After 5 days at my new site in Troy, Jamaica I'd like to share a few of my thoughts and experiences. Long story short, I requested a site change to rural Jamaica because I didn't feel like I was getting the experience in the town of Falmouth that I came here to get. I came in the Peace Corps really wanting to be rural and hoping to have a community to call my own. I realized that moving from the conveniences of town to the bush was going to be a difficult move, but it was a risk I was willing to take. I am still attached to the Trelawny Health Department in Falmouth, but am allowed to work out of the south end of the Parish of Trelawny. I recently finished a 6 page grant proposal to get our water projects off the ground, and I should know in April if we'll get the funding we so badly need. My fingers are crossed, but I feel hopeful about it.

The first 2 nights I was actually too nervous and scared to walk into the main square, or to a small shop down the road I saw some kids dancing at. I was intimidated. I'm like a white goldfish in a fishbowl surrounded by Jamaicans. My host grandmother is the absolute sweetest old lady I have ever met.  She cuts and eats fresh sugar cane like it's going out of style! I call her Momma Eda. She is a devout Christian, and wanders around the house singing hymns. So I live with Momma Eda, her daughter, and her two granddaughters. I have a good-sized room on one half of the house with private entrances, bathroom, and a small kitchen. It's a perfect setup for my privacy, but I get good family time as well.  One night I got a sweet tooth so badly that I dipped peanut butter in Aunt Jemima maple syrup, and then topped it off with two shots of straight syrup! MMmm good. You gotta be creative when it comes to food and snacks round these parts. Plus I just love high fructose corn syrup.If the water is on the power is out, and if the power is on the water is out. That's life in the bush I suppose, and I'm already learning to just take it in stride. Bucket baths galore, however I did hang up my little solar shower bag. Thanks Dad.I have been studying for my GRE exam coming up in early May, but I basically suck at standardized tests. I'm hoping my good grade point average and Peace Corps experience will mask my probable measly score. I'm shooting for graduate school in Urban Planning at Portland State University or Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo fall 2010. Watched the old classic Arachnophobia with my new host family the other night. That was a hoot. They were jumping and screaming!I sleep on a full size mattress(a step up from my twin and large enough for the ladies....giggity!) on the floor with my mosquito net surrounding me. It gets chilly in the bush, so I have been catching my Z's in my sleeping bag. It's just like crawling into the tent every night(minus the stars of course). Hung up my prayer flags(thanks Noelle), New Mexico state flag, and put my 'fancy' door beads up over the bathroom door.Made up my favorite corned beef and rice with onions and crushed pepper sauce my second night. I never get tired of that meal. I got a bit weary and homesick on the second day. I was too scared to leave my hole, and began to miss New Mexico. Next, I was questioning why I would leave the comforts of Falmouth only to arrive in Troy with sketchy water, electricity, and no internet. Went to the new and amazing Troy High School on Friday and introduced myself to the whole student body and staff. I had a nice 5 minute speech prepared, but was only given about 30 seconds to speak. I was disappointed and relieved at the same time;)I have a crush on one of the teachers at the school. Jamaican women are beautiful!The little sugar ants infested my cereal today, but instead of throwing it all in the rubbish I just poured milk in, drowned the little bastards, and proceeded to eat my breakfast. I think I read somewhere that ants are an aphrodisiac anyways, so I'm not too worried about it.I have a sweet garden on the side of the house that I was told I can take over. I initiated the laborious weeding task yesterday. It's gonna be my new pet project to grow some of my own food. I've got farmers-a-plenty for assistance in learning Jamaican gardening. I finally just took the plunge and hit the square and most of the tiny shops that are scattered along the main road. I introduced myself to many, and couldn't have been more pleased. The community has really welcomed me in warmly, and treated me so nicely. I seriously feel at home already in 5 days there. My host mother and grandmother are the best, and make sure my belly is full. I also do some of my own cooking. The principal of the high school bought me a stove and mini refrigerator,  and I got my gas hooked up yesterday. I'm officially ready to rock and roll! Monday is water sampling day in the hills and into Troy, so I came back to Falmouth this weekend to catch up on blogs and emails. Monday I can help out the Health Department and get a free ride back to Troy! I have the best of both worlds now.......live in the bush, but come to Falmouth once/month to enjoy town life. My gracious host family in Falmouth allows me to stay here when I come up. Thanks Anne and Karl! You rock!Sooooooo, I feel really good about my move to the bush. I think this is going to work out just fine. I'm so exited, and have been having a blast already there getting to know everyone in the community. 

The Trelawny Yam Festival is coming up in 2 weeks, and I am super stoked about it. I requested to help out with whatever I can, and look forward to eating everything yam can be made into! 

Every day I try to remind myself that I have a roof over my head, food in my belly, a small stipend for spending money, and most importantly my health. Everything thereafter is a privilege and a bonus. Life is good:)

here's a bird's eye view of Troy for your enjoyment:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=troy&sll=18.33481,-77.510262&sspn=0.084081,0.154495&ie=UTF8&ll=18.246898,-77.610383&spn=0.010515,0.019312&t=h&z=16

Courtesy of some former Peace Corps Volunteers here in Jamaica, I was able to link up with the Jamaican Caving Organization for 5 days of adventure and uncertainty. Coming in I had no idea what to expect, and what I didn’t realize until heading into the first cave was that this group of guys take this “sport” extremely seriously.

I rose before the sun on a Wednesday morning, and “smalled” up myself for the typical public transportation ride from from Falmouth to Ocho Rios, and then on to Ewarton, which is smack dab in the middle of Jamaica. The taxis won’t leave until we are packed in like salty and oily sardines, so as to make as much money as possible en route. Safety is no concern of theirs, or anyone for that matter here in Jamaica. Eventually you get accustomed to the drivers constantly attempting hazardous passes into oncoming traffic.

Upon reaching my destination, I engross myself in a conversation about Jamaican women and parties with a local Rasta man at a morning cook shop. Although I’m ALWAYS hungry I decide not to purchase any of the aromatic food, which consists of fresh cooked yam, dumpling, ackee, and vegetables. I will soon regret this decision.

I look south down the road from the corner and see what must be the cavers I’m supposed to meet here. The sweetest Land Rover I’ve ever seen comes muscling up to the corner and stops. A few gents exit the vehicle and approach me with a warm and friendly hello. Stefan, the super-funny-entertainer-when-drunk-but-dead-serious-when-caving Canadian helps me load my bag into the Rover. Jan, the half Dutch, half Jamaican hops up into the driver’s seat and hits the gas. We’re off like a dirty shirt!

We stop, unload, and gear-up in a community called Pollyground just a few kilometers west of Ewarton. Here I meet the remainder of the crew. Douglas, a Jamaican from Kingston, and two extreme cavers from Belgium named Kurt and Guy. No time is wasted as we gear up and head out for St. Clair Cave. I’ve been warned this is the worst, toughest, and nastiest cave on their month-long agenda. They assure me that if I can get through two days in St. Clair that I’ve earned a JCO t-shirt. Sweet.

A 35 minute hike through the bush brings us to the mouth of the cave. I look down, and for the first and honestly the only time I get a brush of anxiety. My heart starts to pound, but I hide my fears from the crew and just act thrilled. After lowering our bags, we climb down the 15 feet of tree roots to where the sunlight begins to fade, and the darkness begins. Headlamp on, rebreather on my back (37 pounds), and my backpack on top of that, I make way down into the abyss. The first section is rocky and downward. After a short section requiring a rope ladder, it flattens out and gets muddy and slick. A short distance brings us to a junction. One way leads to another entrance, but we hang a ralph and proceed deeper. This is where the “fun” begins.

Soon we are wading through water waste deep, and it’s quite chilly when it hits your nuts! The ground is rocky and jagged, so using hands on the sides of the cave is a must, especially with 45 pounds on my back. These rebreathers cost more than $10,000 USD, so I can’t afford to “mash up” this thing. Further and further we go, and the cockroaches are getting noticeably more plentiful. I stick my hands in them unintentionally for balance. I despise roaches, but I just don’t think about it. I gotta show these guys how tough I can be!

The aroma at this point is of extreme urine, the humidity is at nearly 100%, cockroaches are everywhere, bat soup water, mud, guano, and bat shit is flying into our faces! This is the largest sanctuary of bats on the whole island of Jamaica. There are hundreds of thousands of bats above our heads, and they are aware of our presence. I’m told to try to avoid shining my headlamp up into the bats, but I couldn’t help myself. A moving sea of bats 30 feet above my head. It was unbelievable, and one of the most rare and spectacular sights I’ve ever had the privilege to witness. The place is so noisy from the hundreds of thousands of “squeaks”. I won’t even exaggerate......at this point all these conditions coalesced into the most extreme and unfriendly atmosphere I’ve ever been in. It was difficult to concentrate and keep composure.

It was blatantly obvious at this point that humans were never meant to be in this environment. I was still having the time of my life though!

Thankfully, the intensity of that section passed as we moved deeper into the earth. The next challenge was body-tight crawl spaces, not for the claustrophobic or faint of heart. We formed a chain to pass bags and gear, and managed to negotiate through about 15 meters of crawl spaces. The O2 sensors were showing clear signs of depleted air. We were filthy at this point and panting heavily. A quick break, and we were on our way again. More and more up and down, crawling, wading and scrambling brings us to a bottle-neck of toppled boulders. This is where unload the rebreathers and all heavy gear for our record decent the following day. I was elated when I realized this was it for today as I had skipped lunch. I had only eaten a fried egg and two pieces of toast all day, and was shaking on fumes. We reverse our path, and worked our way back through the shit storm. With heavy loads off, we make good time getting ourselves out.

With gear cached, the next day we do the same thing all over again. Round two we get a killer breakfast of boiled eggs, bread, and fried dumplin’. We get back to the bottle-neck in 2 hours 5 minutes. The O2 levels are worse this day unfortunately. Oxygen at he bottle-neck reads 14.4 compared to 20.9 at the entrance to the cave. Breathing is difficult. Stefan is worn out, and decides to stay at the bottle-neck. Jan isn’t quite sure what he’s gonna do yet. I help out the good ol’ boys from Belgium in loading on their custom made rebreather apparatus, and follow them to the terminus of my expedition. I assist them in getting all their cables and lights in order, and assuring their O2 sensors are in place and working. Only one other person has ever been this far into St. Clair Cave! I feel strong, and my breathing is well under control. I don’t ask outright, but instead hint that I’d like to go further. The answer is a no-go. I get a glimpse of what it might feel like for some mountaineers to be within in a few hundred meters of the summit of Mt. Everest and having to turn around. I was really disappointed, but this wasn’t MY expedition. I understood. Myself, Stefan, and Jan wait patiently for over an hour in a cockroach infested area at the bottle-neck for word from the Belgium boys. Finally we hear two blows on the air horns, the sign that they found the underground river and are on their way back. A short rest and we are on our way back out of St. Clair Cave. I man up and volunteer to take the heavy rebreather again on the way out. I’m sooo ready to get the hell out of this cave by now. I nearly lost my composure in the bat section on the way out. I can’t tell you how delighted I was to see the light of day beaming into the cave mouth as we neared the exit.

That night we walked up the road to a local shop and began to consume many, many Red Stripes, and chat heavily about the past two days. This is where I realize how dangerous and precarious our situation was. Oxygen levels at the underground river were less than 7. That’s one third of the amount of oxygen at sea level, and about the same as on the top of Mt. Everest at 29,028 feet above sea level. CO2 levels are extremely high as a result of a sugar cane processing factory above the underground river. Apparently they dump all their waste water and it seeps into the caves below. As a result, a bacteria that feeds on the sugar is in abundance. This bacteria suck up the oxygen, and discharge CO2 to mix up a deadly concoction of atmosphere. They said I would have died if I had been allowed to follow them to the terminus of the cave where the underground river flows in two directions. If anything had gone wrong down there, there’s nobody trained on the whole island of Jamaica to come in after us. This is real extreme caving! I felt like a badass, and earned my JCO t-shirt on this trip!

The next morning we proceeded to Kingston to Jan’s parents house to regroup, clean gear, and shower. I had no idea what we were in for. His mother had cooked us an unexpected and amazing meal including roast beef with sauteed mushrooms and onions, curry chicken, salad, mixed vegetables, baguette, irish potatoes, Red Stripes, and chocolate for dessert! That night I slept in a king size bed. In the morning I had a blazing hot shower, only my 5th hot shower since arriving in Jamaica last July. (yes, i count my hot showers). And just when I thought I’d seen enough cockroaches, one jumps out of my towel after my shower! YUCK! From Hades to a Heavenly meal, shower, and a good night’s rest in less than 24 hours! Along with piloting a Cessna and scaling Mt. Rainier, assisting a record descent into St. Clair Cave in Jamaica was one of the most rad things I have ever done!

For more info check out HYPERLINK "http://www.jamaicancaves.org" www.jamaicancaves.org

I usually post a blog with a specific story in mind, or at the very least something funny. This time I intend to just bore you with some of the latest news on my end here in Falmouth, Jamaica. My last post was just after the holidays, and I was riding a high I knew wouldn't hold up much longer. 

I became frustrated with working 4 days a week at the Falmouth All-Age school. I wasn't doing much there but observing, and surely not promoting any health topics like the Peace Corps wants me to do. I thought one-on-one tutoring was the answer, but after a week of that I was forced to throw in the towel in order to maintain my patience in front of my students. My attitude and mood rapidly went into sharp decline, and I found myself spiraling downward into a nasty funk. They say it happens to all Peace Corps volunteers at some point. I began to question my purpose here, wondered if I can actually make any difference, and for the second time in 7 months, pondered the idea of leaving Jamaica. I actually pursued a high paying contract job in the Middle East that could secure me enough funds to pay for graduate school, and as the actual thought of leaving crept into my mind, I became saddened. My gut and my heart were both subtly informing me of my need to remain here, so rather than torture myself with making a pivotal decision, I threw out the idea of leaving. The benefits of toughing it out here far outweigh the temptation of money. 

I came to the realization that in order to maintain a healthy state of mind here in Jamaica as a Peace Corps volunteer, it would be vital that I find work that interests me, AND still satisfies my boss(although she doesn't seem too concerned with what I do). I tweaked my work schedule a bit to include working part-time for Jamaica's version of Habitat for Humanity. It is called Jamaica Abode, or just Jabode. Thanks Miss Delzie! I also had a nice conversation with the head honcho at the Falmouth Heritage Renewal. He agreed to let me come aboard with his non-profit organization to assist in whatever way I can to revitalize Falmouth's rich Georgian Architecture and history. Check out our website at www.falmouthjamaica.org to see what we're about. I have been helping out with the restoration of the custom windows in the historic Anglican church in Falmouth (I apologize for not having a pic......"soon come" as they say here). I was also not exercising and eating as much and as well as I should be, so I am taking steps to remedy that. 

I do have one success story I'd like to share with you, though. While working with Jabode last week, we made a huge difference in some peoples' lives. We got tipped off about a family living in conditions that are just plain sad and unacceptable.  A young man, his girlfriend, and their two children were literally sleeping under a tarp in a swampy, low-lying area near the highway. A mission group from Minneapolis, myself, and a few other random persons came together and constructed a make shift "house" for the family in one day with very little money. After construction and raising the foundation to keep out water, we painted it too. The family was eager to help us, and together we changed the lives of 4 Jamaicans. They were so excited, and that made it all worth it. That's when I had an epiphany, and remembered what's important and why I am here as Peace Corps Volunteer. It felt good. This is the kind of work I'd like to do more of while I am here. I hope to begin construction of a pit latrine in that same community sometime in the near future. 

As much as I love riding bicycles, I often wonder what took me so long to purchase one. I finally shelled out the cash, and with a few minor adjustments and a new flat black stealthy paint job, I have wheels! It looks like a police issue bike now, but I only did this to make it look less conspicuous. Cruising Falmouth on a bicycle is great, and it's a good way to put myself out there and meet new community members. "Yo whassup ladies!" I posted a pic of my new ride, proudly displaying my New Mexico flag in the backdrop. 

My host mother and I have been bouncing around the idea of confronting the dog problem in Falmouth since I moved in. Falmouth is overpopulated with wild, roaming dogs, mostly sick and malnourished. We spoke with the one and only veterinarian in the Parish of Trelawny, and he agreed to try and help if we drafted a proposed plan. On Wednesday I was spurred into action, and drafted up a professional project proposal to give to the Doc. With any luck, he'll give us the green light. Then it gets challenging. We need to write letters to animal institutions here in Jamaica as well as organizations back in the USA in order to get some grant money. Falmouth also has a rat infestation problem, and the dogs spilling garbage cans in search of food only makes the situation worse. We'd like to get enough money to spay/neuter approximately 100 dogs, build a small kennel that can hold up to 5 dogs, and small monies to clean up some and get 'em a few good meals. Unfortunately, if we have our way some of the animals will need to be euthanized as they are sick and suffering. Keep in mind this is only a secondary project(I realize that people here need help too, and I'm not some crazy animal rights activist). I'd like to get involved in anything that falls under community planning and development, so I can gain hands-on grass roots experience that will help me in the future in urban development. 

On the horizon: Volunteering at the Donkey Races in Negril over Valentine's Day weekend (hopefully I can take out one of the donkeys on a date seeing that I'm as single as can be). 

Computer lab construction for 3 days on the south coast in Black River at the end of February. Studying for the GRE. I have a test date in Portland, Oregon on May 8th. I have a week to explore Portland, take the GRE, visit my brother, and visit the Urban Planning masters program at Portland State University. Exciting!My pops is coming to visit in March.I may even try my first Triathlon in April in Treasure Beach!

Thanks to all who encouraged me to stay when I was considering leaving. Just because I live in Jamaica doesn't mean I'm on vacation as many of you may think. I have bad days just like you do. However, I do realize my situation is way cooler than yours;) Peace. 

"Cut down the whole forest of selfish desires, not just one tree only. Cut down the whole forest and you will be on your way to liberation."             ~Buddha

Let's just say I took matters into my own hands, and the rooster is no longer an issue. And no, I didn't kill the crazy beast. Been sleeping like a baby ever since! 

Well folks, I survived my first Christmas and New Year celebration in Jamaica. You don't expect to see much of a Christmas when you are outside of our cozy lil' bubble we call the United States, but in fact Jamaica is a Christian dominated society. The spirit was very much alive here in Falmouth, minus the cold weather and snow of course. There are actually more churches per capita in Jamaica than anywhere in the world. Contradictory to that fact, they also claim the second highest murder rate per capita, followed by South Africa I believe. Nevertheless, my brother and I get through the two holidays with only 2 minor incidents. 

After some sketchy snow delays in the motherland, Donnie arrives at the Montego Bay airport unscathed and in high spirits. We juke the tourist trap outside arrivals, and trek to the nearby highway for local rates back to Falmouth instead of shelling out the $14 USD. I love not being a naive tourist;) Tom, another Peace Corps volunteer in the local area, meets up with us in Falmouth where we proceed to the nonsense and craziness of the Grand Market. Donnie comments on the huge speakers in the street facing each other, which he claims doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense. I explain that this is Jamaica, and things are 'different' here. We stock up on all the necessities and accoutrements for our Christmas dinner, taking time to get a fresh cut orange, a giant Jamaican avocado, and 2 large grapefruit. My host mother has told me on numerous occasions how the cooking gas tends to run out in the middle of Sunday dinner, so I jokingly mention how the gas is going to run out on Christmas day. Unknowingly, we use the last of the gas for popcorn while watching a terrible Jamaican gangster film. I wake up Christmas day to my host mother Anne who is frantically trying to get the stove lit. GAS EMPTY on Christmas day, just as predicted! Perhaps I jinxed us by mentioning it the day prior, but I refute any and all accusations. In my 31 year quest for wisdom and patience, I decide that getting upset is wasted energy. Since my food stocks are on the fritz, aside from the Christmas dinner food, I decide to embrace the idea of peanut butter sandwiches for our fancy dinner. But then, just when all hope seems to be lost, a Festivus miracle!! Anne calls her Jamaican friend to inform her of the canceled dinner, but it turns out that her neighbor is a gas man. Within 30 minutes two frail gentlemen in their 50's come rolling in a fresh cylinder of gas! Christmas dinner is saved! Even Tom's pride and joy, two pumpkin pies, turn out to near perfection. No cool whip though:(

Donnie and I hitch taxi rides on the 26th down to the unspoiled and non-touristy south island area of Treasure Beach. We kill two days body surfing big rollers, drinking Q and Tings, and eating Lobster dinner before heading north and west to Negril. Here is where we encounter our first incident. Catching taxis on Sundays can be tough, but I manage to wrangle one down in Black River who says he can take us up the coast to Sav La Mar for $500 Jamaican dollars. Seems like a good deal to me, especially as I realize how great the distance. So when we arrive and I give him the 500 dollars, he looks at us like we are a bunch of idiots (which we are in his eyes). He claims that we owe him $5000 Jamaican dollars (which is like 60USD). I calmly begin to explain that he did say $500JD, and that nobody in their right mind would pay $60US dollars for that ride. Then to my surprise, Donnie busts in with his lawyer assertiveness and loudly tells the man that he did hear him agree to $500JD, even as I asked him if he was sure it was $500JD for both of us. The argument ensues, and voices raise. I notice a few standers-by aroused by the commotion. I tell the guy we can give him $1000JD, which is enough to fill his tank up, and that he's getting no more. I clip the one grand bill under is window wiper, and tell him I'm leaving. He insists that he's going to get the police involved. Meanwhile Donnie is still lacing into this poor guy. My heart is racing, but I'm holding my ground. I tell him that we both know the Police aren't going to do a thing, so we literally walk away leaving him obviously very pissed off. I never look back because I don't want to know if I about to get a machete to my back! We hop into a Negril taxi, leaving it all behind and nervously smiling about the whole situation. Welcome to Jamaica Donnie. 

A day and a half in beautiful Negril spent snorkeling, cliff jumping, and chillin out with a few other Peace Corps volunteers. More drama is right around the corner! We get packed into a mini bus like sardines, and most are dozing as the sun fades beneath the Caribbean Sea on the western horizon. I jolt awake to the sound of a big thud, followed by a vibration in the floorboards under my feet. Apparently the driver gave some poor canine a sooner-than-expected ticket to doggie heaven. I found it entertaining that the Jamaican teenager next to me turns to me and says, "That dog be dead, man." It gets better. As Donnie and I are walking from the bus park in Montego Bay up the street to the Falmouth taxis, we just happen to walk past a young man hobbling along with the use of crutches. Its dark by now, and for someone new to the area, could be a little spooky. Luckily, I'm familiar with these haunts. So the guy on crutches says something to get our attention. I try not to be rude, and talk to everyone. He says he's a "ghetto kid, and has no money". I normally don't give my money away, seeing that I'm a poor volunteer, but decide that I have a few small coins burning a hole in my pocket. Besides, it's the holidays. Literally just as I'm about to pull out some coins, he pulls out a rusty knife about 5 inches long. He is kinda mumbling and asks me if I know that everyone in Jamaica carries a blade. I insist that I know this fact, not feeling scared or threatened at all. He proceeds to tell us, "We don't want any trouble, do we?" Then he points across the street and says, "That Rasta man across the street has my back if you don't believe me, and we don't want any trouble." Donnie and I look, and its obvious he has no partner in this scheme. He insists that he doesn't want any trouble, and that money will avoid any of the such. I seriously just say, "No, I'm not giving you any money", turn my back to him and walk away, hoping Donnie follows my lead! Again, I don't look back to see if I'm about to be juked, feeling confident that a man on crutches won't prove to be a serious threat. Donnie and I kinda nervously chuckle again wondering if that really happened. You wonder what you're gonna do in a situation like that, and well, we just walked away and laughed. hehe. Gotta love Jamaica! It's actually a little sad because all the guy wanted was some money, and he saw an opportunity. Any other tourist would have more than likely freeked out, and thrown a wad of money at him. 

Back in Falmouth, Donnie and I head to Windsor Caves to meet Dango, our guide. He takes us on a dark, damp, but thrilling tour into the earth and into the bats' world. Then on to Time and Place Beach Bar, where if you've got the time, Tony has the place! New Years Eve party in Falmouth, with a nice variety of Peace Corps volunteers from around the island, kept us entertained for the night. Much better than last year when I fell asleep on the couch in my apartment, and woke up to the fireworks exploding in the Albuquerque sky. It gave some of the volunteers a sneak peek into the wacky world of the Kolb family! Good thing Sam didn't show up too because it gets exponentially worse the more Kolbs together at the same time. I even wore red boxers because I read in a Jamaican newspaper that red boxers on New Years eve will bring new love in 2009. The first day of 2009 also marks 6 months for me in Jamaica. I found myself proud that I've come this far, but still a little apprehensive about the 20 months ahead. I'm happy school comes back to life on Monday, as I have missed the kids of grade 7. 

2008 proved to be an amazing year for me. I achieved some personal enlightenment, graduated from college, conquered my fear of public speaking, served 6 successful months as a Peace Corps Volunteer, acquired some new and amazing friends, and much, much more. Thanks to you all for your support along the way. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for you all. May 2009 bring you happiness and prosperity! Godspeed! 

"Conquest breeds hatred, for the conquered live in sorrow. Let us be neither conquerer or conquered, and live in peace and joy."   ~The Buddha

                       Andrew Kolb

For those who wonder where i may be,

Merely mouse clicks away is where you'll find me.For those curious about a Peace Corps volunteer,Chat me up for some holiday cheer.

I call home a place called Jamaica,Where work is plenty, but each day is a gala.I'm trying my best to keep up with the hype,So chat me up on this thing called Skype.

My Skype user name is:  nmziandrew

Last Thanksgiving I was in Madrid, New Mexico with my brother, his wife, returned Peace Corps volunteers, and the local Madroids doing the drunken shovel rodeo over the campfire(nobody got hurt!) while the snow fell. I never would have guessed a year later I would be in Negril, Jamaica with 20 of the most inspiring, diverse, and amazing people I have encountered in my 30 years on this Earth. 

This particular weekend was initiated by a scary and most unexpected event, which luckily didn't curse the whole weekend. My good buddy Tom and I moseyed on down to the fisherman's wharf to see Reagan for a fresh ackee and saltfish breakfast. As we walked into this danky old shack, we greeted a gentleman quietly sitting on a bench. Upon ordering, we turn around and notice the man going into a serious seizure. He falls to the ground and Tom and I look at each other and ask Reagan if we should call the medics (even though Tom is one himself). Reagan insists that we leave him be as he does this often apparently. He informs us that when he comes to he cusses out anyone who touches him. We are both a little shocked, give each other a bizarre look, and decide to take our breakfast to go. 

2.5 hours later after "smalling up" in two taxis, one bus, and being called derogatory names in Montego Bay, we arrive in beautiful Negril. Ryan is there waiting, so we swiftly change into trunks and get over to the cliffs for some jumping and refreshing cool Caribbean water. I puss out on the backflip a couple times, and eventually we walk back to the Cleary's place. Next we follow some vague directions to where a local man lives who is constructing a new "house" or big room if you will. We volunteered to help him out. I spend the next 2 hours rolling gigantic limestone rocks from the woods to the foundation of the new unfinished shelter. Finally we take a long walk back into town, and on to The Canoe where we meet up with the rest of the bunch. We enjoy great food, 100$ Red Stripes($1.31 USD....I am currently on the wagon), and good conversation as we catch up with volunteers we haven't seen in awhile. 

I camped under the stars without the rainfly, and fell asleep to some relaxing music on my iShuffle. Saturday morning I walked a good mile or more to Burger King of all places. I know what you're thinking, but they serve Jamaica's famous Blue Mountain coffee and I had been craving a cup for some time. I sat there for a few hours reading a great book called Cadillac Desert. The remainder of this lazy day was spent cliff jumping again, and prepping for our gigantic Thanksgiving dinner. The Cleary's tracked down a turkey for about 45 US dollars! The feast was preceded by all 20 of us each taking a turn to share a few of the many things we are thankful for this year, and of course, a champagne toast. The food was amazing, and the moment couldn't have been any more perfect. As you may have predicted, the tryptophan and all the other food put everyone into a turkey-like coma. Before dark, we caught our second wind and walked down the street to famous Rick's Cafe on the cliffs.  Some of us, myself included, took the 40 foot plunge into the water! Awesome! I was feeling so confident afterwards, I braved-up and did a backflip off the 12 footer with a large crowd watching, and was very proud of myself;) One of the more interesting things I discovered about cliff jumping is that when I hit the water a nice shot of seawater blasts its way into my nose and further on into my sinuses. Even hours later I can lean over perhaps to pick something up, and drip drip, the seawater, by the wonderful force we call gravity, emerges once again. It's kind of a cool sensation...haha. The evening ended at a local bar where Ryan, who proudly played his Guns 'n' Roses cd, which I personally found a little annoying. Apologies to Axel Rose.

After a restless second night under the stars, I arose early enough to make it to the "BK Lounge" for another cup of coffee and an egg 'n' cheese croissant. Gotta have some food in my belly before a scuba dive! The waves were a bit choppy today, which made getting in and out a little tricky. Saw many bright sponges and a plethora of smaller fishes, but again no dolphins, sharks, or barracudas. I controlled my breathing much better on this dive, and after our short 32 minute dive I still had 1200 psi in my tank. We had to cut the dive a little short because my buddy Jason sucked up all his 2600 psi in 32 minutes! It's all good buddy. I was glad to come out with ya on your refresher dive. 

After lunch it was time to say goodbye to the bunch as we all headed off in different directions, and dispersed across the island back to our respective sites. It's always a little depressing getting into a taxi all alone and trekking back home after such a fabulous weekend. That feeling all goes away when I step back into my humble little place, and fall on my bed with an exhausted, but big smile on my face. I love this place. I still hate mosquitoes though.....just for the record. 

thanks to:Tami for the mashed potatoesGrace for the cobblerCecilia for the green bean casserole Jason Candido for the champagneJason Cunningham for the roasted yamsShanna for the stuffing and pumpkin pieBrian and Yvonne for the turkey and hosting usRyan for the Oreo cakesters...hahaJess for the yummy veggie gravyJessica for the real mac and cheeseand to everyone else who cooked food i ate that i have forgotten! 

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die, so let us all be thankful."                           ~Buddha

Look into the eye of this filthy fucking creature, and tell me it's not evil. At 4:04 a.m. I am once again woken up to the sound of his "cocka doodle god damned doo." (Sorry, I stole that from the film Young Guns). At 4:46 a.m. I exit my room into the darkness and find a long stick leaning up against the side of the house. I tiptoe out and begin violently jabbing it into the shrub where he usually hides out, but to no avail. He's moved into the tree right outside my window. I'm barefoot and step into a deep puddle of mud and cuss. I give up, go back to bed, this time with ear plugs. No good. My earplugs are no match for his call. 5:07 a.m. I figure I will go running since I am up, but after peeking down the street it looks dark, scary, and ominous. I imagine getting robbed down by the fisherman village which I was warned to stay away from when I arrived in Falmouth. Back to bed. More "cocka doodle god damned doo". 5:31 a.m. I am back outside with my stick blindly poking into this tree behind my window. I nearly slip backwards, but I'm determined to murder this bird. He must sense my presence because all is quiet, even when the rooster down the street calls to him. My only chances are to finesse my way through the barbed wire above the wall and climb the tree, but I can just see a neighbor's reaction seeing some crazy white boy in a tree in the wee hours of the morning. The sun's first rays will be here soon, and I decide to articulate my plan of attack for another day. 5:49 a.m. I am back in my room and have given up.......for now. His days are numbered, I assure you that. I will dispose of this beast. Mark my words. 

Friends, rodents, quadrupeds.........lend me your ears!

Today is my 4 month mark since arriving in Jamaica on July 1, 2008! And 22 months remaining in my service, should I be lucky enough to make it that far. One day at a time.

Happy belated Halloween to you all. I was a little disappointed that I was unable to carve a pumpkin this year. Every year I carve a pumpkin I am reminded how important it is to not necessarily be young, but to feel young. Carving pumpkins always makes me feel like a kid again. This year I made dinner plans with Kelly, another Volunteer who works out of Lucea, Jamaica. All week it had been threatening to rain, but nothing significant dropped. That all changed the instant I decided to go to Montego Bay to meet up. My dad calls it the "Kolb curse". All hell broke loose, and it began to rain cats and dogs, as they say. We got COMPLETELY drenched, and were forced to change plans. We made it to a nearby Pizza Hut of all places, and made our way to the dining area looking like something the cat brought in. Needless to say, we got some strange looks from the local Jamaicans. Luckily I am used to making an ass out of myself in public, so no harm done. The next challenge was trying to sit through dinner soaking wet with the A/C blasting. I was shivering, and some of my fingers were getting numb. In spite of the situation, we headed back to the bus park early and departed our separate ways for the evening. By the way, the pizza was absolute bliss, and another lasting Halloween memory made!

News on the homefront in Falmouth:

In the early hours one morning last week a dog managed to finagle his way into the yard and apparently ate both our baby chicks, and the momma hen, Henrietta. The papa rooster, Chanticleer, said "screw this shit, I'm outta here" and jumped ship. Smart fella. So the past few days I could hear his call, as it sounds a bit different than the others nearby. I should know, he wakes me up EVERY morning. Today my host mother managed to track him down nearby in an abandoned lot and coax him back with some feed corn. As annoying as he can be, it's good to have my alarm clock back. Welcome home buddy! Now let's find you another pretty lady friend.

Snorkeling Saturday was no good today. The high winds all week along with the rain made visibility a mere 2 feet or so. Instead I worked on my tan, and chatted with an old local fisherman named Wilson who casually smoked his spliff while explaining the different fish he catches in winter compared to summer. Then we just sat quietly together watching the great expanse of sea before us.

My scuba dive trip to Curacao is canceled, unfortunately. I didn't get leave authorized, and the security manager is doing a site visit to my place that week. Bummer, but life goes on. Looking forward to Ivy and Donnie coming down for Christmas and New Years.

My days at the local school are good and bad, depending on the behavior of the kids. It takes a lot of patience and energy, and I am beginning to think my time may be better served here in the form of one-on-one tutoring. The classroom feels more like babysitting than teaching. I met a woman who is getting her tutoring program up and running again in January, and I have dibs to assist her. So things here are constantly in a state of flux. Sorry, I just really wanted to use that word because it sounds cool. But anyways, it's nice to have the freedom to try new things and do other activities as things change. Life is still sweet on the Jamrock. Well, it's Saturday 8:40 pm, and there's a beer at the Hub up the road with my name on it. So here we part until next time...

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky."

-Buddha

p.s. there's nothing perfect about mosquitoes. I still despise them.

Do you have the fever? Election fever? Or are you just running a fever from McCain's desperate responses in the debate and poor choice in a running mate? Well, I have good news for you! I proudly sent in my absentee ballot with a big fat blob next to OBAMA! I am taking next Wednesday off work, so another Volunteer and I can have an Election 2008 party.

I considered deleting my blog, but I will try and keep it going for your pleasure. I am reluctant to make the switch to Mac, but might go for it. I am seriously considering purchasing a laptop and having my brother bring it down in December. In that case, I hope to get more pics and blog posts up. This computer at the house is a real hunk o' junk. But it works.

Thank Jah it's Friday! I'm sittin' here at the computer munching on some fresh pineapple from a street vendor down the road.

First of all, I have to give a shout out to Jen and Rhi for sending the kick ass care packages full of goodies that I so desire! You two rock! I ate Fun Dip for the first time in like 15 years, and it took me back to the good ol' days on Valerie Road in Roscoe, Illinois! And the Trader Joe's ginger chews........holy crap they are addictive! Last night I was indulging myself in these ginger chews, and began wondering the life of each chew. Where is the ginger grown? Who picks it? Where is the factory where its all made, and then shipped to the Trader Joe's warehouse in California? From there is comes to Trader Joe's Albuquerque where Rhi purchases it. Next she boxes it up again for yet another journey to the relaxed atmosphere of the Caribbean. Then it sits bored in Kingston for a few weeks at the Peace Corps office before being driven to Savanna La Mar where I picked it up from a Health Conference. Next it taxis to Falmouth and into my little dank room in the back of the house. Finally on a quiet Thursday evening, bugs chirping, the bag and wrappers open up to culminate into an orgy of taste in my mouth!

So you are probably curious as to what's been going on here lately. Well, last night the house rooster started "cocka doodle doing" at a record 11:56pm. There have been many mornings I have wanted to cut it's head off, and spent one morning brainstorming where to find some poison to put in its water. He cocka doodle doos about 5 meters from my head EVERY morning. I figured my only choice is to become allies with it, so I thank him on running days when I need to be up early to exercise. I can't kill him, as he is now the proud father of two baby chicks.

The country of Jamaica proudly hosted the return of the gold medal athletes from Beijing, China, and they paraded their way from Montego Bay to my little home town of Falmouth. It was cool to see Usain Bolt and the rest of the gang. The town went nuts and hundreds of Jamaicans elbowed their way for a good view. My buddy Tom nudged his way up to get an autograph and all he had was a 1000 Jamaican dollar bill, so Bolt signed it! I told him to auction it on eBay, but he wants to keep it. I'm not a fan of crowds, so I slipped out and went home for dinner.

The majority of my time has now been at the Falmouth All-Age school two blocks from my house. I work there 3 to 4 days per week, and its going well. I am assisting in teaching grade 7, and absolutely LOVE it! I feel like I may have found my calling as a teacher. I'm already getting attached to our class of 46 students. There are a few bad apples in the bunch, but for the most part the kids mean well and its a rewarding feeling to help them where I can. Today for the first time I got to sit in the hot seat. I had to teach class today all on my own! I was ready for the challenge, and stepped up. It went better than I expected, as some of the kids take advantage of the fact that I'm not a hard-nose authoritarian like most of the other teachers. So, I'm nearly convinced that I will pursue my teacher certification when I return to New Mexico.

Working at the school has also brought about some new possibilities for little side projects. I have been brainstorming the idea of creating a boys' club, campus cleanup, tutoring program, HIV/AIDS awareness training, and some other things. The possibilities are literally endless. The beauty of being a Peace Corps Volunteer is that we can do whatever we want to. I have no boss micro-managing me or telling me what to do. This opportunity is absolutely amazing, and I am so happy to be here with these kids.

Last weekend I needed to get out of town, so I took public trans to Negril on the west coast to take in some sunsets, Red Stripes, scuba diving, and cliff jumping. Stupid me jumps off this 25 foot cliff (doesn't seem scary until you look down) and realize halfway to the water that my cell phone is in my pocket! No reason to get mad, so I shrugged it off and picked up another cheap phone for $2,700 JD(35 USD). The rest of the Volunteers went to Kingston this weekend for quarterly meetings, but it was optional so I chose to relax. Besides, tomorrow is Snorkeling Saturday!

Can't get pics up until I get a laptop:( Until next time......"Be true to your work, your word, and your friend." -Thoreau

Now that I am done with school(for now), I can finally read books that "I" want to read.

This post will be a running tally of the books I read while I am here. I've posted my rating

of the book on a 5 star scale. Please note that these stars are "my" opinion!

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey *****

Abbey gives a comical, cynical, philosophical, and straightforward account of our National Park system based on his personal experience as a seasonal park ranger in Arches National Park, Utah. Anyone who loves the outdoors and especially the southwest would enjoy this book. I look forward to reading more of his works.

The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle ***

This book was a graduation gift(Thanks Ivy!). This book definitely has some good stuff about how to deal with staying in the moment, rather than reverting back to the past or the future(which really doesn't exist). Cool book, and I rather enjoyed it as it was given to me in a transitional period of my life. On the downside, I thought it was a little bit long-winded.

To The Last Drop by Andrew Wice ****

I purchased this book from a good friend of mine(I even got his autograph). The soon to be famous Andrew Wice of Madrid, New Mexico, has written 7 novels. His first novel published To The Last Drop is about a water war between Texas and New Mexico, and the story unfolds from different perspectives of the two warring sides. Entertaining read, and maybe not too far fetched!

Longitude by Dava Sobel ****

Only a Geography student could really appreciate this book. Quick read about the history of sailors' dilemma of calculating the Longitude (Latitude was easy using the North Star) while on the open ocean. The race to develop the first precise time-keeping device on-board ships with a prize that today would be equivalent to millions of dollars! Interesting historical read.

Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv ****

Every parent in America should read this book. Studies from around the world are beginning to show that kids' lack of outdoor play is affecting them in various ways, including attention deficit disorder among many others. Most of our kids prefer to stay inside near the outlets and play video games, which I think is a sad part of our society. Great read overall, but the middle section tented to babble just a bit with too many statistics.

Urban and Regional Planning in Jamaica by Pauline McHardy **

My interest in Urban Planning spurred me to purchase this book since I live in Jamaica. The book's strong points are the historical hierarchy of government in Jamaica, but was so detailed in some aspects of Planning that it was hard to follow.

Home From Nowhere by James Howard Kunstler *****

This book rocks! Kunstler's follow up to Geography of Nowhere, which was a mandatory read for Professor Seidler's Land-Use class at UNM. This is where my interest in Urban Planning all started! Thanks Professor Seidler! This book explores some of the practical solutions to dealing with urban sprawl as the oil boom in America inevitably will come to an end in the next few decades.....and yes, it will happen!

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert ***

Recommended by my friend Noelle. Pretty interesting book, and I admire this woman's courage and adventurous spirit to seek happiness in her life. I can see how a woman might relate to it better than I, however I really enjoyed it. I thought the ending was a bit fairy tale(even though it was real), but she does find happiness after her personal turmoil so who am I to judge!?

The Long Emergency by James Howard Kunstler *****

Another great book by one of my favorite authors. He refers to the "long emergency" as we pass peak global oil production, and the challenges that will present themselves in the next few decades, along with global warming and other critical issues. Awesome book that should be mandatory reading for all high-school students. Kunstler has done his research in this book, and it shows. I suppose I am fascinated by these books because of how uninformed the American people are on some of these issues. These are things our own government will not come out in the public forum and talk about. No politician in his right mind would want to stir up any panic because he has a career to worry about! Not to mention this would affect the economy, and we're already heading toward a global recession. It's best if we just ignore the issue and hope everything keeps on working, right? (that was sarcasm if you hadn't noticed)

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse ****

I should have updated my thoughts on this book right after I read it. It was a super quick read, and I thoroughly enjoyed the last ten pages when Siddhartha explains all that he has learned to his dear friend. Fits very closely with my religious beliefs and philosophy of life. Good read.

Walden by Henry David Thoreau *****

The critics weren't exaggerating. This book is a masterpiece! I tried reading this book about five years ago, and couldn't seem to get through it. I loved it this time around. If I could write even half as eloquently as Thoreau I'd feel like an awesome writer. But I can't. I did a lot of highlighting in this book, as there are numerous quotes that I found worth marking along with the already famous ones found within. For some reason as I was reading this book I kept thinking of Edward Abbey and his Desert Solitaire. I suppose there are a few similarities between the ideals of each man. Highly recommended book. Enjoy.

Among Grizzlies by Timothy Treadwell ***

This is the book that inspired the documentary Grizzly Man. My sister actually recommended that I watch the documentary, but never got around to it before leaving for Jamaica. I actually "borrowed" this book from the Powell Plaza in Kingston the weekend I swore in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer. Made me think of you Katie, so thanks! Timothy Treadwell was an amazing man who dedicated his final years to the grizzlies, and met his demise by the animals he loved and protected. Even so, I don't think he was a madman. The best way to go is doing what you love, and he did that. I respect that.

Dragon Sea by Frank Pope ****

This was another "borrowed" book from Powell Plaza. I actually grabbed this one off the shelf only because it was nonfiction. I didn't think it would be that great, but was taken by surprise when after reading the introduction I couldn't put it back down. I read this one in less than a week. This book is an exciting account of sunken treasures deep in the south China Sea from hundreds of years ago. The discovery and recovery of the Hoi An wreck full of rare Vietnamese porcelain proved to be a challenge at every moment for the author and the crew. Motivated me to get my butt out to Negril for a scuba dive! Great book if you like real stories about the ocean and history.

Titanic: Psychic Forewarnings of a Tragedy by George Behe**

Got this book from my host mother's large collection of books here in the house. I have always been fascinated by the ironic story of the unsinkable ship on her maiden voyage. I'm not a hugely superstitious person, and although it was very objective, I just couldn't really buy into a lot of the stories involved. However, there were a few interesting and bizarre "coincidences" involving gut feelings of some of the passengers and crewmembers. I was glad to finish this book, and wouldn't recommend it unless you are a hard core Titanic reader.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles***

Thanks for the book Jen! This book is a novel, which I normally wouldn't read because I'm normally hell bent on non-fiction. I rather enjoyed it, though. Knowles has a way with descriptions that leaves nothing out. You can picture everything exactly in your mind as you read this book. I kept waiting for the boys to enlist and go off to war, but then I could tell it wasn't going to happen because the book was nearly finished. It almost seemed as though the whole book could be the prelude to even larger story.

The Rise and Fall of Falmouth, Jamaica by Carey Robinson***The title of book gives you an idea what mysteries are contained in this book. It's a fairly simply written book about the history of Falmouth, Jamaica. From the heydays of the bustling town and harbor to the unfortunate decrepit Georgian style architecture leftover in modern day Falmouth, Carey Robinson gives a brief history of Falmouth. Some of the interesting facts that didn't quite fit into any chapter are just casually thrown into the print, which I found a tad bit odd. Interesting nonetheless, seeing that I live in Falmouth, Jamaica now. Definitely gave me some insight to the struggles of the slaves, the maroon wars, political conflict, and everyday life of peoples in Jamaica centuries past. 

The Dhammapada translated by Eknath Easwaran *****

This is a book of translated verses from the Buddha himself and also of his disciples. This version has an outstanding introduction by the translator. This was right up my alley, especially being here in Jamaica serving in the Peace Corps. I have a unique interest in Eastern Religion, especially Buddhism, and these verses explain simply how to find joy and happiness by looking nowhere else but within oneself through meditation and reduction of selfish, earthly desires. This is definitely something to keep on the shelf for quick reference and encouragement. Highly recommended to anyone interested in becoming a better person. Five stars!

Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner *****What an amazing amount of information on the making of the west due to the huge water projects created by the Bureau of Reclamation and Corps of Engineers, pre and post World War II. If I remember correctly, it took the author 5 years of research to gather the information needed to write this book. I had no idea where the western half of the country got its water, and anyone who lives west of the 100th meridian needs to read this book. Economics, politics, greed, environmental devastation, urban sprawl, battles between right and wrong and opposing agencies, and the huge and much unknown world of American agriculture are covered in this lengthy non-fiction book. This book is nearly 20 years old now, and now I need to find today's equivalent to to keep up-to-date. I have to admit that I am one of the many of millions of Americans who desires to call home a place in the arid west. For me it's Albuquerque, New Mexico. Surely, as cities and populations grow, as aquifers and groundwater get depleted at enormous rates, as environmentalism gains strength, as old dams begin to silt up, as farmers continue to douse the dry west with subsidized tax-payer funded cheap water, the whole system is bound for a future with great stress and possible calamity. All of these important issues are covered in this book. A masterpiece not to be taken lightly. Our next wars will be fought over water. 

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder***This book came pretty highly recommended by a few other Peace Corps volunteers, among good ratings on Amazon. I didn't think it was that great, however, it was fairly inspiring being here in Jamaica and looking for a meaningful secondary project. I actually came up with my big idea while reading this book, so perhaps this book served its purpose for me. Paul Farmer, a doctor from Harvard Medical School, dedicates his life to selfless service in Haiti, Peru, Russia, and the United States. His aim is simple: To rid the world of Tuberculosis, and prove that it can be cost effective to treat infectious diseases in the poorest of nations in the world. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book. I guess medical stuff really doesn't interest me all that much, and I kept waiting for something exciting to happen.....that never really came. I only gave it 3 stars. 

Neither Here Nor There-Travels in Europe by Bill Bryson***Bill Bryson's A Walk In The Woods is the book, that ten years ago, got me interested in reading. It took me 20 years to realize there are actually books out there that are captivating. Honestly, I only read this book because it was given to me. It didn't look that great, and it lived up to those expectations. The humorous writing, quite notable of Bryson's works, kept me reading til the end. It wasn't boring, but his descriptions of his travels through Europe began to sound the same toward the end. A Walk In The Woods is by far his best piece.  

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer*****Because I am out of new books, and I love this book, I decided to read it again. Still just as good as the first time around! I don't care what anyone says about Chris McCandless. He is a hero of mine for having the gall and audacity to live his dream. Renouncing expectations of parents and society, he says fuck it all, and heads off on a nomadic and spiritual journey throughout the western United States, Mexico, and then "north" to Alaska. Krakauer tells the story of "Alexander Supertramp" amazingly well, and adds more than the box office movie hit can. This book is right up my alley, and sits comfortably in my top five favorite books. Most people have a difficult time understanding the mindset of someone like Chris McCandless, but many of my thoughts, beliefs, and morals parallel Chris' in an eery sort of way. It's the sort of book that makes me want to hop on my touring bicycle, hit the open road, and get away from people. The bike is ready and waiting as soon as this Peace Corps adventure finds its conclusion. I can't wait! Read this book if you want to understand how awesome people like Chris McCandless and myself are;)

The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger ****The first time I read this book a number of years ago, I would have rated it five stars. Not quite as exciting the second time around, but still good nonetheless. This book a non-fiction action-packed and suspenseful read. Definitely for anyone who likes to read about the dangers of working on the open and dangerous North Atlantic, or who just likes an adventurous read. Since we don't know for sure what happened to the Andrea Gail and its crew, Junger takes an educated guess about the last hours of the heroic crew who gave their lives so that we can put seafood on our plates. If you enjoyed The Deadliest Catch on whatever channel that was, you'll love this book. 

Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky***Non-fiction. I actually didn't finish this book, even though it was very interesting. I read about 3/4 of it, and got kinda bored with it partly because I was lent a book that I was very excited about.  It's very fascinating though. Kurlansky gives a history of salt from its discovery, and goes into the many uses of it from around the world, and lastly how it has impacted economies around the world throughout its long known existence. It's one of those books that makes you go "hmm".....interesting. 

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin****Non-fiction. This book is just shy of a five star rating in my opinion, but I would still highly recommend this book to anyone who reads. It's the perfect book to read as a Peace Corps Volunteer who needs a little inspiration or validation about the work we do around the world. One person CAN make a difference. Greg Mortenson, an ordinary person such as you and I, failed an attempt to climb the world's most technical peak, called K2. Emaciated on his return from his summit attempt, he is brought to the safety of a nearby village by a local man where he was given a place to rest and eat. After talking with the locals, he learns the great need of a school, so as a repayment he vows to return to build a school. One year later he fulfills his promise, and with a little luck and determination, he manages to start an institute to build schools and educate the youth of Pakistan. A true hero of mine, he is a real fighter of the war on terrorism by the only real means that works. Books not bombs. Thank you Greg. 

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown*****Nothing short of amazing. Tragic. Sad. Heart-breaking. A must read for everyone who lives in America. The true Native American history of the West you won't get in a classroom. This book will truly open your eyes to the forgotten native peoples of our great country, and leave you feeling kinda crappy.....as it should. Brown covers a 30 year span from 1860 to 1890, and tells of the horrific truth behind 'Manifest Destiny' and the utterly helpless victims in a changing world of white intrusion from Europe. Just another reason I could never call myself a "Christian", even if I believed Jesus was the song of God (which I don't). If you never read this book, I seriously think you're a douche bag. 

Just for the record, I still hate the humidity and the mosquitoes.

Wow, a lot has happened since my last post. I had tried posting 3 other times, but due to technical difficulties I lost them all.

So, I finished what the Peace Corps calls "training", which is a nice euphemism for a total waste of time. I learned more tips in one hour at the bar with another volunteer who has been in country for a couple years. Regardless, I am an official Peace Corps Volunteer now! We swore in as official volunteers as Hurricane Gustav rushed the island, and we got to stay in Kingston for an extra two days(which wasn't so bad because the hotel bar was still open).

As some of you may or may not know, I can be the king of irrational and impulsive decisions. One night after a horrible day, I decided that I need to leave because this place isn't for me. It was supposed to unfold like something out of a movie where I go to the airport with one small bag, walk up to the ticket counter, and say "I'll take a ticket on the next plane going anywhere". Must have been divine intervention because that very same night I got bit by something(some say it was the giant centipede aka 40 Legs), and my elbow swelled up like a baseball. I got so paranoid that I couldn't sleep, having fantasies of the rest of my life without my right arm. Needless to say, I couldn't go get a ticket to anywhere with my arm all swelled up. So, I'm still keeping the dream alive here in Falmouth, Jamaica. Thanks for the encouraging words Mom and Pops....and the rest of you!

Actually, things took a turn for the better. I got out of the tiny, cramped house up in the hills and into a new house in Falmouth. I have a little cozy place detached from the main house with my own shower, sink, and toilet. It's very Peace Corps, and could use some work, but it's perfect. The candles and mosquito net are actually very romantic, and would be appreciated by the right lady! Plus, I can walk to work and anywhere in town within 10 minutes, and saves me over $4,000 Jamaican dollars($60 USD)/month in taxis. The house is owned by a retired American woman who is married to a Jamaican man, so I get the best of both cultures. I have full access to the kitchen for cooking, although I wouldn't call what I do cooking on my Peace Corps budget.

Work is still very slow at the Health Department, so I am reaching out for more stuff to occupy my time. I found a connection with the 4-H club, and I may be helping install some water pipes for their farming/livestock operation. I also may be doing some work with two of the schools in town, and with the Police Station assisting their new neighborhood policing program. It's definitely strange not having any structure, so it's all self-starting and self-motivation. My host mother and I have an idea for a future project to possibly start an animal shelter. There are some scary-sick dogs roaming the streets of Falmouth that need to be claimed and/or put out of their misery. The problem is there is no leash law here in Jamaica.

Participated in a beach clean-up and Volleyball tournament fundraiser this weekend to raise money to assist poor children buy school books and uniforms. Not sure how much money we raised, but there was a good turnout and lots of fun had. 30 volunteers from across the island showed up to support, and also to celebrate a few birthdays. Drunk dancing and skinny dipping, which included many White Dolphins, capped off the night before we all went and passed out at some big house we rented. It's tough coming off a weekend like that, so I had a case of the Mondays today.

I think the adjustment and break-in period is about over. It's finally starting to sink in my little brain that I live in Jamaica and work for the Peace Corps. It's all very surreal still, but frustrating and awesome all mixed together too. I started recording my mood/attitude at the end of each day in my journal on a ten scale. 1 being the worst day possible, and 10 being the best. After 30 days, I plotted it on a graph and found that the only "pattern" was that it peaked very highs to very lows over very short times. It helped to know that this is considered normal, and that others are going through it as well. My goal is to post every month on my wall, so I can visually see how my attitude changes over time. Maybe the Peace Corps will adopt it, and force the trainees to do more nonsense "training".

Thanks again to you all for your support and encouragement!

I am beginning to grasp the meaning behind the slogan "The toughest job you'll ever love". Take all your creature comforts and every little tiny thing you take for granted back home, and flip it upside down. Good news is I'm alive and well, even after a few rough days. I have heard a few nightmare stories from other volunteers, so I feel lucky with my situation. I returned to Kingston on Saturday for a week of debriefing and more training.

My first two weeks with my new host family were bizarre, uncomfortable, amazing, inspiring, scary, but all in all a lot of fun! I arrived on a Friday evening after a 4 hour drive across the island to find my host mother waiting on the side of the road for me. After a big hug and a brief hello, I was taken to my new home where upon first sight almost had a panic attack. This place is TINY! There's five of us crammed in like sardines, but they are fabulous people. I live about 3 miles from Falmouth up in the hills, and along a dirt road neighborhood. Saturday it rained all day, so I played cards with my younger brother(16) and sister(11). We have two dogs, whom I named Foxy and Puppers, as guardians of the house. They bark at everything that moves after the sun goes down. After a month in country, I can now sleep through the rooster calls and dogs barking all night long. We have piped water most of the time, so bucket baths are fairly common. To my surprise we have a rudimentary mini washing machine that sort of works. The yard is filled with all sorts of fruit trees. We have breadfruit, sweet sop, mango, guinep, passion fruit, naisberry, and coconut. I gotta tell you, the mango here is fit for a king.

To my surprise, I am a regular working guy down here in Jamaica. I work 9 to 5 Monday through Friday at the local Health Department/Hostpital as a water quality and water sanitation advisor. The clinic is packed with people during the day, and I get a lot of strange looks from the Jamaican people. My co-workers are a great group of people, and they let me tag along on all their health inspections to the little shops, and even fancy resorts. I get to travel the entire parish every Monday taking water samples from communities, resort pools, and restaurants. One day my boss told me to go take a pool sample over yonder, so I walk over to the pool only to find out that I'm at a nudist resort. It's not nearly as cool as you might think if you know what I mean! My first project assigned to me is to build a home-made Chlorine drip tank for all 6 satellite parish health centers because they use untreated water at the moment. I'm excited to get to work!

Some of the highlights of my first two weeks at my site include a few beach days. I'm currently working on getting bronzed up! Life is tough here in Jamaica. Also, my co-workers invited me along to Kool Runnings Water Park in Negril last Thursday. There's a sweet closed tube ride that dumps you into a big "toilet bowl" and then you fall into a pool. I must have gotten flushed 30 times that day. Afterwards we went to the world famous Rick's Cafe for sunset and beers, and to watch people dive off the cliffs. Another day I had the unique opportunity to take a tour of a chicken farm. This farm had 13,000 chickens at half capacity. The owner tells me they are producing 900 dozen eggs/day. During the holidays he tells me at full capacity they are producing 2000 dozen eggs/day! So he is interested in getting more Jamaicans to eat eggs. I told him I would be willing to put on an egg demo at some of the local schools, teach the children about the health benefits of eggs, and all the different ways to prepare eggs. This is all very egg-citing stuff! The best night so far though was the night I was invited to to be a judge at the 2008 Miss Salt Marsh Pagent. I had to take this serious, as there were at least a few hundred Jamaicans hooting and hollering behind me! The girl I picked to win didn't win overall, but at least I didn't get mobbed afterwards for the wrong girl winning. I walked home that night in the dark, and got yelled at by Mom. I thought for a minute I was going to get grounded, or at least be forced to wash the dishes all week.

I will try and get some photos up as soon as I can. Miss you all. Peace and love!

I got ripped off on my international calling plan, so no more

calls:( Since you all make WAY more money than me now, feel

free to give me a call(preferably on Saturday or Sunday)

Rumor has it that the cost is a mere 20-40 cents/minute.

just dial 1-876-470-4021 from your touch tone or rotary telephone!

Welkom to Jumieka! Waagwan mi fren! Everitin kris mon.

First of all, we have been sternly advised about postings on blogs because some persons in the past have posted information that has created security threats, racial remarks, inappropriate pictures, or opinions far from what the Peace Corps represents.

I gotta tell ya'll first that everyone in the group believes that I am an in-place, undercover CIA agent. This all started because I had all 51 trainee names memorized within 12 hours of arrival at staging in Miami. A few days later another trainee had some hand-held glowy fan thing(something you might see a doped up raver carrying). As I put it up to my face I mentioned how cool that would be if I was "smokin di ganja", and now they are convinced.

The weather is HOT and HUMID. Coming from New Mexico, it's a rather drastic change and tough to adjust to. After a week of COLD showers, I am beginning to enjoy them. They are quite glorious now, and I very much look forward to them.

Right now, the other 51 trainees and I are in north Kingston at a historic college barracks. They are pretty run down, but have a solid roof and floor. I can't complain, it's Peace Corps. I did, however, wake up with little bugs crawling all over me the other day. As luck would have it, they weren't biters. I've got the mosquito net up now.

The trainees and Jamaican people are amazing, and oh so friendly. The local language(Patois) is elegant and pleasing to the ear. Got a taste of my first Jamaican jerk chicken yesterday...MMMMM gud mon! We got a tour of downtown Kingston market area on Saturday, and let me tell ya.... it's absolute chaos, but soooo cool! Loud music, the smell of food, people EVERYWHERE! In a few weeks we will be required to navigate our way alone using the public transportation out to our sites, and to our host family house. I love a good challenge. The key is to look confident, even if you aren't.

In the meantime, we get up early, attend training, language, and cross cultural classes all day. Makes for a long day, but there's Red Stripe and mini dorm parties to be had in the evenings. One such class on STDs/HIV/AIDS has everyone convinced to stay celebant for two years. Next friday, I will get my job assignment, community living assignment, and then ship out the next day for that site. It's very much a roller coaster ride at this point as there is so much going on, and so much just around the corner. I've had a few bad days already, but they are closely followed by good.

me a go put up fa di niet. mi su kom bak.

The statements, opinions, and words used in this blog are not of or represent those of the United States Peace Corps.

For your convenience, here's a map of Jamaica. I live in Falmouth, which is on the north coast just east of Montego Bay. Click map to enlarge!

As of now, please use this address to send mail and packages.

Hope to hear from you all eventually!

PCV Andrew Kolb

c/o Howard Anderson

U.S. Peace Corps

8 Worthington Avenue

Kingston 5, Jamaica W.I.

Be sure to put a separate label with a list of items within if you send a package,

or Jamaican customs will open it up. Thanks!