The Surfboard is a Boat.
JAMAICA | Saturday, 16 May 2015 | Views [149] | Scholarship Entry
I wish I could point to a map so you could also go to this place, but I can't. I stepped into another world after following the GPS of my heart and that's the only guide I use to travel.
It was all confusing when we boarded the flight (5 Canadians and 1 Jamaican). B was taking us back to his homeland. He immigrated to Canada ,from Jamaica, 3 years before our trip and has been telling us we needed to experience the real Jamaica. After much contemplation and a lot of vague answers, we were on our way. As soon as we boarded the 3 hour flight from Toronto, the customs cards were being passed around. Each of us, go up to B to ask him for the address and postal code of our destination. He told each of us calmly 'Just write Trelawney'. The apprehensions and the frustrations were loud and clear. He explained, it was enough. I closed my eyes and hoped for the best for the remainder of the flight.
As promised, everything at customs was smooth. We took a small cab from Montego Bay airport and after a 20minute ride on a highway, we just veered off into a dirt road and saw the crystal blue waters of the beach on the front dash. To our left, was our guest house. No check-in, no hotel gates, no rows of beach chairs. Just a guest house facing the ocean. Everything made sense.
Enter: Freddy. 70 year man with the body of a 20 year old athlete. Self appointed keeper of the beach and master of all the stray dogs in the area. He told us to get to know the dogs; at night they'd keep us safe incase of intruders. Freddy was excited to show us the gems of his land, so he promised a boat ride but you had to be ready and on the beach by 6 am.
At 6am the next morning, I was straddled on a surf board (his boat), holding some old goggles in hand. He crossed his legs and paddled into the water. Every morsel of my being trusted him as we sailed off into the calm waters, no reference to the time and space. I knew it was gonna be magical! After long time of paddling, in the middle of the water, no shore in sight. He said "get off the boat!". I didn't understand, plus I don't know how to swim. He stepped out first, then I realized how shallow the water was. Then he plunged my face into the water, to look at the magnificently colored fish in the water (aka scuba diving). The we paddled further until we saw, standing in the middle of the water, 4 men selling fresh fish.
Fish in hand, I euphorically floated back.
Over lunch, I told the story like someone who was away at sea for years.
Tags: 2015 Writing Scholarship
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