JAMROCKING IT OUT: Definitely Not Too Cool For School

These past couple weeks have been quite a whirlwind. It involved getting used to my school, teaching, my community, and what to do with my free time. Which sounds like it would be simple but in a new country even simple tasks such as these have more aspects involved in them. At my school my main task these past few weeks was helping several grade 4 students get prepared for their Grade 4 literacy test. In Jamaica the testing system is very intense and the tests in Grade 4 and Grade 6 determine what high school they will be allowed to attend so it’s important the students do as well as they can. In addition to this, I would have a read aloud every morning and at lunch to help the students get familiar with me and help out the other teachers as much as possible. Sometimes even get a football game going with the students at lunch. In the evenings, I typically hang out at the local football field aka the “dust bowl” with the members of my community getting to know them or watching Americas Got Talent with my host family! But just as I was getting into the swing of things we had graduation for Grade 6 and school ended. The graduation ceremony was incredible! The entire community attends and every person puts their best dress forward. I loved getting to see all the fashion at the event. My school had 18 students graduate and I could not have been prouder of these students and will certainly miss them next year. Although all the ones going to the high school down the road I have made them promise to come visit next year!

The PCV crew in Negril

The weekend following graduation was 4^th of July weekend, and one of the Peace Corps Volunteers birthdays so of course we had to celebrate! We made the trip up to Negril which was about 2 hours of “smalling up” in taxis and buses (basically fitting as many people as possible into the car/bus). It was so nice to see familiar faces and get to relax for the weekend. Once the weekend was over it was back to my community in St. Elizabeth! So now with it being summer it is time for lesson planning, learning to crochet and cook with my host family, and lots of Taylor Swift jam sessions in my house!