Every year, the freshman at Agnes Scott College are sent abroad to receive a more global experience which can then shape our minds for greater things. Thus, visiting Jamaica with my ASC peers was amazing from beginning to end! During this trip, I experienced many of my “firsts.” First time traveling out of the U.S., first time jumping off a cliff, first time at the beach. I will always remember this week as the best experience of my life. I’ll happily share some of those memories with ya!
First and foremost, travelling on an airplane! The first and last time I was on a plane, I was very young─4, maybe 5 years old. So, just being in the airport was amazing to me.
The Food! The Beef Patties!
I’m pretty sure there was a beef patty in my mouth everyday while in Jamaica. In fact the first thing we ate in Jamaica was beef patties from Juici Patties. They were warm, spicy and just delicious.
Also, while staying in my host mama’s house─Mama Madge─ the food was a-mazing. It was better than the food my own mama cooks. There was nothing that could compare to the joy I felt as my fork scraped the plate and my hands reached for seconds, or sometimes thirds.
The Beach!
The beach is my new found love. The sand was so soft, messy, but soft. Once at the beach, my feet sunk into the sand. My feet dug deeper and deeper into the sand until I could not go any further. It was refreshing, mesmerizing to see the ocean, to feel the sand between my toes. After enjoying the sand for a while, my focus turned to the ocean.
It stretched on for miles, farther than anything my eyes have ever witnessed─well, except for when I was on the plane. My body guided me to the shore, allowing the ocean to flow to the backs of my ankles. As the water receded, I was called to return to the ocean along with the nearly-infinite grains of sand. A bit fearful, my feet marched carefully, but all was well after a few attempts to of letting the deep blue hold my body within itself.
The ocean held me for nearly four hours, maybe more. This moment settled my spirit.
The last time during this trip my body felt the ocean was after a dive off of a ten-foot cliff. I was afraid, but eventually I took the plunge.
A Few Interesting Facts
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The use of plastic bags in Jamaica are prohibited; so, shop owners have to buy trash bags and sell them by a certain date or they will be fined.
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There is a beautiful road in Jamaica lined with babmboo, named Bamboo Avenue. Other than being a good source of shade, it protects the road from erosion.
All in all, the journey to and from Jamaica was peaceful, exciting and a wonderful learning experience. For my next article, I’ll tell you a bit about my visit to the Accompong Village.