Negril-The Relaxation Trip

[Seveen]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

Originally posted by Vi:
[qb]

Originally posted by wanda be in jamaica:
[qb] When was this lovely shot taken? [/qb]

(((Napi))), (((Soul Hunter))) and (((Ms Kat))) came to visit me. Can't tell you how wonderful it was seeing them. Made my weekend. I wasn't my usual mean self when I went into the mart the next day. [/qb]

you live in the good part of new jersey - where i'm from you would think you're in TrenchTown - for real ya' know

[Sugar Shug]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

Originally posted by Soul Hunter:
[qb] once she warmed up to me - that was my girl. at one point i thought i was going to have to dive into some very suspect water after her. that little thing can move! [/qb]

You ain't never lied-and remember that lady yelling at us! LOL!!!
Peace

[NapiHead327]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

That was funny! But I don't think SH minded being called Lil Miss' daddy. You 2 make a cute couple. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Soul Hunter]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

Originally posted by Sugar Shug:
[qb]

Originally posted by Soul Hunter:
[qb] once she warmed up to me - that was my girl. at one point i thought i was going to have to dive into some very suspect water after her. that little thing can move! [/qb]

You ain't never lied-and remember that lady yelling at us! LOL!!!
Peace [/qb]

I thought that woman was going to light me up! She had a mean finger wagging going. Poor li' miss was giving her this look like - "you ain't my momma!"

[Sugar Shug]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

Happy Monday’s Continued(Back to the Trip Report)

Everytime the cameraman gets near us Strong Man turns away from the camera's lights. We continue to dance. He's doing some things to let everybody know that I'm with him....machismo. Anyway, the cameraman comes over near us and Strongman turns away again. I ask him what's up with the cameraman. He told me that the man is videotaping the party and that I will be able to see it on Channel 24 either on Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm like-Ok well, why are you turning from the camera? He told me to go over and follow the cameraman. So I did. The camera guy was getting all these shots up girls’ skirts. Then this whole group of girls got over by this table. They were all bouncing in their impossibly tiny outfits. One girl in a little leopard print slip, throws her leg up on the table and starts popping her batty hard and showing her thong to the camera. Then she gyrates to the ground still popping her batty and showing her thong. The other girls also start to do the same, but they didn't compare in the skills of the girl with the leopard print dress on. I run back over to him and say-did you see that. He said yeah, I've seen it before. You can go look somemore. So I did. I was amazed. Finally I go back over to him. I asked him if there were gonna show all of that-I mean all of that. He laughed and said yes. He told me that tomorrow, everybody will be watching the broadcast to see who got on TV and he didn't want to be on TV with all those shots up girls’ skirts.

We danced for at least another hour. He asked if I was tired and I said yes. On the way out I stopped by the jerk chicken stand and ate the best jerk chicken ever. His cousin got in the car and we were off. We stopped at a Cool Oasis and he brought me some water for my burning mouth and then we dropped his cousin off at home. He dropped me off at the hotel around 4:30 in the morning. I got in and set my alarm for 8:00 because Gail Jackson was supposed to be picking us up at 10:00 to visit the school.

[Sugar Shug]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

Little Bay
How I woke before my alarm-I have no idea. I didn’t wake up at 6:00, but I woke up at something like 7:00.am-before the girls. I was however rewarded for my efforts. I dressed and decided that I was going to go over to Fatties for some Ackee and Saltfish. Yes!!!!!!!!!!!! Saltfish not done, but fried dumpling done. Oh well-you can’t always have it all. By the time I came back over to the room with my food the girls were bustling around the room. They had their cereal and we all went outside to eat. While we were out there one of the drivers who had given me his card let me take his picture. He told me that he tried beeping at me yesterday to see if I needed a ride and that I never looked up. I told him that I rarely look up at cars whizzing by if I know I’m going to walk. Just as I finish up my food the phone rings. It’s Gail Jackson outside ready to pick us up. It’s 9:00 and she told me that she’d be there by 10:00. The girls where in a state of half dress. Since I was ready, I went out and to meet her.







His hair was beautiful.

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

Needless to say, I am very excited to read this part! What was the date Shug?

[Sugar Shug]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

I walk out front and see a blue Mini-van. Near the receptionist desk is Gail Jackson. She has a big smile on her face and has a nice aura around her. She tells me that she has another couple in the car and that we are headed over to Little Bay to visit an elementary school. I explain to her that she told me that we should be ready at 10:00 and that the girls are still getting dressed. I went back inside and decided to gather up all the supplies that we had brought. That was no easy task, I think we all got excited when we went shopping. I’d go the store once, get home and think-well I can buy some more things and pack one less shirt. After I brought out the first batch of things I realized that the kids were going to be getting a nice amount of supplies. There were all types of school supplies, books, balls, toys and even a cake for the kids. The girls were ready soon and we all piled into the van. Two people, a husband and wife, who also contacted Gail through Negril.com were also going to the school. Gail drove over to pick up our driver Gilly and we were off. The wife, Carol, was a riot. We all talked on the way over to the school. Dilly pointed out a lot of the damage that Ivan had done in the area. It was sad to think that a huge piece of rubble used to be someone’s home. He also pointed out the new roofs that many of the houses had. He told us that the Italian military had donated the supplies and man power. He stated that after Ivan this area did not receive help from the Red Cross. Dilly told us that he grew up in the area and gave us a lot of area history. The water and beaches that we passed was beautiful, unfortunately I wasn’t able to take any pictures because my camera started to act funny. As we were approaching the school Gail told us that she picked this school because she wanted to help out a school that was far away from the City. She explained that the local schools receive assistance from tourist, but that the more rural schools get forgotten. She told us that she would be speaking today and had a cake made for the student’s because it is Education Week.

We soon arrived to the school. You had to drive up a very long road to reach it. It was a two story building. As we pulled up you could see little heads poking out of the classrooms. Gail led the way and the schools principle came out to greet us. She gave us a tour of the entire school and we were able to meet the children and speak to them for a little while. They were so beautiful, in so many different shades and hues. It really hit home-the Jamaican motto-Out of Many, One. The principle took us to the computer room and explained how Ivan had damaged it. She also showed us the school’s library. Man-what we take for grated in the States is astounding. The principle told us that American friends had donated the computers. Jim, Carol’s husband, stated that he was an educator in the States. He talked about the number of books that are thrown out each year because the schools purchase new editions. The principle talked about the needs that the school has and the literacy program that they have initiated.

After touring the school we went back to the first floor and entered into a large classroom. All the students from the school rushed into the room. The room was loud with all the voices and you could just feel their curiosity and energy. The principle explained that we were from the States and that we had come to donate school supplies and to celebrate Education Week with them. I honestly couldn’t concentrate much on her speech because I wanted to make an imprint of those beautiful faces in my mind. I wanted to remember how much I have and I how much I have to be thankful for. I wanted to remember how I am determined to take my child to Guyana so that she can see what she has to be grateful for. I also wanted her to see the dignity in the room. I wanted her to realize that you can’t judge a person on what they don’t have. You have to judge them on what they do with what they have. The increase in literacy that this school has accomplished with their limited supplies is astounding. I live in Washington, D.C., which pays the most per child for education in the country and has one of the worst literacy rates in the country. The problem just can’t be money.

Back to JA-Right. The children sing the Jamaican National Anthem to us and then Gail gives a speech to them about the importance of education and good character. We later hand out gifts and supplies to the children when they answer questions on education. Carol and Jim brought a huge bag of candy and we went around and handed out candy to all of the children. Every child also received a pencil. The remaining supplies were going to be distributed by the homeroom teachers. The teachers asked us if we wanted to say anything. I just remember saying to listen and appreciate their teachers for all the hard work that they do. Gail got the children to yell out thank you and clap for their hard working teachers. The principle looked like she was getting chocked up. She stated that it was like Teachers. Day (which was the next day) had come early. After the presentation the children went to lunch and went outside and played. I zoned out again and was reflecting about just everything. It was nice watching them play. At the beginning of this excursion my camera started acting funny, so I only have a couple of pictures. Later I will post pictures that Tonya took.

[Sugar Shug]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

GB-I'll have to look that up...I'm still kinda out of it...took my last Final today. I celebrate Emancipation Day on Friday.
Peace

[Sugar Shug]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

[Sugar Shug]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

[kd pittypat]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

What a stab from the past!! I spent 3rd and 4th grade in a school on Guam...the classroom you visited looks the same(louvers for windows..) Glad we're back on YOUR trip,Keep up the good work!

[Jamaicamiss]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

Shug, thanks for the pics of the school. I volunteer at a basic school up in the hills near my home and they too have nothing. Same wooden desks as your school, except that I bought little metal chairs and trapezoid desks so that can interact better with each other and the teachers can get around the desks to help the students. The wooden desks were taken apart by a worker I took to the school and he made shelves for them, which were the first shelves in the school.

I really agree that each American child should see what a school is like in the Caribbean so they can appreciate the excess they have in their school. My children (notice they are mine already) had nubbins for crayons when I found them. Some people from the board have come and donated supplies to my Mobay school and all is appreciated.

Back to your story. Yes the faces tell it all. Aren't they just bright with happiness and eager to learn? Thanks again Shug. Your report is truly wonderful.

[Sugar Shug]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

Thanks Ms.O and JAMiss. There was this one little girl. I swear I would have smuggled her out of the country. Her eyes were luminous. I think that she was staring holes right threw me. Her intelligence just beamed off of her. I just think that those teachers and parents should be so proud of their children. Well I know the teachers were proud-it showed. That they can accomplish so much with way less supplies than we have here is so impressive. I was just in awe of the teachers and their dedication to the children. They all had such nice spirits. OK here are some of Tonya's pics from the school. They aren't in any order so enjoy.
Peace

[Sugar Shug]

Re: Negril-The Relaxation Trip

Tonya’s Pics