A New School Year

Jamaican schools have been in session since September…and it has been a busy year. Each school was asked to prepare a 5-slide presentation highlighting some of the activities and uniqueness. Here is ours from Adelphi Primary.

[Click on each picture for a larger view]



Adelphi Primary is more than 125 years old. Here are some
students forming the Jamaican flag in Black, Green and Gold.

Miss Clarke teaching Grade 3. We were the recipient of a USAID and DIGICEL (phone company) grant
including a small smart board and laptop.

Sports Day, Careers Day,
and Jamaica Day

Police Sargent teaching discipline. Girls learning
deportment. Grade 2 eating lunch on placemats.
Respect for the flag.



Grade 6 graduation. Morning devotions.
Our principal and teachers.

 



…a New Grandson is born; and other visits in America!



Irene and Levi

Jason and Levi

Levi was born August 6^th in San Diego – Irene was there for the event; Levi’s mom Etchie and dad Jason (Irene’s son) are very happy and are great parents.


Etchie, Lola (Irene's mom) and Irene with Levi

Baby Levi

Levi with Grandma and Grandpa



 

We also visited with Irene’s mom Lola and aunts in San Bernardino … we made a day trip to Catalina Island with them too.

Avalon Harbour - Catalina Island



3 sisters - Maria, Lola, Lupe



Lobster Trap - Avalon

Lobster Trap - Avalon

Steak and Lobster - yummy!



 Abby and Travis (Irene’s son) joined us for a great brunch in Carlsbad – they are doing so well.



with Abby and Travis at the Green Dragon

...always a good time for Mimosas

Then – we went to Tennessee to visit with Irene’s sisters...

 

Tennessee countryside

 

Irene and Lizz

 

...a beautiful hay barn

...and also toured the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville. We think we might settle there after our Peace Corps service. 

UT Knoxville campus

 



"Uncorked" at Market Square

 

...at Market Square, Knoxville for al fresco lunch

And … we finished our travels with three very busy days in New York City. We visited Steve’s 101 year-old cousin Reni, took a Staten Island Ferry ride, visited the top of the new Freedom Tower and the 9/11 memorial, saw a Broadway show, had dinner with our Jamaican host mom’s brother, and even had a late night steak dinner before catching an early flight home. 



Lady Liberty

Staten Island Ferry

Visiting Steve's cousin Reni - 101 years old!

 

Visiting with Duggy - our Jamaican host mom's brother in NYC

 




Jersey Boys marquee

Autographs too!

 

Irene congratulating "Frankie Valli" after the performance

...OUR Picture caught on the the billboard in Times Square

 

Freedom Tower

North pool at the 9/11 Memorial Site



Looking north from 102nd floor

Hudson  River

Midnight Dinner at Smith and Wollensky

Souvineer pix at the Freedom Tower

It is good to be home in Jamaica now. School classes start on September 7^th – hard to believe we’ve been here more than 1 ½ years already. We will continue our literacy projects, but this year we must also ensure sustainability – when we leave it is important that the Jamaican staff in our schools will be able to continue the new programmes and use the technology successfully.

What’s next? We will be in the capitol, Kingston in November for a meeting – we hope to do a bit of ‘bucket list’ including the National Gallery of Jamaica (art museum) while we are there. We are participating in a charity 10K run in Negril with a large group of Peace Corps volunteers, and we plan to visit Cuba in December (we are only 80 miles away).

Thanks for following our story - we continue to enjoy your comments. Walk Gud!

Sunrise at our home in Adelphi, St. James, Jamaica

 

Jamaican Independence Day 2015

...“Proud and Free: Jamaica 53” is the theme for

Jamaicans celebrating 53 years of independence today.

 

 

 

Here is the offical message from

Prime Minister Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller.

(Americans may find this interesting as she reviews some history and successes in building a modern Jamaica!)

 

 

Even Google honoured Jamaicans today with this doodle in the colours of the Jamaican Flag - Black, Green and Gold:

 

 

 

...and stay tuned for some family news -- a grandson

is about to be born today in California!



Grade 6 Graduation, Rose Hall Great House, and early summer in JA

Jamaican Primary schools honour graduants (yes that’s the word, not graduates) who move from Grade 6 to First Form in high school. Our school celebrated our “School Leavers” (sic) accomplishments with a ceremony, awards, guest speakers, a valedictory speech, and items (performances) by students. Our school had 2 students who earned academic scholarships, to help with costs of books, fees, etc., awarded by our Member of Parliament.  

(Feel free to skip around this 6 minute video)

 

Irene and I have been making a “bucket list” of places to visit in Jamaica during the coming year. During slavery, agriculture was controlled by large plantations. Not too far from our home near Montego Bay is the Rose Hall Great House – the home of Annie Palmer, the “White Witch” who murdered 3 husbands and many lovers in her bedroom. 

(You may click on the pictures to see a larger slide show)

Rose Hall Great House

Annie's Bedroom

 

Chill Out Hut - Fathers' Day Dinner

On Father’s Day, Irene and our friend Shawn took me to Chill Out Hut, a great casual seafood place right on the beach. I am in the process of getting my Jamaican Driver’s License (right hand drive – left side of the road), so I drove there using my Learner’s Permit.

...Driver practice

Sugar Mill Restaurant

 

Every once in a while we treat ourselves to a very ‘non-Peace Corps” night out. The Sugar Mill at the Half Moon Resort is one of Jamaica’s award winning restaurants – and they even make perfect Gin Martinis.

 

Irene working on Playground

Steve working on Playground

School is out for the summer, but Irene is very busy finishing up the construction and painting of the playground; she won a Peace Corps grant for this project at her school. We have 3 Peace Corps meetings to attend in July in Kingston and Runaway Bay, so we will try to keep up the bucket list activity and post more next time.

Tyre animals

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Walk Gud and Respec, mon!

Steve and Irene at Sugar Mill Restaurant

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