Jamaica 2014, Day 2 – Computers and Bandages at Penlyne

Today started off a bit rough. A particular moment that was both rough and fun was when the 2^nd grade kids from Penlyne Castle took their morning break. The break was so they could relax after our team taught them basic computer skills and how to maneuver the 12 computer laptops they received as a donation from Community Computers in Milwaukee.

I didn’t know how long they had outside, but a particular goal came to mind: burn their energy. My teammates and I began to teach them different games like limbo, ninja and Marco Polo. We also had a relay race. It started very organized and it sort of got chaotic when the kids wanted to beat the other team. They began running halfway towards the finish line to tag their teammates hands, starting before a teammate returned, and going two at a time. It was particularly funny because they were having fun and they were open to what we presented. It was very encouraging to continue to show them new things.

The ones that I encountered that took a particular liking to me made learning their names easy. It took me about a day to get everyone’s name right, but I finally did it.  I also learned how to do sign language and say “time to go now”. Those were a few of the things I accomplishment throughout the day. It has given me a new willingness to be very open with people I may not know. I’m learning how to give encouragement to others and behave in a way that is a good example to follow.

A particularly powerful moment happened when a little boy named Taj (A 2^nd grader from Penlyne Castle Primary School) fell on his stomach and scraped his stomach. I took the initiative to help him by cleaning his wound. It was rather big, so I bandaged it for him and gave him some water to drink to regain his energy. After that, something that made think differently about what I had perceived, was when he said, “Thank you, Miss.” and gave me a hug. The hug particularly stunned me because I took it as a sign that he genuinely cared about me, like I cared for him. That gesture alone made me feel appreciated.

The whole day I was there, all of the children behaved politely and addressed me as “Miss” even though I’m not much older than them. It helped me to realize to never judge anyone based on what you may have heard, because that alone can cloud your judgment. I was told once that Jamaican children are extremely rude and lack manners, however that is not what I have experienced. It’s only my first day, but I wish I could stay with the kids for as long as I am here in Jamaica. The Penlyne Castle Kids are a blast of fun!

Chivaune, 17, Perry Street Preparatory Public Charter School