Memorable Memorial Days

Today is Memorial Day! A holiday in the US that kicks off summer for any lake loving, beach going, grilling crew. This time last year classmate and fellow Austinites Kim Caldwell and (then fiancé, now husband) Justin Dove came over to my house for a finger licking, good ol’ time. We ate delicious vegetarian foods, listened to a jam session and did I mention ate delicious vegetarian food. Justin even dazzled us with his hula-hooping skills. ; ) That’s when I knew these cats were pretty cool and there was no doubt about it that I would enjoy my Clinton School experience. When you get a chance, check out Kim's blog. She's working in South Africa this summer with two community foundations.

Here in St. Lucia it’s just a regular day, but hey that’s ok! St. Lucia is about to kick off their own set of festivities for Carnival this weekend. Yes you heard me right, Carnival is scheduled in the summer here rather than February. More on that to come later.

I’m leaving you with this 25 second clip of what I call Beach on the Go for anyone who isn’t near the beach today but would like to be. It was shot a mere 10 min. walk from my St. Lucian abode. Enjoy!

My Name is Simon and I like to Do Drawings

Ok… my name really isn’t Simon. It’s Judy. Hello! Nice to meet you, lovely blog reader(s). I’ve been doing a lot of research lately on my deliverables for my client on this project for My Island – My Community, a radio program that uses Entertainment Education to tackle awareness and behavior on climate change in the Eastern Caribbean.

One of those deliverables is to devise a Measurement & Evaluation strategy so that PCI Media can measure the attitudes and opinions of the radio listeners about the program that is set to air later this year. (Hello Dr. Bavon’s Program Evaluation class!) In my reading I’ve stumbled upon utilizing sketching and photography as a means to capture qualitative data. It’s fascinating!

“In taking stock of the sociology of visuals – whether in the form of sketches or photos – it is not difficult to discern the obvious conclusion: almost all paintings, sketches, and photos are usually produced by ‘the powerful; the established, the male, the colonizer, to portray the less powerful, less established, female and colonized (Harper, 1994: 408). We advocate handing over the means of visual production to the oppressed, the silent and the muted.”*

Because my project explicitly targets those muted and silent members of society, this fits in nicely with my Measurement & Evaluation piece. I tested it out yesterday, in fact on myself. I sat down and and sketched out a photo of what climate change means to me. Here is what I came up with.

As I was drawing this for some reason I wanted to have litter raining from the sky, and as I thought about it further it depicts how often we don’t know where litter comes from. Sometimes it does even feel like bottles and cans fall from the sky. . . especially when it’s everywhere and no one picks it up. But litter shouldn't be everywhere, nor should it litter our beaches as it affects the entire fragile ecosystem.

It would be really neat to see my classmates depict their particular issues they are addressing in their summer projects. From prison reform in Uganda to accessible art in Shanghai – the Clinton School of Public Service students are doing some pretty amazing things this summer! Little Debbie Snack – I know you have paints and art supplies in Chitre, Panama. Show us your work!!!

*Lifted from “With an Antenna We Can Stop the Practice of Female Genital Cutting” by Karen Greiner, Arvind Singhal, Sarah Hurlburt

[A]Typical St. Lucian dinner

This post is dedicated to fellow classmates and friends Anna Strong and Rebecca Morrison who were posting and commenting about food in their respective IPSP countries. You see Anna is in the land of curries, dahl and a constant flow of chai while Rebecca appears to be in a country that has everything from Japanese to great bar food and who know's what else. ; )

Sarah and I just finished eating this.

What is that you ask? Well it's an authentic Italian pizza topped with capers, garlic sauce and mushrooms cooked in a brick oven, accompanied by a glass of Valpolicella (a sweet flavored wine from Northern Italy). While this might not be typical Caribbean fare . . . Key Largo's pizza is quickly becoming my favorite pizza ever. Ever! It's the real deal folks, and if you're ever in the neighborhood please try the pizza here. You won't regret it.

This is an anamoly even for St. Lucia. The owners are a sister/brother duo as well as her husband. The siblings grew up in England but have family from St. Lucia and moved here after she married an Italian. Their restaurant, Key Largo, fuels any public servant's appetite (not to mention is the best pizza on the island).

In addition to the fine food and atmosphere, there's a trampoline just outside for the kiddos and wifi inside for the nerds. (Yes I'm using their wifi right now in fact.) All in all -- the pizza has a thin airy crust combined with a smattering of fresh tomato sauce that would make your mouth melt upon smelling it. Two thumbs up from Sarah and me!

To be fair, I cannot entirely boast about the delicious pizza and say that I'm not jealous of Anna's and Rebecca's foods. Anna, just the other night I was at an Indian restaurant and they didn't even serve chai. I mean isn't that the most basic part of Indian cuisine?!? Really! And Rebecca, it sounds like you have a lot of great options of food over there in Australia. Nom nom nom.

Here's to having delicious meals in whatever corner of the globe you find yourself in. Bon appetite!

What is Public Service?

Over the entire academic year my classmates and I have been asked to define public service as it relates to our work and our future. How can you really define public service though when it's different for each and every person and is based from any myriad set of values (community driven/faith based/political/law etc.)? It’s almost like asking “what is the meaning of life?”

From time to time we are faced with situations or events that really ask us to probe a little further on our own definitions and meanings as it relates to public service. For those of you who aren’t aware – there is a serious situation going on in Jamaica right now. Living in the Caribbean we in St. Lucia hear a lot about what’s going down over there and are concerned for our stakeholders who reside in Jamaica. (We are far from the conflict here in St. Lucia however, so do not be alarmed.)

Last August Christopher “Dudus” Coke was requested by the US to be extradited back to New York on drug and firearm charges. The US justice department even went as far to put Christopher Coke on the “world’s most dangerous” list. While normally this would be a situation that is worked out between the US and Jamaica the situation has been marred with public opinion, action, and some pretty heated opinions on both ends of the spectrum.

You see Christopher Coke isn’t just any run of the mill drug dealer. Yes he did engage in the selling and pushing of drugs in the US but back home he is considered a protector, benefactor and even Christ-like figure in Tivoli Gardens (an area of Jamaica). According to news articles he's helped put kids through schools, provided food for those hungry, and jobs to those in need. Christopher Coke has helped (served?) his community to such an extent that they are acting out violently in attempts to prevent his extradition back to the US. It all plays out much like a modern day Robin Hood story – where I can honestly see both sides of the story.

To show you just how dialectical opposing the beliefs are, here is a picture from the Associate Press of a supporter's sign regarding Christopher Coke. (Wow!)


I guess my immediate reaction and questions are:

• Do the means justify the ends? Especially when lives are being harmed not only in the US, but Jamaica as well. To date some 60 odd Jamaicans have already died in the conflict that has risen out of this.
• As this falls under the realm of international law, which country gets to decide the fate of what happens to Christopher Coke?
• Is it possible to be both a public servant and criminal?
• What are the ethical implications of Coke’s decisions to provide for his people by using drug money?

Dean DiPippa if you’re reading this – please give us your wise and thoughtful insight! This no doubt calls for a refresher in your Law and Ethics class.

*please note the factual information of this post was extracted largely in part by news articles from the BBC. Check out these articles for more information:
BBC’s Profile: Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke
BBC’s Jamaica violence ‘linked to US drug market’

It’s getting HOT HOT HOT

Many of the Clinton School students are spending their summers in climates that could melt your face off. Seriously! Where I come from we wear cardigans in the summer. Did I mention I’m from Texas? Yes, you’ll never find a cooler place in the US than visiting any home, office, or business in Austin, Texas. Especially in an unnamed university that resides in the center of the city (ahem Longhorns). It’s ridiculously cold enough inside those classrooms to house a penguin.

Though this is the fourth summer I’ve spent without air conditioning each time it’s like I’ve never done it before. You’d think experiencing heat waves in Italy, Manhattan, and Panama would mentally and physically prepare me for St. Lucia – but no. I must have used Will Smith’s crazy MIB flashy pen to wipe my memory clean . . . . (I hate when that happens!)

So listed below are five fail safe tips for making hot weather a little more bearable.


1. Hotels (not just for tourists). When a/c is scarce and all you need is a little blast of cold air -- find the nearest hotel. Feel weird about lurking around a business establishment that you’re not checked in at? No worries! Head straight to the bar/dining room and just say you’re in room 208. Trust me, you won’t regret it. In fact just the other week Sarah and I happened upon an all inclusive couples hotel/retreat here in the Lucia. We met newlyweds and newlyweds to be!


2. Showers. I don’t think I’ve ever been as clean as here in St. Lucia. I take showers A LOT. If the temperature rises then nothing makes me feel better than a quick blast of cold water with no heat. This particularly works well just before bedtime.


3. Sleep it off. Apparently the Italians knew best. When I studied abroad in Italy one summer everything was shut down between 2 and 4, the hottest part of the day. During this time everybody, and I mean every business owner, student, and professional went home and slept off the hottest part of the day. Refreshed they returned to work or school and followed that off by a lovely 3 hour dinner. Bravo bravo!


4. You are what you eat! I recently read that protein, caffeine and alcohol make the body temperature rise, so I hate it for you, but it’s a good idea to stay away from these things. Eating as the locals eat is always a good idea. Fruits like pineapples, watermelon and mangos create a cooling sensation for the body which brings the temperature down. (Unfortunately I don’t think vodka infused watermelon qualifies as a cooling fruit. Heh.)


5. The Golden Screen. When I’m in another country I’ll watch any craptastic film that finds its way to the screen. For real! This is the only explanation for how I saw Wild Hogs (awful), a foreign film with no English subtitles, and most recently Letters to Juliet (who dumps Gael Garcia Bernal?!? Idiot!). Think of it this way the price of admission provides you with about 2 hours of air conditioning and some entertainment on a very large screen. . . kind of like an in-flight film. But hopefully, you’ll be lucky enough to catch a decent flick.


And IF none of that works then pretend you’re at a sleepover and throw your underwear in the freezer. That should do something for ya.

What cools you down?

EE Phone Home!

What is the one thing you never leave home without? Other than your keys and wallet, chances are that one thing is probably a cell phone. According to cnet.com cell phone subscriptions are projected to reach 5 billion this year. With roughly 6.8 billion people around the globe, that’s a lot of annoying ringtones!

Furthermore, with iPhones, Blackberries and Androids on the market – more and more people are opting for smart phones that have access to the world wide web and can do magical things provided they choose their apps accordingly. As a former Jitterbug owner (don’t judge me for my octogenarian phone preference) I am blown away by the technology these hand held devices are capable of.

The future of Entertainment Education will be at the touch of a button, friends. To be precise, EE will be at the touch of a button on your cell phone. Think about it. Currently EE predominantly uses radio and television to convey messages about entertainment and well education of course. However, already we’ve seen the landscape of TV change by being able to record shows, stream them online, and download episodes for on-the-go pleasure on iPhones, iPods, and iPads. Radio (in the US) though convenient and affordable has dozens of competitors, most notably the advent of satellite radio and the widespread use of iPods.

What does all of this mumbo jumbo nonsense of entertainment and technology lead to? Your cell phone! If you do own a smart phone, well essentially you are walking around with a television, radio, laptop and phone all in one. And what better way to reach an audience than by phoning them!

Here in St. Lucia Blackberries are nearly as bountiful as sand. They’re literally everywhere. And for those who don’t own a Blackberry, it’s very easy to purchase a pay as you go type of phone which automatically comes with the ability to text.

Recently, a friend forwarded me a CNN article on a trend in apps which are aimed at improving health. There’s an entire world of cell phone apps created to help people diet, send daily affirmations, teach yoga poses etc.

According to the article, the leading guy in using cell phone technology to change behavior is B.J. Fogg who says, “Most people carry cell phones with them everywhere, making them a powerful tool in creating new habits in a person's daily routine, Programs designed to improve health habits operate through "triggers," or calls to action, which can be as simple as click here.”

In addition to Fogg’s vision and insight, there are also organizations out there like MobileActive.org, who use mobile technology for social impact. You can check out their blog for the numerous ways they use cell phones for good. One example they cited was how cell phones could be used to replace paper reporting methods faster in various countries in regards to food security efforts. Apparently the UN is going the way of the phone.

I’m personally excited to see where and how EE and cell phones will blur the traditional lines of communication and utilize each other to reach people across the globe in various efforts of social change. Imagine a world where you send texts to loved ones and friends and then only a moment later to turn around and receive a text by your favorite character on your favorite TV show to do something as simple as recycle.

I have been LOST-ed

Sitting here on an island watching a show about people who have found their plane wrecked on an island is a bit surreal. As this is the eve of the LOST series finale I could not help but acknowledge it. It’s hard to believe the show is coming to a close. How do you end one of history’s most epic television series? How will it all end?




There are so many well thought out theories on the web that I don’t even feel capable of contributing my own. I will say though that what LOST has represented to me is a moving story about a group of strangers who sometimes get along and sometimes don’t, but through their attempt at survival get to know each other. With each episode we’ve gained a little more insight into Kate, Hurley, Jack, Sawyer etc. The back stories often lead to explanations of how complicated any one person can truly be, not to mention the events that made said person to be the person that we meet today.

This evening Sarah (poor Sarah has been subject to my Lost obsession since we arrived to St. Lucia) and I watched the first episode of LOST which aired on ABC for preparation for tomorrow’s big night event (some 5 hours + of LOST viewing). To revisit these characters’ first meeting was rather neat. It actually reminded me of a Sunday evening almost a year ago within the brick walls of Sturgis when the Clinton School of Public Service class of 2011 met together for the first time during orientation.

I remember being a bit nervous but curious that day as I was about to meet the 35 classmates who would be part of my life for the next two years. We filed in one by one and were handed a packet of things and were asked to sit in alphabetical order. Being a "W" I sat between David Watterson and LaTonya Wilson. What great people to sit between! While we were waiting to get things started I made an observation with Watterson about how similar our last names are (weird) and asked LaTonya about Little Rock. Then to introduce ourselves we were asked to state our name, what areas of public service we were interested in, and what brand of toothpaste we use.

And one by one we answered/introduced ourselves. There were normal answers, quizzical answers (some didn’t even know what toothpaste they even used) and funny answers. That moment set the foundation which we would later build upon and get to know each other beyond toothpaste preference. Like rewatching the first episode of Lost, I wish I could revisit that day by watching it on youtube or hulu. (However hulu is blocked here in St. Lucia so even if that were magically on hulu, I wouldn't be able to catch it.) We’ve come a long way since then, and it’s only just getting started.

Feel free to peruse the sidebar on the right to read my classmates’ adventures on their service projects all over the world. From Peru to San Antonio, Uganda, China and Australia – they are doing some pretty spectacular things. I'm proud of each and every one of them. ; )

Chaaaaaaaaaaaalooooooooopa!

And now for a much debated topic: Avatar

If you haven't heard of this movie called Avatar then you might be living under a rock! Seriously since it came out in late 2009 it's provided heated water cooler debates about its brillance or lack thereof (depending on which side you fall on).

So I've finally decided to put my best evaluator cap on and find out what's the real opinion behind this film. If you've seen the film, take this survey here to tell me about your thoughts.

Results will be posted next week!