Arriving on One Happy Island

The 23^rd August was a very long day, but one that ended with our arrival in Aruba: ‘One Happy Island’ as the carpet at the airport proclaimed. Our journey, summed up in facts and figures looked a little bit like this:

Arriving after dark last night, the island sparkled with all the lights and looked like a firework with the illuminated cruise ships heading out into the Caribbean Sea from Oranjestad. We went met at the airport by a fantastically warm welcome from a local leader (Anneline) and two pioneers (Anna and Angela) who helped us navigate the island and find our accommodation.

As we drove to our apartments, Anna and Angela tried to orientate us to the island: the airport’s sort of in the middle on the south coast, we’re staying further east in Pos Chiquito, Noord is in the north of the island and Santa Cruz is right in the middle. Along Route 1 from the airport, we saw the ‘Green Corridor’ works on this main road and past the desalination plant which provides the islands drinking water and Balashi Brewery (we’ve been recommended to sample their wares while we’re here). We were humbled by the young women’s language skills (they speak four languages) especially when we were so tired we were struggling with English ourselves. Having got up at 6am UK time (1am Aruban time), it was 22 hours later when we finally went to bed.

We’ll meet with the board soon to confirm plans for the next three weeks of project, but we anticipate that we will be going to group meetings for Padvinsters and Pioneers in Dakota, San Nicolas, Pos Chiquito and Saveneta, running activities at a camp on our second weekend, and working with community groups in the same districts to encourage them to become leaders!