Ok, so I am writing this about two months after my trip, but all the thoughts and memories are still fresh in my head. I was chosen to go on a service trip to St. J.B., a Boys Home in Jamaica. It is a home run by two Sisters of Mercy, Sister Susan and Sister Mimi. The home is for delinquent boys or boys that were abandon. This is only the second year that my high school took a trip here...so details and what to expect was very limited. I applied to go around November, and honestly, I didn't expect to get picked. I remember the morning I got the letter. I didn't know what it was going to say...so I told myself, everything happens for a reason. I took a deep breath and opened the letter. I read the first word...Congratulations. And I was like O MY GOSH I'M GOING TO JAMAICA!!!!!! But, then...reality set in...I was going to some foreign country, with a few girls I knew...but I wasn't close to any of them...I was flying for the first time...and I was going away from home for over a week for the first time...I am going to be interacting with people that are delinquents and that live in a totally different way than me...I started to panic. I was like...maybe...I shouldn't have applied...but I was like, everything happens for a reason, I'm going to go this is going to be an amazing experience. So, that day after school, I got in the car and told my mom I was going to Jamaica. She was...surprised....she was happy that I was picked...but she was really, really worried. To keep things short...my parents became ok with the idea of me going and after a few planning meetings, it was the beginning of June, and time to start packing. I figured I was literally going to be living on the top of a mountain for a week, so...I packed soooo much!!! My one friend was able to get a huge amount of clothes donated. And, after persuading the airlines to let us each have two bags, we were able to pack a lot of donations. But, I didn't know what I would have...so I packed anything that I thought would be useful. So...again...jump ahead a few days...and it is the morning that we are leaving...So, my family is early, for everything. We had the 6:15 am flight out of CVG or Cincinnati/Greater Kentucky Airport. I got up around 2:30 and was out the door by 3:15. We arrived at the airport...early...and waited for a few minutes before others going on the trip arrived. We checked our bags...the chaperones gave a few last minute details...and we headed for security after telling our parents bye. I got through security fine, which I was glad! I then sat at the terminal...waiting to board a plane...for the very first time. I was really scared at this point. It was one of the girl's birthdays and so we celebrated a little that morning, which calmed my nerves. And, one of the teacher chaperones gave us a magazine and bag of candy...so that helped too. After what seemed like forever, we were finally called to board the plane. I was really excited, but again, really scared. I got on the plane, found my seat, and prepared for take off. Well, nothing could have prepared me for the adventure to come. We took off and hit sooooooo much turbulence. It was a really, really bumpy ride. I was really scared because I thought I was going to die about 100 different times. The teacher that was sitting behind my leaned forward, patted me on the head and said...this isn't normal...and I was like...thats good because if it is, I'll never get on a plane again. So, when I thought the worst was over, we got to Philly...where there was fog...so we circled the airport for over an hour while the pilot said...we are running low on fuel...but....we should be ok. I felt like I was in a nightmare, I was really hoping this wasn't some kind of sing of what the week was going to be like. but, eventually we landed...thank goodness! We grabbed a quick breakfast at Burger King and waited for our flight to JAMAICA!!!!! We got on the plane...where I was seated toward the front...by myself...while the group was together in the back...but I got to move back and sit with the group eventually. As it turns out, they double booked by ticket. At this time, I really wanted to catch the next plane home...but I just went with it. We took off and we were on our way! This flight was much smoother, and the plane was sooo much bigger, which made the flight a lot more comfortable. They played Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory...but I didn't watch it. I had a window seat and looked out the window for most of the ride. I thought the view was AMAZING! We finally landed in Montego Bay!!! I think I experienced culture shock right away...people were so much different. They were very strict, talked really differently and just had a different way of doing things. We had to go through customs...which was ...fun....(not really). We waited in a really long line in a non air-conditioned airport. I showed them my pass port, told them while I was there...and thought I was done, but...I wasn't. We got our bags (which they didn't lose!!!) and went to the next part of customs. We had to give them a card that we had to fill out on the plane. I guess I didn't fill it out right because they sent me back to fill it out...but eventually, I was let through. We went out into the main part of the airport and looked for the car that was going to take us to the Boy's Home. There were so many people. I didn't get service so I was worried because I knew my parents were worried and I had no way of telling them I arrived. People kept talking to us and looking at us weird...I had never felt like a minority before...but I definitely did now. Sooner or later we found the car that was going to drive us. We loaded in out suitcases and we were on our way. The first thing I noticed was that they drive on the other side of the road. Jamaica has very few road sings and not a lot of driving rules...its kinda drive in the middle of the road and when a car is coming the other way...honk and hope you swerve to the other side than they do...or if a car is going to slow...you honk and speed past them. It was very different. We were stopped at a stop light where a man with a Red Stripe bucket on his head cleaned our windshield and wanted money...this is when I realized I wasn't in Kansas anymore...We began our 3 hour drive up the mountainous roads of Jamaica to our destination. We saw a truck that was carrying sugar cane...which was pretty cool. We also drove through this bamboo forest which was amazing!!! The sights were all new and beautiful...until the rain came. It rained and stormed sooo hard. At one point, we drove through water that came up to the top of the tires and we were not going slow either...this was another time I thought I was going to die...but it was all new...and I wanted to enjoy every minute, no matter what...I didn't sleep much the night before, so I slept a little on the bus ride. And...after 3 hours....we were here.............The first thing I remember was the smell, not pleasant...there were lots of chickens, pigs and goats. I was pretty tired. Driving to Carolyn house, I took in all the new sights and sounds of Bosco. Some of the boys out doing chores looked at us. I was afraid because I was not sure what to expect them to do. I went into my house and unpacked. We then had dinner, celebrated my freinds birthday and went to bed to get ready for a new day.