our residence for the week. The internet was working but has stopped once again. We may be heading to a café so the others can research for their project and finish up homework. To end, we really have got the royal treatment while on the island. Our drivers and Dr. Hansen’s connections have been so helpful and accommodating. Providing trusty taxi service and bargaining with the drivers. I am so thankful to Dr. Hansen and her contacts for making this trip memorable so far. Tomorrow we are going to the local market in the morning to shop for souvenirs and then to lunch with Lisa. After lunch, we will be traveling with Lisa to watch her give a presentation. Friday night (tomorrow), Lisa is going to take us to experience the Saint Lucian night life and may spend the night with us – sleepover! Expecting another fantastic day on the island; hopefully, the internet keeps working. I’m exhausted. Peace, love, Saint Lucia. Things to know about Saint Lucia: • The Caribbean Sea borders the island on the West, and the Atlantic Ocean borders the island on the East. • Ground provisions (one of the six food groups) include: yams, sweet potato, dasheens, the more starchy vegetables, whereas, the vegetable food group includes: carrots, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.

Pictures - visiting the schools in Castries.

Day 4 - Visiting the schools in Castries

Day 4 (December 4th, 2013) Another amazing day on the island! Beautiful day – partly cloudy with a nice breeze, not as muggy as the previous days have been. First, WE HAD HOT WATER! Tonight was the first night I’ve taken a shower and had hot water. It felt amazing. The guesthouse where we stayed the first night was repairing their water heater and this house’s hot water uses solar panels; it had been rainy and cloudy the previous days, therefore, the water did not get hot. So very thankful for hot water. Back to the beginning, we headed to the Health Ministry early this morning to meet with Lisa, Mary Anna, and Melva (Mary Anna and Melva are Lisa’s staff). Amelia, Dr. Hansen, and I went with Mary Anna and Ursula and Lekei went with Melva. Our day with Mary Anna was amazing; she is such a fabulous women. We walked the city of Castries and visited four preschools. The first preschool we visited was Servé’s Early Childhood Education Centre; the preschool coordinator was very passionate about the health of her students. I received very important information to be included in the capstone project. Processed foods and boxed fruit juices are popular choices of parents; these foods may be easy to prepare, store, access, however, they are not nutritious. After we spoke to the preschool coordinator, we watched Mary Anna give her presentation; she discussed the 6 food groups with the students – staples, fruits, vegetables, food from animals, fats & oils, and legumes & nut. The children were asked to name food from each group; Mary Anna is a fabulous teacher. After her lesson, the children sang “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” for us and a song about vegetables. The children are adorable; I am glad I was able to take pictures. After leaving Servé’s, we went to Nica’s Early Development Centre. The preschool coordinator was very helpful at this preschool as well. Herself and her staff were also very passionate about their student’s health; the same problems were seen here, an increase in processed food and boxed juice. It is a shame the country is having these problems; Saint Lucia has an abundance of local fruits and vegetables including grapefruit, oranges, five finger, watermelon, banana, guava, lettuce, cucumbers, golden apple, dasheens, sweet potato, tomatoes, etc. Local foods should be utilized since they are readily available and much healthier. Our eating habits are trickling down to Saint Lucia, impacting their culture and society in a negative way. Anyways, continuing with our day, we left Nica’s and went to Alphabet-Land. The preschool coordinator was amazing – she takes her students on field trips and invites the neighboring preschools to join. The curriculum is based on the month; since it is December, the students do activities involving the holiday season –coloring, songs, etc. The last school we visited was Paddington Fun House Preschool Education Centre; we spoke to a teacher here but did not spend much time as the children were napping. I learned a great deal visiting the preschools and visiting with the coordinators and teachers that will be helpful with my capstone project – I only mentioned a few as to not bore my readers  We went back to Mary Anna’s office after visiting the 4 sites to have lunch. Mary Anna cooked us an amazing meal – chicken with spices; Chinese cabbage, pumpkin, & okra salad; plantains; sweet potato and dasheens. The meal was delicious. She also made us fresh grapefruit juice. I love the fresh squeezed juice. We had learned previously that Mary Anna makes her own wine. She was willing to share and we taste tested in her office after lunch. The first wine was made from jahmon grapes; these grapes grow in trees and only bear fruit once a year, around Christmastime. The wine had an interesting taste; Dr. Hansen, an experienced wine drinker, loved the flavor. I am more found of sweet wine and this wine had a different taste, not dry or bitter, just different. The second wine we tasted was made with guava, cherries, and golden apple. This wine was delicious! So sweet and flavorful. After lunch and wine tasting, we walked back to the Health Ministry to meet the rest of our group. We stopped at a local supermarket before we returned to the house. We debriefed about our trips and retreated to our rooms to relax and do homework; I showered – with HOT water!! The owners of the house were downstairs retrieving coconuts from their tree. Amelia and I tried fresh coconut water, fresh coconut jelly, and dried coconut (like the shredded coconut we use for baking). Coconut water is delicious. The jelly, not so much; Rianna the daughter of the owners was eating the jelly coconut jelly with a spoon; she’s adorable. I enjoyed the dried coconut – yum! After our coconut experience, we had supper; Amelia and I had turkey sandwiches loaded with fresh, local veggies. The internet has been out for a while tonight so hopefully I can post tonight or in the morning, with pictures! Tomorrow we are traveling to Soufriere with Lisa from the Health Ministry; we will be visiting a health center and presenting to the locals. My topic is water safety. I need to write my 5 minute speech so I need to wrap this up. Thank you all for reading; it was another wonderful day on the island. Peace, love, Saint Lucia. My Capstone Project – During my time in Saint Lucia I will be visiting with the preschool coordinators and teachers and discussing physical activity and nutrition. When I return home, I will create educational materials that will be distributed to the preschools by the Health Ministry to aid in educating the parents and students about proper physical activity and nutrition. Things to know about Saint Lucia: • Students in preschools call their teachers “Auntie” • All students wear a uniform to school – preschool, primary & secondary schools • The preschools are either government or privately owned

Pictures!

Pictures - enjoy!