My grandmother use to tell me that I would lose my head if it wasn’t screwed on.
This morning when I realized I left my phone in a taxi I thought to myself “No big deal, I’m a Peace Corps volunteer, nothing can stress me out.” Two seconds later I realized I also misplaced my debt card.” No phone, no money, in a foreign country... I need a take back, I was stressed.
Luckily everyone knows me and I already have spoken to two different people telling me someone has found it and it looking for me. It shouldn’t be difficult for them to find the only white guy in town.
Spread the word, tomorrow is World Aids Day.
For Thanksgiving two PCV’s and I eat at Burger King. Thanksgiving weekend 40+ volunteers and I spent the weekend in Negril. Friday night a large group of us went out to a local/tourist club. At first all the guys where very surprised with the number of Jamaican girls that seemed very interested in us. 5 minutes later we all meet up to share our crazy stories, turns out the common theme was every girl we spoke with was a prostitute. :( No thank you. This is not common at all in Jamaica, well not that I am aware of.
My mom sent me a Bill Nye the Science Guy DVD on pollution. Coolest idea EVER. I have watched the DVD and I think the kids are going to love it, plus Bill Nye does great experiments that I can replicate in class. Sure it's an American show so not all the jokes the kids will get but I'll be there to translate and make my own jokes. At first teaching was very stressful and not productive at all but now the more fun I have it seems the more the kids learn so it’s a “win win, win” – The Office
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Water Fountian Project
After reading the book Ugly American I started looking around my community for a small project that could have a large impact. While brainstorming at school I became very frustrated that a teacher had locked off the drinking station because the school was concerned that some of the students where wasting water. When the school opened the drinking station I was offered a cup but no students where so I declined the cup and drank for my hands like the rest of the students...
3 Problems- (and this is a very common problem in Jamaica)
1 Limited water supply at schools.
2 Large volume of water is wasted by current method of accessing drinking water
3 Current method of accessing water is unsanitary. No Soap
Solution- Water Fountain
Problem still Unresolved- Inconstant pressure makes adjusting water fountain impossible. As seen in the video students occasionally are soaked.
Cost- About $40 USD for water fountain and $10 for pipe. I don't know how Peace Corps would feel about me soliciting money but I think I am allowed to ask for friends and family to send me birthday money; for my birthday I would enjoy installing another water fountain. (I have spoken to many plumbing retailers in Montego Bay and none of them could refer me to a shop that sold water fountain heads, purchased online)
3 Problems- (and this is a very common problem in Jamaica)
1 Limited water supply at schools.
2 Large volume of water is wasted by current method of accessing drinking water
3 Current method of accessing water is unsanitary. No Soap
Solution- Water Fountain
Problem still Unresolved- Inconstant pressure makes adjusting water fountain impossible. As seen in the video students occasionally are soaked.
Cost- About $40 USD for water fountain and $10 for pipe. I don't know how Peace Corps would feel about me soliciting money but I think I am allowed to ask for friends and family to send me birthday money; for my birthday I would enjoy installing another water fountain. (I have spoken to many plumbing retailers in Montego Bay and none of them could refer me to a shop that sold water fountain heads, purchased online)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
October 25th Sunday
“long ways draw sweat, short cuts draw blood”
Person- “Gavin, ask your family back home to send me money. Christian people s give money, and they are Christian right? So they should give me money.”
Me- “Well, have you considered getting a small business loan to start your business?”
Person-- “Yeah I got one a few years ago; I want to get another one of those, it was really nice”
Me- “You paid if off right?”
Person- “You don't need to pay those off if the bank can't find you.”
Me- “What do you think caused the man to take his own life?”
Supervisor- “I don't know why the man committed suicide, he didn't have kids or a wife..... wait... GAVIN! Don't you committee suicide too!”
Child- “Gavin your hair is getting long again!”
Me- Should I get it cut? Or do you like it long”
Child- it's not long enough for cornrows so you should grow it out”
Me- “Deal”
I am currently writing this blog as I wait for Sunday service to began. Because transportation is so unreliable, especially on Sunday, I tend to get to church an hour early to insure that I'm not late. I have to walk 45 minutes down a muddy farm field to reach the road where I hitch hike an hour to a Church just outside of Montego Bay. Many Jamaican's think I am insane for passing so many churchs but
it's well worth it.
I have started a side project organizing a health fair for Food for the Poor. This brings me into Food for the Poor's office in Montego Bay once a week. Ask anyone in Jamaica, I LOVE Montego Bay. Unfortunately, because of the high level of crime there I am only allowed to be there once a week.
Dear President Obama:
Mice are invading my room. Please send back up.
Thank you a for the prompt counter insurgency,
Gavin Finnegan PVC
The Stonehenge Development Club recently entered into a parish wide cricket tournament. Unfortunately, most the residents of Stonehenge believe that the cricket tournament suffices for a club meeting so the club no longer meets.
My mom sent me a tube of tennis balls, aka cricket balls. I originally made the mistake of buying cheap balls in the market. These balls burst after the first big whack. The ones she sent me are legit... After school about 6 youngsters and I practice in the square. I am SOOOOOO bad. According to the kids it's because I played baseball and don't know how to protect the wicket.... Today a line drive was hit at me. I was able to get in front of the ball; normally I would have caught the ball but this time as it deflected off my body and my glasses fell off. Needless to say, I was unable to catch the ball because I could barely see it. I even had to have a kid come over and find my glasses for me. Lame. Even though I am not better than the 5 year-old, the kids love playing with me. I think it's because they love making me look bad, but I enjoy it too.
With my assistance the club has been able to acquire some small donations of food, vitamins, shoes, books, pillow cases, tooth brushes, children golf clubs and moisturizers (I took everything I could get my hands on). Distribution of this aid has NOT been the best experience.... LIFE LESSION- In developing countries the majority of people are needy. The difficulty in distributing aid is determining who is the most needy, trying to explain to community members that they are not needy enough to receive aid and trying to avoid the negative effects of aid- like developing dependencies on the aid. Fortunately, before I got in over my head, Peace Corps advised me to not take part in any distribution activities. I now work way in the background keeping records of how the aid is distributed.
A month ago the taxi driver that comes up to Stonehenge raised his fare by about 80 cents. This small increase has caused a big headache for me. The already infrequent taxi now has less people willing to pay the exorbitant fare so now the taxi takes even longer to fill. It's difficult to explain but I'll give it a shot:
I need to travel from point A to point D. To ride in a automobile the entire way I have to go from point A to point B and than travel to point D for a cost of $3 and 3 hours of traveling/waiting for the connection that may or may not come. The other option is traveling by bus from point A to point C and walking though a isolated and muddy farm field to point D. This way only costs $1.50 and takes 2 hours. Both options are a pain.
Richard and Gale and I visited Lucea last week. There Richard and I placed 2nd place in a horse shoe competition that had some stiff competition. I had a terrific time hanging out with them.
I better run to church.
Big up
Person- “Gavin, ask your family back home to send me money. Christian people s give money, and they are Christian right? So they should give me money.”
Me- “Well, have you considered getting a small business loan to start your business?”
Person-- “Yeah I got one a few years ago; I want to get another one of those, it was really nice”
Me- “You paid if off right?”
Person- “You don't need to pay those off if the bank can't find you.”
Me- “What do you think caused the man to take his own life?”
Supervisor- “I don't know why the man committed suicide, he didn't have kids or a wife..... wait... GAVIN! Don't you committee suicide too!”
Child- “Gavin your hair is getting long again!”
Me- Should I get it cut? Or do you like it long”
Child- it's not long enough for cornrows so you should grow it out”
Me- “Deal”
I am currently writing this blog as I wait for Sunday service to began. Because transportation is so unreliable, especially on Sunday, I tend to get to church an hour early to insure that I'm not late. I have to walk 45 minutes down a muddy farm field to reach the road where I hitch hike an hour to a Church just outside of Montego Bay. Many Jamaican's think I am insane for passing so many churchs but
it's well worth it.
I have started a side project organizing a health fair for Food for the Poor. This brings me into Food for the Poor's office in Montego Bay once a week. Ask anyone in Jamaica, I LOVE Montego Bay. Unfortunately, because of the high level of crime there I am only allowed to be there once a week.
Dear President Obama:
Mice are invading my room. Please send back up.
Thank you a for the prompt counter insurgency,
Gavin Finnegan PVC
The Stonehenge Development Club recently entered into a parish wide cricket tournament. Unfortunately, most the residents of Stonehenge believe that the cricket tournament suffices for a club meeting so the club no longer meets.
My mom sent me a tube of tennis balls, aka cricket balls. I originally made the mistake of buying cheap balls in the market. These balls burst after the first big whack. The ones she sent me are legit... After school about 6 youngsters and I practice in the square. I am SOOOOOO bad. According to the kids it's because I played baseball and don't know how to protect the wicket.... Today a line drive was hit at me. I was able to get in front of the ball; normally I would have caught the ball but this time as it deflected off my body and my glasses fell off. Needless to say, I was unable to catch the ball because I could barely see it. I even had to have a kid come over and find my glasses for me. Lame. Even though I am not better than the 5 year-old, the kids love playing with me. I think it's because they love making me look bad, but I enjoy it too.
With my assistance the club has been able to acquire some small donations of food, vitamins, shoes, books, pillow cases, tooth brushes, children golf clubs and moisturizers (I took everything I could get my hands on). Distribution of this aid has NOT been the best experience.... LIFE LESSION- In developing countries the majority of people are needy. The difficulty in distributing aid is determining who is the most needy, trying to explain to community members that they are not needy enough to receive aid and trying to avoid the negative effects of aid- like developing dependencies on the aid. Fortunately, before I got in over my head, Peace Corps advised me to not take part in any distribution activities. I now work way in the background keeping records of how the aid is distributed.
A month ago the taxi driver that comes up to Stonehenge raised his fare by about 80 cents. This small increase has caused a big headache for me. The already infrequent taxi now has less people willing to pay the exorbitant fare so now the taxi takes even longer to fill. It's difficult to explain but I'll give it a shot:
I need to travel from point A to point D. To ride in a automobile the entire way I have to go from point A to point B and than travel to point D for a cost of $3 and 3 hours of traveling/waiting for the connection that may or may not come. The other option is traveling by bus from point A to point C and walking though a isolated and muddy farm field to point D. This way only costs $1.50 and takes 2 hours. Both options are a pain.
Richard and Gale and I visited Lucea last week. There Richard and I placed 2nd place in a horse shoe competition that had some stiff competition. I had a terrific time hanging out with them.
I better run to church.
Big up
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