As I reflect on my first week of the LearnServe abroad trip to Jamaica, I have learned so much new information, met so many new faces and have tried so many new things. Since this is my first time traveling abroad, I was a little shaken up, but I’m happy to come out of my comfort zone and experience everything Jamaica has to offer. When I arrived at the Jamaican Airport at approximately 4:25 pm, I was excited, but it was a frightening experience to leave my mother and family behind. As I was exiting the terminal gate, I recalled hearing my mother say to me “Good-bye Anjana” as I was leaving the airport in Washington, DC. Boarding the airplane brought back memories of me going to Alabama to visit family in the past. When we landed in Miami on our layover to Jamaica, I was happy to feel the heat going down my legs. It was 10:55am, and our airplane had arrived, I was flabbergasted entering the plane to see TVs on the chairs. I was thinking to myself, “I’m I in first class.” Going up into the clouds made me feel like I was in heaven.
When I arrived in Jamaica, I immediately felt the rise in temperature as it was significantly hotter than Washington, D.C. I met two amazing men who greeted our team upon arrival, Mr. Jason and the driver Mr. Harrison. We were all very hungry, so we were excited when they took us to a restaurant called Island Grill inside of Sovereign mall for lunch. I immediately noticed that Jamaica’s malls had some similarities to America’s malls. When I was in line preparing my thoughts on what I would eat the curry chicken Yabba kept catching my eye. After lunch, we went to a Jamaican grocery store. I immediately noticed how expensive this store was here in Jamaica compared to America. My first thoughts were that “this store will eat me out of house and home.” While riding in the van heading to our housing at the Shortwood Teachers College, I was absorbing the structures of the homes and wondering what people do for a living and how some are surviving in Jamaica.
Upon checking into the dorms, we had a meeting with the trip leaders Asia, Ryan and Sheena. Personally, I did not agree with many of the rules, but I have done my best to follow them.
I am reflecting upon the time I spent at the Source Farm this weekend in St. Thomas, Jamaica where I met Dwight and his family. Upon arriving at the farm, we had orientation and lunch. I was really excited about the lunch as it was plantain stew, and I really love plantains. I also really enjoy eating the mango — and something I had never experienced before, an orange that had a green exterior. After lunch, we went on a journey to collect bamboo that we would use to make a medicine plant bed the following day. I remember walking down the hill and through the forest to collect the bamboo with the team. The walk there took us over ten minutes. What I didn’t expect was how hard it would be to carry the bamboo back up the hill. I was so frustrated that I carried the bamboo all the way to the top of the hill when other only left theirs half way along the trail.
The farm has had a huge impact on me because they taught me how to farm and that hard work pays off. Compared to the dorms in Kingston, being on the farm allowed us to stay in a dome home that reminded me of an igloo. In addition, we were all able to go to the roof of the dome to gaze at the stars. I was excited to see four shooting stars and make wishes. Spending time on the top of the roof gazing at the stars brought me back to my childhood. I like the fact that I was up early to see the sunrise. I was able to sit back and reflect on all the incredible memories
I was becoming very homesick, so I was happy that one of the team leaders allowed me to use her phone because my service was not good when we were given our limited time to call home. I’m really excited about being able to do all of the work on the farm because it was harder than I expected, but I was able to accomplish it.
After spending time on the organic farm and building the plant beds with the bamboo, we were allowed to go to the beach for a little fun. While I was excited about my time at the beach, I was really not excited about the salty water that would sometimes burn my eyes. I saw so many colors in the water and I was totally flabbergasted by what I saw. I became a little scared while on the beach as I was almost over taken by a huge wave. I was flipping as the waves were trying to carry me away. We got a chance to hang out with Dwight from the farm and his family. We were able to bond as students and with Dwight and his wife and children.
In closing, I will never forget Sunday, June 30, 2019 as I showed a lot of hard work and discipline. I say this because I was dedicated to making the medicine plant bed, which was followed by a great time swimming. I was also happy to be able to go a Jamaican party, though I don’t have much to share about that party besides the music was really loud. My learning experiences have gone well so far, I was able to donate my time on the farm. My experience here at “Thee Source Farm” is that if you don’t give up and work hard, you will see success. It pays off to be a hard worker.
Anjana G., SEED Public Charter School