The stunning ranges in affluence

Celebrated my birthday last night with a Jamaican neighborhood celebration the likes of which none of us have ever seen. The Jamaican's know how to party and find any reason in the world to do it, even if it's a strange old white woman's birth. I'll have more next week when we reach a computer that is able to handle photos of the event.

I've been struck by the degrees of economic affluence in Jamaica. For those who have traveled here for vacation, the interior is not the same as that narrow necklace around the perimeter. It's especially magnified in our Parish, Clarendon, and our town, Chapelton. Last week we met with other PC Volunteers from the area in the home of one of the countries wealthiest families. Maids, pool, cabana, big cars, the typical upscale setting. This morning on my run I crossed paths with Flabby, the fisherman, on his way to the river to catch fish in the river which he will sell on the street later today. He was on the back of a donkey with milk crates as saddle bags. Not much further along I came across a woman and her chrii likl pikni [three young children-pikni is not a derogatory term in JA]. She carried a large box of laundry on her head and a bottle of bleach. One of her pikni carried more clothes in a bag. She was headed to do her wash in the same river Flabby was fishing in, bleach and all. She'll spend the day at the riverside doing the laundry for her family [count your blessings-I hate laundry under the best of circumstances].

We met with the local high school Principal this morning and he told us one of his biggest problems is fighting off squatters and those who rob the schools vegetable gardens. They have a 128 acre campus with only six used for the school proper. On some of the outer property they grow fruits and vegetables for the cafeteria [I liked that resourceful use of assets]. But squatters come in, set up camp and help themselves. I'm left with the same feeling I had after seeing the latest Ben Affleck directed pic, Gone Baby Gone; whose the enemy here? The poor starving squatter or the educational institution?

Otherwise, mi be gud. Margaret