I am so disoriented. I am sitting in the lobby of an all-inclusive resort in Ocho Rios. Listening to salsa music. And the Baha Men song “Gin and Coconut Water” just played.

All the volunteers, except Erin (sad:() are here for a ‘call-back’ workshop. We have had lots of fun and informative sessions, the most useful of which was about grant-writing. I am so grateful to my fellow volunteers for lending their opinions and expertise. It will be very helpful as YOU goes for an EU grant in the next few weeks. We also heard about stress management techniques and all the activities that Cuso is engaged in here in the Latin American/Caribbean region. So much going on. I will write more about those efforts in another post.

But now I will try to describe what it is like to be a volunteer and resident of Kingston at an all-inclusive that caters to the European and North American markets. It is sterile, safe and pleasant. Almost generic, except for the random green, gold and red colours painted on some furniture and on a sculpture on the beach. The staff are also all Jamaican and say “Yeah mon” copiously. They also call us “mi lady” and “sir”- not sure what the purpose of this is, but to me it emphasizes the uncomfortable link to colonialism. It is so strange to be catered to and seen as a guest here. I have been to several all-inclusives in Cuba and Dominical Republic and always feel slight wrong about it all. This is not to say that I don’t feel grateful to be here. It is beautiful and comfortable. And I just went for a long swim out to the reef in a gentle rain. But knowing how people struggle here with poverty and how they live day-to-day, it is a strange feeling to be here as a member of the consumptive crowd- one that fuels people’s livelyhoods.

Anyway, I am still forming my thoughts and reactions to the whole experience. All I know now is that it was enjoyable, educational and I appreciate all my fellow Cuso volunteers and staff more now. We are headed back to Kingston this afternoon.