IFYE Program Newsletter

KEEPING UP WITH CHRIS

Hello there, gang! On Saturday, July 1st, we landed at the airport in Kingston about 6:30 p.m. The airport consisted of what appeared to be a run-down warehouse looking building and a very narrow runway that stretched out into the sea. It was right then that reality hit us like a brick wall. Jamaica - a land of luscious white sand beaches, magnificent waterfalls, and endless blue sea water. Right? Wrong!

I have spent the past week in the capital city of Kingston where the national 4-H center is located. During that time I have been staying with a host mother named Ms. Dorothy Moore. Here in the capital city there are very poor roads with almost no traffic lights or stop signs at the intersections. Most roads do not have lane lines on them making things even more scary since they drive on the left side of the road here.

Driving here is extremely scary. Goats and bulls are allowed to roam the streets freely, and if you happen to hit one (My host mother about nailed three the other day) then you are held liable for the damage. I dare not attempt to drive at all here.

We have been spending most of our time this week here in the national 4-H center going through a very unstructured orientation. The first thing that you will learn, if you ever spend time here, is about what is called "Jamaican Time." They are never on time for anything here. If you want to start something at 10:00 in the morning, then you have to tell everyone that it starts about 8:30 or 9:00.

Oh, and on the topic of orientation. I am not really sure what all I will do while I am here or where exactly I will be living during the next couple of months. Honestly, I do not think that they know that information either. I will make it though.

I do know that during the weeks of July 10-17th, 17-23rd, and Aug. 9-17 we will be working with three regional 4-H camps around the country. Later in August we will be working with the national agricultural show in a city called Denbeigh. As for the rest, we will just have to wait and see.

60 YEARS OF 4-H IN JAMAICA

This year, the Jamaican 4-H program is celebrating its 60th anniversary. The program began as what was called the Jamaican Agricultural Society. It was started by a group of adults who were trying to find a way to save the country's deteriorating focus on agriculture. The program's major focus was "training young farmers in good farming practices."

Towards the end of the 1930's, the J.A.S. leaders were made aware of the 4-H club work going on in the United States. They found the objectives and methods far superior to those of the current Jamaican program. So, thanks to a grant of £ 1,000 given by Jamaican Welfare Unlimited and matched by the Governor General, the organization was granted a one-year trial period to experiment with 4-H. Shortly after April 1, 1940, Mr. Willie James traveled to the United States on a Carnegie Corporation Scholarship to intensely study the ways of the American 4-H club work.

Mr. James brought back with him all of the American 4-H traditions such as the same pledge, motto, and the four-leaf clover with the 4 H's symbolizing head, heart, hands, and health.

Today, 60 years later, 4-H is going stronger than ever here in Jamaica. Currently, the clubs only exist within schools, but there is a campaign to form community based clubs for the children. Clubists, as they are called here, range in age from 9 to 25, when they become known as leaders. Katie and I will be working with 4-H leaders to help give pointers on forming community-wide clubs while we are here.

MY PARTNER IN CRIME

Carmeleta "Katie" Clark is the other IFYE here in Jamaica with me. She is 22 years old, and a resident of Parker, Colorado, where she currently serves as a manager for the local Radio Shack.

Katie has been a member of 4-H for about 16 years. In Colorado, the age for members begins at 9 and goes through 18. So, in those sixteen years she has spent two as a clover-bud, and five as a club leader.

As a member in the program, she enjoyed the county and state fairs, council meetings, and helping the younger members. Citizenship Washington Focus, National 4-H Congress, and Western Roundup were just a couple of her many achievements within the 4-H program. Since becoming a leader, Katie has helped with cattle judging, jr. leadership, sewing with wool, and baking breads.

Katie's main reasons for choosing to participate in the IFYE program are to form an international link between 4-H organizations, and to learn to become more independent.

After returning to the United States, she will spend three months traveling Colorado showing slide presentations to 4-H clubs and related organizations. Katie will also return to her management position at Radio Shack, and continue to serve her local and state 4-H organizations.

WHAT TO EAT?

So far, the highlight has been the glass of fresh squeezed orange juice that Ms. Moore has fixed for me every morning for breakfast. Man, does it hit the spot! Other favorites have included a chicken dinner served with peas and rice, steamed cabbage and carrots. Oh, there were also the lunches during orientation when we went to Burger King and to a little Chinese place.

As for the not-so-good side of this topic, there is my first breakfast in Jamaica. It was a dish called ackee and saltfish. The dish is considered to be their national dish. Watch out for this stuff! I am warning you! Ackee looks almost exactly like our scrambled eggs and is a fruit that originally comes from Africa. As for the taste, I cannot even begin to describe that one. I will just say that it is very unique. The saltfish, however, was pretty good. Well, that is all that I have on this topic right now. Check back next month for more interesting cuisine.

Chris