"Building Better Readers for a Brighter Tomorrow"

"Building Better Readers for a Brighter Tomorrow" was the theme of the Literacy Competition and Fair. Students from five St. James Primary Schools participated. Thanks to all the parents and sponsors who helped make it a great success!
(4 min 20 sec)

Irene and I have been working with the Adelphi Community Development Committee, the Social Development Commission of Jamaica, the Ministry of Education, parents, principals and teachers, and many other local sponsors to help create a successful reading event for our students.

This video only shows some highlights - there were many, many excited winners - everyone received a medal or certificate for participating.

And...here are some snapshots of the many winners:

 

 

Christmas Carol Service

Christmas Carol Service -- the true meaning of Christmas was seen as students (Adelphi Primary School - St. James, Jamaica ) gathered to tell the story of Jesus' birth in song and readings. It was a day of heavy rains and flooding, but the spirit was strong. Mr. Thorpe celebrated his last Christmas as a teacher before his retirement. Enjoy these short segments - only about 6 minutes...

 



We wish all our friends a Joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Second Goal, Thanksgiving, Chik-V, more food

November in Jamaica – hurricane season is almost finished…there were some Caribbean storms, but nothing serious effecting our island (so far…although today it rained so much, and the main road was flooded, so only 20 kids made it to school – we closed at noon). I have a pair of great locally made rubber ‘farmer’s boots’ which I use to wade through the shin-deep water to get to school.

 

American Thanksgiving is not well known here. My kids made hand-tracing turkeys and wrote all the things that they were thankful for: brothers and sisters, food, friends, mother/father, but…also video games and KFC (by the way, there is NO Mickey D’s in Jamaica!)
 

Peace Corps was established on 3 simple goals: 

 

 

Adelphi Primary students had a chance to contribute to goals 2 and 3 by ‘meeting’ school kids in rural western Pennsylvania via SKYPE video chat. Sponsored by World Wise Schools, we were paired up with a home school in PA; we prepared by writing letters with topics like “what I want to tell you about Jamaica” and “what I want to ask you.” We sent pictures by email, and finally had a great chat over the internet. In their thank you letters, my kids listed the things they learned about the USA: snow, turkeys, and local animals. 

 

We also planned a “Jamerican” Thanksgiving dinner for neighbours from age 10 to 84. We actually did find a frozen Butterball Turkey (imported from the USA - but it cost more than $130) so we opted for chickens (raised at our house) with stuffing and trimmings, along with traditional Escabeche fish and goat curry. Also homemade tortillas and salsa, and Irene's famous empanadas (stuffed with homegrown punkin).We began with a prayer from our host mom, and then told the story of the Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrating their harvest together. We all had a turn at telling what we are thankful for. 10-year old Corey moved us all by saying that when he is sad, he is thankful that he can talk with God.  

 

 

 
 

 
Rally of the Grades! This is an annual event where each grade class presented entertainment items to raise money for school projects. Many parents also 'voted' with donations. The singing was wonderful! Congratulations to Grade 2 -- the winner based on the most money raised.

 

And, Irene and I have been scheduled to chat with a college senior (as in ‘retired’) enrichment class near Phoenix, AZ in a few months via SKYPE – the topic is Peace Corps Baby Boomers.

Chikungunya Virus is a mosquito-borne disease spreading across Jamaica now. Similar to Dengue Fever, it comes with high fever, severe (very!) joint pain, a rash and more. After about a week, most people return to activity, but the joint pain and sometimes the fever last for as much as a year. Irene got it ‘bad’ – luckily we have excellent medical care as Peace Corps volunteers…she still missed most of 3 weeks of work, but with some new meds, she is back at it. Hopefully it is true that it comes with acquired immunity. I am hoping that I am one of the lucky ones…so far it hasn’t bit me.

Christmas is a big holiday in Jamaica – decorated trees, shopping sales, and plans for big family dinners. But, of course, we still hope to find at least a couple days to go to the beach (yah mon!).

 

We continue to love our work and our life here in Jamaica – it’s already been 10 months…less than a year and half left on our first assignments (although it is possible to extend). We appreciate your continued comments and interest – Happy Holidays from Irene and Steve!

P.S. Follow Adelphi Primary at www.FaceBook.com/AdelphiPrimary

and Steve’s www.FaceBook.com/SteveLawrence.Denver.

...Steve's Birthday dinner at Round Hill

  

Ocho Rios ("Ochi") Weekend get-a-way in Jamaica.

Even Peace Corps Volunteers deserve a little vacation! Irene and I had to go to the Peace Corps office in Kingston for meetings (about 6 hours travel from our home in the 'bush')...so, we stopped on our return for 2 nights in Ocho Rios ("Ochi") - a nice hotel with hot water, a wonderful meal in a superb beachside restaurant, and some sightseeing in our current homeland - we even now qualify for Jamaican prices since we are not considered tourists.



Rooms on the Beach - wonderful local hotel in Ochi

Dunn's River Falls





We rented a boat - stopped at Fisherman's Beach to pick up Lobster, Bammy & Festivals:

 

  

...view through the glass bottom boat over the reef:

In the evening, a wonderful on-the-beach restaurant - Bamboo Blu:

 

....with truly gourmet food and music too:

 

 

 

And our names in fire on the beach!



...with our host Denzil Thompson

 

...the view from our hotel balcony:

 

 

It was just a 2 night get-a-way, but we are

really enjoying getting to know our island home better.

 

Foodie Report

As we get more settled into our home and become more familiar with Jamaican produce and meats, we are having fun with cooking. Here are some recent meals:

Fresh Caught fish with Dill, Okra, Pok Choy and "Irish" potatoes

Ackee and Saltfish

 

Home made pizza with garden vegs

 

Jerk Chicken and Callalou from the garden

 

Fried Chicken with cornflakes crust

Steve's birthday cake

...And - here are a few special meals eating out in Jamaica:

Spiny Lobster, Parrot Fish, Bammy & Festivals
Fisherman's Beach -- Ocho Rios

Goat Ravioli at Bamboo Blu, Ocho Rios



Jerk Chicken with Okra and Irish

Okra from our backyard garden

 

...but, sometimes good ol' bacon and eggs just is perfect!

...some 2015 updates: We now get most of our produce from a Rasta Man in the main open market in Montego Bay. We got a great price on onions, so Irene made the best onion soup I have ever had (even in France) - part of the secret...Jamaican dark rum.

Fresh Onion Soup - a la Jamican