Life Goes On

It is said that we have a holiday for everything in Jamaica. “The Reggae Boyz won their FIFA World Cup qualifying match? Let’s declare a national holiday! No school tomorrow!” “The public bus operators are going on strike? National holiday everyone! No school/work!” or “It’s gonna rain tomorrow? Let’s declare a national holiday!” Ok, maybe I exaggerated on the last instance, but you get where I’m going, right? Well, we see where the slightest incident is cause for staying home and missing school/work. Not quite so here.

Recently, the public bus operators in my region went on strike. Luckily for me, I lived on campus, but as for the other students, it was a disaster. This was not the type of strike that I was used to. Back home, when you hear of a group going on strike, it’s just for a few hours, maybe two to three days, tops, and it’s back to work/school again.

After two weeks of the bus strike in the dead winter, I realized that this was gonna take a while. School was still in full swing, and people had to find a way to get to work or they would lose their jobs. Some students ended up dropping out for the semester as they lived too far away, and a few people lost their jobs. A much needed public service was unavailable to citizens, and they still had to find a way to get around it or face the consequences; consequences as detrimental as losing their jobs.

In all of this, it was business as usual: no declared holidays, no black-out days, and life just kept going on. Nothing stopped. Personally, I had to turn this unfortunate incident into a positive. A five-minute bus ride turned into a 30-minute walk so I could get to where I needed to go. I also learned that circumstances do not define who you are, it is what you do to overcome these circumstances that shows your true character. 

I was hoping that some classes would be put off or something (especially Economics, ugh!), unfortunately, that wasn't to be. 

The bus strike went on for six weeks, and life went on through it all. The good thing is, I managed to remain healthy through walking everywhere, and I became more acquainted with where I live and learned about a few short cuts. However, when the buses did return, I was never happier to see a bus driver.

"No matter the circumstances, keep pushing forward. Life stops only when you do." -JGIC

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Jodi-Ann is an Environmental Studies major in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Check out her online store at http://jwbookstore.creativesolutionsmall.com to purchase books and electronics.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamaicanGirlInCanada

Email: jokay2112@gmail.com

It Just Happened...

 Well, we now had a full blanket of snow and classes were in full swing. I was on my regular mojo – it was like a rhythm: wake up early, breakfast, classes, work, study, sleep. The cycle became so much a part of me that if one thing should be added or subtracted, I’d be completely thrown off.

A full blanket of snow fell overnight, so I was all wrapped up, cozy and warm… and I overslept! I had to wear my heavy boots; and in order to wear those massive boots, I also had to wear my large pair of jeans and so on. I basically dressed 30 pounds heavier in order to greet the weather. I walked up to the lunch room to eat with my friends; we chatted for a while and even snapped a picture before I noticed that I got carried away and had to make a mad dash for class.

The equation, then, is: late + mad dash + snow = recipe for disaster.

I asked myself: “If I take the snow-ridden, shorter path at the back to the lecture theatre, I’d make it to class with exactly two minutes to spare, right? If I take the usual route, I would get to class at least four minutes late. If I take the internal route, I’ll be at least twelve minutes late… what to do, self?” Friends, do you know what I was told to do (Yes, I do have live conversations with myself every now and again!)? I was told to take the internal route and get to class late.

I wasn’t having it. So I overruled my thoughts and ran to the back door. The first mistake I made was closing the door (the door only opened from the inside), so I was now trapped outside on the ice. The snow slapped me hard in the face and those heavy boots were not very helpful.

I gingerly stepped on the ice and hoped I didn’t slip with the whole school watching from the cafeteria. I took two millimetre steps to get to the muddy banking where it was safer to sink the boots. That in itself took more than five minutes; so automatically, I knew I would be late. I looked up to the internal passageway and saw students walking merrily to their classes in the warmth, and cursed myself for my stupidity. 
 

I kept moving in the muddy path until the building where my class was held came into view. “Finally!” I sighed. As I stepped on the concrete path, with just 10 metres to go, all I heard was SPLAT!! My body connected with the floor and my books lay scattered before me. I had to scramble to my feet before anyone saw me; in the same breath, I grabbed my books and sped to the entrance! I looked around and saw no one in my immediate area, and tried to plaster an awkward smile on my face; you know, the "I didn't fall and hurt myself" awkward smile? Yea, that one! 

I met two students coming out of the building with a knowing smile and I was left to wonder if they saw my fall of shame! I got to class nevertheless…wet, in pain and very, very late! Lesson learnt! 

End Note: Back home in Jamaica, when one realizes that he/she is late, the only obstacle in the way is traffic. We never have to worry about snow, ice, sleet or impossible weather (except hurricanes) to inhibit our movement. Another lesson learnt the hard - and painful - way! - JGIC 

“Those who would bring great things to pass must rise early.—Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty.” – Matthew Henry

 

Jodi-Ann is an Environmental Studies major in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Check out her online store at http://jwbookstore.creativesolutionsmall.com to purchase books and electronics.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamaicanGirlInCanada

Email: jokay2112@gmail.com

Learning the Hard Way

Trypanosoma Levisi. These two words have been haunting me since I first heard them. Science is my first love; more specifically, Biology. So going to Biology class for me was supposed to be fun and exciting and I anticipated going to my early morning sessions of Biology… that is, until this happened:

 

I have always prided myself on getting very high grades, whether I study or not. For one thing, I listen keenly and remember everything I listen to; secondly, I was blessed with a photographic memory, so once I see it, I’ll remember it. Our first class then was on the parasite Trypanosoma Levisi, and there were two major problems with the parasite. First one, is that no matter how hard I listened, I couldn’t get past what I thought was “Trip on the sofa” and two, I have never seen the creature, so I was doomed, as we had a quiz coming up.

I went home and tried hard to piece together what the professor tried to tell me about a sofa. Did a parasite live there? Are all people doomed because this parasite might infest the sofa and ultimately give us germs? I was in a quandary, and I was at a loss as well, because the day for the quiz was here.

There were two questions posed for the quiz, each worth 5 marks. The first question was “What is the Trypanosoma Levisi?” followed by: ”List two major characteristics of the Trypanosoma Levisi.” We had 20 minutes to complete the quiz, and friends, I can tell you that I pre-accepted my first zero within the first 10 seconds of receiving the paper. And so it was: I decided to close my brain to the idea of prior knowledge, and start accepting new knowledge as it came to me. If I wasn’t clear on something, I quickly raised my hand to ask for clarification, and I became very much acquainted with my new love: Google. That zero put things into perspective for me. I am still haunted, however, by the trauma that I was forced to go through because of “Trip on the sofa Levisi.”

 

As a mature student, I thought I knew all the basics of being successful in university. Sometimes, it’s best to just sit back, watch and learn. I was surprised at how much new information I gathered from this one class, even though I did this very same course previously for my first degree.

It was Henry Ford who said “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”  

I plan to stay young.

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Jodi-Ann is an Environmental Studies major in Nova Scotia, Canada.

One Stop, Driver!

 I arrived in Canada with the expectation of seeing snow and ice painting the landscape. Much to my disappointment, the landscape was decorated with green and a splattering of colour reflecting the different types of vegetation that exist here. The air was cold, and I felt the exhilaration that a new experience brings (or perhaps it was just shivers from the cold air).

The first thing I noticed was my extreme hunger. Having traveled for hours and waiting for a time that felt like eternity in the airport for my flight, I was ravenous and even my purse was beginning to look delectable. So what could I do? It was 11 pm on my very first day in a new country, so I was left to do what anyone else would… I got under my covers and slept.

That night I had dreams of jerk chicken and a hot cup of Manish Water. Mouthwatering, delectable chunks of oxtail floated dreamily in my subconscious. Rice and peas cooked with delicious coconut cream and ackee and saltfish whispered my name so sweetly. A large escoveitched snapper smiled broadly at me, inviting me to take a taste. Just as I got ready to move towards the dishes before me, I was made aware of a recurring "buzz" (my alarm)and it was then that I woke up to the realization that it was only a dream and all those wonderful items were simply not here. My next goal, then, was to find the store.

I dressed warm and headed to the bus stop to get to the closest store. Sure enough the bus was on time and I followed the advice of the registration clerk who told me the store is 15 minutes away by bus. After riding the bus for over 20 minutes, I began to feel that maybe I was lost (ok, I knew I was lost). I felt the urge to bellow “One Stop, Driver!” but remembered that bus stop buttons were conveniently located all over the vehicle. So to avoid looking like an idiot, I approached the driver and politely asked him to indicate to me whenever we got the store. Much to my amazement, the driver created a facial expression that was akin to comic book drawings and said: “Um, you’re on the wrong bus darlin’; you should have gone in the other direction!” I almost lost it! Not only was I now more than half an hour away in the opposite direction, it was also cold, and my stomach was now singing to the tune of an orchestra!

 

I hung my head in embarrassment then crossed the street to catch the bus in the other direction and finally made my way to the store. As hard as that experience was, I felt a sense of achievement after all was said and done. Not only did I learn about that route, I managed to locate the store; I got a student discount; and that afternoon, it snowed.

The following day would be my first day of classes for the winter, and even though my hands were freezing and I slipped on the pathways several times (didn’t fall though), I was ready for the new challenge.

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Jodi-Ann is an Environmental Studies major in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Check out her online store at http://jwbookstore.creativesolutionsmall.com to purchase books and electronics.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamaicanGirlInCanada

Email: jokay2112@gmail.com

The Journey Begins

Growing up in a Jamaican home is always fun. We get to go out and play football with our friends, swim in the nearby river, or climb the neighbour's mango tree and hide out up there until we had a full stomach.
We then pass through primary school and pray we get into the high school of our choice. That, my friends, is when we realize that we want to be somebody big: a pilot, a doctor, an engineer, a lawyer, to name a few.
My dream was to become a nurse, like my mother. Sadly, I graduated from high school at a very tender age and none of the Nursing Schools I applied to would take me; so I did the next best thing: I applied to Teachers' College. I was qualified but still had to wait another year before they would take me. So in 2003, I started; and I did what anyone my age would have done: I proved the masses wrong! Age is just a number and it does not define when one can become successful!
I went on to pursue my Bachelor's Degree in Education, and I managed to get a few years' teaching experience in the mix. But something was missing! That was just not enough! I wanted more! So I applied to university in Canada, and no, I'm not pursuing a Master's Degree in Education. I'm planning to revolutionize people's way of thinking; the way how people look at and think about their environment.
So my journey began in the middle of winter 2012, when I moved to a whole new country to start my educational journey. Follow my bi-monthly blog to learn of my experiences in Canada, and how it might help you to realize that everything is indeed possible!


Jodi-Ann is an Environmental Studies major in Nova Scotia, Canada.