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"
