Wagwan

Friday, July 2nd, marked the start of my final month here in Jamaica. I realize that I have been neglecting my duty of sharing some of my incredible experiences here lately. I am rectifying this situation…now!

I can’t tell you how much has happened over the last few months. Here is a brief update:

We put on two more health clinics here, which were as successful as the first one in March.

I had some family come visit me in Ocho Rios for a week! We had the most amazing time!

Dudus was extradited and caused a whole heap of trouble and chaos in Kingston. We, the volunteers, however, remained out of harms way.

My Dad came to visit for a second time. We mostly spent the week up in Mt. Friendship with the people there, but also got to listen to a steal drum band and take a trip to the Blue Mountains to learn how coffee was made there. Such a good time!

My roommates and I took a final beach trip to Negril and got attacked by the biggest crabs I have ever seen (well, at least, I felt threatened by them).

Church, both in Stony Hill and Mt. Friendship is as usual. Home visits have continued and have extended to new families. For the past months, I have been spending most of my time in the Basic School. I have continued to help the children who are struggling with their work and helped to stimulate those who are on the top of their class. We do craft projects, play games, sing songs, and hug all day long! Their love is endless. We took a field trip to Mt. Tabor, where we visited a farm, played with disabled children, and played on their new playground. The kids had the time of their life!

There are ten Basic Schoolers who are graduating and moving on to Primary School in the fall. Today was their graduation. I helped prepare for the ceremony by making the certificates, programs, and a presentation of all the pictures I took of the children throughout the year. These children worked hard, and deserved to have this celebration. They arrived dressed in white dresses and little white shirts with boy ties. Little high-healed shoes clicked on the church floors as the graduates processed in to the song, “I believe the children are the future.” They sang us songs and the 6 year old valedictorian gave us a speech.

I am so thankful to the sponsors here in Jamaica who helped make the Basic School graduation possible. There were many families who couldn’t afford to make this day possible. But I was lucky enough to collect a bit of money to support their day. I really am so thankful!

My final month here will be busy with good-byes, fun days for the kids, home visits, packing for the move to Mandeville, and working on the big celebration we are having on August 1st! We are having a transition mass in Stony Hill, where we celebrate the last 7 years in Stony Hill and the missions. We are inviting all who have supported the program here and all our friends in the missions. We are planning a reception, and I am working hard to finish up a picture presentation of all the volunteers who have served in Jamaica. We will include a ritual, where each of the 4 missions we have worked in is represented. Part of this ritual will also be the handing over of the program here in Stony Hill, to the new set of volunteers who will start the program in Mandeville. They will be pioneers for the program, in another part of Jamaica.
Likkemore!

Water in a Third-World Country

Water, an essential part of lives, is something we must learn not to take for granted.

Jamaica has had quite the draught this year. Many families have been without water all across the island for a few months now. In Stony Hill, where we live, we have been lucky enough not to lose water. Up in the rural areas where we work, Mt. Friendship, Tom’s River, King Weston, and Devon Pen, running water is not a luxury people know. Most people have to collect drinking water at a local pipe, and lug it home in big jugs. For other necessities like bathing and washing, they have to “catch rain” or go to a nearby river. But because of the severe draught here, the local pipes don’t have any water “fi drink!” There has been no rain to catch in months. Fires have been spreading in “da bush.”

So what do the people do? How do they survive when they can’t afford the taxi/bus fare to go to the store to buy clean drinking water, never mind the price of the water itself in the store? Well, they wait for the water truck to pay a visit to their area. Word spreads fast from door to door that “da wata truck a come!” Before you know it, adults and children alike are running down the road to try and get a little water. But if the truck drivers request a fee for the water, you better be able to pay it or you’re out of luck! For some areas, like Devon Pen, no water truck makes an appearance.

Makes you thankful for our water system in America, even for the poorest of the poor, huh? I know I definitely am. THANK GOD we got a whole heap of rain for the past two days. Barrels of water have been filled, water tanks are filling, and people are breathing a sigh of relief that for now at least, there is some water on the island.

Clinic

From March 6-14th, a group of 11 college students came to Jamaica for their Spring Break Service Trip. I had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of these Elms College students. Not only was I excited to share my experiences with these young men and women, but I was going to get to see a few of my friends from back home!

I felt a sense of pride that students from the college I graduated from were coming to Jamaica. I wanted them to have one hec of an experience. I wanted their eyes to be opened to the diversity of the world.

A project I had been working on for quite a while was to be carried out with the help of these college students. I had organized a health clinic in Mt. Friendship, where people could come to get their blood pressure and blood sugar tested. I really was very nervous that all the hard work I put into organizing this clinic would not pay off. I was afraid no one would come; despite the advertising my roommates and I did in the surrounding communities.

Well, I got quite the surprise! We saw over 60 people in one day, and were able to treat those with abnormal blood pressures and blood sugars. With the group of students, were 4 nursing majors. They did the actual work of testing the blood pressures and blood sugars, and of course teaching. The other non-nursing students, helped with registration, directing the people, playing with the kids, and running the raffle we set up to aid the Mt. Friendship church.

My weeks since the clinic, have added many new home visits to my days. I have been following up with people who need further blood pressure and blood sugar testing to decide whether they needed treatment or not. It has been so fulfilling to help the people of my mission community with their health issues. I have become a professional resource for these people, and a way of getting information without having to pay with money many of them don’t have.

I have to give quite a bit of credit to Br. Michael Duffy, a Nurse Practitioner who helped me at the clinic by diagnosing and treating many people. He has been my resource for prescriptions, medications, and free advice!

Along with the follow-ups, my regular visits to families, and days at school, I will be planning/organizing for 2 more health clinics in May. I have definitely become a community health nurse!

My Favorite River!

Looking back, there has always been a river that represented a time in my life. When I was little, it was the Westfield River that I used to see on trips to my Daddy’s work or up to my Aunt and Uncle’s house in Chester. When I was in New Orleans, it was the Mississippi that offered peace and tranquility in the midst of destruction. On my daily drives to College, it was the Connecticut that I had to cross. In Jamaica there is one particular river that has more meaning than I thought a river could ever have.

I’ve mentioned Niki and her “pickneys” before. Her pickneys, or children as we call it, are a big part of my time in Mt. Friendship. I love them to death. These children live a life very different than I did as a child. I never had to walk to go get water, or miss school because there was not enough money for lunch. I never had to wear a nicely pressed uniform to school, or have to go to the river to bathe. These children do.

“Miss, will come over my yard today?” When I hear this invitation out of Nia, Zuta, Jeney, or Punnonose’s mouth, I know that we will likely end up at the river.

It’s a walk down Lime Edge and Banana Hole to get to the path that will lead down the mountain, through the gully, and finally to a beautiful swimming hole provided by the river.

The hike to the river is almost as enjoyable as getting to actually cool off in the river itself. The workout is quite exhilarating, but a break to pick oranges or tangerines is always necessary of course.

One time, as we walked down the little dirt path, we came across some ram goats directly in our way. Now sometimes, I have learned, that “ram” doesn’t mean that the goat will try to ram you. But in this case it did. So one of the boys had to hold the ram’s little horns and push his weight into him, so that the rest of us could pass. I was careful whenever I saw a ram goat from that point on.

Once we hit flat land and start to see an abundance of banana trees and coffee bushes, I know we have reached the river. Splashing and playing there way to my heart, they always make the river such an enjoyable time. A time that reminds me of simplicity, exploration, and celebrating God’s wondrous Earth.

It’s because of this river, that I now wear my bathing suit under my clothes to Mt. Friendship, just in case.

Sundays

Sundays and me usually get along pretty well. They are busy, yet relaxing, and are a key part of what I do.

Seven-thirty in the morning rolls around, and the 5 of us out of bed, in the shower, and getting pretty for church; fueled by a few sips of coffee of course! Grabbing our hymnals, we drive the short distance down the road to our home church in Stony Hill, Immaculate Conception. It is through this church that the 4 mission churches derive from: Tom’s River, King Weston, Devon Pen, and Mt. Friendship.

Entering the church is filled with greetings from members of the congregation, unlike what I experience in the States. The music is playing, complete with drums, tambourines, the organ, and the choir. My roommate Matt plays the Bongo drum each Sunday, or at least tries to J.

Mass is longer in Jamaica than it is back home; the homilies are sometimes 45 minutes long! But by the end of it, I am ready to go for round 2, up at my mission church in Mt. Friendship.

To get there, I ride up with whomever is assigned to do the service. Sometimes this involves helping to lug the giant food bags into their car, or making sure they have the necessary papers for the service. Once in MF, we stop to give a matriarch member a ride, Mrs. Hylton.

Mt. Friendship church is very different from my experience at the mother church in Stony Hill. There is no organ or set choir. No organized youth group. No Sunday school (besides some of the stories I might read). They do have 2 tambourines, hymnals, and the most important part, a congregation. Although this congregation is small and inconsistent, it is there and that is why the church is there: for the people to worship the Lord.

Walking into Mt. Friendship church, I see Ms. Doris, the present church leader, sweeping and cleaning to make sure the church is presentable. I run to give her a kiss, as she puckers her lips and smiles. She is dressed in her best, complete with a hat atop her head.

I greet the other members that come intermittently, and occupy my little friend, Jahieem. This 5 year old will sprint up to me, saying, “Caught you!” From that moment on, he follows me wherever I go, giggling, playing, and basically causing a whole bunch of mischief. But I love him, and I couldn’t ask for a better friend.

During the service, I read a few of the lessons, and try to keep some of the “pickneys” or children quiet until the homily. It is at this breaking point that I gather them in the back room for a short Bible story and breath of fresh air.

After church, we drop of some of the elderly, like Mr. Brooks, who walks from another mountain to attend church. After all this is said and done, I’m predictably relaxed and fulfilled from my day at church with some of the best people I know.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas in another culture is always an eye-opener, I think. Especially when you are away from your family and all that you have known Christmas to entail. I mean an eye-opener in the sense that realizations can be made. My first realization is that it does not feel like Christmas for me when my family and I are not physically together. Not just my Mom and Dad, but my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and of course the Lally family and such. My second realization is that I will forever associate Christmas with winter weather. Don’t get me wrong, the Jamaican warm weather is lovely, but I’m not ready to be without my winter wonderland on Christmas.

Let me share what I have learned about the Jamaicans and some of their Christmas traditions. First, the Christmas season starts at the beginning of November and gradually increases with spirit up until Christmas day (we do that too obviously).

Sorrel is a delicious Christmas drink here, made with rum, ginger, and of course the deep red, sorrel plant!

On Christmas Eve, traffic in the Kingston area is way more chaotic than usual, on account of the amount of people who travel to town for shopping, singing, and dancing on the streets.

Church is lovely, with lots of instruments, singing, and lights everywhere. Christmas lights are called "pepper lights."

Reggae Christmas songs can be found on the radio and country people come together to cut down the bush to make the roads nice for Christmas.

Instead of baking cookies like Americans tend to do around the Christmas season, the Jamaicans seem to be big on baking breads or “Christmas cake.” I have found a typical Christmas cake to be a wine bread of some sort.

Lastly, the Christmas day celebration seems to be centered on family and attending church services. I can’t say I don’t mind these values!

The past few weeks have been different for me here in Jamaica. I spent much time laying around and resting as a result of slipping down a hill in Mt. Friendship when walking some kids home from school. I “mashed up” my ankle a bit by damaging the ligaments. Thankfully, I can say that in times of dire need, like me sitting half way down a hill and not being able to move, that I can depend on the people in my mission for help. The assistance and care I received from the Mt. Friendshipers and my roommates were angelic.

Much of my sitting around enabled me to help wrap about 300 presents to be donated to one of the Mustardseed Communities, just outside Spanish Town. The wrapping was tedious, but having the opportunity to distribute them to the disabled children close to Christmas was well worth all the work. These children have real appreciation for what they have and all they receive. A simple yo-yo or toy car can become someone’s proudest possession!
My Christmas day was joyful as my roommates and I exchanged Secret Santa gifts with each other. We sat around our Jamaican Christmas tree, which is completely brown and looks like it could have bared fruit at one time, and next to our homemade, red and green stockings we made for each other. Separating from our American comfort zone, otherwise known as our apartment, we went to each of missions for mass on Christmas day. The food bags were handed out that we scrambled to get together, and of course the books from our book drive! Each child received 2 books appropriate for their age and gender. I can’t tell you how incredible it is to watch these children as they receive their gifts. The relationships we have formed with the children in our missions are so incredibly special that the thought of leaving them one day causes heartache.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Creeping up on my 4 month mark!

Coconuts and green bananas are a common sight in our kitchen lately. Sarah has been filling the pick up with these Jamaican fruits and carrying back to our apartment. It’s quite fun to watch my roommate take our dull machete and try to break open the coconut to get some of the jelly out-a very nice morning treat in our house.

Tuesdays have become a blessing and joy for me in Mt. Friendship. The after school club finally started and is working out well so far. The kids are loving the opportunity to do some arts and crafts and play some outdoor games. I can’t describe their excitement. Their excitement is contagious, and quickly puts a smile on my face. I enjoy this time to get to know the students and share a good time together.

After our chore of having to clean up the evidence of our creativity and fun, some of the kids pile up into our pickup (when we have it) and ride to “entrance.” At entrance, they can either walk farther up the mountain to Mt. Pleasant, Mt. James, or Big Road. Or, they can travel down to Iron River or Golden Spring. Some have to take taxis, which is about 50 cents U.S. money.

Other days, walking some of the children home from school can bring great experiences. Last week, I accompanied a 2nd grade girl, to her home. I was able to meet her mom and new baby brother. At the door of her house, I took my flip-flops off as usual and left them by the door. When leaving the house, my shoes were missing. Their dog had chewed them and thrown one down “da gully!” Luckily, the mother lent me her shoes to wear as I walked up the road to catch a taxi/bus home. I can honestly say that walking in someone else’s shoes is a different experience.

This weekend, my 4 roommates and I traveled across the island to Negril (aka the most touristy hot spot in Jamaica). Sarah showed off her amazing running skills in the annual “Reggae Race.” Supporting her as she ran the 13.1 miles in the half marathon was certainly worth waking up at 4 in the morning for! The three times she ran by resulted in extreme noise from me and the other volunteers. Can you tell I’m proud of her?

Of course, a trip to Negril meant a well-deserved visit to the beautiful, white sandy beaches. I also certainly worked on my haggling skills at the craft market, as I browsed among the beautiful, local made artifacts from the island. I had some of the best jerk fish and ackee and saltfish I have ever had.
Thank you to all who have sent books for our Christmas book drive! I am so thankful and very excited to start distributing them in a few weeks!