I think everyone's viewpoint is important....each perspective sheds light for a greater understanding!Originally Posted by suzengrace
I think everyone's viewpoint is important....each perspective sheds light for a greater understanding!
Simply put, as a Jamaican when I have question about Americans I ask an American. When I have question about why white people sit in the sun and invite skin cancer I ask my hubby. Go to the source for better understanding knowing the answer could be different but just as real. Everyone talks about Ja'can friends, mine start by saying gurl you I love you BUT, how comes dis is like dat a yawd. Over 30 yrs in the US and I still ask question about America but to Americans. YES, compared to MANY other places there are more casual askers and players (male and female) in Jamaica.
I have lived in Jamaica and the US but travel a lot throughout the country, to Mexico and Europe. Jamaica stands out for the sheer beauty and natural begging.
Last edited by Sweet_Dawta; 10-08-2011 at 09:50 AM.
IF you don't understand that Jamaicans beg then you don't really understand the culture. Believe me that is easy because most are very secretive and won't give you a straight answer to save your life.
Hubby - Sweet D what are you doing
Sweet D - what do you mean what I am doing
Hubby - what are you doing on the computer
Sweet D - what computer
Hubby - the one your *&*& fingers are on
Sweet D - so why are you getting mad at me. Ya'll white people just like to get mad don't you
Hubby - what does that have to do with anything
Sweet D - you think because I grew up in Jamaica I should not have a computer
Hubby -(turning red) Woman at what point did I say that
Notice, I still haven't answered his question of what I am doing. This is after 20+ years. You should hear how it would have gone when I really don't want to tell him anything.
Last edited by Sweet_Dawta; 10-08-2011 at 10:11 AM.
LMAO....sounds very familiar!!
LOL Sweet Dawta...I do that and I'm Canadian...might just be a woman thing!!!
Sweet dawta, lol My man is jamaican, and you are definetely right. I can't get a straight out answer from him to save my life. I find it hilarious, gotta love him though. I have learned to never beat around the bush with jamaicans ask directly. what do you mean? Anything is determined when you don't get ask for an explanation.
Trying to get a straight answer out of a Jamaican (especially the male but dat lata;-) can be a miracle. You say one thing and we conveniently hear something different, leaving you wanting to kill someone. Basically how the &*& did you get that from what I asked...lol!
All this with nothing to hide. Most of the women are always hiding something $$$$$$! - more on dat too
Last edited by Sweet_Dawta; 10-08-2011 at 10:25 AM.
I know that's right, ask and you shall receive
Since this has been a hot topic and i'm a new member why not get my feet wet and throw my 2 cents in based on my personal experience with Jamaicans so far.
Bearing in mind i haven't actually been to Jamaica yet (10 days and counting)
I cant really speak to the "begging" issue but I'm aware of it from what I've read so far but that being said i don't see how it is such a big deal,just go to any city anywhere in the world and you'll get plenty of that.
Ive lived in a rural farming community in the northeast US for many years now and got to meet quite a lot of Jamaicans and i will say that the ones I've met are certainly NOT lazy.
In fact you may wonder how somebody in the sticks knows Jamaicans.
What you may not know is that here in the northeast they plant,and harvest a large percentage of your domestic crops.
They are flown up here by the US govt and work for the summer on most of the farms in my area. And before the "they took our jobs people" chime in the reason they are flown here is at the request of the farmers. Why? (bear in mind i sold farm equipment and worked closely with all the local farmers) and i will go so far as to quote a local farmer/owner/friend "If i didn't have the Jamaicans every summer, i wouldn't have a farm any longer.Locals simply do not want to put in a real hard days work, no matter what you pay them,especially younger kids."
I will say i admire their tenacity.They sleep in vans on the fields or a barn(10 or 20 deep!) simply so they can send every penny home where it is needed. they make sacrifices that even "poor" Americans don't or aren't willing to make.
And after all that you think maybe they would be bitter or have a chip on their shoulder but no, they are just as friendly as all the locals, some even more so.
I don't think the issues that bug some will bother me in Jamaica,but whenever i see an outraged review of someone griping about a cockroach,mosquitoes,chipped paint,or a lumpy bed the first thing i ask myself is "why is this person even traveling here?"
Maybe its because I have left the soft comfy confines of my native home and seen some other parts of the world already,who knows.
I guess once i go ill know
2nd time i came to jamaica was after a long break of 25 years or so (first time was a microdot fueled blur in the mid 80s that involved the reggae sunsplash and a redneck construction crew) . I stayed on the beach at NBCC in the off season and was almost the only one there. i tried walking down the beach and was harassed and followed the entire time. was miserable and kinda felt trapped at the hotel. then i moved up to the seastar and was much happier on the west end. met rob and lisa by chance there and they helped fix my attitude. i would go for walks but id ignore most everyone hollering at me and kept my eyes forward and my feet shuffling. This spring i came back down and tried a new approach and i went and talked to every damn person who hollered at me and tried to sell me anything. sure about 75% of them were hustlers and i always told them in advance they were wasting their time because im a cheap evil sarcastic *******. however i did see and talk about much that id never had enjoyed in my previous trips. i did meet a couple *******s too but i will admit that but they can be readily found most everywhere. The thing is that the more you get higgled the less effect it has. heck my hometown beggars dont even have a chance after i spend a week in Negril and we do have a sizable homeless population in my city. maybe ive become jaded but i have booked a second stay at NBCC and i plan to walk the beach. i will joyfully engage the locals who wish to enhance my sharing of wealth(lol) but they are going to have to be polite or they get NOTHING!
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