One week to go...

So since the last blog, not too much has happened. We went to Negril on a day trip with the Falmouth Independent Youth Club aka the club started by our fellow employee Christine. We left around 9:30, stopped three times on the 1.5 hr drive (apparently it's what Jamaicans do), and headed for the beach. I wasn't that impressed with the 7 mile beach as it is called. The beach at Tony's is nicer. We stayed there until around 4 and headed over to Rick's Cafe, a famous restaurant/bar on the cliffs. There are cliff divers there and they jump off and do fancy dives. They looked just like the cliffs in Port Antonio. And lots of people were jumping off too - more guys in speedos. Score. We hung out there for awhile. It was weird being around that many tourists. Very weird. The kids swam in the pool and somehow Gareth and I turned into babysitters. Oh well. After that we went back to our original spot so the ladies could get all dressed up for partying/dancing that night. I forgot to mention it was a holiday, Emancipation Day. I sat on the bus and ate jerk chicken. After about an hour, we went and parked the bus by a club and most of the people went inside to dance/socialize. I took Rommel(Peter's son) to Burger King and then we hung out on the bus. It was 9 or 10 by this point and the younger ones were sleeping. Me and a few other older people stayed on the bus. I read and tried to sleep. Finally around 1, we left and headed back for Falmouth. I was so glad to get back. At least I can say I have been on a Jamaican road trip - definitely different than ours.

Since then, Gareth and I have been plugging away at our work. We went to Good Hope, our favorite place, last Saturday but there was a wedding so we didn't get to swim and just came back. Booo. Dr. Parrent left yesterday for the UK to go see Bigga and Calvin and he won't be back before we leave. We have a busy week this week trying to get our work finished and then prepare a powerpoint presentation for when we are back in DC. I also have a few more souvenirs to buy and we want to go to the beach this weekend. We have enjoyed not having as strict a schedule since Dr. Parrent is out of town - we can work for a few hours, take a break, and work more in the evenings when it is cooler.

Well, at this time next week I will be switching planes in Charlotte. Well actually, I will already be on a plane on the way to DC. Crazy. This place has become like a home and I know I will miss it, but I sure can't wait to be back home in my comfort zone. It was definitely a wonderful experience to be out of that little box I know, but man a big fluffy bed, some pizza or mexican, and a television don't sound too shabby right now...

j

--I held out my hands & asked where I could help & somebody grabbed me & pointed me towards the future & said, You've got your work cut out for you & I said, isn't there anything easier? & he laughed & said you could dig around in the past, but it's just busywork & that made perfect sense so I shrugged & started right where I was, along with everyone else--