Aloha to the Treasure Beach Community!

Treasure Beach Forum: TB Runnin's: Aloha to the Treasure Beach Community!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Shannon on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 03:39 pm: Edit Post

To The Community of Treasure Beach
Clearly, I leave you with some uncomfortable feelings. We are very different in our cultures. Neither is right, neither is wrong. One of the purposes of the United States Peace Corps is for culture sharing. You have discovered what an “aggressive American” is like. Perhaps some of your “happy” cigarettes, would have made me calmer! There were specific things to accomplish. Some were successful, some were not. Everything wasn’t always done in the Jamaican way. There was never offense intended. I leave knowing I have done my best. I hope I succeeded in some modest way.
Some things I will remember:
- I leave remembering a day when a Rasta Man stopped me on the street and lectured me on how we should appreciate each day we are alive. He was right! I will always remember that.
- The beautiful singing of the churches as the melodies traveled across the fields to our home.
- “Smalling-up” on the mini buses.
- Route taxis that never drove in a straight line.
- Learning the “beat of Jamaica” from bars playing music at 2 in the morning.
- Goats, goats and more goats.
- Rice and peas, rice and peas and more rice and peas.
- Devastating Hurricanes and the relief work we did together.
- Frenchman’s Beach and how walking there restored my spirit each day.

I will remember individuals:
- Miss Vida, who volunteers for everything. Has a smile for everyone. Has an incredible energy. She shared Jamaica with us and thrilled us with her stories of how things once were. She has always shown us kindness. She is a woman I greatly admire in many ways.
- Carwell; a kinder soul doesn’t exist. A special thanks for making us feel so comfortable.
- Celeste, a pure heart whose friendship I shall always cherish
- Ron and Modesta; their friendship, conversation and their beautiful home.
- Jason, of Jakes, a focal point of the community who doesn’t shy from criticism. Who has the community at heart. Who is a doer; “he walks the talk.” Best wishes to you and Laura.
- Jean, a friend.... and we never saw anything the same way.
- Lisa, a friend who came through for us during the hurricane
- Morris’ friendly wave as we passed his shop after Patti and I walked the beach each morning
- Carmen, of Tiffany’s, who was always friendly and shared her cooking and home with us.
- Noreen and Collie for their friendship and taking us to church.
- Kory, of Sunset Resort, for his graciousness
- Duane, who always drove us safely; a taximan who could be depended upon.
- Dennis(Shaba), a fisherman and a kind, decent man
- Karen and Peter for their hospitality, mail, email and friendship
- Rebecca, always trying to help everyone
- Zane, my friend and confidant. You will get that degree! You will have choices.
- Miss Verone, you will finish; be proud of yourself, you do good!
- The children at Sandy Bank Primary School.... a privilege to have been with you.
- Sister Lucy and the children of Our Lady of Good Hope Children’s Home in Black River. Thank you for the smiles every Thursday!
- The taxi driver in Spanish Town who brought my wife’s purse back when she left it in his back seat. Sir, you do not know it, you will not remember us, but I will remember you and all that is good about Jamaica!

Know that I have loved your children. I have given my heart to them. I have done my best to increase their confidence in themselves and to let them know they are worthy of being loved. I won’t forget them. I will carry memories of them all the days of my life.

We miss our sons and our grand daughter. We miss our family and friends. We miss our home. We miss our beloved Hawaiian Islands. But, we are happy we came. Patti and I are glad we shared 764 days of our lives with the remarkable people of Jamaica.

Patti and I are honored that you, the citizens of Treasure Beach of the Parish of Saint Elizabeth, have allowed us to be part of your community.
Aloha,
Joe


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Karen on Saturday, August 06, 2005 - 09:37 am: Edit Post

Patti and Joe, in the two years you have been members of the community, you have worked non-stop to assist the residents of Treasure Beach.

Patti, your skills were beyond helpful in keeping the Hurricane Ivan relief efforts organized. And, you did much to enable the community to receive matching funds through the United Way of Jamaica. Also, the new Treasure Beach Women's Group building would never have been so large and wonderful without your willingness to keep applying for grants -- and to "beg" time and materials from so many.

Joe, the work you did to truly organize the computer learning center at Sandy Bank School -- and to work with their students and teachers, as well as assisting with the orphanage in Black River shows your love and compassion for children.

The two of you have given of yourselves -- and you have left a lasting legacy for Treasure Beach. You have earned the thanks and respect of the community.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rebecca on Saturday, August 06, 2005 - 10:13 am: Edit Post

To Patti and Joe Shannon, both of you have left an indelible mark on Treasure Beach.

Joe, with all you have done for the Sandy Bank School, bringing the computer based learning into the classrooms, showing us whole new worlds with the use of the microscope, raising funds to pay for the internet, and so very much more . . .

Patti, I am sure we would not have reached near as far with the TBWG house without your inexhaustible energy and organization skills.

To both of you, nuff respect due for all your efforts put into the Ivan Relief Committee. When many of us were absolutely exhausted or had other time constraints, you both picked up the ball and kept it going.

How do we begin to say thank you for the generosity shown by both of you. As individuals, you are towers of strength. As a team, you are unstoppable and we feel so blessed that you left your beautiful island to join us on ours.

May you both be blessed with peace, contentment and may the happiness you give to others come back to you.

pattijoe

You will be missed!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By nige on Saturday, August 06, 2005 - 10:24 am: Edit Post

i didnt get to meet you both, but, i am sure you are wonderful people, the peace corp has been represented down there since i was a kid, and through the years has contributed greatly to our community. all the members i met through the years have been commited and caring people. thank you for giving two years of your life to a place, i call home.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim P on Sunday, August 07, 2005 - 11:08 am: Edit Post

Rebecca-

I remember meeting Patti on December 3rd 2003 at The Sandy Bank Primary School
I "joined" the Peace Corp for a day and helped paint the school after meeting Beth who had just joined the corp and said to come on by. At that particular time in my life my world was upside down- I had come back to Jamiaca to heal. Painting the school on my last day of vacation with the Peace Corp, the residents, the children and everyone else on that day changed my life forever.


Jim Price


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Elizabeth on Monday, August 22, 2005 - 10:11 am: Edit Post

Thank you Patti for your tour of the Women Group building, and all the "sweat equity" that you invested. Your energy and smile will stay with me. Many blessings on your next efforts!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Angel on Monday, August 22, 2005 - 09:43 pm: Edit Post

Patti and Joe thanks for all the hard work you did
in Treasure Beach.I do not know you but, just reading about all the good you did while you were there I just had to say thanks.People like you are hard to find and TB had you there in one of the most difficult time during my life time -IVAN THE TERRIBLE.Thanks a million. Please visit again and hopefully I will get to meet you both in person.