Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Welcome Loops, Suzrand, Laurel, NCRoots, Wanda, IM, Reby, Nina. Thanks for joining me. Not sure where to take this, so please bare with me. Keep in mind, that I have to sort out tons of photos and information that is too personal for the people I was with, so I am not sure how far I can take this....we shall see.

[Bink - the Only]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

thank you, GB ... i have been soooo looking forward to this.

continue at your own pace .... i got nuttin but time.

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

We have many bags, and while C & Cy bring them in and get us settled, introductions for my niece and my kids (my daughter stayed with Aunties last time – my son was likely made in Jamaica) The other sisters and a couple of other friends poke in to say hi and meet my kids. I am starting to get the feeling that I am MOST DEFINITELY not the point of interest….It is already nearly time for dinner. C immediately brings supplies into the kitchen and starts prepping things. We are having rice & peas and a stewed chicken. Yummmy….this photo is not likely from this meal but this is typical….he was an awesome cook, impressing even himself and his sisters.



While he is making dinner, we go out into the scheme….we are in the middle of the family compound, more or less…three out of five sisters live right here ( A, P & S). C lives down a path into the bush some, in the one room of his house that is finished. Right now, we stay up here and chat, and my kids meet their kids…everyone seems happy but nervous. How will this go? Two adult and two children from the States in the middle of their everyday lives...very different than meeting someone in a resort. I already knew C, A & P, and one of A's children, but the rest (in this immediate family) were just people that I have heard of in phone calls and so on.


Then, it is time to clean up for dinner. I am reminded about water conservation when the water truck shows up to fill up the tanks. They have two - very fortunate. There is no water pipe in Little Bay…all trucked in on tough roads. I remind Cole and Daughter to be mindful, don’t leave water running, etc. On the other hand, A & Cy have a lovely bathroom that is all tiled. That is what Cy does for a living. I feel blessed, knowing that many here use an outhouse or less.


That is it for tonight....hope this isn't going too slow....don't worry, there are whole days that are a complete blur...events that are jumbled. No worries, as I said, most of it will just be bullet point impression likely....

[Tyusedney]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Green Biscuit...if you please.. what's going on with Uncle Sam? And Romie?

[BND1999]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

((GB)) sounds like a very warm set up.. living within a family ....very ideal.. esp with all the kids around..... and you having your own in tow.

its been a long time since i went to Jamaica and stayed near the shore for days... think when i go back.. that must be kept in mind... it's what i always did before i found the camera....atleast for a big part of the time...

go at your own pace [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[cinnni]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

GB~~I love the pics so far!! Post as many of those gazillion pictures that you can please!!

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Thanks guys. Tyusedney, Sam is okay, I hear, but I never connected with him....things are dead, all over the place....dire straits for many people....LB needs a serious jump start, and I am going to be on a mission to that end. You with me? Be back later folks, work today....uuggghh.

[ohliz]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Sounds great so far!

[Laurel]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Greenie ... I was a bit aprehensive my first yard stay as well - now I totally prefer it!

Love all the little kiddles!! Your's are lovely in their little tub as well!

[Vi]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

G Biscuit...this is so good. Stop apologizing about the flow or content. This is your report so post it your way. Believe me, it is great so far and I know it will only get better.

What a wonderful experience staying in the community. I hope to do that one day and get out of the hotels altogether. Just need to meet more families on my visits.

Your babies are adorable!!!

[Sugar Shug]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Loving it, loving it. Can't wait for more! Wow the damage that Ivan did in LB was amazing to see, just total destruction. I couldn't imagine losing my entire house.

Anyway. Please continue!
Peace

[hannahcommunications]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

GB - I am really enjoying this and looking forward to more. What a great experience for your kids. They'll have a very good appreciation for other cultures.

Take your time...you have a captive audience!

[Redj]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

BG, love the pics so far. The kids in the bath pan, in the tiled shower is too cute!

I understand that lump in your throat/chest when you see the blue water from the plane. Then eye water leaks down your face (and you hope no one is looking at you).

Take your time with the report I know you are a busy lady. This is gonna be a good report, I can just feel it..... (eye water leaking out of my eyes already)

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

I need to sort some things out. Even in A’s spacious bedroom, all of the luggage all over the place is overwhelming. I start to pile some things for distribution in the crib (goodness knows my baby won’t stay in there ). I also want to find the high powered flashlights I brought. I realized a few weeks ago that it is a full moon this night of my arrival. I have told C that I want to go to the bat cave. I am really looking forward to it, but he tells me that the full moon rituals have been slow since Ivan. I want to go anyway.

C has prepared a wonderful dinner, and we enjoy some wine and an after dinner rum drink he has blended. My kids are tired, and I want to get them settled down into a sound sleep. My niece, while nearly 24, has had little experience with small kids. I am sure she will be fine, but I don’t want to put her through the ringer on our first night here. So, we agree that C and a friend of ours, D will walk Cole into the bush to check out C’s digs. I haven’t even seen his new house yet, and I am dying to, but want to get the kids settled. I lay down with the kids, and the rest go off to see the house. Now, remembering that I haven’t slept the night before, what do you suppose happens next? That’s right…..I wake up in the early hours of the next morning to a rooster crowing under my window! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] I missed full moon ritual at the bat cave. Grrrr.

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

The next days are filled. Some things are fun, some things are just plain necessary. There are minor chores to be accomplished, and people to be cleaned, even being conservative, twice a day. The heat and humidity are unbearable….I can barely get clothes on, let alone any of the nicer looking things I brought. What in the Good Earth did I bring three bras for? Could this tank and these short be construed as matching? Why don’t have I more cotton skirts with me? Do the kids have enough sunscreen? When was the last time you drank a glass of water. I think we need more water. Did you remember the water? Put more water in the freezer please. Drink the water. Man, I need a shower, and I just had one five minutes ago.

Even the Jamaicans are suffering. The children hang around my place like, well, you know…..I have food and snacks, and oh, did I mention the water? I worry about my kids being dehydrated. I am just dismissing the notion of several things that I wanted to do. Either, it is too much time in the sun without relief, too much physical exertion, or too much time in an un-air-conditioned van. Hiking up far into the bush is out, which pains me a great deal, but I will not endanger my children, and I can see they are greatly affected. You could wring the air out like a damp rag. You can’t bear for anyone to touch you. Yet, we still have an enormously good time.

The kids are so at ease. I am not worried at all about them going in and out of the doors. There are always children and adults there to keep a watchful eye. I had worried that my daughter would be a pain about TV and videos…would be asking them where theirs are, can’t we go see Noggin, where is your computer….there was none of that. Instead, she blended right in, as did my boy. The were magnets. She learned new games, listened to songs and rhymes…

Run around the garden, like a teddy bear. One step, two step, tickle under there!

I brought one jumprope, a zillion stuffed animals, a few balls, etc. I wish I had a dozen jumpropes. Everyone wants to use it. It was a thick acrylic line threades with plastic tubular beads. I can’t tell you how many times we fixed it, and pieced it back together.

Note to self….clean Walmart out of the jump ropes before the next trip.