Two Countries, One Love
Some favourite memories from the St. Peter Claver Choir Tour in Canada

By Yvonne Theresa Wade
(Teacher - St. Peter Claver Primary School, Kingston, Jamaica)

Our third trip to Canada could be described as fulfilling, educational, different and simply fun. This does not mean that our previous trips were less rewarding and enjoyable. In fact, all our trips have been most interesting and multi-faceted, but this third trip was exceptionally different because it was our first time being billeted in two separate places in Ontario within diverse cultures.

Fulfilling

Experiencing our third successful trip and taking more students this year was fulfilling in itself, but this trip was exceptional for the teachers because we had never really “seen” the work of, nor had we ever met more than two members of J.S.H. at any one time. This is the non-profit organization that is responsible for funding our Music, Physical Education and Art and Craft Departments in our school. It was a pleasure meeting our “bosses” and having them allow us to “run the show” and do our thing - our way, still within a given structure.

Educational

We have visited a lot of amusement parks, museums, theatres and parliament buildings while in Toronto but never a farm - two farms: beef and sheep!!

• we learned how cattle are reared in Canada and rode on tractors and machines
  
• we walked among the sheep and held a day old lamb - an awesome experience
  
• we experienced a maple syrup farm in the forest and were treated to the sweet,
  but expensive, ‘juice’
  
• we learned how maple syrup is made and bottled for export and sale
  
• we found out that citizens of Peterborough know as little about Jamaica as we know about them
  
• we performed with an eighty member choir from Peterborough, visited the lift-lock, and drove through a native village

Fun

• being the “stars” and traveling from one school to the next with our “show”
  
• being in the classes of the children with whom we were staying and sharing Jamaica’s culture - especially music and dance
  
• being asked for our autographs
  
• teaching the “log on” dance steps to the students and teachers of all the schools we visited, and realizing that they have their own rhythms separate from ours
  
• having our every need catered to and being photographed at all performances, on and off stage
  
• experiencing snow for the first time
  (jumping in the snow, taking pictures in the snow, screaming in the snow, having snow fights)
  
• seeing people’s faces when we tell them that Jamaica has sunshine almost all year round
  
• enjoying the reaction of Canadians when we tell them that we have cars and traffic jams in Jamaica, too
  
• seeing a tulip plant was a first for our principal

Finally, on behalf of the Principal, teachers and students let me take this opportunity to thank JSH and its volunteers, schools, churches, all the families who hosted and welcomed us into their homes with open arms and those who made us feel at home by going out of their way to prepare “Jamaican dishes” with the hope that we wouldn’t get homesick.
All your effort, love, time and sacrifices have left us with extremely warm thoughts of you - it was truly two countries sharing one love.