Author: mcmeeshi

Personal blog: jeddandmichelle.com Travel site: intentionaltravelers.com
* Michelle Thoughts, * Peace Corps

My name is Joe, but you can call me Al: About Jamaican Names

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I’ve always been fascinated by names. And names are a really fun part of Jamaican culture. Apart from given names, many people also have “yard names” (nick names) that friends and family have always called them (and that sometimes these become so common that no one knows their true first name anymore). Jamaicans also use identifiers or descriptors in the place of names when they’re calling out to people on the street, whether they know the person or not. Below you’ll find examples of the various types of names we’ve heard in Jamaica.

Given Names
Girls:
Cheyenne, Timera, Annielle, Amoy, Sereina, Henry-nique, Dellesia/Delecia, Asheka, Toni-Ann, Keisha-Ann, Shelly-Ann, Shamara, Shanae, Tasha, Soini, Yolande, Tashina, Soini, Yolande Continue reading “My name is Joe, but you can call me Al: About Jamaican Names” →

* Michelle Thoughts, * Peace Corps

America The Possible

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by the Center for the New American Dream

Our intention for living abroad and joining the Peace Corps was to take a “sabbatical,” a time set apart where life looks different from the normal and where we can grow, learn, and reflect. Throughout this whole journey, we’ve been asking ourselves: What’s next? Well, we have a lot of ideas. Turns out they all kind of center around two common themes. One: more travel. And two: making a change in first-world values.

It’s seeming more and more like our vision for a sabbatical may become less of a break-from-“real-life” and more of a long-term reality. That is to say, there’s a very good chance we won’t be going back to the 9 to 5 world and, instead, will continue to pursue an unconventional, nomadic lifestyle (maybe it will only last a year, maybe it will continue indefinitely). We even have dreams to grow Simply Intentional and make blogging part of our livelihood.

I think we’ve come to realize that the consumer-driven American Dream was pointing us in the opposite direction of our true values. We want to learn how to live outside the box. And we’re passionate about seeing more first-world people break free of materialism to embrace a simpler, happier, healthier, and more generous life.

Little by little, as we explore all of our various options for life after Peace Corps, I’ve been doing some research online by finding like-minded bloggers. Three sites stand out to me for the quality of their work and for showing me that a meaningful, “location independent” life is possible. Continue reading “America The Possible” →

* Michelle Thoughts, * Peace Corps, Videos

“These children will never forget you.”

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Ladies in the education sector, April 2012 (Sue is behind me in blue)
Ladies in the education sector, April 2012 (Sue is behind me in blue)

Introducing: Sue W.
A gifted child, Sue grew up in a community where she and her mother were taught by- and interacted with- a number of Peace Corps Volunteers over the years. If I remember correctly, she later befriended a Volunteer who, now returned to the States, is her best friend. Sue is a trained Jamaican teacher but she also started working part-time with Peace Corps as a community liaison or a Language & Culture Facilitator when volunteer training groups came to her town. Eventually she was promoted and is now in charge of PCJ’s Education sector, which makes her my supervisor.

Sue’s Story (transcribed from a video)
Where I come from, we’ve always had Peace Corps Volunteers. So, my mother was taught to sew by a volunteer in the 60’s when volunteers were focusing on vocational work. And as a result of that, my mother was able to make uniforms for us to go to school, and she didn’t have to spend the money that she didn’t have on uniforms because she had that skill. And so today, I learned

Continue reading ““These children will never forget you.”” →

* Michelle Thoughts, * Peace Corps

Jamaican Style: Fashion with Flare

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Teachers’ fancy nails

In Jamaican society, looking good is highly valued. It is not unusual to see prom-style gowns at a grade school graduation. Acceptable attire in a Jamaican church is often more formal than you would find at some American weddings. And the weather has almost no effect on Jamaicans’ choice of clothing. You will see longsleeves, jackets, polyester pants, ski hats, etc. every single day of the year. Comfort is not part of the equation.

Work Attire
The rules for acceptable attire, especially in work and ceremonial situations, are often different than what we’re accustomed to- providing a Continue reading “Jamaican Style: Fashion with Flare” →

* Michelle Thoughts, * Peace Corps

Money Money Money

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A few ripe bananas
A wedge of pumpkin (a.k.a. squash)
A dozen mini limes
Two medium plantains
A head of cabbage
Baking flour in bulk

The equivalent of $1 US:

  • 2 medium plantains
  • 1 head of cabbage
  • 1 pound of tomatoes
  • Bulk baking flour (1 pound?)
  • 1 hour of internet time at the community center
  • 8 mile ride from home to town in a route taxi
  • about 2 rolls of toilet paper
  • postage for a letter to the US Continue reading “Money Money Money” →
* Michelle Thoughts, * Peace Corps

On Thankfulness

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Blog It Home 2013 winners at Peace Corps headquarters with acting PC Director and Third Goal staff. Photo courtesy of OTG.
Blog It Home 2013 winners at Peace Corps headquarters with acting PC Director and Third Goal staff. Photo courtesy of OTG.

The past month has really taught me a lesson about the things I’ve taken for granted. It’s one of those lessons that you thought you already knew, but a certain experience makes it really come to life and sink into your heart.

For one, I realized how much more thankful I am when I have less. Returning to the “first world,” I became blissfully happy at simple things I used to take for granted. Some of them were material things- like a hot shower, fast internet, comfortable pillows. Others were more nostalgic- eating raspberries, walking in a park. Most were linked to a particular luxury I had never truly considered before: freedom. The freedom to go wherever I want whenever I want to, Continue reading “On Thankfulness” →

* Jedd Thoughts, * Michelle Thoughts, * Peace Corps

Summer Youth Camp

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Scroll over or click on a picture to see the caption:

Team builder activity
Grassroots soccer HIV awareness activities
Game about avoiding risks of HIV
HIV trivia teams choose an answer
Answering an HIV trivia question: fact or nonsense
Source staff teaches computer class
Dance lessons

One of the first things Jedd participated in as a Peace Corps Volunteer was a summer kids camp at the brand new community center put together by a group of sweet, hard-working, elderly Jamaican ladies. With that under his belt, he crafted a new summer camp especially for teens, combining inspirational videos, computer and dance lessons, life skills activities, and motivational speakers. A year later, he has coordinated the “second annual” of both camps while training a core group of young leaders who can hopefully carry on the tradition.

For the teen camp happening this week, we were lucky to recruit the help of a Response Volunteer named Doug. Response Volunteers have already served their 27-month term with Peace Corps and then choose to apply for a Response position, which is usually in a new country and usually for a shorter time commitment. Doug’s assignment in Jamaica is with a local football (soccer) club. At camp, he is doing HIV/AIDS education sessions using a program designed by Grassroots Soccer which uses interactive, soccer-related activities to break down myths and teach healthy life practices. While AIDS is not the epidemic here that you will find in places like South Africa, Peace Corps is making an effort for prevention before it’s too late.

* Michelle Thoughts, * Peace Corps, Videos

Video: A Volunteer’s Thoughts

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One of the rewards of being a Peace Corps Volunteer is getting to meet amazing people who serve alongside you and making new friends who live all over the U.S. This video is an interview with a very special woman. Although we weren’t in the same training group, we were lucky enough that our terms of service on island overlapped more than a year, giving us the opportunity to share some time together here and there. In the video, she shares some of her funny stories and serious reflections from living two years in Jamaica. I think you’ll enjoy it!

If you want to see more, this is a link to the extended, “uncensored” interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed7fA20blcA

-M

* Michelle Thoughts, * Peace Corps

Mid-Service Reflections

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As we took part in our Mid-Service Conference a little more than a week ago, we had the opportunity to reflect on why we’re here and how we can make the best out of our remaining time (about 10 to 11 months). We were given the Aspiration Statements we had completed way back in 2011, before we had arrived in Jamaica. These were letters written to introduce ourselves to PC Jamaica staff. Below is an excerpt of my statement. Reading back over it has been a good reminder, and I’m also happy to say that I wasn’t too off base.

What I didn’t consider back when I was writing my Aspiration Statement, was how living in Jamaica might affect me in negative ways. If I had to sum up the biggest challenge for second-year volunteers in Jamaica, it would be the struggle to not become jaded. I don’t know if this feeling is unique to certain countries or if it’s experienced across the board in all Peace Corps placements. Our fellow volunteer, Adri, posted a reflection on this topic that I really resonated with, so if you want to understand what I mean, I highly recommend reading her blog post: Aspiration, Pessism, Inspiration- Starting Year Two. At this point in our service, I think many of us are mourning the loss of our optimism while fighting to keep a hold of hope and the passion we brought with us to our Peace Corps service.

Self-portrait on our 5 year anniversary. Also celebrating over a year of Peace Corps service.
Self-portrait on our 5 year anniversary. Also celebrating over a year of Peace Corps service.

Aspiration Statement
From an early age, Continue reading “Mid-Service Reflections” →

* Michelle Thoughts, * Peace Corps, Videos

Jamaica Taught Us…

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Our Peace Corps Volunteer training group took advantage of our recent reunion at the Mid-Service Conference last week to compile some of our lessons learned as volunteers in Jamaica. It’s a light-hearted, humorous perspective on the many aspects of Jamaican culture we’ve encountered so far. For your entertainment: