Little London High School - October 2008

We were looking to make our third trip to Jamaica this year and our third in support of Little London.  We had been trying to talk my brother into joining us as Bob has been a large financial supporter of our Little London efforts.  We thought it would be worthwhile for him to see how his support has helped.  Finally! Bob and his wife Sue decide to join us on this trip.  Bob's son Shawn also decides to join us so we add his wife Lisa and their two sons Gavin and Jared to the crew.  Not to be left behind, my father decides to tag along bringing the group to 9 and including 4 generations!  This got interesting at the airport where we had to supply emergency contacts and realized most of the family was going on the trip.

As usual shopping for Little London was interesting.  They again included things on their wish list that were way beyond our experience.  I mean, really, who ever heard of a tjanting tool?  We now also know that "findings" are the clasps and other type hardware when making jewelry.  The focus this trip was going to be on the arts.  This would include painting and drawing supplies along with beads and other supplies for making jewelry.  Both areas were way beyond our expertise.  While researching the painting and drawing supplies we found what seemed to be a good source with DickBlick.com on the web.  Still lost we found they had a store in our area.  An employee there was most helpful translating the wish list into a large pile on the checkout counter.  Drawing pencils, chalk, watercolors, oils, paper, etc. kept collecting on the counter.  Luckily, the store manager came through with a nice discount and threw in some freebies to boot.  Big up to the Dick Blick Art Materials store in St. Louis.

With the art supplies well in hand it was on to the jewelry and findings.  Again, we were totally lost!  We stopped at a small jewelry supply store in our area and asked for help.  The owner was more than willing to help and worked up a recommended list of what we needed.  Unfortunately, the bottom line was close to 4 times our budget!  Luckily, I remembered seeing someone post on Negril.Com's message board about making jewelry.  A little more searching and found her website.  A call to Sterling resulted in a promise to help and many emails later we had a complete shopping cart of items to order well within our budget.  Sterling also sent along a large assortment of supplies to donate.  Without her help we would have been hopelessly lost.  Thanks Sterling for all your help.

We also filled some holes for other departments.  For the Guidance department we had a laptop, printer, camera, and DVD player.  Home economics needed an additional sewing machine, a heavy duty mixer and would also receive a laptop and DVD player.  Last, we had some software and books for the IT department.

At last!  It is time to go to Jamaica and spirits are high as we head to the gate.

Luckily we had a large group going as we had quite a few bulky items this trip.  The vacation company had changed the rules on us.  When we booked the limit was 2 suitcases per person.  They changed the charter to a different company who only allowed 1 suitcase per person.  We again requested and received a waiver to allow two.  The airline was also very helpful in that they realized we were all together and had already made seat assignments so we would all be near each other.  Much to our surprise, we had two additional "family" members with the same last name including one with the same first name as my brother!  Everything worked out after some minor confusion.

We all had a nice flight to Montego Bay and not problems with immigration.  At customs, we used the mass confusion approach and all went to the agent at the same time.  After trying to ask my hard of hearing father some questions and getting confused answers from my niece he just waved us all through.  Once we get to the resort it was time to unpack everything from the various suitcases and organize it for delivery to Little London.  Luckily, we got it all done before bedtime.

The Delivery

John Dwyer of Johnmaica Tours was again gracious enough to provide us transportation and to also act as photographer while at Little London.  When we arrived, all of the students were out of the classrooms on the walkways around the square. 

It was the week before Hero's Day and basically a fun day for the students.  Each time we have came to Little London they have put what we bring out on display.  It also seems each time they are scrambling to get more tables to put it all on.  Each time it is a formal event with people speaking and being asked to speak.  This trip was no different.  After some brief welcomes, Teresa and I were introduced and asked to introduce the rest of the family.
 
There was also some festivities planned for the day and we were invited to enjoy them.  We were first treated to a delightful dance by a group of the students.

After the dance group we were presented with the beautiful pillows shown below that were made by the students.  The lettering on them is LLHS for Little London High School.  The bright yellow color brightens the room here at home reminding us of Jamaica.  After we received the pillows, my brother and his wife who have been strong financial supporters or Little London are presented with two mirrors made by the students.

The students again entertained us and the rest of the school with a little skit in honor of Hero's Day.  The skit was about a slave who was forced to be with his mistress and when she became pregnant was severely punished.  In response to the punishment they rose up against their enslavers in their struggle for freedom.

The skit ended the formal assembly.  Garfield James followed that with a tour showing the family what had been accomplished at Little London by FOJ.  It was especially interesting to see the old, non working tools we saw on our first trip standing side by side with the new.

Here Garfield James is talking about the wall in the background. Much of the funding for this wall was also supplied by FOJ. You can tell by the look on the young boys faces that they are getting bored and ready to go back to the beach!

We continued our tour heading to the kitchen area of the home economics department.  Here the teacher explained the importance of the mixer we had brought.  The students need to be certified by passing a practical test.  The mixer would be an integral part of that test and without certification it is hard to find a job.  The tour also took us to the art department where some of the student's artwork is on display.
 
After the tour we were led into the library. Even though we had done a lot to help Little London a glance around the library made it obvious that even more could be done.

In the library we were treated with some refreshments. This little taste of Jamaica was most appreciated and consisted of June Plum juice, little sausages baked in bread, and a fluffy cake made by the students of home economics without the luxury of a mixer. All were enjoyed!

It was time to once again leave Little London. Our young nephews had brought backpacks filled with some basic supplies geared more for younger children. Our next stop was to a basic school down the street so another generation can learn to help.

This was not a singular effort.  Here are the people and companies that supported this:

• The four generations of the McBride clan that joined us in this effort.
• Dick Blick of Clayton, Missouri for all their help with the art supplies.
• Sterling Pickett for her invaluable assistance with the jewelry supplies.
• USA 3000 for waiving the extra baggage fees providing free transport.
• John and Anita Dwyer of Johnmaica Tours for their continued support in Jamaica.
• Garfield James of Little London who continued to communicate the Little London needs to us.
• The teachers at Little London for going out of their way to help the students.

Together we made a difference!

Glenn and Teresa McBride

Little London High School - March 2008