I saw this man the other day near HalfWay Tree. I think he was taking a rest and it appears he was carrying callaloo or some other herb or vegetable.

On Saturday night, over 10,000 people clad in spandex and running shoes gathered on Kingston’s beautiful waterfront. This is a rarity, given the area’s reputation as an unsafe destination, however, thanks to Digicel and Running Events Jamaica, a 5K race for charity is now held annually. In addition to raising funds for special needs children, the race promotes the downtown as somewhere to hang out and enjoy the remarkable views. Although much of the area is still underdeveloped and neglected, Digicel recently issued a vote of confidence by building its headquarters right on the water and other cafes and businesses are popping up.

Cuso International’s Jamaican contingent decided to participate, with some of us walking, running and observing. I decided to walk with a colleague as I’m still creaky from ChikV. I had a good walk, but it felt mournful to be walking rather than sprinting all out, my usual practice during many 5K races here. However, thanks to good company and the charm of the warm night, the other participants, spectators and the downtown area itself, I enjoyed it, despite a nagging leg at the end of the race. Congratulations to all participants!

It was a bright Saturday morning at the ManPower office in Crossroads that a group of 11 young men showed up to begin a program that is ultimately intended to secure them employment. Behind this innovative training program for this group of young men (who identify as gay, bisexual, sex workers, transexual or men who have sex with men) are Jermaine Burton and Astley Grey, founders of the Colour Pink Group (CPG). This group is aimed at securing employment for these young men, most of whom have been marginalized by society to the point that they can’t stay in their homes or communities or they have not gained the skills they need to work because they could not finish school or obtain training.

At 9 a.m., there were three young men dressed in the uniform of black shirt and pants and a pink tie. By 11:00 a.m., 11 had showed up, with Jermaine and Astley driving home the point that one of the most important elements of the program is learning to work within the requirements of employment, which includes being on time.

Practically, the young men will receive vocational training (in office administration), an internship and practical skills. They must show up every Saturday at 8:45 a.m. The program receives support from the Ministry of Labour, HeartTrust NTA, UNAIDS, UNFPA and Unicef, and a woman by the name of Mrs. Bevette Alveranga provides the training. In addition, the young men will receive psycho-social support.

As Saturday’s session was the first, it began with a discussion about expectations. The young men revealed that they want to obtain employment, as well as knowledge, skills to network, communicate and write a resume, motivation, commitment, confidence, character-building empowerment and the ability to work in a team. In turn, Jermaine and Astley indicated that participants will be required to be on time, follow the rules of the instructors and graduate with a certificate. As Astley put it, “We want you to go from low self-sufficiency to medium self-sufficiency to high self-sufficiency. We expect you to deliver your homework with no excuses. We see this as your opportunity.”

After this discussion, the young men engaged in a communication exercise of maintaining eye contact, which proved quite challenging for some. The reason? They felt a lack of confidence, had a short attention span or they felt judged. But Astley emphasized that they must practice eye contact because an employer will want to maintain eye contact during a job interview. Miss Alveranga then took over, giving an overview of the next several months, after which the young men will graduate with a certificate from a government agency, which will help them to obtain employment.

By all accounts, the first day was a success, with many saying that they thought it went well. One participant said he was happy to meet new faces. (Please note that while all the young men gave permission for their images to be used during the documentary process, I would rather not reveal their identities for safety and privacy reasons.)

Serious ting! Dominoes competition.

I have not written about Chik V in almost a week so I thought it was time for an update. I am mostly recovered, but still very fatigued. Yesterday was the first morning in two weeks that I attempted to run. I went for half an hour at a slow pace, a reduction from my usual brisk 10 K. This virus is no joke. My joints are creaky and stiff and it feels as though I have an injury on my left side. My usual flexibility has departed me but I am getting it back slowly with some stretching. I am grateful that this virus is not chronic and that I have recovered, but I am shocked at how hard it hit me. I am a fit person who usually runs through the flu and other injuries. It has been very humbling and has reminded me to be grateful for good health.

This post on a Facebook page from a local fitness expert and doctor helped me a lot:

So the topic on everyone’s lips today is ” chicken”. The chick v epidemic has been wreaking havoc in Jamaica and other regions and of course it has affected the training schedule of many of us.

As we recover from the aches and look forward to resuming training, we need to start back GRADUALLY, as the inflammatory changes in the joints make them more susceptible to injury, especially with weakened muscles.

It’s advisable to minimize impact when you resume. If possible do swimming or water aerobics. Your training will be set back by at least two weeks, but it’s better to go gradually. Lastly, DO NOT try to catch up on lost mileage. Just go within your capacity.

I know many people who are still recovering or who have yet to contract it. In fact, most people I know or come in contact with have either had the virus or know someone who does. Thankfully, the government has ceased its obsession with counting cases and is mobilizing “clean-up” and educational efforts. The private sector is also getting in on the action. JPS is visiting local communities and Food For the Poor is distributing pain killers. I don’t think the worst is over, but at least these efforts are underway and there is more of a sense of community now.

Yesterday I was on my way down to August Town for a meeting when my contact called me. I was a few minutes away from my destination when he came on the phone and said “Don’t come down now, someone has just been shot.” I told the taxi to turn around and the driver got on the radio and told the dispatch to be careful as “something a gwan in August Town. A man got shot.” Then several police cars drove past us. It struck me that the driver assumed it was a man who was shot, as did I. I made many assumptions that are probably true as soon as I heard the news: young men, likely involved in crime or drugs or a turf war, staking their territory or seeking revenge. Unfortunate assumptions and stereotypes that are likely true. (I will check in with my contact and see what actually happened.)

The area has been volatile for the past several years and has flared up lately. A police officer was killed in September and there are frequent curfews. It is unfortunate as there are also a lot of amazing things going on in this community. These pictures are from a visit I made awhile ago to the basic school. Let’s hope things improve.

It is June Plum season. Here is a June Plum tree, behind a fence, in front of an abandoned shed. Enjoy your day.

I was at a health clinic in rural Jamaica the other day. I have no doubt that the health care professionals are providing good service, but the conditions they work in are less than favourable. I have heard this from a friend who is a nurse in Rae Town, a tiny, poor fishing village just outside of Kingston, that this is indeed the situation. These health care professionals don’t have all the products and tools they need and have to squeeze too many patients in during the day. They are also packed into tight quarters, patients and professionals alike. Especially these days, as ChikV continues to run rampant.

In any case, at this rural clinic, this worn, faded and dated poster caught my eye. It is informing people about the dangers of gastrointestinal disorders. Seems emblematic of the situation somehow.

This is beautiful White Horses, St. Thomas. Happy Friday!

Banana. Papaya. Ginger. Naseberry.