Blog 2: Alpha

The education system in Jamaica seems very different from what we are used to in America. From what I have seen, there is little structure in the classroom to keep the kids under control. The students have a lot of energy and need structure. When structure does come, it is very strict. I think of it as tough love. The administration and teachers are tough on the students because they want to be successful in life. In America, teachers still want their students to succeed, but they go about it in a more lovingly approach. Aside from the classroom structure, one is able to tell the love the students have for each other and their culture. They want to teach us Americans about Jamaica, just as much as we want to learn. Their curiosity for American is endless. I wish we could bring them back with us, so they could experience an American education first hand, as we are doing to learn about a Jamaican education. I am impressed with the teachers at Alpha Primary for dealing with tough teaching situations. It makes me sad to see the buildings falling apart and grimy. Some classrooms don’t even have crayons for the students to use. The classrooms are tiny, but everyone makes it work. They never complain, they just go with the flow. I strive to learn how to just roll with things that one cannot control. Even though in America we may think that some of the inner city schools are poor environments to learn in, I believe they’re better than what is happening in Jamaican schools. I think it would be helpful to donate school supplies to Alpha Primary because they have so few. Overall, I have enjoyed the experience here because it has given me a new perspective on what I really should be thankful for because Jamaicans appreciate the little things in life. 

Pre-Kingston Blog #1

The first week in Jamaica was better than I ever could have imagined. What kind of school trip takes students to an all-inclusive resort in the most beautiful country?? I couldn't believe the beauty of the sun, sand and ocean at the Jewel Resort. Being there for only a few days, I was so happy that each one of us had the same idea: get as much out of the time we were there as possible. One of my favorite memories from those few days will be bouncing around from ocean to pool to waterpark to hot tub trying to soak up every last drop of paradise. While we may have felt upset to leave the resort, Sea Cliff was equally - if not better - than the resort. I loved driving through the country to see the non-touristy side of Jamaica, that is really what traveling is about to me. Sea Cliff's views of the ocean were breathtaking, and the trips we took during our stay there resulted in some of the most fun I've ever had. It was unbelievable seeing the market, the blue lagoon, frenchman's cove, Reach Falls, and all the other sights. I was very surprised to see how few tourists were at these destinations - it just goes to show that many don't even leave their resort, and boy, are they missing out.

While the beaches, adventures, and views were more than breathtaking, the aspect of this trip that I will truly remember for the rest of my life are the people in this country. Not only are they beautiful on the outside, but they have such a fire for life and for others that I believe everyone in the world can learn from. For me, I won't so much remember the drinks I had but the people who made them. I won's remember the food I ate but the people who served it. And, I will forever remember being taught how to play Ludi until late in the night and talking to the Jamaican people about their lives and culture. It's not the destinations that make this country beautiful - it's the people.

Artistic Expression Post #2

A few days ago my group and I were blessed with the opportunity to visit Trench Town in Kingston, a neighborhood that acted as an inspiration for Bob Marley, and 56 Hope Road, Bob Marley's final residence. There was so much to love about these places: the history, the art, and, most of all, the people. When in Trench Town, a man named Breezy gave us a tour of the neighborhood. This man was so friendly, engaging, and was really interested in getting to know us. Once he learned that we were all future teachers, he deviated from his traditional tour route and took us to see a special education school. Thus, we were able to see a new part of Trench Town. Along the way, he pointed out an abandoned rail car that used to be a part of a railroad that passed through the neighborhood; now, it is used as a playground for children. Besides the abandoned rail car, we were able to see a lot of murals along this tour. One of my favorites said, "Education is the Key." The final experience that I would like to reflect on was my experience at the Trench Town Art Center. Here, I met Garfield, the man who started the studio. He told me all about how he ended up in Trench Town, not knowing that he was born here, and how in 2012 he started the studio to share his knowledge and passion for ceramics. Overall, my experiences in Trench Town were amazing, and I definitely left full of inspiration.

Below is a picture of me in front of the Trench Town welcome sign.

Blog Post 2: First Days at Alpha

We’ve finally started working at Alpha Primary School and I can’t help but fall in love with every student that I meet. We received such a warm welcome from the school when we arrived on Monday and all of the kids can’t help but play with our hair, touch our skin, and ask us questions about who we are and where we come from. They are all so respectful to us and adults in general as well, rarely talking back if ever and always addressing us by Miss which is really refreshing. It’s been interesting because they have testing all this week so in the class we just get to see their revision time and then the administration of the bi-monthly reading and math tests that they take. I am in the 3A classroom which is a bit smaller than the typical class here at Alpha (only 32 students) because they are the ones that are struggling with reading. It’s amazing to me how many students you can cram into a small little un-air conditioned room and still be able to keep their attention and their focus. Since the sixth graders had a big examination to take on Tuesday, they need the extra bench space so the upper grades didn’t have school then which included my third graders. I was a little bummed but it gave me the opportunity to get to see how the first grade classes are run. This day was pretty chaotic because a lot of the teachers were gone for a funeral. We quickly realized that while in America a lot of the fighting that happens in schools is verbal, here in Jamaica they are a lot more physical with each other and I can’t tell you how many times I had to break up some students from tackling and wrestling each other which was new to me. This day also showed me the importance of how having your regular teacher in the classroom because of how thrown off everyone was. But despite all the chaos I can’t help but still be amazed by how incredibly smart all these students are. There are first graders who can spell, write, and read beautifully when back in the states my first graders can barely read on their own. And they’re learning at such advanced rates even in the conditions they have such as large class sizes, lack of technology, small classrooms, and lack of resources in general. 

Blog 1: Our First Week in Jamaica

Some days feel long, but overall our time in Jamaica has gone by very fast, and I continue to remind myself to slow down and enjoy the moment without getting ahead of myself. It is easy to continue to look forward to what is next, while overlooking the present. Seeing the beauty of Jamaica and its people have reinforced to live in the present.
Staying at Runaway Bay was my first experience at an all-inclusive resort. I absolutely love the beach, so laying out and relaxing felt great! Seeing the tourist side of the island was fascinating, and many of us were wondering about how well-off resort staff are, so Dr. Egan recommended reading Here Comes the Sun, which I am definitely interested in reading because the book club presentations were engaging. On the flip side, we then went to Cliff Hanger where it was very secluded, and not many guests were staying there besides us. Visiting both Blue Lagoon and Frenchman’s Cove made for a jam-packed day, but it was worth it. Jumping from the rope was most definitely a highlight and would not have been possible without the help from our German friends. I’ll never forget clinging onto the branch like a koala bear, which is how people described me, just to get back on my feet and jump off the branch! Another highlight was going to Boston Bay Jerk Centre and playing dominoes with Roger and other locals. I learned so much about the game from the locals and they were very forthcoming when offering us advice for different strategies.

I’m still trying to bounce back from finishing last with Autumn during our tournament in class, haha. We said our goodbyes to the staff and dogs at Cliff Hanger and started our journey to Kingston. We ventured to Reach Falls with the help of locals who were kind enough to help us get turned around. The tour was incredible. Working up the courage to jump straight into the water was powerful and to trust myself to swim under the rocks when I could not see where I would end up. Having others around me that are more than willing to help out is also very reassuring.

So far, Kingston has been very fun with visiting Trench Town Culture Yard and its beautiful murals. I also loved the Bob Marley Museum because we could really apply our knowledge about his life after listening to his music and reading Catch a Fire. We were able to walk in the same place he walked which is incredible through Trench Town and his home on 56 Hope Road. With our “tourist-y” portion of the trip winding down before we went to the schools or the Reading Center, it could not have been scripted more perfectly because we met Usain Bolt while at Lime Cay beach. I still can’t believe it, especially since he was leaving a London nightclub at 5 am on Sunday as Emily read online. We had our initial picture opportunity, and he later tackled Scarlett which was very unexpected and all in good fun, at least for most of us.

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Blog #2; Initial reaction to Alpha

Blog Post #2: Initial reaction to Alpha

Many of us today started our "jobs" at Alpha. Kacey & I had the pleasure of observing two teachers since we started, Ms. Williams the head of the math department and Mr.Morgan another math teacher. As we all saw, Alpha is very different from our schools in the states. Within the classroom, there are many differences. The students don't move their classroom for the different subjects, instead, the teachers go to the students. Some classrooms have better classroom management than others, but like any of our classes, we always have students who will give us a hard time. It was nice to observe two different teachers because we were able to see two different teaching styles. Mr. Morgan likes to have the students come up and help him work out a problem, as well as making sure that everyone is on the same page as him.

As we observed the different classes, I kept connecting this to the school system in Mexico. At least in the town my cousins go to school, they stay in one class and the teachers come to them. But also, they have to wear uniforms as well as the structure of the classroom is very similar. I am interested in how similar they are in terms of curriculum, which I would like to look into. Overall, a pretty good two days at Alpha and a great first day teaching a lesson!

Blog Post 2 First Day at Alpha

Meeting the first graders at the primary school was absolutely incredible. Everyone there was warm and inviting. I loved seeing the curiosity each student had about Sarah and Myself. They would play with our hair, ask us if we were sisters, and questions my features such as my blue eyes and my freckles. These first graders were taking a math test today,  and it showed that they had the ability to think at a higher level. The teacher,  Miss York, had great classroom manamgent and it was a very positive learning environment. We were able to see these students, reading orally and answering complex questions in complete sentence. When one member of the class answered incorrectly, the rest of the class wanted to help and support them. I could tell that they are all interested in helping each other succeed. The first day was something I will never forget, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the week.

Beautiful Jamaica

Having arrived in Jamaica for the first time just one week ago today, I have had the chance to not only experience and embrace the beauty of the island, but also to reflect on why this place has been so amazing to me. In our time here so far, our group has lived in luxury at Jewel Runaway Bay, an all-inclusive resort, toured the New Seville Great House, learning all about the country's past, relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful countryside at the Sea Cliff hotel, went shopping at the San Antonio marketplace, experienced a street dance party, hiked through Reach Falls, went to Sunday service at a breathtaking cathedral in Kingston, and spent a lot of time soaking up the hot sun on some of the most pristine beaches I have ever seen - at one of which we met the fastest man on Earth, Usain Bolt! While I am thankful and blessed to have reveled in such fun and enjoyable activities and experiences, my answer to the self-proposed question of what makes this place so special has nothing to do with any of the things mentioned above. What I admire most about Jamaica is the people I've met here. Everybody I encounter welcomes me with a smile, appears insanely grounded in their perceptions about life, demonstrates thoughtfulness, and openly extends love, happiness, and respect. I truly feel as if connecting with people here has enabled me to uncover these qualities within myself, giving me a more radiant energy to carry with me for the rest of the trip and always.

Blog 2: Weekend in Kingston

Our weekend in Kingston was one of the best experiences as a whole that I have ever had. Visiting Trenchtown was really fascinating to see how that community leans on each other to survive and create opportunities for the future. Getting to talk to Stoneman and see the pottery shop were both really great. Seeing the reading center and getting to meet some of the children that attend the center was amazing as well. I talked to this one boy Kevar for about an hour and it was cool to hear about his life and experience in going to school and growing up in Trenchtown. I’m glad we were able to spend that much time there to connect with the children and staff. The Bob Marley house tour was also amazing and I impressed myself with how much I knew about him and his life as a result of this class! On Sunday, brunch at Strawberry Hill was breath taking with both the view and how good the food is - overall I have really loved all the meals we have had throughout this trip so far. Getting to spend an afternoon on the island was really beautiful and enjoyable as well, and getting to meet Usain  Bolt was just the cherry on top to an amazing weekend! Love this country!

Blog 1: North Coast

The first few days we were on the northern coast and had some full days of sight seeing and time at the beach! I really enjoyed the tour of the Seville house and learning more about the slave trade in Jamaica, which was more different than it was in the United States than I expected. It was interesting to see what the property looked like and what was preserved, particularly the graves for both the last owners and one to honor the slaves who had been there before too. I’ve also really enjoyed riding around in the country and seeing the beautiful scenery. Getting to talk to locals was really nice as well. I was able to have a couple conversations with people in Port Antonio and at Sea Cliff, as well as at the resort, and they were all helped me understand Jamaica and its culture more. I especially enjoyed talking to Roger and learning how to play dominoes much better with him. Getting to see both the tourist side and more of a local scene at the market and jerk center was a nice contrast to different sides of Jamaica that people can see. Been loving this country and all that we have experienced thus far!

Blog Post 1 —- Trenchtown and Reading Center

We got to spent time walking around Trenchtown and socializing at the reading center. This was an eye opening day filled with great experiences. During our tour, we got to walk each street and learn about the important artists that came from each block. Our tour guide, Breezy, shared with us how much the community looks after one another. He was popular and had friends on every block. The friendliness was contagious and I felt welcomed to be there. Not once did I feel unsafe. It is incredible that we get to have these “tourist like” experiences while we are here. I put it in quotes becusae we are indeed tourists, but most tourists don’t leave the comfort of their resorts. We got to interact with the members of the community buying beers, food, and just having conversations about our experiences so far. Along with the tour, the reading center was a very positive place to be. I was excited to see the students eager to read and get to know us. I look forward to our time with the reading center on Friday. Overall, this experience helped me see that community is in the forefront of everyone’s minds in Trenchtown. Breezy was very insightful, and I enjoyed the experience.

Blog Post 1: The Jamaica Experience

It’s been almost a week since we’ve arrived in Jamaica and I’m loving every second of it. The thing that I can’t seem to get over is with the exception of the first day and a half at the resort, we are getting an experience here in Jamaica that I don’t think we would be able to have as a tourist or just by visiting on our own. Dr. Egan and Dr. Scarlett have taken us to so many neat places that aren’t your stereotypical “tourist destination” so I’ve really found myself being able to immerse myself in the culture here and get to experience how they live here. Never would I have imagined myself going to the local jerk center, talking to the guys there with their different shops, enjoying the food, and then heading over to a dive bar and playing dominos with the locals or visiting Trench Town in Kingston. Along with getting to experience things I wouldn’t have done on my own, I have also noticed how genuinely nice everyone is here. I guess I had the perception going in that we would be seen as these outsider American tourists but that hasn’t been the case at all. Everyone here wants us to hang out with them and talk and they all wave and smile as we’re passing by. Finally, I’ve learned so far on this trip that sometimes you have to push yourself and get out of your comfort zone to do things that challenge you in order to get the rewards. Swimming in the blue lagoon is something I never would have done but I did and loved every second of it. And the boat ride to the lime cove island absolutely terrified me but I got to be on a gorgeous island and meet Usain Bolt in the long run. I can’t wait to keep having these experiences and to get to start working in the schools tomorrow. 

Artistic Expression Post #1

My entire life I have loved art and music, as they are a means of expressing one's passions and creativity. Consequently, I was extremely excited to experience Jamaica's culture and explore how their artistic expression is similar and different to my own, and how it is similar and different to what I have experienced in the United States. 

During the first portion of our trip to Jamaica, we visited Runaway Bay and Portland. These two places were phenomenal and I have already taken many experiences away with me. In Runaway Bay we were able to watch our professor, Scarlett, and my roommate, Sarah, perform with an act on stage. This was cool to see because the performer was skilled with balancing things on his head, but it was also cool because he was making connections with people in the audience. That night, we were also able to start our own outdoor disco. This was one of my favorite experiences at Runaway Bay, because the locals were surprised and happy to see that we knew the words to some Jamaican songs like: Welcome to Jamrock, Rock Stone, Smile Jamaica, and Here Comes Trouble. Another experience from the disco that was fun was seeing Egan dance with the locals in his Jamaican Element.

In Portland, we had many experiences as well. Two are of particular significance to my theme: artistic expression. The first was the market. I loved seeing all of the crafts and I thought that it was neat that Eric bought a drum and a flute and I bought a painting--they fit so well with our majors and personalities! I also learned that the people in Jamaica are very proud of their merchandise. For example, there was a craftsman that made small, wooden figurines and he told everyone that walked by that he made them. The second experience in Portland was the block party. Here, we listened to more authentic Jamaican music than at the resort, but they still played the songs: Footloose, the Macarena, and the Cha Cha Slide.

Below is a picture of a beach in Runaway Bay--Jamaica 2019.

Blog 1- Trenchtown and reading center

Going to Trenchtown yesterday has been one of the highlights of the trip for me so far, In class we discussed the bad reputation that Trenchtown has in Jamaica for being a violent place that many people avoid, but there is so much more there than the violence it is known for. Trenchtown is a vibrant artistic community where many artists began their careers, including Bob Marley. On each street corner there is a sign showing all the different types of artists who came from each street. We were also able to visit a beautiful pottery studio and learn how the potters create their work, this part of our Trenchtown tour was especially cool because I was able to purchase a beautiful vase with a great story behind it. After our tour we visited the reading center in Trenchtown, here I was able to read with a young girl named Sarah. Sarah was a very smart third grader who loved to read and sing. She told me that she started coming to the center after one of her friends invited her there. She in turn invited one of her friends and has now been coming to the center for a couple years. Sarah has a lot of family and friends that go to the center including her younger sister, I thought that was especially cool seeing the closeness of the students at the center. Sarah was especially excited about receiving new dictionaries for the center because we talked about what we like learning about and she loved learning new words by looking them up in a dictionary. She wants to be a teacher one day and I think she’ll make an excellent one, it was such a great gift to be able to talk to such a bright young student and I hope to see her when we return to the center on Friday.

Blog 1: First Coupke Adventures and Thoughts on the Trip

This trip has been an amazing thus far and already surpassed my expectations.  Before leaving for the trip I was super excited but had a few reservations. It is always a little nerve wracking traveling to a foreign country where you don't know your way around or what to expect. The first thing that I learned is that the people and the atmosphere is so friendly down here. Everyplace that we have gone thus far on the island we have been greeted with a big smile and whoever is there has been excited to teach us a few things and show us the ropes.  I feel like in our society we are not as willing to just walk up to strangers and start talking and hanging out with them. For example, the other night when we were at the bar after dinner at the jerk center we were all playing dominos and all the locals were so inviting and we're helping us learn how to better play dominos and learn the strategies that they use when they play. They we're also just playing and hanging out with us in general.  This would not be the case back home we are much more to ourselves in the states.

One of my original reservations had to do with the fact that I am an extremely picky eater. I wanted to be able to try all the national dishes but was worried about how much I would actually eat. I am quite proud of myself as I have tried quite a bit since being here. I have learned that I really like the sweetened condensed milk in my coffee and the patty are really good! Other stuff has been quite good but I don’t handle spicy food well so that has been a struggle. All in all I have had an amazing time so far on this trip! 

Blog 1: Trench Town

Today was my favorite day on the trip so far. I enjoyed exploring Trench Town. The people who have lived in Trench Town and currently do are very interesting. You can feel the close-knit community vibes there. When we were walking up and down the streets with Spikes and Stoneman, you could tell they knew almost everyone and were comfortable in the space they were in. Stoneman was really fascinating to me. He was so excited about the art supplies Dr. Egan brought from the United States because he does not have access to good supplies in Jamaica. I was fortunate enough to buy a canvas from him. This will be a souvenir I will be able to cherish forever. Everyone in Jamaica is so much more laid back than people in the United States are. It is a hard transition for me because I like a schedule to know what is happening next. I am learning to go with the flow more. The students at the Trench Town Reading Center were so eager to read with us college students. I hung around a sweet 11 year old named Ally. She has the brightest smile and the cutest laugh. She convinced me to eat the head of a sprat! It was an interesting experience, and I would probably eat it again. Also, we explored the Bob Marley museum, got ice cream, and went to Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records. I enjoyed each of those experiences as well, but Trench Town really stuck out to me. I am eager to go back next Friday to hang out with more of the kids from Trench Town. 

This picture is of Ally from Trench Town Reading Center:

 This picture is of the canvas I bought from Stoneman:

Runaway Bay - Nueva Sevilla House

Blog Post 1; Runaway Bay - Nueva Sevilla House

For our stop in Runaway Bay, it was nice to venture out of the hotel for a little while. When Scar & Egan just told us we are going to an old sugar plantation, I honestly didn't know what to expect. But once we arrived, the first thing that I noticed was the winding roads, then once you got to the top of the road this nice big white house. As we continued through the tour, it was very interesting learning the history of the house but also seeing all the interesting artifacts such as the limestone slabs. Something that I will always remember is how to tell if it's a great house: the walls, the floors, and most importantly, the view, overlooking the ocean. Nueva Sevilla house was a great adventure and I had a great time learning new information about not only the old sugar plantation but also the trees that they would use such as the pimento tree, the cotton tree, and the achi tree.

Blog Post 1: Runaway Bay - Tourists and the Natives

Something that we have talked in class, and I wrote about in my integrative paper was about tourists and the natives. We talked a lot in class about how the natives envy the tourists for being able to go to a new place.  While we are in Jamaica we do not want to be those annoying ignorant tourists, but friendly and open minded. My assumption from class was that the natives that worked at the resort were going to treat us just like any other tourists. However, we are not. We have studied the culture and the island. The natives did not treat us like outcasts. We were welcome and at the resort we made many many friends. One friend I got to meet was Barbie. Barbie is one of the entertainment directors at the resort and told me about how she appreciated our group knowing music and a little "Jamaican slang" as she called it. We talked about education and how this resort is just a stepping stone because she is one for right now. I was so in love with her and our conversation and how she did not treat me like an ignorant American tourist. I know our trip will be full of more friends to come, but let me tell ya, Barbie stood out.

Below is a picture of Scarlett and Barbie dancing on our last night at Jewel.