Progress....finally Progress

What can I say....things are falling into place! Is it real- boy I sure hope so! Last week was busy with little tasks here and there. As you read in the previous post I was able to give a talk to about 160 kids about Peace Day and my role as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

On Wednesday I was able to do my very first farmer training! It was great! This is something I had always kind of hoped I would be doing- working directly with farmers. I did two different trainings to farmers that grow hot peppers. The first was on Biological Pest Controls- how to control pests in a more natural way rather than using pesticides and other harmful chemicals. The second training was on why it's important to keep farm records. There were about 20 farmers at the training. It was at a hot pepper farm, very hands on, and the farmers were very interested in everything each presenter had to offer. What a GREAT DAY!

<-- Holland Primary School Kids

On Thursday- one of my small dreams came true- We finally did some planting at the primary school in Holland! I have three blisters on my hand which are very painful but totally worth it! Will also came to help and together we helped the kids prepare the ground, carry water, and plant callaloo, lettuce, and corn. I also have some cucumbers and cabbage to plant but we had to start those seeds in small trays. It was inspiring to see so many kids out using the tools to prepare the ground, carry bucket after bucket of water, and get their hands muddy and dirty all in the name of FARMING! Of course it was a hard day because it was not the mechanized farming we're so used to. Instead we had to take a pitch fork, shovel, hoe, and pick to agitate and dig up the soil- oh the pain!

Will is setting up several Production and Marketing organizations with computers and will soon start doing trainings on basic computer skills. He will also train them how to keep accurate farm records on the computer. He has also been busily working with the head RADA office in Kingston to get his Crop Estimates program off the ground- hopefully next month there will be a system online that the entire island will be trained on- all courtesy of my amazing husband!

I need to take a deep breath.....okay! So as you can tell things are really starting to pick up for both of us! We're taking baby steps and being patient, understanding, and above all cooperative. I can't even put into words how much this experience has changed Will and I. We have grown so much as people together individually and in our marriage. I see Will becoming more confident in himself and the ways of Jamaican culture and I'm learning to not take everything so seriously- I can't change the world but by golly I can make a difference in a few peoples lives and I am content with that! We just have to sit back, take a deep breath, and learn to laugh at our mistakes and celebrate those small victories.

Peace Day in JAMAICA!

Today Jamaica celebrates Peace Day! I was slightly unaware that schools would take such an active role in the day! I was in Beeston Springs working with some organic farmers and was asked to present to the Beeston Springs All Age School. They wanted me to talk about the meaning of Peace and what it's like being a Peace Corps Volunteer. It was exciting to talk to the youth and have them be so interested in what i'm doing in Jamaica.

It feels like Will and I are finally turning a corner- this could be the part of the roller coaster ride where we're slowly ticking up only to fall down again drastically however we're feeling pretty confident in ourselves lately. While people aren't banging down our door to recieve assistance and technical advice people are asking us to do trainings here and there and seem to be more and more interested in the things we can help them with.

In other news we have decided to move out of our current home. We found a small house in the same neighborhood that hopefully we'll be moving into by the end of the month. We're really excited to finally have our own little place to call home with our own kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. Pictures Soon Come!

This is a short and sweet post- but with it being Peace Day I can't help but leave you all with a final thought! "If I have been of service, if I have glimpsed more of the nature and essence of ultimate good, if I am inspired to reach wider horizons of thought and action, if I am at peace with myself, it has been a successful day."Alex Noble

Peace!

It's Official...We're MAC Snobs!

Actually we're not really however both of our computers kinda took a dive so we were forced to buy a new laptop...after a lot of research we decided to buy a MacBook! This thing is seriously amazing! The design and thought put into this machine is great. Every last detail was thought out and designed so well! Need I say more...

I need to also comment on the last post we made...it was not in any way intended for you to feel sorry for us, the only reason we posted it was for you all to see some of the daily frustrations we have. Someday there will be a list of all the great things about Peace Corps so you can all continue to wait in "wide eyed anticipation!"

This past week was filled with extreme highs and lows...contemplating going home only to have immense feelings of satisfaction and gratefulness! This roller coaster ride is unlike anything Will or I has experienced- we're grateful for everything we've experienced thus far and look forward to the many more things god has in store for us- there truly is a reason for the path we've followed and a reason for being here even though we may not see the light at the end of the tunnel!

We had another great time in Kingston this last weekend. Not only did our friends Josh and Jesse bring us back our cool MAC they also came bearing several other gifts...starbucks, sweeties, underwear, socks, shirts, pants, slipper socks, balsamic vinegar, and cards! I love Christmas in February! We were also able to go see a movie for the first time since being in Jamaica. We got the boys to go see a chick flick with us..."He's just not that into you!" They played the national anthem before the movie and half way through we had intermission for drinks and snacks! It was one of those few moments were I felt like a normal human being once again!

On Saturday we were able to go to Black River and take a boat out to a place known as Peilcan Bar- it's out in the Carribbean Sea. It was not at all what I expected but was so much fun- soaking in some sun and relaxing after a long week!



As most of you know we'll be home to visit in July- I know this is a long ways away however everyone needs plenty of notice! We will be in Moscow for Erin and Michaels wedding and in Boise to visit with our family and friends- We look forward to seeing anyone and everyone that will be in the area! As always we love and miss you all- Thanks for all the great comments you continue to leave on our blog- We really appreciate it!
P.S. There are updated photos on our flickr link! Go check em out!

Why it's hard to be a Peace Corps Volunteer

*Being treated like you’re ignorant and incompetent

*Living in a fish bowl

*Being stood up over and over again

*Anything that goes wrong is always your fault

*Constantly feeling like you don’t belong no matter how integrated you are

*Setting aside your morals and values- they may not be culturally acceptable

*Being treated like a child

*It’s DAMN FRUSTRATING!

*Not feeling like you have accomplished anything

*No clear path or objective

*Being talked down upon

*Trying to explain your purpose and nobody really cares or wants to listen

*People begging you for money and wanting material things from you

*Not being able to feel safe and secure

*Thinking too much about what you’re doing wrong instead of what you might be doing right

*Being bored and trying to find new ways to pass the time

*Missing our families and friends

*Feeling like you are a nobody

*Lack of support

*Trying to find good, sustainable, and valuable work

Ticks, Toads, and Roaches

These are just a few of the friendly creatures we've encountered this week. A toad found his way into our house- We kindly showed him the door back outside- not a huge deal. He was actually kinda cute! However the big story is the stupid roach that came inside- I told Will there was a roach on the wall so he went and got the bug spray and fly swatter (we have a routine figured out). Will hit the roach with his swatter and instead of it falling to the ground it flew onto my leg- Will started swatting my leg and spraying me with bug spray- of course I was screaming like a little sissy the entire time! At least we killed the nasty thing. The final creature came to us while we were out visiting some organic farmers. We managed to get into some ticks (uol eap a tick about 20-25)- well Will mostly- It made me quite happy because we could go home and well...I could check him for ticks!

As for work we're starting to get some things going- however we're trying not to get our hopes up just yet. Will is still working very hard on the crop estimates program with the extension officers and the head office. He has a meeting in Kingston on Friday to hopefully get a program created on the web and train the entire island on it. He is also working on getting farmers connected by providing some computers to PMO (Production and Marketing Organizations) groups. This will help them keep better and more accurate farm records, connect them to current farm gate prices so they know when and what to grow, and a data bank of current production costs for all the crops that can be grown in Jamaica.

I am still trying to get my school garden up and running. A student at the school where I work was killed two weeks ago by a motor vehicle therefore the school and parents are grieving. He will be buried this Saturday, a very sad accident. My biggest project that I'm hoping to get off the ground is a community center in Malvern- a town in the Santa Cruz mountains. Currently there is a facility in place but it needs a new roof and doors along with toilets, sinks, and a refrigerator. It is my hope to work with the community to repair the center and then run a small business out of it. I would be working with women that need a source of income. I have identified a market for goats milk soap- therefore I will teach the women how to make the soap and provide them with an income every month. It is also my hope to add a small computer lab in the center along with space for meetings and other various events in the community. Finally I've also been helping out with 4-H. Right now they're doing an Environmental Challenge- so I have been working with a couple schools to help them complete their projects and of course learn more about the environment- this years theme: Water is Life, Protect and Preserve It!

The above picture is a field of sugar cane that we visited in Elam- a community not far from Santa Cruz- Pictured below from left to right :
--I find that by doing yoga not only do I feel more grounded but it helps keep me more sane!
--I made homemade pizza last night- It tasted so good- I know it doesn't look gourmet- Thanks Jesse for the crust recipe
--Will must have found some more ticks- maybe it's his way of telling me that he loves me!

END OF THE MONTH!

We still don’t have power back at our office! Now it has been almost 4 weeks! I’m told it’s because RADA is a government organization and I need not explain the rest….so that is that :)

Yesterday Will and I had the pleasure of escorting some Cubans around St. Elizabeth. We had a lot of fun talking with them and showing them how farming is done in Jamaica. They will be helping Jamaica in the months to come with some technical advice on how to use better farming techniques. Their goal yesterday was to go around and see how things are currently being done! We took them to several farms that have irrigation, farms that don’t have irrigation, livestock operations, and one of five pumping stations in the lower part of St. Elizabeth. The best part of this entire experience…a gift from the Cubans…some FINE CIGARS! We were so excited to receive these and are looking forward to a special occasion where we can light them up! (i.e. maybe Josh Hunters B-Day???)

Today I had my very first compost training with the women’s group that I work with in Malvern! It was a lot of fun. I trained about 15 women. I’m looking forward to more things to come from this group. (pictured below is the training)

It’s the end of the month and we FINALLY got paid! However it seems that all our money is already almost gone. I would like to give everyone an idea of what we’re paid and how it’s spent: (I need to note that the exchange rate has skyrocketed! When we got here it was $66J = $1US now its $85J = $1US)
----Rent- this costs Will and I $14,000J which is $165 U.S Dollars
----Internet- $2,000J which is $23.50 per month
----Food- The grocery store can be really expensive! Usually with any given month Will and I spend about $18,000J or $212 US on food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc. We went to the market yesterday and purchased:
**Potato’s- $60J per pound or 70 cents US
**Cucumber- $70J per Pound or 82 cents US
**Carrot- $70J per pound or 82 cents US
**Escallion and Thyme- $50J a bundle or 58 cents US
**Garlic- 9 cloves for $60J or 70 cents US
**Tomato- $60J per pound or 70 cents US
**Bell Pepper- $150 per pound or $1.76 US (the price of peppers is up because the demand is so high and there is a shortage right now)
**We buy our meat from the Agriculture school which costs us about $3,000J per month or $36 US- we buy pork, chicken, and beef from them and it lasts us all month long.
----Transportation for the month-
**A trip to Kingston costs us: $400J or $4.70 US to ride the bus from Santa to Kingston (the bus has a capacity of 25 but we manage to fit about 43-45 people)
**Once in Kingston there are route taxis or Chartered taxis- we usually try to take a route taxi which can charge $50J-100J ($60 cents US- $1.20) the problem with these is you have to “small up “which means squeeze as many in as possible. Our personal best is 9 in a taxi including the driver.

These are all rough estimates but as you can see the money is gone just like that and the next month we start all over again!

Extra Extra Read All About It....

This was the headline in the Observer- a Jamaican Newspaper! I just have to post this because in the midst of a global crisis this is what makes headlines! The article talks about prostitutes having to lower their prices because people can't afford to pay what they were previously charging...why you might ask...well the world is in a crisis. I might be the only one who finds this funny (not the fact that the world is in a crisis but the fact that prostitutes make the front page of a newspaper claiming they have to lower prices to make a living) so please forgive me if you don't find the humor in it!-- A little side note- Prostitution is ILLEGAL in Jamaica ;)

Our office still doesn't have power...tomorrow marks two weeks! When they say things move slow in the Caribbean it's not a joke! They get to it when they get to it! That leaves Will and I going to four hour meetings-- yes I said it- 4 HOUR MEETINGS!!! Don't ask me why because I can't truly explain the rationale behind it. Am I integrated...well yes I would like to think so however there are some things I still don't understand and probably never will!

A short and sweet post- headed to Kingston tomorrow! Pizza Hut is calling our names....and some meetings too! Love you ALL!