Jamaica 2014, Day 1 – Bumps in the Road

Sleepy LearnServe teens stumbled into National airport at 5:30 this Sunday morning. When everyone arrived, we checked our bags, some of us nervous that they will weigh too much. Fortunately everyone got through security, and onto the plane. We boarded with apprehension and excitement, some of us never having flown before. Up until then, the trip had seemed unreal, a distant event. But as the plane accelerated down the runway and DC became smaller and smaller in our windows, the trip suddenly became a reality – we were actually leaving for Jamaica!

Although our flight was only two hours, we had a seven-hour layover in Atlanta. Most of us slept and listened to music until 4:30, the time of our flight to Kingston. In the half hour before our flight, Reggae music played over the loudspeaker – a taste of what was to come.

Just from the plane we could tell we were headed to a smaller country: the plane was a lot smaller than the other, and had no TVs. The airport in Kingston was small and had simple technology, almost the opposite of the enormous, modern one in Atlanta. Once we claimed our bags and went through customs, we met the Bennetts, the heads of KBC Learning, and Jason, a project manager, all with smiles on their faces. We were lucky to have such a warm welcome.

It was already dark as we headed for the Blue Mountains in our small white bus. At first, the roads were mostly smooth and straight. But the higher we climbed, the windier and bumpier they became. Eventually, the roads were no longer paved, but of dirt and rocks. I had to take Pepto Bismol to prevent motion sickness. The bumps in the road were so massive, and we were so tired, all we could do was giggle in awe.

Partway up the mountain, we changed from the bus into a van and pickup truck. It was a relief to stand on solid ground after suck a bumpy ride, like coming ashore after being on a boat. But we still had mountain to climb. Three others and I piled into the pickup truck, with our luggage in the back. Euton, a coffee farmer, was our driver. When asked him about the Blue Mountains, he said proudly, “Blue Mountain coffee is the best coffee in the world.” I can’t wait to try some.

Finally, after about two and a half hours, we arrived at our host families’ houses. I and three other girls were assigned to Euton’s house.  We quickly settled into his comfortable home, and fell asleep immediately after. That morning seemed like days ago – we could not believe how much we had done in one day.

On our day of travel, we witnessed extremes in transportation, and thus ways of life. The airports, planes and roads were opposites in terms of size, modernity and condition. Even though we had only been in Jamaica for a few hours, we could tell that our stay here would be one full of surprises and new experiences.

Mica, 16, Washington Latin Public Charter School