|
The International 4-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) program in the United States is conducted by CD International Program Services, L.L.C., in support of 4-H programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture- Extension Service and the U.S. IFYE Alumni Association. |
| Vol. 5 No. 4 |
November 2000
|
|
A Fair Experience in Jamaica, Kids! Get all the animals rounded up and loaded into the truck, because it is fair time once again. Yes, that is right! It is time for the Denbigh Show in Jamaica. The Denbigh Show is equivalent to a state fair in the United States. 4-H clubites from all across the island bring their project to compete at the show on a national level. At Denbigh, the individual parishes have their own fair, which is called Parish Achievement Day. It is on this day that the clubites get their first level of project competition. They bring their projects, such as: tie dye, various dress making and sewing projects, environmental, cooking, public speaking, cattle judging, and other various areas to compete. The top clubite in each category goes on to compete at a Regional Achievement Day, and from there on to the National Achievement Day (Denbigh Show). Unlike the other achievement days that are only a day long, the Denbigh Show starts on Friday and ends on Tuesday. This year the show started on August 4 and ran through August 8. I was there for the entire event. Various other activities that you would find at the fair-like atmosphere include carnival rides, street vendors, and concerts. On Saturday, I got to be the honorary judge at the show when I assisted Hans Leckner, a Peace Corps representative here from California, to evaluate the two environmental projects. The projects were "trash to cash" and a water pollution poster contest. In the "trash to cash" competition, the clubites had to create some kind of useful craft out of various kinds of trash. The poster contest had an essay that went along with it. They held an official awards ceremony at the end of the day. Trophies and cash rewards were presented to the different winners. It was a very exciting day for all. A Tasty Tail They do not eat much beef down here, but instead eat lots of goat and chicken. Some people eat pork as well. Something that I have found very odd is that the cow's tail is the most expensive part of the beef. Down here, they love to eat ox tail. I have never been able to make myself try it, especially after seeing it brought home from the store, but many people seem to enjoy it. When you get it at the store, it has been skinned and looks like it was burned in a fire. They cook it and serve it with the popular rice and peas side order. A 4-H Conference Vacation Goodbye Jamaica! Hello Barbados! From August 9 through 5, I ventured out of Jamaica to another smaller Caribbean Island called Barbados. If you were to compare its size to Jamaica, it would be about the size of the parish of St. Catherine. Barbados is located in the southern Caribbean close to Trinidad and Tobago. The other IFYE, 25 4-H leaders, and I went there to participate in the forming of the First Caribbean Council. A Caribbean 4-H Council sounds like a big prestigious event according to the title doesn't it? Well, it was for the five members of the official delegation that Jamaica sent, but for Katie, the other 20, and I it turned out to be very expensive vacation. As observers, we had a dinner and the cultural talent show one night as the only events planned during the conference for us. Most of our week was spent on the beach, in the sea, and in the air-conditioned hotel room. The break was actually quite nice except for the fact that I became really ill on Friday night. We still have not figured out what made me so sick. I seem to think that it was because of drinking water from the tap, but the doctor seemed to think that it might have come from eating the food at the banquet served outside. Whatever the reason, man was I ever sick. Late Sunday night, I was taken to the hospital to see a doctor. In the waiting room, we ran into the same typical long wait to see a doctor. Six hours and two gallons of fluids later I was released to go home. Even though the doctor gave me an examination, and I had the IV, there was no charge. After returning to the hotel I found myself back in bed and still ill. Maybe that is why it did not cost anything for the hospital visit! I was not sure if I was going to be able to make the flight back to Jamaica, but somehow managed to do so. Back on the island, I went to another doctor who gave me the same liquids and prescribed some medicine. After a full week, and two hospitals, I eventually regained my health and continued on. Talking the Talk The Jamaican language is actually a form of broken English combined with a touch of the African language. They call it patois (pat-wa). Jamaicans often drop their "h's" ('ouse' instead of house) and add them in unexpected places (hemphasize). 'The' is usually pronounced as 'de', and 'them' as 'dem'. Here are some common words and phrases that you might hear:
Chris |
