My trip to Jamaica has been one of my most memorable trips yet. Going into this program I had some expectations about what I hoped to gain out of the experience and how it would benefit me with my academic and personal goals. I remember thinking that after this trip I would cultivate more insight into the Ethio-Jamaican history, develop my interest in international affairs and learn more about cross cultural relations. Just like I hoped, I gained all of these and more. As a political science and communication major, I was anxious that I would be disconnected with the goals and expectations of the program. However, after reflecting upon the trip and course, I realized what a great investment it was to make the decision to participate in the education abroad even though it wasn’t directly related to my major.
My STEP signature project was an education abroad trip to Jamaica through the Exploring Jamaican Arts and Culture program. My trip focused on learning more about Jamaican culture and Caribbean culture at large through the lens of the Arts.
From day one, when we arrived at Kingston airport I knew that there wasn’t going to be any shortage on exciting and educational moments along the trip. I was immediately mesmerized by the African influence and culture retention in the everyday lives of the locals. From the lectures we sat through to the small talks I had with the locals, I noticed that the shaping of Jamaican identity and the “Back to Africa” movement was very widespread. During our visit at the Edna Manley art exhibit, I had a fruitful conversation with one of the artists and a graduating senior about his art piece that I felt like perfectly embodied this search for self-identity. His three-piece panel depicts a young black girl lost in the jungle not knowing where to go or where she came from but fearlessly following an enlightened path guided by a torch that her implied ancestors from Africa lit for her to travel through. When I asked Will why he decided to pick a girl to illustrate his story, he told me that it wasn’t just him that had a similar story to share and so he picked a girl to separate himself from his art and allow others to give it their own definition.
My time and experience in Jamaica was transformational and eye-opening in many ways. Ever since I have been back to the U.S. I can’t seem to stop talking about it. From sharing that KFC can only be legally called “Kentucky Fried Chicken” there to talking about the forgotten yet very important story of the Taino people, I have not had a shortage of meaningful conversation with my friends and family about my experience. This program has also taught me the power of art in uniting communities and conveying uplifting messages. I have a deeper appreciation for street art and loved what one of our hosts Dr. Petrona Morrison said about the “community owning the walls” and the arts reflecting the ideas and thinking of the people in the community. It was also very refreshing to see the investment that the high school programs put in to promote arts endeavors for their students. Although I learned that the national arts curriculum has some shortcomings in catering to student’s artistic needs, the youth movement toward preserving the arts and the increased quality and dedication of the art educators entails a promising future.
To put in plain and simple: Jamaica was amazing. I am already arranging plans to revisit the country next summer. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the entire group and I appreciated the guidance that our program directors were always eager to give us. The program was educational and immersive, and exactly what I hoped it to be.
– Portland Beach, Jamaica
Trench Town Studios –
Link to my slideshow from the trip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMaMsdO7YV0