Carnival!

My body hurts! Yesterday was jam packed with dancing and singing in celebration of St Lucia's carnival, and it also just happened to be my birthday. It's gonna be pretty hard to top this next year!

Covered in mud, and I don't care!

My day started at 2:30am when I woke up to attend J'Ouvert, which is basically an early morning kick off party for Carnival. I headed out with my friend, Grace, her host brother and some of his friends. We spent the first hour or so just observing and trying to figure out how people dance the way they do. You basically have to have full control of your butt so you can move it in every possible way without the rest of your body moving. Despite hours of practicing I'm still not able to wine. I'm pretty sure some people laughed when I tried. I don't blame them!

As the sun started to rise we made our way further into Castries, down to where the judging stage is for parade of the bands to dance and see the bands.The bands that were walking in the morning weren't the bands that were competing in the afternoon, but they were all about fun! One of the bands covered themselves and others in mud. We were the "others!" I was just standing innocently on the sidewalk and some chick just came up and smeared mud all over my chest. It only got worse- my arms, legs, face, hair, clothes, and inside my ears! That last one was only discovered several hours later.

We spent several hours listening to the same four songs- Kabawe (the rum shop song), Balanga, Whining in a Circle, and the song of this years carnival, Hurt It. Still don't know what it means but I found myself just randomly yelling "Hurt It" along with everyone else. The party finally ended a little after 7am and we all piled back into the car, trying our hardest to keep the mud on our bodies and not the seats. You can probably guess how well that worked!

After a power nap and a bucket bath, which for the record is pretty useless when you're caked in mud,  it was time for the REAL party! Three of us got a ride down from my mom just in time to see the first band come through. The whole parade lasted a few hours, and just when you thought you saw the craziest person another band came by in a skimpier bikini, men on horseback dressed as Trojans, and of course somebody dropping their head to the floor and shaking their butt in your face. Because obviously.

While walking around we found a discarded belt with fringes and neon gems. So naturally I told my friend to grab it and then I wore it the rest of the day. I've already decided I'm jumping next year just so I can be covered in glitter, gems, and feathers!

It was also really funny to think that many of the people jumping are total professionals outside of Carnival. In the US you'd probably be judged for wearing the types of outfits I saw in public, and depending on your job you may even lose respect. But here it was just part of the celebration, and in this situation anything goes! My kind of people!

 Throughout the rest of the afternoon my group of 3 continued to acquire friends as we walked further into Castries, until I ended up seeing most of my new PC friends, which was all I really wanted for my birthday! And in true St. Lucia style we packed 10 of us into my host mom's SUV, including one person standing through the sunroof. Quite possibly the most fun I've ever had on a car ride!

 I got really lucky with this nation-wide birthday party, and I want to send a big "thank you" to everyone who came out and made my day extra special. I LOVE PEACE CORPS!!!

Trying to have a costume with
these colors when I jump!!

So excited to dance!

Me and my cool belt that we found.