Day 5: The Rising Sea Level (by Justin)

       I am part of the restoration group that is helping to reconstruct historic Falmouth. The past few days, we've been working on a family's house that is practically falling apart. Their roof is leaking and their floors are rotting. In doing so, we've had to get our hands dirty and do a lot of hard work. However, we've also had the opportunity to connect with the construction workers and kids who we work with. I specifically had the pleasure of conversing with the head construction worker, Kenneth Hamilton. At first, we were talking about the project, but as we continued to talk we began to look at some of the issues Falmouth faces, one of which is the rise in sea level. Kenneth walked me over to the street drains and said, "You see how the water isn't draining? It's because of the rise in sea level." At first, I wasn't clear on what exactly he meant and so he began to explain that the rise in sea level didn't allow the rainwater to drain out into the sea as it had in the years previous. This is going to become a very large issue for Falmouth. First, the city is now at a higher risk of flooding during hurricanes. Second, because even without a hurricane, the water will continue to rise in the drains and sea which makes the streets more likely to flood even when it rains a small amount. Another issue that begins to arise is housing. As the sea level continues to rise, it pushes people farther and farther from the sea. For example, some of the fishing villages (where the fishermen reside) have been pushed back a number of times because of the rise in sea level. In addition, many of the residents can't afford to continuously move from one spot to another. Even Kenneth said, "The poor are really in trouble because they live where they can and can't afford anything else." On top of this, Kenneth also said that if climate change continues to have the effects on sea level that it currently does, that Falmouth is at risk of being underwater in 10-20 years. I'm not sure how accurate this is, but I do agree that Falmouth would be much more likely to see issues like flooding, drainage issues, and housing issues if the sea level continues to rise.
         Even though this is the case, working to help this family has been quite exciting. The work is hard of course, but knowing that you have a direct impact on the community because of what you're doing makes you feel really good. It brings me joy knowing that I am helping to fix someones home and that my time and efforts here in Jamaica will have a lasting effect. Not only that, but bonding  with the locals can be an adventure in itself. Everybody is also accepting of one another and you can have a conversation with almost anyone you meet. In relation to this, everyone working on the project is unbelievably hard working and friendly. Even the kids go at it with everything they've got, and it's truly incredible to watch them work. I have really enjoyed my time here in Jamaica with these people and I can't wait to start working with them again next week.