Jamaica Day 1 – Arriving

     I was so excited to come into Jamaica and help, but nothing can explain the guilt and sorrow I felt… on the first day. I left the house at 5:45 to begin my two week journey. I arrived at the Ronald Reagan International Airport at 6:00am. The first plane we took, took us to Miami. When we arrived at Miami International Airport, we had lunch and then took a plane going to Kingston, Jamaica. After an hour of flight, I could finally see the beautiful island, and no words could explain how excited I felt. When I entered the Jamaican Airport, it was surprisingly dull and boring, but once we stepped outside, I saw an array of beautiful colors, happy people, and a beautiful backdrop. The first thing we did in this country was go to the local market and buy water…three carts full of fresh water. When we walked into the store, a bunch of people stared and it instantly felt as if I was invading their territory. After this, our four day journey in the Blue Mountains began!

We were taken on a journey that I thought I would never expect or see. During this two hour bumpy ride up the mountain, I reflected how blessed and privileged I am to live in a great country. I saw kids jumping on the back of pick-up trucks trying to hitch a ride, women walking with water on their heads, or broken down houses. After three to five hours in Jamaica, I am beyond thankful  for everything that I own and have. Once we reached the Blue Mountain Project, we were greeted by a very kind and spirited man, Rohan. He said we had to split up into cars, so that they can take us to our host family. After putting water and luggage on the back of a pick-up, I noticed that the back of the pick-up had bars, and I then remembered I saw kids sitting on these bars while hitchhiking. So I said to myself, “I am here to experience something new.” So I hopped onto the back of a pick-up, with Nick, an adult chaperone, and we went up half of the mountain, while sitting on the back of this pick-up. The roads were made up dirt and rock, which caused a bit of bumpiness—but it was well worth it. As we were going up the mountain, there were little kids running after the pick-up trying to catch it with a huge smile on their faces. It got me thinking, in the U.S we think of having fun as shopping, playing video games, or all this fun stuff. But here, in Jamaica, they chase cars, play with their pets, play on the roads, or hike the mountain for fun. This is what life is about! Life is short and even though these adults and kids are poor, they manage to have fun and keep a smile on their faces. I don’t know what’s yet to expect, experience, or to know, but it’s only day one, and I know that coming here is a life changing experience. This is a great opportunity and an eye-opener. I am here to learn and serve, and that is what I am going to do! 17 days to go, to experience, to learn, to enjoy, and to LIVE!

Richard Torres