we're back and it's very busy

It’s been a long time since we last wrote on the blog; sorry about that. Things have gotten wildly busy, but it’s been great. We’ve had some real successes: 1. the new EKG is operational; 2. the Citizens’ Association is now official; 3. the same is true for the Youth Club and Senior Citizens’ Group; 4. I’m starting a second Healthy Lifestyles Club at another school; 5. I’m coordinating the acquisition of somewhere between 200-440 used computers for 34 PCV’s projects around the island; 6. after celebrating a Jamaican Christmas in Chapelton we went home for eight days to see the boys; 7. our host grandfather had a stroke about 20 minutes before we returned to our Jamaican home, and sad to say, is really on the wane; and 8. Gary’s working on the idea of getting equipment for a hearing study and possibly starting a Big Brother Big Sister Program in Clarendon Parish.

The EKG was used January 5 for a Wellness Screening of Chapelton Hospital Staff. What a slog that was to get the second one out of customs. It arrived on November 15and sat in storage until January 2nd when the Ministry of Health approved the $7.00 duty for it. But now we’re off and running and have a waiting list for future testing sessions. During the follow-up counseling sessions most staff/clients voiced appreciation for all the information, guidance and help we were able to offer. In February I’ll start exercise classes for anyone who has completed the Screening. If we continue on this particular track of success our next step will be to begin training staff to do our jobs so the program can be sustained and expanded after we leave. We’re doing some of the same BU/Pitt testing but have added depression, posture, and dental screens to the protocol. The latter has given us a few headaches because the Jamaican dentist has been chronically late; 2 ½ hours this week. I talked with him and hopefully we’ve arrived at a plan/solution that will get his fellow colleagues back to their work stations in a timely manner for the next testing date. As well, Gary will now begin to train the nursing staff on general use of the EKG for patients.

Thursday night we had our largest turnout for the Citizens’ Association, 45 people and it was a raucous event. The election of officers was held and it looks as if it could be a successful group. The Jamaican Social Development Commission will train them on how to be effective at their jobs. We’ll work with them until they get on their feet. We’ve learned that unbeknownst to anyone [why no one knew has yet to be explained] there is money in the SDC’s budget that had been earmarked specifically for our community center; all that has to be done is to write the request for it. So much is needed; it will be interesting to see how they choose to spend that money. If the election was raucous who knows how the battle over dollars will go.

The Senior Citizens’ Group looks as if it’s going great guns. They elected their officers Sunday evening [all these elections are necessary in order to become a recognized entity and qualify for things like government support and grants]. They had a wonderful holiday social in early December. We sang songs, told jokes, ate delicious Jamaican holiday fare and had a Yankee Swap gift exchange that brought a lot of laughs. Gary and I had given a phone card and a lottery ticket as two separate gifts. The lottery ticket was the most unusual of the gifts. Our host mother, Mrs. Rumble was the last to draw a gift and she got it. If the ticket won it would be worth $50,000 JA. She could keep it or give it to one of the other seniors and take their gift. Now you have to know Mrs. Rumble to appreciate the situation; gambling is not part of her vocabulary. She howled and moaned in agony over the decision for five minutes. It was comical; in the end she kept the ticket and eventually got nothing [not even one number came up].

The Youth Club has moved along in fits and starts. They also have expressed a desire to get organized so they can have something to do. I know that’s the cry of all older children but, except for school [if they go] there’s literally nothing to do in Chapelton; no movies [theater or DVD rentals], no sports, no swimming, no clubs, no computers except at the time limited library, no jobs, nothing but socializing on the street corners listening to music and watching older men while they smoke ganja and play dominos. Sunday evening they are going to give it another try. I think something may happen this time, but we’ll see.

As for the Healthy Lifestyles Club, my supervisor at the Hospital asked me to consider starting a second in another town and use the model of the first one. I just returned from Rock River All Age School to discuss the plan with them. It looks as if it will happen. I’m looking forward to giving it a try.

The computer situation in JA is limited at best. One reason we write so few blogs is that we’re limited to 30 minutes at a time on the local library’s PC [s]. The parenthesis represents the widely varying number of units available. For the month of December there was only one operational for most of the month. For the last several days before we left for the US there were none working. Anyway, it’s an island wide problem; I wanted something done; so I joined the ITAG committee of the PC [don’t recall what the acronym stands for but it’s something to do with technology] and became the point person for coordinating the purchases of 34 of my fellow volunteers for a sizeable number of computers. I have managed to get a shipper to donate his services to the cause [and possibly for the shoes too] and it’s just a matter of which computer refurbishing company we can get the best deal from all around [product, time frame and tech support] before we start the process of raising money [~ $80 US/unit with monitors, printers and Word loaded for Pentium 3’s and 4’s]. It’s all rather absurd with me doing this because I’m the most technically challenged human on the planet but I do see the need in Chapelton. The records department story you’ve heard, but the Community Center could offer PC’s for community use [oh yes, we’ve also learned that our neighborhood has been identified as a computer access point for the north central portion of our parish [again, who knew?!].

From our first encounter Mrs. Rumble asked us to stay for the Christmas celebration because of its festivities. So, in August we decided to honor her request and leave for the US on Christmas night after the major portion of the holiday was completed. We suspect that Christmas in Jamaica, like much of the Christian world, was subdued this year. Decorations were few and far between. But we did see some interesting cultural traditions around the season. Beginning in late November the US version of spring cleaning began and it was serious all over the Island. Even the government got involved with cleaning, clearing brush, and repairing roads. For the month people worked furiously to rehabilitate their property with painting, repairing, and renewing. One unusual tradition in that process is the painting white of tree trunks, stone boarders, midsized to large rocks embedded in the earth, and tires used as flower pots. Of those we asked they felt it was esthetically pleasing and desirable to have it done to their property. We asked several Jamaicans the source of the tradition but no one seemed to know; but all agreed it had nothing to do with an artificial representation of snow like we see in America.

So then we got to Connecticut and spent four days with John and Stephen while Todd and Riley joined us for two days. It was great to see those guys and feel their hugs. It’s the longest we’ve been away from them. We saw a movie, ate pizza and US beef, used a computer freely and watched television. Gary got to watch the Patriots do well but get knocked out of the playoffs. It was eye opening to realize how much we have always taken for granted; the comforts we’re all accustomed to are simply not available even in a country as developed as Jamaica. Gary also spent three days in Hardwick with his buddy Art Dell Orto [I was there for two days and left early to dog sit so John could ski].

Updates on the boys: Stephen has taken a player development internship with the Texas Rangers. He say it’s the next step toward his goal of becoming a GM someday and that it is the last internship. He’s literally on his way as of this writing to Arlington, TX. The Marlins gave him a wonderful send off. John and Todd were in Miami to see him in early November and said it was clear that everyone in the head office really liked him and the work he was doing. John is doing well in the commodities trading business. He trades chemicals internationally and specializes in chemicals for biodiesel fuels and compounded pharmaceuticals. It’s reassuring to hear that even in these tight economic times that our offspring are doing well. Todd was working away on conference calls with his IBM employees while he was with us and says he’s also doing just fine. Riley was a gem. At 2 ½ she’s charming even when she’s clear about not wanting something. She got to know us and seemed to have a lot of fun with each of us; it’s just a shame we will likely only see her very intermittently for many years to come.

As soon as Gary and I stepped out of the cab that brought us back to our Jamaican home from Connecticut I knew our host grandfather, Sirdee [the neighbors call him Oldie but he asked us to call him Sirdee] had had a stroke. Several people were trying to help him and when I got to his side I was the only one he recognized. We have a special relationship; he’s taken his role as host father very seriously with us and me in particular. I am his white daughter thus he always wanted to know where I was and that I was safe. We had many interesting discussions about world history and government. At 94 he had a wonderful spirit and since of humor. Now he’s taking this new condition with grace. He seems comfortable and never complains when we clumsily roll him over or readjust him. Mrs. Rumble, a retired head nurse, has chosen to care for him at home, so it’s almost like a hospice environment. Friends, neighbors and family drop by to see him even though he just lies there and can only mumble a syllable or two. Mrs. Rumble is taking a group of men, Gary included [fortunately I gave him a machete for Christmas; in Jamaican culture it’s like a very large version of the Swiss Army knife, real men wouldn’t been seen without it], to a remote plot of land Sirdee owns so they can cut a path to the top where he wants to be buried. I hope he’s able to go peacefully.

Now it’s Gary’s turn to share his thoughts & observations. Have a safe & happy New Year, Margaret

How do I top that “dissertation”…..? The only story I can add is one that happened about a week before Christmas when we were both (at the last minute) invited to a reception/dinner for a number of people that were either retiring from Chapelton Hospital or changing jobs…it totaled about 6 people altogether. The invitation came via phone call the night before the event and the person who called said “Ms. Rowe(the CEO) expects you to attend.” The event was scheduled for 2:00 pm on Thursday, a week before Christmas. After Margaret’s lectures and my meetings we arrived at the timely hour of 2 PM. The tables were almost fully decorated but no one was there except for the people who were working to set everything up and a couple of the retirees. It was clear that nothing was imminent. I retreated to my ECG office, did a little paperwork and returned every 15-30 minutes to see if the pace had picked up. Finally at 4:30 the event began with the six honorees and about 10 guests (including the two of us). The turnout was embarrassing but those in attendance made the best of the evening…..Don’t know if we mentioned this before, but cell phones are BIG in Jamaica; they may not have much…but almost everyone has a cell phone. And they are used incessantly, in meetings, in taxis, while eating….etc. As the host was announcing the first honoree (a retiree), his cell rang and he proceeded to answer it and have a conversation with whomever while the host continued the accolades about the man’s contribution at the hospital!!! One might think that was the exception but it happened once again during the accolades to another honoree. With all this waiting around, it'a a good thing I'm retired.

Lata, Gary