Last Week in Jamaica

We are coming to the end of our Synthesis here in Jamaica with mixed emotions. We have met so many wonderful people and our experiences have been vast and unforgettable. Yet, we have missed our families and the familiarity of home. Our husbands arrive tomorrow and we look forward to them experiencing a taste of what we have been doing over the last month.

This has been a short week thus far; today is a National Holiday for Ash Wednesday. This has given us an opportunity to complete some of our work and ready ourselves to finalize our experience here. We will meet this week to debrief with our mentors.

Monday was Christina's last lecture day. She prepared and presented a lecture in Pathophysiology which focused on Cardiology. She also assisted in the tutorial with the 2nd year students. The students feel very comfortable with her and seem to line up to ask questions just as they do with their instructor. Just as we are feeling more comfortable, its time to go.

Cindy was in the clinical setting on Monday and visited many students with her preceptor. She especially enjoyed working one on one with a student as the student reviewed her plan of care for the patient and Cindy was able to teach and coach the student in new procedures. The joy on the students face as she realized she had successfully and independently completed a new task gave Cindy even more joy.

Tuesday brought another new adventure. We accompanied two of the instructors to a High School career fair in Christiana. Christiana is in the middle of the country near Knox Community College where we were a couple weeks ago. The drive to Christiana was beautiful as we road in the valley between two mountain chains prior to ascending up the mountain to Christiana. The valley would remind you somewhat of driving in the Shenandoah Valley except the palm, mango, cashew and banana trees made the landscape unique.

Downtown Christiana

For our farmer friends & family, The Jamaican Livestock Association,

complete with a Ford pickup infront

Christiana High School: home to 2000 (!) students grades 7-12

School choir singing The Lord is my Shepherd

The career fair commenced outside under a large tent with school staff and local business' sharing their visions and hopes for the students and a speaker spoke about the students' holding the key to their future. The students preformed drama and songs. Our favorite part was the steel drum selections that the students played. We wish you all could have experienced this with us.

We then proceeded into the school where the classrooms were set up as booths for each exhibitor. We had many students, grades 7-12 plus some persons investigating job changes, stopping by to voice their interest in nursing and we shared some of our experiences, the curriculum plan at UWI and our LOVE for nursing. WE had a fantastic time. It would be interesting to see where these students are in 5-10 years.

The future of nursing!

Students learning about careers in the culinary arts

We returned to Kingston and left the cool mountain air behind. The stories of the area were we traveled, Jamaican history and information on local plants and food were a pleasure to listen to on our drive to and from Christiana. The instructors we traveled with will have an after retirement career as tour guides awaiting them.

Christina & Mrs. Bailey, mentor, expert nurse, friend, flora/fauna guru, with traditional Jamaican headwrap on

Reggie, We continue to learn of local remedies and alternative medications. We will have to share more with you in April at school.