Full of Nerves

Last night I fell asleep to the sound of R&B wafting through my open window, and in my final moments of consciousness I thought, "This will be a very different semester indeed."

But getting to that point, the point now where I am in the hot hot heat of Jamaican sun, began with an early morning drive to the airport, a tearful and anxious goodbye, and some apricot and almond sandwhiches. It was strange, and somehow comforting to reach my terminal, knowing that all the build up surrounding my leaving was over, and that I was on my own. It was also overwhelming. But just as I was beginning to think about it too much, this bright brown eyed girl strolled up to me, peeking around in my bags and ignoring any kind of advice that her mother might have ever told her to not interact with strangers. Along with her older brother, we hung out, picking up the phone sitting beside me and pretending it was for each other. I was so grateful for the distraction, because I was boarding the plane before I knew it.

The plane ride itself was fine. I met a lovely man, Gifford, who lives in Toronto and is visiting family until the end of May. He asked me about my travels, and ended up giving me his contact information in case I ever needed anything. I thought to myself, that if all Jamaicans were like this, I would love Jamaica very, very much. Another Toronto living Jamaican- I never actually learned his name- sat on the other side of me, and told me about his life as a plumber, a father and coach of her basketball team. He had the most genuine smile, and although I was still full of nerves about how the rest of the day might unfold, my conversations with both these men brought a certain calm and a sense that the rest of the day was going to be okay.

I exited the plane, still a little edgy, but found my bags with ease, went through customs with ease, and within a few tense moments, found a woman with a sign reading 'Allison Newfield' with ease. She took me to my driver, and small framed and wonderfully aged man named Roy, who ended up being a greater friend than I imagined. We coasted through Old and then New Kingston, until we reached my residence where he helped me unload my bags at the office. He hopped into the vehicle just as I was pulling on the office doors. Locked. And noticing my struggle, he got back out and went for help. He ended up taking me to the security guards at the gate of my residence, pleading my case and telling them that sticking me in and making me pay for the hotel on campus would not be okay just because they could not find anyone to let me into my room. What was I to do? I had no idea where my room was supposed to be, no key to get in. And no idea that a funeral in Montego Bay had brought 4 bus loads of people away from campus, people like the ones that run the office of my residence.

Many phone calls, driving around and nervous thoughts later, they had tracked down the girl who was supposed to have met me, who had my key, and who now left it with the security guards back at my res. The exchange coordinator dropped me back off at my hall, where the security guards who I had befriended after Roy left, helped to make sure I got settled in. I was beautifully reminded that I wasn't alone in all of this as one of them handed me their cell phone, where Wallen, another security guard who had taken me under his wing, was on the phone making sure I was okay.

Still full of nerves, I met Donna, my only flat-mate here until tonight or tomorrow (I think there will be 8 of us). I couldn't have been in better hands. She showed me my room, the rest of our flat, and eventually to KFC. I said I wouldn't eat there, and yet, at 8 in the evening, when all of my nerves had finally dissipated, I was hungry and very glad for her willingness to take me somewhere- even if it was the KFC on campus.

I've been able to form some more solid impressions of the campus now that I've had the day to scout it out. Although, I haven't completely found my bearings, especially because you drive on the left here. It doesn't sound like a big deal, I know. But my inclination is always to walk right, which is fine, but I end up approaching most signs, the ones that tell you where to go and where things are, from the wrong way. It's beautiful here though- gloriously hot. They also weren't lying when they said that it's snuggled in at the bottom of moutains. At the same time, I feel a little like I'm at a resort, and this is very much a gated community. I can already tell that unless I find a way to explore, hopefully with someone who is willing to leave the confines of campus, that I am going to get a little stir crazy. I know I am here to go to school, but I also know that's not the only reason, and so it is my hope that it won't be long until I get to see more of this beautiful and complex country.

There's so much more to say, and you can probably tell that I have some time on my hands because this post is lengthy as it is. So I'm going to leave it here. I will finish this off by saying that I am learning heaps within the limited time that I've been here so far. I feel very safe, and excited to be here, although not at home quite yet. There's a lot that is kind of on hold until Monday, when all of the students should be back, classes begin, and the administrative buildings open again. Until then, I am going to continue to explore, and hope to make more friends.

Much love.