Make a joyful noise!

Well, I survived Christmas.  I spent the 24th, 25th and part of the 26th with a Jamaican family that I like very much.; that part was good. What I had not planned on was spending 7 hours in church on Sunday and not just any church but a full of the holy spirit pentecostal church!  My Methodist upbringing would be considered comatose by comparison.  You cannot imagine the loudness and in general, energy of this service. Imagine over 100 voices singing off key, someone "banging" not playing a keyboard, drums, tambourines, hands clapping, shouting, bodies jerking, arms flailing and whoever holds the microphone yelling or screaming into it. I was wise to this cacophonous experience and came prepared with earplugs! They definitely helped but did not fully lower the volume.  A woman next to me who was quite large and had a 2 year old boy stretched across her lap sleeping (how, I cannot imagine) and was suddenly seized by the holy spirit and began twitching and jerking, jabbing me in the arm with her elbow and the boy slept on. An old man at the alter got the spirit and began spinning wildly, flailing arms and oblivious to anyone around him.  The minister and elders did not want to stop this holy demonstration and kept the music, singing, praising going for full 30 minutes and at last spent, the old man stopped.  Only then did the service end.  I was so glad it was over as I had been sitting on those hard wooden benches for 3 hours!  I was then informed over lunch that we would be going back in the evening for the children's program. I almost wept.  We did indeed return for the 7pm performance which lasted till 11:30pm!  I had reached my limit of graciousness and cultural sensitivity and when asked how I liked the service, I said that I was tired and cannot manage the noise level.  My hosts exclaimed "We are supposed to make a joyful noise to the Lord!" to which I replied "not if it means sustaining a hearing loss and a splitting headache!"  I have observed in and out of church that Jamaicans are not bothered in the least by loud noise.  From cradle to grave, they must endure it.  In fact, it may even provide the excitement and adrenalin surges that some Jamaicans seem to thrive on.

I did manage to avoid going to the grand market which is probably the only thing that saved me from a complete breakdown.  That is where children who are fortunate enough to get a Christmas present go with their parents and may be given $3 to $10 American dollars to buy some toys.  It is a far cry from the more typical American excesses during the holidays.  Adults do not give gifts in general and there are few decorations, lights, and decorated trees.  Most people just spend the day with family and cook some traditional dishes if they can afford to do so.

I am spending New Year's Eve alone at home and  I do not know what to expect as far as the local celebrations are concerned.  The smell of ganja is already wafting on the Christmas breeze.!  Tomorrow, I will go to the Methodist Church with my friend, Madge who has invited me to lunch at her home after church.  This evening, I will listen to some music, open a bottle of wine, journal about this year and intentions for .
the next and maybe watch a movie on my laptop. It may sound pitifully boring and sad to some, but to me, it will be nirvana.

I am including a few pictures.. At the beginning, a house in my neighborhood where the pickni sing out "hi, auntie mimi" when  I walk by.  There are two pics of Burrwood beach, about 20 min. taxi ride from my house and children playing in my backyard.  The pic above is of my Jamaican grandchild, Kemoy, age 3 standing by my backdoor.  She is my landlord's daughter.

 "It has been quite a ride" as they say. This past year has brought so many changes to my life and a huge lesson in letting go. I have no regrets but admittedly, December has been a tough month for me as I have missed my family, friends, traditions, etc.  I know it is a transitory sadness and a bit of loneliness but I signed up for this gig, so onward and upward..  I wish you all a delightfully  happy, healthy and peaceful 2012!
As I journal this evening, I will begin with words from T. S. Eliot "For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice."

"The Christmas Breeze"

The weather is now delightful averaging 83 degrees during the day and 73 at night with a wonderful breeze; hence, "The Christmas Breeze". I heard a child singing "jingle bells" walking past my house and that is a somewhat surrealistic experience.  During the last couple of weeks walking down the streets, I hear Christmas music coming from homes, some with no running water and maybe two or three rooms where 6 to 10 people may live.  I have only seen one fake Christmas tree on a veranda and no decorations.  I have learned that for most people in my community there are no gifts exchanged and maybe only a small, inexpensive gift for the children like a ball, coloring book, etc. If  they can afford it, a special meal will be prepared consisting of rice and peas, chicken or fish, curried goat and sorrel ( a drink made from a flower) and a pudding made from yams, potatoes, coconut, spices, brown sugar and then baked into a very dense, heavy cake. I was invited to spend Christmas with a couple who have become my friends, Neville and Jacqueline Gibbs.  I met them when they came by my house on Fridays selling produce from their pickup.  I have been to church with them and to their home for dinner I will join them tomorrow and we will attend "grand market" which is held on Christmas eve in most communities.  As described to me it will be like the state fair x 10(people, noise, junk for sale, dancing in the streets, pushing and shoving) which for me sounds slightly less insufferable than a bad case of the runs with attending projectile vomiting.  However, when in Rome........Then on Sunday, I am sure I am in for a 4 hour worship experience that is loud and enthusiastic from start to finish. I have included some pictures to share some experiences.  The children surrounding me were at the all day 7th Day Adventist service and they were fascinated with my whiteness and hair which they  all had to run their fingers through.  It was a very long day for me and the children were the best part of it.  You will see that I included a picture of the goat butchered in my back yard back in September.  More recently, a pig was slaughtered in the back yard and you can see that I have become more brazen and less squeamish as I walked right up to my neighbor and asked to take his picture with the hog.  There is a picture of my friend Gloria, cooking pigs tail red pea soup for me over her wood fire.  I usually eat with her on Sundays and she is a fabulous cook, a purest who refuses to use  canned or powdered coconut milk but grates her own fresh coconut which is labor intensive but worth it in taste. The remaining pictures are Mr. & Mrs. Gibbs with their truck and produce and more pics of  them and family after church the Sunday that I visited.  They insisted that I sit up front with Mr.Gibbs and handed me a 3 month old baby to hold while the rest of the family climbed into the back of the pickup, Sunday clothes and all, to make the 5 mile trip up into the hills on a road more like a cattle trail. What an adventure! They built their home themselves and it is lovely with a big veranda overlooking the lush tropical hills all around.  I hope to spend time on that veranda over the next few days recuperating from "grand market" and church!  I shall write about my Christmas in Jamaica next week.  I will add that for gifts, I made play dough for my youngest friends which they loved and since I only have one burner to cook on, I made welsh cakes which have been a hit here. For all you readers of this blog,  I wish you a Christmas filled with appreciation and deep gratitude for the amazing blessings in your life.

the pictures for last post

hope this works this time

Thanksgiving

It is hard to believe that it is already December!  The time is passing quickly and by the end of December, I will have been here 6 months. Thanksgiving was a lot of fun and my PC friend, Kelsey, and I made it seem almost like a traditional holiday. I have always enjoyed cooking for Thanksgiving and usually start planning and preparing a week or more before the event.  Well, in Jamaica with my limited resources, I had to get creative and resourceful.  To begin with as you can see in the picture, in my kitchen there is one functioning burner and two pots and a skillet.  I knew we would not have turkey as that would cost approx. $50.00 for a 12 lb. bird and my food budget for the month is about $150.00.  A very kind Jamaican lady offered to f ix my chicken Jamaican style and bring it to  me.  I fixed deviled eggs, raw vegies and a dip.  I had indulged and bought some cheese (very expensive here and hard to find) and crackers.  I created "dressing" on top of the stove in the little pot and it was pretty good.  I had looked and looked for sage and finally found it, a necessary ingredient in dressing but not a Jamaican herb.We had mashed potatoes, carrots and chocho, two bottles of wine and for dessert, I created a pumpkin, currant bread pudding with a warm rum butter glaze - it was decadent!  I made that as well as the dressing in the little "magic pot" on top of stove.  I tried to deliver a maudlin toast before we ate and just in the middle of my delivery, one of the lens in my glasses popped out and the little screw on one side of the frame fell out never to be found.  Kelsey said "only in Jamaica" and we both laughed and gave up toasting and just started eating.  We had been listening to some of  her music,
Billy Holiday, Frank Sinatra and I added soundtrack from Somethings Gotta Give, Tony Bennett and a lot more.  We had fun exchanging music, laughing, deep philosophical talks, watched the sunset with a glass of wine and finished the evening watching a pirated copy of "The Help".  It was really great and made up for not being with our families and friends.
The other pictures include some of my recent paintings and of the children at the basic school (3-5yr) where I go to read during their story hour once a week.  I had read the little book  "Goodnight Gorilla" which they loved and the clever teacher was having them act it out.  For those of you who are not familiar with the story, it is about a zookeeper who goes to say goodnight to all the animals and lock their cages. The baby gorilla takes the keys out of his back pocket and lets all the animals out of their cages, and follows the zookeeper home without his knowledge.  The baby gorilla gets in bed with the zookeeper and his wife and the other animals proceed to lay down to sleep in the room.  When the wife discovers what has happened she is quite shocked but patiently leads them back to the zoo and attempts to lock them up again but the clever little gorilla takes the keys and they all follow her back to the house.  In the picture, you can see the wife in bed and the zookeeper and animals preparing to do the same.  It was such fun sharing this time with these adorable children.




,

mi drop at the market

this is the picture that goes with the post of the same title - taken after I fell in that horrible puddle and was cleaned up and new clothes purchased for me by kind Jamaicans

Praise God for Earplugs

In Jamaica there is a lot of noise everywhere, day or night.  There are people on the streets before 6am yelling at each other, laughing, talking, singing and then there are the frequent dog fights, roosters crowing, babies crying, radios blaring, horns honking, etc.  I have learned to wear my earplugs every night.  Most recently, my earplugs served a "holy" purpose as they allowed me to survive a church service.  Part of my attempts to become culturally aware and integrated into my community have been to accept the invitations that I receive to attend various churches.  In Jamaica, that means that you will attend some pentecostal services that may last 4 hours and will be unbelievably loud and dare I say, unusual, by my Methodist church background. I attended such a service yesterday.  It was the second time at this particular church and I only agreed to go because of the kindnesses extended to me by Gloria, who loves to cook for me on Sundays and she is a great cook.  I had decided after my first foray to this church a few months ago that the experience was slightly less painful than a root canal. So I "girded up my loins" and prepared for another torturous 3 or more hours but this time I had a little secret, I would wear my earplugs and at the very least protect my hearing which they say is the first thing to go as we age.  There I sat and the show began.  The congregation is admonished to prepare to worship, this being accomplished by repeating, " hallelujahs, amens, praise Him, glory, glory, He is worthy", etc. accompanied by shouting, writhing, jumping, screaming as though one is being tortured, flailing of limbs, strange noises, body jerking and seemingly various forms of what appear to the outsider, psychotic induced episodes!  Then when the congregation has adequately prepared to worship, the pastor's wife delivers the sermon.  Her topic is freedom in Christ.  Now I must tell you that this theme is not a new one to me as a Christian, but her way of demonstrating her point certainly was.  Before her unique demonstration,  I had been thinking that in my church back home,  Boston Ave Methodist, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that anyone who exhibited any of the aforementioned behaviors during a service would be subdued, led from the sanctuary and 911 would be called to summon an ambulance to take the poor soul for observation and a psychiatric evaluation at a local hospital.  But all of these behaviors would pale in comparison to what the preacher's wife had in store for us.  Suddenly she appeared with a butcher knife and a chicken with its legs bound with twine.  I was horrfied thinking that she might cut its head off right there before God and everybody!  She being the consummate performer, relished her task as the congregation was spellbound---she had them and walked up and down the aisle waving the knife in the air whilst the poor chicken looked terrified, describing the many ways humans are in bondage and need to repent and be free.
With this, she cut the twine and the maimed chicken ran out of the church! My deliverance came when the service was over and I too, like the hapless bird, was set free!  So you can see why I praise God for the earpugs.





















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Swearing in speech

I had promised to provide the speech that I delivered at the swearing in ceremony at the American Embassy September 2, 2011.

"When Peace Corps group 82 stepped off the plane in Kingston on June 29,2011,we embarked on a journey into the unknown leaving all that was familiar to embrace the life of a Peace Corps trainee living in Jamaica.

The past two months have been full of challenges, frustrations, training, tears, fears, laughter, training, new friendships, Devon House ice-cream, and, of course, more training.
At last, we are ready to do "the toughest job we will ever love." The Youth As Promise sector extends a "big up" to all the PC staff and volunteers that have worked so hard to prepare us for successful service. We have truly felt your love and commitment to our learning process, to our health and safety, to our cultural integration, to finding our host families and just the right work and home sites for the next two years.

We gratefully acknowledge the many hours and sometimes "hair pulling" moments you have spent trying to coordinate the myriad number of details that encompass this process;again, thank you. The YAP group are ready and willing to answer the call "how far will you go?" I love inspiring quotes and from Nelson Mandela these words, "A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination". I believe that each member of Youth As Promise has this winning combination, a good head and a good heart, and with these, we will succeed.

Mother Theresa's great words of guidance follow:

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered......forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.....be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.....Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness......people may be jealous.......be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow......do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough......give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

In closing, I would like to sing a song that my host mother in Hellshire taught me that perhaps expresses some of our feelings:
I no Bon yah, but mi a live yah
Mi nah lef yah
Fi go America
No way sah
Pot a boil ya
Belly full ya
Sweet Jamaica

Thank you

cont' funerals and toilet paper

the last entry stopped abruptly so, I will complete:  the journey back to Falmouth, then another taxi carrying additional bags of groceries.  This is such an arduous experience that one avoids shopping as much as possible and sometimes just opts to do without! 
Mornings here are my favorite time - sun filtering through the coconut and banana leaves, chickens and their baby chicks digging in the leaves and grass for breakfast, roosters crowing, men and women and children already walking on the road before 6:00am going to school or work, the almost lyrical sounds greetings in Patois being spoken, "Wa gwaan?"  what's happening and the replies, "mi cris mon, or "everting irie" both replies meaning I am well, I am good mon.

Just this past week, I experienced a cultural phenomena - I heard sounds that at first I thought were a babying crying  but when I looked out my back door, a goat was hanging from a tree, hind legs tied to a limb.  A man with a machete soon ended its misery by slitting it's throat!  I stood transfixed as I was watching an ancient ritual.  The goat was being slaughtered for my landlord's birthday celebration the following day. Jamaicans love curried goat.  The head is cut off and cleaned up to make Mannish Water, a favored soup that is supposed to increase virility and stamina in a man.  I must stop now  but will tell more about the party later.

funerals and sh0pping

I have been here l0ng en0ugh n0w t experience s0me cultural phen0mena, such as a funeral pr0cessi0n. I heard the strains 0f a marching band and assumed there was a parade, perhaps with a high sch00l band t0 celebrate the beginning 0f the sch00l year in early September.  As the s0unds drew nearer, m0re pe0ple filled the street in fr0nt 0f my h0use.  I s00n learned that this was a funeral pr0cessi0n f0r a y0ung man that was sh0t by a jeal0us husband a few weeks ag0.  If the family pays extra, a marching band will play f0r the funeral.  S00n the band, in full unif0rm marched right d0wn my street playing cum ba ya .  Behind them, a hearse bearing the casket and then a bus f0r the high sch00l band.  All al0ng the way, pe0ple 0f vari0us ages, stages 0f dress and undress including w0men wailing, screaming and m0aning acc0mpanied the pr0cessi0n.  I saw everything fr0m black mesh st0ckings with a skirt barely c0vering a y0ung lady's b0tt0m, sh0rts and skimpy t0ps, n0 bras, flipfl0ps, 0r baref00t.  There were men and w0men in suits, nice dresses, 0lder ladies with umbrellas t0 shade them fr0m the sun, y0ung guys with pants hanging way d0wn revealing their underwear, s0me girls in c0cktail dresses and high heels.  The band launched int0 s0me lively tunes and all 0f this right in fr0nt 0f my h0use!!  They passed me and headed t0 a church d0wn the r0ad f0r a 2 1/2 h0ur service and then pr0cessed back d0wn my street in what can 0nly be described as a carnival atm0sphere.

I have experienced the misery 0f sh0pping when 0ne must d0 s0 using public transp0rtati0n and travel 0ver an h0ur 0ne way t0 reach a st0re that carries basic h0useh0ld items.  When I arrived, my apartment was c0mpletely unfurnished except f0r a bed and a table and 2 f0lding metal chairs.  My supervis0r, her daughter and 0ne 0f their friends went with me t0 help carry my purchases.  We t00k a taxi t0 Falm0uth, 25 minutes away fr0m my h0me.  We then b0arded a van f0r the 30 minute ride t0 M0nteg0 Bay.  Keep in mind they put 20 pe0ple in a 14 passenger van.  It is cr0wded, h0t, and invariably l0ud ann0ying music is blaring 0ver the radi0.  We arrive in M0-Bay and walk appr0ximately 9 bl0cks t0 the st0re which has reas0nably priced h0useh0ld things.  Walking in the streets is a challenge with p0th0les, cracks in the sidewalk, human and animal wastes at times, and vehicles which w0uld seemingly cheerfully run y0u d0wn as they careen crazily ar0und c0rners and d0wn the streets. Walking is risky business here and pedestrians are struck by vehicles regularly.   0nce purchases are made, the f0ur 0f us walk carrying the bags in the h0t sun f0r ab0ut 6 bl0cks t0 find a restuarant t0 revive 0urselves  and prepare f0r the j

New Home

WOW!!! It has been a long time since I posted to this blog - that is because until now, I have not had internet on any regular basis.  I need to describe my new home which is in the parish of Trelawny near the north coast and just a 15 or 20 minute taxi ride to Falmouth and about another 30 minutes to Montego Bay, or as Jamaicans say, "Mo-Bay".  I found out on Monday that I would be working with the Trelawny Parish AIDS Association.  My supervisor is Carla and she and I are kindred spirits.  We hit it off immediately my home is right across the street from hers which is great.  We are in cane field country and it is very rustic, rural and suits me thus far.  I live in a flat attached to a home with a family.  There is a 28 year old man and his baby mama who is 35.  They have an adorable daughter, age 3 and there is a 15 year old son from the womans' previous baby father.  The man, Kemar is a barber and Moy stays home with Kemoy, the 3 year old.  "Doc", the 15 year old goes to highschool in Falmouth. They are all really nice and are interested in helping me feel welcome to the community.  In addition, I asked Kemar if he could cut my hair and he said "sure mon, no problem"  My apartment is about 500 sq. ft. with a room to have my twin size bed, a desk, chair, bookcase and wardrobe of some sort.  It was not furnished when I arrived, so we are having to figure all this out.  It will probably take a few weeks before it is fully furnished.  Kitchen cute but no frig or stove as yet, just a sink and cabinet.  I do have a nice bathroom with a tub and shower (no hot water) and a flushing toilet, Yeah!!!! I am awakened by roosters crowing and there is a piggy in my back yard.  The most challenging thing thus far is the fact that when they burn the cane fields which I pray is infrequently, the rats run out and into the houses.  I nearly fainted when that scenario was described as that is my biggest concern about living in Jamaica.  I plan to address this little horror show by having a small herd of very skinny, hungry cats!!!!

My job with the AIDS Association sounds really interesting.  We travel to schools all over the area to present HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness.  We counsel individuals and families  who have a member who is HIV positive and try to find resources to help them.  We also talk to young people about making attitude and behavior changes that will keep them from unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDs, etc.  We also HAVE to go clubbing a couple of nights every month to talk to sex workers and provide condoms and information about safe sex.  It's a rough job, but somebody has to do it!  We will travel as far as Negril to carry out this mission.  I think I will really like this work and it will be full of lots of variety and challenges which I love.

There are many challenges to the youth of Jamaica. The top 5 are:  1) unemployment 2) crime and violence
3) lack of skills and qualifications 4) lack of programs aimed at at risk youth 5) high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.

86% of children are born out of wedlock without a father present to transmit values, etc.  Boys drop out of school to try to support the family.  Many girls at very young ages, 12,13, 14 are having unprotected sex with men who may provide some material benefit, e.g., money for taxi fare, school books and/or uniforms, food and other material support for the girls and her family.  The mother may encourage this behavior because of the extreme poverty and the many unmet needs of a family.  Schools are directed more towards the way girls learn and therefore, the learning environment is boring for boys.  There seems to be a "lost generation" of males who just get up, hang out on the corner and that is all.  The unemployment rate in Jamaica is about 45 or 50%.
It is such a paradox as it is like a garden of Eden with so many wonderful fruits, vegetables, fish and incredible beauty.  Unfortunately, waste, corruption, mismanagement characterize the government for the most part.  As the people say "Dem politicians promise everting and dem do nutten!"  And one of my favorite proverbs: "di higher di moneky clime a di more im expose"....well, that is all for now,  "Lieta, mi touch di road"

Getting Caught up

One of the many challenges I have faced here in Jamaica is the lack of any consistent internet access so I have not been able to post for several weeks now.  I will attempt to do a bit of catching up.
July 9, Doing Laundry in Jamaica

Doing laundry here at Mabel's in Hellshire, Jamaica is a very different experience than at home with my Whirlpool washer and dryer.  First of all, I am washing my clothes by hand using two plastic tubs, one for washing and one for rinsing.  Mabel is sitting nearby talking to a neighbor, Spunky, who is standing by the gate.  Mabel asks if I see a "pumpkin" and I say "no".  They both laugh because the "pumpkin" is referring to Spunky's advanced state of pregnancy.  The talk and laughter continue as I wash.  I sing some folksongs in Patwa that I recently learned which results in gales of laughter from Mabel and Spunky.  There is a lovely ocean breeze and I can see the turquoise sea from where I am washing clothes.  The whole process is very enjoyable and relaxing.  Even hanging the clothes on the line is a pleasant experience with the breezes and sunshine.  There is a Seventh Day Adventist Church across the street and as it is Saturday, they are meeting all day into the evening and beautiful familiar church hymns drift on the air.  After hanging the clothes, I feel lazy and decide to just sit in the sun for awhile and soak up the rays, the warmth, the music and the cooling breezes.  I hear the familiar hymn "Trust and Obey" and think about learning that song as a young child attending the little Baptist Church in Wyandotte, Oklahoma.  I pondered the time from then till now, some 55 years thinking "who could have guessed then where I would be now, age 63, singing to the strains of that cherished hymn.  Life is amazing, full of so many twists and turns and unforeseen experiences and blessings.  One must stay open, flexible and just "trust and obey".

July 11,  My First Jamaican Hair Cut

I decided that I just needed to be brave and get my hair cut here in Jamaica.  One of the Peace Corps trainees lives with a family where the host mother has a beauty shop in her home.  So, I am thinking, what the heck - how bad can it be?  Virna has her beauty shop on the porch of her home.  I told Virna to just trim it up a bit.  I was not able to see the result until she finished.  As she worked, I kept thinking "this is a lot of hair coming off especially since my style is already quite short."  Well, when she was done and turned me to look at the results, I saw Pema Chodron, the Buddhist nun looking back at me!  I basically had a shaved head.  Even though I was a bit taken aback, I thought, "Oh well, it will be cooler and no maintenance and besides, it will grow back."  Maybe Virna thought, "I don't know what to do with this white lady's hair, so I will just cut it all off!.  I secretly have always wanted to shave my head, true confession.

July 20,  Living With Ceclin

I am now living in Stony Hill with another host Mother, Cecelin, who is 60 years old and her son, Oliver, age 24.  Cecelin is thin and a hard worker.  She owns a coffee bean farm and a man works it for her.  She said the Japanese usually buy the coffee beans but because of their earthquake and tragedies, the bottom fell out of that market this past season and she did not make much money.  She does not overfeed me like Mable did and is helping me lose weight which is a very good thing, to become less "fluffy".  She is a lovely person and her life has been marked by great tragedy.  She had three children and a daughter died from encephalitis at age 15, her husband was robbed and murdered about 10 years ago and following that, her 25 year old son committed suicide.  Her remaining son works very hard at the airport and goes to school working on a degree in business.  I asked her how she had endured such tragedy and heartbreak and she replied " you have to mon, God knows best."
I have learned that many peoples lives in Jamaica have been touched by similar stories.  The women are amazingly stoic.  There is a Patwa saying "Teck kin teet kibba heart bun" which means "you smile to cover the pain in your heart" which I have certainly witnessed in these women.  Mabel also had experienced the tragedy of her only son being shot and killed in a robbery in New York a few years ago leaving behind two very young children.

July 25, "My First Blinkin Bus Ride"

Riding the bus in Jamaica is slightly less painful than a root canal but not much.  We Peace Corps Trainees all had to "shadow"  another volunteer this past Monday through Wednesday.  This meant traveling to the volunteers community, staying in their home and going to the work site with them.  I was fortunate in that I did not have to travel very far and was with another trainee "Judge Judy" - a real judge from Kentucky named Judy.  We had to travel to May Pen, a community about an hour from Kingston.  We left Stony Hill Monday at 6:00am and took a shuttle bus to the Kingston Country Bus Park.  We had packed our things together in one suitcase which was smart.  The scene at the bus park is always utter chaos with "ductors", men who direct people to the right buses (hopefully), vendors selling snacks, etc., and people begging.  The ductors are yelling, grabbing your arms, and in some instances, fighting over prospective passengers as it means more money for them the quicker they fill their buses and "touch di road."  Once on the bus, the misery begins.  What under normal circumstances should be a 24 passenger bus becomes 31 passengers, some managing bags and suitcases, backpacks, etc.  This means that you must "small yuh sef up" and try to cram 6 people in a row designed to comfortably seat 4, 5 at the most.  I ended up on the "jump seat" which is a small pull down seat in the middle of the aisle.  In an attempt to "small mi sef up" I had my left arm and shoulder behind me and one half of my butt on the seat next to me and the suitcase in my lap which was also overlapping on the persons on either side of me.  I was more intimate with the young man to my left than I would ever be with a "romantic interest" let alone a complete stranger.  I had a steel rod on the side of the jump seat pressing tortuously against my spine and my left hand, in an attempt to brace from totally flinging myself in the young man's lap to my left was, unbeknownst to me, gripping the man's knee in a seat behind me.  I thought it was part of the seat!  I guess people are so accustomed to this misery they just ignore the mingling body parts or take advantage and cop a feel!  Sitting in front of me was a man  that as soon as the bus started, so did he, preaching that is.  We had been told that is not uncommon to have preaching on the bus. So in full voice, never once faltering, and quoting many scriptures, the sermon continued for 45 minutes!  And let me tell you, I was ready to meet Jesus before this ordeal ended.  finally, the bus stopped, and the man to my left got off so that I could straighten up and contain my girth and suitcase toone small seat.  Judge Judy who was behind me had discreetly moved her purse under my left arm and removed my hand from the man's knee.  Praise hymns were now being played and I wanted to shout "Hallejuia and praise God" for being able to move my body.  I was sure that when the time came to get off the bus, I would need to be airlifted to a hospital due to permanent physical alterations of my body.  However, I am happy to report that I was able to depart the torture chamber on my own accord and live to see another day. Praise God!

mi drop at di market

I am in Hellshire and just completed day 4 of the three week training here.  I live with Mabel who is delightful and is already telling me that she will miss me and to come back to her whenever I can.  She has taught me so much.  My first Saturday here, we went to the market in Kingston which is an amazing experience.  It is a veritable garden of humans, colors, smells, textures and sounds.  I was accompanied by Mabel, another PC volunteer, Sara, and her family".  I was taking in all the sights and suddenly tripped, lost my balance and fell down, not just on the sidewalk but in a puddle that I refer to as the "eternal bog of stench".  Everyone was horrified except myself and Sara who was laughing.  She helped me up and I exclaimed " Well, I am glad that I got that over with!"  I smelled like I had just had a fresh cow patty rubbed on me.  I thought poor Mabel was going to faint.  She was so upset that I fell like that.  I was led away by the women to a public restroom where I was instructed to strip down to my underwear while one woman went to buy a towel, another fetched a bucket of water and got some disinfectant to put in it and another went to buy me new clothes; mine had to be thrown away!  So there I was, this white woman stripped to undies being washed by a complete stranger.  Some women who came into the restroom stated how sorry they were that this happened to me in Jamaica.  One of the women returned with a lime green tank top and a purple skirt.  I put the new clothes on and my orange hat.  Sara took a picture of me in my new clothes and standing by the "eternal bog of stench" which I will download later.  Even though this was truly a hilarious episode, I must add that I experienced Jamaican hospitality first hand.  I was completely cared for and strangers came up to express concern.  I could not have been in better hands.  We continued and I enjoyed surveying all the fresh produce and fruits, many of which I had never seen before.  We got back to Hellshire by using bus and taxi and loaded down with bags of our purchases.  It was quite a day.  Sunday, I went to the beach with friends and we enjoyed swimming and people watching.  I had my first taste of fresh coconut water, very nice.

There is so much to tell about but time is limited so I will say that I am loving this experience.  I find it very stimulating to be with my new Peace Corps friends and staff and with the Jamaicans.  I am learning so much about the culture, language, food, music and the people.  Our training is intense and very useful, there is a lot of information on health and safety.  I am learning Patois and Mabel, who is a fabulous cook, is teaching me to make Jamaican food.  In the evenings, people are sitting outside or walking and there is a lot of visiting.  Mabel has lived here for 30 years and knows everyone.  I have learned that she is loved by all and she has children and adults who come to her for a meal or a listening ear.  It is a true community where everyone knows everyone and neighbors watch out for each other ----quite different from the American experience.

I am adjusting to the heat and enjoy cold showers. Everyday is a new adventure.

Home in Hellshire

I have not been able to post for awhile but so much has happened. Had a great two days In Kingston---training, cultural experiences,sweating,eating,meeting people,sweating,playing,being Introduced to Red Stripe beer, sweating,learning patois, getting shots, sweating and finally coming to Hellshire where we live with our first of two host families for three weeks while we go to training Monday through Friday. My mother is Mabel, a 60 year old Jamaican and we have hit it off beautifully. She is teaching me to cook and you know how I love that. The food is amazing I went to the beach today----what fun. Mabel wants to find me a Jamaican man! She is too funny. I said "Mabel, don,t you know at our age, men are looking for a nurse or you purse?" She loved that. More later.

meeting my fellow PC volunteers

I arrived in Miami yesterday, Monday, June 27.  I will write later about all the "angels" that showed up to help me prepare for this adventure.  I don't think I could have done it without them.  The most wonderful experience so far is meeting the amazing people accompanying me on this journey.  The volunteers are so diverse and fun to be with.  We all have sort of an instant bonding because of the knowledge that we are all in the same boat.  We all have stressed over the same things and have very similar dreams and aspirations.  Tomorrow, June 29, we will leave for Jamaica around 10:30am and will be in Kingston a couple of days before heading out to Hellshire to meet our host families and begin our training.  Last night, I slept for 11 hours!  That was the most restful sleep I have had in weeks.  I feel good and looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.

leaving for Miami

It is finally here!  I leave for the airport in Tulsa in about 40 minutes.  I was up very late last night trying to arrange last minute details and figure out how to stuff two suitcases worth of stuff into one. Oh well, at this point if I can't take it, too bad.  I have had the most amazing help from dear friends and family in getting ready for this adventure.  I will say more about that later.  The hardest part for me is saying goodbye to my grandchildren, ages 4 and 5.  They have no concept of time and I cannot explain it.  I told them that I am following my dream and for them to always follow theirs.

packing and pitching

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This aspect of beginning my service in Jamaica is not the fun part.  I have been packing and throwing stuff away and giving stuff away with wild abandon.  There is just an overwhelming amount of details to attend to when one is preparing to leave the country for two years.  Each day sees me a bit closer to being ready and I am trying to take it one day at a time and not stress too much about anything.  Afterall, it is only Life!!!
When I return I will tell my friends and family what I need and trust it will all be provided.  Besides that, I figure I can go to Goodwill and for a small investment buy everything I need.  I am rather liking this de-cluttering phase of my life.  It is actually quite liberating.

Welcome

Today is the first day I have started this blog.

By the way, these are items I have for sale...let me know if you are interested.

https://picasaweb.google.com/117191485410866377019/ItemsForSale?authkey=Gv1sRgCMeeodH7_4P0PA