Double the pleasure and fun
Published:Saturday | February 25, 2012 | 12:00 AM
PORTLAND COTTAGE, Clarendon:
"WHEN I go back to work on Tuesday, it's going to be like a vacation," a laughing Steve Farber told The Gleaner on Sunday evening. This was after two days of what should have been hard work, and was for most of the 53 Americans who had spent the last two days building houses in Portland Cottage, Clarendon.
All were in good spirits, with most, understandably, showing signs of fatigue, while Farber was joking around and popping wheelies on a chopper (bicycle).
This was his first trip to Jamaica. After donating money to Food For The Poor and watching the promotional video over the years, he decided to take the plunge and give of his time, taking along 15-year-old Dorie (Dorothy). In between painting houses, Dorie also found time to enjoy herself, and the jury is still out as to whether it was dad or daughter who had a better time.
Describing the trip as his Christmas gift to Dorie, Farber explained that his wife was back home with their other two children.
"We do this kind of stuff a lot. I work for Rupert Landscaping and we do a lot of volunteer work. It's part of our business operation, so we help out at orphanages and places that can't take care of their landscaping. So we're used to doing stuff like this, so it's a lot of fun," Faber disclosed.
Watching the Food For The Poor video had prepared the landscaper for the nature of the work to be done. Still, he was caught off guard by the country's natural beauty.
"I've never been to Jamaica. I didn't realise, for example, just how big the mountains are here and how beautiful the sunrise and sunset are. I've been to some other Caribbean countries but never Jamaica, so this has been a great experience."
Teenager Dorie was also pleasantly surprised, but for a different reason.
"I knew we were going to be building houses and I thought we would be going all day long, but we didn't. And I thought we weren't getting to socialise with the people we built the houses for, but we did. And that was my favourite part by far," she related.
"I love talking to the people. I met two kids who are brother and sister. One is four and the other 11, and we took pictures for, like 30 minutes, and we had so much fun! I have great pictures and I can't wait to take them home and show my family!"