The last week of training

Can you believe it’s been 7 weeks since I’ve left you? I sure can’t. To know that I’ve nearly finished my training in Peace Corps Jamaica is amazing. I’ve learned so much with only two months. I’ve become accustomed to the large trucks and their down shifts up the hill to become my morning alarms. I know the radio jingle to the popular fast food, Tastee. I feel nervous about where I’ll be placed, but to me it’s like when you were young during the holidays. The Christmas tree has been lit and the gifts are wrapped, and I know I’m getting a pretty stellar gift…but in my case here, I can’t shake it, or even peek the wrapping. I don’t know what’s to come! But I can’t wait!

Last weekend I went to a literary festival in Stony Hill, several drumming groups performed and there were vendors as well. The drummers were amazing! I kept tapping my foot to the beat, and one group actually invited the audience to go up and dance! I went up- and it was thrilling. ( drummer above)The beat and the performers showed us their rhythm with their feet and hips, soon enough I did the same! It lasted until late, and by the time I got home at 11:00pm or so I was ready for bed.

The next day, early morning, we went to the dam to meet the Agriculture/Environmental group. They live on the other side of the dam, so we planned a rendezvous. It took close to 2 hours, leisure walk to the dam. On the way we ate delicious fruit. I had mango, guava, begonia flowers (me eating the flowers below), cocoa fruit, and jack fruit. My stomach was smiling that day. I was happy to have such easy access to fruit! Yummm. When we arrived at the dam, we met the Agri/Envrio group and headed into the trees and took a dip in a waterfall! Ahhh, the water was chilly but a good change from getting eaten by the mosquitoes! I think we all walked about 8 miles round trip from the waterfall to Stony Hill.

This week I did my last few practicum’s for my youth development training. I went to a Women’s Center which helps young mothers and their babies. I talked to a group of girls aging from 13-16 years old who have 6 month old babies. I knew of girls in my high school getting pregnant, but I had not been exposed to girls so young with babies. It was a touching experience when I asked the girls about their relationship with their children. At the end of the meeting with them, we had them write a love letter to their child. That was my favorite part. The girls decorated the envelope and wrote To: baby from: your momma.

Another practicum we did was HIV/AID’s outreach in Stony Hill on Tuesday. I went with the HIV/AIDS advisor trainees and we talked to pedestrians about safe sex and both illnesses. Many people have a good idea of what HIV and AIDS is but didn’t know all the proper ways to protect their self. We had condom demonstrations on the road, and it made some nervous, but overall people continued on their way knowledgeable. I enjoyed learning about people and how to talk about these important topics. The training in Life Skills, HIV/AIDS, and use of Sports in Life Skills will hopefully all be used when I go to my site!
Tomorrow is the last day of training. AHH!! And so it’s bittersweet. I look forward to the next adventure on another part of the island. Yet I am sad that I have to leave this community that I finally feel integrated into. Sad face!