Thursday, June 28 – Being comfortable being uncomfortable is the concept that has been reiterated over and over by my team leaders and what I have struggled with most this entire trip. Arriving in Jamaica, I witnessed the opposite of the resort cities filled with white sand beaches that remained in the back of my mind despite my knowledge and preparation for our trip. To say that I had culture shock would be an understatement. Accustomed to air conditioning, an endless supply of toiletries, and a variety of foods to choose from, I came to the realization that I would have to abandon my privilege and D.C. lifestyle – something that would take time and that I still haven’t gotten used to.
Our first project at Mona Heights Primary School helped me become more accustomed to the new lifestyle I would be witnessing and experiencing, and helped me appreciate my level of access and privilege. The classrooms were small, had no ventilation, and the school had barely any technology, yet the children in the first grade class I worked with were all so eager to learn and participate in the activities we had planned for them. Meeting the children at Mona Heights impacted me in ways I would never have imagined – they helped me become more open-minded, they inspired me to continue serving and helping, and they helped me become more comfortable being uncomfortable.
Therefore, getting ready to embark on our next project at E.I.T.S. (Europe in the Summer), I was ready to expect the unexpected, to be comfortable being uncomfortable. E.I.T.S. is a co-op farm in the midst of the Blue Mountains in Jamaica where we’ll be working for three days. The bus ride to E.I.T.S. was one of the most terrifying yet breathtaking experiences of my life. I knew we would be in the mountains, yet what I had in mind was nothing compared to the narrow twists and turns of the mountain ridges we encountered. Every time we turned a tight corner I would hold my breath thinking ‘this is how I die.’ Yet in spite of my fear, every time I looked out the window I was overcome with awe at the vast, endless mountains. The peacefulness and serenity of the Blue Mountains are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and I feel a unique spirituality up here.
Being comfortable being uncomfortable was a concept that I would learn to utilize further during our team’s first day at E.I.T.S. Our lodging quarters at E.I.T.S. are beautiful and give off a homey, warm vibe that correlates perfectly with the spirituality of the Blue Mountains (not to mention the flavorful variety of foods that are provided, which is a nice change from the cafeteria food we’ve been eating). After working hard to organize a storage unit and returning to a tasty lunch, just when I thought everything was perfect, better than I could have imagined, I noticed LIZARDS – real, live lizards swiftly make their way across the wall of the living room.
All of a sudden, I (as well as every other team member) was ridden with anxiety about insects and lizards in our beds. Being comfortable being uncomfortable became key here. We couldn’t get through our evening meeting that night without at least three people jumping up or screaming because of spotting a lizard. One of the directors of E.I.T.S., Robyn, talked to us after dinner, and mentioned that it is crucial to “go with the flow.” For the rest of the evening, every time I heard cicadas in the bathroom, or saw lizards on my bedroom wall, I would try to remind myself to “go with the flow.”
I came on this trip to learn, serve, share, and experience new things, and each day I do more and more of each. I can’t wait to expand my horizons further in our hike tomorrow and our next project at Mary’s Child, and I aspire to become more comfortable being uncomfortable in the course of the trip.
Abigail L., Northwood High School