Emergency Response: Minimizing the Risks, Maximizing the Learning, in Spite of… The SIT Jamaica Experience

Paper presented at the: Risk and Responsibility for Education Abroad Programmes: The Caribbean Perspective Conference – University of the West Indies/Queens University, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica Caribbean

June 22-24, 2005.

Shirley Campbell, Academic Director: School for International Training Study Abroad Jamaica: Gender and Development programme -

June 24, 2005

Introduction: For eleven and a half years, the School for International Training (SIT) has brought, mainly United States college students to Jamaica for semester long programmes. Since 2004 a summer programme has also been introduced. In both instances a number of emergencies, have emerged including a Hurricane, two medical evacuations – both of which could have been avoided, one broken ankle, one uretheric colic episode and two armed robberies.[i] These episodes required quick, sustained and somewhat unusual action but nonetheless were successfully managed with each event further strengthening the knowledge base and response capability of the programmes.

We attribute these successes to consistently anticipating events, planning for their probable occurrence and efficiently and effectively implementing appropriate measures for their solution. In addition, once successes are identified they are documented and imbibed into the organizational culture. The foundation on which this approach is built is the fostering of a healthy mental attitude among our students, and more so the directors, and the collective responsibility of our local and global partners. A healthy mental attitude implies having the knowledge, the mind-set and behavioural skills necessary for sojourners to make appropriate decisions which minimize the risks to which they are exposed and take responsible actions for safeguarding their well being. Some characteristics of such behaviour are: tolerance, flexibility, willingness to learn from multiple sources, (Vanzant, 1996), using challenging events as “learning moments”, managing stress in an appropriate way, relying on your instinct to assist in decision making, making quick and appropriate choices, seeking and utilizing group and community support when necessary, avoiding stereotyping, and suspending judgmental.[ii] I deliberately say suspending judgment and not being non-judgmental because we all, even at the level of the subconscious, make judgments. What is necessary, however is that we be aware of this character flaw and make allowances for it.

Another most important characteristic is the ability to balance academic work, entertainment and physical and emotional health. This seems like a tall order, but it is an ideal to strive for, and it is attainable to different degrees, depending on personal history and context. In addition, when programme activities are focused and the techniques for realizing these goals are varied and multi-layered, the possibilities for their realization are that much greater.

Before outlining the objectives of this paper I will comment on the title, it is deliberately left hanging to allow you the freedom of choosing your “In spite of …”. My “In spite of…” is inspired by the four episodes mentioned above: the hurricane, the evacuations, the medical issues and robberies. For me, they are micro expressions of the macro challenges study abroad programmes will need to successfully confront in the Caribbean. These are the management of natural disasters - mainly hurricanes - a resource deprived health sector and increasing crime and violence. These social phenomena are made particularly vulnerable by limited resources available to the state operating in neo-liberal economic regimes; the implications should be obvious. (Rapley 2004)

Within such a context, this paper therefore, hopes to demonstrate that:

1) SIT’s historical and philosophical underpinnings are the building blocks enabling the appropriate management of emergencies. Founded as the Experiment in International Living in 1932 and having since expanded its reach to 46 countries worldwide, SIT and its parent body World Learning Inc. use its worldwide network of institutions and expertise to provide the resource base for developing and implementing emergency response measures;

2) the school’s philosophical positionality is grounded in its commitment to promoting intercultural understanding as an avenue for attaining world peace. It therefore encourages diversity and non-hierarchical dialogical relationships. To maximize their learning potential students are consequently encouraged to learn from multiple sources and engage the culture by assuming the role of responsible anthropologists doing ethnography. The exercise of humility and flexibility in the face of challenges is identified as the essential ingredient required for appropriate responses in emergencies;

3) the pedagogical approach of experiential learning and critical reflection on experiences, work together to ensure that students, as well as programme administrators, manage emergencies in ways that enhance personal and group safety.

In addition, the paper will identify the critical role of Orientation – pre and post departure, as well as Homestay Families in contributing to the management of emergencies. The conclusion is that the nurturing of a healthy mental approach and the development and honing of appropriate intercultural knowledge, attitude and behavioural skills culminate in enabling students to effectively handle emergencies.

The cases identified above: the management of events relating to the hurricane, the medical issues and crimes are mined for best practices. While I will provide a significant amount of detail, I am constrained by the necessity to ensure the privacy of persons involved. The very significant factor, however is that the management of these specific events represents critical issues for study abroad in the Caribbean Region in general, and they will not disappear overnight. In fact, they may become worse before they get better; hence this Conference is timely and absolutely necessary. I also feel certain that it will leave us, not only with additional skills but an improved sense of confidence that we can and do deliver an excellent service in study abroad in the region.

As a creative writer who firmly believes that we learn more from personalizing our experiences, this paper is introduced from a personal space, that of the student’s parents. Its conversational and narrative style is not to be mistaken for flippancy, the intention is to engage you, hold your attention and remind all of us that learning can be fun.

The paper will end with recommendations, gained mainly from practical experiences, for enhancing emergency responses in Jamaica and by extrapolation in the Caribbean. This approach allows me to give you a brief outline of the global reach of the SIT as well as detail its operations in Jamaica. I will begin from the parents’ space.


The Parents’ dilemma

I want you to imagine yourself as a parent, sitting at the dinner table. Its one of those rare days when you are having a family dinner because the child has decided to stay home; she is visiting from the private Liberal Arts College in the Mid-west which is costing you 40,000 grand per year. Luckily, her grandparents had the foresight to set up that College Fund as her birth gift. She (the child that is), clears her throat, pulls back the chair from the table, with a scraping sound. The hair on the back of your neck stands up and you instinctively straighten your spine, because you know that when she makes that sound, she is about to ask for something which you may be forced to negotiate. After all, you can no longer simply say, “No”. She is an adult, well not quite, legally; she will be 20 in three months. Your mind does a fast-forward to your recent conversations about how stressful and unfulfilling college has become.[iii]

“Mom, Dad, you know how I have been saying that I need a break from College? Well, I have though about it a lot and the Study Abroad Office is encouraging us to do at least one semester abroad, and I think it‘s time. In any event, this is my junior year and the College requires that I spend my senior year on campus, so I need to go next semester; or I won’t be able to go at all.”

“O.K.” You silently issue a sigh of relief and hope she didn’t hear the quick release of your breath as you console yourself. “At least she is not dropping out!”

“So honey, where do you want to go?” She quickly responds, “Jamaica, my major is Women’s Studies and my minor is Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and the School for International Training offers a program on Gender Studies in Jamaica. My college recognizes that program and I will get 16 credits for it.”

“Where is Jamaica?” The mom asks with a frown.

“In the Caribbean, Mom. The country where Bob Marley comes from and where Mrs. Wright, down the street, vacations every year at a hotel called Sandals.”

“Well, she pauses, it seems as if you have already made up your mind, but before we agree, have you considered Europe?”

“Europe? Mother, give me a break! Europe is not cool; furthermore, I have no wish to go insane. I said I needed a break; that means from my college routine and my dear friends who, incidentally, are all going to Europe.”

“Yeah, yeah,” but you also wonder how much the recent break-up with the college boyfriend of a year has to do with the decision.

Like a responsible parent, (her Dad has basically left the decision up to you.) you spend the next few days, weeks in fact, researching all you can on this School which has enticed your child, and this country, Jamaica which is calling her. You visit the web site of the US State Department Consular Service and it leaves you a little apprehensive. Among other things, here’s what sticks out in your mind… … and I am going to quote extensively from that brief.

“CRIME: Crime, including violent crime, is a serious problem in Jamaica, particularly in Kingston…. Crime is exacerbated by the fact that police are understaffed and ineffective…

The U.S. Embassy cautions its staff not to use public buses, which are often overcrowded and are a frequent venue for crime…

Marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other illegal narcotics are especially potent in Jamaica, and their use may lead to severe or even disastrous health consequences…

Comprehensive emergency medical services are located only in Kingston and Montego Bay … Ambulance service is limited both in the quality of emergency care and in the availability of vehicles in remote parts of the country…

Serious medical problems requiring hospitalisation and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars or more. Doctors and hospitals often require cash payment prior to providing services…

Jamaica, like all Caribbean countries, can be affected by hurricanes. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 each year…

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Jamaica are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Airport searches are thorough and people attempting to smuggle narcotics are often apprehended…

Prisoners are provided only the most basic meals and must rely upon family and friends to supplement their diets, provide clothing, and supply personal care items such as toothpaste and shampoo.” (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1147.html)

Your stomach does a somersault because you know this kid smokes a little marijuana. You were the one who threw out the poorly concealed bamboo paper, in an obviously forgotten envelope left on her night table. Oh, how you regret the days when some 20 years ago, you did the same thing. Normally, you are not a religious person but you begin to pray, everyday. You call up all your friends and acquaintances who have visited Jamaica over the last 10 years and they tell you, “Kingston is a tense city”.

You are definitely, not happy. You say to this child, “ Have you read the US State Department’s briefing on Jamaica?” She impatiently replies, “Yes, Mother, I take the same precautions when I go to New York.”

You cannot argue with that so you reconcile yourself. Yet, you remain uneasy, especially because you begin to read the Jamaica Daily and Sunday Gleaner and the Daily and Sunday Observer, on line. You begin to have an intimate relationship with those articles on Jamaica which find their way, sometimes on the front page, into the Boston Globe. But, you also appease yourself by bombarding SIT’s Admissions office where staff patiently answers your every question. They even return your calls made somewhere around midnight when the Dad thinks of one more reason “we” should not let her go. He doesn’t know, of course, that the child has suggested, heaven forbid, that she may do some independent travel at the end of the programme, to Cuba maybe, or Belize or Colombia.

You hold your head and scream silently, “Why didn’t someone warn me about parenting a college kid?” But you continue your research and you begin to relax a little because here is what you also learn from your on-line research, talking to the parents of alumni and alumni whose stories bring tears to your eyes when they describe their life changing experiences.[iv]

World Learning and The School for International Training

From your research you learn that, World Learning Inc., the parent organization for the SIT is a private, non-profit international organization located in that, oh so liberal State, Vermont. World Learning relies on a global network of professionals and institutions for managing its programmes and has four programme units. In addition to SIT (www.sit.edu) and the Experiment (http://www.usexperiment.org) there is World Learning for International Development, (http://www.worldlearning.org/wlid) and World Learning for Business. (http://www.worldlearning.org/business). These four institutions position World Learning as a leader in study abroad, training in sustainable development, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) management, teacher education, languages, and peace and conflict management. In addition, the institutions prepare individuals, organisations, and communities to be effective change agents.[v] All this seems very interesting, you say. And in the process of further investigations you also learn that on the Board of Trustees is the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Professor Wangari Maathai (http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/news/wangari_nobel_prize.html) and that Carol Bellamy, immediate past Director of UNICEF and a former Director of the Peace Corps is President and CEO. (htpp://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/news/news_president.html) Doubts about the institution begin to evaporate from your mind.