Peace Corps volunteers are back together doing a week of training. It has been great hearing everyone’s ridiculous stories from their sites. There are volunteers living like tourists, bushmen and rasta.
Luckily, one of the volunteers is working directly for Food for the Poor because my community plans on sending proposals for everything under the sun (food, zinc, books, medical supplies…. A few volunteers live in tourists areas of the Jamaica. They say this is a mixed blessing. For one, the volunteers live in homes with reliable utilities and have amazing sites to see and all things American like Burger King and supermarkets BUT the locals see the volunteers as tourists so integration is difficult and they are charged ridiculous prices for food and transportation.
I am Peace Corps group 80 in Jamaica but there are also group 79 and 78 volunteers on the island. We call group 79 the seventy-whinners because all they do is complain!!!!!! Any time I ever feel even a little depressed I take a deep breath and just think I AM IN JAMAICA! If I was not in the Peace Corps right now I would be in law school and not enjoying a second of it or worse, living back at home with my mom. … love you mom! And miss you!!
You wouldn’t think it but Peace Corps in Jamaica has one of the highest dropout rates of any country. When people think of Jamaica they tend to forget about the high poverty, low literacy and high crime and focus on the beautiful beaches. I see it holistically, I have all the beauty of Jamaica’s culture and people and a whole heep places where I can spend time working on projects. I love it.
Fun story- My supervisor, counterpart and I chartered a taxi to Montego Bay and our taxi driver Rock Eye hit on every single girl we ran into. The best pick up line by far was used on a relatively round women “pisss, my size”. The lady turned around, paused, smiled, and then waddled over. I couldn’t believe it worked!
There are NO hot Catholic girls in Jamaica. My language instructor who I have previously said was the hottest girl in the world was raised Catholic but is not practicing any longer. Language class is basically a class where all the guys hit on the instructors. They are all so good looking. : ) Anyway, my instructor attended Catholic high school so I thought she would be able to give me the hook up since only old ladies attend the Catholic Church in my community. Well my teacher told me that none of her friends are practicing Catholics. There are a million Christians in Jamaica but no Catholic girls. It’s ridiculous that I am having such a great time that I have to make this huge stretch to find something to complain about.
One Love
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Lots of Days dedicated to Dave's Girlfriend.
Blog-
Waagwaan!
Jamaica is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I miss everyone! I wish I could be in contact with everyone back at home but life is way too hectic!
There is so much to say I don’t even know where to begin. …
“Be POSOTIVE!” - mom
The best advice… The last director of Peace Corps in Jamaica welcomed his Peace Corps Trainees by letting them know he had the authority to terminate their service at anytime. Luckily for me, my director chose a different approach- she welcomed us with kind words and open arms. In the past Jamaica had one of the highest termination rates of all the Peace Corps locations. Around 17% per year. I am optimistic that change is coming.
Peace Corps Group 80 (my group) had a small orientation session in Kingston for two days but we will be spending the next two weeks in Hellshire, Jamaica- a small town to the west of Kingston. Unlike Kingston, Hellshire has relatively low crime and very little rain. Yesterday when I went to the BEACH, I ran into an old friend! It was Bamboo Bobby! Turns out this beach was the same beach I had visited two years ago when I was on vacation. Bamboo Bobby and I both recognized each other and had a good laugh. 2 years ago I visited the beach and bought something from him.
Sometimes when I am running around with all the kids of the neighborhood I wish I was in the Child Development Sector but I secretly know my sector (Health) is SO much better! We have the best people and will do the dirtiest jobs. We all come from random backgrounds that don’t have a lot to do with health or sanitation.
I taught the kids I live with how to play the card game War. The kids go crazy over war. I didn’t realize I could hate a card game so much! They constantly cheat so the game NEVER ends. It was fun for the first hour but now it’s all they want to play all the time!
The Jamaica group doesn’t have 50 trainees like years past, only 37 and 15 of them are over the age of 45. One is even 77! I really think more people should consider the Peace Corps. And not all Peace Corps trainees are hippies. Some are but there is also a Libertarian or two and a bunch of Republicans and moderate Democrats. We don’t ever talk about politics though, and thankfully so. Politics in Jamaica I guess is crazy. I was told by my 11 year old host brother to take off my green shirt because it was too political and I could be harmed.
I am staying with a host family for the next two weeks while I attend training class. My family is very nice. To respect their privacy I am not going to share too much about them. … My host family, like a lot of Jamaicans are 7th Day Adventists’. It’s a Christian denomination that goes to church on Saturdays, don’t drink, don’t smoke and have a lot of other characteristics that I am not accustomed too (well I don’t smoke). I was surprised to find out that Fundamentalist Christians make up a large percentage of the population. According to other volunteers Jamaica has the highest number of churches and bars per square mile.
I brought my cough with me from America. : ( I think I might have allergies.
The postcard Natasha gave me of a Peacock was a huge hit with all the kids. They all where shocked to see a bird with such big feathers.
I don’t want you guys thinking I am on vacation in Jamaica. Though I am having the time of my life I am in class from 8AM till 6PM and with devotion, and with all the kids around I am constantly exhausted! I did however make the time for a Red Strip on the first day. Red Strip is SO much better here but expensive ($1.00 – 2.50). I will not drink while I am in Hellshire or a lot for that matter because most of the fundamentalist Christians do not look highly about it.
Right now and this is very typical of every night- there is a bass pounding far of in the distance, next door completely random music is playing (classical), a TV is on in the next room, I can hear my neighbors chatting, a gate squeaking, the wind blowing in my window, someone scrubbing something, and on occasion dogs and cats fighting. Most of this racket will be going on all night.
So now what everyone doesn’t want to hear. The ladies! Some of the Peace Corps girls are surprisingly hot. And one of my Jamaican teachers is the most attractive girl I have ever seen! Smoken!
There are a few drawbacks, first there is NO water pressure in the shower. If I am lucky I can go outside and use the hose. The other thing is that the fan in my room doesn’t work but this isn’t too bad- it gets chilly late at night. Other than that…. Nothing. There isn’t a lot to complain about and I am not going to waste time trying to come up with things.
If I decided to early terminate today or was forced to, this experience though short would be one of the best experiences of my life. I am in the PEACE CORPS! Crazy!
Blog March 23rd
So tonight I just didn’t feel like sleeping, I watched a few episodes of 30 Rock and Dexter and listened to Adele and Bob Marley on my computer. I am currently being eaten alive by mosquitoes and my allergies are out of control but I wouldn’t trade this for anything.
Tips for future PCV’s
Do NOT buy a therma rest pad
Bring three pair of shorts, lots of dress clothes
I brought two 50 pound bags, and that was way too much stuff.
A multi tool has actually come in handy
Bring an adapter cord to plug your Ipod into a sound system
Playing cards are simple yet so amazing
A cheep radio or the cash to buy one here
A cheap wrist watch
Little American trinkets
March 31st Tuesday
I have started reading “The Story of a Soul” the biography of St. Therese of Lisieux. I haven’t had much time to read but I am sure that will change.
Last night I hit a new all time high. While playing cards with my little brother and little cousin I decided to bust out my lap top and play some music. Well that abruptly ended the card game and started the dance party. The entire house came together and we all danced and sang to Bob Marley hits. That night at diner the kids where visibly upset when I told them that I was going to my permanent site this Friday.
I have to come up with a health related project for the local community. My members of my sector want to have a health fair but I see a great need to improve the local lot kids play on. It’s a large square in the center of their community that is mainly a large sink whole but to the side there is a small cricket field and a lot that is used mainly for burning trash and the improper disposal of glass bottles and other trash. I think with a little community involvement I would remove all the glass and make the field functional again. And if I could find some donations I would love to put a little wall around the lot to discourage future dumping.
Well, the power just went out here. That means I have to make this post brief and that I might not have running water for the rest of the day. : ( The water pressure was already very low this morning.
Last Sunday I found a Catholic Church to attend. I went with two of the older gentlemen in my group. It was a 2 hour+ mass! There was lots of singing a long homily but time moved surprisingly fast. I am really looking forward to finding a Catholic community near my site.
After church I met up with a lot of volunteers on the beach. I put on sun screen, something I never do, so after spending the day there I was bragging how I wasn’t going to burn. Well I spoke to soon, I did some studying on the beach and I burned the back of my knees. Yes, I study on the beach in Jamaica. How cool is that!?!?!
I better get going; I still have to press my clothing for today. Oh, I do wash my cloths by hand.
April 1, 2009
Tonight Angelia’s (Peace Corps trainee) host mom threw a birthday party for her. A local girl wanted to dance with someone so of course I jumped at the opportunity but it was nothing like I expected. She “winded” on me for two seconds before I pealed her off. Not a big party or anything, we have class every week day at 8 AM.
I am really fortunate that The Peace Corps changed their training regiment to contain a lot of “onsite training”. In years past the Peace Corps Jamaica would house all the PCVT’s at a local university for 8 weeks. If I became great friends with everyone I wouldn’t be as able to integrate into my community because I would be traveling around visiting them on their sites.
It’s late, good night
April 4th
Highlight of the morning-
“Gavin if you trust in God the wasps won’t sting you” – host dad
Stonehenge!
Last night I traveled clear across Jamaica to Stonehenge, St. James. I am not comfortable with my situation! The people are great. My supervisor Ms. Huggup is a very outgoing and caring lady. My host family is great too- one dad, one uncle two sons 21 and 8. But it just doesn’t feel comfortable. My host father is a nice guy but the host father is a weird mix of Rastafarian, 7th day Adventist and Catholic. This morning he told a man on the radio predicted in end of the world was going to be on May 2011. I couldn’t tell if he believed in it or if it was mocking the guy. It really stressed me out. My host dad also speaks in thick patwa, has dreads and doesn’t drink chlorinated water.
There are really only two reasons I am stressed. First, Stonehenge doesn’t seem to have income. This lack of funds is due to the train track that runs through the town being abandoned in 1993. The community needs help developing the economy. I don’t know how much I will be able to do.
Second and more importantly, there is no Catholic church or other Peace Corps Volunteers around. I didn’t realize how much this would stress me out. Nothing here reminds me of home. I am not homesick but I can only explain how I feel as uncomfortable. For example, I am writing this blog entry without internet access so I feel extremely cut off. Maybe later down the road I will be able to post it, but who knows. The nearest volunteer must be 2+ hours away.
To recap, the end of the world is only 2 years away. Ha. So basically today I was told that I need to save this community from going under and that I better work fast because the world only has two years left.
Man, I have to figure out where to go to the bathroom… blah.
The house is large and… well I will just have to show you guys.
One love,
Gavin
April 5th night time
Highlight of the day- “Mr. Stud how do I get the toilet to flush?”
“Just let the tank refill and flush it.”
“Well, I tried that…. I think I clogged it.”
The day was terrific. The community is very close knit with many different community organizations. Before I get into the details i'll give a summery of the community.
Stonehenge is located in what I could call “The Cockpit” aka thick bush. The official Cockpit might actually be an inaccessible habitat refuge in the center of Jamaica but my community is close as you can get. Most American’s have a skewed idea of Jamaica and Jamaican’s. It is not all beaches and drugs. My community’s economy was based on farming pineapple and a rail station. Unfortunately, the rail was close down in 1993. This decline in revenue has hit this community very hard. Many people are living well below the poverty line and I am very concerned about the wellbeing of some of the elderly. To top it all off, the local primary (1st to 6th grade) school where I will be working is underfunded and underperforming. So the parents that can afford it are sending their children out of the community. There are also many young people and some adults that are unemployed. “Roughly 90%”
My new counterpart Paul is one of these young unemployed. However, he is very active in community events and a leader in the community. Ms. Huggup (my supervisor), Stud (my host dad) and Paul have all taken me under their wing and I am very thankful for this. So very thankful.
There is also a local spring near my home. Stud has told me that I will only drink spring water while I am living in his house. : ) today I helped fill up some bottles. The water tastes great but I wouldn’t mind getting it tested for bacteria.
I better go to bed; I am ready to pass out.
April 6th 1PM
Highlight of the day-
I walked about 2 miles down the road saying hello to everyone I passed. Right when I turned around to make my way back to the house a bus passed me by. My mouth must have dropped to the floor because it was a tour bus filled with white old people! I typically see one or two Jamaican white people a day because I live near “German Town” but to see an entire bus filled with white people was like seeing a UFO here. I need to find a way to get those people into my town and spend some cash. Get some well needed tourist money into the community.
Today I met Ms. Right, the principal of the school I will be stationed at. I say stationed because I might not necessarily be teaching full time at the school. Working in the sanitation sector of the Peace Corps I was expecting to be placed with a government agency. Instead, I basically have free reign. I am expected to work as a community organizer, teacher, and sanitation advisor. However, I am concerned this will not take up most of my time in such a small community.
Community to do list-
-Build a community center (land already set aside)
-Finish building a all purpose field (remember I live in the hills so this will take a lot of work but the land has already been cleared and flattened but they already want to expand it)
-Evict the people living in the house meant to be the clinic
-Have doctors and nurses utilize the clinic
-Start an executive body to look after all the local clubs and organizations
-Beatification at the local all age school
-Replace the water tank at the all age school or build a pit latrine
-Get trash pick up for the local residence
-Provide meals for the shut in elderly
-Provide zinc for roof repair
-Upgrade the 3 non-operating computers at the local school
-Restock all age library
-Find jobs for unemployed
-Bring tourists into the community
My own ideas
-Facilitate cross- community interaction
Stud’s Ideas
-Bottle the local water
-help repair the homes of the elderly
-build my own house
Power is out have to go.
April 7th 2008
Highlight of the week-
By far the best part of the day was waking up to a text Shane sent me. He was accepted at Texas State University! Congratulations.
Favorite quote -
(said in thick patwa)
Gavin – “Yes, I have noticed your tattoo. But what is it?”
Stud - “A list of all my loved ones… Gavin one day I will add your name right here”
Gavin- “Thanks”
Stud is my way cool house dad
This morning I woke up at my usual 4:30 AM to Stud getting ready for his morning prayers and chores. However, this morning was different because the power was out so Stud couldn’t play the gospel radio station. This gave me a false expectation of tranquility. At 5 AM, just like clockwork, the rooster right outside my window becomes possessed by the devil and won’t stop crowing until 6:30 AM and as soon as the rooster stops Studs brother starts blasting a mix between ghetto rap and reggae. Finally at about 7 AM I am out of bed and walking around and the house goes back to dead silence!
Mosquitoes, I hate you. Luckily they only come out at night. But you keep me awake!
I got great news yesterday!!! Shane got into Texas State. I am very proud of him. I wish I could give everyone back in America a call but I am very low on phone credit right now. I am also looking for a way to get internet. Everyone here is telling me to get it on my phone as a modem but I would have to pay per kilobyte. I’ll look into it.
Everyone needs to come visit me. I don’t expect many people too but the ones that do will have a great time. I suggest staying in Montego Bay for a few days of beaches and partying but then come up to the real Jamaica for
This evening –
Today at school I took a million pictures. The school is in need of a new water catchment system. The tank is over 70 years old and at one time provided all of the schools the non-drinking water (toilet, hand washing, gardening). Because the tank does not work, the toilets at the school have to be flushed with buckets of drinking water. The obvious problem arises when the water is shut off for a few days and the school's drinking tank runs dry. The school has to send kids that need to take a number two home, or out into the jungle.
The school also has a condemned pit latrine (bathroom). Not exactly pleasant smelling or looking.
Today I also visited the water pumping station. The building is located at a large spring. Water from a man made pond is then pumped up the mountain to a large tank where it is channeled to one of three communities. The pump house screams Dharma Initiative (a Lost TV reference) because it's located 10 minutes down a deserted rail line and the pump house post has been deserted by the person that used to man the area. What is left is an environmental disaster. Oil and gasoline are slowly seeping into the stream.
I was nervous that Jamaican kids didn’t like me. Nope. Today at school I made a million little friends. I worked with a few groups of kids, read a book to another group, and played a little cricket. Tip- if a child asks to play the monkey game and it’s a million degrees outside just shoot yourself. The monkey game is when children try to climb all over you. It’s like wearing a kid jacket.
I spoke to my house dad, Stud, the rasta- he had some good advice about life and how to help the community but because of his patwa half the time I have no idea what he is saying. I can fallow most of it but tonight we were talking about life and I thought at one point he tried to sell me his house… He had just told me how he was never going to sell it so I was very confused.
I ate chicken for dinner tonight; I loved it. I hope the devil rooster is no longer.
April 8th-
Amanda gave me a Jesus CD a few months before I left for Jamaica and I am listening to it right now. Love it!
Turns out some of the members of my community are squatting. That means that they are illegally living on someone else’s land or in some cases living in someone else’s house. I heard on the radio that over 1 million Jamaicans are taking part in this practice. It’s heartbreaking when you see the living conditions some people are forced to live in, yet people in Jamaica are the friendliest and most caring people I have ever met.
April 10th – 19th
Quick recap of the past 10 days…
I love everything (almost everything) about my home, job, and community.
Job-
I work at Orange Hill All Age School (Primary), grades 1 – 6th. The school only has 59 students, a janitor, 3 teachers and a principal. I will be helping the 6th and 5th graders prepare for their placement tests for high school, organizing the library, building a garden, forming a 4H club, helping the students who are falling behind in their studies, trying to acquire computers, promoting healthy behavior (brushing teeth, better nutrition…) and trying to improve the school's utilities.
Everyone at the school is very nice. One teacher might not be thrilled to have me working at the school but in time I think she will come around.
The school is located on the top of a small hill that over looks the valley. I’ll include some pictures when I have the time.
Home-
I live in a 5 bedroom bachelor pad with my host father (Stud), uncle (Bobby), 21 year old brother (Lancy) and 8 year old brother (Noah). The house has electricity and occasionally has running water but we only drink water out of a spring just down the road. The house is located at bottom Stonehenge but still has a nice view of the valley. Depending on the time of day a car will drive by every 3 to 10 minutes. This makes getting a ride into town difficult but possible. Even though I live “deep in the country” I still live only an hour away from Montego, an hour and 15 minutes from Black River, an hour and 45 minutes from Ochoa Rios, 4 hours from Kingston and around 2 hours from Nagril (no idea how to spell that). I am very thankful that I live close by to Nick and Heather who are a married couple and Anna. All 3 are young and in the same Peace Corps group as me. I have taken a taxi to and from their homes and it took about 25 minutes. I also have walked and that took 2 and a half hours so I assume it’s about 8 miles away.
The nights here actually get cold but my idea of cold might have changed already. I sweat from 8 AM – 1AM and then I freeze from 1:05 AM – 4 AM and then its nice from 4 AM – 8 AM. But it never really gets that hot, just humid.
Community-
I have been told 90% of the community in unemployed. From the looks of it everyone does some kind of substance farming to get by. The community is close nit and full of character. I am looking forward to meeting everyone. There is no Catholic Church here but there is one 6 miles away in Seaford Town aka German Town. The church is made up of about 40 people and that’s mainly old ladies and children. I am happy there is something. Something is a lot better than nothing. Especially when I am expecting to rely on God to get me though the next two years. For Easter I was walking there to mass almost everyday. Church always feels like my home away from home.
I recommend that everyone visit me! My host dad is more than willing to have people come spend as long as they want. You are welcome any time. Should have left yesterday!
Studs Speech------->
"Hello group 80! My best wish is to have you all in Jamaica. So you should remember that when you are in Jamaica that we are the closet people to America- so when you said Jamaica you said America and when you say America you say Jamaica. That means we share a love and unity. So I want you all to remember that, you must believe in your dreams. Not to lose faith and stand on shaky ground, but have your faith in God cause he do really exist so whatever you do, do it in faith and in truth. Cause you know it is only one place on earth, said god bless America and that is a strong word, so when you come to Jamaica you should come, trust in god, because you people use that word. So have faith, have a good time, have fun in what you do cause we all have a purpose and this land so you are hear for a reason.
Hi Mr. 77 year old! I want to say something special to you- I don’t know you but you have a strong courage and I want to say keep it up and be as young as you are because you are. So have strong faith and believe that you can do it and god bless you.
Hear I give my blessing to all, may a peace of god go with you all and bless you, may you fallow the foot step of god and do the right thing because we all know we should lend a helping hand to each other because united we stand and divided we fall.
Hi ms gene! You are a wonderful girl and when I said that I said that from my heart you make me laugh and you make me think of things that I can think of dreaming.
Ya, Gavin is a good guy and I expect more. Sometime you know you will eventually find the spirit he is seeking for because god has purpose for him and he will do that purpose because he is here for a reason. So may god bless Gavin and lead him in the right way and bless his family.
We both have a new president now, president obama! I want to say American people created history. That we may never see this nowhere on this planet, now where. American people black white pink Chinese Black Ameican English they are good ones in America, so may god bless America and its people and Jamaica and its people, may god bless you all."
Waagwaan!
Jamaica is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I miss everyone! I wish I could be in contact with everyone back at home but life is way too hectic!
There is so much to say I don’t even know where to begin. …
“Be POSOTIVE!” - mom
The best advice… The last director of Peace Corps in Jamaica welcomed his Peace Corps Trainees by letting them know he had the authority to terminate their service at anytime. Luckily for me, my director chose a different approach- she welcomed us with kind words and open arms. In the past Jamaica had one of the highest termination rates of all the Peace Corps locations. Around 17% per year. I am optimistic that change is coming.
Peace Corps Group 80 (my group) had a small orientation session in Kingston for two days but we will be spending the next two weeks in Hellshire, Jamaica- a small town to the west of Kingston. Unlike Kingston, Hellshire has relatively low crime and very little rain. Yesterday when I went to the BEACH, I ran into an old friend! It was Bamboo Bobby! Turns out this beach was the same beach I had visited two years ago when I was on vacation. Bamboo Bobby and I both recognized each other and had a good laugh. 2 years ago I visited the beach and bought something from him.
Sometimes when I am running around with all the kids of the neighborhood I wish I was in the Child Development Sector but I secretly know my sector (Health) is SO much better! We have the best people and will do the dirtiest jobs. We all come from random backgrounds that don’t have a lot to do with health or sanitation.
I taught the kids I live with how to play the card game War. The kids go crazy over war. I didn’t realize I could hate a card game so much! They constantly cheat so the game NEVER ends. It was fun for the first hour but now it’s all they want to play all the time!
The Jamaica group doesn’t have 50 trainees like years past, only 37 and 15 of them are over the age of 45. One is even 77! I really think more people should consider the Peace Corps. And not all Peace Corps trainees are hippies. Some are but there is also a Libertarian or two and a bunch of Republicans and moderate Democrats. We don’t ever talk about politics though, and thankfully so. Politics in Jamaica I guess is crazy. I was told by my 11 year old host brother to take off my green shirt because it was too political and I could be harmed.
I am staying with a host family for the next two weeks while I attend training class. My family is very nice. To respect their privacy I am not going to share too much about them. … My host family, like a lot of Jamaicans are 7th Day Adventists’. It’s a Christian denomination that goes to church on Saturdays, don’t drink, don’t smoke and have a lot of other characteristics that I am not accustomed too (well I don’t smoke). I was surprised to find out that Fundamentalist Christians make up a large percentage of the population. According to other volunteers Jamaica has the highest number of churches and bars per square mile.
I brought my cough with me from America. : ( I think I might have allergies.
The postcard Natasha gave me of a Peacock was a huge hit with all the kids. They all where shocked to see a bird with such big feathers.
I don’t want you guys thinking I am on vacation in Jamaica. Though I am having the time of my life I am in class from 8AM till 6PM and with devotion, and with all the kids around I am constantly exhausted! I did however make the time for a Red Strip on the first day. Red Strip is SO much better here but expensive ($1.00 – 2.50). I will not drink while I am in Hellshire or a lot for that matter because most of the fundamentalist Christians do not look highly about it.
Right now and this is very typical of every night- there is a bass pounding far of in the distance, next door completely random music is playing (classical), a TV is on in the next room, I can hear my neighbors chatting, a gate squeaking, the wind blowing in my window, someone scrubbing something, and on occasion dogs and cats fighting. Most of this racket will be going on all night.
So now what everyone doesn’t want to hear. The ladies! Some of the Peace Corps girls are surprisingly hot. And one of my Jamaican teachers is the most attractive girl I have ever seen! Smoken!
There are a few drawbacks, first there is NO water pressure in the shower. If I am lucky I can go outside and use the hose. The other thing is that the fan in my room doesn’t work but this isn’t too bad- it gets chilly late at night. Other than that…. Nothing. There isn’t a lot to complain about and I am not going to waste time trying to come up with things.
If I decided to early terminate today or was forced to, this experience though short would be one of the best experiences of my life. I am in the PEACE CORPS! Crazy!
Blog March 23rd
So tonight I just didn’t feel like sleeping, I watched a few episodes of 30 Rock and Dexter and listened to Adele and Bob Marley on my computer. I am currently being eaten alive by mosquitoes and my allergies are out of control but I wouldn’t trade this for anything.
Tips for future PCV’s
Do NOT buy a therma rest pad
Bring three pair of shorts, lots of dress clothes
I brought two 50 pound bags, and that was way too much stuff.
A multi tool has actually come in handy
Bring an adapter cord to plug your Ipod into a sound system
Playing cards are simple yet so amazing
A cheep radio or the cash to buy one here
A cheap wrist watch
Little American trinkets
March 31st Tuesday
I have started reading “The Story of a Soul” the biography of St. Therese of Lisieux. I haven’t had much time to read but I am sure that will change.
Last night I hit a new all time high. While playing cards with my little brother and little cousin I decided to bust out my lap top and play some music. Well that abruptly ended the card game and started the dance party. The entire house came together and we all danced and sang to Bob Marley hits. That night at diner the kids where visibly upset when I told them that I was going to my permanent site this Friday.
I have to come up with a health related project for the local community. My members of my sector want to have a health fair but I see a great need to improve the local lot kids play on. It’s a large square in the center of their community that is mainly a large sink whole but to the side there is a small cricket field and a lot that is used mainly for burning trash and the improper disposal of glass bottles and other trash. I think with a little community involvement I would remove all the glass and make the field functional again. And if I could find some donations I would love to put a little wall around the lot to discourage future dumping.
Well, the power just went out here. That means I have to make this post brief and that I might not have running water for the rest of the day. : ( The water pressure was already very low this morning.
Last Sunday I found a Catholic Church to attend. I went with two of the older gentlemen in my group. It was a 2 hour+ mass! There was lots of singing a long homily but time moved surprisingly fast. I am really looking forward to finding a Catholic community near my site.
After church I met up with a lot of volunteers on the beach. I put on sun screen, something I never do, so after spending the day there I was bragging how I wasn’t going to burn. Well I spoke to soon, I did some studying on the beach and I burned the back of my knees. Yes, I study on the beach in Jamaica. How cool is that!?!?!
I better get going; I still have to press my clothing for today. Oh, I do wash my cloths by hand.
April 1, 2009
Tonight Angelia’s (Peace Corps trainee) host mom threw a birthday party for her. A local girl wanted to dance with someone so of course I jumped at the opportunity but it was nothing like I expected. She “winded” on me for two seconds before I pealed her off. Not a big party or anything, we have class every week day at 8 AM.
I am really fortunate that The Peace Corps changed their training regiment to contain a lot of “onsite training”. In years past the Peace Corps Jamaica would house all the PCVT’s at a local university for 8 weeks. If I became great friends with everyone I wouldn’t be as able to integrate into my community because I would be traveling around visiting them on their sites.
It’s late, good night
April 4th
Highlight of the morning-
“Gavin if you trust in God the wasps won’t sting you” – host dad
Stonehenge!
Last night I traveled clear across Jamaica to Stonehenge, St. James. I am not comfortable with my situation! The people are great. My supervisor Ms. Huggup is a very outgoing and caring lady. My host family is great too- one dad, one uncle two sons 21 and 8. But it just doesn’t feel comfortable. My host father is a nice guy but the host father is a weird mix of Rastafarian, 7th day Adventist and Catholic. This morning he told a man on the radio predicted in end of the world was going to be on May 2011. I couldn’t tell if he believed in it or if it was mocking the guy. It really stressed me out. My host dad also speaks in thick patwa, has dreads and doesn’t drink chlorinated water.
There are really only two reasons I am stressed. First, Stonehenge doesn’t seem to have income. This lack of funds is due to the train track that runs through the town being abandoned in 1993. The community needs help developing the economy. I don’t know how much I will be able to do.
Second and more importantly, there is no Catholic church or other Peace Corps Volunteers around. I didn’t realize how much this would stress me out. Nothing here reminds me of home. I am not homesick but I can only explain how I feel as uncomfortable. For example, I am writing this blog entry without internet access so I feel extremely cut off. Maybe later down the road I will be able to post it, but who knows. The nearest volunteer must be 2+ hours away.
To recap, the end of the world is only 2 years away. Ha. So basically today I was told that I need to save this community from going under and that I better work fast because the world only has two years left.
Man, I have to figure out where to go to the bathroom… blah.
The house is large and… well I will just have to show you guys.
One love,
Gavin
April 5th night time
Highlight of the day- “Mr. Stud how do I get the toilet to flush?”
“Just let the tank refill and flush it.”
“Well, I tried that…. I think I clogged it.”
The day was terrific. The community is very close knit with many different community organizations. Before I get into the details i'll give a summery of the community.
Stonehenge is located in what I could call “The Cockpit” aka thick bush. The official Cockpit might actually be an inaccessible habitat refuge in the center of Jamaica but my community is close as you can get. Most American’s have a skewed idea of Jamaica and Jamaican’s. It is not all beaches and drugs. My community’s economy was based on farming pineapple and a rail station. Unfortunately, the rail was close down in 1993. This decline in revenue has hit this community very hard. Many people are living well below the poverty line and I am very concerned about the wellbeing of some of the elderly. To top it all off, the local primary (1st to 6th grade) school where I will be working is underfunded and underperforming. So the parents that can afford it are sending their children out of the community. There are also many young people and some adults that are unemployed. “Roughly 90%”
My new counterpart Paul is one of these young unemployed. However, he is very active in community events and a leader in the community. Ms. Huggup (my supervisor), Stud (my host dad) and Paul have all taken me under their wing and I am very thankful for this. So very thankful.
There is also a local spring near my home. Stud has told me that I will only drink spring water while I am living in his house. : ) today I helped fill up some bottles. The water tastes great but I wouldn’t mind getting it tested for bacteria.
I better go to bed; I am ready to pass out.
April 6th 1PM
Highlight of the day-
I walked about 2 miles down the road saying hello to everyone I passed. Right when I turned around to make my way back to the house a bus passed me by. My mouth must have dropped to the floor because it was a tour bus filled with white old people! I typically see one or two Jamaican white people a day because I live near “German Town” but to see an entire bus filled with white people was like seeing a UFO here. I need to find a way to get those people into my town and spend some cash. Get some well needed tourist money into the community.
Today I met Ms. Right, the principal of the school I will be stationed at. I say stationed because I might not necessarily be teaching full time at the school. Working in the sanitation sector of the Peace Corps I was expecting to be placed with a government agency. Instead, I basically have free reign. I am expected to work as a community organizer, teacher, and sanitation advisor. However, I am concerned this will not take up most of my time in such a small community.
Community to do list-
-Build a community center (land already set aside)
-Finish building a all purpose field (remember I live in the hills so this will take a lot of work but the land has already been cleared and flattened but they already want to expand it)
-Evict the people living in the house meant to be the clinic
-Have doctors and nurses utilize the clinic
-Start an executive body to look after all the local clubs and organizations
-Beatification at the local all age school
-Replace the water tank at the all age school or build a pit latrine
-Get trash pick up for the local residence
-Provide meals for the shut in elderly
-Provide zinc for roof repair
-Upgrade the 3 non-operating computers at the local school
-Restock all age library
-Find jobs for unemployed
-Bring tourists into the community
My own ideas
-Facilitate cross- community interaction
Stud’s Ideas
-Bottle the local water
-help repair the homes of the elderly
-build my own house
Power is out have to go.
April 7th 2008
Highlight of the week-
By far the best part of the day was waking up to a text Shane sent me. He was accepted at Texas State University! Congratulations.
Favorite quote -
(said in thick patwa)
Gavin – “Yes, I have noticed your tattoo. But what is it?”
Stud - “A list of all my loved ones… Gavin one day I will add your name right here”
Gavin- “Thanks”
Stud is my way cool house dad
This morning I woke up at my usual 4:30 AM to Stud getting ready for his morning prayers and chores. However, this morning was different because the power was out so Stud couldn’t play the gospel radio station. This gave me a false expectation of tranquility. At 5 AM, just like clockwork, the rooster right outside my window becomes possessed by the devil and won’t stop crowing until 6:30 AM and as soon as the rooster stops Studs brother starts blasting a mix between ghetto rap and reggae. Finally at about 7 AM I am out of bed and walking around and the house goes back to dead silence!
Mosquitoes, I hate you. Luckily they only come out at night. But you keep me awake!
I got great news yesterday!!! Shane got into Texas State. I am very proud of him. I wish I could give everyone back in America a call but I am very low on phone credit right now. I am also looking for a way to get internet. Everyone here is telling me to get it on my phone as a modem but I would have to pay per kilobyte. I’ll look into it.
Everyone needs to come visit me. I don’t expect many people too but the ones that do will have a great time. I suggest staying in Montego Bay for a few days of beaches and partying but then come up to the real Jamaica for
This evening –
Today at school I took a million pictures. The school is in need of a new water catchment system. The tank is over 70 years old and at one time provided all of the schools the non-drinking water (toilet, hand washing, gardening). Because the tank does not work, the toilets at the school have to be flushed with buckets of drinking water. The obvious problem arises when the water is shut off for a few days and the school's drinking tank runs dry. The school has to send kids that need to take a number two home, or out into the jungle.
The school also has a condemned pit latrine (bathroom). Not exactly pleasant smelling or looking.
Today I also visited the water pumping station. The building is located at a large spring. Water from a man made pond is then pumped up the mountain to a large tank where it is channeled to one of three communities. The pump house screams Dharma Initiative (a Lost TV reference) because it's located 10 minutes down a deserted rail line and the pump house post has been deserted by the person that used to man the area. What is left is an environmental disaster. Oil and gasoline are slowly seeping into the stream.
I was nervous that Jamaican kids didn’t like me. Nope. Today at school I made a million little friends. I worked with a few groups of kids, read a book to another group, and played a little cricket. Tip- if a child asks to play the monkey game and it’s a million degrees outside just shoot yourself. The monkey game is when children try to climb all over you. It’s like wearing a kid jacket.
I spoke to my house dad, Stud, the rasta- he had some good advice about life and how to help the community but because of his patwa half the time I have no idea what he is saying. I can fallow most of it but tonight we were talking about life and I thought at one point he tried to sell me his house… He had just told me how he was never going to sell it so I was very confused.
I ate chicken for dinner tonight; I loved it. I hope the devil rooster is no longer.
April 8th-
Amanda gave me a Jesus CD a few months before I left for Jamaica and I am listening to it right now. Love it!
Turns out some of the members of my community are squatting. That means that they are illegally living on someone else’s land or in some cases living in someone else’s house. I heard on the radio that over 1 million Jamaicans are taking part in this practice. It’s heartbreaking when you see the living conditions some people are forced to live in, yet people in Jamaica are the friendliest and most caring people I have ever met.
April 10th – 19th
Quick recap of the past 10 days…
I love everything (almost everything) about my home, job, and community.
Job-
I work at Orange Hill All Age School (Primary), grades 1 – 6th. The school only has 59 students, a janitor, 3 teachers and a principal. I will be helping the 6th and 5th graders prepare for their placement tests for high school, organizing the library, building a garden, forming a 4H club, helping the students who are falling behind in their studies, trying to acquire computers, promoting healthy behavior (brushing teeth, better nutrition…) and trying to improve the school's utilities.
Everyone at the school is very nice. One teacher might not be thrilled to have me working at the school but in time I think she will come around.
The school is located on the top of a small hill that over looks the valley. I’ll include some pictures when I have the time.
Home-
I live in a 5 bedroom bachelor pad with my host father (Stud), uncle (Bobby), 21 year old brother (Lancy) and 8 year old brother (Noah). The house has electricity and occasionally has running water but we only drink water out of a spring just down the road. The house is located at bottom Stonehenge but still has a nice view of the valley. Depending on the time of day a car will drive by every 3 to 10 minutes. This makes getting a ride into town difficult but possible. Even though I live “deep in the country” I still live only an hour away from Montego, an hour and 15 minutes from Black River, an hour and 45 minutes from Ochoa Rios, 4 hours from Kingston and around 2 hours from Nagril (no idea how to spell that). I am very thankful that I live close by to Nick and Heather who are a married couple and Anna. All 3 are young and in the same Peace Corps group as me. I have taken a taxi to and from their homes and it took about 25 minutes. I also have walked and that took 2 and a half hours so I assume it’s about 8 miles away.
The nights here actually get cold but my idea of cold might have changed already. I sweat from 8 AM – 1AM and then I freeze from 1:05 AM – 4 AM and then its nice from 4 AM – 8 AM. But it never really gets that hot, just humid.
Community-
I have been told 90% of the community in unemployed. From the looks of it everyone does some kind of substance farming to get by. The community is close nit and full of character. I am looking forward to meeting everyone. There is no Catholic Church here but there is one 6 miles away in Seaford Town aka German Town. The church is made up of about 40 people and that’s mainly old ladies and children. I am happy there is something. Something is a lot better than nothing. Especially when I am expecting to rely on God to get me though the next two years. For Easter I was walking there to mass almost everyday. Church always feels like my home away from home.
I recommend that everyone visit me! My host dad is more than willing to have people come spend as long as they want. You are welcome any time. Should have left yesterday!
Studs Speech------->
"Hello group 80! My best wish is to have you all in Jamaica. So you should remember that when you are in Jamaica that we are the closet people to America- so when you said Jamaica you said America and when you say America you say Jamaica. That means we share a love and unity. So I want you all to remember that, you must believe in your dreams. Not to lose faith and stand on shaky ground, but have your faith in God cause he do really exist so whatever you do, do it in faith and in truth. Cause you know it is only one place on earth, said god bless America and that is a strong word, so when you come to Jamaica you should come, trust in god, because you people use that word. So have faith, have a good time, have fun in what you do cause we all have a purpose and this land so you are hear for a reason.
Hi Mr. 77 year old! I want to say something special to you- I don’t know you but you have a strong courage and I want to say keep it up and be as young as you are because you are. So have strong faith and believe that you can do it and god bless you.
Hear I give my blessing to all, may a peace of god go with you all and bless you, may you fallow the foot step of god and do the right thing because we all know we should lend a helping hand to each other because united we stand and divided we fall.
Hi ms gene! You are a wonderful girl and when I said that I said that from my heart you make me laugh and you make me think of things that I can think of dreaming.
Ya, Gavin is a good guy and I expect more. Sometime you know you will eventually find the spirit he is seeking for because god has purpose for him and he will do that purpose because he is here for a reason. So may god bless Gavin and lead him in the right way and bless his family.
We both have a new president now, president obama! I want to say American people created history. That we may never see this nowhere on this planet, now where. American people black white pink Chinese Black Ameican English they are good ones in America, so may god bless America and its people and Jamaica and its people, may god bless you all."
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Stonehenge Jamaica!
I have been writing posts on my laptop but have not had access to the internet.
Right now I am at a friends house and have only a second to update you guys on my site. Today I found out I will be sending the next two years living in Stonehenge, Jamaica. If you google map it, Stonehendge comes up 3 times and the one I will be living at is in St. James Parish, in the middle of the island on the west side and completely isolated. I will be working at Orange Hill All Age School as a teacher and community organizer. The school has 40 students!
I will be living with a Rasta and his two sons. The town has running water and electricity but according to the Peace Corps the infrastructure is unreliable. I am very excited to get started.
I am going to miss my host family hear in Hellshire and all the great friends I have met during training but I can't wait to move into my new home and community.
I am truly having the time of my life. I wish I could tell you that I will update my blog more frequently when I get to site but that's not going to happen. Miss you all.
Right now I am at a friends house and have only a second to update you guys on my site. Today I found out I will be sending the next two years living in Stonehenge, Jamaica. If you google map it, Stonehendge comes up 3 times and the one I will be living at is in St. James Parish, in the middle of the island on the west side and completely isolated. I will be working at Orange Hill All Age School as a teacher and community organizer. The school has 40 students!
I will be living with a Rasta and his two sons. The town has running water and electricity but according to the Peace Corps the infrastructure is unreliable. I am very excited to get started.
I am going to miss my host family hear in Hellshire and all the great friends I have met during training but I can't wait to move into my new home and community.
I am truly having the time of my life. I wish I could tell you that I will update my blog more frequently when I get to site but that's not going to happen. Miss you all.
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