KSU 2012 Jamaica Study Abroad

Please join me in congratulating the 2013 Kennesaw State University graduates. Job Well Done!! We would like to give special recognitions to the newest KSU alumni Flora Lowe-Rockett, Jarrod Luster, Joseph Willingham, and Gary Walker who also participated in the 2012 Jamaica Study Abroad.

As a result of our hard work in December, Kennesaw State University featured our story in their latest edition of their magazine which can be viewed online. Some of the pictures from the trip were featured, but the individual testimonies captured in the article were reflective to the situation and provided additional perception to our purpose in Jamaica. http://web.kennesaw.edu/news/stories/summer-ksu-graduates-are-ready-launch-careers

Summer KSU graduates are ready to launch careers | News at KSU When Kennesaw State University holds Tuesday, July 30, more than 1,400 graduate and undergraduate students will collect their diplomas, among them a United Nations retiree, an Estonian student-athlete, a minister who helped construct a home in Jamaica, a German-speaking accountant who tutors young s...

Fr. Francis will visit Kennesaw later this month. Supper at Reese's on April 24, 6:30. Hope you can join us!

Please join me in congratulating Iyonka, who won the KSU Employe of the Month for January 2013! Obviously she works as hard every day as she worked in Jamaica! CONGRATULATIONS on this well-deserved award!

Happy New Year!!!!

News Flash.....All eight days of photographs are completed. If you select photos, then select albums, there is a narrative journal that is provided for each day. Select a particular day and enjoy a mini retreat to the island of Jamaica. Thank you for everyone's patience and support. Feel free to share this public page with your family and or friends.

Today is bitter sweet but a happy day for most because we must depart Jamaica to be with our families at home in the U.S. So much was accomplished while we were here, but so much was learned about a culture unlike our own. There were times during the trip when we had to self evaluate our own personal biases and adopt concepts that were very different from our previously formed ideas. Many of the students, faculty, and staff grew closer but learned bounderies that would ultimately allow us to work together for one cause called humanity.

Each person on the trip was challenged to identify and embrace concepts of the Jamaican people. Prior to the trip, the students' and faculty's preformed ideas were exposed as we learned to assimilate to our environment. For example, we had to adjust to strange sounds, smells, and foods which was not easy. Also being exposed to diverse economic situations was challenging. Nevertheless, our class learned that we must evaluate ourselves and understand the culture around us before we make vast judgement of the identification of poor and impoverish.

As we embraced the challenges that were given, we learned so much. The lives of the KSU students, staff, and faculty who attended this trip will forever change because we were exposed and assimilated into a culture unlike the U.S. Even though we enjoyed our time here in Jamaica, it is time to for us to return to our families. We would like to thank everyone who observed/participated in our journeys and we challenge each person to re-evaluate their own personal baises. (photographs by Marita Nichols)

Take a look at the photo albums because Days 1 - 6 are uploaded. I am going to take a brief break so I may fellowship with my family during the holiday, but later this evening I anticipate to upload the last 2 days. I pray everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday.

It is monday 12/17/12, the sun was extra hot and the humidity was extra steamy. Mid-way through the day, three KSU students and one faculty member had to leave because of health risks. Nevertheless, the remaining of students, faculty, and staff remained to complete today's task. The goal for today is to build raftors, support beams, and prepare the home for their metal roof. Much of the work will require the use of ladders, I pray no one has a fear of heights. Unlike the other day, we have less workers because Fr. Francis caught some locals near the work site who were smoking ganga (very illegal and not appropriate for this trip). He requested that the individuals not to return to the work site because he wanted to protect the safety of the students, staff and faculty. We thank Fr. Francis and Vern who continued to protect the integrity and the safety of everyone on this trip. Since we had less people working on the home, this slowed up our progress but we still completed our task.

Later in the day, Fr. Francis invited Jennifer Bracket (member of Annotto Bay community), Dr. Winston Green (member of Peoples National Party, member of Jamaican Parliment House of Representatives, and Dental Surgeon), and Valerie Walters (Educator and member of Annotto Bay community) to speak with the students of KSU. We learned about the government practices of Jamaica, agriculture, political environment, and how westernization is affecting their country. (photographs by Marita Nichols)

It's amazing to upload the photographs because it feels like I am reliving the study abroad experience. Thank you for everyone patience, I have uploaded Day 2.

Through out today...there will be updated pictures. Day 1 is uploaded for viewing. Just choose the photo link and albums. Thank your for following our journey. There were over 2k pictures takes and the editing process was completed this morning.

We visited the College of Agriculture and Science today, and enjoyed a warm welcome!