FULL CIRCLE- ALMOST! APRIL 22, 2012 Group 83 arrive March 14, almost 2 years from when I, we, Group 81 arrived. I just had a Peace Corps trainee from that group come for a 3 day shadowing experience. It brought back memories of my trepidation, fears and hopes. Now Jamaica feels like home- I am comfortable getting around, know my local taxi drivers and they know me, I know where to shop and eat out and go to the beach. Her questions were just like mine- eager to get started and tired of training. I wish them all a fabulous experience becoming a Jamerican! March 30 was the wedding of Bart, a former Peace Corps volunteer, and June, his Jamaican bride to be. The emailed wedding invite said ceremony at 2PM up in a church in the hills of Trelawny. All the PCV guests were there on time, but no one else was there! The wedding actually began around 3:40PM, and it was lovely. Very much like our weddings with a scripture, a duet and the exchange of vows and rings. It was a very large wedding party of 5 groomsmen and bridesmaids plus 2 pairs of junior bridesmaids and grooms. That way all of June’s seven children were part of the wedding party. The couple looked so happy. We all wish them the best in the future. We hope Bart is ready for such an instant family! There was a reception after the wedding but Mary Lee and I were only able to stay for the Mannish Water soup (goat testicles). Then we had to leave to take a taxi back to Falmouth for the night. That was a scary ride in the dark! All the other PCVs were spending the night on the floor of a local house. Term 2 at school ended just before Easter break. So I had a Library Helpers' party after school for my 7 helpers. I was able to get an Easter Egg dying kit from the States. This was a totally new experience and such fun! The students had to read and follow the directions. I brought 1 white hardboiled egg for each of them, and asked them to bring in 1 hardboiled egg. (local eggs are brown) 2 of the students remembered their egg. They loved the colours and writing on the egg with the crayon. I told them they could eat the eggs (They were leery about that) and described Easter egg hunts. We also played a modified Pictionary game on the white board. Also a big hit – they love to draw on the white board! The big Easter event here is the Kite Festival, scheduled for Easter Monday, a national holiday. Only this Monday was a total rain day- so the Festival was postponed. The Bone books arrived! Our Chicago penpals raised over $200 US and bought and sent a whole collection of Bone books for their Jamaican penpals! These are graphic novels with a cartoony character, Bone, and his adventures. It is so wonderful to see mainly the boys asking for the next book and eager to read them. Thank you so much Bradwell School of Excellence! Then we had a surprise visitor- one of the Bradwell School teachers came to Breadnut Hill School for a visit! What a small world; her mother lives in Ocho Rios and she grew up in Jamaica. We showed her our library and where we keep the new Bone books (there were a few not checked out). So amazing to have such a connection! She took pictures and promised to share with Ms Rose and her students when she returned to Chicago. A friend and I splurged on a day at Reggae Beach- a lovely beach with a long sandy shore. We shared a lunch of curried shrimp over couscous- so refreshing to have a new menu item! (but of course not affordable on a PC budget!) But... I woke up in the middle of the night itching like crazy- I had been attacked by sand lice and had an itchy red rash all over where my suit had been. Owwwww. Since the next 2 days (Easter and Monday) were holidays, I survived with Benadryl and hydrocortisone cream. I got to the Dr. on Tuesday. More cream and pills did the trick- but quite a lesson learned- be sure to rinse off right away- and be careful what you lay on at the beach!

3 out of the 4 Close of Service documents have been turned in and I have had my exit physical and dental exam. Now to start doing post tests with my students, cleaning and organizing at school, and packing and sorting. I worry about what will be continued when I leave. So far, none of the teachers are willing or interested in holding a summer camp this summer. The principal and staff do seem interested in continuing the library. But I am reminded of what Carleen, our first PC education supervisor kept saying; if you only touch the lives of 1 or 2 students you have made a difference. I know I will miss my pull out students. I have seen a lot of growth in both their reading skills and their self confidence. I hope they will view themselves as a learner not a failure from now on. Thank you Bradwell School!