In just over an hour we leave for Norman Manly International Airport in Kingston for our 9 and a half hour flight back to Gatwick.  Time has flown by, it really does not feel like three weeks have passed since we first arrived.  Weather is, as usual, very hot; it's 33 degrees Celcius in the shade as I write this and the sweat it dripping off me, so humid!

We finished our experience on a high note last night when we hosted a "Jamrish" night for the teachers in the school and other members of the community whom we met in the course of our journey.  The two Jamaican Jesuits, Garvaundo and Letroy helped us set it up, order in food and drink as well as sound equipment.  It was blend of cultures so we as an Irish group attempted some Irish dancing (with hilarious results!) and we sang "The Wild Rover" to much applause.  Garvaundo, a quite brilliant singer in his own right, taught us a traditional Jamaican patois ditty as well.  After the meal, we had games, the best of which was doing the limbo, though inevitably, the Jamaicans beat us hands down!  At the end, Miss Brown, vice-principal of St Annie's addressed the party and remarked that while we are not the only international group to visit St Annie's we are the only group that makes the effort to get to know, socialise with and immerse ourselves so thoroughly in the Jamaican way of life. Clearly our aim of building relationships with our Jamicans friends had produced results!

Yesterday (Thursday 21st July 2011) we had our last day in the school.  There were no lessons, just a sports day laid on for the kids in the school yard.  They had flat races, lime-and-spoon race and a novel 'maths quiz' whereby the the kids had to sprint up to a table, complete the sum on the piece of paper they found there and then race back to the start line with the correct answer!  At the end of the races we had a massive water fight with the kids and teachers in the yard- no one was spared the actually quite refreshing dousing of water in that blazing heat!

On (Wednesday 20th July) evening we were visited by Margaret Bolt (yes, she is related to Usain Bolt: he's her husband's cousin!) the former principal of  St. Peter Claver primary school (under Jesuit patronage) and now working in the Jamaican Ministry of Education.  She was very honest in admitting her occasional feelings of despair in her task of improving the Jamaican school system despite endless cuts and an acute awareness of the implications for those too many kids that get left behind or fall through the crack because of insufficient resources, poor training or the debilitating class and social problems that blight the system and restrict opportunities for poor children.  She did remind us though that we should not underestimate the impact we have on the kids on despite our short time there and that there were many schools in Jamaica who never recieve visitations from the outside world.

We were also joined at the dinner table by Fr. Frank Power, a Divine Word Missionary priest, originally from Cork and who has been working in a rural Jamaican parish for the past two years.  He has been working in the Caribbean islands for over twenty years in all and is attempting to establish a new primary school in a remote community located an hour and half from Kingston. A real front line trouper! I've been studiously avoiding the news from home these past three weeks but I broke my 'fast' when I discussed the news with a well informed Frank over dinner; on hearing a little of what has been happening I think I was justified in avoiding it for the three weeks!

It's been an eventful few days since my last blog entry.  I've taken the day off summer school today; leader's prerogative:)! and will use the time to catch up on my blogs among other things. 

Last weekend was a chance to relax and enjoy the delights and hospitality of the Jamaicans. 

Saturday 16th July 2011

On Saturday morning we were taken to Fort Clarence Beach at Portmore, a thirty minute drive away.  The sun was intense, the beach was beautiful and the water surreally warm.  It is a popular spot among local Jamaicans, so us milky white Europeans stood out a mile.  Comments from some of the Jamaicans towards us were less than kind- "hey whitie" and the like, though they were the minority of course and many of the group did not notice anything. However, it's something you just have to get used to here. 

What a wonderful day we had with the kids today!

We appreciated it a lot, especially after yesterday, when everyone was so cranky and tired. I know why we all were exhausted - it was the basketball match from the night before. After day of school and than watching educational DVD and having the Principal of St. Anne’s to give us a talk about the school and open our eyes even more on the reality and children’s prospects here, we decided to relax in the evening and play few games.

Basketball was one of them and it completely worn us all out! Good game tho and bravo to the team Red! We smashed the Green 14:0!

It occurred to us on during our Tuesday evening reflection that we had passed the half-way point in our time here.  This prompted both feelings of satisfaction about what we have seen and achieved and also pangs of regret that there was so little time remaining.  Time has passed so quickly!  Yesterday we came straight home from school at 1pm to watch a DVD about St. Peter Claver School, another primary school in west Kingston.  It has had the benefit of over twenty years worth of investment, good management and hands-on Jesuit patronage.  While it was inspirational to see what can be achieved by a dynamic Principal and dedicated staff in terms of academic improvement it was tinged with sadness too as many of the pupils featured in the film whom had triumphed academically, later dropped out of the prestigious schools that they had striven to enter at aged 12.  This was primarily due to the fact that while they could, with hard work, overcome the academic challenges facing them, they were unable to defeat the social barriers of snobbery and self esteem often found in the wealthy schools which they strove to attend.  Despite their brilliance, they must return to their shanty housing each evening with all its attendant disadvantages.

After watching the DVD we listened to a talk from Mrs. Forrester, principal of St. Annie's primary school.  She had been vice-principal of St Peter Claver school and would have stayed there had Fr. Peter not asked her to take over at St. Annies. She told us of the many initiatives underway at St. Annie's to help the children break out of the cycle of disadvantage and underachievement from breakfast clubs to parental education courses. They receive much support from the Church, Rotary Club, international aid as well as our contributions. This was more uplifting and it is clear that while there remains much to be done there, it is in good hands.

The rest of the evening after dinner was spent playing basketball and boardgames back at the Jesuit Centre.

David

Somebody said today (for the first time) that we are half way through our stay here, but we don’t want to think about it this way. I certainly don’t, because I am starting to feel at home here, especially after today.

Let’s not jump ahead though. Since it’s my first blog let me give you a quick summary on what I think about it all so far. At this stage we have seen a lot, but obviously not everything. I am still trying to embrace it and understand it all. We are not here to make any judgements or change anything but since we have the inside view on Jamaicans’ everyday life it’s naturally interesting to observe and have after thoughts on their culture and the reality around. We are so lucky to be in the heart of it all. I said to our group today, when we were walking back from St. Anne’s: ‘’you don’t really get to know the country until you have friends there’’. We are so lucky to have friends in Jamaica.

This island is all those wonderful things that you expect and many more sad things that you thought you might see but it only gets real when you are here. We feel safe walking down the streets and saying hello to all the friendly people we are passing, but if you filmed us and then watched it back, you probably wouldn’t share my opinion at all.