Falmouth Field School

Today was a pretty relaxed day, at least compared to the days prior. Since today is a weekend, we decided to take a break off of our usual projects, such as restoration, and we went for many meaningful tours. First off to start our day, after a long drive, we arrived at the Greenwood Great House. A great house was the home of the owner of a plantation. As we were led through the very well preserved house, I marveled at how well it was maintained throughout the years. There was a map there that had lasted from the 1600s, almost 400 years! Our tour guide was very focused and engaging and explained objects of importance as well as areas very well. And the view, it was magnificent! When we looked around us, because we were situated so high up, we could see the water curving down, showing how the earth is circular. The sparkling blue ocean and the calm breeze made me question why I wasn't living at this beautiful place.  After lunch, we headed to the Montego Bay Cultural Centre where...

Some of the students listening to our tour guide at the Greenwood Great House.  The view from the veranda at Greenwood Great House. Tyler and Jordan enjoying some patties, a favorite Jamaican dish, for lunch.  Group photo outside of the Montego Bay Cultural Center. Water color painting by the Jamaican artist, Neville Budhai, which we saw at the Cultural Center.  Emory concentrating on making a friendship bracelet for one of her peers on the trip.  Jordan taking notes on our seminar before dinner. The view from our dinner at Chill Out Hut. 

After spending over forty days over the past four years as a participant in the Falmouth Field School, I am still working to understand the importance of the work we do here. Through my time spent in the small port town of Falmouth, my interest has always fallen in the sociology/film project. With four trip's experience under my belt, this year I am hitting the ground running with the questions I still have unanswered and research left undone, all while furthering the deep connections I have made   in these past years.  I have decided to take a deeper look into the affects of the port on Falmouth 10 years into its existence and now I am truly understanding why we are here and how important it is that we keep coming back. Throughout my day today, during the countless interviews and snack stops around Water Square, I was constantly being recognized by locals. Of course there's the frequent stop for a quick hello, even with someone I just met, but more importantly I continue c...

Coming together at lunch to choose the projects that we'll work on for the rest of J-Term. Meeting a vendor who works at the craft market. She also became a respondent for our film project.  Leon and Blake painting at the restoration work site in the morning. Charlie working hard painting the roof of the house on the restoration site. Walking through Water Square to find locals to interview. The film group (Anna K, Jordan, Alex and Isabelle) enjoying some local treats in Falmouth.

Alex waits for the rain to subside before getting on with the day. Tyler and Alex hard at work finishing the restoration that students began in the last A-term.  Jordan says "Painting is fun!" Ashwin, Anna T, Anna K, Emory, and Isabelle read local newspapers for insight on potential questions for the film project. Leon, Tyler, and Alex enjoy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. Tyler and Alex sift through dirt at the Taino site bagging shells and bits of pottery. Charlie and Leon fill out a survey from local high school students about celery face cream. 

Today was the testing day; not in the academic testing sense. We were testing the difference activities to help us decide what to do for the rest of the trip. In the morning, my group went to film. We walked around Water Square, which is their Times Square, but instead of millions of TV's in your face, there is music in your face. Because it was the first day of activities, we focused on brainstorming what our film topic should be. We also bought some newspapers to help better understand current events in Falmouth and Jamaica and scout out topics. I finally understand why old people like newspapers. Three words: Sudoku and comics; obviously the most informative part of the newspaper. Although, the newspapers did help us find a film topic: what Jamaicans think of the port and tourism. After some newspaper brainstorming, we had lunch and the switching of activities. The afternoon was restoration. I love restoration. It was my favorite activity from last year. This year we are resto...

Our day begins with a Good Hope site report from Emory. View of Falmouth from the Good Hope Great House. Leon presents his site report to the group at the Good Hope Slave Hospital. The 2020 Falmouth Field School group photo at Good Hope. Jordan finds the urge to stick his head in the freezer just before lunch begins to relieve himself from the heat of the morning walk. Charlie presents the last site report of the day at the Falmouth Catholic Church. Our day ends with crab hunting alongside students from the Falmouth All-Age School.