May 12, 2024 - Week 16
For the week before Mother's Day, plenty of advertising around mothers bombarded us on the TV, on billboards and on store fronts. Needless to say, the Jamaicans also take this special day seriously.
On my end, my failed attempt to send a Mother's Day card home (since Jamaica was not at the time delivering mail to Australia) meant my mum received a photographed version of my card instead. Actually, I had also forgotten she was leaving the country to visit my grandma so she won't have been in Australia when my card otherwise would have arrived! So it worked out in the end.
May 8 was Teacher's Day and as "music teacher" I was invited along with all the other "actual teachers" to a day of relaxation at Boone Hall Oasis. All 13 of us, including two wheelchairs, piled into a mini van and jetted off blasting to RnB. As is customary for a trip, we got lost, asked for directions at least 3 times and were still lost. During this temporary delay, one of the teachers decided to spit bars. I don't remember the exact words but it was something along the lines of "Kiki, the white girl, is going on an adventure, and the wheels go round and round...". (Note - "Kiki" is their nickname for me, and I have come to terms with being referred to as "white".) This musical talent carried onto some dancing during the day to the viral hit "Drift".
The week ended with me visiting a new found friend's place to review some financials because they allege their strata was overcharging maintenance fees and not being able to substantiate expenditures. So over a bottle of wine, we debated accounting concepts, budgetting and audit opinions. What made it more fun was that the condo was backed by a minister, frequented by Diplomats and audited by a firm called "Crooks". No opinions were provided except, 'good luck'.
Although the week also included some other not so fortunate events, I am grateful for those who rallied around me, including my landlady who out of the blue decided to take me for lunch and check in on me. What a blessing indeed.
PS - Again I was hand model for the cosmetology class and got acrylic nails with extensions. This will be the only time you will ever see me with extensions OR acrylic nails...
