February 4, 2004
Letters from the Field: Married Couple Serving in Jamaica
by Dana Roeber Murray; PCV Jamaica 2003-present
Riding my Peace Corps-issued bicycle on a dirt road along the ridge of Spaldings Hill in central Jamaica, I can smell a farmer’s growing bananas, see cows and goats meandering about, and hear Yellow-billed parrots calling out to one another from the tree tops. My usual two mile ride to work at Knox Community College along the twisted road always gives me a chance to look around and realize why I joined Peace Corps—to help preserve the natural environment while working with local people in hopes to better their lives.
My husband Bryan and I have been in Jamaica since July 7th, 2003. Our first seven months here have been tough—full of ups and downs, just as Peace Corps recruiters and trainers had counseled us it would be. Some of the downs, such as being hospitalized in Kingston with a terrible case of Dengue Fever, seemed impossible to get through . . . having my husband there with me while I was sick is what really helped me persevere. Or, when we had to change assignments in November—uproot ourselves from our new community and friends in May Pen and start our new assignment in Spaldings. Although now everything appears to have changed for the best, adapting and integrating into not one, but two communities was quite a challenge. We were really lucky have each other through that trying time—if for nothing else, to have someone to vent to! Also, the fact that we’re married helped us to integrate socially; Jamaicans readily respect people who are married.
But, there have also been many ups!! We became SCUBA certified last summer, and have enjoyed participating in underwater clean-ups and eight Reef Checks. (Reef check is an international survey on the health of corals and fish). Whenever I’m in the warm Caribbean taking a weekend day trip to the sea, my anxieties about life melt away and I just feel lucky to be here! Or, last week when one the students in my Environmental Awareness class commented, “Miss, I jus realized ‘ow much me nuh know about Jamaica!” I had to smile and think that maybe PCV’s really do make some small difference in the lives of local people. I’m really excited that I have the opportunity to teach a group of students in Jamaica about local and global environmental issues.
Jamaica is fifth among islands in the world in richness of endemic plant species—but 75% of Jamaica’s land is anthropogenic, and mostly deforested or disturbed. The mission now for my husband and I is to instill respect for nature in Jamaicans and further their pride in their natural environment. Jamaicans are very proud of their country, as they should be, and I want to help them to continue to grow economically and socially while preserving their natural resources sustainably so they can retain that pride.
We’ve made some good friends here, Jamaicans and PCVs. On Sunday afternoons, we often go out to some cool natural spot off the beaten track with our Rastafarian friend, Robert. He shows us places that locals go to hang out; where tourists can’t find. It’s kind of strange to be in the Peace Corps in a country where so many Americans come to visit, though we end up feeling much more like Jamaicans than the American tourists.
With a few of the PCVs here we’re known as “the married couple.” Although there are about 10 other couples here in Peace Corps Jamaica, we’re the only ones who have the same assignment. Some couples have expressed that even with different assignments, they sometimes get sick of being around each other so much—but we like being together and have found that our relationship has grown since being here. Because we have each other, we don’t feel lonely like most single PCVs do at one time or another.
Tomorrow we are making a presentation to 200 Jamaican science teachers on an environmental study tours program that we’re starting up at Knox Community College. We hope for this program to facilitate outdoor and hands-on learning for students throughout the country. We’re also helping a local NGO and Community Development Council to create a handbook/field guide to their wetlands and coastal area in hopes to promote tourism. The next year and seven months promise to be busy and rewarding, and we’re ready to “make a difference” in our corner of the world—that same aspiration that lured us to join Peace Corps in the first place.
My husband Bryan and I have been in Jamaica since July 7th, 2003. Our first seven months here have been tough—full of ups and downs, just as Peace Corps recruiters and trainers had counseled us it would be. Some of the downs, such as being hospitalized in Kingston with a terrible case of Dengue Fever, seemed impossible to get through . . . having my husband there with me while I was sick is what really helped me persevere. Or, when we had to change assignments in November—uproot ourselves from our new community and friends in May Pen and start our new assignment in Spaldings. Although now everything appears to have changed for the best, adapting and integrating into not one, but two communities was quite a challenge. We were really lucky have each other through that trying time—if for nothing else, to have someone to vent to! Also, the fact that we’re married helped us to integrate socially; Jamaicans readily respect people who are married.
But, there have also been many ups!! We became SCUBA certified last summer, and have enjoyed participating in underwater clean-ups and eight Reef Checks. (Reef check is an international survey on the health of corals and fish). Whenever I’m in the warm Caribbean taking a weekend day trip to the sea, my anxieties about life melt away and I just feel lucky to be here! Or, last week when one the students in my Environmental Awareness class commented, “Miss, I jus realized ‘ow much me nuh know about Jamaica!” I had to smile and think that maybe PCV’s really do make some small difference in the lives of local people. I’m really excited that I have the opportunity to teach a group of students in Jamaica about local and global environmental issues.
Jamaica is fifth among islands in the world in richness of endemic plant species—but 75% of Jamaica’s land is anthropogenic, and mostly deforested or disturbed. The mission now for my husband and I is to instill respect for nature in Jamaicans and further their pride in their natural environment. Jamaicans are very proud of their country, as they should be, and I want to help them to continue to grow economically and socially while preserving their natural resources sustainably so they can retain that pride.
We’ve made some good friends here, Jamaicans and PCVs. On Sunday afternoons, we often go out to some cool natural spot off the beaten track with our Rastafarian friend, Robert. He shows us places that locals go to hang out; where tourists can’t find. It’s kind of strange to be in the Peace Corps in a country where so many Americans come to visit, though we end up feeling much more like Jamaicans than the American tourists.
With a few of the PCVs here we’re known as “the married couple.” Although there are about 10 other couples here in Peace Corps Jamaica, we’re the only ones who have the same assignment. Some couples have expressed that even with different assignments, they sometimes get sick of being around each other so much—but we like being together and have found that our relationship has grown since being here. Because we have each other, we don’t feel lonely like most single PCVs do at one time or another.
Tomorrow we are making a presentation to 200 Jamaican science teachers on an environmental study tours program that we’re starting up at Knox Community College. We hope for this program to facilitate outdoor and hands-on learning for students throughout the country. We’re also helping a local NGO and Community Development Council to create a handbook/field guide to their wetlands and coastal area in hopes to promote tourism. The next year and seven months promise to be busy and rewarding, and we’re ready to “make a difference” in our corner of the world—that same aspiration that lured us to join Peace Corps in the first place.
Dana Roeber Murray
PCV Jamaica
2003-present
PCV Jamaica
2003-present
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