The Jamaica Course

JOURNALS

Sunday, August 11, 2007

So it's the end of day one and we just got to Jamaica. Today I took my first ride on an airplane. When we got to the airport I was a little nervous, and when we went to board the plane, I felt like I was going to be alright...and then I got on the plane. This plane was the smallest flyable thing on earth. I didn't even consider it to be a plane; it was one step up from riding a bird to Miami. I suddenly started having all these thoughts rush through my mind like, I wonder if Cat gave me some of her happy pills if they would kick in before take off...and then the flight attendant started doing the oxygen mask demonstration and I wondered why I hadn't just taken a boat and met them in Jamaica. Then the plane started rolling. I decided at that moment I didn't want a window seat anymore and I slammed the cover down over it to block the view. The girl beside me continued to read her book. I wished I could do the same, but at the present time I was too overcome with terror to even attempt reading. Well, we finally took off and I ended up being okay...until flight number three. Flight three began with a wandering trip around Miami International Airport. I soon learned to walk at the back of everyone because the moving walkways in the airport kept catching me off balance and making me trip every time I got on and off. So naturally I decided to save myself the embarrassment of face planting in front of everyone (at least the people I know) and just walk at the back. I called most all my friends from back home when I got to the Miami airport just to say "I'm in Miami, which seems a little dumb, but it's exciting for me because I never go ANYWHERE! So a trip to Miami, especially a trip made on an airplane is a HUGE deal. Well, we finally boarded our American Airlines jet after consuming an overpriced unsatisfying "salad" from a Chili's booth. This plane was bigger, had TVs, and I was pumped...until I saw I was to be stuck with the middle seat. I was praying no one would sit beside me, but alas a girl walked up and took the seat to my right and then another plopped down on my left about 5 minutes later. All I could think is this is going to be a long flight.

I was right.

It should be against aviation law to put more than two seats side by side. There's nowhere to rest your head. And the armrest situation is weird too, how do you share an armrest. Well I managed to nap while sitting straight up clutching my travel pillow to my chest. Then I awoke just in time to get some juice from the flight attendant and I waited for the flight to end. About 5 minutes after the cranberry juice had been finished and were close to Kingston International Airport, the plane hit turbulence and started to shake. A little at first, and then it began taking deep dips...closer and closer to the ocean. Jesus, I was sure for about 8 1/2 seconds that we were going down into the water and I was suddenly wishing I had paid attetenion to how to convert your seat into a life raft when the flight attendant had demonstrated it at the beginning of the flight. Well, then the armrests were mine. I had butted the other two girls out of the way, and I grasped them so tightly I couldn't feel my fingers anymore. Then it was over, my ears hurt, and I was a little nauseous. Well, it turns out that after the "little" turbulence jerking the plane was descending to land at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, which is really really close to the ocean!! Welcome to Jamaica, where it rains...and rains...and rains...and then it floods! Riding in the van was a special experience in itself. People drive 2 centimeters apart from one another. How they don't wreck I don't know. We forwarded a miniature river in the middle of a small street and I was sure that we were going to get hit or stuck, but we made it. Well, the driver started to scare me a fair amount so I decided to shut my eyes and I ended up falling asleep in the front seat of the old van belonging to the Department of Community Medicine & Psychiatry, the University of West Indies, where I happened to wake up in the parking lot when it was time to unload the luggage. It's not too bad here except the toilet doesn't flush very easily, massive amounts of mosquitoes are currently inhabiting my sleeping area, and no dinner plans for tonight so far. But I'm excited to embark on this new adventure in a different country. I feel very optimistic and I believe I will walk out of this with a better perspective of living and cultural acceptance.

Chelsea Stephenson

P.S. On my return flight, I don't want to sit in the middle seat.

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