Big Brother Big Sister Program

Well, as days pass working with the kids, I realize the need for a Big Brother Big Sister Program on this island. I'm learning that most kids have few positive role models in their lives to do things with outside of the school environment.
With the growing crime, violence towards residents and tourists, robberies and total disregard and respect for people, I've decided that "something" has to be done to intervene and save future generations from this negative way of life.
I have been in touch with Big Brothers Big Sisters in Philadelphia, USA and they've referred me to BBBS of Rotterdam, who handles all overseas programs. I've asked and inquired as to "how to start a BBBS Program" here on the island.
I am waiting for their response. I'll keep you informed.
Let's keep our figures crossed for a positive outcome!

A Day With The Kids.....

Well, Saturday continued to confirm my reasons for Always wanting to teach and be with the kids. This was the first adventrue with some of the students I teach as well as mentor. I have 11 kids in one of the classes and only 5 participated instead of the original 9 who returned their permission slips. Sleeping late was more important for one, two had to play baseball, and the others, I have no idea why they chose not to go.

I decided to take the kids to Grand Cayes near Cul de Sac on the French side of St. Martin. Most of these kids have never been out of their own communities nor have they ever visited the French side. I picked up the school van in the morning; I was told and reasured "would be ready and in proper running order", prior to the close of school on Friday. I met the kids at the Le Grande Marche'. (also note: the sliding door on the van fell off its track which I had to put back in place a few times) so much for the van being fixed properly. We arrived at Grands Cayes, and the kids were amazed that this beach exisited on "their island" Remember, these kids are 16, 17 years old and had never been there before. We hiked first down the beach, up and over the mountain to Petite Cayes and went swimming as well as sat on the beach after the hike. Along the way, I pointed out different types of flowers, insects, shells types, sea urchins, crabs that left their shells behind to grow into new ones, birds etc. ( you get the idea-fun, but still educational ) I planned the hike so that when we hiked back to Grande Cayes, My Business Partner Phil, would be waiting for us with BBQ's fired up and 12 racks of ribs would be cooking, as well as 10 pounds of potato salad and 1 dozen devilled eggs that I had made at 6am that morning, watermelon and bananas for dessert and plenty of water. (By the end of the day at 5 pm, after playing ball on the beach and swimming, and hiking, all racks of ribs, 10 pounds of potato salad and watermelon would be eaten entirely by the kids. This trip didn't cost the kids anything because the food was donated by Tabba Khady Restaurant and I paid for the fuel.

I learned alot this day.... Remember, these kids are not "priveledged kids". On the way back, the kids found a fisherman's marker made of styrofoam that had washed up on shore about the size of a softball. Simple thing, Right? That styrofoam ball became the toy of the day. It was a soccer ball (even though I had brought one with us), it became a ball the kids used along with, the swim boards as paddles to hit the ball in the air in a circle, volleying the ball to each other. The point is this: the kids made "something from nothing". No complaints, no wishing they had a "commercial toy to play with", just a styrofoam fisherman's marker that had washed ashore.

On the way to take the kids home, and for me to return the van to the school, the engine stalled 4 times at different points on the road after leaving Grande Cayes. I managed "safely" to get the van to a gas station in French Quarter where I learned upon opening the hood with the service station attendant, that the radiator cap was left unscrewed, but still sitting on the top of the radiator which allowed all of the water to escape and heat the engine. (the shop teacher who teaches automotive to the kids never screwed the cap back into place) After 20 minutes of cooling the engine and adding water, we were back on our way home, listening to reggae and laughing and joking. So much for the van being in "proper running order for us" for the trip as promised.... In St. Maarten/St. Martin I've learned that these kinds of minor setbacks aren't to "Crisis Levels" as they would have been in my past in the US. In the states, it would have ruined my day, added to Stress in my Life, and would have been "blown out of proportion". Over the years, I've learned how to adjust and things like this are just mere occurances and can be resolved. The best thing is to just say, "okay, here we go again and laugh". When friends visit us on the island and things like this happen, I still hear, "why do you want to live this way", and my answer is always the same, "It's the quality of life and the fun....!"

The kids had a great day, as we did as well. Five kids had a day out with adults who cared enough to take time out of their schedule for Them! I will continue my bi-monthly trips and monthly trips with these kids because they need to know they are important and that adults do care for them. And, it's about time they see and learn about where they live.

Treasures of the Past....

Alright, I don't know if it's called "Writer's Block" or a term I recently thought up as, "Blog Block", lol. For the past few days I've been extra busy working for school and when I come home, I start to work on the next days assignments and don't find much time to write. Plus, this is a special place for me, and I've decided that when I write, I don't want to write "just about anything". I want "it" to be special for me each time I write. Well, this morning while doing my daily chores around the house, I couldn't help but notice the "things" in the house. It's Phil's collection of African Art. They are from the "past". Not my past; but my partners. They are a memory each day for him, but they have managed to become a part of my life for the past 11, almost 12 years, because they are a part of his past. Over the years, the stories told about the pieces and how they were aquired have become "special for me" as well. Each piece has a "Special Meaning" as to what it's significance in African Life for the people and their Culture. When I look at the African Art collected from Niger, the Sahara and other areas of where his family spent their years, I can only relate to the stories told about their adventures. The movie Out of Africa is a beautiful story, buy my partner's family in Afirca, is a story even more beautiful.

His mom Denise died this year of Brain Cancer. It was a long and difficult time for all of us. Everytime that Denise would talk about Africa and its people, she would have tears of sadness and gladness in her eyes. Her love of the Sahara and its people were the stories that has built my curiosity and intrigue of the country of Niger where they spent their life. The African Art in our home is a constant reminder of a woman who accepted me into her family from the first day she met me. I was, in her words, "her American Son". The respect and love we had for each other will stay with me forever. Like each piece of African Art or Artifact we have, it's a constant reminder of a special place that leaves an impact on every person who has ever travelled to Africa. Every person that I ever spoke to that has travelled toAfrica has told me the same. "It's Magical"!

This is a year that "requires us", for a very special reason, to travel to Niger in Africa together for the first time. We plan to spend the holidays, including New Year's on or very close to the Sahara Desert which was Denise's Special Place on Earth. "It's Magical and cannot be explained unless you experience it first hand." For the first time in my life, I too, will experience that "Special Place on Earth."

I've gone back to teaching.

Well, today won't be any pictures. I'm going to talk about me. I've decided to go back into my chosen field of careers; Teaching! I'm putting my Restaurant Career on hold for a while. My partner seems to have things under control for now. I went to school to be a teacher in New York because I wanted to make a positive difference in children's lives. I taught Economics and Government as well as Elementary School during the course of a 12 year Teaching Career. (a head on collsion in Nov. 1997 ended my career in NY, but, that's another story). After living in St.Maarten for almost 10 years now, the stories in the paper about the island's youth seems to be getting progressively more depressing. There are more stories in the papers about children joining gangs, which was unheard of 10 years ago. Stories about poor test scores and children who can't read or write. My question to myself is: "What happens to these children when they reach the age of getting out of school with no reading abilities, writing skills and lack of job skills to survive on this small island ?" So, this year after reading so many Help Wanted Notices in the Daily Herald about needing teachers; I decided to apply. Being a foreign born person legally residing in St. Maarten, I actually wasn't sure if I would get the job. I have a Bachelor's of Science in Social Sciences as well as 1 Master's Degree in Special Education and a Master's of Education in Education Administration which allows me to be an Administrator in the schools. I went for the job interview to meet with Ms. Bryson-Pantophlet who is Head of Education as well as the building Administrator of the Vocational Training School, Mr. Richards. (Yes, this is the Lietenant Governor's Brother) Both very impressive and professional. I left after 1 hour and 30 minutes of talking and discussing my credentials as well as what the schools of St. Maarten need. I felt positive, but still not sure. That night while working at the restaurant , I received a call from Ms. Bryson's secretary inviting me to the end of the year breakfast for teachers at the Port de Plaissance Resort because they wanted to introduce me to the teachers. Well, I was hired! It was official; I was going to continue my life as a teacher in St. Maarten helping children.
Well, after almost a month in the classroom, I find myself enjoying the moment and the kids. I made the right choice once again. The kids are older, challenging, can be provocative, looking for a reaction and mostly, they are confused as to why a white, foreign man wants to take time out of his "posh life", (totally misunderstood), to teach them. My response to those concerns for them is this: "I went to school to make a difference in children's lives. We have something to learn from each other's culture's and experiences. And, most important, get use to my face because I'm not going anywhere!" I'm making an improvement already in my opinion. I'm teaching English and Social Studies.
My problem is that these kids at the St. Maarten Vocational Training School are lacking so much material: textbooks, dvd players to watch educational movies, supplies, right down to educational resource material. Their computers are basically outdated!
These kids have such a low self esteem about themselves that they've given up on themselves knowing that this school is their last resort and they don't even have textooks to read. I'm doing my best to help them, but, Why don't they have the proper materials for learning? The government is saying they don't want violence in the schools, but, where is the concern for these kids if they already know they've been left out and behind? These kids are frustrated and yes, angry because they are "burdens" to the government for being there....So, their only means of saying "Look, we're here, why don't you help us properly", is to act out, steal and hurt each other." Gangs are so common for these kids that it's the only way they feel they belong. Families are struggling to survive financially, they don't have time for the kids.
I guess I vented enough. I will continue to teach these kids and do things with them one Saturday each month outside of school such as: horseback riding, BBQ's on the beach, hopefully kayakking with a company who will donate the time and kayaks, hiking in Lottery Farm etc. because these kids don't know their own island. Through these things and activities and the signs of care and concerns from the "white, foreign man that they are so confused about who has already proven he cares about them," I Want and Will make a difference in their lives and their educational years. I'm proud to have made this descision once again; to be a teacher!

Together Again...."Oh Happy Day"

This was taken this morning, Sun. 9th of September. Caramel, Piccola and Happy are together again; playing on the beach as always as if the time hasn't passed with a separation of the three. We learned that Happy is sick with heart worms that hadn't been detected in the past. He also has ear canal infection and alot of antibiotics to cure some other problems. He needs to gain weight before the dangerous doses of medicine that he will need to endure to cure the heart worms. The cure is by using arsenic which can kill the animal if he is too excited by the worms breaking up in his system and going into the bloodstream and directly to the heart. The treatment, as long as he gains sufficient weight back, will start in about 2-3 weeks. He has a good apetite and seems to be adjusting again to us and the rest of his family. Time is everything....!

Happy is Home........!

WOW! This is all I can say about this unique and strange situation. As I mentioned, Happy Mysteriously Dissappeared" 4 months ago without an explanation. I went to Orient Beach late yesterday afternoon and when I was leaving, I just happened to look to the right behind Bay Watch Restaurant, and there was a dog walking to the area of where people discard their unwanted debris and garbage. I saw a dog with white paws walking in that direction and I continued to leave. I had a "feeling" so I reversed the car and went towards the animal. He was very skinny and sad and very much in need of food and water. I stopped the car, noticed the red collar and started to call Happy. At first, he was frightened and started to move away. He stopped after the second time of calling his name still very cautious of me. I moved closer and started to call his name in a way that I used to call him in a playing sence, a bit high pitched like I used to do to get his attention; "Happy Dog, Happy Dog," and this got his attention when he started very cautiously coming toward me and as he got closer, (I was now kneeling on the ground at his level), he started to wag his tail and jump up and down. I was petting him and he started to bite me in the small playing bites that he used to do. I asked him if he wanted to go home and when I opened the car door, he immediately jumped in excited. Well, I do believe in fate, faith and destiny and I can't believe after 4 months, Happy our slow, dumb dog is home. He is skinny and in need of a good bath as well as a vet visit to make sure he is alright, which is on the agenda for today. Maybe Cyber space managed to put us in the same place at the same time so that our paths would cross again and make the family complete once again.

Mr. Trouble,- aka-Meow,Meow

Well, here we are....The last of the bunch! This is Mr. Trouble, aka "Meow-Meow". Trouble is 5 years old now.We've had him since he was about 2 months old. Trouble is a Himalayan Persian and TOTALLY true meaning of ZEN. Trouble was a Christmas Gift gift for my partner. He was born upstate New York in the Catskills. The lady who bred these wonderful cats could not sell him because he was "so much trouble", nobody would take him, not even to breed. We adopted him and his sister named "Fancy Free" because she had a breathing problem that could have been operated on and eventually fix the problem. A breeder does this to make money and Fancy Free was going to be "put down" because of her breathing problem. We decided to take the two, mostly to save Fancy Free. A week before her operation, Fancy Free died due to breathing failure. But, as sad as it is, we gave her 1 more month of life and "nature decided how she would die", and not by choice of a person.

Back to Trouble: Trouble eats and sleeps and goes for his morning walk with Caramel and Piccola on the beach. He loves the water and has no problem laying in a puddle. He loves the sand as well as the ocean. When Trouble was small, in the middle of the night, (while we were sleeping), he would bang and knock on the cupboards until they would open, climb in and knock everything onto the floor; cans, bottles, pots, pans and they would roll across the tiled floor etc. you get the idea! Other nights, Trouble would walk across the piano keyboard and the tune wasn't that of Elton John or John Lennon..., you get the idea again; hence the name Trouble. Trouble is so laid back, his meow is even delayed. His mouth opens, and about 5 seconds later, a meow finally manages to find it's way out. He's a love and extemely loyal. He's the only animal we've bought and he's the one that is the most Zen. These cats, coming from the Himalayas where peace is the way of life, they really follow that phylosophy!