May/June 2011. It’s getting hot in Jamaica!


I’ve been busy with a variety of end of school year events at Breadnut Hill Primary. Miss Gowie, my principal, very generously makes sure I am included on all trips. I went along on a school field trip to the Prospect Plantation- only about 60 students went (out of a school population of 250) but it was a good trip, highlighted by camel rides (for an extra fee of course!)! As a chaperone, I got a camel ride as well! The students loved it! I also went along when the school’s 3 dance groups went to the parish of St. Ann dance finals. All the groups looked great to me- and we came back with 2 silver medals and 1 gold. The senior (grades 5 & 6) group won the gold and they qualified to go to Kingston and dance in the National finals on June 17. I went on that all day trip (6am until 10pm) and was proud of how well they did- but no trophy. The dancers were disappointed, as you might expect. The event on that day was just for class 3 dance groups (ages 10-12 year olds) and there were a variety of dance categories; folk, modern, praise, dance skit, and popular. That day there were 71 performances which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was truly impressed with the calibre of the dances and the costumes. Our group danced in the folk category and there were 9 other entries in that category.
At school the main focus has been the nationwide grade 3 and 4 exams held June 14 and 15. Teachers in those grades did a lot of reviews including mock exams. Each student was asked to bring in $200 J to help pay for the paper used for the exams. I’m not sure what happens if a student doesn’t bring in the money. The other students were told to stay home on Wednesday so that the students taking the exam could be spread out and monitored. We also had an unfortunate incident in which 2 Grade 6 boys got into a serious fight. One boy ended up in the hospital with 2 stab wounds, the other boy has been suspended for 2 weeks. The school atmosphere here is rough- lots of aggressive behaviour- such as pushing, shoving, and hitting. The girls are just as likely to be involved as the boys. The students are not fazed by yelling at them. Even though corporal punishment is not allowed per the Ministry of Education, there is a lot of ruler slapping on the desk, and other threats to enforce discipline. Positive reinforcement and clear behaviour guidelines are just beginning to be developed. Students at my school, and I think throughout Jamaica, have a different sense of personal space than I am used to. Most likely due to the smalling up in taxis and buses and in classrooms where 3 students share desks designed for 2. 45 students are in a one classroom with no space between the desks. There is constant pushing in lines, and cutting in front of others. I am having problems with students pushing to get in line for the computers at lunch even though I have explained that I check their names off and they don’t get a second turn until everyone gets a first turn. If they don’t get on a computer that day they just hang around the door watching. I find this very irritating and it disrupts those on the computers, or maybe not them, just me! Ahh, Peace Corps said we should get lots of chance to practice patience!
Besides school, I have been going to introductory meetings for a group trying to form a new Rotary Club in Ocho Rios. I have been impressed with this group and they have great ideas for community projects already. So maybe I will become a Rotarian soon!
I took a weekend trip to visit Juanita, another PCV, who is at a school in the bush- I stayed at her place and got a tour of her landlord’s farm- yams, and ginger mostly. Beautiful country side. We then went to Mandeville for an evening out with Diann and Benita, 2 other PCVs. Last week I journeyed to Lucea, west of Montego Bay to visit another PCV and saw yet another part of Jamaica. I enjoyed snorkelling in “her” bay, within walking distance of her apartment! I was a guest at her Lucea Rotaract social fundraiser event that night and was impressed with these young people and their efforts to raise money to buy a lightning guard for a small basic school located at the top of a hill in her parish. The school, built in 1970’s still does not have electricity! Apparently it has an electrical line but cannot hook up until they have the lightening guard! The group needs to raise about $150,000 J or $1750 US. So far they have raised about $50,000J. If you want to help, let me know! Patrice is working on a PowerPoint to share with Rotary in the US. When it is ready, I’ll pass it along!
After a week of lots of rain, it is now just HOT. And the mosquitoes are out in force! I look forward to weekends and the chance to get to the beach!