New Year’s and Christmas Celebration x’s 2

I’ve been travelling a lot the past couple weekends.  Thursday, January 5, 2012, lead me up to Accompong up in the northern part of St. Bess (Elizabeth) where Matt and Julie (a G81 PCVJ couple) live.  Accompong is a Maroon Community.  In fact, they are the only all-Maroon Community left in Jamaica.  In any case, every 6th of January, they celebrate the signing of the Peace Treaty from Britain.  I say New Year’s x’s 2 because the party is theat to the extraordinary of a New Year’s Celebration.  Now, who are the Maroon’s and Cujo?

According to wiki  (the most reliable source on the internet):

The Jamaican Maroons are descended from slaves who escaped from slavery and established free communities in the mountainous interior of Jamaica during the long era of slavery in the island. African slaves imported during the Spanish period may have provided the first runaways, apparently mixing with the Native American Taino or Arawak people that remained in the country. Some may have gained liberty when the English attacked Jamaica and took it in 1655, and subsequently. For about 52 years, until the 1737 peace treaty with the British rulers of the island – which is still in force - the Maroons stubbornly resisted conquest.

To this day, the Maroons in Jamaica are to a small extent autonomous and separate from Jamaican culture. The isolation used to their advantage by their ancestors has today led to their communities being amongst the most inaccessible on the island. In their largest town, Accompong, in the parish of St. Elizabeth, the Leeward Maroons still possess a vibrant community of about 600. Tours of the village are offered to foreigners and a large festival is put on every January 6 to commemorate the signing of the peace treaty with the British after the Maroon War.

Anywho, that was that.  Super fun.  Learned a few new games (Hanson and Forbidden Island).  Hanson is a game played with die, and much like that of the card game Bull Shit.  Forbidden Island is a “board game” where players are on a team against the game trying not to sink. ha.. it’s a fun strategic game.  Oh ALSO!!! I totally blew fire!  Turns out that Rum is not only great for getting drunk, but also perfect for exploding fire on a stick!

I was 100% sober, the rum was strictly bought so I can have sober fun with it. ha.. It burns to hold it in my mouth, though!

After that, I went over to Stony Hill area where I chilled with my safety n security officer, Ann.  Her n her fam taught me a new game (apparently it was “Learn New Game Weekend”) titled Kalooki.  It’s the Jamaican version of Gin/Rummy.  Check it out here.  Needless to say, I did not win.  But I will be working my brain and NEXT TIME, I am determined to win 50% of the rounds and to win the game!  Holler!  I was also able to see my host mom in Stony Hill (Mrs. Irons).  She’s still doing great.  Got a chance to see her and Marsha Lee.  Marsha Lee and I actually ended up going to the movies Sunday night.  We saw the movie New Year’s Eve.  Not too shabby.  I liked it.

In any case, the week went by, and I had to leave Friday (again), but this time for Kingston.  Had a Warden’s meeting Saturday morning, so Friday Travel is preferred.  Meeting and whatnot was good.  The BEST part of the ENTIRE weekend?? I FINALLY got all my Christmas gifts from my family!  Most the packages were sent a week before Thanksgiving!  Between the holidays and election, I would say I am surprised the packages ever made it to me in the first place.  Ha.  I had 7 packages waiting for me at the office!  Wooo!  I definitely won for most packages that weekend.  Thanks fam!  Super glad that my dad sent my Adidas Duffle cuz without it, I would not have been able to carry everything back with me to site.  :-) Thank you to everyone that sent me a Christmas Card and/or package!  All the gifts I got were MORE THAN PERFECT!  I love you all!

Here are some pics from my “2nd Christmas”

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