An Agriculture volunteer in Jamaica: An interview with Marie

In this interview, we hear from Marie Schmitz. Marie is working as a Peace Corps Agriculture volunteer in Jamaica. What Marie shares gives us a better understanding of the work volunteers do. We learn about the challenges, rewards, and personal growth that happens from volunteering in a new place. Marie talks about living in a different country, working with local people, and dealing with surprise situations. Join us as we learn about Marie’s journey and see how volunteering with Peace Corps can change lives.

Table of Contents

• Volunteer Experience and Motivation
• Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
• Surprises and Challenges
• Advice and Support
• Practical Tips and Language Learning
• Impact of Media and Final Thoughts

Volunteer Experience and Motivation

1. Tell us more about serving as an Agriculture volunteer in Jamaica

Yes! Agriculture volunteers in Jamaica support the Sustainable Agriculture Livelihoods Initiative (SALI), which has three objectives:

1. Increase the capacity of farmers to improve the diversity, productivity, and/or sustainability of their agricultural production
2. Increase the capacity of farmers to generate agriculture-related income.
3. Strengthen the capacity of agriculture-focused organizations to achieve their mission.

Community farmers’ groups are encouraged by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Rural Agriculture Development Authority (RADA). Oftentimes volunteers’ scope of work will be based around the farmer’s group and individual farmers within the group. Common projects for volunteers include workshop facilitation, value-added and income-generating support, organizational development support, and promoting best agricultural practices on individual farms.

A lot of volunteers also get involved in the schools running 4-H or environmental clubs and starting school gardens. For I start my day at school twice a week and usually spend 3-4 days a week on the farm and 1-2 days a week doing book work.

2. What motivated you to join the Peace Corps and choose Jamaica?

I originally applied for a different post and was offered Jamaica instead. I hadn’t even realized Jamaica was a Peace Corps country, but I was pleasantly surprised and genuinely excited by the placement. I had always enjoyed reggae – that was my first impression of the country – but the more I’ve learned about the culture and the longer I’ve been here, the more I’ve come to feel that this is exactly where I’m meant to be.

The main thing that first sparked my interest was hearing from Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. I stumbled across a Peace Corps blog in high school and found myself reading the entire site in one go. I was so fascinated by the concept and from that moment, a seed was planted – it became something I always kept in my mind as a post university plan.

The idea did not feel serious until my senior year of college when I interned at The Carter Center and later worked there full-time after graduation. This experience really deepened my interest in getting field experience in international development. The large number of RPCVs on staff at The Carter Center was incredibly encouraging. Several of them supported me in my application process through their stories, answering my questions, offering me advice, and even writing recommendations.

Had I not been surrounded by so many passionate RPCVs, continuing their service through the third goal and encouraging others to serve, I might not be where I am today. I hope to carry the same legacy forward after my own service.

Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration

3. Tell us more about your home situation

I genuinely think I have the best site in Jamaica – I love this place so much. I’m posted at the most rural site in the country, way up in the Blue Mountains, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I live in a detached unit on a family compound, which gives me the best of both worlds: privacy and independence, alongside the warmth and support of a host family I’ve come to love. The entire community is small – just 200 to 300 people – and it truly feels like one big extended family.

There are no taxis that come up this far, so access to other volunteers and grocery stores can be a challenge. But what my site lacks in accessibility, it more than makes up for breathtaking mountain views, waterfalls, incredible hiking trails, and the best coffee I’ve ever tasted. Living so remotely has pushed me to cook from scratch using ingredients from the land around me and to learn how to make traditional Jamaican dishes. It’s been a fun and rewarding process—and I think my chef skills have definitely leveled up.

I’ve also gotten really into hiking and running. I’m currently training for a half marathon in Kingston, and I have to keep reminding myself that all the hard work I’m putting in – running at altitude, on rocky roads, and constant steep inclines – will pay off when I finally race on a flat path at sea level.

4. Any memorable experiences or interactions you’ve had?

At first, I was – very ignorantly – worried about feeling disconnected from other volunteers. I had previously lived abroad in a country where locals weren’t particularly friendly toward foreigners, and I brought that experience with me to Jamaica. I assumed that being far from other volunteers would mean feeling isolated. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Jamaicans are some of the most hospitable, welcoming people you will ever meet.

From the beginning, I made a very intentional effort to get involved in my community. I attended church, joined the domino team, went to community meetings, got involved at the school, and built friendships with younger moms in the area. That investment has paid off in dividends. I’ve made lifelong friends and have built real, meaningful relationships with people here. Since I live in a more remote area, I don’t see other volunteers often—but I don’t feel the need to. I usually spend my weekends playing dominos, watching football matches, hiking, or relaxing by the river with neighbors. I’m incredibly grateful to my community for the openness and care they’ve shown in making me feel like I truly belong.

One of the most touching experiences I’ve had here was a surprise birthday party my community organized for me. I had been going through a difficult period after a personal loss back home, and without me knowing, community members pooled their hard-earned money to buy cake, balloons, and ingredients for a huge Jamaican feast. It was so generous and thoughtful—I felt deeply loved. We danced and played dominos all night long. It remains one of my favorite memories to date.

Surprises and Challenges

5. What has surprised you most about challenges in Jamaica?

Like many Americans adjusting to life outside the U.S., one of the biggest challenges I faced was adapting to a slower pace of life and a different definition of productivity. While I don’t necessarily love the ultra-productivity culture that defines much of American life, I realized how deeply ingrained it is—and how much I had come to associate constant activity with self-worth.

Learning to surrender to “island time” took some effort, but over time, it became something I’ve truly come to appreciate. Coming straight from college – juggling classes, extracurriculars, part-time jobs, and internships – I had been craving a slower pace of life without even realizing it. But once I received it, I found it surprisingly hard to accept.

Working with farmers and having a position without a rigid day-to-day schedule made the transition even more challenging. I had to learn how to create my own structure and redefine what productivity looked like. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s also been one of the most important and lasting lessons of my service – one I know will continue to shape the way I live and work in the future.

6. What challenges did you face while working on Agriculture projects?

Some of the most common agriculture-related challenges in Jamaica include climate change, on-farm water management, and financial barriers. In terms of climate, farmers are facing more extreme temperatures and unpredictable precipitation patterns—both excessive rainfall and prolonged droughts. As a result, the seasonal rhythms that farmers relied on just a decade ago are no longer dependable. This unpredictability has also forced many farmers to reconsider their crop choices, as some traditional varieties no longer thrive in the changing climate.

Water management has become a major issue as well. In wetter parishes, excessive rainfall often leads to waterlogged crops, stunted growth, or even total crop loss. Meanwhile, drier regions suffer from a lack of rainfall, leaving crops to wither or burn in the heat. Rainwater harvesting systems and drip irrigation are not yet widely adopted, but they’re becoming increasingly popular—especially through the support of Peace Corps Volunteers, who often help implement these solutions.

Financial barriers are another major hurdle. The cost of essentials like drip lines, water tanks, land, livestock, housing materials for animals, feed, and fertilizers is often far out of reach for the average Jamaican farmer. This creates a difficult cycle: farmers are unable to invest in their farms due to a lack of income, but also unable to increase their income because they can’t afford to improve or scale their operations.

These are precisely the kinds of issues that PCVs work with farmers’ groups to address. Common projects include securing grants for water tanks and drip irrigation systems, introducing climate-resilient crops, establishing livestock projects for individual farmers or farmer groups, reducing startup costs through natural alternatives to fertilizer and feed, and developing sustainable income streams for farming cooperatives.

7. Could you share some of the secondary projects you have been involved?

Yes! The other sector for Peace Corps Jamaica is education, with a focus on improving primary literacy rates. One of the challenges here is the language disconnect that can occur for young learners due to the differences between Jamaican Patwa and Standard English. To help address this, I started a Literacy Club that meets after school on Thursdays, where we play games focused on reading, storytelling, and phonics. The kids love it – we have a lot of fun, and they’re learning without even realizing it.

In addition to the club, I also tutor a few slower readers one-on-one two to three days a week. I’ve always loved reading, and I firmly believe that literacy is a gift. Children all over the world fall behind in reading for a variety of reasons – language barriers, learning differences, or gaps in support. If I can help even one child here avoid falling behind and being passed through the system without a strong foundation in literacy, I’ll consider my service a success.

Pro-tip for incoming PCVs: If your schedule allows, start a secondary project that connects with another sector in your country. It’s so much easier than starting from scratch—the objectives are already outlined in the VRG, and the program manager for that sector can provide resources, ideas, and guidance.

Advice and Support

8. What advice would you give to someone considering serving as an Agriculture volunteer in Jamaica?

Integration is truly key when serving in Jamaica. Jamaicans are incredibly hospitable, but they can also be cautious and slow to trust. If you don’t take the time to build relationships and understand the “why” behind how things are done, it can be challenging to collaborate effectively when it’s time to work together.

The culture here is deeply communal – people are highly community-minded and value connection. Volunteers who struggle to integrate often find themselves spending a lot of time alone. But if you invest in the community – showing up, listening, participating – the community will invest right back in you. That mutual trust and reciprocity make all the difference in both your service and your personal experience.

9. How has the Peace Corps training helped you during your service?

Pre-Service Training (PST) is challenging for just about everyone, and I definitely found it difficult myself. It’s three months of constant stimulation, socialization, and information overload. While I did learn a lot, much of it felt like going through the motions—just getting the lay of the land and adjusting to a new environment.

For me, the most helpful trainings were Project Design and Management (PDM) and Mid-Service Training (MST). Both offered the most practical, hands-on information, and they’re timed perfectly within the arc of service—right when most volunteers hit those inevitable “service slumps.” They helped re-energize my mindset and gave me concrete tools to move forward with projects more confidently.

Practical Tips and Language Learning

10. Anything that you packed or didn’t pack that you’d like to tell future Jamaica volunteers?

Clothing:

Jamaica is hot. Keep that in mind with everything you pack. During PST, I rotated through just three lightweight dresses that were professional enough—because it was simply too hot for slacks, belts, or blouses. Bring only light, breathable clothing. If it’s heavy, thick, or not sweat-friendly, it’ll live in your suitcase… and possibly mold.

Don’t bring anything expensive or that you’re not okay with getting ruined. Between sweat, mold stains, curry stains, banana tree sap, and the generous amount of bleach Jamaicans use on everything, your clothes will take a hit.

Bush Clothes (for Ag Volunteers):

Bring double the bush clothes you think you need, and half the business clothes. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had to wear business-professional clothing outside of PST. Meanwhile, bush clothes get destroyed fast. My go-to is hiking pants or shorts, a workout top, and a lightweight button-up (PFG-style). Check your local Goodwill—they’re perfect for this.

Everyday Clothes:

I was so focused on packing for PST and field work that I forgot about everyday wear. Bring casual clothes like jeans, regular tops, and shorts—you’ll want them for town days, weekends, and downtime.

Random but Essential Items:

• E-reader: Connect it to your home library and you’re set for service. It’s a game-changer.
• HDMI cord: Perfect for training, consolidations, or vacations where you have access to a TV or monitor.
• External hard drive: Internet is generally good, but I lose power or service about one day a week. A hard drive filled with downloaded shows, movies, books, and documents came in very handy—especially after Hurricane Beryl, when I lost power for a month. During PST, a lot of us swapped files. If you don’t bring one, you’ll probably wish you had.

11. How has learning the language been?

Patwa and the Language Gap in Jamaica

Jamaican Patwa is one of the most fascinating and vibrant parts of Jamaican culture. It’s a dialect of English with strong influences from Spanish, Portuguese, English, and several West African languages. While English remains the official language – used in schools, government, and business – Patwa is the language of daily life for many Jamaicans. This creates a real disconnect, especially for older or less formally educated individuals who never needed to speak Standard English but now face barriers when trying to access important information or services.

Though Patwa has gained more recognition and appreciation in recent years, stigma still exists. It’s common to hear adults tell children to “talk good” (meaning Standard English) and to stop speaking “bad” or “improper” (meaning Patwa). Standard English is often associated with education, opportunity, and wealth, while Patwa has historically been looked down upon as uneducated or informal – a direct legacy of colonialism.

Listening Over Fluency: A Volunteer’s Approach

I think volunteers who arrive in Jamaica assuming they need to speak fluent Patwa all the time miss a crucial point. Most Jamaicans – though certainly not all – understand and speak Standard English, as it’s the language they were formally educated in. For me, the goal is to allow people to speak however they feel most comfortable. I never want anyone to feel like they need to code-switch just for me. That’s why I focus on understanding Patwa, greeting in it when appropriate, and learning to listen deeply – not necessarily mastering it as a spoken language.

There are layers of nuance to this. Some Jamaicans feel proud when foreigners speak Patwa—it can feel like a recognition and celebration of their cultural heritage. Others may find it inappropriate or even offensive, especially considering the colonial and racial history behind language use in Jamaica. Both perspectives are valid and must be respected. Some of the older folks I work with truly don’t understand me unless I speak in Patwa. Others advocate for Patwa to become the official national language as a way to move beyond colonial systems and build a more equitable Jamaica.

Using Patwa with Respect and Awareness

For all that, Patwa is still – above all – the language of connection. Until you can understand Patwa, you can’t fully understand the stories, humor, proverbs, and daily expressions that shape Jamaican life. For me, learning Patwa is less about performing fluency and more about participating in culture with humility and care. What is my role here, if not to listen, learn, and seek to understand?

Using Patwa appropriately requires strong social awareness. I often greet in Patwa to signal that people don’t need to adjust their natural speech for me. When I’m talking with older folks who seem to struggle with understanding Standard English, I’ll switch to Patwa. I use it with my Jamaican friends for fun, and with children – both because some younger ones only understand Patwa and because older ones love to hear me try.

I also take feedback from my community seriously. Recently, someone told me, “Yah live ya so, yah need fi chat Patwa.” Whether he meant I was hard to understand, or he was expressing pride in his culture or just didn’t feel like listening to Standard English – his request was valid, and I’m happy to speak Patwa with him when we’re together.

If you’re preparing to come to Jamaica, start immersing yourself now. Listen to Jamaican music, watch YouTube videos and TikToks, and tune into other media in Patwa. Understanding the rhythm, sound, and spirit of the language is one of the best ways to prepare for deeper connection and integration.

Impact of Media and Final Thoughts

12. How do you think your blog contributes to your overall mission as a Peace Corps volunteer?

Third goal work is still work! And important work at that. Learning the cultural differences, nuances, and similarities is so much fun to share with family and friends. It can be so difficult to keep up with people from back home especially when electricity and internet access is spotty. Having a blog is a great way to share your experiences and what you’re learning while also not having to repeat yourself to each individual person. Just one centralized location for everything.

It is also great for sharing the Peace Corps’s mission. After all, I found out about the Peace Corps from a blog I stumbled across in high school, and look at me now! My substack blog is called Deh a Bush, cos mi stays deh a bush. Feel free to follow along.

13. Any last comments or observations you’d like to pass on to future Jamaica volunteers?

I was terrified before leaving and almost did not get on the plane. I trusted my intuition and I am so glad I did. Jamaica and her people have welcomed me with open arms. I feel safe, cared for, and at home. I am even considering a third year! If you invest in Jamaica it will invest back in you.

My one piece of advice (for Peace Corps in general, not just Jamaica) you have to go in with zero expectations. An RPCV friend told me this before I left and I have found it to be the best piece of advice. The people who do not complete their service are those who have expectations or preconceived notions. Go with the flow, roll with the punches, let go of what you think it will be like or should be like, and embrace the change.

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What are you waiting for? Opportunities like this don’t come often. If you have a passion for service and an adventurous spirit like Marie’s, apply to the Peace Corps today. Expand your horizons, push your limits, and create positive impact as a volunteer. You never know how serving as a Peace Corps volunteer could change your life.

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The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or Jamaica Government.