Smile, you're in Jamaica!

Get it together in Jamaica,
Soulful town, soulful people,
I see you're having fun,
Dancing to the reggae rhythm,
Oh, island in the sun!
Come on and Smile, you're in Jamaica!



I made it! After being awake for so long due to a 6 am flight, I am finally here and settled in. I will be living in a house with a director of housing and her family. It is me, Raji, her son (20 years old), Ms. Jackson (director), and her three pups. They are cute. They licked my hands after I ate a mango! It was so good and fresh.

Ms. Jackson's niece, Alicia (Al-a-c-ya), is visiting from Massachusetts for a wedding this weekend. She teaches Italian and Jamaican dance at a boarding school. She is very nice and wanted me to go to the bachelorette party tonight. No thanks- I am a walking zombie. But anyway Marcia (my "chaperone"- assistant director to the VP of student affairs- Dr. Reynolds) and two visiting students from St. Lucia picked me up from the airport. The drive to my house was so interesting. The bad parts and the beautiful sites. I wish I could have taken photos. I talked with the two kids- they are 20 as well. They are only here for the week- their conference was canceled due to the unrest- but they came anyway. We are quite far from downtown Kingston, but driving around I am thankful that we are. The campus is very gated- one gate to get on campus and one gate to get into my house- all with two security guards at the gates. Usain Bolt practices on the track beside my house. I hope to run (no pun intended- hahahaha) into him, although they said he is leaving with his team for something. Ms. Ball is the cook in the house. Ms. Ball cooked me an interesting meal- since there is no meat for me. LOL. Rice with cabbage and carrots, with peas, beans, and tomatoes. Of course I loved it :)

Raji and friend, Ren, took me to the grocery store although I am mostly going to eat whatever they make because I want to try new stuff. On the way home Raji and Ren filled me in on all of the swear words and slang that I need to know. How nice? They are funny. Raji came home and ate 3 donuts and rice and chicken. Interesting. Then he hooked up my wireless. "Jah bless" him. Minus his top two NFL teams are the Giants and....... the Steelers. Why oh Why can't I ever escape Steeler fans?!

I have a full schedule for my time here. I will be interning in Athletics and Housing. Both are two week internships where I work 8:30-4:30- nights off to relax, run, go to the pool, whatever. This weekend I am going to the Bob Marley museum with the students from St. Lucia. We are also going to the Devon House, church, and Port Royal! ARGGG! Looking forward to some good pirate history there.