What's New?

The Schumakers feel like kids again! We went to the zoo this week! It’s not a zoo that is ready for tourists but is almost finished and will soon be open for business. We had a lot of fun walking around looking at the animals- our tourist guide- a kitten! He was following us around playing with the animals, chasing butterflies, and meowing. He reminded me of LT- a sad moment- because I kind of miss the little guy- even though he was really obnoxious! While at the zoo we saw all kinds of animals- zebras, lions, crocodiles, raccoons, squirrels, monkeys, llamas, parrots, toucans, and the list goes on!


Work is going alright- we continue to struggle with the culture and finding our place in a country that is still fairly new to us- even though we’ve been here for 4 months now! Yesterday we walked to the store and on the walk back it started pouring rain- we were soaked to the bone- freezing cold- in JAMAICA! We finally found a vacant house to duck under until we thought the rain had passed- of course after walking a short distance it started pouring again! Go Figure! We walked home, changed into pajamas, and drank some hot tea.
We’re getting excited for Early Service Conference (which will be in Ochi Rios- in a fancy hotel) and Christmas- We’ve decided to go and spend some time with our friends Josh and Jesse- We’ll be staying in Portland with them and hopefully doing some touristy things!

Up and Running...for the time being!

Our internet crashed again…this has become the story of our life- however it’s up and running again- keep your fingers crossed that it works for at least the remainder of the week!

We have been keeping busy these last couple weeks. Last Monday we hosted the first ever environmental regional workshop- for the most part it was a success…I won’t get into how our supervisor somehow managed to squeak his way out of it because that would take me an entire blog entry to write! We have some new goals which are related to agriculture! We’re both really excited about this since we are working for RADA and a lot of the stuff we’ve been doing relates directly to farmers and agriculture.

We went to Mandeville to celebrate World Food Day- the food we were displaying was pumpkin, anything and everything made from pumpkin….sauce, chutney, jam, steamed pumpkin leaves, pudding, and the list goes on. I had no idea you could make all these things from pumpkin! While there Dr. the honorable Chris Tufton (the Minister of Agriculture) chatted with both Will and I- we haven’t seen him since being sworn in as PCV’s. St. Elizabeth is his parish and he has some projects that he thinks we can both work on.

We attended the Shrimp Festival in Middle Quarters on Sunday. RADA set up a booth to disseminate information and register farmers. It rained for a good portion of the day. We both ate lots and lots of shrimp… shrimp curry, shrimp punch, spicy shrimp dip, coconut shrimp, and shrimp chutney, I don’t think we’ll be craving shrimp anytime soon. While at the festival we began to take down our booth when who decides to show up….Dr. Tufton! Our supervisor saw him coming and frantically said- put the displays back out…the minister is coming! I started to laugh because I’ve never seen my supervisor get so worked up before. Dr. Tufton came over to our display and chatted with us. He told our supervisor not to take down the display- He said, “There might still be some farmers that have questions, you should stick around and answer their questions!” I was laughing the entire time- It was the first time our supervisor was whipped into shape, he reminded me of a dog with his tail between his legs! (The above picture is from Shrimp Festival - A cultural dance representing several apects of Jamaica)

Finally Monday was a holiday- Hero’s Day- Will and I went to Dunn’s River Falls in St. Mary- It’s quite the drive- took us about two and a half hours to get there. It probably would have taken longer if we had to take public transportation. I didn’t realize the place was such a tourist trap! The price to get into the Falls is $J300 which translates to about $4 U.S. The price for non-Jamaican residents $15 U.S. we explained that we were peace corps volunteers so they let us pay $J300. Once inside I was almost embarrassed to be white- Tourists were handing out money left and right – thank goodness we were with a group of Jamaicans! I came to realize why Jamaicans always try to get money from white people. When we got ready to hike the falls a group of tourists came up with a guide- they formed a line, held hands, and began climbing the falls as a group! Can you say LAME??? We were able to climb the falls independently without holding hands. We climbed the falls a couple times, ate the lunch we packed on the beach, enjoyed an iced cappuccino, and some cherry berry passion ice-cream. It was nice to have these luxuries while relaxing in such a beautiful place.

<---- Yeah that's an iced Cappucino!

This weekend we are going to Kingston for quarterlies. I applied to be on the SPA committee and was selected to be a member. I’m really excited I will have this opportunity especially since Jamaica is known for their SPA program. We’ll be attending meetings and hopefully get in some yummy coffee and American food! We’ll also cast our votes for the presidential election! I’m not going to elaborate on who we’re voting for and politics. My grandma always told me there are two things you should not discuss- politics and religion, therefore I will just say that we’re doing our American duty and voting for a presidential candidate!

<--- I ♥ my chacos!

P.S. I forgot to mention that mosquitos suck! They have reached an all time low! I was bit on the rear end by one! Does anyone have any idea how bad that sucks?? While riding the bus, sitting at work, or chatting with your supervisor and your butt itches so bad you can't concentrate on anything but that!

This is a typical Saturday- Handwashing Laundry

and praying that it doesn't rain :)

You want me to eat what....?

We finally have internet back!!!!! Things in Jamaica usually take a long time and that’s no exaggeration! We didn’t have internet for nearly 3 weeks plus our phone lines are still down! To me this is insanely crazy…people haven’t been able to get work done because the farmer registration system is all online- go figure! My apologies for not updating our blog sooner, it’s just been a little crazy and not being able to use internet at work has made it sometimes inconvenient. I keep forgetting that there are some things I want to discuss with my fellow readers. So here it goes:

The first week we were back in Santa Cruz after being sworn in we attended a church function. While there we indulged in something called Manish Water- (I’m not entirely sure that’s how you spell it) I had no idea what it was. When the woman handed it to us we could smell the hot steamy soup. It didn’t smell nice at all, in fact it stunk! It reminded me of when we raised goats and the bucks would smell of urine during breeding season. I tried to get past the stench and take a sip of the warm drink. Upon doing so I nearly barfed in my mouth! Will and I both decided we weren’t going to choke it down. We asked the nun sitting with us what was in this particular soup. She explained to us that it’s a delicacy in Jamaica- the contents include: the head, feet, and belly of a goat! No wonder it smelled like a stinky buck! The following day we once again indulged in some more soup…this time chicken feet soup! This wasn’t nearly as bad. It smelled nice and contained some wonderful vegetables. However it is extremely hard to get past the fact that there are indeed chicken feet floating in your soup (not little feet either). Will and I both ate two bowls of it. Not so bad! However I’m not sure how much more soup I can eat- it reminds me of lunch as a child- “Who wants Meatloaf Surprise??”

That same day we also met a nun…her name Sister Eva! She has been one of the sweetest ladies we’ve gotten to know. On Sundays when we see her at church she always asks how we’re doing and tries to give us something. She has given both Will and I a new pair of Crocs, rice crispy cereal, rice, beans, and peas (all in quantities to feed an army). We really appreciate her kind and genuine heart. Going to church brings me a lot of comfort. It’s nice being able to find one thing familiar to us in this unfamiliar place. Church here lasts slightly longer but I don’t really notice. Will and I are considering getting involved in the youth ministry where we would do some religious education with the kids. It’s saddening because several of them can’t even make the sign of the cross.

Some of the things we took for granted and miss:

1. Windy Roads + Potholes = Bumpy Ride (We’ve both miss a smooth, quiet ride in a car)
2. The seasons….It is sad to know the leaves are changing and fall is upon everyone there! It’s still hot here :)
3. Bug Free Houses! The mosquitos, cockroaches, lizards, etc. are everywhere and nearly impossible to keep out
4. Having our own car and being able to drive anywhere at anytime
5. Good Italian food and Starbucks! (this was a given)
6. Our friends and family!

However there are many things to love about living here!

1. Every week we go to the market and buy fresh produce- this is GREAT!
2. In our backyard we have lime, mango, cherry, coconut, avocado, and orange trees. In the morning I can pick an orange for breakfast and for dinner an avocado to have with dinner.
3. We have both lost weight- we’re not sure exactly how much- we found a scale for sale at a store in town and weighed ourselves- we’re guessing between 10-15 pounds each!
4. Our Supervisor! He’s our guardian angel and a truly genuine kind man! We both love working with him and the staff at RADA
5. The working pace…everything is so much slower- this is a nice change from our fast paced lives in America
6. The scenery- there is nothing like a sunset in Jamaica and there are some really nice beaches and I hate to say the word but “tourist” attractions

All of the pictures are from our lastest visit at Treasure Beach a little over a week ago: Enjoy

Meet myfriend Mr. JellyFish- "You Shall Be Mine And I Shall Call You Squishy"

Boat at Treasure Beach

Lack of Internet....

So when we arrived to work on Monday we found the internet wasn't working- turns out that the massive storm we had on Saturday destroyed our precious internet at work. The lightning actually hit the modem and well for a lack of better words...killed the internet! So I have to write this quickly because I'm in a little internet cafe in Santa Cruz- with little time left!

We recieved two yes I said two packages on Tuesday- 1 from the Reyes's and 1 from the Newlans! Oh the joy of recieving a package! I felt like a child at Christmas!!! Even though you have to claim the contents on the outside there are still unexpected surprises! Kaui and Cisco- I'm not going to lie the loofa's you sent- AMAZING! We have been in Jamaica now for 3 months and I've searched hi and low trying to find becuase the one I brought fell apart! I havn't been able to find one and then a package comes from you with what....TWO LOOFAS! I immediatly took the sticker off and jumped in the cold shower- and how wonderful it was! Scrub a dub dub...well you know the rest! Also in your package was more toiletries than I can shake a stick at! I think Will and I will be squeaky clean for at least a month! At first I felt as though this was your silly way of telling us we stink therefore you should have some shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and oh by the way brush your teeth with this toothpaste, new toothbrush, mouthwash, and would you please floss for crying out loud. However I then realized that you truly understood how bad we needed those things- TRUE FRIENDSHIP! Nick and Joy we also recieved a wonderful package from you! I loved the little notes attached to each item- I took them off and will hopefully hang them in our room- once we get some time to decorate! I also loved the pictures you both sent! How I miss both of my girls! I take the photos around telling everyone I left my children at home and look at how cute they are.

Jamaica is making us crazy! Somedays go by so fast that I can't remember the date let alone the month! This is a good thing though- makes the time go by much faster. Will trained some extension agents on a new program he designed to calculate their crop production every month and to also compile the totals for a parish report. I started working at a primary school (grades 1-6) on a school garden and compost pile. I love working with the kids. Last week when I went to visit them I allowed them time to ask me any questions they had about me, the United States, etc. A lot of the kids asked me if I was married- I told them yes to a man named Willy (that's what they call him here)...and then they immediatley asked if I had kids- when I replied no several of them said, "Mrs. can you take us back to the United States to be your child." I laughed of course and told them they would miss Jamaica too much if I did that. Some of the kids are so intrigued by me they just want to touch my skin or hair...it's kind of weird but easy to cope with. (It's almost like I'm a celebrity here...haha)

Last week we went to a funeral- one of the extension agents we work with his father passed away. The night before they have what is called a "wake" They stay up all night celebrating the life of the person. The next day, which happened to be a Sunday the service began at 1:00 p.m. needless to say we didn't leave until about 6:00 p.m. It was extremly long but is something I think can be admired about Jamaican culture- They have much respect for their elders!

Once again we need to say thank you to everyone who has sent us letters and packages. We have several people asking us what Will wants for his Birthday and what we want for Christmas! We will compile a list hopefully- we were able to get some pro deals through Keen, Chaco, NorthFace, etc. so if you're interested in helping with a purchase from one of these fine places we would really love that but I will post a list....soon kum!

Until later--- JAMAICA TO DI WORL!!!!

Erin and Michael

We LOVE YOU 10X OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!!

Today we recieved your package and what a great package it was!!! You probably forgot what you sent so here it goes:

*Chips Ahoy Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies/ MY FAVORITE!!
*Granola Bars
*Gobstoppers
*Mike and Ikes
*Fruit Roll Ups
*Fruit Punch and Lemonade Mix
*Sunscreen
*Bug Spray- 100% Deet ( I Love You)
*Chapstick
*Headbands!
*Shampoo/Conditioner
*Body Wash - our favorite kinds- Old Spice and Dove- YOU ROCK!
*Q-Tips- how did you know we were running low....?
*Hand Sanitizer
*and an amazing letter that you hand wrote!

I just want to say thank you thank you thank you for these wonderful treasures! They seem ridiculous to most people but I was so exicited to open it I nearly cried! I was also amazed at how great you were at stuffing everything into such a tiny box...AMAZING!

The story about Cisco in your letter made Will and I laugh so hard!! I can just picture him cutting his finger and thinking his finger was going to fall off! Even the woozy feeling and possibly needing stitches!

Again we just want to Thank You so much- you not only made our day, but our week, and possibly our month. We Love You!

Chuggin Right Along!

There is so much to share from these last two weeks I’m not even sure where to begin!

We came back to our sites after Gustav- There wasn’t a lot of visible damage however when we went to work on Monday there was nuf nuf damage to assess. We spent the majority of the week visiting farms and looking at the damage caused from the storm. From this a document was compiled and sent to the Ministry of Agriculture which should help aid some of the farmers who suffered the most damage. It is calculated that St. Elizabeth suffered about $25 million dollars worth of loss.

In the midst of all this we moved into another house. We actually ended up moving in with the secretary we work with. She has more space and lives alone which is different from the 9 total people we were living with before (including us!) We have really enjoyed getting to know her and actually feeling like we’re a part of her family!

I went to a farm on Friday because there was a man there claiming to have lost 25 goats. The minute we arrived (myself, my counterpart, another extension officer, and a man from JAS) the farmer was extremely angry. I won’t get into a lot of detail as to why…lets just say politics here can make people FREAK OUT!. When my counterpart went to introduce me to the man he was extremly angry. He said, “I know who she is! She works with RADA!” My counterpart dumfounded said, “Well, why are you so angry about that?” The farmer went on to explain that she is one of those whitey’s here to destroy him, you know the ones from the CIA! I kind of chuckled as did the group from RADA I was with. This was my first encounter with someone who wanted to have absolutely nothing to do with me and the work I was trying to do. To make a long story short- the farmer couldn’t show us his goats- turns out he doesn’t even own any! This is probably why he was so angry with us and why he accused me of being with the CIA- to unveil him being a fraud and taking advantage of the government.

The photo on the left was an actual goat farm we visited- not one a farmer made up...I saw it with my own two eyes:)

On Saturday Will and I attended the first ever meeting held by the women of St. Elizabeth. The organization is called SEW (St. Elizabeth Women) this will be a primary project for me as I will be working with these women in several different areas. One of my first projects is to teach the women how to make products from goat’s milk. I will be teaching them how to make soap, lotion, cheese, and several other income generating products. I will also be doing some training around the parish on composting, organic farming, and environmental education.

This week has been packed full of more exciting things. Will has started working on a project dealing with the Moringa tree. It is the hope that this tree will be grown throughout Jamaica as it has several uses. Our hope is to make oil from the seeds in the pod grown on the tree and market it as cooking /spa oil. We went and visited a woman, who is willing to grow 10 acres of the crop as a test plot while we find an industry to produce and manufacture the oil and a marketing plan which will include education on the product.

The cattle above were a small road block on our way to YS Falls!

Finally we went to Lovers Leap. I will try to make the story short and sweet since I’ve babbled on enough in this posting. Before emancipation there were several plantations owned mostly by the British. Tunkey and Mizzi were both slaves working on plantations located next to each other. It is said that Tunkey and Mizzi fell in love but were not supposed to see one another because the owner (we’ll call him Mr. Slavedriver) of Mizzi was actually in love with her. Mizzi’s brother despised the fact that she would run off every night to visit Tunkey because he knew that if she could be with Mr. Slavedriver he would have a better life. Mizzi’s brother told Mr. Slavedriver that every night at 9 p.m. they meet (at this place where Lovers Leap is currently located). There are two endings to the story but I’ll share the one I hope happened. At 9 o’clock Mr. Slavedriver showed up and surprised them. Looking at one another they realized there was no way out. They didn’t want to be separated so together they decide to jump to their death.

Lovers Leap!

Swearing In and Hurricane Gustov!

Just wanted to drop a couple of quick notes as we wait out this wonderful hurricane! Today we were officially sworn in as peace corps volunteers!

This is how we look when we bling out and dandy up for swearing in- Pretty snazzy if I may say so myself!
We've now been here for 8 weeks and it has gone by quicker than you can imagine! We stay very busy but always miss our family and friends. We enjoy the contact we are able to have with everyone though and love the pictures we see of our godchildren and family.

I have to admit I've never been in a hurricane- it is exciting and scary at the same time. Please don't be alarmed as we will get through it just fine- it's only a category 1 for crying out loud :)
For now we look ahead and truly wonder what this two years will bring- the saying is so true, Life is calling...how far will you go! The adventure begins now and we couldn't be more excited.

Little shout out to the Overstreets- We received your package- enjoyed the wonderful reminders of our St. Joe trip which actually happened about a year ago. This was also the time we submitted our peace corps application- crazy how time changes in just a year. We just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful things you sent us- We love and miss you both! Also thank you to my grandparents and Will's parents for their thought fullness in writing sincere letters to us. You have no idea how much we really do cherish those! As always we miss you all and look forward to hearing from you!

P.S. We added a ton of pictures to the flickr website so take a look and feel free to leave comments! (remember the link is on the left of your computer screen- 'Schumaker photos')