The adjustments come fast and furious

Greetings all!
We are now with our host family - a lovely woman who is also a college professor at a local community college. She has extended every courtesy possible and it has helped.
I must confess that some aspects have been a bit troubling to deal with. The heat of course is ever present and we expected it. Perhaps not quite to this degree nor constancy but we did expect hot...we did not quite get the point of HOT. Somewhat more troublesome is the constant drumbeat of crime and theft by nearly everyone we come in contact with and who have our best interest at heart...and many people do watch for us. Everyhouse has double doors with burglar bars and all windows are treated in the same manner. That has taken some getting used to - even to the point of hiding our cell phones when we travel.

Now that all that is said, we have enjoyed the people and the various modes of travel that we are figuring out. Today, on the bus, we had asked the conductor to inform us of our stop at Nago Head but before he could, an older woman took us by the hand and showed us where to get off and catch our connection. We studied our material yesterday in the local library and three young women were coaching Karen on her Patwa. It was fun watching these three young students work with her and one of them actually went outside to watch with us while we waited for our taxi.

Transportation takes many forms here. The standard buses that most folks know are the 'chi chi' buses. Along the same routes are route taxis that just drive back and forth along the same route. When they stop to pick you up whereever you are walking, there is likely to be several [as in many] others sharing the ride with you. You best be comfortable sitting 5 or 6 in a back seat if you want a ride. There are also red taxis that are official taxis much like we have back in the states but occasionally lack a bumper, a light or other useful item that was originally made with the vehicle.

We are finding projects to start on soon though. So far Karen has taught a class to young teachers on safe food preparation and has a list of 80 schools to start working with. I have a project at Hellshire Beach to put in sanitary water and septic for the community there that is just one step above destitute as poor fishermen. Big hearts, no money. In addition, the Ministry of Health in Kingston wants me to be working with them 2 days a week on their new safety program. Finally, our host wants us to help her start an environmental team and take on a local community as a project when school starts up. So this will be good to be productive.

We would really like more letters or notes than we have gotten...please write!

All for now.

Love, Matt