1st Jamaican Birthday

Waa Gwaan!

Another week has passed in Jamaica. Most of this last week was uneventful. There has been lots of training, questions, answers and clarifications provided by our excellent training staff in preparation for our service as volunteers. Bonding as a group continues and its amazing how this experience will create life long friends. I feel I know so much about some of my fellow trainees and we have only known each other for just under two weeks.

It was my 26th birthday on friday. I was anxious about celebrating my birthday in Jamaica, simply because my birthday is usually a great time spent with my friends in Arizona. Of course, in true "Mark" style, everyone knew it was my birthday and it turned out to be a great birthday. Another trainees birthday was Sunday so we sorta celebrated together.

My host family, Peace Corps staff and fellow trainees made up for the fact I am over 2,000 miles away from home. The morning started with the Jamaican "Happy Birthday" song which our trainers taught us all how to sing, followed by a cake later in the day. I got a silly little birthday hat which I wore for most of the day and a card signed by everyone. Then, we went and saw the Mayor of the town we are living in. Here is a picture of him talking with the news after we were done meeting him. I never did tell him it was my birthday. I should have.

After training was over for the day (nope, I didn't get the day off), my Host family took me into Kingston.. Before dinner, we walked through Emancipation Park, a great park memorializing Jamaican slave emancipation. It is one of the nicest parts of Kingston I have seen so far. Then, for dinner, we went to a great jerk place called Sweetwood Jerk. We had Jerk Pork which was a nice change from fish, chicken, rice and beans. When we got back into town from Kingston, a lot of the trainees and host families gathered for my "birthday party" at one of the other trainee's house. It was a nice way to end the evening. Here is a picture with a few of us!

Saturday, my host dad and mom, another trainee and I went to the largest Caribbean open air market which is located in Kingston, known as Coronation Market. During training on friday, they prepared us for this mandatory training exercise designed to teach us how to bargain, shop, navigate transportation, become aware of potential security risks and experience Jamaican culture. They scared the crap out of a lot of us as to what we would expect. My experience was watered down a bit compared to my expectations from the day before. It was overall civil, very dirty with lots of trash laying about, rowdy and a bit chaotic but overall it's purpose of purchasing goods at decent prices was easily accomplished. It was funny to watch my mother bargain with the vendors. We won't be going back to that part of town again during our stay in Jamaica though. It is not in the best part of town.

It has been very hot lately. Coming from an Phoenician, that should mean something. The humidity will take some time to get used to, if ever. The good thing is that, while it lasts, we are really close to the beach. When my host dad, another trainee who tagged along and I got back, a beach trip was in order. Meeting up with a handful of other trainees already at the beach, my new favorite drink soon found itself in my hand. Due to impending financial issues, I found it okay to splurge on some Rum and Ting.

 In the spirit of the second goal of the Peace Corps, (to help promote a better understanding of the American people on the part of the peoples served), I thought it would be neat to make dinner for my host family. Since they have been cooking breakfast and dinner for me everyday, I'd let them take a break. I racked my brain for the last few days trying to figure out what to make for them. When I casually asked them if they had ever had tacos and when they said no (and had no idea what they were), I knew it was settled. They also didn't know what a tortilla was which was shocking to me. Now. I know there are people that would say Tacos are not American food but I would disagree. Anyone who lives in the United States has had them and those living in the Southwest would consider them a staple. (even if its just Taco Bell, which they don't have here)

Before going to the beach and after the market, we stopped at the Mega Mart. Its similar to a Costco, but you don't need a membership to shop there. Turns out mexican food stuff is expensive here. Oh well. It was for a good cause. Two of the fellow trainees decided to assist in the cooking/eat some mainland food. When the tacos, rice and beans were prepared, we di nyam our dinner.  It turned out a success and my family was pleased. Completed product below.

Sunday, I went to church with my Host mother. We attended the Pentecostal church just around the corner from the house. Last week I heard them worshipping for a good part of the morning but we did not go. This week, we did. The best part about the whole experience wasn't even the church. I decided not to take my bible with me but instead took my iphone. I had loaded an application which contained the entire scripture. My host mother told me to take my bible with me and when I told her that it was on my iphone, she said she was surprised it fit. Mind you, I just got her to sign up for an email account and join facebook. I shouldn't be surprised.

Church was an interesting experience. I am not the most religious person as many would know but it was an eye opening experience to be reminded how seriously some people take their faith. I was slightly distracted by a few things.

• The pastor looks like Barack Obama. Seriously. 
• Up, Down, Up, Down. I wasn't quite sure when I was supposed to be standing and when I was supposed to be sitting. 
• Occasionally, someone would just start shouting out random things. Some of it, I understood and some of it, I'm pretty sure no one else understood either.
• The fantastically ornate hat the pretty young girl in front of me was wearing. She would have fit in at the recent Royal wedding.

We left early. I think we were both ready to go. It was her idea. Here is a picture we took just afterwards. She told me on sunday that she was going to miss me. I will miss her too.

This next week is our last week as a group together. We are then moving to a different host family in smaller groups around the island for a few weeks. Just before swearing in, we will all gather again. It will be nice to be in smaller groups to focus in on sector specific training but it has been nice to hang out as a big group. We leave for our new site on Sunday. Again, I won't know my host family and again I will have to adjust to new living situations, climate, location and disorientation. I am looking forward to it. Internet will probably be scarce. I have been lucky to have readily available access at this home and cross my fingers my luck will continue. If not, I will be online when I can. I did get an international plan on my cell phone (which is extremely cheap here) and can call back to the States pretty easily.

Hope all my friends and family are doing well. Keep in touch.

PS. Send me letters. It's nice to get snail mail, especially if I don't have access to the internet to stay in touch. Also, if you send something, include US Forever stamp(s) in the envelope so I can reply. If you send me something, I promise I will respond. 

The address in the correct format is located on the right hand side.