View of the Caribbean from the Cora Suites Hotel Everyone hanging out at the pool before the start of orientation.

"The Journey Begins" 7/28/2002 So, here I am, living on the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Why was I brought here? I hope that someday when I look back at this Journal that I will know. I came to St. Lucia via Miami, where Peace Corps training class EC69 met. I am very excited to be with my new "pack". Every one of my fellow volunteers seems like a kind, friendly, and peaceful person. We spent our first day in St. Lucia at the Cora Suites Hotel in the hills above the capital city of Castries. Yesterday we met our host families here in the town of Babonneau. I am staying with the Nelsons. Peter the father, Michelina the mother, Kurt their son, and Rhonda their daughter are very kind and hospitable people. I am sure that I will enjoy my stay here. This morning they took me to the Gospel Baptist Church, and I am about to head back for the evening service. All of the songs we sang in church were ones I already knew, and there was only a little patois spoken, so I fit right in. It also seems that "country western" music is very popular here, Phil Collins too, so I feel right at home already.