From the Windowseat

And for part two…some stories from my January outside of the office.

Bus moments: Interesting things always happen on buses in Kingston…For example, there are often ‘bus preachers’ singing and giving sermons throughout the entire ride. The most ‘famous’ of these being a man that another volunteer and I had termed ‘blind preacher dude’ (I don’t know how that happened). We works the route from downtown to New Kingston (where I live) and has a shockingly good voice. Short story: I now know that he has a name and I have his CD…’blind preacher dude’ is now a real person. Similarly (and not), yesterday I was on the bus and met a man from Saudi Arabia (this is not common in Kingston). We got talking and by the time I got off the bus he had given me his Quran and invited me to his Mosque. Hence is the strangely religious nature of my bus rides.

Running moments: One of my goals for 2010 has been to get my running back on track. It is still very hard to be a consistent runner in a country that sometimes feels sauna-like; however it is getting a bit better and I am back to doing at least 3X a week. So…last weekend: mile 5 (of 10) and a huge full moon was slipping behind the mountains, the sky wasn’t dark, but also wasn’t light. It was a surreal moment…and then the moon slipped away and we kept on working our way up a hill. And…evenings at the park: post-run, warm nights, starry skies, extended stretching sessions, random discussions with others out for their evening departures from the busy, hot realities of Kingston days.

People moments: Meeting an artist at Treasure Beach who gave myself and another volunteer an extremely reduced rate on making our own tile designs (which turned out much better than I expected). Returning to the Blue Mountains to a guest house that has become a second-home. Seeing my parents arrive at the Kingston airport. Conversations with lifeguards, security guards, and restauranteurs who have become part of my life. Watching the audiences at a pantomine play and a Jamaican football game express such pure joy and unity.

Watch for the moments…