First 2 days
Trip Start
Mar 17, 2009
1
3
12
Trip End
Jun 19, 2011
Kingston,
Jamaica
Thursday, March 19, 2009
We left for the airport at like 7 in the morning to make our 12:30 flight. So after getting through security wehad four hours to kill. the flight to Jamaica was about an hour got off the plane and left for the peace corps office. There we had to fill out alot of paper work and we all got J$2400 dollars or roughly $26. And they pretty much forced us to buy cell phones from some venders sitting at a table. They suggested the cheaper ones so we wouldbe less of target for crime. I talked to a guy about international rates and apparently there not bad for callingfrom jamaica to the US. It is J$1000 a month for 1000 minutes also did i mention my phone has a flashlight on itI also asked the guy how much of the budget it eats up and he said that the payment staff must be drunk or somethingb/c they recieve alot more than the typical jamaican and that they are also due for a raise b/c inflation hereis something like 25%. They also talked about the political parties here and how one group had training duringelections. Apparently jamaicas murder rate is so high b/c the two political parties go around killing eachother. So during elections things apparently got crazy and they were not allowed to wear green or orange b/c thoseare the colors associated with each party. Sounds fun right?
day 2went to the US embassey residence building for training today. Its a really classey hotel in the nice side of town (had a koi pond) we meet the acting ambassador and watched some jamaican singers do stuff, they sang some cool songs but i was really hoping they would sing the banana song from beetlejuice...they didnt. after that we had some training classes pretty much from 9 till 6:30 . All the teachers are hillarious and incredibly nice. The person in charge for security at the embassey came to talk to us he kept making jokes about all these crimes and it was pretty funny. He told us that petty theft and home break-ins and fishing for stuff through peoples windows with sticks is the most common crime. Rarely is there violent crime and if there is its against women so thats good for me. He also said that if other jamaicans see someone getting robbed or taken advantage off they will beat the shit out of them. after the security meeting we had a health meeting and got our first aid kits and finnaly got to come home and have some curry chicken. Tomorrow we leave the hotel and go to the town of hellshire for two weeks of training untill we leave for a week long site (where we will serve the rest of our 2 years) visit. In hellshire each person will be assigned to a different host family and from what we hear from other volenteers it is very awkward. So i am very nervous about that. well i guess i am going to go try to upload photos send me an email if you have any questions
Comments
Wait wait!
Where are you uploading pictures? Will you have internet access where ever you're going? Anyway, you have a phone, I'll skype you sometime. Sounds like you're having fun. Don't get robbed.
hi jamesss
hi it's kim (duh). brooks has your blog as her fb status so everyone can creepily stalk you. good luck, i hope all goes well.
Exciting stuff!
I'm jealous!
Let the good times roll
'Rarely is there violent crime and if there is its against women so thats good for me.' thats the james we all know and love sounds fun so far, keep us posted - how's the food down there?
welcome
Hi james - tried to send you an email on this site... hope it worked! Can't wait to hear more!
smello
I like the pictures you posted on fbook! Especially the snorlax ones. I really like that banana song from beetlejuice too. Daylight come and me wan go homeeeeeee. DAY me say DAY----O. anyway. You should take a picture of your phone and of where you're living when you get there. I love pictures. miss you.
oh boy oh boy
im enjoying playing pokemon on ur DS. PS izzy still has worms but i ordered meds... i'll keep you updated rachel