But, this new assignment is turning out to be more of what I thought I might be doing here as a PCV- I feel like we have the freedom to really get some work done. Also, our quality of life is a little better- we live in the mountains (~3,500 ft.) so we have cooler temps. than other parts of the island, and less mosquitos!!! I don't get to go to the ocean as often as I'd like, but the montane climate has been comfortable. We have some really good PCV friends nearby (less than an hour bus ride) and hang out with a Rasta friend of ours that takes us to lots of cool places off the beaten path.
Jamaica's a land of contradictions... mansions next to shacks, professionals walking by coke heads, garbage all over the place but beautiful beaches... the most churches AND bars per capita of any other country...
The people are boisterous and frank. Verbal sexual harassment to women is a HUGE annoyance here, but we're all getting used to it and utilizing our "coping mechanisms" to get by. There's a lot of great, interesting people here, but a lot of things to get used to.
The most stressful (but not hardest) part about being a PCV here is conforming to the culture; mainly, getting used to the fact thay privacy is hard to come by and everyone knowing everyone else's business (including the PCV grapevine)-- all us PCVs have to watch what we say, eat, drink, wear, etc.
I'm happy here - there are just positives and negatives.
The people are boisterous and frank. Verbal sexual harassment to women is a HUGE annoyance here, but we're all getting used to it and utilizing our "coping mechanisms" to get by. There's a lot of great, interesting people here, but a lot of things to get used to.
The most stressful (but not hardest) part about being a PCV here is conforming to the culture; mainly, getting used to the fact thay privacy is hard to come by and everyone knowing everyone else's business (including the PCV grapevine)-- all us PCVs have to watch what we say, eat, drink, wear, etc.
I'm happy here - there are just positives and negatives.
I have a field trip tomorrow, and a presentation on Thursday to the Jamaican Science Teachers Association...
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