Day 4 - JAFSP June 10th

That brown line on the branch? That's an ant tunnel....

Today was quite the day...and truly the most physically challenging day I have had in many, many years. I am not inactive, but I am not an athlete by any means. I do walk, and hike trails. However, in Indiana, I hike relatively level trails through the woods. I was not prepared for the hike we did today, but I truly tried my absolute best. The hike for all the students ended up being close to 8 miles. I ended up hiking somewhere around 5 miles. We started at an old Spanish fort which has been converted into a hotel of sorts.

Eric Wills at old Spanish Fort

local dancing for the students

door at the Spanish fort

 When we first started the hike, the heat and humidity immediately sapped my strength and by about a mile in I did not feel well. One of the staff gave me part of a granola bar which helped a lot! The terrain was so different than any I have ever walked. There were steep inclines that were very rocky (hard to find the rocks hidden under grasses at times!), grassy trails through what was almost prairie-like fields, along the coast on a beach (where tiny rocks which make up the beach would get stuck in your shoes), through more jungle canopy where you needed to hike over tree roots and push away foliage, etc. Between the more strenuous parts of the hike and the heat/humidity, I struggled. By the time we reached Black Beach a little over 2 miles in, I knew there was no physical way I could continue to the end (to see the waterfall, which was difficult to give up) and then turn around and hike all the way back. So, I stayed on the beach while the rest of the group went on. Tracy decided to stay with me and one of the guides. There we sat, two working moms and a Rastafarian guide, sitting on the beach. We chatted for some time and the guide talked about working as a roofer in Kingston at times and then we talked about fishing around the island. Finally, the guide took his machete (they all have machetes), cut off a giant palm frond, laid it down and proceeded to take a nap while we waited. It was truly a wonderful, surreal moment.

Lion looks a bit intimidating with his machete, but he was an amazing guide

Black Beach

After the group spent time at the waterfall, they returned to pick us up and we all headed back. It was a good decision for me not to do the entire hike, based on how I felt going back, but it was a bit better because it had cooled down a little by the time we hiked back. This was truly a personal accomplishment for me, and I teased Eric Wills, the Director, telling him "Thanks to Eric Wills, I now know how out of shape I truly am!". The students all did an amazing job on the hike and were very excited on the way back to where we are staying. I am sure we will all sleep well tonight.

Students headed back after the hike

We spent time later in the evening planning and preparing for our work at the infirmary, homeless shelter and  School of Hope.

Looking up through trees in jungle on hike

Goat Farmer at top of cliff

View from one of the trails

stunning views (when I could manage to look up)

Day Three- JAFSP

Hard to show the range of blues in the water

It is so hard to recall the entire day because it feels like we packed in so much into one day.The breakfast this morning was the usual: eggs, toast (great bread!) which I tried with guava jelly, coffee (stronger than when I was in France, if it's possible--in Jamaica, though, instead of cream and sugar, they use condensed milk), juice, and watermelon. I met with Tracy W., the other supervisor, about our agenda for this evening's meeting with the music therapy students, and then we all got ready to go to the beach. The beach was not too far away, but we rode in two different vans. Our van stopped at the top of a very rough road and we had to hike down to the beach. Mainly, it was covered in tree roots and rocks, so it was a bit challenging not to twist an ankle, but we all managed. At the top of the hill was a beautiful mango (pronounced "MAHN-GO") tree and some goats. 

Goats digging through garbage and fallen mangoes

One type of mango--"Stringy Mango"

The beach was incredible...the colors of the ocean water here along the coast are stunning!

We were able to eat lunch at the beach, swim, and also walk the beach to visit vendors set up along the shoreline. Most sold jewelry, while others sold unique pieces of art, etc. We all tried to avoid getting burned, but still got too much sun. I could have stayed in that water the entire day, it felt so amazing! It was also a great opportunity to get to know more of the students better, and we had many fun conversations throughout the day.

Beach visited

After we returned from the beach, we had a little free time before dinner which was spent showering and getting things in order for later in the evening. At dinner, we were treated to a dance group who performed traditional Jamaican dances for us. I didn't get a picture, but I did take video of the group. The ages of the members ranged from around 8 to adult. It is so interesting how different people of this culture (and many others) dance as compared to those of us in the United States. The dances hold so much meaning and symbolism, stemming from deep history. It was wonderful to experience, and they even have a  version of the May Pole dance!

After dinner we had our drum class, followed by group meetings (Music Therapy and Music Education, separately). The music therapy group focused on getting their repertoire for the volunteer work prepared, along with beginning to tell the students about the sites where they will be working starting on Monday. I will be at the School of Hope with a group of students, working with the children on both Monday and Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday and Thursday, I'll be at the Infirmary. We're waiting to determine where we will be on Friday. There is so much to take in, from the new drumming rhythm patterns, to the new songs being taught each night, to just learning how things work! Following the meeting, everyone headed down the street for some more music and dancing, like last night, but the group returned earlier than usual to rest up for tomorrow.

This is Lily. She is VERY talkative.

Tracy and I met after returning to create the groups for the coming week (placing students in groups of three, based on many factors), and then returned to our rooms. Tomorrow is going to be a tremendous challenge for me: an 8 mile hike. I am hoping my hiking sandals don't hurt my feet, and also that I don't embarrass myself by passing out in the heat or worse, not being able to keep walking and holding up the group! The reward after the first 4 miles is a waterfall, where we get to swim. I am hoping this motivates me to keep walking through a great deal of discomfort I am sure to feel. Keep me in your thoughts. I'm nothing if not persistent. ;)

Sweet Jamaican beach cat

Day Two - JAFSP

Boston Bay beach

Today was full. Very full. And HOT. Tracy (the other MT supervisor) and I spent several hours with Eric, running errands with him in town before heading to the three sites we'll be working at next week. He picked up the custom-made drums ordered by students made by a local man. They are amazing with wonderful tone. We then had lunch at a place called Anna Banana. I had their fried chicken which was NOTHING like fried chicken at home, and fried plantains. 

fried chicken with sauce

smoking the chicken

Plaintains

All good. I never knew all the ways chicken could be prepared, but it is wonderful here. Jerk chicken, particularly the jerk sauce, was created right here. It was something else following the director Eric through town. It seems like EVERYONE knows him and he has many friends here which is why he is able to keep JAFSP going strong. He did things like buy an enormous bag of rice for the infirmary before he took us through, as a gesture, and he connects with everyone very well.  The infirmary, while difficult to tour in many respects is something that I feel I was prepared for very well (from my own students' experiences in the past, as well as from Eric)... How the students will handle it? Not sure. Some of the beds were really unclean and the condition of many was not good, but they smiled SO big when we introduced ourselves. One man, (who didn't have a leg) when I asked how he was doing, shrugged and said, "Well, you know...I have a good life!" Their positive attitudes and optimism in this culture are astounding...as is the poverty. Shops and stores are literally in tin shacks in many places.

Looking at jewelry for sale at beach

Students relaxing before dinner in general meeting area

steps coming back from Boston Beach (my hut is up to the left)

I found myself really looking forward to working at the infirmary. One man had a lizard crawling above his bed, while another man was covered in his food. And still, their response to us just walking in....amazing. We met vendors at the market in Port Antonio and all try to sell you something, so you just have to be direct. Some cool stuff though, made from local seeds, coconuts, and other natural resources. Also, bamboo is used a great deal. 

Outside my hut made of bamboo. Look closely and you'll see the lizard.

The homeless shelter is going to be more of a drumming class or recreational music-making and we only met the staff there. 

We went to the School of Hope and it was great. The kids ran and opened the gate for us to enter. Several children had Down Syndrome, hearing impairments, etc. as this is a school for children with special needs. They were all smiles and waves. It will be great to work there as well.

We ran songs tonight and had our first "MT meeting" and I'm still learning names. There are so many people...31 total in our group, with 16 or 17 being MT students. We also had our first drumming class. Eric said he would start assuming they knew nothing and started out completely at the beginning on how to hit the drum. Then, within 30 minutes was showing us all sorts of rhythms and teaching us songs. Quite the learning curve. I can't believe all the new information we all have to take in...from new food, music, rhythms, lyrics, words, names of people, etc. 
   

local plant...the colors are leaves, not flowers

This evening, after training, we went into Boston Bay (the little town we're staying in) and they had a "talent show". It was basically on a street and these two guys started it with playing/mixing dance music. Eventually, different guys went up and would do rap/reggae style songs. It was LOUD, but students danced along with the locals and so Eric, me, Tracy, and the other supervisors hung around until they all wanted to come back here. Every once in awhile, a car would come barreling down the street and the entire party had to split down the middle and let it pass, but would immediately return to the street. I did try a "Grape Nut" ice cream which was good.

Tomorrow we go to a beach near here, in our last "relaxed" day. I'm looking forward to swimming and being cooler! Sunday is the big hike. At the end of the first leg of the hike, there is apparently a gorgeous waterfall where we get to swim, then come back. This will be a big accomplishment for me if my feet and back make it out okay.

The "Errol Flynn" Marina (click here)

That's about all...there is so much I can't explain about the culture and the people here. The way of life is so laid back....and Eric was telling us that a guy told him to not stress out so much, that it was bad for his health. Meanwhile the guy didn't know how he was going to feed his kids that week....again, the optimism is awesome. Each person I met at the market in town shook hands in a different way...often they would say something with the handshake/fist bump/thumb touch sequence like "Peace, love, light... we are all one" or something along those lines. Peace, love, and light...indeed.

amazing view from one of the huts 

Day One - JAFSP

We all made it to Jamaica. Let me add that this is not a trip to a Sandals resort or one of the walled beach areas for tourists. We are lucky to see the real Jamaica, meet the people in their own environment, and learn how important having all of us buying dinner from the locals is on their local economy. I can't even describe it. After driving through remote villages/towns, down roads with people selling bananas, mangoes, etc., after seeing some very extreme poverty in rural Jamaica (but only from the road, not up close yet), I'm sitting in a tree house, listening to the ocean and the tree frogs, I'm soaked with sweat, and wondering if there is a creature walking on the floor...or worse, one of the 4-5 inch carnivorous centipedes, and wondering if the staff person will bring me a mosquito netting after all (which he did! Hooray for George!). I am thankful there is a fan in here, which will likely make sleeping more possible. The breezes coming in the windows (well, the openings in my hut) are stronger now which is wonderful. 

The flights went fine and I was amazed at how quickly we got here. An hour to Atlanta and then another 2.5 hours to Jamaica. The wait at the airport took awhile, but I'm told it went fast for what usually happens. I finally put my contacts back in once in Montego Bay. I was tired of my glasses sliding down my face in the heat. We walked outside and I felt I might lose my breath with the heat and humidity. Thankfully, there are typically breezes, which makes the heat bearable. I know I'll forsake any attempt at make up, though, which is nice. Eric Wills, the Director, went over the itinerary and rules...I was very impressed at the organization. Tracy Wanamaker, my co-music therapy supervisor on this trip, told me she's been doing 3-4 miles on the treadmill each day to prepare for the hike. Am I going to die in the jungle? 

The bus ride was actually pretty nice until about 3 hours in..then I was tired of talking, my legs hurt, and the roads got bumpy so I started to feel a little woozy. Mainly because the only thing I'd eaten was some trail mix I bought in Atlanta. I was sick with hunger, literally. That, and exhaustion. All the students looked worn out as well. We're all acclimating to the heat/humidity. 

When we got here, and went to our huts, I realized that I have one lamp in the entire place, so I have my flashlight to get around and to try to find things in my bag. It was dark when we got here around 7:00 p.m. We're an hour BEHIND Indiana because while they are on Eastern Standard time, they don't observe Daylight Savings Time. And we're so close to the equator the sun is down early. 


We walked up the road for dinner (in the dark because we all forgot to carry flashlights) and found candles lighting up a dining place. These local guys can see in the dimmest light. Eric said it is because electricity is SO expensive. He said his energy bill is ridiculous here. So there I sat, at this little bar counter place, eating jerk chicken off of foil with my fingers. It was awesome. I also had breadfruit and some type of bread. It was truly great. But I couldn't help but think I was dreaming the whole time. 


Tomorrow is free time for the students to tour the area and the supervisors will visit the sites we will work in next week. I'll see the infirmary (one of the worst in the country in terms of conditions), the School of Hope (school for children with special needs, including hearing impairments), and the homeless shelter. The man who owns Great Huts where we are staying supports the homeless shelter. 


At this point, I'm still learning what my role is with the students, how much I will need to implement myself in terms of music-based activities, etc. I am also trying to learn all the students' names. This is a large group of around 20-25 new people I need to get to know very quickly. 


I am looking forward to it...and hoping I don't find a scorpion in my shower tomorrow morning! I promise to load pictures sometime tomorrow when it is daylight and I can take some of this beautiful place.

Jamaica-Bound: Experiencing the Jamaica Field Service Project

Several students from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College have participated in the Jamaica Field Service Project, directed by Eric Wills, over the past couple of summers. This summer is no exception. Sherry Bube, music therapy junior, and Laura Kempton, music therapy senior, both applied and were accepted to participate in this unique experience. SMWC faculty member Sharon Boyle, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Coordinator of the Undergraduate Music Therapy Program, has been selected to participate in the program this summer as a music therapy supervisor. Two music therapy supervisors (Tracy Wanamaker from SUNY-Potsdam will be working alongside Boyle) and approximately 16 music therapy students from all over the country, representing numerous music therapy programs, are on their way to Jamaica today to work as volunteers in an infirmary, homeless shelter, and school (School of Hope) in the Portland Parish, Jamaica. In addition, music educators and music education students and other volunteers will also participate in the June experience. 

Boyle will journal about her experience as a music therapy supervisor over the next ten days. Please check back to learn about her JAFSP experience and also see pictures of this beautiful, rural part of Jamaica.

In the recent Onyx magazine 4 of the students pictured in the student leaders article are music therapy majors. Sherry Bube, Student Senate President, was interviewed for the article. In addition, another music therapy student is pictured on the cover the magazine. Our music therapy students are consistently strong academically, service-oriented, and are leaders on campus and in the community-at-large!

Many of our music therapy students were able to participate in the SMWC Madrigals Choir Tour to France this month. Check out their travels at the SMWC Choir blog here: http://smwcchoirs.blogspot.com