My preconceptions of Jamaica were filled with ideas of the perfect climate, beautiful beaches, and a slow lifestyle. Even after seeing the parts of Jamaica that wouldn't fit nicely on the cover of any postcard my post thoughts of the Jamaican scenery hasn't changed. I saw perfect sunsets, breathtaking views, crystal clear beaches, all while experiencing the comfort of a climate that I could definitely tolerate year round. I was also fortunate because I was able to experience the "less beautiful parts". Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, a sunset on a beach may not be as beautiful to everyone, and I'm sure the town of Petersfield is beautiful to many of its residents. I honestly feel that I experienced tour of virtually every aspect of Jamaica. The city's, the small towns, the beaches, sights, smells, I encountered it all. After only a week however, I don't feel completely confident in describing the place and its people. I had a hard time explaining the trip and my experiences with my family and friends. This may have been because I experienced so much. I was the most comfortable explaining the school setting primarily because so much time was spent there. But then again, I'm not very good at being creative and explaining things (hints being a science major, I like the facts) But overall my preconceptions of the beauty of Jamaica have stayed the same. And yes the lifestyle could be slower than anything I anticipated. And due to my ability to explain and portray my thoughts, I'm not comfortable characterizing the place and its people.
Why we travel. How has this trip changed me? I feel more open to the world, more understanding, I have a clearer mind, more motivation, a desire, a drive....I came into college with an unquenchable determination. I had dreams, I was more focused, I wanted more out of the college life and experiences it had to offer. Three years later I found myself in a rut. A caffeine junkie that just wants to get undergrad over with and move on to bigger and better things. I appreciated so little and failed to notice how much of a materialistic drag I was becoming. I think this trip has sparked that enthusiasm again, I want to explore, be open to the world. Now when I purchase that cup of coffee, I'm thankful to have the opportunity. Instead of hating to sit through another chemistry lecture, I look around at all the great technologies and opportunities for advancement that I've been blessed with and I smile. I'm happy to tell my friends that I'm thankful for all that I have. I could go on and on....but overall Im a much more thankful and appreciative person after this trip. One of my main goals of the trip= accomplished. I have some of my desire back to succeed, to explore. This trip has improved the person that I am dramatically for the time being, I just hope I can maintain.
Ryan, your blog really gives all who read it a perfect sense of your personality that we all had the pleasure of experiencing while we were in Jamaica. I really liked in your Blog Post #4 about communities when you said you “truly believe that every person is full of good.” This was really inspiring to me and further reiterated why we all grew to respect your good nature on this trip. I think we all can tend to let ourselves become “materialistic” as you said in Blog Post #10. It is very easy to get caught up in our daily lives and problems when we aren’t forced to see the hardships others face every day. I am happy that you cherished your experience and even happier that I got to spend it with you and the rest of the group. I am sure that you will be able to maintain your enthusiasm to travel, explore, and better yourself. Maybe the right explanation of the trip will come to you one day, but for now I am just glad I got to share some of the moments in Jamaica along with you and the rest of our amazing group.
ReplyDeleteRyan,
ReplyDeleteCan I just say, that being one of the two non-journalism majors that went on this trip, you are a great writer! I loved reading your blog and I was always interested and entertained. I can relate as a "caffeine junkie" and becoming a "materialistic drag." I also went through a similar experience on the trip. I became so caught up in being busy and doing schoolwork that I didn't take time to just stop and be truly thankful for the experiences and opportunities I've been given. I guess that it should be our mission every day to really appreciate what we have and do what we can so that others may have something similar (in a realistic way). It must have been hard coming into a trip where everyone knew each other, mad props for that! I'm so glad I got to know you during our time in Jamaica and that we all came to be friends!
I can definitely identify with your sentiment of being "in a rut". The glamor of college has certainly worn off, and I was viewing it as some kind of necessary stepping stone between here and who-knows-where. I can also understand your sentiment completely of coming back feeling completely rejuvenated and looking at school and my life in a whole new light. Even going into dead week/finals week with engineering projects and huge tests, I find myself basically saying "No Problem", and not letting things get to me.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this attitude will be difficult to maintain in the long term or not. I plan to try and keep it up by getting involved in some kind of regular community service to the poor when I get back to campus in the fall.
I think you had a great attitude this whole trip, and it was a pleasure to travel and work in the schools with you. Talk about laid back! Good luck with the rest of the semester and with keeping the trip "alive" in your everyday.
"...to just reiterate the fact that a positive experience isn’t required from traveling abroad. I hope for one, but in hopefully finding a little piece of myself, what I discover will make the trip worth while."
ReplyDeleteRyan, I admire the fact that you realized the trip had the potential to have both positive and negative experiences before we left. I think that's a concept that's hard to grasp because we all wanted to have a good time...it was hard to think the trip would be anything other than great. I want to thank you for being so positive and fun during the trip. You wrote, "I now feel compelled to prove what I'm doing in beneficial," in your blog. Your blog entries and pictures showed you did just that. I agree with you, it's hard explaining the trip to people back home. I think you should have them read your blog because you did a great job illustrating the trip and how you felt about it! I hope you get more chances to explore the world like you want! It was great meeting you and spending a week with you in Jamaica!