What Am I Getting From This...

So a recent question was asked,"What do I plan on getting out of this experience?" It's a hard question to answer since there are so many things I would like to gain from this trip. First and foremost, I want to feel the accomplishment of helping out people that are not given the same luxuries and opportunities that I get everyday. It's easy to forget that not everyone wakes up and watches their big T.V. and go on their computer to check their facebooks. I also would like to gain some more self awareness. IN my first semester of the Human Services program we learned about reflection and how it aids in self awareness. With this blog, I will be able to reflect daily on my experiences in Jamaica. Lastly, of course, I want to gain friendships and bonds that can't disappear with time. That sounds a little corny but when you have to live and eat and sleep with people for a little over a week you get to know them better than some of their close friends. On top of that, we can always look back on the experience and share memories and remember what it was like together. I'm a little afraid of being so far away from home in a place I know very little about but I guess that's half the excitement right?

Jamaican History

It has been too long! I was having some trouble getting into my blogger account but I have it all figured out now so I'm up and running. Well since the trip is a short two weeks away (sooo excited) I thought I'd look a little bit into the history of Jamaica. What I became most interested in was the original people of Jamaica, the Arawaks. The Arawaks are also known as the Tainos. 2500 years ago they left South America and settled in Jamaica. They named the island Xaymaca, which means, "land of wood and water." To me it seems their lifestyle was much like that of Native Americans in the U.S. They grew sweet potatoes, corn, fruits and vegetables, and tobacco. Tobacco was popular to grow because smoking it was a pastime for the Arawaks. They usually settled villages along the coast or by rivers so that they were skilled fisherman and that was a main source for food. They were peaceful until the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1494. Columbus went to the island because he heard that there was gold there. Eventually the Spanish killed them off through brutal treatment, slavery, disease. Their numbers went from around 60,000 to 0 in a matter of 50 years. I love history and learning about people that really owned the land like the Arawak people. I hope you found this as interesting as I did.

Let's Catch Up

So I'll catch you up on everything that has happened to date as quick as I can. I just finished my first semester in the Human Services program at Northcentral Technical College (NTC). During this first semester, I was given the opportunity to go to Jamaica. Well it sounded easy at first and I didn't realize how much work goes into planning this stuff! So the total cost of the trip is...well I'd rather not say :). Anyway, I'm a college student, where is this money I thought I had in my dream state? Even though the funding stresses me out (understatement) I know that it is going to be completely worth it. This trip to Jamaica is a service learning trip. That means we will be doing community service while we are there to help out people who really need it. Over the past two months we have been fundraising....constantly. We've done wreath sales, Yankee Candle sales, bake sales, we even went to a craft fair to try and sell some of the wreaths and cookies in a jar. Let me just say that I have a whole new perspective on craft fairs, those people mean business. It is quite the experience doing all of this. All of this work though has created friendships in the process. Our little group that's going is Crystal, Amanda, Lindsey, Lori, Alyson, Brittny, Tammy, Nicole, and I. Now that first semester is over(finally), the anticipation is starting to kick in. It's about 3 months away and I am NOT ready...but I'm getting there. Each time we go to a meeting I get a little more confident. It's not that I don't want to go, because I really really do, it's just that I've never been that far away..well without my mother that is :). I'm just nervous that's all. Well I have to go and be productive..A.K.A be a nerd and read a new book. See ya!