Back in Jam Town

Well my Canadian Christmas has come and gone and I'm back in sunny Jam town. Good thing too as I've heard from numerous sources that Toronto has been barraged with a monumental amount of snow. I'm fairly certain I'm the only CUI intern to have made the trip home for the holidays, so I consider myself extra lucky. Arriving back in Jamaica felt a bit like how the start of summer holidays feel when you're 12 I have to say. I was thrown right back into the mix of Jamaican life too, traveling in a minivan, yes minivan, that held 23, yes 23 people. I sat on the edge of my seat with my giant travel bag on my lap for the entire trip back to Mandeville, where I spent the night before heading to Black River in the morning. After the cramped journey and almost 2 weeks away from Jamaica, I was desperately in need of a fried chicken fix. Not to worry, after striking out at the first restaurant I checked (apparently many shops stop serving food at around 4) I was led around by an 8 year old tour guide who was determined to get me some chicken. He succeeded and after giving me an exuberant high five, I was finally able to consume a large quantity of chicken curry and rice and peas. Good to be back.

Oh yeah, back to the weather contrast..I'm feeling the need to rub it in right now. Today was a balmy 28 in Black River, and last weekend I spent a total of 6 hours swimming in the ocean with my 4th trip to Treasure Beach, quite possibly my favorite area of the Jamaica, and hope to double that this weekend with my 3rd trip to Negril. I also had my first night out in Black River. Yes,  you heard correctly. I've been here more than 3 months and had not been out in the evening. Not safe to walk around solo I was told. Up until now I've been the only intern/volunteer in Black River. Well there was a lovely girl named Rachel from England here for my first week, but she was on her way out as I was coming in. Last week 2 new volunteers arrived though and this week another 2 are settling in. While my fellow Jamaican work folk are great, they actually don't live in Black River. So me and my 3 new friends decided to hit the town. Well, as I predicted there is nothing open in Black River after 6pm. Except for the Waterloo Guest House which is owned by the family I'm staying with. I also have lunch there prettttyyyy much every day. So with limited options we headed to Waterloo.

But really none of this is relevant to what I initially wanted to write about. However I suppose providing a bit of a context for where I'm at now doesn't hurt. I actually wanted to show a picture of me at work, seeing as how I haven't actually posted one yet. Somewhat self indulgent I know.  But seeing as how most of my time is spent in exactly this position... I'm at my computer pretty much the entire day right now, as the project has yet to really take flight, I thought it relevant. Hopefully the official launch of the project will be in mid Feb, and from that point I'll be in the field a lot more, working with the community, doing site analysis etc. Anyways, here's the picture. Oh and below is pic of the Waterloo Guest House. As I said I spend a lot of time there. Lunches, occasionally for a beer to watch the sunset and now for our a night out here or there. Now that it's peak travel season, it's actually a pretty decent place to meet other travelers too. Oh and did I mention it was the first house in Jamaica to have electricity?? Because it was.

Oh and this was a surprise picture, hence the lack of facial expression.

The ole Waterloo Guest House.

"To Fry or Not to Fry" # 2 - Sorrel, the official Christmas drink of choice.

  Carlene at home makin some Sorrel. Here's now it's done:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound sorrel, leaves picked
• 2-4 oz. ginger
• 2 quarts water
• Sugar
• Wine (optional)
• 8-12 pimento grains

1. Wash sorrel thoroughly, using the finger to lift it from the water.
2. Put into stainless steel pot.
3. Scrape and wash giner. Grate and add to the sorrel. Add pimento grains.
4. Boild water and pour over sorrel.
5. Allow to stand 4-6 hours. Strain.
6. Sweeten to taste and add rum to taste
7. Add optional wine.
8. Serve over ice.

Jam Pic Series # 9 - Lionel Denship Airstrip opening



Pictures: Top Left – Prime Minister Bruce Golding     

          Bottom Right – Jason Henzel Chair of the SEPDC, 

Yesterday the planning department was invited to attend the grand opening of the Lionel Densham Airstrip. Although St. Elizabeth, in particular the greater Treasure Beach area, has seen increased levels of tourism in recent years, many foreign and local travelers note how difficult it is to access the region. The distance from other major tourist nodes, combined with the general condition of the regional  road network, prevents many visitors from accessing the area.  The airstrip will allow people to connect to southern St. Elizabeth from other major airports around the country, increasing the overall connectivity and accessibility of the region.  

Amazingly, the airstrip was funded entirely by private investment.  Actually Jason Henzell owner of the popular luxary boutique hotel ‘Jakes’ and the amazing ‘Jack Sprats’, a restaurant I’ve been to 7 times already, was solely responsible for its development.  The name Henzell may sound familiar as his father, Perry Henzell, directed the famous Jamaican film ‘The Harder They Come’  (http://www.imdb. com/title/tt0070155/). Mr. Henzel is also the Chair of the St. Elizabeth Parish Development Committee, and has helped to establish a number of programs for children in the local community.  He has been a major player in the revitalization of the greater Treasure Beach area and the promotion of the south coast as a sustainable tourist destination that focuses on small scale, locally owned development.

              

Reggae Christmas

Last week I attended the St. Elizabeth Parish Council monthly meeting and was surprised when a large quantity of Appleton's Rum was consumed. Nothing beats a little afternoon rum and ginger beer at work I say.   Apparently it's a Jamaican Christmas tradition for the councillors to have drinks at the meeting prior to Christmas.  Sadly I did not partake, as I was trying to be on my best behaviour. I did however find it highly entertaining to be at a council meeting, discussing community and political issues surrounded

by cheerful rum drinkers (because of course,

when drinking at work one can’t help but be cheerful).

I love all-things Christmas. I’m a Christmas fanatic one could say.  It’s a bit of a weakness of mine, and the thought of missing Christmas was one of my initial hesitations about taking a job in another country. Not to worry though, I’ve got a flight booked for next week, and will have a white Christmas after all. I’m not quite sure what I expected, but when I pictured a Caribbean country, I didn’t picture Christmas trees, lights or music. However, December 1^st came around and lights began showing up on houses and storefronts in town. Apparently most people decorate a fake tree at home. I recently heard that real trees are becoming more popular though, with the occasional tree farm even sprouting up here and there.

Jamaican’s tend to use music as a focal point for celebration, and Christmas is no exception. I’ve heard countless reggae versions of Christmas songs and last week there was a Christmas reggae party/concert happening down the street from where I live in the parking lot of a department store. This week there is the annual Christmas tree lighting in downtown Black River with performances by the Black River High school Choir and a bunch of other local groups. No doubt it will be a reggae Christmas celebration of immense proportions.

Jam Pic Series # 8

The heart and soul of Jamaica - Coffee planters

The real deal - the bean