Peace Corps Jamaica Welcome Book - November 2009

THE PEACE CORPS WELCOMES YOU TO
Jamaica
A PEACE CORPS PUBLICATION FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS
November 2009
Jamaica MAP
A WELCOME LETTER
Dear Future Peace Corps Volunteer:
On behalf of the currently serving Volunteers, trainers, and staff of Peace Corps/Jamaica, I congratulate you on your
decision to participate in the upcoming pre-service training and to serve as a Volunteer in this beautiful but
challenging Caribbean island. Your presence in the training class signifies the beginning of your Peace Corps
experience in Jamaica and we look forward to meeting you upon your arrival in Kingston.
As a former Peace Corps Volunteer myself, I understand why you are excited about your country of assignment that
will be your new home for the next two years. Jamaica is an advanced developing country with a fascinating history
and a place where many cultures blend. But, while you may be committed to this important new endeavor, I also
understand why you may be somewhat apprehensive about living overseas. We all have similar feelings about the
unknown. This is normal. You may have questions and we, the staff and Volunteers, will do our best to answer as
many as we can when we meet. With time, as you begin to integrate into Jamaican culture, you will be able to answer
many on your own. The staff and I are here to support you and help you achieve a successful and rewarding two years
of Volunteer service.
Shortly after your arrival, you will have the opportunity to meet your associate Peace Corps director (APCD), who
will be the manager of your sector project, your mentor, and your immediate contact for many cross-cultural and
work-related technical issues. You will also meet the programming and training officer, training director, training
coordinators, community facilitators, Volunteer leaders, Volunteers, and support staff who will help you get to know
Jamaica, your assignment, and your host community.
During pre-service training and beyond, you will face many challenges and your patience may be tried to its limits.
However, if you come here with an open mind, a warm heart, and a good sense of humor, I am confident you will
adapt to Jamaica and do very well. In that regard, I’d like to share this thought, written by former Peace Corps
Director Mark Gearan, titled “At Home in the World: The Peace Corps Story”:
“While the responsibilities are diverse, every Peace Corps Volunteer’s job has one common trait: it is hard work that
requires self-motivation, determination, patience, and sacrifice. There are moments of great frustration, as well as
achievement and the joy of making friendships that last a lifetime. The ability of Peace Corps Volunteers to overcome
these personal and professional challenges is what makes them such special people and able to be successful
overseas.”
Indeed, I cannot emphasize strongly enough how the quality of your Peace Corps experiences here in Jamaica will
depend mostly on you: the initiative you take; your commitment to tough work; your resilience, patience, and
flexibility in facing unexpected situations; your ability to adapt to a culture different from your own; and your choices
in managing risk to assure your personal safety and security.
This Welcome Book is intended to help you understand the commitment you are about to make. It was prepared by
Volunteers and staff to help you get off to a good start in becoming a member of the Peace Corps/Jamaica family and
to begin to understand and function within the Jamaican culture.
PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

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If you feel you have sufficient commitment, self-motivation, resourcefulness, and flexibility to carry out the duties
and responsibilities of a Peace Corps Volunteer, then we look forward to you joining the Volunteers who are
currently serving in Jamaica.
Leila Webster
Country Director

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Contents
A WELCOME LETTER .......................................................................................................................... 1

CORE EXPECTATIONS FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS.......................................................... 5
PEACE CORPS/JAMAICA HISTORY AND PROGRAMS ................................................................. 5
History of the Peace Corps in Jamaica ................................................................................................. 5
History and Future of Peace Corps Programming in Jamaica.............................................................. 6
COUNTRY OVERVIEW: JAMAICA AT A GLANCE ........................................................................ 7
History .................................................................................................................................................. 7
Government .......................................................................................................................................... 7
Economy ............................................................................................................................................... 7
People and Culture................................................................................................................................ 8
Environment ......................................................................................................................................... 8
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION .................................................................................. 8
General Information About Jamaica..................................................................................................... 9
Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees ....................................................................... 9
Online Articles/Current News Sites About Jamaica............................................................................. 9
International Development Sites About Jamaica................................................................................ 10
Recommended Books ......................................................................................................................... 10
LIVING CONDITIONS AND VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE................................................................ 12
Communications ................................................................................................................................. 12
Housing and Site Location.................................................................................................................. 13
Living Allowance and Money Management ...................................................................................... 13
Food and Diet ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Transportation..................................................................................................................................... 13
Geography and Climate ...................................................................................................................... 14
Social Activities.................................................................................................................................. 14
Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior ................................................................................................ 14
Personal Safety ................................................................................................................................... 14
Rewards and Frustrations ................................................................................................................... 15
PEACE CORPS TRAINING.................................................................................................................. 15
Pre-Service Training........................................................................................................................... 15
YOUR HEALTH CARE AND SAFETY IN JAMAICA....................................................................... 17
Helping You Stay Healthy.................................................................................................................. 17
Maintaining Your Health.................................................................................................................... 17
Women’s Health Information ............................................................................................................. 18
Your Peace Corps Medical Kit ........................................................................................................... 18
Medical Kit Contents.......................................................................................................................... 18
Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist............................................................................................ 19
Safety and Security—Our Partnership................................................................................................ 20
Support from Staff .............................................................................................................................. 21
Crime Data for Jamaica ...................................................................................................................... 22
Volunteer Safety Support in Jamaica ................................................................................................. 22
DIVERSITY AND CROSS-CULTURAL ISSUES.............................................................................. 23
Overview of Diversity in Jamaica ...................................................................................................... 24
What Might a Volunteer Face?........................................................................................................... 24
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS................................................................................................. 26
WELCOME LETTERS FROM JAMAICA VOLUNTEERS................................................................ 28

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PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST ......................................................................................................... 35
Family ................................................................................................................................................. 35
Passport/Travel ................................................................................................................................... 35
Medical/Health ................................................................................................................................... 35
Insurance............................................................................................................................................. 35
Personal Papers................................................................................................................................... 35
Voting ................................................................................................................................................. 35
Personal Effects .................................................................................................................................. 36
Financial Management........................................................................................................................ 36
CONTACTING PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS.......................................................................... 37

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CORE EXPECTATIONS
FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS
In working toward fulfilling the Peace Corps Mission of promoting world peace and friendship, as a trainee and
Volunteer, you are expected to:
1. Prepare your personal and professional life to make a commitment to serve abroad for a full term of 27
months
2. Commit to improving the quality of life of the people with whom you live and work; and, in doing so, share
your skills, adapt them, and learn new skills as needed
3. Serve where the Peace Corps asks you to go, under conditions of hardship, if necessary, and with the
flexibility needed for effective service
4. Recognize that your successful and sustainable development work is based on the local trust and confidence
you build by living in, and respectfully integrating yourself into, your host community and culture
5. Recognize that you are responsible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your personal conduct and professional
performance
6. Engage with host country partners in a spirit of cooperation, mutual learning, and respect
7. Work within the rules and regulations of the Peace Corps and the local and national laws of the country
where you serve
8. Exercise judgment and personal responsibility to protect your health, safety, and well-being and that of
others
9. Recognize that you will be perceived, in your host country and community, as a representative of the people,
cultures, values, and traditions of the United States of America
10. Represent responsively the people, cultures, values, and traditions of your host country and community to
people in the United States both during and following your service
PEACE CORPS/JAMAICA
HISTORY AND PROGRAMS
History of the Peace Corps in Jamaica

The Peace Corps was first asked and began working in Jamaica with the arrival of Group 1 on June 12, 1962. The
Volunteers worked in cities, towns, and the countryside as teachers, agricultural extensionists, health educators, and
rural development workers. In the mid-1970s, Volunteers were assigned to schools, hospitals, health clinics, and other
government ministry offices as teachers, nurses, and loan officers.
The most recent shift in approach to development was conceived in 1989 and has since been the reality. Current
assignments are part of a uniform plan that has a significant community development core. While each project plan
has specific tasks and skill requirements, Peace Corps/Jamaica assignments generally involve facilitating the growth
and development of communities and their members in a way that empowers them to make and carry out better
decisions about their own lives. Not all Volunteers are placed in small rural communities. Sites also exist in small
towns, peri-urban centers, and in and around tourist cities such as Ocho Rios and Negril. Currently no Volunteers are
assigned in Kingston, Montego Bay, or Spanish Town.
An age-old dilemma in development work involves charity and dependency versus facilitation and empowerment. It
has been—and still is—easier to give and to “do things yourself” than to help others grow and learn on their own. But
such charity-based practices have proven to be short-lived and unsustainable in many developing countries, including
Jamaica. In Jamaica, you will learn how to build capacity and empower people to improve their own living
conditions, thus making development more fulfilling and sustainable. A successful development specialist gives
ownership of a development or project to the entire community. When everyone strives to reach a common goal, the
effort is conceived, implemented, and achieved with a much greater sense of ownership, accomplishment, and
satisfaction. This sense of ownership by all is the key to success and sustainability when working in community
development.

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History and Future of Peace Corps Programming in Jamaica
More than 3,500 Volunteers have served in this hospitable country of loving and dynamic people. Jamaica’s
population faces the same struggles as people in many other island nations. There are many areas where people still
practice subsistence agriculture. Many youth are without jobs or lack the skills to contribute to the development of
their communities. Many children cannot read. In addition, a wealth of biodiversity exists in the country, and
protecting its valuable natural resources, while benefiting from tourism, is essential to Jamaica’s economy.
Volunteers are engaged in development work that is essential to the Jamaican people at the grassroots level. They are
working to conserve natural resources, to promote hygiene and healthy living, to help fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic,
to promote information technology and small business, and to help youth gain the skills and education they need for
their future.
Peace Corps/Jamaica has three primary sectors or projects: youth-as-promise, community environmental health, and
environmental awareness. All three sectors/projects are fully integrated with small business and information and
communication technology (ICT). These two cross-cutting areas are critical to all Peace Corps projects in Jamaica
and more generally to the development of the country. Depending on the specific demands of their assignments, many
of our trainees/Volunteers receive in-service training in basic small business, HIV/AIDS prevention, and/or ICT
instructional techniques. They then integrate these areas into their projects as appropriate, and educate and train
counterparts and community members to empower them and to meet the capacity-building goals of projects.
One of Jamaica’s primary concerns is the alarming rate of marginalization among Jamaican youth, defined as young
men and women ages 10 to 25, who are not in school and have few skills or opportunities for employment. In helping
the government of Jamaica address this critical issue, the youth-as-promise project focuses on literacy; youth
development; HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and support; and ICT.
Volunteers assigned to “The Green Initiative,” or environmental education project, focus on food security and
increasing the nation’s awareness of issues such as solid-waste management and recycling, watershed protection,
over-fishing, coral reef conservation, and appropriate farming practices. Volunteers work with environmental
organizations, schools, and community groups to promote knowledge and skills that will foster environmental
conservation.
Waste management and water quality are key issues in Jamaica, as the demands of tourism and a large population,
coupled with unhealthy practices, test the country’s water supply. Some Volunteers in the community environmental
health project serve at the national and regional levels, influencing policies by government agencies to support the
development of sustainable water treatment systems. Other Volunteers serve in rural, peri-urban, and urban squatter
settlements, assisting communities in health, hygiene, and implementing water-harvesting and sanitation projects.

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COUNTRY OVERVIEW:
JAMAICA AT A GLANCE
History
Taino Indians inhabited Jamaica prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1494. The island was then colonized
by the Spanish until they were displaced by the British in 1655. After a long period of direct British colonial rule,
Jamaica gained a degree of local political control in the late 1930s. The island held its first election under full
universal adult suffrage in 1944. Jamaica joined nine other British territories in the West Indies Federation in 1958,
but withdrew in 1961 after Jamaican voters rejected membership. Jamaica gained its independence from Britain in
1962 and remains a member of the Commonwealth of British affiliates and former colonies.
Historically, emigration from Jamaica has been heavy. Since the United Kingdom restricted immigration in 1967, the
major flow has been to the United States and Canada. In 2005, 17,500 Jamaicans emigrated to the United States and
56,000 obtained non-immigrant visas.
Government
Jamaica’s official head of state is the queen of England, who appoints and is represented in the country by the
governor general. The head of government is the prime minister, who is also the leader of the political party that wins
the electoral majority in the House of Representatives. Members of the Senate are appointed from the two major
parties, the People’s National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP). The JLP won the general election in
2007 after an 18-year rule by the PNP. Members of the House of Representatives serve five-year terms while
members of the Senate are appointed by the governor general with recommendations from the prime minister. The
prime minister is appointed by the governor general.
Economy
Jamaica is striving to strengthen its economy and escape from its burden of debt. The government is struggling to
provide the services and education that Jamaicans need to improve their standard of living and to promote productive
enterprise in the country. In 2008, 14.8 percent of Jamaicans were living below the poverty line. Providing
opportunities for marginalized youth is a main concern.
The government’s economic policies encourage foreign investment in areas that will earn foreign exchange, such as
tourism, bauxite, and export crops like coffee, spices, and sugarcane. These areas can curtail or reduce
unemployment, which averages 10.1 percent. Many Jamaicans however, are significantly underemployed.
Employment can be generated by investments that use the country’s raw materials. The sugar industry is suffering
from a reduction in the European Union quota and chronic low productivity. The government provides a wide range
of incentives to investors, including remittance facilities to assist them in repatriating funds to their country; tax
holidays, which defer taxes for a period of years; and duty-free access for machinery and raw materials imported for
approved enterprises. Free-trade zones have stimulated investment in garment assembly, light manufacturing, and
data entry by foreign firms. However, over the past few years, the garment industry has suffered from reduced export
earnings, factory closures, and rising unemployment. These factors can be attributed to intense competition, the
absence of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) parity, and the high cost of operations, including
security costs. The government hopes to further encourage economic activity through a combination of privatization,
financial sector restructuring, and reduced interest rates.

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People and Culture
Jamaica is a small island nation of 2.8 million people, the majority of whom are of African origin. Other ethnic
groups include East Indians, Chinese, Lebanese, and Europeans. The country’s ethnic diversity is reflected in the
national motto, “Out of Many, One People.” Religion is an important part of the culture, and school days begin with a
devotional exercise, while most meetings open with a prayer. Christianity is the predominant religion. Members of
the Rastafarian sect are a small but visible group, constituting approximately 12 percent to 15 percent of the
population.
As a former British colony, Jamaica is an English-speaking country; however, most Jamaicans speak Patois, a
Jamaican dialect derived from several languages, including English. Music is a significant aspect of the culture, and
the rhythms of reggae, calypso, and soca commonly emanate from dance halls and the streets.
Environment
Jamaica is the third largest Caribbean island, located approximately 90 miles south of Cuba. It is 146 miles long and
45 miles wide at its widest, and boasts 635 miles of coastline. The waters of its north coast are home to striking coral
reefs, white sand beaches, and more than 700 species of fish. The terrain is quite diverse, with swamps and wetlands
in the south, rough terrain in the interior, and the Blue Mountains, whose highest peak exceeds 7,000 feet and is a
watershed for record-breaking rainfall in the country and region.
Residents enjoy a tropical climate, with temperatures generally between 80 degrees and 90 degrees Fahrenheit
throughout the year. During hurricane season, June to November, the island receives rain and sometimes experiences
windy storms; however, most hurricanes pass by without hitting Jamaica directly. Heavy rains do affect the island
even outside of hurricane season, starting as early as April in some areas. Gilbert in 1988 was one major hurricane to
directly hit Jamaica, and Peace Corps Volunteers played an important role in relief and mitigation efforts in its
aftermath. In September 2004, Hurricane Ivan, with wind gusts of more than 140 miles per hour and torrential rain,
hit Jamaica, damaging homes and infrastructure and causing disruptions in water, telephone, and electrical services.
Fortunately, the eye of Hurricane Ivan veered slightly south, and Jamaica was spared from total devastation.
Similarly, Jamaica was again spared the ravages of two hurricanes (Dennis and Emily) that occurred within a week of
each other in July 2005; and luck continued to hold through 2006. In the 2007 hurricane season, the country
responded to Hurricane Dean and then Tropical Storm Gustav in 2008.
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Following is a list of websites for additional information about the Peace Corps and Jamaica and to connect you to
returned Volunteers and other invitees. Please keep in mind that although we try to make sure all these links are
active and current, we cannot guarantee it. If you do not have access to the Internet, visit your local library. Libraries
offer free Internet usage and often let you print information to take home.
A note of caution: As you surf the Internet, be aware that you may find bulletin boards and chat rooms in which
people are free to express opinions about the Peace Corps based on their own experience, including comments by
those who were unhappy with their choice to serve in the Peace Corps. These opinions are not those of the Peace
Corps or the U.S. government, and we hope you will keep in mind that no two people experience their service in the
same way.

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General Information About Jamaica
www.countrywatch.com
On this site, you can learn anything from what time it is in Kingston to how to convert from the dollar to the Jamaica
currency. Just click on Jamaica and go from there.
www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations
Visit this site for general travel advice about almost any country in the world.
www.state.gov
The State Department’s website issues background notes periodically about countries around the world. Find Jamaica
and learn more about its social and political history.
www.psr.keele.ac.uk/official.htm
This site includes links to all the official sites for governments worldwide.
www.geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm
This online world atlas includes maps and geographical information, and each country page contains links to other
sites, such as the Library of Congress, that contain comprehensive historical, social, and political background.
www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/info.asp
This United Nations site allows you to search for statistical information for member states of the U.N.
www.worldinformation.com
This site provides an additional source of current and historical information about countries around the world.
Connect With Returned Volunteers

and Other Invitees
www.rpcv.org
This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made up of returned Volunteers. On this site you can find
links to all the Web pages of the “friends of” groups for most countries of service, made up of former Volunteers who
served in those countries. There are also regional groups who frequently get together for social events and local
volunteer activities. Or go straight to the Friends of Jamaica site: http://fojamaica.org/index.html.
http://www.rpcvwebring.org
This site is known as the returned Peace Corps Volunteer Web ring. Browse the Web ring and see what former
Volunteers are saying about their service.
www.peacecorpswriters.org
This site is hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers. It is a monthly online publication of essays and Volunteer
accounts of their Peace Corps service.
Online Articles/Current News Sites About Jamaica
www.jamaica-gleaner.com
Site of the Jamaica Gleaner, a local newspaper

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www.jamaicaobserver.com
Site of the Jamaica Observer, a local newspaper
http://kingston.usembassy.gov/u.s.peace_corps.html
U.S. Embassy in Jamaica
www.televisionjamaica.com
Sites of Jamaica’s two local television stations
www.jis.gov.jm
The information service of the government of Jamaica
www.nlj.org.jm
Site of the National Library of Jamaica
International Development Sites About Jamaica
www.paho.org
Pan American Health Organization
www.undp.org/fojam
United Nations Development Programme
www.unicef.org
United Nations Children’s Educational Fund
Recommended Books
1. Clarke, Edith. My Mother Who Fathered Me: A Study of the Families in Three Selected Communities of
Jamaica. The Press University of the West Indies, third revised edition, 2002.
2. Monteith, Kathleen ed. Jamaica in Slavery and Freedom: History, Heritage and Culture. University of the
West Indies Press, 2002.
3. Read, Michael. Lonely Planet Jamaica. Lonely Planet Publications, 2006.
4. Sherlock, Philip, and Hazel Bennett. The Story of the Jamaican People. Princeton, N.J.: Markus Wiener
Publishers, 1998.
5. Stone, Rosemarie. No Stone Unturned. Ian Randle Publishers, 2007.
6. Winkler, Anthony C. Going Home To Teach. LMH Publishing, 1995.

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Books About the History of the Peace Corps
1. Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs. All You Need is Love: The Peace Corps and the Spirit of the 1960’s. Cambridge,
Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2000.
2. Rice, Gerald T. The Bold Experiment: JFK’s Peace Corps. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame
Press, 1985.
3. Stossel, Scott. Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution
Press, 2004.
Books on the Volunteer Experience

1. Dirlam, Sharon. Beyond Siberia: Two Years in a Forgotten Place. Santa Barbara, Calif.: McSeas Books,
2004.
2. Casebolt, Marjorie DeMoss. Margarita: A Guatemalan Peace Corps Experience. Gig Harbor, Wash.: Red
Apple Publishing, 2000.
3. Erdman, Sarah. Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African Village. New York, N.Y.:
Picador, 2003.
4. Hessler, Peter. River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze. New York, N.Y.: Perennial, 2001.
5. Kennedy, Geraldine ed. From the Center of the Earth: Stories out of the Peace Corps. Santa Monica, Calif.:
Clover Park Press, 1991.
6. Thompsen, Moritz. Living Poor: A Peace Corps Chronicle. Seattle, Wash.: University of Washington Press,
1997 (reprint).

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LIVING CONDITIONS AND
VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE
Communications
Mail
Mail from the United States usually takes one to three weeks to arrive, but occasionally it has been known to take
several months or to not arrive at all. Despite the delays, we encourage you to write to your family regularly by this or
other available means. Family members often become worried when they do not hear from you, so it is a good idea to
advise them that mail service is sporadic and that they should not worry if they do not receive your letters regularly.
Fortunately, there are alternatives, including email and cellular phones to which you will have cost-effective access. If
a serious problem were to occur, Peace Corps/Jamaica would notify the Office of Special Services at Peace Corps
headquarters in Washington, D.C., which would then contact your family. Also, you should advise your family that in
the case of an emergency, they can contact the Office of Special Services in Washington at 800.424.8580, extension
1470 (24 hours).
During pre-service training, your mail should be sent to the following address:
“Your Name,” PCT

c/o Country Director
Peace Corps
8 Worthington Avenue
Kingston, 5, Jamaica, West Indies
Once you become a Volunteer and are at your site, you may choose to have your letters sent directly to your new
address, but it is recommended that larger packages be sent by the U.S. Postal Service to the Peace Corps office at the
above address. Large packages sent to any other address, or sent through services like UPS, DHL, and Federal
Express, may attract customs duty and would, therefore, be held at the airport until you make the trip to claim them
and pay duty. Small packages can be sent by USPS to your local address, generally without attracting duty fees.
Packages can take from two weeks to six weeks to arrive. They must be lighter than 22 pounds and are cheaper to
mail if they are less than 11 pounds. Note that books and documents that weigh a minimum of 11 pounds can be sent
to you in an “M-Bag” through the U.S. Postal Service at a relatively economical rate. Further information is available
at U.S. Post Offices and at www.usps.com.
Telephones
Land-line telephones are sporadically available throughout the island and international phone service to and from
Jamaica is fairly reliable. There are very economical cellphone plans to call the U.S. from Jamaica and this is how
most Volunteers communicate with family and friends back home. AT&T, Sprint, and MCI also offer toll-free
numbers that directly connect you with an operator to place a collect call. Several local prepaid calling cards are
available islandwide for local and overseas calls on land-line and cellular phones. U.S. calling cards purchased in the
U.S. may not be accepted here. If calling home collect is not an option, the most economical option is for family and
friends to call you directly. Some cellphones from the United States do not function in Jamaica, but there are three
major cellphone companies providing reliable islandwide coverage. You are strongly advised to invest between $35
(U.S.) and $50 and purchase a cellphone upon your arrival. Most Jamaicans rely on cellular phones as a primary
means of communicating, and will likely assume that you will have one as well. Also, the cellphone is heavily relied
upon for emergency contact purposes.

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Computer, Internet, and Email Access
If you bring a laptop, make certain it is insured and bring a power surge protector. (You might also consider bringing
a portable printer.) Email access is becoming more available and is an economical way to communicate. Peace
Corps/Jamaica’s resource center is equipped with four computers with Internet access for use by Volunteers. There
are also Internet cafes in the larger, and more frequently, smaller cities. Public libraries also offer free Internet if you
have your own computer. You may also access the Internet for free on a library-owned computer, although your time
will be limited.
Housing and Site Location

Your living conditions in Jamaica may not be as rugged as those in many Peace Corps posts. Most Volunteers have
indoor plumbing and running water. However, the water is usually not heated, so be prepared for the adjustment to
cold showers as you gradually become immersed in the Jamaican way of life and work. Although washing machines
are widely available, laundry is often washed by hand in a sink or a washtub or even in a river. Electricity exists
islandwide, except in very remote areas. Very few Volunteers go without a refrigerator or other electrical appliances,
and many Volunteers even have amenities such as cable television.
Living conditions will vary depending upon whether your site is rural, peri-urban, or urban. Areas with tourism will
have a higher standard of living.
The most common living situations are a room in a home with a Jamaican family with access to a bathroom and
kitchen that you will share or a small, self-contained apartment attached to the host family's residence or in their
"yard." Your host family will assist you with orientation to your job, your community, Jamaican home life, and cross-
cultural adjustment.
Living Allowance and Money Management

The local currency is the Jamaican dollar, and the exchange rate changes constantly. The Peace Corps will open a
savings account for you in local currency at a branch of the National Commercial Bank, which will issue you an
ATM card. Your living allowance and leave allowances will be deposited monthly into that account.
Food and Diet

Your diet may not need to change drastically while you are in Jamaica. The main source of meat is chicken. Beef,
goat, and fish are also readily available. You are likely to become a culinary expert in preparing chicken different
ways.
Vegetarians need not be concerned. Although there may be a smaller variety of foods than you are used to, fresh
fruits and vegetables, as well as dried beans and rice, are plentiful. Note that Jamaicans love hot and spicy foods. For
those who crave a taste of home, Burger King, KFC, Subway, Wendy’s, T.G.I. Friday’s, Domino’s, and Pizza Hut
can be found in many urban areas. Also available in urban areas are imported food items. These tend to be expensive;
however, once you move to your site, you will learn to make do with what is available locally—a little creativity does
go a long way.
Transportation
Buses are crowded and often do not operate on regular schedules. The government is making progress in improving
the urban transportation system, introducing more buses, especially during peak hours, and getting them to operate in
a timely manner. Rural travel options range from large buses, minibuses, and route taxis to pickup trucks, bicycles,
and lots of walking. It may be necessary for you to walk or bike some distances in hot, mildly humid, or rainy
weather. Improved stamina, weight reduction, and overall improvement in general well-being are beneficial side
effects reported by our Volunteers. The Peace Corps provides an allowance to Volunteers on a case-by-case basis to
purchase a bicycle for work-related purposes. Volunteers are required to wear a helmet while riding bicycles. These
helmets are issued by Peace Corps/Jamaica.

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Geography and Climate
Jamaica has a tropical climate. Temperatures vary between 80 degrees and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and are about 10
degrees lower at higher elevations. Both days and nights generally are hot and a bit more humid during the summer,
while evenings are noticeably cooler during the winter. At higher elevations, especially between November and
March, evenings can be quite chilly, and a light wrap, long-sleeved shirt, or sweatshirt may be necessary. Rain can
occur any time throughout the year, though most likely from May through June and from September through October.
Social Activities
Activities available for entertainment will depend on where you are assigned and how creative you are. Among the
possibilities are reading, walking, writing letters, riding a bicycle, swimming, socializing with friends, taking classes,
doing arts and crafts, going to movies or plays, watching videos or television, watching or participating in sports such
as football and cricket, listening to music or a shortwave radio, dancing at clubs or DJ parties, snorkeling, scuba
diving, playing games (e.g., cards or dominoes, the national pastime), and playing musical instruments.
Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior

You will be working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in cooperation with a government ministry or Jamaican organization
and will be expected to dress and behave as a professional. Most professional Jamaicans dress well and follow a
conservative dress code. If this dress code is not maintained, it is seen as disrespectful. While tourists may wear short-
shorts and transparent clothing, such attire is not appropriate for Volunteers.
Peace Corps/Jamaica has guidelines for appropriate professional dress, which you are expected to adhere to when
visiting business establishments or the Peace Corps office, especially during working hours. Men should wear long
trousers (not jeans), a short- or long-sleeved shirt with a collar, and leather shoes with socks. Women should wear a
skirt and blouse, a nice pantsuit, or a dress, with nice closed-toe dress shoes or flats. Jeans, T-shirts, sneakers, casual
sandals (e.g., Tevas or Birkenstocks), and other casual wear are inappropriate except during field-oriented activities
(e.g., working with farmers). Flip-flops should not be worn during pre-service training or during work hours. Any
body piercings aside from the ear lobe are inappropriate; please remove these adornments from other exposed areas
before you arrive in-country. Tattoos are also inappropriate and should be kept covered to the extent possible.
Personal Safety
More detailed information about the Peace Corps’ approach to safety is contained in the Health Care and Safety
chapter, but it is an important issue and cannot be overemphasized. As stated in the Volunteer Handbook, becoming a
Peace Corps Volunteer entails certain safety risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar environment (oftentimes
alone), having a limited understanding of local language and culture, and being perceived as well-off are some of the
factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Many Volunteers experience varying degrees of unwanted attention and
harassment. Petty thefts and burglaries are not uncommon and incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur,
although most Jamaica Volunteers complete their two years of service without personal security incidents. The Peace
Corps has established procedures and policies designed to help you reduce your risks and enhance your safety and
security. These procedures and policies, in addition to safety training, will be provided once you arrive in Jamaica. At
the same time, you are expected to take responsibility for your safety and well-being.
Each staff member at the Peace Corps is committed to providing Volunteers with the support they need to
successfully meet the challenges they will face to have a safe, healthy, and productive service. We encourage
Volunteers and families to look at our safety and security information on the Peace Corps website at
www.peacecorps.gov/safety.
Information on these pages gives messages on Volunteer health and Volunteer safety. A video message from the
Director is on this page, as well as a section titled “Safety and Security in Depth.” This page lists topics ranging from
the risks of serving as a Volunteer to posts’ safety support systems to emergency planning and communications.

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Rewards and Frustrations
The real sacrifices you will make in the Peace Corps are in the form of the tremendous daily, even hourly, efforts you
will make to operate and be effective in another culture and the constant struggle to be self-aware and sensitive. A
former Volunteer explains:
“Most of us agree that although we knew the Peace Corps was going to be hard, it is often hard in a different way
than we expected. We all worried about adjusting to the bugs and the heat, but that’s the easy part. It’s more of a
challenge to get used to dealing with perplexing bureaucracy, the lack of motivation in some host country
counterparts, the lack of technology and education, and cultural barriers.”
As with most developing countries, there will be challenges, such as irregular transportation, disruptions in electrical
and water supplies, and inordinate delays in getting things done. Your maturity, openness to change, and commitment
to the Peace Corps will greatly enhance your ability to adapt to living and working in Jamaica. Judging by the
experience of former Volunteers, the rewards are well worth the difficulties, and most Volunteers leave Jamaica
feeling they have gained much more than they gave during their service.
PEACE CORPS TRAINING
Pre-Service Training
Pre-service training is the first event within a competency-based training program that continues throughout your 27
months of service in Jamaica. Pre-service training ensures that Volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills,
and attitudes to effectively perform their jobs. On average, nine of 10 trainees are sworn in as Volunteers.
Pre-service training is conducted in Jamaica and directed by the Peace Corps with participation from representatives
of Jamaica organizations, former Volunteers, and/or training contractors. The length of pre-service training varies,
usually ranging from eight to 12 weeks, depending on the competencies required for the assignment. Jamaica
measures achievement of learning and determines if trainees have successfully achieved competencies, including
language standards, for swearing in as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Throughout service, Volunteers strive to achieve performance competencies. Initially, pre-service training affords the
opportunity for trainees to develop and test their own resources. As a trainee, you will play an active role in self-
education. You will be asked to decide how best to set and meet objectives and to find alternative solutions. You will
be asked to prepare for an experience in which you will often have to take the initiative and accept responsibility for
decisions. The success of your learning will be enhanced by your own effort to take responsibility for your learning
and through sharing experiences with others.
Peace Corps training is founded on adult learning methods and often includes experiential “hands-on” applications
such as conducting a participatory community needs assessment and facilitating groups. Successful training results in
competence in various technical, linguistic, cross-cultural, health, and safety and security areas. Integrating into the
community is usually one of the core competencies Volunteers strive to achieve both in pre-service training and
during the first several months of service. Successful sustainable development work is based on the local trust and
confidence Volunteers build by living in, and respectfully integrating into, the Jamaica community and culture.
Trainees are prepared for this through a homestay experience, which often requires trainees to live with host families
during pre-service training. Integration into the community not only facilitates good working relationships, but it
fosters language learning and cross-cultural acceptance and trust, which help ensure your health, safety, and security.
Woven into the competencies, the ability to communicate in the host country language is critical to being an effective
Peace Corps Volunteer. So basic is this precept that it is spelled out in the Peace Corps Act: No person shall be
assigned to duty as a Volunteer under this act in any foreign country or area unless at the time of such assignment he
(or she) possesses such reasonable proficiency as his (or her) assignment requires in speaking the language of the
country or area to which he (or she) is assigned.

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Qualifying for Service
The pre-service training experience provides an opportunity not only for the Peace Corps to assess a trainee’s
competence, but for trainees to re-evaluate their commitment to serve for 27 months to improve the quality of life of
the people with whom Volunteers live and work and, in doing so, develop new knowledge, skills, and attitudes while
adapting existing ones.
Peace Corps/Jamaica’s competencies are designed to be accomplished throughout the Volunteer’s 27 months of
learning. A trainee may not be able to complete all learning objectives for a competency during pre-service training;
however, he or she must show adequate progress toward achieving the competencies in order to become a Volunteer 1 .
Jamaica’s competencies include the following:
1. Maintain personal safety, security and well-being

2. Commit to Peace Corps and professional service
3. Adapt to the cross-cultural context
4. Speak and understand Jamaican Patois
5. Facilitate participatory community development
Evaluation of your performance throughout service is a continual process, as Volunteers are responsible 24 hours a
day, seven days a week for personal conduct and professional performance. Successful completion of pre-service
training is characterized by achievement of a set of learning objectives to determine competence. Failure to meet any
of the selection standards by the completion of training may be grounds for a withdrawal of selection and
disqualification from Peace Corps service.
Progress in one’s own learning is a dialogue between you and the training staff. All of the training staff—including
the training manager, and the language, technical, medical, safety and security, and cross-cultural trainers—will work
with you toward the highest possible competencies by providing you with feedback on learning objective
performance throughout training. After reviewing and observing your performance, the country director is responsible
for making the final decision on whether you have qualified to serve as a Volunteer in the host country.
Upon successful completion of training, trainees who qualify for Peace Corps service are required by law to swear or
affirm an oath of loyalty to the United States; it cannot be waived under any circumstances. The text of the oath is
provided below. If you have any questions about the wording or meaning of the oath, consult a staff member during
training.
I, (your name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of
America against all enemies, domestic or foreign, that I take this obligation freely, and without any mental
reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge my duties in the Peace Corps (so help
me God).
Ongoing Learning
You are expected to improve your knowledge and skills in the areas of technical, language, cross-cultural, diversity,
health, and safety throughout your service as a Volunteer. Training staff provide learning objectives during the 27-
month continuum to help guide Volunteers throughout service. The manner in which you do this may be formal,
through tutoring or workshops organized by the host government or in-country staff, or informally, through
conversations and reading. Your learning will continue after you become a Volunteer, formally and through in-
service training opportunities, specialized language or technical workshops, and a close-of-service workshop to help
you evaluate your service and prepare for your return to the United States.
1
Peace Corps manual section 201.305.4.

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Formal opportunities for ongoing learning in Jamaica include the following:
1. Pre-service training (PST)

2. Early service conference (ESC)
3. In-service training (IST)
4. Close of service conference (COS)
5. Regional meetings/training (by sector)
The number, length, and design of these trainings are adapted to country-specific needs and conditions. The key to the
Peace Corps training system is that learning events are competency-based, designed, implemented, and evaluated
cooperatively by the Peace Corps staff and Volunteers.
YOUR HEALTH CARE AND

SAFETY IN JAMAICA
The Peace Corps’ highest priority is maintaining the good health and safety of every Volunteer. Peace Corps medical
programs emphasize the preventive, rather than the curative, approach to disease. The Peace Corps in Jamaica
maintains a clinic with a full-time medical officer, who takes care of Volunteers’ primary health care needs.
Additional medical services, such as testing and basic treatment, are also available in Jamaica at local hospitals. If
you become seriously ill, you will be transported either to an American-standard medical facility in the region or to
the United States.
Helping You Stay Healthy

The Peace Corps will provide you with all the necessary inoculations, medications, and information to stay healthy.
Upon your arrival in Jamaica, you will receive a medical handbook and a medical kit with supplies to take care of
mild illnesses and first aid needs. The contents of the kit are listed later in this chapter.
During pre-service training you will have access to basic medical supplies through the medical officers. However,
you will be responsible for your own supply of prescription drugs and any other specific medical supplies you require
during pre-service training, as the Peace Corps will not order these items during training. Please bring a three-month
supply of any prescription drugs you use, since they may not be available here and it may take several months for
shipments to arrive.
You will have physicals at mid-service and at the end of your service. If you develop a serious medical problem during
your service, the medical officers in Jamaica will consult with the Office of Medical Services in Washington, D.C. If it is
determined that your condition cannot be treated in Jamaica, you may be sent out of the country for further evaluation and
care.
Maintaining Your Health

As a Volunteer, you must accept considerable responsibility for your own health. Proper precautions will significantly
reduce your risk of serious illness or injury. The old adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
becomes extremely important in areas where diagnostic and treatment facilities may not be up to the standards of the
United States.
Many diseases that afflict Volunteers worldwide are entirely preventable if proper food and water precautions are
taken. These diseases include food poisoning, parasitic infections, hepatitis A, dysentery, Guinea worm, tapeworms,
and typhoid fever. The medical officers will discuss specific standards for water and food preparation in Jamaica
during pre-service training.

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Abstinence is the only certain choice for preventing infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. You
are taking risks if you choose to be sexually active. To lessen risk, use a condom every time you have sex. Whether
your partner is a host country citizen, a fellow Volunteer, or anyone else, do not assume this person is free of
HIV/AIDS or other STDs. You will receive more information from the medical officers about this important issue.
Volunteers are expected to adhere to an effective means of birth control to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. The
medical officers can help you determine the most appropriate method to suit your individual needs. Contraceptive
methods are available without charge from the medical officers.
It is critical to your health that you promptly report to the medical office or other designated facility for scheduled
immunizations, and that you let your medical officers know immediately of significant illnesses and injuries.
Women’s Health Information

Pregnancy is treated in the same manner as other Volunteer health conditions that require medical attention but also
have programmatic ramifications. The Peace Corps is responsible for determining the medical risk and the
availability of appropriate medical care if the Volunteer remains in-country. Given the circumstances under which
Volunteers live and work in Peace Corps countries, it is rare that the Peace Corps’ medical and programmatic
standards for continued service during pregnancy can be met.
Feminine hygiene products are available for purchase in local stores. If you prefer or require a specific brand, please
bring a supply from home.
Your Peace Corps Medical Kit

The Peace Corps medical officer will provide you with a kit that contains basic items necessary to prevent and treat
illnesses that may occur during service. Kit items can be periodically restocked at the medical office.
Medical Kit Contents

Ace bandages
Adhesive tape
American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook
Antacid tablets (Tums)
Antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymycin B)
Antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleaner (Hibiclens)
Band-Aids
Butterfly closures
Calamine lotion
Cepacol lozenges
Condoms
Dental floss
Diphenhydramine HCL 25 mg (Benadryl)
Insect repellent stick (Cutter’s)
Iodine tablets (for water purification)
Lip balm (Chapstick)
Oral rehydration salts
Oral thermometer (Fahrenheit)
Pseudoephedrine HCL 30 mg (Sudafed)

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Robitussin-DM lozenges (for cough)
Scissors
Sterile gauze pads
Tetrahydrozaline eyedrops (Visine)
Tinactin (antifungal cream)
Tweezers
Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist

If there has been any change in your health—physical, mental, or dental—since you submitted your examination
reports to the Peace Corps, you must immediately notify the Office of Medical Services. Failure to disclose new
illnesses, injuries, allergies, or pregnancy can endanger your health and may jeopardize your eligibility to serve.
If your dental exam was done more than a year ago, or if your physical exam is more than two years old, contact the
Office of Medical Services to find out whether you need to update your records. If your dentist or Peace Corps dental
consultant has recommended you undergo dental treatment or repair, you must complete that work and make sure
your dentist sends requested confirmation reports or X-rays to the Office of Medical Services.
If you wish to avoid having duplicate vaccinations, contact your physician’s office to obtain a copy of your
immunization record and bring it to your pre-departure orientation. If you have any immunizations prior to Peace
Corps service, the Peace Corps cannot reimburse you for the cost. The Peace Corps will provide all the
immunizations necessary for your overseas assignment, either at your pre-departure orientation or shortly after you
arrive in Jamaica. You do not need to begin taking malaria medication prior to departure.
Bring a three-month supply of any prescription or over-the-counter medication you use on a regular basis, including
birth control pills. Although the Peace Corps cannot reimburse you for this three-month supply, it will order refills
during your service. While awaiting shipment—which can take several months—you will be dependent on your own
medication supply. The Peace Corps will not pay for herbal or nonprescribed medications, such as St. John’s wort,
glucosamine, selenium, or antioxidant supplements.
You are encouraged to bring copies of medical prescriptions signed by your physician. This is not a requirement, but
they might come in handy if you are questioned in transit about carrying a three-month supply of prescription drugs.
If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs with you—a pair and a spare. If a pair breaks, the Peace Corps will replace it,
using the information your doctor in the United States provided on the eyeglasses form during your examination. The
Peace Corps discourages you from using contact lenses during your service to reduce your risk of developing a
serious infection or other eye disease. Most Peace Corps countries do not have appropriate water and sanitation to
support eye care with the use of contact lenses. The Peace Corps will not supply or replace contact lenses or
associated solutions unless an ophthalmologist has recommended their use for a specific medical condition and the
Peace Corps’ Office of Medical Services has given approval.
If you are eligible for Medicare, are over 50 years of age, or have a health condition that may restrict your future
participation in health care plans, you may wish to consult an insurance specialist about unique coverage needs before
your departure. The Peace Corps will provide all necessary health care from the time you leave for your pre-departure
orientation until you complete your service. When you finish, you will be entitled to the post-service health care
benefits described in the Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook. You may wish to consider keeping an existing health plan
in effect during your service if you think age or pre-existing conditions might prevent you from re-enrolling in your
current plan when you return home.

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Safety and Security—Our Partnership
Serving as a Volunteer overseas entails certain safety and security risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar
environment, a limited understanding of the local language and culture, and the perception of being a wealthy
American are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Property theft and burglaries are not uncommon.
Incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur, although almost all Volunteers complete their two years of service
without serious personal safety problems.
Beyond knowing that Peace Corps approaches safety and security as a partnership with you, it might be helpful to see
how this partnership works. The Peace Corps has policies, procedures, and training in place to promote your safety.
We depend on you to follow those policies and to put into practice what you have learned. An example of how this
works in practice—in this case to help manage the risk of burglary—is:
Peace Corps assesses the security environment where you will live and work
Peace Corps inspects the house where you will live according to established security criteria
Peace Corp provides you with resources to take measures such as installing new locks
Peace Corps ensures you are welcomed by host country authorities in your new community
Peace Corps responds to security concerns that you raise
You lock your doors and windows
You adopt a lifestyle appropriate to the community where you live
You get to know neighbors
You decide if purchasing personal articles insurance is appropriate for you
You don’t change residences before being authorized by Peace Corps
You communicate concerns that you have to Peace Corps staff.
This Welcome Book contains sections on: Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle; Peace Corps Training; and
Your Health Care and Safety that all include important safety and security information to help you understand this
partnership. The Peace Corps makes every effort to give Volunteers the tools they need to function in the safest way
possible, because working to maximize the safety and security of Volunteers is our highest priority. Not only do we
provide you with training and tools to prepare for the unexpected, but we teach you to identify, reduce, and manage
the risks you may encounter.
Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk

There are several factors that can heighten a Volunteer’s risk, many of which are within the Volunteer’s control. By
far the most common crime that Volunteers experience are thefts. Thefts often occur when Volunteers are away from
their sites, in crowded locations (such as markets or on public transportation), and when leaving items unattended.
Before you depart for Jamaica there are several measures you can take to recuce your risk:
• Leave valuable obbjects in the U.S.

• Leave copies of important documents and account numbers in the U.S. with someone you trust.
• Purchase a hidden money pouch or "dummy" wallet as a decoy
• Purchase personal articles insurance

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After you arrive in Jamaica, you will receive more detailed information about common crimes, factors that contribute
to Volunteer risk, and local strategies to reduce that risk. For example, Volunteers in Jamaica learn to:
• Choose safe routes and times for travel, and travel with someone trusted by the community whenever
possible
• Make sure one’s personal appearance is respectful of local customs
• Avoid high-crime areas
• Know the local language to get help in an emergency
• Make friends with local people who are respected in the community
• Limit alcohol consumption
As you can see from this list, you have to be willing to work hard and adapt your lifestyle to minimize the potential
for being a target for crime. As with anywhere in the world, crime does exist in Jamaica. You can reduce your risk by
avoiding situations that place you at risk and by taking precautions. Crime at the village or town level is less frequent
than in large cities; people know each other and generally are less likely to steal from their neighbors. Tourist
attractions in large towns are favorite worksites for pickpockets.
The following are other security concerns in Jamaica of which you should be aware:
Volunteers tend to attract a lot of attention both in large cities and at their sites, but they are more likely to receive
negative attention in highly populated centers, and away from their support network —friends and colleagues—who
look out for them. While whistles and exclamations may be fairly common on the street, this behavior can be reduced
if you dress conservatively, abide by local cultural norms, and respond according to the training you will receive.
Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime

You must be prepared to take on a large degree of responsibility for your own safety. You can make yourself less of a
target, ensure that your home is secure, and develop relationships in your community that will make you an unlikely
victim of crime. While the factors that contribute to your risk in Jamaica may be different, in many ways you can
better assure your safety by doing what you would do if you moved to a new city anywhere: Be cautious, check
things out, ask questions, learn about your neighborhood, know where the more risky locations are, use common
sense, and be aware. You can reduce your vulnerability to crime by integrating into your community, learning the
local language, acting responsibly, and abiding by Peace Corps policies and procedures. Serving safely and
effectively in Jamaica will require that you accept some restrictions on your current lifestyle.
Support from Staff

If a trainee or Volunteer is the victim of a safety incident, Peace Corps staff is prepared to provide support. All Peace
Corps posts have procedures in place to respond to incidents of crime committed against Volunteers. The first priority
for all posts in the aftermath of an incident is to ensure the Volunteer is safe and receiving medical treatment as
needed. After assuring the safety of the Volunteer, Peace Corps staff members provide support by reassessing the
Volunteer’s worksite and housing arrangements and making any adjustments, as needed. In some cases, the nature of
the incident may necessitate a site or housing transfer. Peace Corps staff will also assist Volunteers with preserving
their rights to pursue legal sanctions against the perpetrators of the crime. It is very important that Volunteers report
incidents as they occur, not only to protect their peer Volunteers, but also to preserve the future right to prosecute.
Should Volunteers decide later in the process that they want to proceed with the prosecution of their assailant, this
option may no longer exist if the evidence of the event has not been preserved at the time of the incident.

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Crime Data for Jamaica
The country-specific data chart below shows the average annual rates of major types of crimes reported by Peace
Corps Volunteers/trainees in Jamaica compared to all other Inter-America and the Pacific Region programs as a
whole. It can be understood as an approximation of the number of reported incidents per 100 Volunteers in a year 2 .
Incidence Rates of Reported Incidents in PC/Jamaica and

IAP Region, 2004-2008
12.0
10.5
9.9
10.0
Incidence Rate
8.0 Jam aica

IAP
6.0
3.9 4.1
3.7
4.0
2.7
2.1
1.3 1.0 1.6
2.0 1.1
0.6
0.0
Sexual Other Physical Robbery Burglary Theft
Assault* Sexual Assault***
Assault**
*Sexual Assault includes the categories of rape, attempted rape, and major sexual assault.
**Other Sexual Assault consists of unwanted groping, fondling, and/or kissing.
***Physical Assault includes aggravated assault and major physical assault .
Few Peace Corps Volunteers are victims of serious crimes and crimes that do occur overseas are investigated and
prosecuted by local authorities through the local courts system. If you are the victim of a crime, you will decide if you
wish to pursue prosecution. If you decide to prosecute, Peace Corps will be there to assist you. One of our tasks is to
ensure you are fully informed of your options and understand how the local legal process works. Peace Corps will
help you ensure your rights are protected to the fullest extent possible under the laws of the country.
If you are the victim of a serious crime, you will learn how to get to a safe location as quickly as possible and contact
your Peace Corps office. It’s important that you notify Peace Corps as soon as you can so Peace Corps can provide
you with the help you need.
Volunteer Safety Support in Jamaica

The Peace Corps’ approach to safety is a five-pronged plan to help you stay safe during your service and includes the
following: information sharing, Volunteer training, site selection criteria, a detailed emergency action plan, and
protocols for addressing safety and security incidents. Jamaica’s in-country safety program is outlined below.
2
The incidence rate for each type of crime is the number of crime events relative to the Volunteer/trainee population. It is
expressed on the chart as a ratio of crime to Volunteer and trainee years (or V/T years, which is a measure of 12 full months
of V/T service) to allow for a statistically valid way to compare crime data across countries.

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The Peace Corps/Jamaica office will keep you informed of any issues that may impact Volunteer safety through
information sharing. Regular updates will be provided in Volunteer newsletters and in memorandums from the
country director. In the event of a critical situation or emergency, you will be contacted through the emergency
communication network. An important component of the capacity of the Peace Corps to keep you informed is your
buy-in to the partnership concept with the Peace Corps staff. It is expected that you will do your part in ensuring that
Peace Corps staff members are kept apprised of your movements in-country so they are capable of informing you.
Volunteer training will include sessions on specific safety and security issues in Jamaica. This training will prepare
you to adopt a culturally appropriate lifestyle and exercise judgment that promotes safety and reduces risk in your
home, at work, and while traveling. Safety training is offered throughout service and is integrated into the language,
cross-cultural aspects, health, and other components of training. You will be expected to successfully complete all
training competencies in a variety of areas, including safety and security, as a condition of service.
Certain site selection criteria are used to determine safe housing for Volunteers before their arrival. The Peace Corps
staff works closely with host communities and counterpart agencies to help prepare them for a Volunteer’s arrival and
to establish expectations of their respective roles in supporting the Volunteer. Each site is inspected before the
Volunteer’s arrival to ensure placement in appropriate, safe, and secure housing and worksites. Site selection is based,
in part, on any relevant site history; access to medical, banking, postal, and other essential services; availability of
communications, transportation, and markets; different housing options and living arrangements; and other Volunteer
support needs.
You will also learn about Peace Corps/Jamaica’s detailed emergency action plan, which is implemented in the event
of civil or political unrest or a natural disaster. When you arrive at your site, you will complete and submit a site
locator form with your address, contact information, and a map to your house. If there is a security threat, you will
gather with other Volunteers in Jamaica at predetermined locations until the situation is resolved or the Peace Corps
decides to evacuate.
Finally, in order for the Peace Corps to be fully responsive to the needs of Volunteers, it is imperative that Volunteers
immediately report any security incident to the Peace Corps office. The Peace Corps has established protocols for
addressing safety and security incidents in a timely and appropriate manner, and it collects and evaluates safety and
security data to track trends and develop strategies to minimize risks to future Volunteers.
DIVERSITY AND
CROSS-CULTURAL ISSUES
In fulfilling its mandate to share the face of America with host countries, the Peace Corps is making special efforts to
see that all of America’s richness is reflected in the Volunteer corps. More Americans of color are serving in today’s
Peace Corps than at any time in recent years. Differences in race, ethnic background, age, religion, and sexual
orientation are expected and welcomed among our Volunteers. Part of the Peace Corps’ mission is to help dispel any
notion that Americans are all of one origin or race and to establish that each of us is as thoroughly American as the
other despite our many differences.
Our diversity helps us accomplish that goal. In other ways, however, it poses challenges. In Jamaica, as in other Peace
Corps host countries, Volunteers’ behavior, lifestyle, background, and beliefs are judged in a cultural context very
different from their own. Certain personal perspectives or characteristics commonly accepted in the United States
may be quite uncommon, unacceptable, or even repressed in Jamaica.

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Outside of Jamaica’s capital, residents of rural communities have had relatively little direct exposure to other
cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles. What people view as typical American behavior or norms may be a
misconception, such as the belief that all Americans are rich and have blond hair and blue eyes. The people of
Jamaica are justly known for their generous hospitality to foreigners; however, members of the community in which
you will live may display a range of reactions to cultural differences that you present.
To ease the transition and adapt to life in Jamaica, you may need to make some temporary, yet fundamental
compromises in how you present yourself as an American and as an individual. For example, female trainees and
Volunteers may not be able to exercise the independence available to them in the United States; political discussions
need to be handled with great care; and some of your personal beliefs may best remain undisclosed. You will need to
develop techniques and personal strategies for coping with these and other limitations. The Peace Corps staff will
lead diversity and sensitivity discussions during pre-service training and will be on call to provide support, but the
challenge ultimately will be your own.
Overview of Diversity in Jamaica

The Peace Corps staff in Jamaica recognizes the adjustment issues that come with diversity and will endeavor to
provide support and guidance. During pre-service training, several sessions will be held to discuss diversity and
coping mechanisms. We look forward to having male and female Volunteers from a variety of races, ethnic groups,
ages, religions, and sexual orientations, and hope you will become part of a diverse group of Americans who take
pride in supporting one another and demonstrating the richness of American culture.
What Might a Volunteer Face?
Possible Issues for Female Volunteers

Female Volunteers find that women’s equality and independence are defined differently in Jamaica than in the United
States, with different expectations for women’s roles. In Jamaica, female Volunteers may be expected to have a
husband, children, a boyfriend, or some combination of the three. They may be expected to “stay at home.” They may
be proposed to on a daily basis or subjected to sexual advances or touching. Verbal harassment can be extremely
crude. Female Volunteers may also find that in a technical discussion with Jamaican colleagues, the opinions of a
female, especially a young female, may be ignored while a male saying the exact same thing may be listened to.
Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color

A person of color may be the only minority trainee or Volunteer within a particular project, and may work and live
with individuals with no experience or understanding of his or her culture. They may not receive necessary personal
support from white Volunteers or may be questioned about socializing exclusively with other minority Volunteers.
Assumed to be Jamaicans, African-American Volunteers may be accepted more readily into the culture than other
Volunteers and treated according to local social norms. They may also be categorized according to local stereotypes
concerning skin pigmentation, such as the view that those with lighter skin are smarter or more dependable. Another
stereotype Jamaicans make is calling fair-skinned blacks “red” or “white” Jamaicans.
Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers

Seniors may find themselves treated with more respect than younger Volunteers and may have different interactions
with Jamaicans as a result. They may find that younger Volunteers look to them for advice and support; some seniors
find this a very enjoyable part of their Volunteer experience, while others choose not to fill this role.
Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers

Although homosexual Volunteers have served in Jamaica successfully, Jamaica is a homophobic society. Local law
prohibits homosexuality and arrests of homosexuals have occurred. Revealing one’s homosexuality has also resulted
in life-threatening physical assaults and destruction of homes and property.

24
Homosexuals are advised to exercise extreme caution in publicizing their homosexuality in Jamaica, as this is
despised and not tolerated by the Jamaican society. Several murders, allegedly identified as hate crimes, have
occurred in recent times against individuals deemed to be homosexuals. At a workshop with Jamaican project
partners, many project partners expressed strongly their opposition to diversity in sexual orientation. Trainees and
Volunteers who cannot remain closeted during their tenure in Jamaica should reconsider serving in Jamaica
and should talk with Peace Corps placement officers about possible alternative assignments.
Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers

Volunteers in Jamaica, a predominantly Christian nation, can expect many meetings to begin with a prayer. They
should also be prepared to be criticized a little for not attending church.
Possible Issues for Volunteers With Disabilities

As part of the medical clearance process, the Peace Corps Office of Medical Services determined that you were
physically and emotionally capable, with or without reasonable accommodations, to perform a full tour of Volunteer
service in Jamaica without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or interruption of service. The Peace Corps/Jamaica
staff will work with disabled Volunteers to make reasonable accommodations for them in training, housing,
worksites, or other areas to enable them to serve safely and effectively.
Possible Issues for Married Volunteers

Being a married couple in the Peace Corps has its advantages and challenges. It helps to have someone by your side
to share your experience with, but there are also cultural expectations that can cause stress in a marriage. The most
important thing to remember is that you are in a foreign country with new rules. As long as you remain open-minded
you will have a successful service. However, there are issues that you will face and challenges you will encounter in
your community. Sometimes only one spouse is enthusiastic about joining Peace Corps, is more able to adapt to the
new physical and/or cultural environment, or is less or more homesick than the other. A married woman may find
herself in a less independent role than that to which she is accustomed, experience a more limited social life in the
community than single Volunteers (since it may be assumed that she will be busy taking care of her husband), or is
expected to perform “traditional” domestic chores such as cooking or cleaning. Competition may cause difficulties;
one spouse may learn faster than the other. There may be differences in job satisfaction and/or different needs.
Younger Volunteers may look to couples for advice and support. Married couples are likely to be treated with more
respect because the community sees marriage as a responsibility; and you may be asked why you do not have
children.

25
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much luggage am I allowed to bring to Jamaica?

Most airlines have baggage size and weight limits and assess charges for transport of baggage that exceeds those
limits. The Peace Corps has its own size and weight limits and will not pay the cost of transport for baggage that
exceeds these limits. The Peace Corps’ allowance is two checked pieces of luggage with combined dimensions of
both pieces not to exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and a carry-on bag with dimensions of no more than
45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 80 pounds [or 100 for countries with cold weather] total with a
maximum weight of 50 pounds for any one bag.
Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to take pets, weapons, explosives, radio transmitters (shortwave radios are
permitted), automobiles, or motorcycles to their overseas assignments. Do not pack flammable materials or liquids
such as lighter fluid, cleaning solvents, hair spray, or aerosol containers. This is an important safety precaution.
What is the electric current in Jamaica?

The electrical system in the U.S. is 60 hertz. Jamaica is 50 hertz. While most electronics will work on both systems,
digital clocks will run slow in Jamaica unless they are specifically designed for 50 hertz. Also, some electronics seem
to generate more heat operating on 50 hertz.
How much money should I bring?

Volunteers are expected to live at the same level as the people in their community. You will be given a settling-in
allowance and a monthly living allowance, which should cover your expenses. Often Volunteers wish to bring
additional money for vacation travel to other countries. Credit cards and traveler’s checks are preferable to cash. If
you choose to bring extra money, bring the amount that will suit your own travel plans and needs.
When can I take vacation and have people visit me?

Each Volunteer accrues two vacation days per month of service (excluding training). Leave may not be taken during
training, the first three months of service, or the last three months of service, except in conjunction with an authorized
emergency leave. Family and friends are welcome to visit you after pre-service training and the first three months of
service as long as their stay does not interfere with your work. Extended stays at your site are not encouraged and
may require permission from your country director. The Peace Corps is not able to provide your visitors with visa,
medical, or travel assistance.
Will my belongings be covered by insurance?

The Peace Corps does not provide insurance coverage for personal effects; Volunteers are ultimately responsible for
the safekeeping of their personal belongings. However, you can purchase personal property insurance before you
leave. If you wish, you may contact your own insurance company; additionally, insurance application forms will be
provided, and we encourage you to consider them carefully. Volunteers should not ship or take valuable items
overseas. Jewelry, watches, radios, cameras, and expensive appliances are subject to loss, theft, and breakage, and in
many places, satisfactory maintenance and repair services are not available.
Do I need an international driver’s license?

Volunteers in Jamaica do not need an international driver’s license because they are prohibited from operating
privately owned motorized vehicles. Most urban travel is by bus or taxi. Rural travel ranges from buses and
minibuses to trucks, bicycles, and lots of walking. On very rare occasions, a Volunteer may be asked to drive a
sponsor’s vehicle, but this can occur only with prior written permission of the country director. Should this occur, the
Volunteer may obtain a local driver’s license. A U.S. driver’s license will facilitate the process, so bring it with you
just in case.

26
What should I bring as gifts for Jamaica friends and my host family?
This is not a requirement. A token of friendship is sufficient. Some gift suggestions include knickknacks for the
house; pictures, books, or calendars of American scenes; souvenirs from your area; hard candies that will not melt or
spoil; or photos to give away.
Where will my site assignment be when I finish training and how isolated will I be?
Peace Corps trainees are not assigned to individual sites until after they have completed pre-service training. This
gives Peace Corps staff the opportunity to assess each trainee’s technical and language skills prior to assigning sites,
in addition to finalizing site selections with their ministry counterparts. If feasible, you may have the opportunity to
provide input on your site preferences, including geographical location, distance from other Volunteers, and living
conditions. However, keep in mind that many factors influence the site selection process and that the Peace Corps
cannot guarantee placement where you would ideally like to be. Most Volunteers live in small towns or in rural
villages and are usually within one hour from another Volunteer. Some sites require a 10- to 12-hour drive from the
capital. There is at least one Volunteer based in each of the regional capitals and about five to eight Volunteers in the
capital city.
How can my family contact me in an emergency?

The Peace Corps’ Office of Special Services provides assistance in handling emergencies affecting trainees and
Volunteers or their families. Before leaving the United States, instruct your family to notify the Office of Special
Services immediately if an emergency arises, such as a serious illness or death of a family member. During normal
business hours, the number for the Office of Special Services is 800.424.8580; select option 2, then extension 1470.
After normal business hours and on weekends and holidays, the Special Services duty officer can be reached at the
above number. For nonemergency questions, your family can get information from your country desk staff at the
Peace Corps by calling 800.424.8580.
Can I call home from Jamaica?

Landline telephones are sporadically available throughout the island and international phone service to and from
Jamaica is fairly reliable. There are very economical cellphone plans to call the U.S. from Jamaica and this is how
most Volunteers communicate with family and friends back home. AT&T, Sprint, and MCI also offer toll-free
numbers that directly connect you with an operator to place a collect call. Several local prepaid calling cards are
available islandwide for local and overseas calls on landline and cellular phones. U.S. calling cards purchased in the
U.S. may not be accepted here. If calling home collect is not an option, the most economical option is for family and
friends to call you directly. Some cellphones from the United States do not function in Jamaica, but there are three
major cellphone companies providing reliable islandwide coverage. You are strongly encouraged to invest between
$35 (U.S.) and $50 and purchase a cellphone upon your arrival. Most Jamaicans rely on cellular phones as a primary
means of communicating, and will likely assume that you will have one as well.
Should I bring a cellular phone with me?

Many cellphones from the United States do not function in Jamaica, and cellphones are widely available for purchase
islandwide. Please take into account that your site may not have cellphone access.
Will there be email and Internet access? Should I bring my computer?

You can bring a laptop with you for personal use, but you should get it insured. For Internet access, there are several
local providers from which to choose.

27
WELCOME LETTERS FROM
JAMAICA VOLUNTEERS
Dear Invitee,
Welcome to Peace Corps/Jamaica, Mon! All we can say is get ready for the experience of a lifetime. The time
consuming application process is over and you have accepted the invitation to paradise. Yes, Jamaica has the beaches,
warm weather, wonderful cuisine, beautiful people, and many sites to visit. Yet, Jamaica and her people will
challenge your strengths, seek out your weaknesses, question your sincerity, and not always accept your hands of
service. Above all, Peace Corps and Jamaica will force you to reach deeper inside yourself than ever before, to find
the greatest part of you. It is that gift that you must share and grow from! There is no possible chance that you will
not gain personal growth.
As a married couple serving it is believed that we have it much easier. Yes, but only to a degree. Being married has
its positives and negatives. Never underestimate the challenges of acclimating to new and different customs and ways
of thought. But during those rough patches, it is nice to have a familiar shoulder to lean on. It is the respect you have
for your spouse that will keep you well bonded.
Lastly, there will be some challenges that pre-service training just cannot cover. You will surely hear of the
experiences that other Peace Corps Volunteers have had that will both excite and frustrate you. Nonetheless, your
time on this island will be your very own unique experience. Not even your spouse will have the exact same
experience as yourself. It is your responsibility to come and leave with your own mind, and know that you can
survive all that comes your way! Peace Corps is right—this will be the “hardest job,” but it is up to you to love it. As
Volunteers serving in Peace Corps/Jamaica, we are LOVING IT!
Best wishes,
Tony and Marie Knapp-Marshall
Welcome to Peace Corps/Jamaica! I vividly remember the day I opened my Peace Corps Welcoming Package
congratulating my husband and me on our placement with the Youth As Promise sector in Jamaica. I think I fell to
the ground in joy! I can only imagine what is going through your mind right now: I need more sunscreen! And yes,
you will. I think my first purchase after learning about our placement in Jamaica was a Nalgene bottle (which I
proceeded to lose my first week on the island), and some cute warm weather tops (which were made of polyester and
immediately gave me heat rash). The Nalgene bottle made sense in the beginning, but I laugh about it now. You can’t
get any more American! And the shirts? They are sitting in the bottom of my closet. I have three words: cotton,
cotton, cotton.
More importantly, however, is the fact you have made it this far! Receiving an invitation to serve in Peace Corps
/Jamaica is a grand accomplishment (was that medical assessment intense or what?!) Like most, I am sure you have
been thinking about this pursuit for some time. Take pride in the fact you have taken that next step and applied. Take
greater pride in the fact that you have accepted the invitation and have committed to serve. In some ways that may be
the hardest step: accepting an unknown assignment in a land unfamiliar based on a fundamental desire to serve. As
we all know, it is the pursuit of the unknown that promises the most growth and reward. If you are looking for an
opportunity to share, if you possess an openness to learn, if you enjoy recognizing cultural similarities while
celebrating their differences, and you enjoy a good adventure, then you are stepping in the right direction.

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My advice? Leave behind your expectations. They will only get in your way. Come to Jamaica with a clean slate
ready for all new experiences with different norms, rules, and routines. There is no “typical” Peace Corps experience
here. Your assignment will take you in unexpected directions and you will be challenged in ways that you currently
cannot anticipate. Your Peace Corps/Jamaica experience will be unique to you, and you will be a better person for it.
Rest assured the support you will receive from Peace Corps administration, staff, current Volunteers, and local
community members is exceptional. We are all in this together and we can’t wait to meet you! So buckle up! The
road may get bumpy and at times you may take unexpected detours, but like all epic trips, you’ll collect an endless
supply of beautiful stories to share because the journey will be extraordinary.
Bless,
Yvonne Schofield Cleary, Group 79
Welcome to Jamaica! I hope that you are looking forward to your time on this wild, gorgeous island.
As I remember it, speaking to current Volunteers as a trainee was both encouraging and terrifying. With little
prompting, each person I met could rattle off an impressive litany of past, present, and planned activities and
initiatives. Success was being had and there was indeed Work to Be Done. So what was I supposed to do?
Working with the Social Development Commission—with a broad goal of building capacity in area community
organizations—the freedom I have had to explore different opportunities has been incredible and often daunting. Now
I could offer you my own list: Formed out of hours of meetings I wasn’t quite sure why I had (yet again) decided to
come to on time; hundreds of conversations with strangers (and later, friends) on roadsides and verandas, in coffee
fields and in boardrooms; pages of collected contacts, information and to-do lists; and plenty of time hiking aimlessly
around the staggeringly beautiful Blue Mountains I live in, just thinking things through.
More than a means to an end, these were often attention arresting moments in and of themselves: Tiny successes,
challenges, and realizations. This is why we are told time and again that “everyone’s service is different.” It is not
simply that there is no specific track; it is that it is your personal experiences and relationships (and interests!) that
will shape what you do.
In Jamaica, opportunities will be all around you, even if it takes time to work them out. Despite what you may
consider a relatively high standard of living, there are frequently difficulties with water access, waste management,
access to health care, basic health (and other) education, employment, and a long list of other issues. For my part, I
have ended up working with our local farmers’ group to do everything from funding and implementing an irrigation
and managed agriculture project, to rebuilding the parish stall for a farm show and helping establish a group
marketing program. With a recently acquired bachelor’s in philosophy and no farming or environmental background
whatsoever, I’m fairly certain I’ve learned at least as much from my project partners as they have from me.
Using that knowledge, I’m helping another community construct a residential water line, which will give them access
to piped water for the first time in over 20 years. I’m also growing my own sweet peppers.
Stefanie Neale, Group 79

29
Wagwan Group 81,
I am welcoming you this breezy morning from my Salt Marsh Primary School office in the parish of Trelawny,
Jamaica. My quaint community here on the north coast seemed quiet and cool this daybreak as I watered the thriving
crops here in our school garden, but the sea of warm sunlight which snuck over the mountains soon reminded me
about this lush, tropical climate. After being here for almost a year, the smiles and most hospitable greetings are still
received on my 10 a.m. walk down to the seaside during classroom break, where I trade my okra or tomatoes for two
pounds of fresh fish. By 1p.m., I will be out of my formal apparel and into the fields here with our older fifth- and
sixth-grade 4-H club members for a small farming workshop.
Jamaica has taught me to appreciate the natural elements around me, utilizing a myriad of alternative livelihood
methods. Being in the health sector, optimizing my capabilities with minimal resources in this “Land of Wood and
Water” has been the key to understanding how this wholesome and passionate culture prevails. Even with the
historical hardships and impoverished economy, these vibrant islanders still extend open arms with warm smiles,
which is another gained virtue I plan to bring back to America.
I can imagine that you might be anxious to understand your future role here in Jamaica. The initial Peace Corps
training seminar offers a nice transition to allow acclimation and integration, but save most of your journal for your
future site because this is where all the wild and fun stories will unfold. No matter where you are placed on this
island, your situation will be unique and your experience will be fulfilling. Just ask the local carpenters here who last
week helped me fabricate a new zinc roof for the school in trade for a truckload of mangoes from our community
orchard. Formerly an architect from Colorado, using fruit as a form of currency for construction costs never dawned
on me before Peace Corps.
So please, get excited my future neighbors and understand that flexibility, creativity, and initiative are the three
successful ingredients to this tasty bowl of soup they call “The Rock.”
Walk Guud,
Nicholas Kot, Group 79
Welcome!
Congratulations for making it this far! It is such a great feeling to finally make it to this point and know you are one
step closer to becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer. You have just started a new adventure where you will be excited,
nervous, curious, and apprehensive (sometimes all in the same moment!). Sit back, relax, and let Jamaica’s people
and culture take hold of you and lead you through the next two years.
It was more than two years ago when I was in your very shoes with the same thoughts and feelings you are
experiencing. I had just found out I was on my way to Jamaica and I couldn’t believe what I had “gotten myself into.”
I am quite the worrier, and this was the first decision I had made in my life where I did not have each question
answered or a good Plan B to fall back on. I just had this strong calling to become a Peace Corps Volunteer and knew
the best thing to do was to take each situation as it came.
Remember to take this experience in stride; your questions will be answered and your worries will be lessened. The
Peace Corps experience has a way of taking care of itself and if you “roll with it,” you will fall into a level of comfort
in your new home.

30
So how do I serve in Jamaica? My primary project is at an environmental nonprofit in Port Antonio, the parish capital
of Portland. I work on a variety of projects at my agency, including going into schools to give presentations about the
environment. As a secondary project, I teach literacy to students at a local primary school. One of the true joys of my
job is seeing the smiles on the children’s faces when we play environmental games, getting hugs from the children
after a presentation, or students shouting, “Hey Miss!” or “Hey teach!” on the street.
Though each PCV’s experience will be different, some themes do remain true of every experience. You will be
touched when you meet the caring, friendly people who will make your day by the smile they will give you. You will
taste amazing food, including fried dumplings, callilou with boiled banana, rum cake, festival, and jerk chicken. You
will have numerous stories of adventure tied to traveling by taxi, minibus, coaster, and city bus. Your eyes will feast
on the beauty from the mountains rising to the clouds, beautiful butterflies and birds, the multitude of rainbows, and
the turquoise water. Your ears will be filled with the sounds of the Patois language and music, including reggae,
dancehall, and ska. Finally, you will change and grow in ways that you may not discover until you have left the island
and have a chance to really think about what you just lived through.
Come with an open heart and mind! Know that you will have times of ups and downs, but know that they are only
making you a stronger person and solidifying who you are becoming through this experience. Trust me; this is truly
“the toughest job you’ll ever love.”
Peace and love,
Shannon Rease, Group 77

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PACKING LIST
This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Jamaica and is based on their experience. Use it as an informal
guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that experience is individual. There is no perfect list! You obviously
cannot bring everything on the list, so consider those items that make the most sense to you personally and
professionally. You can always have things sent to you later. As you decide what to bring, keep in mind that you have
an 80-pound weight limit on baggage. And remember, you can get almost everything you need in Jamaica.
General Clothing
Men
The workplace (bring enough to last two weeks without washing):

• Slacks (not jeans)
• Shirts with collars (short-sleeved, lightweight button-down, wash-and-wear are best; polo shirts are acceptable)
• Shoes: lace up leather (brown or black)
Field work and recreation wear:

• Jeans (dark pants are preferable, as light colors show soil quicker)
• Long shorts
• Short-sleeved, nonbutton-down shirts and T-shirts
Special Occasions (e.g., swearing-in ceremony, church, weddings, and funerals):

• Lightweight suit or sport coat
• Tie
• Dress shoes
Women
The workplace (at least 10 to 12 coordinated outfits, including shoes and jewelry):
• Lightweight tailored dresses
• Lightweight blazers or jackets
• Mix-and-match skirts (no miniskirts)
• Button-up blouses with collars (no spaghetti straps or low necks)
• Professional pantsuits (optional)
• Slacks (dark colored or khaki)
• Shoes: black or brown closed-toed with or without heel
Field work and recreational wear:

• Lightweight pants or jeans
• Capri pants
• Short-sleeved shirts
• T-shirts or polo shirts
• Jogging/running clothes (not too fitted)
Special Occasions (e.g., swearing-in ceremony, church, weddings, and funerals):

• Cocktail dress
• At least one formal or casually elegant outfit (appropriate for church)

32
• Party outfits (optional)
• One or two pairs of closed-toe dress shoes and dressy high-heeled sandals
Other items to bring:

• Extra underwear
• Sun hat/cap
• Belts (of any material except suede)
• Bandanas or handkerchiefs (widely available and cheap in Jamaica)
• Small collapsible umbrella (raincoat optional)
• Iron!
Shoes
Bring three or four pairs of comfortable and sturdy walking or tennis shoes. It is advisable to have more than one
pair to allow for a day of “drying time.” Due to the high humidity, clothing and shoes do have a tendency to
mildew. Also bring one or two pair of closed-toe dress shoes and dressy high-heeled sandals. Although
Birkenstock/Tevas/Chacos-type sandals are nice to have for their comfort, they are not suitable for most
professional situations.
Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items

• Travel-size toiletries for weekend trips optional, but you will need one
• Brush, comb, hand mirror, nail clippers, nail file, razor and blades
• Contact lens solution, if you wear contacts (available but expensive in-country)
• Three-month supply of any prescription drugs you take
• Feminine hygiene products—tampons, sanitary napkins, and panty shields (available but expensive in-
country),
• Hair dryer
• Hairpins, barrettes, etc.
• Two to four inexpensive, lightweight bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths
• One beach towel or backpacking quick-dry towels
• Insect repellent (provided by Peace Corps, but bring if you have a preference)
• Sunscreen (provided by Peace Corps, but bring if you have a preference)
• Any specialty toiletries (may be available, but will probably be expensive in-country)
Kitchen
• Basic cookbook or recipes for your favorite dishes
• Plastic containers (available but expensive in-country)
• Plastic storage bags in assorted sizes (available but expensive in-country)
• Artificial sweetener (if you use it); available locally, but expensive
• Specialty kitchen utensils (available but expensive in-country)

33
Miscellaneous
• Two pairs of prescription eyeglasses (if you wear them; photochromic lenses are recommended)
• Sunglasses (preferably with UV protection)
• Watch (inexpensive, durable, water-resistant) with extra batteries
• Shoulder bag, backpack, and/or lightweight overnight bag (Volunteers often go on short, two- to four-day
trips, so bring something you can comfortably carry on a crowded bus). (Backpacks are recommended for
hiking only; bring a shoulder bag for everyday use)
• Therm-a-Rest or other portable sleeping pad (for use when visiting other Volunteers)
• Duct tape
• Plastic water bottle (e.g., Nalgene) or canteen
• Earplugs for sleeping through loud music, roosters' crowing, and barking dogs
• Digital camera (available locally but expensive)
• World band radio (Portable AM/FM radios are available in Jamaica)
• CD player, iPod, or other music player with cord and batteries (especially important if you are not into
listening to reggae and dancehall music all the time)
• Games (e.g., cards, backgammon, chess)
• Snorkel, mask, fins, and swimming goggles (if you are so inclined)
• Hobby and craft supplies (available but expensive in-country)
• Resource materials (e.g., textbooks, dictionary, thesaurus) and office supplies (e.g., small stapler, rubber
bands, paper clips, scissors, tape, pens, markers); some host agencies will provide these, but others will
not. You may want to prepare a box to be sent to you later if you find you need them
• Leatherman tool (for simple repairs)
• Laptop (optional; if you have one, you may want to bring it. Jamaica has regular electricity supply and
wireless Internet "hot spots" are becoming more available)
• Jump drive/flash drive/thumb drive

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PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST
The following list consists of suggestions for you to consider as you prepare to live outside the United States for two
years. Not all items will be relevant to everyone, and the list does not include everything you should make
arrangements for.
Family
• Notify family that they can call the Peace Corps’ Office of Special Services at any time if there is a critical illness
or death of a family member (24-hour telephone number: 800.424.8580, extension 1470).
• Give the Peace Corps’ On the Home Front handbook to family and friends.
Passport/Travel
• Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork for the Peace Corps passport and visas.
• Verify that your luggage meets the size and weight limits for international travel.
• Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after your service ends. (Your Peace Corps passport will expire
three months after you finish your service, so if you plan to travel longer, you will need a regular passport.)
Medical/Health
• Complete any needed dental and medical work.
• If you wear glasses, bring two pairs.
• Arrange to bring a three-month supply of all medications (including birth control pills) you are currently taking.
Insurance
• Make arrangements to maintain life insurance coverage.
• Arrange to maintain supplemental health coverage while you are away. (Even though the Peace Corps is
responsible for your health care during Peace Corps service overseas, it is advisable for people who have pre-
existing conditions to arrange for the continuation of their supplemental health coverage. If there is a lapse in
coverage, it is often difficult and expensive to be reinstated.)
• Arrange to continue Medicare coverage if applicable.
Personal Papers
• Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce.
Voting
• Register to vote in the state of your home of record. (Many state universities consider voting and payment of state
taxes as evidence of residence in that state.)
• Obtain a voter registration card and take it with you overseas.
• Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to you overseas.

35
Personal Effects
• Purchase personal property insurance to extend from the time you leave your home for service overseas until the
time you complete your service and return to the United States.
Financial Management
• Keep a bank account in your name in the U.S.
• Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or loan service.
• Execute a Power of Attorney for the management of your property and business.
• Arrange for deductions from your readjustment allowance to pay alimony, child support, and other debts through
the Office of Volunteer Financial Operations at 800.424.8580, extension 1770.
• Place all important papers—mortgages, deeds, stocks, and bonds—in a safe deposit box or with an attorney or
other caretaker.

36
CONTACTING PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS
This list of numbers will help connect you with the appropriate office at Peace Corps headquarters to answer various
questions. You can use the toll-free number and extension or dial directly using the local numbers provided. Be sure
to leave the toll-free number and extensions with your family so they can contact you in the event of an emergency.
Peace Corps Headquarters Toll-free Number:

800.424.8580, Press 2, and then Ext. # (see below)
Peace Corps’ Mailing Address:

Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters
1111 20th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20526
Placement Office/Responding to an Invitation:

202.692.1840/or Ext. 1840
Country Information:
Cicely Wolters, Country Desk Assistant, 202.692.2512, cwolters@peacecorps.gov, Ext. 2512
Abby Kardel, Country Desk Assistant 202.692.5209, akardel@peacecorps.gov, Ext. 5209
Country Desk Officer: Dawn Hodge, 202.692.2517, dhodge@peacecorps.gov , Ext. 2517
SATO Travel (questions about plate tickets, passports, travel matters, etc):
202.692.1170 /or Ext. 1170
*Legal Clearance Office of Placement:

202.692.1845/or Ext. 1845
*Medical Clearance Screening Nurse:

202.696.1500/or Ext. 1500
*Dental Clearance Questions:

202.692.1507/or Ext. 1507
Medical Reimbursements, handled by Subcontractor:

800.818.8772
Loan Deferments, Taxes, Readjustment Allowance, Power of Attorney, etc:

202.692.1770 /or Ext. 1770
*If you have had any recent medical, dental, or legal changes then please contact the proper office(s).

37

Peace Corps Jamaica Welcome Book - November 2009

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Peace Corps Jamaica Welcome Book - November 2009

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THE PEACE CORPS WELCOMES YOU TO

A PEACE CORPS PUBLICATION FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS

Dear Future Peace Corps Volunteer:

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

A WELCOME LETTER .......................................................................................................................... 1

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

History of the Peace Corps in Jamaica

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

Connect With Returned Volunteers

Online Articles/Current News Sites About Jamaica

Site of the Jamaica Gleaner, a local newspaper

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

Site of the Jamaica Observer, a local newspaper

U.S. Embassy in Jamaica

Sites of Jamaica’s two local television stations

The information service of the government of Jamaica

Site of the National Library of Jamaica

International Development Sites About Jamaica

Pan American Health Organization

United Nations Development Programme

United Nations Children’s Educational Fund

3. Read, Michael. Lonely Planet Jamaica. Lonely Planet Publications, 2006.

5. Stone, Rosemarie. No Stone Unturned. Ian Randle Publishers, 2007.

6. Winkler, Anthony C. Going Home To Teach. LMH Publishing, 1995.

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

Books on the Volunteer Experience

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

“Your Name,” PCT

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

Housing and Site Location

Living Allowance and Money Management

Food and Diet

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

PEACE CORPS TRAINING

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

Jamaica’s competencies include the following:

1. Maintain personal safety, security and well-being

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

1. Pre-service training (PST)

YOUR HEALTH CARE AND

Helping You Stay Healthy

Maintaining Your Health

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

Women’s Health Information

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit

Medical Kit Contents

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk

• Leave valuable obbjects in the U.S.

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime

Support from Staff

PEACE CORPS | JAMAICA WELCOME BOOK

Incidence Rates of Reported Incidents in PC/Jamaica and

8.0 Jam aica

Volunteer Safety Support in Jamaica