March 2012 in Jamaica reflections

The reflections of the student participants in the Jamaican schools 2012 global field experience may be found at

http://www.chhos.wordpress.com

http://angelarinaldi.wordpress.com/

http://rebeccabelcher.wordpress.com/

http://chamarijamaica2012.wordpress.com/

http://alamarrejamaica.wordpress.com/

http://kimberlydepaolis.wordpress.com/

http://edu457spring2012.wordpress.com/

http://slatersujamaica.wordpress.com/

http://bthlws.wordpress.com/

http://edujamaica.wordpress.com/

http://sniffinm.wordpress.com/reflections/

http://malpals336.wordpress.com/

http://nicolewrightecsujamaica2012.wordpress.com/

http://ecsujamaicatrip.wordpress.com/

http://hanrahangfc.wordpress.com/

http://katiedillon7.wordpress.com/

http://heyjessij.wordpress.com/about/

http://leahlandry.wordpress.com/

Below are the reflections of David Stoloff, one of the two co-facilitators of this experience.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

We arrived safely at Toby’s Resort around noon after a van drive, airport wait, and smooth flight on Jet Blue from JFK to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.  Our van drivers, 3 men from the university facilities staff, were patient, with a late pick-up in Bridgeport and stop for coffee and French fries for some at 2:30 am, and effective in caravaning us down.

The airport wait was instructive.  Our flight schedule did not take into account that Jamaica does not do daylight savings time.  So our 4 hour flight from JFK that started at 8 am and the 30 minute customs process put us on the street waiting for the pick-up at 11:30 am.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

We left Toby’s Resort at 9:30 am after a pancake-eggs-bacon-fruit juice and coffee buffet out on the pool patio, served by Shane, the third generation owner of Toby’s Resort, Andrew Burke, the food service manager, and the wait staff.  Shane told me that his grandmother had bought Toby’s Resort when she arrived from China.  Toby’s Resort was originally known as the Huntington Lodge, but before Shane’s family became owners, had a name change to Toby’s after the Toby Jug.

http://www.worldcollectorsnet.com/features/tobyjugs/ for the history of the Toby Jug.  There is an American Toby Jug Museum in Evanston, IL – http://tobyjugmuseum.com/.

We travelled along Jamaica’s northern coast to Dunn River Falls, the Ruins at the Falls, and Ocho Rios.

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Bethel Primary and Junior High School and Bethel Infant School – March 19 – 21, 2012

March 22 – Hopewell High, Ruseau’s High School, Negril

March 23 – St. James High School and Montego Bay shopping

Views from the Red Stripe Sign

Arriving safely in Jamaica, New York’s USA Diner