HALLOWEEN IN JAMAICA + GREAT SHAPE INC.


October 21 & 22 was the Peace Corps All Volunteer Conference in Kingston put on by VAC. VAC stands for Volunteer Advisory Council. I was nominated and elected as one of 2 PCVs from my Group 81. Group 82, the newest group on island, also elected 2 volunteers. The 4 of us are like the board of directors for VAC, and are responsible to be the voice of the volunteers to the PC Jamaica staff. This conference was a step towards promoting better rapport between the 2 Peace Corps groups and with the PCJ staff. Various volunteers led small focus groups on a variety of topics such as organic farming, understanding the Jamaica school system, health and nutrition promotion and one titled “ What to do when you are bored in Jamaica”. I got a great recommended book list and recipes from some other volunteers. The conference went very well, and now the 4 of us are compiling the survey results and writing a report and recommendations for next year’s conference.

I had the chance to visit Ann and PCV G82 who lives in St. Mary parish- more rural than my site. We enjoyed the local beaches and I saw her school garden and the baby goats. I love visiting other PCVs and seeing their communities!

Halloween is not celebrated here in Jamaica but most of the students knew about it a little from cable TV and books. I made 2 Jack o’ Lanterns- one from a green pumpkin (that’s the normal colour of pumpkins here), and one from a calabash gourd. I brought them to the school library, and even lit a candle after closing the windows for Grade 2! The students loved seeing, touching and smelling them. I did not hand out treats to all 240 students at school! It was fun!

November 7-18 Breadnut Hill Primary was fortunate to have volunteers from Great Shape Inc, a NGO out of Oregon which is dedicated to assisting Jamaica in three areas. It runs free dental clinics, eye clinics, literacy programs and supplies computers all around Jamaica. The Sandals Foundation and Resorts host the volunteers. I was invited (Peace Corps approved) and was allowed to stay at the Beaches Boscobal Resort for the first week. Quite a luxury to stay at an all inclusive resort- with elaborate buffet meals, drinks of all varieties at no charge, two pools, a beach and a fitness centre. I’m sure I gained some weight!
The literacy volunteers went to 4 area primary schools near Ocho Rios. They had met with the Ministry of Education and were asked to concentrate on writing skills. On both the Grade 4 and Grade 6 exams there is a writing section which many students score poorly on. I was so impressed with these teachers and their volunteer assistants. They came prepared with a variety of activities to encourage writing skills. Teachers were asked to stay in the room with their class because helping the teachers learn new methods is an important part of Great Shape’s mission. This was not always successful, but it was encouraging to see some teachers excited about a new method and eager to learn more on how to implement it. Back at the resort I was able to share some Peace Corps stories as well as explaining some Jamaican culture and norms to the volunteers. We talked a lot about how to initiate change, and what Great Shape can do to be more effective and more sustainable. That is very much like Peace Corps discussions and concerns. I was able to arrange 2 groups to go visit Mel and see baby Hawksbill turtles hatch and make their way to the sea. That still awes me every time I see them! I met many good new friends at Great Shape and hope and intend to visit some of them when I return to the states and go on the road with my RV! (next dream to fulfil!)
Thank you Great Shape for your dedication to Jamaica and your kindness to me- I really enjoyed my Sandals vacation and getting to know some of you! Blessings!

BUSY DAYS IN SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2011

BUSY DAYS- SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2011
September 17th was the International Coastal Clean-up Day worldwide. I joined about 180 local participants including 2 other PCV’s and 2 of my summer camp boys at the White River. The organizers had buses ready to take volunteers to various beaches that needed cleaning. Our group of 5 ended up at Priory Beach near St. Ann’s Bay. We pulled a lot of black scandal bags out of the beach area along with shoes, clothes, cans and plastic. Everything was tallied up to be submitted for analysis. After we were bussed back, hot and hungry we had lots of donated food for lunch including my first taste of Lionfish soup! Quite tasty. Was so encouraging to see the local support and the number of school students who came out to help.

How appropriate- one Saturday in October a bunch of PC volunteers (16 in all) gathered to go tubing down the White River. We drove up into the bush where the river ran clear, cool and beautiful. No houses no trash. We divided into 2 groups and walked up the river with our tubes and floated down to meet our friends. The tubes were the same type you get at a water park- with the 2 handles. The river had a few ripples, some small rapids and one tricky spot that flipped out about half of the group!
I have been attending weekly formative meetings for the soon to be chartered Rotary Club of Ocho Rios East. In October we were visited by the District Governor Guy from Haiti. He has approved out charter and now we are planning our charter ceremony event! Then we can finally get to do some of the community projects we have discussed! Peace Corps volunteers are encouraged to get involved in community organizations, but they suggest we be just guest members since our monthly allowance is not enough to pay dues. I really want to be a “real” member so I have reached out to the Wallingford CT Rotary Club and past Rotarian Al Reynolds for financial support and they have graciously and generously helped me out! I am excited and proud to be a charter member of the Ocho Rios East Rotary Club! A “big up” to my supporters! (A Jamaican phrase to indicate a big thank you or accomplishment. )

Back to School!

BACK TO SCHOOL IN JAMAICA
SEPT. 2011
The big event after summer camp ended and before I left on vacation was that the barrel of books the ROMEO group had shipped from Boston arrived in Montego Bay. The ROMEOs are a bunch of Retired Old Men Eating Out, including my father, who had set themselves a goal to collect and send books to my school. What dears! I had heard that getting a barrel was quite a process, but I did not expect 8 hours of a process! Fortunately, Ms Gowie came with me, and found someone with a truck to take us and get the barrel back to school. The process was to present papers at one window, and then take them to another window etc. for the whole morning. We skipped lunch because we didn’t dare leave our spot in case they called our name! Then when the barrel got to us, we had to wait for a customs official to open it so we could take everything out and have it inspected. I wanted to take a photo of the large sign in the warehouse which detailed the 8 steps necessary before you could leave with your barrel, but another sign stated NO PHOTOGRAPHS! Eventually around 4PM we did get to leave with our barrel! 3 of “my” summer camp boys came and helped unload the books and stamp the books. It was so cute to see these reluctant readers stop and look at various books! And such a lovely assortment was sent to us. A real blessing.
I spent the last 2 weeks of August back in the US having a wonderful family vacation visiting my daughter’s and meeting my new grandson, then off to my son’s and a family reunion in NH where we enjoyed a rain day courtesy of Hurricane Irene. Still no hurricanes in Jamaica for which I am thankful! I returned with a second suitcase of 49 pounds full of books and school supplies from Hallettsville Elementary School in Texas. One of the teachers had visited our school while she was vacationing in Jamaica and offered to send books. Since shipping is so expensive, I suggested she send them on to my daughter also in Texas and I would get them when I came to visit. Was I ever surprised when instead of 1 box of books there were 5 boxes waiting for me!
School opened on Monday, September 5. We have 3 new teachers and 2 who began in the spring of last year. The staff makeup and atmosphere is quite different and seems of more a positive, energetic nature. I hope so. I was asked to help train the new teachers in how to give the new MOE diagnostic test. That was a nice compliment! Along with the usual first week of school chaos, the MOE (Ministry of Education) was sending an inspection team on Sept. 13th for 2 days. So there was a lot of frantic cleaning, organizing, and meetings about what should be prepared. I helped out where needed. This was very stressful for the staff.
Now, the third week of school I have finally begun my pull out groups of 3 or 4 students from grades 3 and 4. This is my favourite part of my day- I truly love working with these small groups. And I am pleased that this year each class has a scheduled time to come to the library. This will, I hope, begin a regimen that can be continued when I leave Breadnut Hill Primary. The next project is to work out a computer room system that works. It is nice to get back in to the school routine.

Adventures in Learning Summer Camp for Boys
July 11-28, 2011 Breadnut Hill Primary School
The idea of this camp was to broaden the life experiences of a small group of boys who had been identified as being at least 2 grade levels below their grade in reading skills. The 13 boys were from grades 4 and 5. The plan was to create a learning environment that would excite them to learn and then use that to increase their reading and writing skills. Mr. Gooden, my Jamaican co-teacher, has a passion and interest in sports and art so these were included in the weekly schedule as well. There was also a service project component to the camp. This did not work out as planned and hoped for, but I feel still a valid idea. Swim lessons twice a week was also included (my passion!).
As part of the Peace Corps Jamaica grant, an introduction to HIV was included and 5 sessions were planned. HIV is of major concern in the Caribbean. I was fortunate that Tina Quinby, PCV in St. Ann’s Bay, was willing and able to run these sessions- she did a great job! I also had help from 2 other PCV’s for swim lessons, (thank goodness!) Daniel McDonald and Mark Bryson. For two days I had the luxury of having 2 PC trainees stay with me and help out at camp. Ann and Susan were a great help as well.
Trips were arranged to work around the cruise ship schedule and in a logical order. My landlord very generously arranged for the use of his 15 passenger van and a driver for a very small fee. I had planned a lot of site visits because I wanted the boys to be exposed to a large variety of places, people and careers. We went to: Rennie’s Auto Garage, Ocho Rios Library, Wassi Art Pottery Studio, Dr A Giles, optometrist, Jamaica Defence Force Camp, Durgan organic farm, UWI Discovery Bay Marine Lab, Hawksbill turtle hatching in Orcabessa. Plus swim lessons at Ocho Rios Beach and once we used Bucksfield football field for football drills. We had lunch supplied free to us once from Burger King and once from Island Grill for which we were very appreciative. The boys wrote formal thank you letters to some places and more creative thank you notes to others.
At Wassi Art, each boy was allowed to sit at the potter’s wheel and make a small pot to take home. That was a favourite experience for most of the boys. Dr. Giles very generously did a vision screening for each boy- and recommended that 2 boys return for a complete eye exam (free of charge!). I was able to make the arrangements and both boys have now had their eye exam and have their prescription for glasses. I am in touch with the Kingston Lion’s Club Sight Foundation to see if they can assist with the purchase of glasses. Just this made all the work worthwhile- no wonder these 2 boys have not been successful at school- they can’t read the blackboard!
We were really treated well on our visit to the JDF soldier camp. We toured the assault course, the regiment band played for us and we had lunch there as well. At the auto garage the boys had lots of questions of course and Rennie showed them his tools and equipment. The Marine Lab was neat- they had a touch tank with sea cucumbers and sea urchins, and they learned about lion fish- this is an intrusive species that is devastating the local fish population- it is edible if the poisonous spins are removed correctly. The hope is to develop a market for the fish so that their numbers will go down. A highlight for many was to see and hold the baby hawksbill turtles. Watching the boys watching them crawl to the sea was so special. At swim lessons the boys learned the buddy system and to “Reach, throw, but don’t go” in regards to water rescues. They had a blast at the beach, and we were still able to cover a few basic water skills!
Our last day was an American hot dog cook out- each boy had to find a stick to roast their hotdog (well everyone had at least 2). Mr Gooden made the fire after the boys rounded up some wood for fuel. After hotdogs and baked beans plus carrot and celery sticks (not big hit- celery was a total unknown) we made s’mores. I had drawn a diagram of how to make a s’more, and the boys roasted their marshmallows. They were a great hit. It was such fun to share a bit of American culture with them! At the end of the day parents were invited to come for an Open House, and we had certificates to hand out. Sadly only 4 parents showed up, but Miss Gowie, the principal, and another teacher came and cheered for the boys. I was happy to hear Miss Gowie say she wants to continue a boys’ summer program next year- and I will leave her a jump drive with all my letters, schedules and contacts.
This camp turned out really well- and involved a lot of community members. I hope the boys learned a lot about themselves and their community. I am grateful for all the people who helped make it a reality!

June- July 2011 School Summer Holiday began noon, July 1!

Monday, June 27th the Breadnut Hill Primary Grade 6 students had their school leaving exercise at a nearby church. In other words; graduation. Unfortunately 9 students were asked not to attend due to behaviour issues. It was an elaborate affair, the students were in school uniforms, but the staff and most all the parents were very well dressed- more like wedding attire than church attire! Luckily, I have my one dressy dress (I wore it to the US Embassy for our swearing in ceremony). There were speeches by various persons, a guest speaker, and one by the top student. Trophies were awarded to those who scored the highest on the GSAT exam. A very nice event.
The last week of school was crazy- teachers were busy correcting tests and completing student reports. The students who did come to school pretty much had free time the whole day. Thanks to my daughter, I had brought back some Disney DVDs so the library became a movie house. The teachers loved that there was somewhere for the kids to go. I was busy all week! I was able to complete a report for the principal about the progress the students I had been tutoring made for the year. Out of the 36 students I worked with, 10 showed no improvement, 13 went up 1 grade level, 8 went up 2 grade levels and 3 went up 3 grade levels. The staff was pleased with this progress. I’m not sure that I’m that pleased, although when I look at the 10 who showed no progress, I found that they had the worst school attendance. They came to tutoring barely 50% of the time if that.
4th of July! Wow was I ever fortunate! The US Ambassador invited a few Peace Corps volunteers and staff to the US Embassy for the big American 4th of July Celebration. I was invited but wasn’t notified until that Saturday, and I was in the middle of the island helping at an eco-fest and spending the night at Baboo’s Garden, a fun little eco lodge (no electricity) in Accompong a Maroon village. Maroons are descendents of runaway slaves who hid out in the mountains and harassed the British for years until they finally signed a treaty and were given autonomy and their own land, sort of like a reservation. Very interesting history and they have their own unique culture. I then was heading to Juanita’s place for Sunday night so I had to borrow a skirt from her so I could be at least somewhat appropriately attired! There were all kinds of dignitaries there- from Jamaican business CEO’s, government ministers and directors, representatives from other embassies, etc. The US Marines presented the colors, the ambassador gave a short speech, and then we enjoyed an all American buffet! Hotdogs and hamburgers, ribs and wings, potato salad and baked beans, ice cream and cake... The 6 of us volunteers were in 7th heaven! And trying to fit in a little bit of everything! The Peace Corps put us up for the night at a little hotel near the PC office, and we came in to help out the next morning for a few hours. The office was really busy because the newest group of PC Volunteers had just arrived on island a few days before, and had just started their training. I haven’t met any of them yet, but will be hosting 2 the end of July when they do what is called “shadowing”. They visit a current volunteer to see and hear what life is really like as a PCV in Jamaica. I remember my shadowing experience was really, really helpful.
Monday, July 11 was the start of my 3 week Adventures in Learning Summer Camp for boys! Supply items were purchased- quite a process- first I had to go get an invoice with everything itemized, then go to the principal to have her write out the check, then she had to find a second person to co sign the check, then I could take the check and go get the items. But everything worked out fine. Schedules had been set, then rearranged, and reset. All 12 boys were confirmed and registered; actually 13 boys as 1 boy was going to miss the first week, so we asked another boy to come. I will share all about camp on my next blog, when camp is over. But the first week went GREAT!

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!

APRIL & MAY 2011 EASTER IN JAMAICA
Easter in Jamaica is an important holiday. School was off from Holy (Maundy) Thursday and all of the following week. Most businesses were closed Good Friday and Easter Monday. Church on Easter was at the same/regular time, no sunrise services. Lovely tropical flowers though! No coloured eggs or candy (well, I did buy myself a Cadbury chocolate Easter egg). The big Easter tradition is bun and cheese. The bun is a spice bread loaf and the cheese is a soft sort of processed cheese sort of like Velveeta.
On Easter Monday there were a number of big concerts going on island wide, but in St Ann it was kite flying day. I went to a huge field near St. Ann’s Bay to see the kite flying that afternoon. Lots of homemade kites- made by gluing plastic sheeting and using small sticks and long tails of old materials like sheets. The breezes off the ocean were pretty strong so the long tails were essential. I watched the builders of this huge kite made with bamboo struts and probably 8 feet across and 14 feet long try to launch their kite. They had about 6 men on the heavy nylon line. It went up maybe 6 feet off the ground then crashed. They spent a few hours patching and reinforcing the bamboo, but again it just barely flew. I wandered around watching lots of families, kids, and teens all with kites. For $1000 JA (About $10 US) I could have bought an entrance ticket to the official kite festival- with food vendors, contests, music (of course) and games, but I saw my fill of kites in the free parking lot, so skipped that.
The Tuesday after Easter my son Christopher came for a 1 week visit, he got to visit my school (but no students since it was Easter vacation). It was great to show him around, and he shared his expertise by doing some computer repairs at school and for a friend. We spent 2 nights at a rustic eco lodge in Portland parish called Great Huts, visited the Green Groto caves and Reach Falls. And cooked and ate jerk chicken and pork.
Our PCV group 81 had our mid service conference at the Shaw Park Resort- lovely accommodations and fabulous buffet food! We had 2 days of a behaviour change workshop which hopefully will come in handy for my year 2. Then another 2 days of PC business, reviews and policies. It was really good to spend some down time with our PCV friends in other parishes, and compare stories, frustrations and successes. Sadly 3 more of our group have left Jamaica for different reasons; we miss them and wish them well.
Great news from Texas, James Caden Grace arrived at 8 pounds +; both my daughter and grandson #2 are doing great!
On Saturday, May 21st, I traveled across the island for a funeral. Myrtle Drummond was my Hellshire host mother and she was a pillar of the community and her church. Her funeral was quite elaborate. There was an outside tent for the overflow crowd with a closed circuit TV; many guests shared a song, a greeting, or condolences. There was also scripture, eulogy and sermon. Diane and I had to leave before the end since we had to travel at least 3 hours to get home before dark. Sad, but lots of assurance that Myrtle is in heaven with her Lord.


Monday, May 23 was Jamaica’s Labour Day. A national holiday which emphasizes doing labour for your community. I heard 2 themes: It takes a village to raise a child, and Labour for Literacy. On that theme, the NCB bank chose Breadnut Hill Primary School to share their labour. Over 100 NCB employees descended on the school ready to paint and plant. It was amazing and impressive- paint brushes were in high demand- so many wanted to paint! They painted the inside of the library, computer room, the staff room, and grades 1 and 2. Then they started in on the outside! They also planted hardy plants around the school. Most of the NCB crew left in the early afternoon after lunch (donated by Burger King), but then the Breadnut Hill Police Club showed up and took over the outside painting. Up in the library the NCB had donated the funds to have 2 walls of library shelves constructed, and they were installed and anchored to the wall after the paint dried. The eager NCB volunteers helped put our books on the shelves. It looks fabulous! A real library. This is something Jamaica should be really proud of- this tradition of labour on Labour Day!