Day 6: Bigwood Elementary

I asked a goat how he was this morning.... he said not baaaaad.... yep...

Once upon a time, Emily went up a hill... then down.... because she doesn't like to climb.

That story was brought to you by Emily who insists on being part of my blog... thank you Emily. 

This morning started off with the daily breakfast: PANCAKES AND SCRAMBLED EGGS - YES!!! As much as I love trying new ethnic foods sometimes a small taste of home can bring a lot of joy to a slow morning. However today was very special. My teammate and new friend John B. and I were the next pair to visit Bigwood Elementary. I say pair because the school is very small - only about 40-50 kids grades 1-6) so there is not a high demand for multiple teachers.

Stacy (an advisor for the JAFSP) accompanied us and aided in teaching today’s lesson: Drum studies, children’s songs (“River of Babylon” and “In the Jungle”) and a new session of recorder lessons. Now I love kids, but give them a recorder is like giving someone with trigger finger a paintball gun. Nothing like a bit of high-pitched fun that makes the teacher squirm to get the ball rolling!

Lunch was ackee with salted cod – I like it – but the ackee bugs me a little now after trying it a second time. I’m not sure if its texture (like cooked egg) or just the fact that it was a hot meal in the middle of a hot day. Food is food down here, so I would never complain.

After break we worked with the 1^st and 2^nd grade classes performing basic kid’s songs like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” “Happy Birthday,” and “The Wheels on the Bus.” They also has a chance to improvise on a Djembe while Stacy laid out a fun beat on another and John helped them with egg shakers. Man can some kids rock out!

After classes goodbyes come like they usually do, with hugs and the traditional Jamaican handshake. There is something about “goo-bye mista Rusty” and “tanka mista Rusty” along with the combination that I may not see them again that near breaks my heart. At the end of each day each child becomes almost like a sibling.

Dinner was a surprise too – Lenny, our host, had lobster prepared in a curry and turmeric sauce served with whole boiled potatoes and a type of squash the name of which escapes me. Also I had a mango that a Rasta had given me when we visited last week… Jamaican mango cannot compare to the stuff in stores. None of this can. 

Tomorrow we return to Mountainside and from what I am told by my teammates - the kids cannot wait to see me again. I love this trip.