Troy, Trelawny.....my new home in Jamaica

After 5 days at my new site in Troy, Jamaica I'd like to share a few of my thoughts and experiences. Long story short, I requested a site change to rural Jamaica because I didn't feel like I was getting the experience in the town of Falmouth that I came here to get. I came in the Peace Corps really wanting to be rural and hoping to have a community to call my own. I realized that moving from the conveniences of town to the bush was going to be a difficult move, but it was a risk I was willing to take. I am still attached to the Trelawny Health Department in Falmouth, but am allowed to work out of the south end of the Parish of Trelawny. I recently finished a 6 page grant proposal to get our water projects off the ground, and I should know in April if we'll get the funding we so badly need. My fingers are crossed, but I feel hopeful about it.

• The first 2 nights I was actually too nervous and scared to walk into the main square, or to a small shop down the road I saw some kids dancing at. I was intimidated. I'm like a white goldfish in a fishbowl surrounded by Jamaicans. 
• My host grandmother is the absolute sweetest old lady I have ever met.  She cuts and eats fresh sugar cane like it's going out of style! I call her Momma Eda. She is a devout Christian, and wanders around the house singing hymns. 
• So I live with Momma Eda, her daughter, and her two granddaughters. I have a good-sized room on one half of the house with private entrances, bathroom, and a small kitchen. It's a perfect setup for my privacy, but I get good family time as well.  
• One night I got a sweet tooth so badly that I dipped peanut butter in Aunt Jemima maple syrup, and then topped it off with two shots of straight syrup! MMmm good. You gotta be creative when it comes to food and snacks round these parts. Plus I just love high fructose corn syrup.
• If the water is on the power is out, and if the power is on the water is out. That's life in the bush I suppose, and I'm already learning to just take it in stride. Bucket baths galore, however I did hang up my little solar shower bag. Thanks Dad.
• I have been studying for my GRE exam coming up in early May, but I basically suck at standardized tests. I'm hoping my good grade point average and Peace Corps experience will mask my probable measly score. I'm shooting for graduate school in Urban Planning at Portland State University or Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo fall 2010. 
• Watched the old classic Arachnophobia with my new host family the other night. That was a hoot. They were jumping and screaming!
• I sleep on a full size mattress(a step up from my twin and large enough for the ladies....giggity!) on the floor with my mosquito net surrounding me. It gets chilly in the bush, so I have been catching my Z's in my sleeping bag. It's just like crawling into the tent every night(minus the stars of course). 
• Hung up my prayer flags(thanks Noelle), New Mexico state flag, and put my 'fancy' door beads up over the bathroom door.
• Made up my favorite corned beef and rice with onions and crushed pepper sauce my second night. I never get tired of that meal. 
• I got a bit weary and homesick on the second day. I was too scared to leave my hole, and began to miss New Mexico. Next, I was questioning why I would leave the comforts of Falmouth only to arrive in Troy with sketchy water, electricity, and no internet. 
• Went to the new and amazing Troy High School on Friday and introduced myself to the whole student body and staff. I had a nice 5 minute speech prepared, but was only given about 30 seconds to speak. I was disappointed and relieved at the same time;)
• I have a crush on one of the teachers at the school. Jamaican women are beautiful!
• The little sugar ants infested my cereal today, but instead of throwing it all in the rubbish I just poured milk in, drowned the little bastards, and proceeded to eat my breakfast. I think I read somewhere that ants are an aphrodisiac anyways, so I'm not too worried about it.
• I have a sweet garden on the side of the house that I was told I can take over. I initiated the laborious weeding task yesterday. It's gonna be my new pet project to grow some of my own food. I've got farmers-a-plenty for assistance in learning Jamaican gardening. 
• I finally just took the plunge and hit the square and most of the tiny shops that are scattered along the main road. I introduced myself to many, and couldn't have been more pleased. The community has really welcomed me in warmly, and treated me so nicely. I seriously feel at home already in 5 days there. My host mother and grandmother are the best, and make sure my belly is full. I also do some of my own cooking. The principal of the high school bought me a stove and mini refrigerator,  and I got my gas hooked up yesterday. I'm officially ready to rock and roll! 
• Monday is water sampling day in the hills and into Troy, so I came back to Falmouth this weekend to catch up on blogs and emails. Monday I can help out the Health Department and get a free ride back to Troy! I have the best of both worlds now.......live in the bush, but come to Falmouth once/month to enjoy town life. My gracious host family in Falmouth allows me to stay here when I come up. Thanks Anne and Karl! You rock!
• Sooooooo, I feel really good about my move to the bush. I think this is going to work out just fine. I'm so exited, and have been having a blast already there getting to know everyone in the community. 

The Trelawny Yam Festival is coming up in 2 weeks, and I am super stoked about it. I requested to help out with whatever I can, and look forward to eating everything yam can be made into! 

Every day I try to remind myself that I have a roof over my head, food in my belly, a small stipend for spending money, and most importantly my health. Everything thereafter is a privilege and a bonus. Life is good:)

here's a bird's eye view of Troy for your enjoyment:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=troy&sll=18.33481,-77.510262&sspn=0.084081,0.154495&ie=UTF8&ll=18.246898,-77.610383&spn=0.010515,0.019312&t=h&z=16

Hades to Heaven

Courtesy of some former Peace Corps Volunteers here in Jamaica, I was able to link up with the Jamaican Caving Organization for 5 days of adventure and uncertainty. Coming in I had no idea what to expect, and what I didn’t realize until heading into the first cave was that this group of guys take this “sport” extremely seriously.

I rose before the sun on a Wednesday morning, and “smalled” up myself for the typical public transportation ride from from Falmouth to Ocho Rios, and then on to Ewarton, which is smack dab in the middle of Jamaica. The taxis won’t leave until we are packed in like salty and oily sardines, so as to make as much money as possible en route. Safety is no concern of theirs, or anyone for that matter here in Jamaica. Eventually you get accustomed to the drivers constantly attempting hazardous passes into oncoming traffic.

Upon reaching my destination, I engross myself in a conversation about Jamaican women and parties with a local Rasta man at a morning cook shop. Although I’m ALWAYS hungry I decide not to purchase any of the aromatic food, which consists of fresh cooked yam, dumpling, ackee, and vegetables. I will soon regret this decision.
I look south down the road from the corner and see what must be the cavers I’m supposed to meet here. The sweetest Land Rover I’ve ever seen comes muscling up to the corner and stops. A few gents exit the vehicle and approach me with a warm and friendly hello. Stefan, the super-funny-entertainer-when-drunk-but-dead-serious-when-caving Canadian helps me load my bag into the Rover. Jan, the half Dutch, half Jamaican hops up into the driver’s seat and hits the gas. We’re off like a dirty shirt!

We stop, unload, and gear-up in a community called Pollyground just a few kilometers west of Ewarton. Here I meet the remainder of the crew. Douglas, a Jamaican from Kingston, and two extreme cavers from Belgium named Kurt and Guy. No time is wasted as we gear up and head out for St. Clair Cave. I’ve been warned this is the worst, toughest, and nastiest cave on their month-long agenda. They assure me that if I can get through two days in St. Clair that I’ve earned a JCO t-shirt. Sweet.

A 35 minute hike through the bush brings us to the mouth of the cave. I look down, and for the first and honestly the only time I get a brush of anxiety. My heart starts to pound, but I hide my fears from the crew and just act thrilled. After lowering our bags, we climb down the 15 feet of tree roots to where the sunlight begins to fade, and the darkness begins. Headlamp on, rebreather on my back (37 pounds), and my backpack on top of that, I make way down into the abyss. The first section is rocky and downward. After a short section requiring a rope ladder, it flattens out and gets muddy and slick. A short distance brings us to a junction. One way leads to another entrance, but we hang a ralph and proceed deeper. This is where the “fun” begins.

Soon we are wading through water waste deep, and it’s quite chilly when it hits your nuts! The ground is rocky and jagged, so using hands on the sides of the cave is a must, especially with 45 pounds on my back. These rebreathers cost more than $10,000 USD, so I can’t afford to “mash up” this thing. Further and further we go, and the cockroaches are getting noticeably more plentiful. I stick my hands in them unintentionally for balance. I despise roaches, but I just don’t think about it. I gotta show these guys how tough I can be!

The aroma at this point is of extreme urine, the humidity is at nearly 100%, cockroaches are everywhere, bat soup water, mud, guano, and bat shit is flying into our faces! This is the largest sanctuary of bats on the whole island of Jamaica. There are hundreds of thousands of bats above our heads, and they are aware of our presence. I’m told to try to avoid shining my headlamp up into the bats, but I couldn’t help myself. A moving sea of bats 30 feet above my head. It was unbelievable, and one of the most rare and spectacular sights I’ve ever had the privilege to witness. The place is so noisy from the hundreds of thousands of “squeaks”. I won’t even exaggerate......at this point all these conditions coalesced into the most extreme and unfriendly atmosphere I’ve ever been in. It was difficult to concentrate and keep composure.
It was blatantly obvious at this point that humans were never meant to be in this environment. I was still having the time of my life though!

Thankfully, the intensity of that section passed as we moved deeper into the earth. The next challenge was body-tight crawl spaces, not for the claustrophobic or faint of heart. We formed a chain to pass bags and gear, and managed to negotiate through about 15 meters of crawl spaces. The O2 sensors were showing clear signs of depleted air. We were filthy at this point and panting heavily. A quick break, and we were on our way again. More and more up and down, crawling, wading and scrambling brings us to a bottle-neck of toppled boulders. This is where unload the rebreathers and all heavy gear for our record decent the following day. I was elated when I realized this was it for today as I had skipped lunch. I had only eaten a fried egg and two pieces of toast all day, and was shaking on fumes. We reverse our path, and worked our way back through the shit storm. With heavy loads off, we make good time getting ourselves out.

With gear cached, the next day we do the same thing all over again. Round two we get a killer breakfast of boiled eggs, bread, and fried dumplin’. We get back to the bottle-neck in 2 hours 5 minutes. The O2 levels are worse this day unfortunately. Oxygen at he bottle-neck reads 14.4 compared to 20.9 at the entrance to the cave. Breathing is difficult. Stefan is worn out, and decides to stay at the bottle-neck. Jan isn’t quite sure what he’s gonna do yet. I help out the good ol’ boys from Belgium in loading on their custom made rebreather apparatus, and follow them to the terminus of my expedition. I assist them in getting all their cables and lights in order, and assuring their O2 sensors are in place and working. Only one other person has ever been this far into St. Clair Cave! I feel strong, and my breathing is well under control. I don’t ask outright, but instead hint that I’d like to go further. The answer is a no-go. I get a glimpse of what it might feel like for some mountaineers to be within in a few hundred meters of the summit of Mt. Everest and having to turn around. I was really disappointed, but this wasn’t MY expedition. I understood. Myself, Stefan, and Jan wait patiently for over an hour in a cockroach infested area at the bottle-neck for word from the Belgium boys. Finally we hear two blows on the air horns, the sign that they found the underground river and are on their way back. A short rest and we are on our way back out of St. Clair Cave. I man up and volunteer to take the heavy rebreather again on the way out. I’m sooo ready to get the hell out of this cave by now. I nearly lost my composure in the bat section on the way out. I can’t tell you how delighted I was to see the light of day beaming into the cave mouth as we neared the exit.

That night we walked up the road to a local shop and began to consume many, many Red Stripes, and chat heavily about the past two days. This is where I realize how dangerous and precarious our situation was. Oxygen levels at the underground river were less than 7. That’s one third of the amount of oxygen at sea level, and about the same as on the top of Mt. Everest at 29,028 feet above sea level. CO2 levels are extremely high as a result of a sugar cane processing factory above the underground river. Apparently they dump all their waste water and it seeps into the caves below. As a result, a bacteria that feeds on the sugar is in abundance. This bacteria suck up the oxygen, and discharge CO2 to mix up a deadly concoction of atmosphere. They said I would have died if I had been allowed to follow them to the terminus of the cave where the underground river flows in two directions. If anything had gone wrong down there, there’s nobody trained on the whole island of Jamaica to come in after us. This is real extreme caving! I felt like a badass, and earned my JCO t-shirt on this trip!

The next morning we proceeded to Kingston to Jan’s parents house to regroup, clean gear, and shower. I had no idea what we were in for. His mother had cooked us an unexpected and amazing meal including roast beef with sauteed mushrooms and onions, curry chicken, salad, mixed vegetables, baguette, irish potatoes, Red Stripes, and chocolate for dessert! That night I slept in a king size bed. In the morning I had a blazing hot shower, only my 5th hot shower since arriving in Jamaica last July. (yes, i count my hot showers). And just when I thought I’d seen enough cockroaches, one jumps out of my towel after my shower! YUCK! From Hades to a Heavenly meal, shower, and a good night’s rest in less than 24 hours! Along with piloting a Cessna and scaling Mt. Rainier, assisting a record descent into St. Clair Cave in Jamaica was one of the most rad things I have ever done!

For more info check out HYPERLINK "http://www.jamaicancaves.org" www.jamaicancaves.org

Funk, Falmouth, and the Future

I usually post a blog with a specific story in mind, or at the very least something funny. This time I intend to just bore you with some of the latest news on my end here in Falmouth, Jamaica. My last post was just after the holidays, and I was riding a high I knew wouldn't hold up much longer. 

I became frustrated with working 4 days a week at the Falmouth All-Age school. I wasn't doing much there but observing, and surely not promoting any health topics like the Peace Corps wants me to do. I thought one-on-one tutoring was the answer, but after a week of that I was forced to throw in the towel in order to maintain my patience in front of my students. My attitude and mood rapidly went into sharp decline, and I found myself spiraling downward into a nasty funk. They say it happens to all Peace Corps volunteers at some point. I began to question my purpose here, wondered if I can actually make any difference, and for the second time in 7 months, pondered the idea of leaving Jamaica. I actually pursued a high paying contract job in the Middle East that could secure me enough funds to pay for graduate school, and as the actual thought of leaving crept into my mind, I became saddened. My gut and my heart were both subtly informing me of my need to remain here, so rather than torture myself with making a pivotal decision, I threw out the idea of leaving. The benefits of toughing it out here far outweigh the temptation of money. 

I came to the realization that in order to maintain a healthy state of mind here in Jamaica as a Peace Corps volunteer, it would be vital that I find work that interests me, AND still satisfies my boss(although she doesn't seem too concerned with what I do). I tweaked my work schedule a bit to include working part-time for Jamaica's version of Habitat for Humanity. It is called Jamaica Abode, or just Jabode. Thanks Miss Delzie! I also had a nice conversation with the head honcho at the Falmouth Heritage Renewal. He agreed to let me come aboard with his non-profit organization to assist in whatever way I can to revitalize Falmouth's rich Georgian Architecture and history. Check out our website at www.falmouthjamaica.org to see what we're about. I have been helping out with the restoration of the custom windows in the historic Anglican church in Falmouth (I apologize for not having a pic......"soon come" as they say here). I was also not exercising and eating as much and as well as I should be, so I am taking steps to remedy that. 

I do have one success story I'd like to share with you, though. While working with Jabode last week, we made a huge difference in some peoples' lives. We got tipped off about a family living in conditions that are just plain sad and unacceptable.  A young man, his girlfriend, and their two children were literally sleeping under a tarp in a swampy, low-lying area near the highway. A mission group from Minneapolis, myself, and a few other random persons came together and constructed a make shift "house" for the family in one day with very little money. After construction and raising the foundation to keep out water, we painted it too. The family was eager to help us, and together we changed the lives of 4 Jamaicans. They were so excited, and that made it all worth it. That's when I had an epiphany, and remembered what's important and why I am here as Peace Corps Volunteer. It felt good. This is the kind of work I'd like to do more of while I am here. I hope to begin construction of a pit latrine in that same community sometime in the near future. 

As much as I love riding bicycles, I often wonder what took me so long to purchase one. I finally shelled out the cash, and with a few minor adjustments and a new flat black stealthy paint job, I have wheels! It looks like a police issue bike now, but I only did this to make it look less conspicuous. Cruising Falmouth on a bicycle is great, and it's a good way to put myself out there and meet new community members. "Yo whassup ladies!" I posted a pic of my new ride, proudly displaying my New Mexico flag in the backdrop. 

My host mother and I have been bouncing around the idea of confronting the dog problem in Falmouth since I moved in. Falmouth is overpopulated with wild, roaming dogs, mostly sick and malnourished. We spoke with the one and only veterinarian in the Parish of Trelawny, and he agreed to try and help if we drafted a proposed plan. On Wednesday I was spurred into action, and drafted up a professional project proposal to give to the Doc. With any luck, he'll give us the green light. Then it gets challenging. We need to write letters to animal institutions here in Jamaica as well as organizations back in the USA in order to get some grant money. Falmouth also has a rat infestation problem, and the dogs spilling garbage cans in search of food only makes the situation worse. We'd like to get enough money to spay/neuter approximately 100 dogs, build a small kennel that can hold up to 5 dogs, and small monies to clean up some and get 'em a few good meals. Unfortunately, if we have our way some of the animals will need to be euthanized as they are sick and suffering. Keep in mind this is only a secondary project(I realize that people here need help too, and I'm not some crazy animal rights activist). I'd like to get involved in anything that falls under community planning and development, so I can gain hands-on grass roots experience that will help me in the future in urban development. 

On the horizon: 

• Volunteering at the Donkey Races in Negril over Valentine's Day weekend (hopefully I can take out one of the donkeys on a date seeing that I'm as single as can be). 
  
• Computer lab construction for 3 days on the south coast in Black River at the end of February. 
• Studying for the GRE. I have a test date in Portland, Oregon on May 8th. I have a week to explore Portland, take the GRE, visit my brother, and visit the Urban Planning masters program at Portland State University. Exciting!
• My pops is coming to visit in March.
• I may even try my first Triathlon in April in Treasure Beach!

Thanks to all who encouraged me to stay when I was considering leaving. Just because I live in Jamaica doesn't mean I'm on vacation as many of you may think. I have bad days just like you do. However, I do realize my situation is way cooler than yours;) Peace. 

"Cut down the whole forest of selfish desires, not just one tree only. Cut down the whole forest and you will be on your way to liberation."             ~Buddha

Rooster Update!

Let's just say I took matters into my own hands, and the rooster is no longer an issue. And no, I didn't kill the crazy beast. Been sleeping like a baby ever since! 

2 brothers, 2 Holidays, and 2 disappointed Jamaicans

Well folks, I survived my first Christmas and New Year celebration in Jamaica. You don't expect to see much of a Christmas when you are outside of our cozy lil' bubble we call the United States, but in fact Jamaica is a Christian dominated society. The spirit was very much alive here in Falmouth, minus the cold weather and snow of course. There are actually more churches per capita in Jamaica than anywhere in the world. Contradictory to that fact, they also claim the second highest murder rate per capita, followed by South Africa I believe. Nevertheless, my brother and I get through the two holidays with only 2 minor incidents. 

After some sketchy snow delays in the motherland, Donnie arrives at the Montego Bay airport unscathed and in high spirits. We juke the tourist trap outside arrivals, and trek to the nearby highway for local rates back to Falmouth instead of shelling out the $14 USD. I love not being a naive tourist;) Tom, another Peace Corps volunteer in the local area, meets up with us in Falmouth where we proceed to the nonsense and craziness of the Grand Market. Donnie comments on the huge speakers in the street facing each other, which he claims doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense. I explain that this is Jamaica, and things are 'different' here. We stock up on all the necessities and accoutrements for our Christmas dinner, taking time to get a fresh cut orange, a giant Jamaican avocado, and 2 large grapefruit. My host mother has told me on numerous occasions how the cooking gas tends to run out in the middle of Sunday dinner, so I jokingly mention how the gas is going to run out on Christmas day. Unknowingly, we use the last of the gas for popcorn while watching a terrible Jamaican gangster film. I wake up Christmas day to my host mother Anne who is frantically trying to get the stove lit. GAS EMPTY on Christmas day, just as predicted! Perhaps I jinxed us by mentioning it the day prior, but I refute any and all accusations. In my 31 year quest for wisdom and patience, I decide that getting upset is wasted energy. Since my food stocks are on the fritz, aside from the Christmas dinner food, I decide to embrace the idea of peanut butter sandwiches for our fancy dinner. But then, just when all hope seems to be lost, a Festivus miracle!! Anne calls her Jamaican friend to inform her of the canceled dinner, but it turns out that her neighbor is a gas man. Within 30 minutes two frail gentlemen in their 50's come rolling in a fresh cylinder of gas! Christmas dinner is saved! Even Tom's pride and joy, two pumpkin pies, turn out to near perfection. No cool whip though:(

Donnie and I hitch taxi rides on the 26th down to the unspoiled and non-touristy south island area of Treasure Beach. We kill two days body surfing big rollers, drinking Q and Tings, and eating Lobster dinner before heading north and west to Negril. Here is where we encounter our first incident. Catching taxis on Sundays can be tough, but I manage to wrangle one down in Black River who says he can take us up the coast to Sav La Mar for $500 Jamaican dollars. Seems like a good deal to me, especially as I realize how great the distance. So when we arrive and I give him the 500 dollars, he looks at us like we are a bunch of idiots (which we are in his eyes). He claims that we owe him $5000 Jamaican dollars (which is like 60USD). I calmly begin to explain that he did say $500JD, and that nobody in their right mind would pay $60US dollars for that ride. Then to my surprise, Donnie busts in with his lawyer assertiveness and loudly tells the man that he did hear him agree to $500JD, even as I asked him if he was sure it was $500JD for both of us. The argument ensues, and voices raise. I notice a few standers-by aroused by the commotion. I tell the guy we can give him $1000JD, which is enough to fill his tank up, and that he's getting no more. I clip the one grand bill under is window wiper, and tell him I'm leaving. He insists that he's going to get the police involved. Meanwhile Donnie is still lacing into this poor guy. My heart is racing, but I'm holding my ground. I tell him that we both know the Police aren't going to do a thing, so we literally walk away leaving him obviously very pissed off. I never look back because I don't want to know if I about to get a machete to my back! We hop into a Negril taxi, leaving it all behind and nervously smiling about the whole situation. Welcome to Jamaica Donnie. 

A day and a half in beautiful Negril spent snorkeling, cliff jumping, and chillin out with a few other Peace Corps volunteers. More drama is right around the corner! We get packed into a mini bus like sardines, and most are dozing as the sun fades beneath the Caribbean Sea on the western horizon. I jolt awake to the sound of a big thud, followed by a vibration in the floorboards under my feet. Apparently the driver gave some poor canine a sooner-than-expected ticket to doggie heaven. I found it entertaining that the Jamaican teenager next to me turns to me and says, "That dog be dead, man." It gets better. As Donnie and I are walking from the bus park in Montego Bay up the street to the Falmouth taxis, we just happen to walk past a young man hobbling along with the use of crutches. Its dark by now, and for someone new to the area, could be a little spooky. Luckily, I'm familiar with these haunts. So the guy on crutches says something to get our attention. I try not to be rude, and talk to everyone. He says he's a "ghetto kid, and has no money". I normally don't give my money away, seeing that I'm a poor volunteer, but decide that I have a few small coins burning a hole in my pocket. Besides, it's the holidays. Literally just as I'm about to pull out some coins, he pulls out a rusty knife about 5 inches long. He is kinda mumbling and asks me if I know that everyone in Jamaica carries a blade. I insist that I know this fact, not feeling scared or threatened at all. He proceeds to tell us, "We don't want any trouble, do we?" Then he points across the street and says, "That Rasta man across the street has my back if you don't believe me, and we don't want any trouble." Donnie and I look, and its obvious he has no partner in this scheme. He insists that he doesn't want any trouble, and that money will avoid any of the such. I seriously just say, "No, I'm not giving you any money", turn my back to him and walk away, hoping Donnie follows my lead! Again, I don't look back to see if I'm about to be juked, feeling confident that a man on crutches won't prove to be a serious threat. Donnie and I kinda nervously chuckle again wondering if that really happened. You wonder what you're gonna do in a situation like that, and well, we just walked away and laughed. hehe. Gotta love Jamaica! It's actually a little sad because all the guy wanted was some money, and he saw an opportunity. Any other tourist would have more than likely freeked out, and thrown a wad of money at him. 

Back in Falmouth, Donnie and I head to Windsor Caves to meet Dango, our guide. He takes us on a dark, damp, but thrilling tour into the earth and into the bats' world. Then on to Time and Place Beach Bar, where if you've got the time, Tony has the place! New Years Eve party in Falmouth, with a nice variety of Peace Corps volunteers from around the island, kept us entertained for the night. Much better than last year when I fell asleep on the couch in my apartment, and woke up to the fireworks exploding in the Albuquerque sky. It gave some of the volunteers a sneak peek into the wacky world of the Kolb family! Good thing Sam didn't show up too because it gets exponentially worse the more Kolbs together at the same time. I even wore red boxers because I read in a Jamaican newspaper that red boxers on New Years eve will bring new love in 2009. The first day of 2009 also marks 6 months for me in Jamaica. I found myself proud that I've come this far, but still a little apprehensive about the 20 months ahead. I'm happy school comes back to life on Monday, as I have missed the kids of grade 7. 

2008 proved to be an amazing year for me. I achieved some personal enlightenment, graduated from college, conquered my fear of public speaking, served 6 successful months as a Peace Corps Volunteer, acquired some new and amazing friends, and much, much more. Thanks to you all for your support along the way. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for you all. May 2009 bring you happiness and prosperity! Godspeed! 

"Conquest breeds hatred, for the conquered live in sorrow. Let us be neither conquerer or conquered, and live in peace and joy."   ~The Buddha

SKYPE chat

                       Andrew Kolb

For those who wonder where i may be,

Merely mouse clicks away is where you'll find me.

For those curious about a Peace Corps volunteer,

Chat me up for some holiday cheer.

I call home a place called Jamaica,

Where work is plenty, but each day is a gala.

I'm trying my best to keep up with the hype,

So chat me up on this thing called Skype.

My Skype user name is:  nmziandrew

gobble gobble turkey day in Negril, Jamaica

Last Thanksgiving I was in Madrid, New Mexico with my brother, his wife, returned Peace Corps volunteers, and the local Madroids doing the drunken shovel rodeo over the campfire(nobody got hurt!) while the snow fell. I never would have guessed a year later I would be in Negril, Jamaica with 20 of the most inspiring, diverse, and amazing people I have encountered in my 30 years on this Earth. 

This particular weekend was initiated by a scary and most unexpected event, which luckily didn't curse the whole weekend. My good buddy Tom and I moseyed on down to the fisherman's wharf to see Reagan for a fresh ackee and saltfish breakfast. As we walked into this danky old shack, we greeted a gentleman quietly sitting on a bench. Upon ordering, we turn around and notice the man going into a serious seizure. He falls to the ground and Tom and I look at each other and ask Reagan if we should call the medics (even though Tom is one himself). Reagan insists that we leave him be as he does this often apparently. He informs us that when he comes to he cusses out anyone who touches him. We are both a little shocked, give each other a bizarre look, and decide to take our breakfast to go. 

2.5 hours later after "smalling up" in two taxis, one bus, and being called derogatory names in Montego Bay, we arrive in beautiful Negril. Ryan is there waiting, so we swiftly change into trunks and get over to the cliffs for some jumping and refreshing cool Caribbean water. I puss out on the backflip a couple times, and eventually we walk back to the Cleary's place. Next we follow some vague directions to where a local man lives who is constructing a new "house" or big room if you will. We volunteered to help him out. I spend the next 2 hours rolling gigantic limestone rocks from the woods to the foundation of the new unfinished shelter. Finally we take a long walk back into town, and on to The Canoe where we meet up with the rest of the bunch. We enjoy great food, 100$ Red Stripes($1.31 USD....I am currently on the wagon), and good conversation as we catch up with volunteers we haven't seen in awhile. 

I camped under the stars without the rainfly, and fell asleep to some relaxing music on my iShuffle. Saturday morning I walked a good mile or more to Burger King of all places. I know what you're thinking, but they serve Jamaica's famous Blue Mountain coffee and I had been craving a cup for some time. I sat there for a few hours reading a great book called Cadillac Desert. The remainder of this lazy day was spent cliff jumping again, and prepping for our gigantic Thanksgiving dinner. The Cleary's tracked down a turkey for about 45 US dollars! The feast was preceded by all 20 of us each taking a turn to share a few of the many things we are thankful for this year, and of course, a champagne toast. The food was amazing, and the moment couldn't have been any more perfect. As you may have predicted, the tryptophan and all the other food put everyone into a turkey-like coma. Before dark, we caught our second wind and walked down the street to famous Rick's Cafe on the cliffs.  Some of us, myself included, took the 40 foot plunge into the water! Awesome! I was feeling so confident afterwards, I braved-up and did a backflip off the 12 footer with a large crowd watching, and was very proud of myself;) One of the more interesting things I discovered about cliff jumping is that when I hit the water a nice shot of seawater blasts its way into my nose and further on into my sinuses. Even hours later I can lean over perhaps to pick something up, and drip drip, the seawater, by the wonderful force we call gravity, emerges once again. It's kind of a cool sensation...haha. The evening ended at a local bar where Ryan, who proudly played his Guns 'n' Roses cd, which I personally found a little annoying. Apologies to Axel Rose.

After a restless second night under the stars, I arose early enough to make it to the "BK Lounge" for another cup of coffee and an egg 'n' cheese croissant. Gotta have some food in my belly before a scuba dive! The waves were a bit choppy today, which made getting in and out a little tricky. Saw many bright sponges and a plethora of smaller fishes, but again no dolphins, sharks, or barracudas. I controlled my breathing much better on this dive, and after our short 32 minute dive I still had 1200 psi in my tank. We had to cut the dive a little short because my buddy Jason sucked up all his 2600 psi in 32 minutes! It's all good buddy. I was glad to come out with ya on your refresher dive. 

After lunch it was time to say goodbye to the bunch as we all headed off in different directions, and dispersed across the island back to our respective sites. It's always a little depressing getting into a taxi all alone and trekking back home after such a fabulous weekend. That feeling all goes away when I step back into my humble little place, and fall on my bed with an exhausted, but big smile on my face. I love this place. I still hate mosquitoes though.....just for the record. 

thanks to:

Tami for the mashed potatoes

Grace for the cobbler

Cecilia for the green bean casserole 

Jason Candido for the champagne

Jason Cunningham for the roasted yams

Shanna for the stuffing and pumpkin pie

Brian and Yvonne for the turkey and hosting us

Ryan for the Oreo cakesters...haha

Jess for the yummy veggie gravy

Jessica for the real mac and cheese

and to everyone else who cooked food i ate that i have forgotten! 

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die, so let us all be thankful."                           ~Buddha