The adventure begins

Don't call me Ishmael.  I'm Eric.  I'm a Jesuit novice from Canada and I'm in my second year of the novitiate program.  My mission (and indeed I've chosen to accept it) has been to travel to Kingston, Jamaica for a period of four months, beginning in January and ending in June.  I am to teach 'Christian Living' at a local Jesuit Highschool, as well as live here in the Jesuit community and attend to various campus ministry needs.  This is my story.

At the beginning of my journey, I had no idea what classes I'd be teaching or what I'd be doing every day.  I clutched my passport and Jesuit contact information tightly and hoped for the best.

I had a few troubles getting to the right flight at the airport.  I remain very grateful to all the kind people who helped me out in my time of need.  But suffice it to say I made it.

When I left Toronto, it was -18 C and freezing rain.  When I arrived in Kingston, it was 28 C, sunny and humid.  It was delightful.  As we drove in from Kingston airport we came across a sort of land-bridge highway that was in the midst of being raised.  Large cranes piled heaps of rock and earth all along the way.  On either side, the sea stretched out: creating a bay towards the city and an endless horizon in all other directions.

The big green mountains of this country are very visible in Kingston, giving the city-scape a peculiarly natural feel.  The city itself is constantly abuzz with the noise of people, traffic, music, construction, and even dogs and chickens, all day and night. Some neighborhoods show clear deterioration and oppressive poverty.  Some areas are beautifully gardened with flowing fountains.  Most places are in between.

The community where I live has a central garden with a few palm trees in it.  The rest of the building is arranged around it in a square.  The rooms are spacious, stone affairs, often with one wall completely open to the garden, mixing outdoors and indoors.  My room is small and clean, with white painted walls and simple, dark wooden furniture.  I have a writing desk and a chest of drawers and a very comfy bed.  There is no glass in the windows, but they have locking red shutters and a screen to keep the bugs out.  So far the insects are not bad but I'm told they'll come in force in February.

I'll write more about my adventures and tell you about the school next time.  In the interim, I can only highlight the profound kindness and generosity of the people I have encountered in this land, both within and without the Jesuit community.  My most prevalent feeling is gratitude.  God is good.