The Other Volunteers: Sean

This summer I spent a couple of weeks helping Sean to create a video about his year+ in Jamaica for a contest that could raise money for the program. I figured I'd share the video with all of you so that you could see what some of the other volunteers do. 

My Life in Jamaica 

by Sean Clores

Once Again School Is Getting in the Way!

As you may have already noticed, my frequency in posting significantly changed once school started here, as my schedule (and energy level) have made posting more difficult. I am working in two different Basic Schools (ages 3-6) 2-3 days a week, which I will describe in more detail very soon. Today I just wanted to give a quick update of what a typical week has been for me so far and to share a picture or two.

As I said, I spend one to two days a week at Holy Cross Basic School in Pratville and one to two days at St. Joseph's Basic School in Cross Keys. On Saturdays I am in charge of the Youth Clubs in Knockpatrick, Pratville, and Cross Keys, which has been a great opportunity to meet the kids in those areas. On the other days of the week I do "home visits" in those communities and visit a nursing home called Curphey Home, which I hear is the only veterans' home in the Caribbean. We work on the weekends, which I like because I enjoy being busy; it just makes it much harder to write updates!

This is Sasha-kay, me, and Annakay (who goes to St. Joseph's Basic School) at the rectory in Cross Keys where we were hanging out on Saturday.

Anyway, I'm hoping to post a summary of a typical day at some point this week so that it'll be easier to understand what life is like here!

And finally, once again, thanks for the comments, emails, letters, and donations. It's been about three months that I've been gone now, and it really means a lot to continue to receive your support and encouragement. I miss you all!

Dem pickney know me kiann chat patois..

When I decided to come to Jamaica, I knew that patois existed, but I did not know 1. the extent to which it was used, and 2. how different it is from English. I figured that it was something that people used in their own homes and that even if they did use it around me, it would only be a few nouns here or there that were different. I was very wrong.

Most Jamaicans speak patois at home, and there are some families in which the parents can barely speak Standard Jamaican English. Therefore, in the rural communities where I am, a lot of people speak to each other in patois. After being here for almost three months, it is getting much easier to understand; if I am in the room and a part of the conversation, for the most part I will at least know what it being discussed. I struggle when I am in a crowded or noisy space, or if the people who are talking are in another room. In those situations the person might as well be speaking Hungarian or Korean because to me it bears no resemblance to the English with which I have grown up.

For an example, listen to this song (click that link) that was very popular here all summer. It's a dancehall song called "Summertime" by the popular artist Vybz Kartel. The chorus is understandable, but deciphering the verses is more of a challenge.

The kids in our youth groups and at the schools really like trying to teach us how to speak like them. There are a lot of words and phrases that we have learned, and sort of like after spending a week in Quebec when things would come to me in French, after a full day at school listening to the kids talk to me and talk to each other, I have to stop myself from saying things certain ways. At the Basic Schools they try to teach the children standard English, meaning that they need to hear English from the teachers, not the patois. Therefore, I can't tell a student "me no know" when they ask a question, nor can I say "yeahso" if they ask where their bag is. Every once in a while I will try to "chat" like them at recess, which cracks them up to hear me trying (and failing). I always just throw "a" and "fi" into my sentences but struggle beyond that. I just end up with the mix of patois and English that people use when they speak with me. Mi a try a chat patois wit dem pickney but dem look 'pon mi like mi kiann be fi real. (I try to speak patois with the kids but they look at me like I can't be for real.)

In corresponding with everyone back at home the language isn't something I ever think to bring up, and Jamaica being known as an English speaking country, something that no one would think to ask about, but there is definitely somewhat of a language barrier. Whether it is the 3 year olds who I must tell to "take up their bags" or that "Mommy soon come to carry you to you yard" in order to be understood, or it is the adults or taxi drivers that I sometimes have to ask to repeat themselves several times, language has been an unexpected challenge since being here, but the improvement that I have found in my short time here so far makes me hopeful that I may be close to "fluent" by the end of my year here.

Camp in Photos

On Friday we completed Bible Summer Camp (more like plain summer camp), where we had been working for two weeks. It was a great opportunity for us to get to know a lot of the kids that we will be working with all year, and I had a great time doing crafts and playing football (soccer) for over an hour every day. Here are some photos from the last day of camp.

 

Chantel and Me

Roshane, one of the boys that was great at football

 

Robert and David, two of the other footballers

 

Kalicia

 The girls braiding my hair

 Playing football

 

Alica, who was my buddy for the week

Brittney

Jamaican Jumble Sales - My New Target

Two weeks ago I met with Fr. Martin, the priest in Knockpatrick and Prattville, in order to learn more about both of those communities. He informed me that Knockpatrick would be having a "Jumble Sale" the coming week, which would be a great opportunity for me to meet both the parishioners and other members of the community, since according to him these Jumble Sales were popular events that drew the entire community.

I soon learned that a Jumble Sale is basically a church bazaar, and that Fr. Martin was not exaggerating that they were popular; the Knockpatrick Jumble Sale was worse than Black Friday at a Target in America. I showed up a little before 9 am the day of the sale, looking all nice and sweaty since I had taken the "Knockpatrick" route taxi only to learn that it won't take you further than the northern border of the town, leaving me to walk up the hill the rest of the way. (I was informed later in the day by a 12 year old that I should have taken the "Newport" taxi to get to Knockpatrick - Duh, how could I have not known that?!) Anyway, despite the fact that it had started over an hour before I arrived, the Jumble Sale was PACKED because they were selling clothes, THE hot item in Jamaican Jumble Sales. I was shocked to see how many people were there and how aggressive they were with their finds. I was soon put to work stuffing bags as the woman in charge tallied the purchases, and it wasn't until about 2 hours later that the sale slowed down and I was able to start getting to know people!

Apparently my experience in Knockpatrick was not scarring enough to keep me away from Jumble Sales, because on Saturday the cathedral in Mandeville, whose grounds abut those of the school grounds on which we live, had its own Jumble Sale, and Natalie and I spent our Saturday morning wading through piles of clothes to find some items to add to our Jamaica wardrobes. I spent a total of $900 (about US$10.70!) on SEVEN things, many of which were name brands. (I know that Nikki will be happy to hear that, as appalling as it may be that I bought used stuff!) It was even cheaper than Salvation Army or Savers in the US! These Jumble Sales may really become my Target - I work at them and love to shop at them on a budget :)

My Jumble Sale Purchases

The Jumble Sale was a success for several reasons. First, I hadn't brought enough warm clothes or dressy clothes, so I was able to buy a long sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt (which I'm sure Ben will claim I bought only because it has a certain city on it), a couple of pairs of pants, and a dress. Second, I was able to buy all of that within my meager volunteer stipend budget. Third, I got to meet a lot of people at both Jumble Sales. And finally, fourth, a lot of the Jamaican people that we talk to are impressed that we shopped there and that we aren't "above" wearing those clothes. I think that it goes a long way in showing them that we are going to "accompany" them and live somewhat similarly to them this year.

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Just a quick thanks to those that have donated to PVI in recent weeks. I really appreciate all of your support, and I hope that your Thank Yous have reached you, as I have sent them back to the US to be mailed with anyone that I run into heading that way! Keep in touch, as I love hearing from all of you!

Jamaica - Six Weeks In

My observations and wisdom after six weeks here...

1.      Cold showers are much more bearable if you go for a run first.

2.     However, it’s a very good idea to check to make sure there is actually water that day before going for the run.

3.     Moths, grasshoppers, and spiders the size of tennis balls are not rare.

4.     You beep your horn while driving more than you use your brakes, not because you know everyone, but because the roads are so narrow and curvy you have to warn people that you’re coming.

5.     There are about 2 roads that I have been on in which you can go more than 100 feet without seeing (hitting) a pothole.

6.     Just about every Jamaican knows someone in America.

7.     About half of those people expect you to know the person that they know in America.

8.     It is assumed that you know all other white people on the island.

Our Final Move

On Monday we made our final move of the orientation process. We had been staying at Bosco Boys' Home for the week, volunteering with the boys and giving the departing volunteers a chance to spend their last week together. At Bosco we were without internet, but now that we have moved into our apartment I will be able to get internet close by, so I will try to post more regularly.

Moving into the apartment means that most of the realities of the year have set in - cold showers, periodical water outages (including when I got in from my run yesterday morning), sleeping under a mosquito net, and eating on a tight budget. As much as it was nice to have those amenities at the other places that we stayed, I understand the importance of living under similar conditions as those that we serve.

To fill you in on my past week, volunteering at Bosco was one of my favorite parts of Jamaica so far.
We spent the days hanging out with the boys on the play field, reading with them in the library, and going to their soccer games. Steve, one of the volunteers from the past year, had been coaching their soccer team all year, and they have been participating in a tournament the past couple of weeks. Natalie, Kathryn, and I went to their last two games (which they won), and we will be going to another this afternoon.

 This was taken in the back of the pickup truck with the team on the way to their game. We fit all of the boys in the photo below, as well as us volunteers in the truck!

I'll try to post some photos of the apartment this week and to answer everyone's emails. It's been great to hear from everyone, and I miss you all!

A final note: Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! (This counts as your card :) )