Neville, the Hearse Driver

Neville ended up driving me home after the party.  He lives in Kingston and Stony Hill is on his way home.  We had an interesting conversation but one that did not surprise me – it was about death.  He said that he hardly buries older men like Punishment.  He is used to burying young boys, between the ages of 15-20.  He said that young boys are influenced by bad guys at an early age and given illegal guns – guns that are primarily smuggled in from the U.S.  There is a real mob-mentality in Kingston and lots of shooting.  He talked of this man who is currently wanted by the U.S. government for drug and arms trafficking.  This man controls a large part of Jamaica.  Neville said that he remains well protected.  Neville described a 200+armed entourage that accompanies him when he goes out in public.  Anyways, he also serves for the party in power right now, the Jamacian Labor Party(JLP) and they do not want to sign the papers to give him up.  The JLP’s power will be challenged by the opposition party if they lose him.  Neville says the U.S. will not get him anytime soon. 

But Neville then went on to say that Kingston is not Jamaica.  He says the international community has this negative views of Jamaica because of Kingston.  He said, the real Jamaica is the people I talk to and spend my time with in King Weston; the interior of the island.  That is the heart of Jamaica. 

Celebrating Punishment!

Last Saturday was spent in celebration of the life of Punishment.  Punishment was a symbol of strength, kindness, generosity and friendship in King Weston.  He was in his mid-80’s when he suffered from a stroke.  His birth name is Alfred Wright but his yard name was Punishment.  Jamaicans have birth names and yard names – yard names are used informally.  Children use their birth names at school and yard names at home.  I’m not sure why Alfred was given Punishment as his yard name, but there is a reason. 

So, I attended the funeral up in King Weston.  The tiny church was packed!!  People were looking in from the windows on the sides of the church.  I was surprised by how uplifting atmosphere of the funeral.  Hardly anyone was in tears; they were all happy and thankful for the life of Punishment.  Directly after the funeral was the burial.  Almost everyone attempted the steep and intimidating ascend up the mountain.  As I was waiting for a taxi to take me back down after the funeral, a lady stopped and insisted that I come up for the party.  She told me I must try the goat soup, which is made from the goat’s intestines.  She told me I must also eat the curried goat, fried chicken and rice and peas.  So, I walked up with her and she had me take a seat.  She brought out the soup.  It was delicious!  Then she brought out a huge dinner serving, a water and a cola.  It was all so tasty! I then had some great conversation with the locals -- I am so happy I went!!

 

Jamaican Sunsets

These speak for themselves :)

YS Falls

I was looking through my pictures of Jamaica and realized I haven't shared my experience at YS Falls.  Remember the CanJam Camp I mentioned in an earlier post?  Well, we took the children from the camp to YS Falls for one day.  It was about a 2 1/2 hour drive with two bus loads of children -- but we made it and everyone had a blast!  This was the first time many of the children had an opportunity to go swimming; you can imagine the number of children who did not know how.  YS Falls is located deep in rural Jamaica and is all fresh water.  We swam in a fresh water natural pool -- it was so cool and refreshing!  A few of us decided to be brave and swing from a rope into the waterfalls.  I never experienced anything like it!!  It was a great trip!!  The children loved it and were able to experience a new part of their country for the first time :)

Peace and Love

Proposal

So, I was at the Constant Spring market yesterday.  I wanted papayas to make some fresh juice :)  I approached two younger ladies at their stand and asked for papayas.  One of the ladies assisted me and as I started walking away she called for me to return.  She motioned for me to come close.  She leaned forward and asked if I was a priest.  I laughed and said no.  I told her that I want to marry and have children, to have my own family.  She then proceeded to ask if I was married.  Not yet, I said.  She then asked if I had any children.  No.  The next words that came out her mouth were, "Will you marry me?".  My immediate reaction was to laugh but I soon realized she wasn't laughing along.  She was serious.  I told her that my girlfriend at home would not appreciate that.  She gave a smile as if she was happy that I have found someone :)  She then told me that I better marry my girlfriend when I return home and invite her to the wedding.

I laughed in agreement and said I will.

   

So, I promised pictures from the basic and primary schools in King Weston.  All of the children who come to school each day either need to walk or take a taxi or public bus.  There are no school buses in Jamaica.  Some children walk quite a long distance to get to school – a walk that would probably take me a half hour.  Even the teachers and principal take public transport. I asked one first grade girl how she gets to school in the morning.  I already knew that she lived quite a distance away but was curious as to if she walked or took a taxi.  She said that some days she walks and some days she takes a taxi, just depends on if her mom gives them money for a taxi.  It's no wonder Jamaicans dominate track! 

I have been spending time in the basic school with the 3-5 year olds.  There are moments when I find it extremely hard to stay, as the teacher constantly yells at the children and uses corporal punishment.  The other day she walked over to a little girl and pinched her arm because she was not doing her work.  One time she slapped one of the girls in the face.  So, I just walk away or leave the school when she treats the children that way.  It is sad because I look at their faces and they are not happy to be in school.  Children should love school at that age.  The only time I really saw them happy and smiling and laughing was when I let them chase me outside.  They loved it!!  And then one child handed me a leaf and I pretended to eat it…they laughed so hard!  They continued to hand me leaves and I kept pretending to eat them.  Then I handed leaves to them and they started to pretend.  One girl actually took a bite and soon realized it did not taste too appetizing…haha.  They all love to race, so we lined up and all raced back and forth and back and forth.    

School!!!

School started last week!  In King Weston there is a basic school and primary school.  The basic school has about ten 3-5 year old children enrolled.  There is one teacher who was hired the weekend before school started.  This is her first experience teaching younger children so I was asked to provide assistance.  The primary school has grades 1-6 with about 90 students.  Yes, they are both very small schools. 

I will spend about a ½ day each week in the basic school and 1½ day in the primary school.  The other days of the week will be spent doing home visits and running errands.  I’m really excited to begin spending time in the schools.  I was told that there is a big need for help in reading and writing.  It’s a good thing I packed The Lorax, my favorite Dr. Seuss book J

The children are also required to wear uniforms to school.  They are so cute!  I will take some pictures – look for them.

I am also thinking of my nieces, nephews, sister and brother-in-law and all others as they begin the school year back at home.  I will miss them all this year.

Peace and Love,

Matthew

 

CanJam Camp!

Last week was spent with a group of Canadian volunteers in inner city Kingston.  This group of Canadian college students have been traveling to Kingston for CanJam Camp for several years.  We decided that it would be a great experience to spend a week volunteering in the inner city.  It turned out to be an interesting and unique experience.  

The camp focused on the children from ages 3 to 18.  The Canadians led the camp and we were there only as support.  We soon found out that we were needed for more than just support.  The camp turned out to be unorganized and understaffed.  One other volunteer, Tracy, and I were asked to lead at group of 9-11 year olds.  I was slightly nervous in the beginning but ended up pleasantly surprised at how well our group worked together.  Our group needed to decide on a performance for the final day of activities.  Tracy and I sat down with no clue as to what the performance would be.  So, we asked the children.  We asked what they could do well.  They agreed that a dance would be a good idea.  So then we asked them what type of dance they'd like to perform.  They all had blank stares until someone mentioned Michael Jackson.  He didn't need to say any more because all the children gave obvious approval as they all started to sing MJ songs.  We all broke into an MJ memorial session as Tracy and I offered our own recollections of his greatest hits.  We all started to practice the essential MJ dance moves.  Everyone was laughing and clearly excited about the prospect of an MJ Tribute as our performance.  

The next day I brought in my ipod and we sampled MJ hits.  We all agreed on performing a mix of Thriller and Beat It.  We decided we would begin with Thriller and end with Beat It.  We then proceeded to spend the morning practicing our moves to both songs.  Then performance day came and we had rehearsed several times.  We began with the children howling as the beginning of Thriller was played.  They came out from behind the fence with their zombie dance.  They proceeded to make their entrance and then we transitioned into Beat It.  We had practiced several steps a few days before and I was worried that they may forget them.  My worries were soon overcome as I watched my group of 9-11 olds rock out their MJ Tribute on stage.  They were so awesome and everyone loved the performance!  Tracy and I were so proud of them and they were so happy with their performance.  It was so great to see these children, who besides their little differences and disputes, came together to create an awesome collaborative effort.  They were great!!

It was the perfect ending to an unorganized and understaffed week long camp :)

Peace and Love,

Matthew

Hurricane Season

We had afternoon showers three or four days this week!  This is amazing, considering the drought that Jamaica has been experiencing this summer.  The locals say this has been the hottest summer in recorded history.  I had a discussion with my doctor the other day and we projects two hurricanes this summer.  He is worried because of the extreme heat this summer has been bringing to the caribbean.  Hey said until the last ten to fifteen years, Jamaica would experience a hurricane maybe once every ten years.  During the last decade, hurricanes have become much more frequent and severe.  He says that now Jamaica can expect at least one hurricane a year. And he thinks that the warmer weather will bring two this summer.  Jamaica is not the only place in the world experiencing high temperatures.  Taiwan was just hit by a horrible typhoon. Global warming is real, just ask a Jamaican.    

Even a tropical storm can do much damage to a less developed country like Jamaica.  Many people in King Weston live under tin roofs and within thin wood walls.  Some rely on the strength of bamboo.  Some are very fortunate and live in a concrete home.  But then, many people make a living from livestock.  Last year, a woman in King Weston lost close to one hundred chickens during Hurricane Gustav.  That is devastating when those chickens are one's means of making a living!  I had a visit with Miss Donna yesterday.  She raising pigs and chickens.  She introduced me to the two pigs and two piglets.  Her chicken coop was empty.  She told me that she just sold all the chickens she had and will not buy again until October.  She is worried that she will lose them if she buys during hurricane season.  The chicken coops are not typically made from concrete, so they are not strong enough to withstand the winds and rain from even a severe tropical storm.  So, she will live off what she has until October, when she feels safe enough to buy another hundred chickens.  

We volunteers will be taken care of if a hurricane comes our way.  We have Rosie, who is a sweetheart.  She will shelter us at her house, which is very safe and strong enough to withstand hurricane winds :)  But, please pray that the hurricanes, already forming off the coast of Africa, will die off before they reach the caribbean.  

Posted are some pics of Miss. Donna's grandchildren, pigs and land.

Peace and love,

Matthew    

My Mission

Friday was my first real visit, on my own.  I jumped on a bus at the Stony Hill Square and rode for close to 20 minutes until I reached Lawrence Tavern.  This is where the bus stops running.  I paid my $70 JD, which I later found out was too high, and starting walking to a taxi.  $70 JD is maybe close to .75 cents USD.  I reached the taxi area and found a driver.  I asked him if he'd drive me to Mt. Cheerful, which is higher up than King Weston, he said yes.  So, we talked as we waited for his taxi to fill with passengers.  He asked me where I was from, which, in turn sparked a conversation about President Bush.  I let him talk first, but I was able to project where this conversation was going once as soon as he said the word.  We continued to talk for quite a while, until he finally had enough passengers to pack us in like sardines.  I then rode up to Mt. Cheerful, which took another 20 minutes and cost me $50 JD.  

I had the driver let me off outside of Miss Edna's house.  She immediately greeted me at the gate, as if she had been watching for me.  She took me around back and I shook my head in agreement as she spoke her native Patois; as I couldn't understand half of what she was saying.  She pulled up a stool in her back yard and handed me a few small, ripe and sweet banana.  Jamaican bananas are the sweetest I've ever tasted.  Chiquita is no competition.  I sat there and watched as she cleaned chickens.  She then told me to wait around for a few minutes so I could watch the process.  This was the first time I would watch a chicken lose its head.  I won't lie, I felt a little sick to my stomach at first.  Then I realized that this is how Miss Edna lives and makes money.  She will sell most of the meat and then live off the rest.  All these years living in the U.S. and never had I witnessed the process in which chicken is prepared for eating.  I see it in packages in the store and that is all.  

I then walked down the hill to visit her daughter, Miss Donna.  Miss Donna is so sweet.  She greeted me with a big smile and a welcome into her home.  She offered me fresh pineapple and bananas.  I enjoyed them.  She then took me outside to try sugar cane.  It was very sweet and tough.  She told me to chew on a piece and then spit it out.  The cane gave my mouth a cooling sensation.  She then told me off all the plants she uses for medicinal purposes.  I was amazed!  She then listed off a number of dishes and things she is going to teach me.  I was getting so excited with the thought of learning the process of making carrot juice and chocolate as well as a number of other Jamaican dishes.    

I eventually had to move on to make other visits for the day.  It was nice starting in Mt. Cheerful because all my other visits were on the way down the mountain.  My final stop of the day was to see Ms. Pet.  She is very sweet and kind.  She has been blind for the last eight years of her life and has only friends to check in on her.  I sat down beside her and listened as she shared her experiences of an earlier life in England.  She recalled and described every detail with such vividness that it was as if I were there.  She really misses her life there.  She mentioned that someone would be there to take care of her if she were still in England.  That they know how to take care of their elderly.  She said that Jamaicans just toss their elderly to the side; they have no use for them.  It was heart-rending to see her feeling this way.  I could not find anything consolable to say, so I reached for her hand.  I held her hand tightly for a few minutes and then shared my excitement of getting to know her better -- of being able to listen to her life experiences.  

It was after 4p.m. and I needed to catch a ride back to Stony Hill.  I figured I'd catch a taxi on the way down the hill.  I decided and start walking, and continued to walk for the next 45 minutes.  No taxis had passed in that time.  Must have been a slow time of the day :)  I reached Lawrence Tavern and then caught a bus to Stony Hill.  I paid $50 JD this time.

Peace and Love,

Matt   

Happy Independence Day Jamaica!

This is an important week for Jamaicans.  They will be celebrating Emancipation and Independence.   Emancipation Day was this last Saturday and Independence Day is this coming Thursday.  Today at mass we celebrated Jamaican freedom and sovereignty.  Father Gaston talked about all that we have to be thankful for and all the beauty that is Jamaica.  I started to lose interest in what Father had to say after those first few words.  But, those words were enough to occupy my thoughts for the remainder of his 45-minute homily. 

I started to think of all the beauty that I’ve already experienced in just one week.  The first thought that came to mind was the importance of music in this culture.  Music is everywhere and it is beautiful.  It moves the people here.  I can’t help but be moved by it as well.  I am in love with the sound of the bongos!  I am going to speak to the musicians and ask if I can be involved on Sunday mass.  I then started to think of all the natural beauty in Jamaica.  I was thinking of the drive up to King Weston and how there is one point during the trek up the mountain where the view is spectacular.  Don’t get me wrong, there are beautiful views of the Blue Mountains that surround the people in King Weston.  But, there is one particular view where, on a clear day, one can see the north shore.  Today was one of those days and I could actually see the whiteness of the waves as they crashed into the shore.  The people in King Weston do not have much, but they do have the land.  Mangos fall from the trees in abundance and a fresh banana is out of this world!  The goats, cows, pigs and dogs enjoy the fruits of the land as I ride along the mountain roads to King Weston.   Oh yes, and the fresh, sweet air of the mountains is another thing to be thankful for. 

I am also starting to really appreciate the Jamaican people as well.  They are hard working, kind, generous and beautiful people.  They have made us feel welcome and at home. 

So, this week I will be thankful for all the beauty that surrounds me each day.  And be thankful for each day I have.

Peace and love,

Matt

PVI Departure

It has now been five days since my arrival in Jamaica.  Three of us are here now and we are still awaiting the arrival of the two other PVI's.  Lauren and Betsy are two of the PVI's from last year and they have blessed us with their insights.  However, they are both departing for home tomorrow.  They have done an exceptional job of showing us around and answering hundreds of questions over the last five days.  We would love to have them stay a bit longer but we understand they must go now.  We wish them a safe return home and a smooth transition back to American life :)  I can feel how these people and this culture have become a part of them as I watch their reactions as they prepare to say goodbye. 

 It seems so distant, but a year will go by and we will face the final moments, just as Lauren and Betsy are facing now.  But, I can't possibly understand what they must be feeling or thinking at this moment.  All I can do is think about what this next year will bring.  What challenges will I face?  How will I struggle through them?  What will some of the greatest moments feel like?  And when will they come?  How will they look?  What will it be like to have my family and girlfriend come visit?  Of course, I can't wait to see them and for them to experience my life here.  But what will they think?  How will they feel?  How will I feel?

And also, how will I change?  Will I even notice these changes and how will I accept them? More importantly, how will the most important people in my life react to how I've changed?  

But, in regard to all the questions, anxieties and uncertainties I have for this year, it is going to be an incredible year.  And how can an incredible year yield anything but goodness?  

There will be struggles, challenges, good times and bad times and there will be change.  Surely, as Lauren and Betsy wrap up a year in service, they have experienced all these and more.  And they are leaving as a better person because of them.     

Peace,

Matt   

King Weston

I had my first experience in my primary mission today.  The name of my community is King Weston and it is a windy 45 minute drive into the mountains.  The views on the drive up the mountain were absolutely gorgeous!  We made it for mass in our community, there were about fifteen of us in all.  The basic and primary schools are close to the church.  I was told that there are less than 50 children from k-6 grades!  Yes, this is definitely a rural village in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica.  I should clarify the difference between a basic and primary school.  Basic school is like our preschool and primary school is like our elementary school.  The people seem very sweet and resilient.  One lady makes a very rugged, hilly and unstable walk to mass each Sunday, oh, and she is only 93 years old!  

I also drove for the first time today!  It was a bit awkward but I managed to keep us from going over any cliffs :)  They drive on the opposite side as we do in the states and the same goes for the steering wheel.  Here's another difference.  When people honk in the states is basically telling another driver to screw off.  But, in Jamaica, they honk as a courtesy.  The reason being is that the roads are extremely windy and curly to the point that one has no idea what or whom is coming around the corner.  So, people will honk before they come around as to say, "hey, someone is coming around the corner, so be ready".  Also, Jamaicans love to pass, like it is going out of style, and they will honk just to let the the other driver know they are there.  So, when you come visit, do not be offended when you are honked at ten times in ten minutes.

Overall, today was a good day :)

Peace

Matt

Arrival Day!

I have just made my bed after an exhausting day of travels.  I flew out from Grand Rapids at 6:00 am and arrived in Kingston by noon.  I made it through customs with limited problems and enjoyed my first Jamaican patty before we left the airport.  The patty was delicious!  I then had my first eye-opening experience; the drive from the airport to our apartment.  Traffic was interesting and much different than in states but that was nothing compared to the real poverty I witnessed for the first time in Jamaica.  The sites were just like the pictures I had seen on the internet, only intensified with the vividness and realness of seeing it with my own eyes.  Then we arrived to our apartment and I felt extremely fortunate.  Fortunate because we have a roof, solid foundation, running water, shower, furniture and beds.  Fortunate that within a matter of minutes I was able to call my parents, send a text message to my girlfriend and check my e-mail through wireless internet.  Then I had a chance to meet two of the volunteers who have been here for a year.  They are very nice and have shared great stories and tips with us.  I could not have asked for a better first day!    

Peace,

Matt

First Entry!

Just finished creating my very first blog!  My wonderful girlfriend helped me get started -- I love her ;)  Well, I leave for Kingston on Friday, July 24th!  I'm so very excited but nervous as well.  I have been home for almost three weeks and have had a great time with family and friends.  I've done well to live in the present and not think too much about this coming year.  Next entry might come from Stony Hill, Jamaica!

Peace