FOOTSTEP 11

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Footstep 11 Radio Broadcast

Listen to the BBC Radio Gloucestershire interview with Glenn Standish, Morgan Phillips and Katie Johnson that was recorded live from Jamaica on Sunday 15th July 2007

Monday, July 23, 2007

PART TWO by Basia (Torun, Poland)

Thursday 19th July

We were lucky because we did not have to spend our last day alone. Two of our Jamaican friends were with us. We spent the precious last hours of Jamaican sun in the pool and on the beach. Tania and I recorded our Jamaican friends speaking Patois. I tried to learn some of it, but it is not so easy – a bit like English, but then so unenglish too. ‘Our’ gardener took Hania, and later me, on a canoe ride in the ocean. We got to take a last close look at mangroves, and I also managed to talk Manche into taking me to the waves. We did get wet – but it was great to feel the power of water rock the boat and the foam coming inside.

And then the time came to say goodbye to our friends and to the people working at the guest house. We took last pictures and left for the airport. It was already dark when the plane was taking off. From my window I could see the lights of M-Bay getting smaller and smaller, and my heart went sadder and sadder, until I fell asleep. I miss you Jamaica- the land of wood and water…

Hanna, Tania and Basia say a fond farewell to their Jamaican friends

Hanna outside Donald Sangster Airport in Montego Bay

PART ONE by Hanna Wisniewska (Torun, Poland)

Monday 16th of July

Bye bye time!!!

We ate our last Jamaican breakfast at college and got ready for leaving. Almost all participants had their flights today. Just four of us are going to admire Jamaica for a few days longer (Hanna, Basia, Tatiana and Sergey). After hugging and saying bye bye to Glenn, Piotr and Ania we took our last drive with Ficroy (crazy driver) to Mo-bay and our guesthouse. Later we said goodbye to other and stayed in our place on the beach ;) It was really amazing place with nice people, garden full of delicious fruits, our own beach and hundreds of crabs getting out at night.
In the evening we had bonfire on the beach with some American guys staying at the same place.

Tuesday 17th of July

Early morning we got up to see with Vice who was going to take us to his workplace- old bauxite company where now brown sugar is being loaded on ships. We met the boss of the company who took us for a small tour around this place. There were actually loading one of the ships so we could see how is it all working. At the end we climbed on the highest silo to admire amazing view on Ocho Rios.
After that we went for long shopping to buy gifts for our friends and families. We had a lot of fun trying to bargain on all those crafts markets but after all it was even better to relax on the beach.

Saying bye to Edwin, Piotr, Glenn and Ania as they left college on Monday 16th July

Tatiana and Hanna on the beach by their guesthouse in Priory

Enjoying the bonfire on the beach

Ocho Rios Bauxite company

Basia and Hanna with the manager of the sugar company

View of Turtle Beach from the top of the Bauxite factory

Hanna with her new braids in the market in Ocho Rios

Up close and personal to a Jamaican crab!

Hanna relaxing

Monday, July 16, 2007

The Final Word...

Global Footsteps Chief Executive gives the final word on Footstep 11

Footstep 11 camera man Sergei Pyltsin films the above segment on Monday 16th July

Farewell to Moneague College

Farewell to the Moneague College cooks

Edwin and Sergei enjoy their final breakfast at Moneague College

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Day of relaxation for the remaining participants

With all the hard work of Footstep 11 behind them, the last remaining 8 participants/management team enjoyed the day relaxing on the beach and soaking up the sun. Most leave tomorrow...however a few remain until Thursday for their flight back to Europe.

Mahoghany Beach, Ocho Rios

Tatiana and Sergei relax on the beach

Ania, Basia and Hanna soak up the sun

Basia Maliszewska teaches a local child to swim

Piotr Konstanty plays with a local Jamaican child

Last morning

Footstep 11 has finally come to an end. This morning, the majority of participants left Jamaica for their respective homes around the world. A few remained behind (as their flights are later). Those who did enjoyed the day. In the morning, Glenn Standish, Morgan Phillips and UK participant Katie Johnson went live on air on BBC Radio Gloucestershire. The broadcast was conducted via the telephone. Later, some of the youth visited a typical Jamaican village church. The international group were given a warm welcome and Glenn was even invited up to the altar to address the congregation.

Jeff Murphy models his fair trade t-shirt which he won for his outstanding participation in Footstep 11

Ania Standish dismantles the Global Footsteps notice board

Morgan Phillips talks live to BBC Radio DJ Paul Moss on the show "Face to Face"

Glenn Standish chats live on BBC Radio Gloucestershire

Glenn Standish talks to the congregation at Prophecy Church, Moneague

Day Eight by Tatiana Baklagina (Sochi, Russia)

Five busy and intensive days of the conference came to an end and the Final Cultural Evening showed how much we had united and what we had reached during this time.

In the morning, we had to say goodbye to Koome, the first participant to leave. About 10.00 am we set off on another field study visit. At first, we visityed a small gift shop (Walkerswood) where everyone got supplied with a delicious Coconut Rundown sauce!

Next stop was at Harmony Hall. Its owner Annabella Proudlock welcomed us and let us look around the art-gallery of Caribbean art and craft). It is a well-known place with lots of exhibitions near Ocho Rios.

Dolphin Cove was our next destination. Seeing some exotic Caribbean species was fun. Some people took a plastic iguana for being a real one!! :-) Then we saw the next attraction...lots of tourists swimming with dolphins and sting rays. And eventually, everyone got disappointed seeing the exploitation of animals at this side.

After some snacks at a local fast-food restaurant (where we tried festival but no bammy) we set off for the Green Grotto Caves known as the Runaway Bay Caves which are among Jamaica's most popular natural attractions. It is a large labrynth with its numerous rock formations. During the period of take-over by the English, the caves were used as a hideout by the Spaniards and then for the smugglers running arms to Cuba.

In the Green Grotto, we saw a crystal clear lake formed by underground waters, the Banial fig trees with long roots going down to the lake, seeking for the water and also the hollow stones that could sound like drums.

Saint Ann is a really touristy area and its attractions are designed to entertain the visitors. Our group could also be considered a tourist group, but our goal was to see and learn. During this trip we had to say good-bye to our Jamaican friends who had to leave home. Everyone really enjoyed their company, their help and their knowledge they shared with us.

At the end of the day, we enjoyed a wonderful swim in the Caribbean Sea and had lots of fun in the water!

It was a good end to an interesting day!