Do we need to declare gifts at Customs?

[halfwaytree]

We are bringing two dozen backpacks. Are you telling me we should leave them at home?

It is up to you whether you want to bring them or not.

All I am saying is that some visitors that travel to Jamaica complain about the begging. Even when I venture back to JA they know I come from "farrin" and they follow me with hands out to give them something. Tourist have created much of this sense of "expectation" and dare I say "entitlement" by handing out gifts willy nilly. Give!!! It is appreciated!!! But give wisely, give to organizations who know what the needs really are and who needs items the most. No need IMHO to go interrupt a class full of kids learning their lessons to hand out pencils and rulers. Leave them with someone in Jamaica who can distribute them to some of the outlying schools who will REALLY appreciate those items. If you are an educator and are visiting Jamaica then by all means contact the school and see if it is possible to take part in a lesson. The kids would probably find it interesting. If you are just a visitor with nothing more to offer than material items, then I do not see why anyone feels the need to visit a classroom to play Santa Claus other than for the self gratification that comes with it.

Again, sorry if i sound cold but that is just something I needed to get off my chest.

[Rob]

This is not an easy thing to discuss, and I feel Halfwaytree is less sounding cold than being blunt, but he is unfortunately not wrong.

Teaching a lesson at a school is a great idea as is volunteering at the Soup Kitchen in Negril. And making donations to the right charities and/or the right people who can make sure the items are given to the places most needed is the best way to make a difference. A scene I witnessed made me feel sad, but proves the point about expectations and entitlement.

I was with a group of frequent visitors when school let out and the kids enveloped the neighborhood. A little girl ran up to one of the female visitors and gave them a big hug. They obviously knew each other well. There was almost a parental feel about the situation, both the child and the visitor were sharing the moment. The child climbed on the visitors lap. The visitor asked the little girl how school went and she smiled shyly and said "fine". She was then asked "what did you learn in school today?" The little girl smiled and proudly announced, "tourists bring us things!" The visitor looked puzzled and then asked "no really, what did you learn in school today?" The girl shrugged and emphatically said, "tourists bring us things!"

It was a sad thing to witness, but to me, this is how the sense of expectation and entitlement starts.

Just some food for thought...

[smith744]

Just some food for thoughtt...

* Wow *

Rob, that-post is a ''..belly-FULL..'' of *food*

i've got HUNDREDs of sad-tales, just like that one

[smith744]

It is up to you whether you want to bring them or not.

[B]
But give wisely,
give to organizations who know what the needs really are and who needs items the most

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

that might-not *work* either

i've got MANY-tales i could share about some of those *organizations*
and how they play-games
with those from-foreign donations/funds

*tales* that'll make your head spin 'round
like that likkle-girl in the ''Excorcist" movie

,

. If you are an educator and are visiting Jamaica then by all means contact the school and see if it is possible to take part in a lesson

The kids would probably find it interesting.

Amen..!!!...

money & trinkets aren't the only-thing of value.

AND::>> the children WILL love to hear-from a from-foreign-teacher

,

It is up to you whether you want to bring them or not.

Tourist have created much of this sense of "expectation"

ditto
ditto
DITTO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!