First Day of Preschool

January 31, 2012

Today was my baby’s first day of preschool!  I think I was more nervous, anxious, scared (fill in the blank) than anyone else.  Any other morning Nay is up with us at the crack of dawn (really anywhere between 7 and 730a) but this morning he just would not wake up.  At 8a we were still waking him up and getting him ready (with preschool starting at 830a).  Once he was up and at ‘em he was ready to go to school!

Nay ready for his first day of preschool

Unfortunately this morning was not one of our wonderful sunny mornings.  It was a cool, rainy morning that we were forced to walk in.  By the time we got to preschool (about a mile away) we were all soaked (note to self… make sure I buy an umbrella and some ponchos for days like this).

Rainy day outside today

 We weren’t sure how Nathaniel would act so we were prepared for the worst.  Nothing could have prepared us for what happened. When we walked around the corner and saw his classroom he instantly let go of daddy’s hand and ran into the room.  He did not even look back!!!

The pic I was able to snap of Nay running into the classroom to meet his new friends

 After we dropped Nay off we had another half mile walk up to the main campus to drop Averie off at the salon.  Her and her brother sat there while Kenric walked me up to the library where I spent the next few hours.  Averie’s hair turned out AMAZING!!! Best of all it only cost JA$1200 (about US$12).  I am so grateful for this resource.  Now I don’t have to worry about her hair while we are here.  This salon does everything from locs, braids, relaxers, men’s cuts, nails, toes, eyebrows, piercings and waxing.  All of my families grooming needs in one spot J

Averie's hair

more of Averie's hair

After I finished working in the library I walked back and picked up Nay.  I was so relieved to hear that he had a great day… he didn’t even cry.  When I walked in the door and he saw me, the other kids we napping, he jumped up and ran to me and gave me the biggest hug.  The hug wasn’t clingy like something is wrong but just a ‘I missed you mommy’ kind of hug.  He wanted to show me things in his classroom and seemed genuinly happy. I asked him if he wants go back tomorrow and he gave me an emphatic “uhn ha”. I am so grateful and hope his day is just as good tomorrow and the day after.

At home we were able to lay him down for a nap and he slept for hours.  While he slept I went next door to the neighbor’s house.  On our way out this morning they happened to be outside and told me to stop by later.  It was such a pleasure to meet and sit and talk with Mrs “neighbor” (for privacy sake).  She was very knoweldgable and helpful.  Actually she has been the most helpful person I’ve met here regarding my cemetery research.  I’m extremely gratful for the information she provided and am excited to follow up on some of her leads.  Speaking of that, I must end this blog now so that I can get some work done.  I just found out I have a 20 page manuscript due in 9 days for the AAPP program back at USC, so I better get to work.  Best!

What a Weekend

January 28, 2012

Today was a truly amazing day.  I cannot take any credit for how fabulous it turned out as my hubby planned it all. This morning started off kind of rough… I had just an hour to wash the clothes and hang them out to dry, wash Averie,s hair and fix breakfast before it was time to go. Right when we were all dressed, Nay’s tummy decided it didn’t feel good and we all saw his breakfast again.  After all we cleaned up, I had time to sweep the house and then the taxi arrived.

Our first stop was the National Gallery of Jamaica (http://natgalja.org.jm/ioj_wp/).  The kids participated in a free 3hr art class that is held every Saturday.  They made new friends and learned a thing or two about art (an amazing program for anyone with kids in Kingston).  While the kids were in class Kenric, Nay and I walked around the museum and looked at the art.  We had fun pretending to know what we were looking at/ talking about lol. 

Art Museum (sorry for the poor quality... I was jumping into the taxi at the time)

After about an hour we decided to walk to the market around the corner.  Wow! What an experience!  The market was block upon block of people selling any and everything from shoes, to fresh fruits, to hair supplies to even live chickens (Kenric wouldn’t let me get one).  I was able to get everything that I needed in the place.  Kenric go a pair of Nike sliders/ sandles for JA$300 (US$3) and I was able to get all the kids a pair for JA$500).I bought Averie some hair stuff, Nay a ball me some razors and us some bag juice all for less than US$5.  I wasn’t able to get any pictures as I was trying to blend in.  My plan worked… I didn’t speak just pointed and nodded a lot and no one changed the price on me J .  I loved the market and look forward to going back.

Our next stop was the Devon House (http://www.devonhousejamaica.com/). On the way we passed Emancipation Park and were able to stop get some photos. We also drove through New Kingston, which is the new shopping district of the area (Downtown is open air market type shopping, New Kingston is store type shopping).

Emancipation Park

Emancipation Park

New Kingston

At the Devon House we had a fabulous lunch at a place called Grogg Shoppe.  The food was amazing and the service was fantastic, but it was a bit on the pricey side (it cost US$100 for all of us to eat). 

At the Devon House

Kenric had Jerk pork, mashed sweet potato with callaloo.  I had this amazing veggie pasta in this white sauce I didn’t recognize (my order was based off of a vegetarian suggestion from the waiter and was not on the menu). The kids had pasta, fish and chicken.

For our drinks Kenric and the kids had a passion fruit and I had a soursop.  My soursop, which is an actual fruit here in Jamaica, tasted like a banana and apple mixed and had the consistency of a banana smoothie.  It was… different but tasty!

                             

Our lunch and non-alcoholic but very pretty fruit drinks

After lunch the kids ran and played in the field (there are benches and trees and people laying out on picnic blankets… Just a really nice area to run and play. After play time we head to the I SCREAM shop (there spelling, not mine).  We had the MOST AMAZING ice cream I have ever put in my mouth.  Ever since we arrived everyone has been telling us we must get ice cream from the Devon House, and now I see why. The ice cream tastes like they blended fresh fruit with cream and sugar and let it freeze to this silky smooth perfection.  It was delicious. After ice cream we were exhausted and headed home.  Nay feel asleep in the taxi and him and daddy are still napping in the bed now.  It’s Saturday so I am about to cuddle up with the two older kids and watch some goosebumps. Bye for now!

Averie tackling her ice cream... the cones were HUGE and she literally had to plow her face into it and here's the result

Nay and I waiting for our lunch with me trying to keep him entertained

January 29, 2012
We had a wonderful day at Hellshire Beach.  What a great way to end the weekend.  This beach was not in a touristy area and was full of the local community.  It was great to see families enjoying the day together.  Not much more to say here... I can show you better than I can tell you!

overview of the beach

a ship way out there

the infamous ackee and saltfish with peas and rice

Joshua wanted you to see his whole fish (head and all)

Nay pondering

Joshua holding up the skeleton of some strange, unidentified sea creature

daddy and Nay with the Joshua and Averie in the background

daddy and Nay again

Joshua going under and Averie surprised by it

daddy and Nay again

a beautiful site... that's Kingston on the other side

another view of Kingston

and another view of Kingston

Our drive home... the warf is straight ahead

almost home... our driver drove us through Beverly Hills so we could see the big beautiful houses and the amazing view

another view from Beverly Hills

We're home now, settling down and looking forward to starting our week tomorrow.  First things first go and get my UWI id and then go and enroll my baby in preschool. Until tomorrow... peace!

Research Day at UWI

Today was a good day. We woke to the beautiful Jamaican sun and immediately started our day.  We started off with breakfast and chores. For breakfast was had a banana and chocolate muffin, from the bakery section of MegaMart, and a fresh papaya.  The muffin was delicious but we didn’t really like the papaya.  You live you learn, right?

Yummy chocolate and banana muffin and not so yummy papaya

After breakfast and chores the kids and I walked to campus t participate in Research Day. Research Day is where the university puts itself on display and all of the departments bring out posters and demonstrations showing what research they are currently participating in.  It is a wonderful concept and the kids and I really enjoyed ourselves.  See pics below:

View from the door of the Geography/ Geology Department

View of a really cool exhibit demonstrating density with sugar water and food coloring (an experiment the kids and I can try at home)

My babies waiting their turn to see the exhibit in front of them (that's a bubble gum bubble in Joshua's mouth, in case you were wondering)

View of campus and mountains with the kids in it

Kids watching an open heart surgery simulation (it was really cool, the monitors were beeping and the heart was really pumping)

Another view of the kids watching the heart

The kids learning about the Lionfish, some star fish and sea urchins

Once we returned home we had lunch and enjoyed a little down time.

My lunch... these chips are really good.  Not the banana chips we eat in the States.  These could easily be confused for a bag of Lays minus all the grease.

 

Another food adventure for us today was trying the star fruit from our tree in the yard.  This fruit is ready to eat straight from the tree.  Once they are yellow they are ripe and ready to eat. The are crunch and very juicy.  They remind me a lot of a granny smith apple just not as bitter.

star fruit

After lunch we decided to go for a walk to try to find the pool and the preschool... yes, I learned today that there is a preschool on campus and I wanted to check it out for Nay. It was a good walk (not as far as the mile we walk to get on campus but still a good walk).  The view of the mountains on our walk was AMAZING and of course I grabbed my camera but forgot to put my memory card back in it so I can't show you any pictures.

The preschool looks great and the staff were really nice.  We are strongly considering enrolling Nay.  He is going to have to get ready anyway as I already have him enrolled in a preschool once we return to the States.

The pool looked great as well and the children drooled over it... unfortunately they can't gain access until I get my UWI ID.  The good news is that I received an email today saying my paperwork cleared and I can go on Monday to get my ID. Yay! Then I will feel official.

On the walk home we found a little corner store and got the kids (and daddy) some ice cream cake.  We were all thinking that it would be like an ice cream sandwhich but it was not.  It was a long piece of cake rolled up with ice cream in the middle.  The kids (and daddy) devoured it. 

For dinner we had Pizza Hut delivered.  I know I know... that is cheating since I said I was going to cook more, but our walk took longer then expected and cooking just didn't happen.

Like I said before and it remains true, I love Jamaica more and more with each passing day. 

I look forward to telling you about our weekend as Kenric has some great adventures planned for us.  Until then... Peace!

Pic of the kids going to unlock the front gate as we wait for the pizza guy

Nay racing his brother back to the house

The last two days

January 25

The fruits and vegetables are deadly here lol.  Remember the poisonous ackee fruit I mentioned yesterday well today I found another deadly one.  Ok ok I’m exaggerating!  In an effort to want to learn to cook local meals I decided to make and effort and cook some yellow yam and bananas. The yam (which is easily the size of one of my kids heads) looks like a large dirty root on the outside but it is easy to peel and has a beautiful yellow “meat” on the inside. While peeling the yam I began to itch terrible all over my chin, then down to my next and onto my forearms.  It was unbearable and I was almost in tears the itch was so bad.  I figured I must be allergic and rush to spread Benadryl and hydrocortisone (and anything else that said anti-itching) all over my skin.  It helped a little.  I decided to look up yam allergies and what is the first thing I read is to wear gloves as this yam may irritate the skin.  Lesson learned… do a complete and thorough investigation of all new food prior to attempting to cook and or eat it.

the infamous yam

The yams and bananas turned out ok.  They didn’t really have a taste but when eaten with waffles and syrup they were delicious.

yam and bananas ready to eat

After breakfast we went downtown to look for a TV.  Downtown Kingston is great with all of the shops.  Apparently anything you need you can find downtown.  We got a great little TV for about JA$8000 (US$85) cheaper than what we found at MegaMart. Right outside of the place where we got the TV an old lady was selling these cute little sandals.  I decided to get a pair for Nathaniel and asked how much.  She told me JA$200 but after she heard me talk some more the price mysteriously increased to JA$300 lol.  I’m prepared for that and won’t let it happen to often but I wasn’t gonna fuss over JA$100 (US$1.50), especially for shoes. Nay likes his new shoes.

After that adventure we had our driver drop us off on campus where we went and had lunch.  After lunch I had a meeting with the campus archaeologist to discuss what classes I will be teaching and getting a good start on my research here.  This is the archaeology lab on UWI’s campus and where I assume I will be spending a good bit of time.

archaeology lab on UWI's campus (in the mid 1800s it was used as the plantations bookkeepers cottage)

the kids watching the fish in the pond as they wait for me to finish with my meeting

January 26

Today was rather quiet and uneventful. We all woke up between 730-8a and immediately jumped into our day.  The kids started on their lessons and chores and Kenric and I started about the house trying to get everything setup and organized.  The cable guy arrived right on time about 8:30a and we had cable by 8:35a. We continued to bop around the house and right after lunch we decided to head back to MegaMart to get the last few things we needed for the house. 

Here is a pic of the kids in taxi on the way home from the store:

in the taxi on the way home

Once at home the kids went straight for the computer to play games and Kenric and I decided to sit and enjoy some TV together (and rest). For dinner we decided to eat in for once and I cooked some rice and peas, mixed veggies and some of the yam we had left over.  We picked up a Jerk chicken at the store so all I had to do was heat that up.  Needless to say dinner was ggggooooooooodddd.  I’ll be doing a lot more cooking around here. We are now all sitting together around the TV as we wind down for the evening. Quiet at last.

Today was a good day!  With each passing day I love Jamaica more and more.  Believe it or not I am sadder at the thought of having to leave then I am home sick.  Let’s hope this feeling stays even after Kenric leaves.

Today was my first adventure on my own.  I woke up early this morning and walked to campus (about a mile).  It was a nice walk through the neighborhood… the mornings are the best here in Jamaica.  The sun shines so bright and the views are amazing and it is the coolest part of the day. So I made it to campus and was able to walk right to the History and Archaeology department.  There I met the administrators and later got to talk with Dr Monteith again (she is wonderful).  After that I went to HR where I met Ms Harris who was just as helpful today as she was before I arrived. I received the original document approving my work visa to take to the immigration office. After that I headed across campus to get the kids some patties from Juicie Beef and then to the Archaeology lab (just to make sure I can find it for my meeting there tomorrow).

I walked back home, ate lunch with the kids and then got to play with my new toy… my new washing machine. This machine is an interesting character.  On one side I have to add my own water by connecting a house to the sink in the laundry area.  I fill the tub up as much as I want then add the soap and clothes.  I set the timer for however long I want and let it wash.  After it is done washing I take the clothes out of that tub and put them in the second tub to spin.  I set the timer and the clothes spin “dry”.  After that is complete I take the clothes out and hang them on the line.  It is a task to wash a load of clothes but I am SO GRATEFUL my hubby brought this machine home last night, otherwise I would have been scrubbing clothes in a wash basin.

Our clothes line in our back yard

Right after I finished with the clothes I received an email offering that I join a group surveying a Jewish cemetery downtown. I had been in contact with the program director prior to us coming but with all of the traveling and settling in, it completely slipped my mind that the survey was today.  I called a taxi (a new driver because our driver Dennis’ car broke down) and he was here in 10 mins. 

He took me to the immigration office so that I could get a stamp in my passport to extend my stay and obtain my work permit to be able to work at UWI while I am here.  After a thirty minute wait (with only 3 people ahead of me) it was my turn.  I get to the desk and give the lady all of my paper only for her to say DENIED.  Apparently I was supposed to get a visa prior to coming to Jamaica, so now she wants me to go home get the visa then come back. WOW!  At this point I’m not sure what is going to happen. I will talk to everyone tomorrow to see what my options are.  The good thing is that my current visa is approved until April 20^th so that still gives me time to work in Jamaica.  The thing is I am supposed to be here until June 2 to assist with an archaeological field school.  Oh well!  I know it will work itself out.  One thing about being here is that there is no stress… so I will adopt that attitude as well.

Once at the cemetery I was instantly happy and excite to be in the field again.  I met with the director, Rachel, who is amazing and so knowledgeable.  She fed me lunch, a saltfish and callaloo sandwich on cocoa bread (yum!) and then gave me the tour.

Callaloo and Saltfish on Cocoa bread

The site was amazing.  After the tour Rachel let me go explore on my own and I was able to take notes and snap many pictures.  I look forward to seeing how I incorporate this site into my research here in Jamaica.

older section of the Jewish Cemetery at Orange Street

On my way home from the cemetery I was apple to get some juice from the juice man (the street vendor selling juice). I had heard how good these little bags of juice are and was so excited to try one.  Oh my goodness, I can’t even describe how good that melting frozen orange juice in that little baggie was riding through the city during rush hour in the an with no a/c.

empty baggies of delicious frozen juice

When I got home the kids were excited to see me and I them.  I saved some juice for them and they guzzled down the rest.  While I was gone a lady came to the house to talk to Kenric about watching the kids while I am at work.  It seemed to really go well and he really liked her.  She is from Jamaica but not from Kingston but she was able to educate him on all the fruit trees we have in the yard (definitely more than I thought as I was only able to identify the banana trees).  We actually have mango trees, star fruit trees and ackee fruit trees (ackee from is a popular dish here… ackee and saltfish).  We won’t be messing with the ackee fruit considering it is poisonous and has to be peeled and cooked just right.  Apparatnly it kills many people here each year.

For dinner we walked back to campus where Kenric and I ate at this great little place (the name is slipping my mind right now but it is right next to KFC) and got a “homecooked” Jamaican meal. The kids opted for KFC but begged for a piece of cake displayed in the front of the little restaurant Kenric and I ate at.  After dinner we walked back to our neighborhood and instead of heading home heading for a daily visit to the neighborhood park.  More kids were out today but we were not able to stay long.

All in all today has been a really good day.  I’m exhausted and so it’s time to go take my cold shower and curl up in the bed.  Good night all!