The Youth. Empowered. I build self-esteem, what of it?

Well I haven’t posted on the blog for almost a month, which is partly understandable as school has started and I have been working full days. Who would have thought? Those of you who knew me in college will never believe when I say that I now go to be around 8:00 p.m., and wake up around 5:30 a.m. Very odd huh? I am happy to report that the whole shaved head debacle is also turning out o.k., and that I haven’t been jooked (patwa for stabbed, or murdered) yet.

A few stories from the past few weeks – I will try to say as much as I can before my peer counselor meeting in 45 minutes…

I had a really really really great work experience two weeks ago- on the first day of the week, an 8^th grader came into my office and posed the question, “Sir, what is the difference between HIV and STI?” Immediately jumping at the opportunity, I explained in detail how HIV is a type of STI, and further explained how there is no cure, and symptoms don’t always express themselves, etc. After acceptably explaining these concepts, the student asked, “Sir, what is the 10 minute test?” Catching on, I explained how the test works, and further explained that it is an easy test that can be done in one day if necessary. I inquired if it was him or a friend that wanted to be tested, and was surprised when he answered that it was indeed he who wanted to be tested. I guess he was willing to be honest with me, a while outsider, while not necessarily wanting to talk to the other guidance counselors about the issue. Anyways, I told him I would research his options for getting tested and talk to him soon about a way to move forward.

Feeling that the student didn’t want to have a parent involved in the whole affair (he is thirteen afterall), I spent the afternoon walking around Falmouth looking for clinics that would take a child of his age without a parent present. Both the local hospital and Mobay Hope said they would do the test, but required a doctor consultation and a parent present. With these findings in hand, I went home for the night.

At school the next day, I called the student back to my office to explain the findings of my search. I also inquired into why the student wanted to be tested, to judge risk and real need for the test. Apparently, the child had sex with a girl when both parties were eleven years old, and he found out a year later that she was HIV positive. For the past year, he has been bothered about whether to get tested or not, and though healthy and though he did use a condom, he was quite worried and didn’t necessarily want to get a parent involved. I then proceeded to talk the kid though the whole issue, and explained that if he was worried, and because of the risk factor, I highly recommended he talk to his dad and get tested. He doesn’t have a mom, and his siblings are not as close to him as the father. I explained that how he approach the issue is of importance, and that if done properly it shouldn’t be an issue. All said and done, the child agreed to get tested and talk to his dad that night.

The next day, the child came back to my office, reporting that he had talked to his dad after school the previous afternoon and had gone with him to get tested for HIV. The father took the news well, and even got tested himself. The results back, both father and son were negative for HIV, and I felt on top of the world.

Yeah, that was pretty cool. Besides that, I have written a 45-page guidance program for the school year, with timeframes and budgets and the works. The program is being submitted to the National Ministry of Education, and has a decent chance to be named the best guidance program in Jamaica (not just being cocky, my school was a finalist last year, and this year the program is a lot better).

What else…

On Saturday (the one a few days ago), there was a party three miles from my house featuring Usain Bolt, Shaggy, and Beenie Man! I was totally there, and dancing, and being marry. O.K. well that part is a lie. I didn’t go, but the party did happen. Pretty sweet. And I would have gone, but it is sort of dangerous to walk around my neighborhood at night (down an unlit dirt road where people often get jooked for about ¾ of a mile).

Last weekend, about 30 volunteers were in my town for a reunion. There was a beach volleyball tournament on Saturday that was awesome, and at night we went swimming in the Bioluminescent lagoon, which was arguably even more awesome. You pay a Rasta dude $750 (just over $10 US), and he takes you out on a boat singing Bob Marley the whole way and explaining how the scientist “Johns Hopkins” did research there in the 60s. Interesting. Anyways, the lagoon is awesome, and I will take anyone who ever visits me there for sure. It is the brightest bioluminescent lagoon in the world (actually true), meaning that when you jump off the boat, the water around you (you are doing this at night, remember) instantly turns bright blue. You swim around and leave a trail… you get the picture. It was sweet.

Besides that, life has been up and down. Sort of lonely over here (I love emails and such!), but I like the people I am working with and the job will be decent. I have been doing a lot of running to clear my head, and as always exploring the food culture as earnestly as I am able. I had chicken chow mein the other day, and it rocked. Hard.

Anyways, yes. I miss you all very much!

Patrick and Mira and James, I think you should write blogs to chronicle your overseas experiences. Just do it. Something like themetswillmisstheplayoffsagain.blogspot.com should work. Yeah? Yeah! mynameisnemo.blogspot.com? Yeah! blowjaculate.blogspot.com? You know it!

O.K. Bye bye,

Waak Gud,

TG

Also, I will be in NYC on March 28^th. And probably about three or four days on either side. Make plans to come hang out with me!

Oh yeah, I told a few of you (Jon, Catie and others) that I would send a picture of me in my shaved head glory. So here it is... actually just go look on the ones on facebook, as a. you are more likely to do that than read this blog, and b. i am lazy and don't really want to upload a picture (it would take forever).