BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Sunday, October 15

marks the 45th anniversary of the arrival of Peace Corps Volunteers in St Lucia. St Lucia was one of the first nations to respond to President Kennedy’s initiative to offer the services of Americans who would contribute to the development process of interested countries. St Lucia was the second nation worldwide to receive Peace Corps Volunteers, just two hours after their counterparts landed in Ghana in 1961. To mark this milestone, Peace Corps/St Lucia will “welcome back home” four of the original volunteers from 1961: Fred Brancel, Jac Conaway, Merlin Skretvedt, Carol Watkins, and their families. Current Peace Corps/St. Lucia director Kate Raftery noted, “Their presence will add even greater significance to the celebration.” The 45th Anniversary celebration will be launched with the opening of an exhibition on the history of Peace Corps in the Caribbean at 10:00 am on Thursday, October 12, 2006 in the courtyard at La Place Carenage.

<> The Cricket World Cup
is just around the corner and the anticipation is growing every day here in [[Barbados]].
Cricket has played a very significant role in the ongoing social and spiritual development of this island and the outstanding success of the many, great Barbadian cricket players has had a profoundly positive effect on the country's psyche.

<> It is hardly surprising therefore that when it was officially announced that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 would be played in the West Indies and that Barbados had been awarded the honour of hosting the final, the reaction was one of euphoria and an outpouring of national pride.

<>The World Cup Final has only ever been hosted by five cities in the world; London in England, Calcutta in India, Melbourne in Australia, Lahore in Pakistan and Johannesburg in South Africa. We can now add to that list the name Bridgetown in [[Barbados]].

Christmas Caroling:
is still a strong tradition today. Small chorals of five to eight people are formed and travel house to house singing Christmas Carols.
This is done when the owner of the house is asleep and the group will walk up close to the house and sing.
Dogs will sometimes try to keep singers away, but the beautiful singing of these Christmas Carols usually keeps the dogs in good behavior. The house awakens to the singing, and the group is offered drinks or money.

Send off party:
is when someone from the community is going to somewhere "foreign" (United States, Canada or England); all the family and friends gather.
This event usually takes place at the end of the afternoon, and there is a blessing of the person departing, accompanied with songs and prayers.
Sadness for those leaving melds with the joy of seeing the person embarking on a fresh future. Food and drink are prepared by friends and family.
This event lasts until quite late at night, and it is common for it to still be going on the next day.

From Union Unite

[[Union Island]]'s rich soil produces many varied fruits and vegetables

The island cuisine has been influenced by its history.
Foods such as coconut that was introduced to the islands by colonists, have become dietary staples.
Seafood is abundant, and most people eat fish every day.
Shrimp, whelk, lobster, jackfish, dolphin fish and lambi (conch) are mixed with scotch bonnet peppers, fruits and vegetables in a variety of dishes. Other common dishes include callaloo (a type of stew), pigfoot souse, roti and pumpkin soup.
Unionites begin their mornings with "tea" which refers to a variety of hot beverages such as coffee, hot chocolate, fish broth tea, regular or cocoa tea.
Cocoa tea is made from processed local cocoa beans and spices and is served with milk and sugar, like black tea. Lunch is generally a light meal.
Dinner is the main family meal, and Sunday dinners are particularly important. All the family members gather for an elaborate meal, usually with fish, chicken, beef or goat.