Where did the week go?

Good Eats, Jamacian Style!


Cindy cooking callaloo

This is really great!

Where did the week go? We have had an eventful, exhilarating and edifying week. We started out the week learning to do some of the basics of living in different surroundings. We did laundry including hanging our clothes out to dry. Although we don’t do this often anymore, we both have past experience and the only thing missing from the Valley was the smell of the “fresh country air”. We also prepared two meals with local ingredients and had leftovers for the week. Chicken, callaloo and mashed green bananas comprised one meal. Christina will assure you the green bananas need to be cooked not eaten raw. Mrs. Bailey taught us how to prepare them and use oil to avoid getting your hands black and sticky. The meal was tasty and full of nutrients. Our second meat was pork cooked with fresh pineapple, broccoli and rice; followed with fresh pineapple and pawpaw (papaya). Those who know us well are aware we won’t go hungry :>)

Yes, there are Mennonites in Jamaica

We both spent time in class preparation, presentations and clinical contact this week. We both are enjoying spending more time with the students. Christina is falling in love with all the precious children in the Pediatric ward. Her futball(soccer) skills came in handy as she played with one of the patients, yet, he taught her a new game “Mango Stomping”. That isn’t famous in the States yet.

Pathophysiology preparation


Cindy spent time on the Adult wards including Gynecology, Renal and Cardiology (finally something familiar). The standard nursing care is similar but the limited resources for staff and patients provide a very different treatment plan than patients in the States. Cindy also spent a day in the Community Health setting where patients arrive hours prior to the clinic opening even when they have an appointment. It was a special treat for Cindy to meet her mentor, Mrs. Dawkins, daughter who is a physician at the clinic.

Striping Ceremony

Knox campus

Third year student

Candle Lighting

Thursday, Christina and Cindy had a special treat as they accompanied Dr. Hewitt, director of the School of Nursing at the University of the West Indies (UWISON), to a Striping Ceremony at Knox Community College. Knox is a franchise of UWISON which is located about 2.5 hours away in the Jamaican countryside. The ceremony celebrated the advancement to the next level for the nursing students. This was signified by a stripe on the students’ uniform. What an exciting time for theses students! Dr. Hewitt spoke and Christina was surprised when called upon to assist with handing out awards, yet she rose to the challenge.








Christina presenting awards



Now we are off for another weekend. Where will our next adventure take us??


Thanks again for the prayers for rain, things are much greener.



Pawpaw Tree on Knox Campus