Arrival in Jamaica (Sunday - March 2, 2008)
We are back in Jamaica and the beauty of this country never ceases to amaze me.
Our flight left South Bend very early this morning. And thanks to the kindness of our friend E.V. who picked us up at 4:30 AM and treated us to a pleasant ride to the airport. Way before dawn.
We flew to Chicago where we waited for 3 hours to board our flight. After successfully boarding and getting an entire row to ourselves, we sat on the tarmac for over an hour waiting for the food and beverage service carts to be loaded onto the plane. After a very long day (about 10 hours total) we arrived in Montego Bay. The process of entering Jamaica is always amusing to me. Long lines of tourists who are eagerly awaiting the stamp in their passport. The customs agents always look at us a little funny when we answer their questions.
***
"What is the purpose of your visit?"
"We're volunteers. We'll be volunteering at the Clarendon Infirmary."
[Agent's eyebrow is raised. Perplexity expressed on his/her face. Who would go to the infirmary on their vacation?]
"Where are you staying?"
"We will be staying in Harmons, at the Harmony House in Manchester Parish"
[Facial confusion ensues. Harmons? They have never heard of Harmons. And it doesn't seem to be near the beach.]
"Is that a resort or hotel?"
"Um, no, it's more like a, uh, guest house. Yes it is a guest house."
[Silently the agent stamps our books, still a little befuddled. We get motioned to pass through the turnstile to pick up our luggage.]
***
I'm sure we're an oddity in the midst of the tourons (thank you MFG for that wonderful term) who can't wait to get to the beach and pina colada number 1, 2, or 3. I always wonder if the agents think we're lying to them, but then I figure there is no to use the "Infirmary volunteer" as a cover for anything so maybe they do believe us.
Our friend Don was waiting for us at the airport and kindly stopped along the 4 hour drive so we could pick up some food at the market.
Jamaican grocery stores remind me of what shopping in the 50s, 60s, or 70s must have been like. Small, intimate, a hodge-podge of boxed items and produce available. Other than allowing patrons to use debit cards, I think a lot of things must be the same. When I get home I'll ask my parents what they think.
We arrived in Harmons around 6:30 PM and finally met Mark and Emily who are an American couple living in Harmons full-time. Emily was good friends with our friend Pearl (who passed away in August) but we have never met nor officially corresponded until today.
We are ready for bed (to say the least) and looking forward to our first day at the Infirmary tomorrow. We know already that it is the head Matron's birthday so we have a little gift to convey our appreciation of her.
We hope to post again tomorrow with some photos but we are awaiting the password to get online with our own laptop.
More as soon as we can!
Liz & Ryan
3.02.2008
2.26.2008
We're headed to Jamaica again very soon, and with the continuing cold weather and almost daily snow, the warm temperatures are welcomed.
This March 2008 trip to Jamaica will be different from the others, and we find it amusing that I (Liz) have said almost that exact same phrase at the start of every trip. There are two major changes which make this trip significantly different from those of the past.
1) We won't be leading a team of volunteers at the Infirmary each day. In the past we have always had 4-6, sometimes even 8 other Infirmary volunteers with us. These volunteers ranged from medical professionals, students, non-profit gurus, to the manager of an acoustic folk duo.
And while it will seem a little strange that we won't have lunch with our handful of friends each day (when we commiserate, cry, or laugh.) I'm hopeful that my belief that there is always something new to learn in the quiet ways of life will prove true. This will be a "quiet" week at the Infirmary on many levels, but I hold onto the hope that this will pay out in the end.
2) Our work at the Infirmary will also feel quiet because our dear friend Pearl, who had lived at the Infirmary for the last 12 years, passed away in early August 2007. During each of our visits we treasured spending time with her, visiting with her about her life, her concerns, and hearing about how she reached out to support others at the Infirmary. We anticipate a gaping hole in our hearts as the reality of her death sets in during our visit. (Especially me - Liz.)
So what exactly are we going to do without a slew of Infirmary volunteers? We plan to spend our time conducting an informal "needs assessment" on behalf of the Infirmary staff. Our general goal is to carefully plan each successive step of this adventure of serving the Infirmary, to ensure that our service is truly beneficial to the Infirmary as a whole, and that each new implementation is sustainable into the future.
We don't want momentum to build up only to dwindle off after a few years' time and have begun to examine the ways in which we can better maintain consistent communication and relationships with those at the Infirmary when we are back home in the U.S.
In prior visits we raised funds (thanks to all of you!) to purchase a new commercial stove for the Infirmary.
The one they had been using for the last 35+ years had finally quit and they were left with only stovetop cooking until the new appliance arrived.In March 2007 more funds were raised to purchase replacement washing machines and hope to see that these are still working well given the amount of laundry that must be cleaned each day.
Part of the laundering process they undertake each day involves
1) soaking clothing in bleach water
2) transferring the clothing into a pot of boiling water for further sterilization
3) wet laundry gathering in piles waiting to be transferred to the one washing machine that worked.
(Dirty laundry is in the large pile on the left)We hope that the addition of 2 new washing machines (resulting in 3 machines at the infirmary total) purchased in March 2007 with your funds will have sped up this laundering process. With roughly 136 residents at any given time, more washing machines would be very useful. But we also know from our last visit that the boiler which heats water for the Infirmary is in need of significant repair. Future project perhaps?
During the last visit (Mar 2007) our volunteer medical staff offered a class to Infirmary employees on common medical conditions (heart disease, diabetes, etc) and we discovered that while this type of professional information is helpful, there are other avenues where needs are still unmet. We want to understand these needs, document them, and look for ways to help staff and the surrounding community meet these needs. Hence, a needs assessment is the next step to better understand the organization as a whole.
In addition to spending time at the Infirmary, we will also spend time at a local school where I volunteered last year. The computer lab at the school is anticipated to open on March 10th so we hope to be of service to the staff in making this a reality.
And perhaps the largest difference anticipate during this trip is the flexibility to relax, enjoy visiting with our Jamaican friends, and spending time together. While our previous trips have been truly rewarding, they have also been very tiring! As always, a lot of preparation beforehand is needed, and even more coordination on the ground has made our volunteering possible. This time we're satisfied to look out for just the two of us!
If there were a beach nearby and possibly someone to make me a daiquiri at the end of each day, it might almost pass for vacation. Okay, so that's definitely stretching it, but we are excited for a slower pace of service this time.
We'll post new updates to this blog as often as possible and we thank you in advance for your prayers, encouragement and support for our work in Jamaica!
"Tonks Mon!"
Liz & Ryan
*********
A few photos from prior trips.
Photos from the Infirmary:
Our friend Peter, coloring with some supplies donated by supporters (like you!) for use during recreational activities.
Liz & our friend Patricia who lives at the Infirmary.
One of our medical volunteers, Elaine, works with a staff member to clean a pressure ulcer and change a bandage.
Friends, old and new.
Photos from the School:
A student at the school creates a document using a laptop I was lent to use in my time at the up and coming computer lab.
Students begging to get into the computer lab.
A few photos from prior trips.
Photos from the Infirmary:
Our friend Peter, coloring with some supplies donated by supporters (like you!) for use during recreational activities.
Liz & our friend Patricia who lives at the Infirmary.
One of our medical volunteers, Elaine, works with a staff member to clean a pressure ulcer and change a bandage.
Friends, old and new.Photos from the School:
A student at the school creates a document using a laptop I was lent to use in my time at the up and coming computer lab.
Students begging to get into the computer lab.1.14.2008
Re-posted. Original publish date: April 11, 2007
I got a comment after the last blog post about one of my stylish shirts I was wearing in my photo with Winsome. It came from a friend who knows how much I disliked the shirt I was wearing so it was all in good fun. But this made me think that I might want to point out that the stylish and fashionable ensembles I wear in Jamaica are tailored to the local trends rather than those we are familiar with here in the States.
Back in February I visited my sister and we went to Goodwill one afternoon to see what conservative, durable, comfortable, and colorful (or if you are spelling it in a Jamaican school: colourful) clothing I could find for a good price. The key here was cheap and conservative if truth be told.
Goodwill happens to have sales on particular days so I was on the hunt for clothes with a red tag (the were only $1.00) and I found a number of items that would help me look both professional at the school as well as meeting my CDCC (conservative, durable, comfortable, colorful) requirements.
One note before the fashion show begins. You will notice in almost any photo take of me in Jamaica, I am wearing some sort of headband or fabric to pull my hair back. This is *not* how I wear my hair on a daily basis, unless I am in Jamaica.
My natural curl is stubborn and insistent that it do wild things when I reach the tropical climates and having a shorter hairstyle guarantees that I will either look like Kramer, Lucille Ball, or Little Orphan Annie. None of which are all that pretty. Then again, my attempts to control my hair through the restraint of a headband isn't pretty either. But I do try.
So, fashionistas, fashion police, and those of you who think you have some style....here it is. My Jamaican fashion show along with commentary. (Note that these photos were taken here in the U.S. for the express purpose of showing the awesome outfits I donned. These photos were not take "on location.")
The Teacher Dress
I have to admit that I really like this dress and would actually wear it in my everyday life. I just need to find the right shoes to go with it. My driver to school said "You look very nice today. Just like a real teacher." Encouraging words from a man of fashion about town.
The Orange Blossom
When I saw this shirt at Goodwill, I knew the color would be a perfect jolt within the Jamaican color palette, but I didn't realize how nicely it would fit me. Another item I may wear here in the U.S. This shirt has a built-in safety feature which may not be obvious to the Jamaican-traveling novice. It is perfect for "being noticed" on the road, thereby avoiding being hit by a car.
The Rural Teacher Shirt
This red linen shirt was clearly a more Americanized selection and it reminds me of some of the teachers I have worked with who are from rural areas (here in the U.S.) that seem to select a softer, muted color palette. This is actually the shirt I chose to wear on my plane ride home so as to better blend with the home country after getting off the plane.
The Rural teacher shirt has one accessory which I didn't notice during my travels. The "pricing" tag that came with it at the Goodwill store.
The Rural Teacher skirt is featured here with the Urban Trotter Skirt, a skirt which I personally embellished.
The Urban Trotter Skirt features a zig-zag stitching pattern in hyacinth thread providing a unique design and practical mend to unfortunate splits on some seams.
The Kool-Aid Shirt with Black Broomstick Skirt
The Kool-Aid shirt was what prompted the comment on the prior post. It was by far, the favorite of the Jamaican fashion writers and I believe it may be again due to the vibrant colors. While it does not have any slenderizing qualities, it does indeed turn heads in both the Jamaican and American cultures. The broomstick skirt made of linen is the perfect length for just about everything *but* playing hacky-sack.
The Ego Pants
The Ego Pants are a flexible (both literally and figuratively) capri with an elastic waist. While the exact origin for the name of these lightweight pants is not clear, speculators agree on two possible theories:
1) The elastic waist allows deflated egos to grow when you try on a smaller size and the pants actually fit.
OR
2) You cannot have much of an ego if you wear these pants in public. Especially in the rain as they do become completely transparent when they are wet.
I'm betting that #2 is the correct origin for the name of these pants.
This concludes the fashion show, as well as my ability to walk in public with any sense of dignity.
I got a comment after the last blog post about one of my stylish shirts I was wearing in my photo with Winsome. It came from a friend who knows how much I disliked the shirt I was wearing so it was all in good fun. But this made me think that I might want to point out that the stylish and fashionable ensembles I wear in Jamaica are tailored to the local trends rather than those we are familiar with here in the States.
Back in February I visited my sister and we went to Goodwill one afternoon to see what conservative, durable, comfortable, and colorful (or if you are spelling it in a Jamaican school: colourful) clothing I could find for a good price. The key here was cheap and conservative if truth be told.
Goodwill happens to have sales on particular days so I was on the hunt for clothes with a red tag (the were only $1.00) and I found a number of items that would help me look both professional at the school as well as meeting my CDCC (conservative, durable, comfortable, colorful) requirements.
One note before the fashion show begins. You will notice in almost any photo take of me in Jamaica, I am wearing some sort of headband or fabric to pull my hair back. This is *not* how I wear my hair on a daily basis, unless I am in Jamaica.
My natural curl is stubborn and insistent that it do wild things when I reach the tropical climates and having a shorter hairstyle guarantees that I will either look like Kramer, Lucille Ball, or Little Orphan Annie. None of which are all that pretty. Then again, my attempts to control my hair through the restraint of a headband isn't pretty either. But I do try.
So, fashionistas, fashion police, and those of you who think you have some style....here it is. My Jamaican fashion show along with commentary. (Note that these photos were taken here in the U.S. for the express purpose of showing the awesome outfits I donned. These photos were not take "on location.")
The Teacher Dress
I have to admit that I really like this dress and would actually wear it in my everyday life. I just need to find the right shoes to go with it. My driver to school said "You look very nice today. Just like a real teacher." Encouraging words from a man of fashion about town.
The Orange Blossom
When I saw this shirt at Goodwill, I knew the color would be a perfect jolt within the Jamaican color palette, but I didn't realize how nicely it would fit me. Another item I may wear here in the U.S. This shirt has a built-in safety feature which may not be obvious to the Jamaican-traveling novice. It is perfect for "being noticed" on the road, thereby avoiding being hit by a car.
The Rural Teacher Shirt
This red linen shirt was clearly a more Americanized selection and it reminds me of some of the teachers I have worked with who are from rural areas (here in the U.S.) that seem to select a softer, muted color palette. This is actually the shirt I chose to wear on my plane ride home so as to better blend with the home country after getting off the plane.
The Rural teacher shirt has one accessory which I didn't notice during my travels. The "pricing" tag that came with it at the Goodwill store.
The Rural Teacher skirt is featured here with the Urban Trotter Skirt, a skirt which I personally embellished.
The Urban Trotter Skirt features a zig-zag stitching pattern in hyacinth thread providing a unique design and practical mend to unfortunate splits on some seams.The Kool-Aid Shirt with Black Broomstick Skirt
The Kool-Aid shirt was what prompted the comment on the prior post. It was by far, the favorite of the Jamaican fashion writers and I believe it may be again due to the vibrant colors. While it does not have any slenderizing qualities, it does indeed turn heads in both the Jamaican and American cultures. The broomstick skirt made of linen is the perfect length for just about everything *but* playing hacky-sack.The Ego Pants
The Ego Pants are a flexible (both literally and figuratively) capri with an elastic waist. While the exact origin for the name of these lightweight pants is not clear, speculators agree on two possible theories:
1) The elastic waist allows deflated egos to grow when you try on a smaller size and the pants actually fit.
OR
2) You cannot have much of an ego if you wear these pants in public. Especially in the rain as they do become completely transparent when they are wet.
I'm betting that #2 is the correct origin for the name of these pants.
This concludes the fashion show, as well as my ability to walk in public with any sense of dignity.
Re-posted. Original Publish Date: April 3, 2007
I have returned from Jamaica - but was unable to post this before I left Jamaica. I am so happy to be home again! Enjoy reading.
=====
It has been a long 2 weeks in Jamaica for me - I've spent time at the local school and 5 days at the Infirmary.
I can't say that I am sad to be leaving Jamaica this time, certainly not as sad as I was back in November. Some of my earlier posts have reflected my frustration and I would say that much of the time here I have been fighting frustration and also fighting myself in ways.
At the end of our time at the infirmary I realized that all the things I had seen and the stories I had heard, had changed my perspective about the residents, staff, and management at the infirmary. And I must admit that at this point I really need a break from thinking about any of them.
In many ways, the truth about my love for those people and the infirmary as a place has been put to the test. I know that in all relationships the feelings can "fade" and one true test is the passage of time. Will I choose to continue loving or will I succumb to my disappointment in others?
I suppose that I have succumbed to disappointment momentarily but I know that what I believe stands firm - those at the infirmary (staff and residents alike) are humans who deserve love and to know a life of peace and grace. For the time being I am part of a larger group who extends love, peace and grace to those who work and live at the infirmary.
I realized by last Friday that the infirmary was a puzzle to me. The staff have a series of puzzle pieces, the leadership has some puzzle pieces, and the residents have many puzzles pieces that all fit together in some shape that I can't quite make out. In fact, I wonder if they all have pieces to the same puzzle at times.
All the pieces must fit together, it's just difficult to see what the puzzle, once assembled, is showing me. I don't know yet and I think it will take some time before I do. It seems like I can see some of the picture, but I'm not yet confident that the view I have is correct.
After leaving the infirmary and saying goodbye to our team on Sunday, I have been spending my nights at the home of Winsome Rose, a lovely woman who is heavily involved in the Won by One ministry and serves on their board of directors.
Every night I have grown to enjoy her company more and more. Around me, she is quiet for the most part and she graciously puts up with my many questions.
"What foods do Jamaicans dislike that Americans love?"
black olives
"What do you call Junebugs?"
guungu bugs
"Who are your friends in Harmons?"
none - she has many many cousins and extended family here, so she doesn't really have friends in Harmons, just family.
"When was your first trip to the States?"
2004 (which was also when she took her first plane ride)
(This was as far as I got in my post before I flew home...but I have finished the post below)
=========
Before I departed, Winsome gave me a big hug and told me to call her when I got home. I called her and she said how much she had missed me the previous night. It seems she must have missed sitting on the veranda with me and my endless questions. I think that I can safely say that Winsome is my friend and she will continue to be. At last a puzzle that seems easy to piece together.
I have returned from Jamaica - but was unable to post this before I left Jamaica. I am so happy to be home again! Enjoy reading.
=====
It has been a long 2 weeks in Jamaica for me - I've spent time at the local school and 5 days at the Infirmary.
I can't say that I am sad to be leaving Jamaica this time, certainly not as sad as I was back in November. Some of my earlier posts have reflected my frustration and I would say that much of the time here I have been fighting frustration and also fighting myself in ways.
At the end of our time at the infirmary I realized that all the things I had seen and the stories I had heard, had changed my perspective about the residents, staff, and management at the infirmary. And I must admit that at this point I really need a break from thinking about any of them.
In many ways, the truth about my love for those people and the infirmary as a place has been put to the test. I know that in all relationships the feelings can "fade" and one true test is the passage of time. Will I choose to continue loving or will I succumb to my disappointment in others?
I suppose that I have succumbed to disappointment momentarily but I know that what I believe stands firm - those at the infirmary (staff and residents alike) are humans who deserve love and to know a life of peace and grace. For the time being I am part of a larger group who extends love, peace and grace to those who work and live at the infirmary.
I realized by last Friday that the infirmary was a puzzle to me. The staff have a series of puzzle pieces, the leadership has some puzzle pieces, and the residents have many puzzles pieces that all fit together in some shape that I can't quite make out. In fact, I wonder if they all have pieces to the same puzzle at times.
All the pieces must fit together, it's just difficult to see what the puzzle, once assembled, is showing me. I don't know yet and I think it will take some time before I do. It seems like I can see some of the picture, but I'm not yet confident that the view I have is correct.
After leaving the infirmary and saying goodbye to our team on Sunday, I have been spending my nights at the home of Winsome Rose, a lovely woman who is heavily involved in the Won by One ministry and serves on their board of directors.
Every night I have grown to enjoy her company more and more. Around me, she is quiet for the most part and she graciously puts up with my many questions.
"What foods do Jamaicans dislike that Americans love?"
black olives
"What do you call Junebugs?"
guungu bugs
"Who are your friends in Harmons?"
none - she has many many cousins and extended family here, so she doesn't really have friends in Harmons, just family.
"When was your first trip to the States?"
2004 (which was also when she took her first plane ride)
(This was as far as I got in my post before I flew home...but I have finished the post below)
=========
Before I departed, Winsome gave me a big hug and told me to call her when I got home. I called her and she said how much she had missed me the previous night. It seems she must have missed sitting on the veranda with me and my endless questions. I think that I can safely say that Winsome is my friend and she will continue to be. At last a puzzle that seems easy to piece together.
Re-posted. Original Publish date: March 28, 2007
Since my (Elizabeth) first trip in 2004 Ryan and I have been trying to find ways to return to Jamaica. The first return was in November (2006) and now we are here again. We have been quite literally planning for these days and nights for 2 1/2 years and more specifically we have been planning to serve at the infirmary during week-long trips for the last year. It has been a good but also tiring process.
We've just completed 3 days at the infirmary and it has been an interesting experience, especially compared to our last trip. I think this is in part because the dynamics of our prior group were vastly different from the current group.
We are again 5 professionals with varied skills (but all sharing passionate hearts) except that this time we have included 5 students with every day-long visit. It is interesting to see how the different college students respond to their time at the infirmary. Some are immediately captivated and express a sense of "calling" to be there. One particular student came to the infirmary yesterday (Tuesday) and was blazing with a sense of injustice that others would live in such dire conditions.
He decided to work on house building today with the rest of the college student teams, but when the full Won by One student team came to visit the infirmary today for about 90 minutes, he immediately approached me as I worked on crafts with some of the women. He was beaming, so I asked him how the housebuilding had gone.
He shared that it had been fun, but he "knew where he belonged" and it was clear at that moment that he would be spending the remainder of his trip with us at the infirmary. It is encouraging and inspiring to see such ferocity and compassion in someone at the same time.
Personally, I have been struggling on this trip - realizing more about my selfish nature and realizing that a part of me wants to be needed by those at the infirmary. The moments where I saw Silvia walk on her own (using a newly donated walker) brought me to tears and it was in that same moment that I realized she would no longer use her "death grip" to cling to any of us in order to move around.
It was a scene of freedom for Silvia which made me feel elated. And yet at the same time a very dark part of my heart became afraid that this was could be one of the many first steps toward not being needed by these new friends. It was a feeling of devastation within my heart, and also a feeling of shame that I would somehow want people to be limited so that I could serve them. Could this really be a part of my heart?
It wasn't until this morning that I was reminded that friendship holds times of joy and sorrow, gain and loss. In friendship, you need a friend who can relate in a reciprocal way, not a donor who can network or fundraise on your behalf. So my friends at the infirmary still need me - simply because we are friends, and people need people. They may need some of the money and supplies I can get donated, but more importantly they need an advocate, a friend, someone to hold their hand in joy and in sadness. The joy of reuniting and the sadness of parting, which will happen very soon. Too soon.
I think my expectations for this trip have not matched reality - I anticipated that I would feel deeply moved during my time here as I have in the past - in a very positive way. And yet I have found myself frustrated much of the time. Stymied in some way which I find difficult to articulate.
I suppose a classic example of feeling at a loss or socially bewildered has just happened to me. Needing a break from the group and a moment to myself to simply reflect, I have took to our bedroom to write this blog post. All of the team and a ton of our Jamaican friends are out in the "courtyard" watching a movie on the big screen that Won by One has set up, using a digital projector to play the movie. It is a rare treat for the Jamaicans to see a movie on the big screen so the night has drawn a big crowd.
Just moments ago I needed to run out to say hello to our Won by One driver and give him a gift I had brought with me for his help in taking me to the airport next week. I peered into the courtyard after we spoke and saw an older woman who I had met back in 2004. She was difficult to talk to then - a woman of few words, and those few words were often tinted with a bit of bluntness which I always find hard to deal with.
As I peered into the courtyard she saw me from the aisle and waved at me to come over, looking excited. The person sitting next to her had just gotten up and left the empty popcorn bowl in the seat next to her, and from the way she motioned as well as what I *thought* she said, I went around to sit in the newly vacated seat. I was a little too quick to take this greeting as a gesture for me to join her, even though we had sat next to one another during the movie we watched during our November trip.
As I bent down to sit on the bench next to her, she raised the popcorn bowl and said - "get more popcorn." So I took the bowl, shaking my head in disbelief and allowed someone else to take it back out the crowd. I'm a little spent emotionally it seems (AND I didn't sleep well last night) so I decided that was enough for one night and returned to the computer and empty bedroom.
Sometimes we don't get to be everybody's friend, just their popcorn-getter. To everything there is a season. I guess I will just ride through this season and look forward to the next.
We still have 2 days left at the infirmary and I think that things will slow down a bit for me tomorrow and Friday. Tomorrow I plan to relax a bit more, enjoy making cards with my friends, visit with Pearl, and relax in the sense of light, freedom, and proximity to Christ that I feel when I am at the infirmary. It seems paradoxical but it is what I now experience when I am there, among my friends.
Here are some photos from the trip:
New artwork Evelyn created with markers and paper we left with her in November 2006.
Crafts made by Infirmary residents using the art supplies we brought with us.
(Photo frames, greeting cards, crosses)
Since my (Elizabeth) first trip in 2004 Ryan and I have been trying to find ways to return to Jamaica. The first return was in November (2006) and now we are here again. We have been quite literally planning for these days and nights for 2 1/2 years and more specifically we have been planning to serve at the infirmary during week-long trips for the last year. It has been a good but also tiring process.
We've just completed 3 days at the infirmary and it has been an interesting experience, especially compared to our last trip. I think this is in part because the dynamics of our prior group were vastly different from the current group.
We are again 5 professionals with varied skills (but all sharing passionate hearts) except that this time we have included 5 students with every day-long visit. It is interesting to see how the different college students respond to their time at the infirmary. Some are immediately captivated and express a sense of "calling" to be there. One particular student came to the infirmary yesterday (Tuesday) and was blazing with a sense of injustice that others would live in such dire conditions.
He decided to work on house building today with the rest of the college student teams, but when the full Won by One student team came to visit the infirmary today for about 90 minutes, he immediately approached me as I worked on crafts with some of the women. He was beaming, so I asked him how the housebuilding had gone.
He shared that it had been fun, but he "knew where he belonged" and it was clear at that moment that he would be spending the remainder of his trip with us at the infirmary. It is encouraging and inspiring to see such ferocity and compassion in someone at the same time.
Personally, I have been struggling on this trip - realizing more about my selfish nature and realizing that a part of me wants to be needed by those at the infirmary. The moments where I saw Silvia walk on her own (using a newly donated walker) brought me to tears and it was in that same moment that I realized she would no longer use her "death grip" to cling to any of us in order to move around.
It was a scene of freedom for Silvia which made me feel elated. And yet at the same time a very dark part of my heart became afraid that this was could be one of the many first steps toward not being needed by these new friends. It was a feeling of devastation within my heart, and also a feeling of shame that I would somehow want people to be limited so that I could serve them. Could this really be a part of my heart?
It wasn't until this morning that I was reminded that friendship holds times of joy and sorrow, gain and loss. In friendship, you need a friend who can relate in a reciprocal way, not a donor who can network or fundraise on your behalf. So my friends at the infirmary still need me - simply because we are friends, and people need people. They may need some of the money and supplies I can get donated, but more importantly they need an advocate, a friend, someone to hold their hand in joy and in sadness. The joy of reuniting and the sadness of parting, which will happen very soon. Too soon.
I think my expectations for this trip have not matched reality - I anticipated that I would feel deeply moved during my time here as I have in the past - in a very positive way. And yet I have found myself frustrated much of the time. Stymied in some way which I find difficult to articulate.
I suppose a classic example of feeling at a loss or socially bewildered has just happened to me. Needing a break from the group and a moment to myself to simply reflect, I have took to our bedroom to write this blog post. All of the team and a ton of our Jamaican friends are out in the "courtyard" watching a movie on the big screen that Won by One has set up, using a digital projector to play the movie. It is a rare treat for the Jamaicans to see a movie on the big screen so the night has drawn a big crowd.
Just moments ago I needed to run out to say hello to our Won by One driver and give him a gift I had brought with me for his help in taking me to the airport next week. I peered into the courtyard after we spoke and saw an older woman who I had met back in 2004. She was difficult to talk to then - a woman of few words, and those few words were often tinted with a bit of bluntness which I always find hard to deal with.
As I peered into the courtyard she saw me from the aisle and waved at me to come over, looking excited. The person sitting next to her had just gotten up and left the empty popcorn bowl in the seat next to her, and from the way she motioned as well as what I *thought* she said, I went around to sit in the newly vacated seat. I was a little too quick to take this greeting as a gesture for me to join her, even though we had sat next to one another during the movie we watched during our November trip.
As I bent down to sit on the bench next to her, she raised the popcorn bowl and said - "get more popcorn." So I took the bowl, shaking my head in disbelief and allowed someone else to take it back out the crowd. I'm a little spent emotionally it seems (AND I didn't sleep well last night) so I decided that was enough for one night and returned to the computer and empty bedroom.
Sometimes we don't get to be everybody's friend, just their popcorn-getter. To everything there is a season. I guess I will just ride through this season and look forward to the next.
We still have 2 days left at the infirmary and I think that things will slow down a bit for me tomorrow and Friday. Tomorrow I plan to relax a bit more, enjoy making cards with my friends, visit with Pearl, and relax in the sense of light, freedom, and proximity to Christ that I feel when I am at the infirmary. It seems paradoxical but it is what I now experience when I am there, among my friends.
Here are some photos from the trip:
New artwork Evelyn created with markers and paper we left with her in November 2006.
Crafts made by Infirmary residents using the art supplies we brought with us.
(Photo frames, greeting cards, crosses)
Re-posted. Original publish date: March 24, 2007
We survived Friday at the school, and in fact things went quite well. I have realized that I may be better at working with kids than with adults. At least I enjoy it more. Maybe it has something to do with my "control issues." Don't worry, I know you were thinking it as well.
We got to the school around 9:00 and of course school was supposed to have started at 8:30 but hadn't begun yet. The teachers weren't in their classrooms and of course the students weren't either. It was a bit hectic really. Who says that school uniforms are the key to uniformity?
The particular teacher who had been rather rude on Thursday was less so on Friday, although she gave me a nickname with an attitude in her voice which seemed to imply that the nickname wasn't friendly. I'm now called "Betty." I will try to accept my new name with grace, and as my Mother would probably say, "It's better than being called Liz." So at least one person is probably happy with the new name - please enjoy this moment Mom.
Around the time of the lunch break (10:30 to 12:30) my stubborn teacher came to see the software we'd brought in and spent the morning cataloguing. She was thrilled to be using one of the laptops and we even caught her singing along to one of the songs in the particular program. Eventually students began to wander in and gather around the teachers sitting at the laptops - it was fascinating.
They were so intrigued! I think the most dismaying part was that the teachers didn't encourage the students to try the computers, in fact they said nothing to the students and ignored them completely. It raised my fears that the lab will be a teacher's toy and haven, rather than a place of student & teacher engagement.
After the teachers left I kept a few students behind to work with them on the computers on the basic things like "this is the mouse...it lets you move around in the computer. You can use your fingers to click the mouse and tell the computer what you want to do"
During this more private student time there was a continual stream of students peeking in the windows from across the room. I truly felt bad that they couldn't all come in, but sometimes you have to start small I guess. I had to start very small since the 15 kids waiting around were too much to handle. About 5 kids stayed around (we had to scoot the others out) to use one of the younger aged software programs and I started working with one boy on PowerPoint with visions of creating his own story in Powerpoint (it is a great organization tool for kids' stories) down the line.
After my earlier post, a friend asked me via email why I thought the teachers were naive. I see them as naive because they look at this computer as their savior it seems - the thing that will save them from doing their job. The computer is the thing that will get blamed when the students don't perform any better after using them, when in fact the reasons for low student performance have nothing to do with whether or not you have access to computer technologies. It has everything to do with the quality of teaching, the support of families, the support of governments, and a host of other variables. I see these teachers as naive because they simply don't recognize that the technology isn't going to teach itself to the children - it is going to require a lot of time from the teachers and a big supply of patience which they don't seem to exhibit. Using computers in the classroom doesn't guarantee better student performance or better behavior.
I realize that the teaching methodologies can vary widely throughout the world and even within the same school building. But some of the things I have seen at this school haven't built my confidence in the teachers' ability to plan ahead so that the technology is well used and integrated into the curriculum. They don't understand why it would be important to find out more about student attitudes toward the computers, they don't see any value in establishing a technology plan to lay out the goals and methods to achieve the goals that the teachers want to accomplish in the next 3 months, 6 months, and one year. Perhaps I see the value in these things because we have already been through this phase in the US school system and we have learned the lessons which I want to spare them. The lessons I think they should have learned by "watching" teachers in other places for the last 15-20 years.
Even worse, my confidence is sorely lacking that they will be able to pass on the knowledge they do have in using the computers because of many things I have seen at the school but also one particular comment which really bothered me.
On Thursday, the 4th and 5th graders were working on the new concept of algebraic equations. The day before they had learned about what happens when you try to balance an equation to figure out what the variable is. They had learned about equations using addition and subtraction. After just a single lesson their teacher had moved them on to algebraic equations using multiplication and division and it was clear that there had not been any time to practice what had been learned or to actually understand what it means when you have a variable in an equation. The students didn't seem to understand the concepts of balancing an equation at all in fact.
As one student struggled to tell the class what 35 divided by 5 was, the teacher said aloud to the the girl in front of the class:
"This is very shameful that you do not know your 5 times tables, for they are the easiest of them all."
Now, maybe it IS a shameful thing to not know your 5 times tables when you are in 4th or 5th grade and maybe for some people they are the easiest of all to learn. But this punitive response doesn't help a child to understand the times tables or to memorize them with any heartfelt desire. I imagine it does quite the opposite and squelching a young female child in math angers me a lot. Perhaps the teacher realizes that the young girl will never make it to high school, but humiliation is never the key to helping someone learn. Not her nor the other children who are silently watching the lesson unfold.
Well, I have completely digressed and again shown my frustration with a group of teachers who need more than they will get and are probably doing the best they can on low pay and low support. So I will just switch gears radically.
Yesterday we had a major thunderstorm that began around 2:00 and shut down our power for about 7-8 hours. We passed the night in darkness using just a few lights powered by a diesel generator which had some noxious fumes. We had the luxury of watching a few episodes of 24 (Season 5) on Abby's computer which I found quite fun and relaxing, but Abby, having never seen the show, found quite stressful and tense. If you are familiar with 24 then you know how tense it can make you feel!
Today, Saturday, was quite different from the rest of the trip since we were "home" for the majority of the day helping out around Harmony House with a few chores here and there. I ate dumplings and a boiled cabbage and fish dish for lunch and it was surprisingly good. I was hoping for more even.
We checked on the progress of the remodeling effort here at the Harmony House and we played some scrabble to pass the time. It has been an incredibly relaxing day - no complaints, other than the fact that Abby has beat me in both games of Scrabble.
She looks awfully happy doesn't she? Well, there is always tomorrow...
Speaking of tomorrow, we hope to go to church (perhaps we'll arrive late since short services tend to be 2.5 hours long) and the rest of the team will arrive by evening. I'm really looking forward to seeing Ryan and the rest of the team - it has felt like a very long time since I've seen his sweet face.
We survived Friday at the school, and in fact things went quite well. I have realized that I may be better at working with kids than with adults. At least I enjoy it more. Maybe it has something to do with my "control issues." Don't worry, I know you were thinking it as well.
We got to the school around 9:00 and of course school was supposed to have started at 8:30 but hadn't begun yet. The teachers weren't in their classrooms and of course the students weren't either. It was a bit hectic really. Who says that school uniforms are the key to uniformity?
The particular teacher who had been rather rude on Thursday was less so on Friday, although she gave me a nickname with an attitude in her voice which seemed to imply that the nickname wasn't friendly. I'm now called "Betty." I will try to accept my new name with grace, and as my Mother would probably say, "It's better than being called Liz." So at least one person is probably happy with the new name - please enjoy this moment Mom.
Around the time of the lunch break (10:30 to 12:30) my stubborn teacher came to see the software we'd brought in and spent the morning cataloguing. She was thrilled to be using one of the laptops and we even caught her singing along to one of the songs in the particular program. Eventually students began to wander in and gather around the teachers sitting at the laptops - it was fascinating.
They were so intrigued! I think the most dismaying part was that the teachers didn't encourage the students to try the computers, in fact they said nothing to the students and ignored them completely. It raised my fears that the lab will be a teacher's toy and haven, rather than a place of student & teacher engagement.After the teachers left I kept a few students behind to work with them on the computers on the basic things like "this is the mouse...it lets you move around in the computer. You can use your fingers to click the mouse and tell the computer what you want to do"
During this more private student time there was a continual stream of students peeking in the windows from across the room. I truly felt bad that they couldn't all come in, but sometimes you have to start small I guess. I had to start very small since the 15 kids waiting around were too much to handle. About 5 kids stayed around (we had to scoot the others out) to use one of the younger aged software programs and I started working with one boy on PowerPoint with visions of creating his own story in Powerpoint (it is a great organization tool for kids' stories) down the line.
After my earlier post, a friend asked me via email why I thought the teachers were naive. I see them as naive because they look at this computer as their savior it seems - the thing that will save them from doing their job. The computer is the thing that will get blamed when the students don't perform any better after using them, when in fact the reasons for low student performance have nothing to do with whether or not you have access to computer technologies. It has everything to do with the quality of teaching, the support of families, the support of governments, and a host of other variables. I see these teachers as naive because they simply don't recognize that the technology isn't going to teach itself to the children - it is going to require a lot of time from the teachers and a big supply of patience which they don't seem to exhibit. Using computers in the classroom doesn't guarantee better student performance or better behavior.
I realize that the teaching methodologies can vary widely throughout the world and even within the same school building. But some of the things I have seen at this school haven't built my confidence in the teachers' ability to plan ahead so that the technology is well used and integrated into the curriculum. They don't understand why it would be important to find out more about student attitudes toward the computers, they don't see any value in establishing a technology plan to lay out the goals and methods to achieve the goals that the teachers want to accomplish in the next 3 months, 6 months, and one year. Perhaps I see the value in these things because we have already been through this phase in the US school system and we have learned the lessons which I want to spare them. The lessons I think they should have learned by "watching" teachers in other places for the last 15-20 years.
Even worse, my confidence is sorely lacking that they will be able to pass on the knowledge they do have in using the computers because of many things I have seen at the school but also one particular comment which really bothered me.
On Thursday, the 4th and 5th graders were working on the new concept of algebraic equations. The day before they had learned about what happens when you try to balance an equation to figure out what the variable is. They had learned about equations using addition and subtraction. After just a single lesson their teacher had moved them on to algebraic equations using multiplication and division and it was clear that there had not been any time to practice what had been learned or to actually understand what it means when you have a variable in an equation. The students didn't seem to understand the concepts of balancing an equation at all in fact.
As one student struggled to tell the class what 35 divided by 5 was, the teacher said aloud to the the girl in front of the class:
"This is very shameful that you do not know your 5 times tables, for they are the easiest of them all."
Now, maybe it IS a shameful thing to not know your 5 times tables when you are in 4th or 5th grade and maybe for some people they are the easiest of all to learn. But this punitive response doesn't help a child to understand the times tables or to memorize them with any heartfelt desire. I imagine it does quite the opposite and squelching a young female child in math angers me a lot. Perhaps the teacher realizes that the young girl will never make it to high school, but humiliation is never the key to helping someone learn. Not her nor the other children who are silently watching the lesson unfold.
Well, I have completely digressed and again shown my frustration with a group of teachers who need more than they will get and are probably doing the best they can on low pay and low support. So I will just switch gears radically.
Yesterday we had a major thunderstorm that began around 2:00 and shut down our power for about 7-8 hours. We passed the night in darkness using just a few lights powered by a diesel generator which had some noxious fumes. We had the luxury of watching a few episodes of 24 (Season 5) on Abby's computer which I found quite fun and relaxing, but Abby, having never seen the show, found quite stressful and tense. If you are familiar with 24 then you know how tense it can make you feel!
Today, Saturday, was quite different from the rest of the trip since we were "home" for the majority of the day helping out around Harmony House with a few chores here and there. I ate dumplings and a boiled cabbage and fish dish for lunch and it was surprisingly good. I was hoping for more even.
We checked on the progress of the remodeling effort here at the Harmony House and we played some scrabble to pass the time. It has been an incredibly relaxing day - no complaints, other than the fact that Abby has beat me in both games of Scrabble.
She looks awfully happy doesn't she? Well, there is always tomorrow...Speaking of tomorrow, we hope to go to church (perhaps we'll arrive late since short services tend to be 2.5 hours long) and the rest of the team will arrive by evening. I'm really looking forward to seeing Ryan and the rest of the team - it has felt like a very long time since I've seen his sweet face.
Re-posted. Original publish date: March 23, 2007
Yesterday was my "travel day" to Jamaica and I left Boston in the early hours of the morning. At the Newark Airport I met up with my friend Abby and then we flew into Montego Bay. Our hosts (who are on staff with Won by One) met us at the airport and drove us 3 hours to Harmons after a stop in the bigger town of Mandeville for a bite at Burger King.
My whopper junior tasted like fish and as you might imagine it rather turned me off to the meal. My next taste of beef in Jamaica will be the famous "Jamaican Beef Patti" which I can guarantee will not taste at all like fish. But rather like a nice rich fatty piece of pastry heaven.
Today (Thursday) Abby and I went to the local school to observe classes and get to know the teachers. Our goal was to begin to glimpse what a typical day might be like and what challenges the teachers hope the (soon to come) 12 computers will meet in their classrooms.
Abby was relegated to a small windowless classroom to proctor a "mock exam" for the eight 6th grade students who will move on to high school next year. Well, they'll move on if they are lucky or have the money to do so. One of the girls cannot read beyond a first grade level and another child simply cannot read at all. They guessed on the multiple choice exam I suppose. Abby also took the exam....under the pretense of taking it for fun. In reality she took the exam and her test became the scoring guide which she then used to grade the tests for the Principal.
The school is, at best, loosely organized and classroom management consists of raising one's voice. It is hard for someone like myself to sit back and watch. I think this trip is revealing to me how much of a "do-er" I am sometimes - always eager to be involved and proactive.
It seems that the teachers have some experience using computers (I had been led to believe otherwise) and that they are eager to get the computers so they can start using them. I fear that they have a lot to learn, lessons which can only be gained by trying, failing, and trying again. I hope the early experiences won't sour them. Their eagerness seems naive to me but that is surely a product of my own experiences and the 10 years I have been implementing and reflecting on how to best use technology in the classroom.
The prevailing attitude seems consistent with one of the attitudes expressed by teachers when they first get computers. While some teachers are fraught with anxiety about computers (paralyzed at best) others want the computer to do THEIR job for them - it is a lazy approach.
In ways I cannot blame them for these feelings, especially when they teach between 35-40 students huddled in a very tight classroom with rickety metal chairs. The metal chairs may be one of the worst parts - they scrape and screech noisily on the concrete floors, sounding like fingernails on a chalkboard multiplied times 10.
Some of the teachers were reasonably welcoming and others were put out by my presence. I suppose I must appear as an all-knowing American sweeping in with the answers, ready to sweep out again after a short period of time.
I am not what they need really - at least not in the capacity I currently serve. They need a coach and a mentor - someone who can wrestle through real academic challenges with them, someone who understands the daily grind and the culture behind it all. Someone who will be there when the computers break or they are frustrated by an inability that slaps them in the face.
This is not to imply that I am condescending or clueless, but rather that my time is short and they know it. In a way they have scrutinized me as if I am like the technology they are waiting to arrive - I have the answers and they just want me spit them out so they can do something else more desirable with their time. Like play solitaire on the computer. (One of the teachers played solitaire on the computer during the entire "planning" meeting and she took at least 3 cell phone calls. Clearly...she was not engaged.)
As some have learned about me before...I don't roll over lightly when pushed. And, one of the things I love most is the challenge of getting someone to like me when they are prone to shrug me off.
These teachers have, in many ways, met their match. I am an experienced classroom teacher, I have worked in the technology industry, I am studying technology, innovation, & education for my master's degree and I work at a teacher professional development project. Bring it ON!
I sound cocky, but in all honesty, I just hope that the coming days will be smoother, that my kindness will kill the rudeness and that at the end of my time they will see that I just want to help them get what they need. If they would dialogue with me, we could get somewhere. If they would respond to questions, I would have a better idea of what they need. Then we would actually be conversing and that is what I want the most.
Until then, I'll try to figure out how to "dance" enough to keep them entertained and reiterate the same ideas that seem most important and crucial in this beginning moment. "The computer is a tool to that CANNOT replace you....your students need YOU to help them succeed. The computer can help you, but it should not replace you."
One day they will get it - but not today. Maybe tomorrow. I'll keep dancing.
Yesterday was my "travel day" to Jamaica and I left Boston in the early hours of the morning. At the Newark Airport I met up with my friend Abby and then we flew into Montego Bay. Our hosts (who are on staff with Won by One) met us at the airport and drove us 3 hours to Harmons after a stop in the bigger town of Mandeville for a bite at Burger King.
My whopper junior tasted like fish and as you might imagine it rather turned me off to the meal. My next taste of beef in Jamaica will be the famous "Jamaican Beef Patti" which I can guarantee will not taste at all like fish. But rather like a nice rich fatty piece of pastry heaven.
Today (Thursday) Abby and I went to the local school to observe classes and get to know the teachers. Our goal was to begin to glimpse what a typical day might be like and what challenges the teachers hope the (soon to come) 12 computers will meet in their classrooms.
Abby was relegated to a small windowless classroom to proctor a "mock exam" for the eight 6th grade students who will move on to high school next year. Well, they'll move on if they are lucky or have the money to do so. One of the girls cannot read beyond a first grade level and another child simply cannot read at all. They guessed on the multiple choice exam I suppose. Abby also took the exam....under the pretense of taking it for fun. In reality she took the exam and her test became the scoring guide which she then used to grade the tests for the Principal.
The school is, at best, loosely organized and classroom management consists of raising one's voice. It is hard for someone like myself to sit back and watch. I think this trip is revealing to me how much of a "do-er" I am sometimes - always eager to be involved and proactive.
It seems that the teachers have some experience using computers (I had been led to believe otherwise) and that they are eager to get the computers so they can start using them. I fear that they have a lot to learn, lessons which can only be gained by trying, failing, and trying again. I hope the early experiences won't sour them. Their eagerness seems naive to me but that is surely a product of my own experiences and the 10 years I have been implementing and reflecting on how to best use technology in the classroom.
The prevailing attitude seems consistent with one of the attitudes expressed by teachers when they first get computers. While some teachers are fraught with anxiety about computers (paralyzed at best) others want the computer to do THEIR job for them - it is a lazy approach.
In ways I cannot blame them for these feelings, especially when they teach between 35-40 students huddled in a very tight classroom with rickety metal chairs. The metal chairs may be one of the worst parts - they scrape and screech noisily on the concrete floors, sounding like fingernails on a chalkboard multiplied times 10.
Some of the teachers were reasonably welcoming and others were put out by my presence. I suppose I must appear as an all-knowing American sweeping in with the answers, ready to sweep out again after a short period of time.
I am not what they need really - at least not in the capacity I currently serve. They need a coach and a mentor - someone who can wrestle through real academic challenges with them, someone who understands the daily grind and the culture behind it all. Someone who will be there when the computers break or they are frustrated by an inability that slaps them in the face.
This is not to imply that I am condescending or clueless, but rather that my time is short and they know it. In a way they have scrutinized me as if I am like the technology they are waiting to arrive - I have the answers and they just want me spit them out so they can do something else more desirable with their time. Like play solitaire on the computer. (One of the teachers played solitaire on the computer during the entire "planning" meeting and she took at least 3 cell phone calls. Clearly...she was not engaged.)
As some have learned about me before...I don't roll over lightly when pushed. And, one of the things I love most is the challenge of getting someone to like me when they are prone to shrug me off.
These teachers have, in many ways, met their match. I am an experienced classroom teacher, I have worked in the technology industry, I am studying technology, innovation, & education for my master's degree and I work at a teacher professional development project. Bring it ON!
I sound cocky, but in all honesty, I just hope that the coming days will be smoother, that my kindness will kill the rudeness and that at the end of my time they will see that I just want to help them get what they need. If they would dialogue with me, we could get somewhere. If they would respond to questions, I would have a better idea of what they need. Then we would actually be conversing and that is what I want the most.
Until then, I'll try to figure out how to "dance" enough to keep them entertained and reiterate the same ideas that seem most important and crucial in this beginning moment. "The computer is a tool to that CANNOT replace you....your students need YOU to help them succeed. The computer can help you, but it should not replace you."
One day they will get it - but not today. Maybe tomorrow. I'll keep dancing.
2.09.2007
Am I really packing my bags again? You had better believe it!
We have very exciting news that stems from our passion for helping our new (and old) friends in Jamaica. We are heading back for another trip in March! We have a smaller team joining us this time, but they are a dynamite group!
This trip will be slightly different (at least for me...Liz) because it will involve both the local school *and* the Clarendon Infirmary. On March 21 I will be flying with a dear friend, Abby to Jamaica where we will spend a few days working with the elementary school before our "Infirmary Team" arrives on the 25th.
Our work at the elementary school will be driven by the goals of an Independent Study project I am working on to complete my masters degree. My overall goals are to assist the school in creating a technology plan for the computers and lab which have been donated through the help of Won by One. I'm looking forward to spending 5 days at the school to help them set goals for their new access to computer technologies, and outline the steps to achieve them. It should be a lot of fun. I can safely say that I have never been so excited about any other "class" I've taken during my masters program.
My time at the school will be spit into two segments, with a 4-5 day stint at the infirmary in the middle similar to what we experienced in November. Our Infirmary team consists of 5 die-hard members who hail from Texas, Arizona, and Massachusetts. Our last 3-state team was so phenomenal that we decided to do it again!
As we begin to lay more detailed plans, we will keep you informed. Next step....introducing you to our newest Infirmary team. Joining Ryan and I from Texas we have Elaine and Charla and from Arizona we have Abby. They are all warm climate dwellers so I have a feeling they will have not only a tan before we go, but the ability to withstand the warm temps we'll have in late March. Stay tuned for more information about each of our team members!
If you'd like to donate to our trip, please click on the button below.
Liz
---------------
We have very exciting news that stems from our passion for helping our new (and old) friends in Jamaica. We are heading back for another trip in March! We have a smaller team joining us this time, but they are a dynamite group!
This trip will be slightly different (at least for me...Liz) because it will involve both the local school *and* the Clarendon Infirmary. On March 21 I will be flying with a dear friend, Abby to Jamaica where we will spend a few days working with the elementary school before our "Infirmary Team" arrives on the 25th.
Our work at the elementary school will be driven by the goals of an Independent Study project I am working on to complete my masters degree. My overall goals are to assist the school in creating a technology plan for the computers and lab which have been donated through the help of Won by One. I'm looking forward to spending 5 days at the school to help them set goals for their new access to computer technologies, and outline the steps to achieve them. It should be a lot of fun. I can safely say that I have never been so excited about any other "class" I've taken during my masters program.
My time at the school will be spit into two segments, with a 4-5 day stint at the infirmary in the middle similar to what we experienced in November. Our Infirmary team consists of 5 die-hard members who hail from Texas, Arizona, and Massachusetts. Our last 3-state team was so phenomenal that we decided to do it again!
As we begin to lay more detailed plans, we will keep you informed. Next step....introducing you to our newest Infirmary team. Joining Ryan and I from Texas we have Elaine and Charla and from Arizona we have Abby. They are all warm climate dwellers so I have a feeling they will have not only a tan before we go, but the ability to withstand the warm temps we'll have in late March. Stay tuned for more information about each of our team members!
If you'd like to donate to our trip, please click on the button below.
Liz
---------------
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
