Wha-Gwaan
Trip Start
Jul 08, 2004
1
4
Trip End
Aug 27, 2006
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Old Harbour Bay,
Jamaica
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
July 17, 2004
Peace Corps Training
"Wha-Gwann?" - What's going on?
Well, eventually you knew you would hear from us. Peace Corps has kept us extremely busy. However, the schedule is beginning to slow down just a little bit. It is hard to imagine this all began July 6th in Miami, FL and we've been in country for a little over a week now. Our orientation at the University of West Indies in Kingston was about four days long, the highlight of which was making a trip to the downtown market. We were blessed to have guides as it can be a little risky. It is a lively area with a lot going on. People are selling anything from fresh fish flopping in the basket to flip flops and other nick-knacks(nix-nox).
Today we took a trip north to Caayan, outside High Gate in the Parish of St. Mary in order to work on a Habitat build and afterwards went swimming in the ocean at Port Maria. I'll try to upload some of the video or photos I took from the bus on the way up. The Habitat house is on a piece that was donated by the govt. of Jamaica has been divided into 15 parcels. The house we worked on will be a first for the Northeast affiliate: transitional rental housing for families to be able to save funds each month to eventually purchase a Habitat home.
The past week in class we have been making observations of the physical environment in Old Harbor. Most people in Jamaica have access to chlorinated water, but water pressure is frequently low, which promotes infiltration and contamination and not always available.
Swim Break -Port Maria-
Solid Waste is another story. Wastewater usually goes to absorption pits or septic tank on site. Few towns (20%) have wastewater treatment facilities. Other issues related to sanitation come from solid waste disposal. Much of the ground and open storm sewers are littered with cans, bottles, etc. The storm sewers seem to be a convenient trash can. Much of the waste in the storm sewers wash out to sea polluting the waters and contaminating the fish and coral reefs. Old Harbor Bay also is a small fishing village. Also some homes are occasionally flooded during heavy rains that deeply compromise the storm drainage systems and reinvent the landscape. During heavy rains, the communities rally to the aid of their flooded-out neighbors. Jamaica is a land of great contrasts. The very rich cruise by in sporty SUVs while goats graze amid the shanty houses and crumbling streets. The old weather-beaten churchs banks sleek and modern dominate tiny town centers while the novelty shops and open markets & colorful vendor stalls wind out lining the side streets. A conversation at the water commission in British English is followed on the street by deep interior Patois. Living with a host family is a tremendous immersion. Walking the town, watching the futbol (soccer) matches, attending church and community meetings all contribute to an ever widening picture. The response has been overwhelming positive. Jamaicans are very friendly, eager to share what they have, teach us local dances, songs and Patois. Patois the dynamic living mostly oral language of the vast majority of the 2.6 million Jamaican was born of necessity centuries ago when slaves of various tribes strove to communicate with each other whilst eluding the Spanish, French and mostly after the 1600's, English slave owners. Fortunately, a mesolect Patois is also commonly spoken too. On the living breathing continuum of Patois, the deeper the language the structure and grammar begins to resemble the original languages from the horn of Africa. During the next few weeks we'll be getting more familiar with the community organizations and the people, after which will begin to work on some very basic projects a presentations. Our training is scheduled to end August 27th or so. Upon completion of training we'll be sworn in and move on to our site where we will be for two years. It is great to have Peace Corps emphasizes sustainable community-led approachs to development and encourages local capacity-building.
Likkel more,
Blessings,
Jonathan & Rogean
