Day 11: Excuse me, do you go here?

We had another round of lectures and meetings at UWI today.

After a little morning confusion, we took a break in the Faculty of Law hideaway ( the fourth floor is WONDERFULLY) air conditioned and we got to sit in the wonderful air.

And then we went to meet another manager from Housing. She was wonderful and she told us that she is basically one of three women that works in Student Sevices at UWI, but as she said,"who runs the world? Girls!"

Page's with Brooke for Lunch! So tasty, Rice and Peas, Jerked Chicken with  Pepper  sauce, and Stewed Veggies! 

From there we moved across campus to someone who used to be a housing manager but is now wearingany hats as he coordinating many different activities for students. We spoke specifically about orientation about with him. The orientation program was pretty impressive. The Faculty buy in was what was most impressive thing that was happening with the orientation program. Faculty members are assigned to groups of students that are coming into the University and it truly develops the relations between the students and the professors. I was really impressed with the whole organization of the program. 


After that interaction we sat down and talked about what happened so far in the trip. Jay Cooper asked us, "What have you  learned about yourself, what have you learned about the Caribbean, and what surprised you." 


I thought about it and I wondered about what my answers would be. I honestly had an epiphany. I realized that I, for the first time in my life, was not in the minority. I know that I do not pay attention to my surroundings once I am comfortable so being the only person of color doesn't bother me but not in Jamaica. I kept getting asked if I was an island girl or if i went to UWI. And although my peers were sick of hearing about this from me, it is not often when you have lived your entire life being the "only" and a five hour plane ride later, you are the "many". It was a great feeling. 


I even felt that I was acclimated to the country. I didn't feel unsafe, I didn't feel uncomfortable (except the night with the hundreds of rain flies on my bed!) I felt like a local. I even (unintentionally) spoke with a Jamaican accent. Not because I was trying to sound Jamaican but because I listened and learned how they pronounced things and knew that they would understand me better if more like them than my US self. 


I don't think that the feeling of not being the "other" will ever feel the same. There are many things that we take for granted and being okay with being the other was one of them. I'm glad that I was able to realize my ability to blend in with my surroundings and feel at home. 

Brooke made the wrong face on the wrong picture! Love it! 

So after that, we moved to our final lecture of the week. We visited with Professor Dr. Satchell who was one of Professor Buckridge's professors when he was a student. 

Dr. Satchell! 

Now, I am going to be honest, the lecture was a bit over my head (and I feel some others as well) at first but then it starts to resonate and I started to understand what he was lecturing about. Basically, he told us about the part of Jamaica's history that has forever disappeared. But the remnants of the past linger by the landscaping of the land. He told us to look for history everywhere we go because there is evidence everywhere we go of the past. 


It was a great last lecture (once I understood what we were talking about!). Dr. Satchell and his students were so gracious enough to throw us a session with refreshments after the lecture. 

Rooftop of the Faculty of Law! 

We climbed to the top of the Faculty of Law to the beautiful rooftop. 

The building is built hollow so I wonder what happens when it rains! 

With curried chicken, roti, and sweets it was wonderful sitting up top chatting with other grad students, Dr. Satchell, and of course Lorn. 

Indian chicken! Yellow Curry! 

Me, Lorn, and Brooke...me and my infamous laugh caught on film! 

Brooke and I got a lesson on being unaware of our surroundings. We were walking back from the store. Brooke was walking in front of me. I watched her walk in between two guys and like a door they turned in and started to follow her. I called er back to slow her roll down a little. She didn't pick up on my subtle hints and kept walking. I finally told her to walk slow. When we walked out of the Union (where the store is located) and the circled around behind us. They started walking right behind us and calling after us. I said no thank you and kept walking. When I started to feel uncomfortable, I said hello to two older gentlemen standing next to where we were passing. From there, they backed off but to be on the safe side, we went back to the Men's flat instead of going straight back to ours so if they came "calling" latter they would be met with of men rather than women. 


That night we back to the flats and had dinner. We invited our hosts Lorn, Jason, and Daniel over for social time. I introduced Daniel, Patrick, and our GVSU Peace Corps guest Mark to Phase Ten and it was great! Poor Patrick could not phase to save his life but it was alot of fun! 

Patrick, Brooke, and Daniel playing Phase Ten! 

It was a great last night in the Flats! In the morning, we move to Rex Nettleford Hall! 

Day 10: Out of one place comes many religions

We woke up and made our way to the bus.
The first stop of the day was at Trench Town. Trench Town is the basic equivalent to a project system, government owned low income homes. What looks like a small house had 16 rooms, one kitchen, and 4 person bathroom housed 16 families together. Many of Jamaica's famous reggae, ska, and rock steady artists came from Trench Town like Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Rita Marley, etc.

Bob Marley's first guitar.

Some parts of Trench Town have been preserved and now are marked as a historical landmark.

Bob Marley's first car and the tour guide Sophia

We saw a typical home and room in the block we were in. Tarta one of Marley's mentors' room was actually preserved at this cultural garden. 

In Tarta's room, Lord, God, Jah (Rasta God)

And we got to see ganga still in plant form. Out of respect for my dad, I did not take a picture with the plant but I took a picture of it. It grows pretty tall and the guide was upset because someone came in and snapped off a branch and it is two feet shorter than what it is supposed to be. 

Ganga. 

This particular center is a cherished place for many of the Rastafarians in the area. You see different people from the community of Rasta at the culture garden and the influence area the garden. 

The lion is the official symbol of Rastafarianism, I can tell you the story in person because it would take too much to typw.

Todays adventure also was taking us to the Jewish Culture center and the synagogue in Kingston.

I went to synagogue a long time ago and I remember it being ornate and gold. We entered the synagogue and it reminded me of New England, tall ceilings, wood (mahogany I think) furnishing. I couldn't believe it, it had a tall steeple point roof.





One interesting thing about this synagogue is that floor is covered in white sand. This is one of five synagogues in the world that has the sand on the ground.

Sand at my feet in the synagogue. 

The sand on the ground is said to have three representations:

1. To quiet down the worship while they we're hiding in basements

2. To remind them of wandering in the desert.

3. The president said that God said the Jews are as pure as sand on a seashore

The synagogue was amazing. We then we went outside and looked at old grade markers. They are usually about body length.

Grave marker

 There was an earthquake that destroyed other synagogues in Kingston. They reburied the bones and then moved the markers to the new current location. They a written in hebrew, Portuguese, English, and Spanish. It was great seeing them and learning about the history of the synagogue.

After the synagogue we went to lunch. Okay okay, I had Burger King and it tastes no different and it was delicious. Just a little taste of home.

After that we moved to the national art gallery.

National Gallery of Jamaica

That was great. I don't like paintings that much but they were great. There was one i loved but couldn't find a print of, it was called Valerie Bloomfield.

Don't think we should have taken pics, but I snuck one in! 

I think that I especially loved the art gallery because I could be alone with the art and experience it in my own way. I felt alone for the first time this trip and it was great getting lost in the Edna Manley carving room. I loved it and the coconut candles. They smelled delicious I should have bought one.

We then headed on the Catholic cathedral Holy Trinity.

Beautiful stained glass. 

Funny aside, the cathedral had a dome and the synagogue had a steeple.
Anywho, we walked in and it was breath taking. It had been a long time since I have seen a Church like that. Just the stain glass and ceiling work alone was just...beautiful.

Blessed Mother 

I haven't felt that reverent in a very long time. I was particularly fascinated by the ceiling art. There was a a picture that God was actually depicted I have never seen anything like that before.

And then there was a mural where all the angles were depicted and it just reminded me of senior year of college reading Paradise Lost and all the angles were trying to fit in the assembly hall.

We then traveled back to Devon house, this time everything was open for business. I found this shop that had wonderful prices and even better products than the little market where we bartered! I went crazy in there and loved it.

And then I went to get ice cream at I Scream...

Coffer and Vanilla double scoop at IScream 

I can't believe it. I ordered a double scoop, one vanilla and one coffee (duh!). It.Was.Huge. And I downed it. So smooth and delicious. And then my stomach turned when I remembered I was lactose intolerant.

For dinner, we went to Red Bones. 

Redbones 

It is a restaurant that Americans created with a blues ambiance.

Garden salad

The price was a little out of my range so I settled for a garden salad, but I tasted the pasta around me and the coconut linguine was delicious!

I know that I love learning about different religions and I will make it a goal to get to India to visit temple. And Holi festival.

It was a great day :)

Graffiti in the streets of Kingston 

Day 9: I'm a UWI

We all prepared for the first day of "class" on UWIs campus.

First we started our day with a lecture on Jamaican history with Professor Dr. Satchell. He gave us an o review that we were very familiar with and understood. Unfortunately, the PowerPoint didn't work but he did very well delivering a lecture from history.

After the lecture we moved over to the next hall and received an awesome lecture from Music Professor Johnson.  Despite the rest of the world's ignorance, Jamaica and most of the music is not reggae. The music world started with something called mento that kind of reminds me of southern french music. There is ska which is like Jamaican big band. Then you have rock steady, which is like a slower version of ska. Then you have reggae which is the most contemporary of the genres which I'm sure you all are familiar with. And the. Finally there is Dancehall which I can only describe like Sean Kingston and singing pop songs with typical Jamaican accent. Dancehall is commonly mistaken for reggae for the accent being used.

Professor Johnson was great and accepted an invitation to exchange at GVSU! So I hope we get to see her in the fall!!!!!

Then we shuffled off to a boardroom and met with a Housing Manager from zone two.

Three things that I learned from him about Housing:
1. The housing department operates basically the same as ours.
2. Resident Advisors are actually grad students
3. They get their own parking space, nuff said

 We were supposed to meet with the student guild but a mixed up occurred and we had shortened day instead.

Jamaica has such a rich culture, it was great learning about it from the UWI perspective!

Day 8: Divine Devon's

We lazily woke up for the day and prepared for a short itinerary.

The only thing we had on the agenda for the day was Devon's House. It was also mother's day.

I have to say it is quite weird that I am not home during mother's day. I thought it was odd that I wouldn't be going to the country club for mimosas with mom and grandma.

But anyway, thanks to Brooke, we figured out that we can have people call our Flat phone. So, I actually got to talk to my sister and my mom.

But anyways- we set out for Devon's House.

Mr. Devon is said to have been a man who was freed before the slaves were freed. And he was one of Jamaica's first self-made millionaires. He has a large estate house on the grounds. He is known for his creamery and from that creamery ice cream!

It was a very busy day at Devon House as it was Sunday and mother's day. We were able to explore a little but most of the shops were closed so we went into one little one.

Can you spot the American???

And then we found the chocolate shop. I'm pretty sure Leena would die if she saw this place. Handmade chocolates and chocolate dipped treats! Thanks to Dex who bought me a strawberry. SO DELICIOUS!

Hahah

I must showcase the awesome braid Brook gave me! Thanks lady! 

But soon enough it was time to sit down.

The menu was prepicked and we were only able to select from the selection they provided.

I opted for the pumpkin and bell pepper bisque, the jerked pork with potatoes, and bread pudding for dessert. DELICIOUS! Although the entree wasn't as hot as I would like, it was soooooo tasty!

 Good Times!

Like a boss! 

Pumpkin and Roasted Bell Pepper Bisque

Jerked Pork and Potato Mash

It was a fabulous meal and a fabulous time. There was a musician who was playing songs from a sheet music book called "Ballads". He was great and we had a sing along for the entire meal.

Happy Birthday Kyrie!

So, I have to tell you about dessert. We opted to just eat the dessert from the meal and then come another day for ice cream.

I got the bread pudding with caramel sauce. Yeah...it was soaked in rum. And I mean, they made the cake and then put it in a vat of rum. I didn't realize this until about the fourth bite. And as someone who doesn't take spirits, I couldn't eat anymore.

DRUNK bread pudding! Lies on the menu, I would have been pulled over after eating this!

I ate about half but then Dexter and I started to feel light headed and we ate off other's plates. All in all, it was a great afternoon to think about our mothers since we couldn't be with them.

Roommate love! 

Emily and the Lizard

This video deserves its own post.

Please excuse my blair witch filming, I was laughing so hard!

Day 7: caution falling mangoes

We woke up and had breakfast on our own. Gogurt and strawberry apple sauce has never tasted so delicious!

I feel the need to tell you that I wore electric blue pants today and they were hot.

We went on a short drive through Kingston and arrived at our first stop of the day.

Bob Marley Museum 

The Bob Marley Museum is the the home he purchased from his second manager. And after Bob passed away, his  widow Rita Marley and a few of Bob's close friends transformed the home.

Murals of pictures 

It was terribly interesting learning about his life and history. Thanks to Jay Cooper, we watched a documentary on Bob before we came so alot of the things mentioned on the tour was very familiar to me. It was crazy to see the place where Bob was shot and the bullet holes were still in the wall.

Bob Marley was multicultural and the entire time, I never saw a picture of his father until the museum. He was a captain in the British Army.

I couldn't take pictures inside but we saw so many personal possessions and relics. The coolest thing ever is the records room. We got to see Bob'sGold and triple platinum records and then His lifetime Award from the Grammys .

A life size scuplture of Bob Marley...he was short

Such great things from his life. He was so interesting.

Also, we saw a celebrity! Miss Universe and Miss Jamaica came to the Bob Marley museum. So cool didn't get a picture but others did!

We left the Bob Marley museum and headed to the water by way of Port Royal, one of the largest ports in Jamaica if I remember correctly.

We arrived at Glorias, a restaurant by the sea and placed out orders and then we went to Fort Charles.

It was a fort that used to be surrounded by water that after an earthquake, the ground rose up and the fort became unusable for defense. 

I have learned that Jamaica has had quick sizable earthquakes that have played significant roles in the country's history. 


Well anyway, there is an old ammunition house that is known as the Giddy House. When the earthquake hit the Giddy House, it sank and is now something like out of an amusement park. 


It is slanted and you can walk in get a trippy experience. 

The Giddy House

Emily doing the matrix!

As we were hiding from the shade, a man who lives n Brooklyn but was born in Jamaica came up to us with an odd fruit called Tamarind. I knew it was used alot in Middle Eastern cooking and for making candy. He offered us a piece. It was very jelly and it was soooooooo sour. But a sour that subsides to comfortableness. not bad. 

Fresh tamarind

It was bloody hot that day and I couldn't enjoy the fort as much as I wanted because we were all about to faint. 


We went back to Gloria's after we finished with the fort. 

Unhappy hot cmapers

Now, I did not care for Gloria's but everyone else had a better experience than I did. (The shrimp was overcooked beyond belief and three other people tried it and agreed that it was so I wasn't beng a stuffy American). 

The view from Gloria's 

We went to the store after Gloria's to shop for meals for the week. I spent waaaaaay too money because I was hungry so I am now trying to finish all this food. 


It was a rough hot day. But we all made it. 

Falling mangoes