adminee
From: United States
11/25/2008 12:08 EST
We're going to be putting together an article entitled, 10 Tips for Living in Jamaica, and we need your help. Please post a reply to this thread with as many tips as you'd like (or as few) for expats living in Jamaica. Whether you're a newcomer yourself or a seasoned expats whose lived abroad for many years, share your favorite tips for expats living in Jamaica. If you want to discuss or expand upon someone elses tip, feel free! We'll use your posts to compile the articles.
Thanks, in advance, for your help!
Betsy Burlingame
ExpatExchange.com
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affordableweb
From: Jamaica
11/28/2008 10:21 EST
Don't move into an expat bubble. Living in Jamaica should mean living Jamaican with Jamaicans. Some of us find a safe place away from reality here in Jamaica and we miss out on the beauty of Jamaica.
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adminee
From: United States
12/4/2008 15:04 EST
Great advice! Anyone else have any advice to add? If you got a call from an old friend or colleague who was moving to Jamaica, what advice would you give them?
Betsy
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niles
1/2/2009 14:54 EST
My number one tip for moving to Jamaica is to pack well. Ensure you have everything you need.. I strongly suggest packing extra patience. They don't say soon come for nothing.
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lisa828
1/26/2009 23:59 EST
i. I really appreciated your tips for living in Jamaica. I will be returning to Negril for the 3rd time in early March and will be living with a Jamaican friend of mine. I agree with you, it is a much better experience if you live with, and in kind ,with Jamaican people. Could you please give me some advice asap on working there. Specifically, do I need a work permit, should I apply before I go, and what info do they want on the application? I am American, and I am an RN but wont be looking for nursing work necessarily. Thanks so much for any advice you can offer. Lisa828
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niles
2/3/2009 11:31 EST
Hello Lisa. Please feel free to come to Jamaica have a great time and enjoy this beautiful country and its people. Good luck with getting a permit unless you are going to open up a business or have a skill not available on this island. Even that is not cheap you are looking at approx 2k us per year for a permit and you are not guaranteed to get it. With this global recession right now the odds of you getting a job unless you "know someone" is very slim and please do not think you can get a job making what you made back "home". Jobs are scarce and for every job there are literally hundreds of applicants. I remember an article about a bakery hiring I believe 10 ppl and there were line ups of hundreds of applicants. Needless to say jobs are scares and to make 100$ us per week is very hard to make ends meet. Good luck and live well
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dzimmett
3/4/2009 17:13 EST
I am an American RN and would like to find out about employment opps in Jamaica -esp. Negril. I prefer community health as opposed to hospital work. Can you steer me in the right direction?
Thanks so much.
Debbie
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RobV
6/15/2009 12:03 EST
I'm a US Citizen and have been living in Kingston for the past 15 years. Several tips that will be helpful to enjoy the Island.
1- - learn to mix and live with Jamaicans, period! Surrounding your self just with expats will not give you a true JA experience
2- Pick a nice location to live (I live in Meadowbrook) which is not an area most would advise you on although it’s nice. When I fist came to Kingston I was living up in the hills and I was amazed how many houses get robbed up there.
3- Get used to the food, which rocks... come on a nice plate of stew peas beats a burger any day.
4- Learn to slow down. Everything in Jamaica is slower paced and it’s the hardest thing for me to get used to.
5- Stay out of "Garrison communities" although going to Raetown on Sunday night is one of the safest places in Kingston. I’ve been going there for 14 years to listen to some good music.
6- Racists do exist- although not that bad-being a white person I have not had many problems in fact outside of being targeted by squeegee at stop lights and police looking for a "something to hold" when pulled over. Although all Jamaicans go through it as well
7- Make sure the home you live in are grilled and be careful who you invite to your home.
8- When using a taxi – find a regular radio taxi and never accept a ride from someone you don't know
9- Jamaica has many good schools and I would recommend you to visit several before choosing one.
10- Enjoy your life- Jamaica is awesome.
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royal
6/16/2010 20:32 EST
Hi RobV,
In your post you mentioned that you lived in Meadowbrook (which I thought was a good area) and that alot of the homes on the hill get robbed. I'm planning on moving to Jamaica and possibly living on the hills. I've seen some really nice homes in Jacks Hill, Norbrook etc. and would love to move there. How safe are these areas? and where would you recommend an expat to live in St Andrew? How about schools? could you list some of the good ones?
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PGL
8/30/2010 12:45 EST
I am a Jamaican/Canadian. Norbrook and Jacks Hill are excellent neighborhoods and very accessible to good schools. One of the best schools in Jamaica is Campion College – a co-ed high school. Across the street from Campion is Sts. Peter and Paul Preparatory (elementary) school – also one of the best in Kingston. In the Norbrook area is the Immaculate Conception Prep and High Schools on the same campus – excellent also – girls only. In addition, there is the American school that caters to ex-pats but which also has a large percentage of mid to upper class Jamaican students. Hope this helps.
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jaimaicabound
1/7/2011 13:28 EST
Dear RobV
I hope you still are in Kingston, My husband and I are lookin gto mov eto Kingston and wanting some advise as to where we could live, looking for a place that allows pets and like you said we would love to live among the locals as long as it is safe, is meadowbrook apts or bungalows. My husband will be working for ACS and not sure as to where its located as of yet but something closer I guess. Happy new year and looking forward to hearing from you.
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mikemansuk
10/6/2011 18:23 EST
Fantastic tips man. You are right on the points. we lived in an estate in mobay where we believed its very safe but the amount of houses burgled round there is unbelievable whereas other areas are fine with no burglers troubling them
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emmajfitz
10/23/2011 16:03 EST
Hi All, I have been reading all of your tips on moving to Jamaica and feel ok about some things and frankly terrified about other things!! My husband is planning on working in Jamaica in Feb next year - I will join him with our four children in April/May. We were in Jamaica a few weeks ago to see what the island was like - it was great to meet some of the expats out there, who were really supportive and seemed to enjoy life there. (Kingston area) I am really worried about the crime rate. I have been googling-mad crime stats since coming back to the UK. We are thinking of living in Norbrook - gated development and would be interested in opinions of the area and if it is 'considered' safe to live there. I am excited to be heading over to Jamaica and did enjoy my short stay there, but, am also concerned as I am a Mum of four! Any up to date advice would be greatly appreciated!
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RobV
6/4/2015 16:56 EST
This is an d post but I'm happy to answer any questions for people that are planning on moving to Jamaica and would like a point of view from an American that lives, works, and schools his children in Kingston.
It's a great country to live in if you are prepared to adopt.
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