Jamaica Expat Forum

RickBlaine
Joined 2015
Posts: 109

7 years ago

Jamaica... From a different set of eyes.

7 years ago

(I wrote & posted on Facebook - Jamaicans From Around The Globe)

First, I want to express my gratitude to all Jamaicans for welcoming me to their island & home. I have never encountered such a heartfelt openness anywhere else in the world!

I'll agree it is HARD in Jamaica!! There's few job opportunities here and what jobs there are don't pay a lot. Things can be expensive in respect to what the average Jamaican earns. Many Jamaicans feel there are better opportunities and pay elsewhere and especially the U.S. This might be true IF you can qualify for a VISA, have a good education and/or training in an area that will get you a good job! And it's getting harder everyday to get that U.S. VISA!!

What I have learned and observed is that Jamaicans are a very hard-working people. They work hard and overcome obstacles every day but at the end of that day they are happy... VERY HAPPY!!

While the vendors and window washers at the traffic lights might be a tad annoying... THEY ARE WORKING, TRYING to earn a few dollars. Unlike the states where you have panhandlers begging for money (I've learned that most of these panhandlers really aren't homeless and make $20,000 - $30,000 USD a year just by collecting spare change... TAX FREE!!). YOU DON'T see that in Jamaica (or at least I haven't seen it).
Yes, there's crime here... there's crime everywhere!!! Chicago has approximately the same population as Jamaica, and so far this year there have been almost 500 murders in Chicago!! That doesn't account for Boston, Detroit, New York, Washington D.C., LA, Dallas, etc.

Americans are caught up in chasing material things... a better home or neighborhood, a better car, bigger TV, the latest iPhone or Galaxy. They fence themselves off from their neighbors and mostly have a "ME" attitude. The only sign they worship is the Dollar Sign ("$$$"). Americans are spoiled little children and generally act like that. Most are very unhappy and guess where their ideal vacation is... JAMAICA!!
The house we have now (here in Mobay) has no hot water and my fiancee washes clothes by hand (we do go to the laundry mat sometimes and are buying a washing machine when we move into our new place). and don't even mention a clothes dryer... clothes dry outside in the fresh air and sunlight!! This is common in Jamaica... ask your American friends how many of them could live without hot water or if they would be willing to wash their clothes by hand. Most would think you're crazy!!!

There's an old saying... "The grass is greener on the other side." but when you get over there you find out it's all weeds!! and it was better where you were. Jamaica is like that!!! The grass really is greener here and only when you get to the states do you learn what you gave up!!!

I sit on our balcony at night, looking at the moon and stars, listening to the sounds of the night... feeling relaxed and at peace knowing I'm in paradise.
I love my adopted home & country and hopefully soon will be an official resident. I plan on living the rest of my life in this island paradise and can't imagine myself anywhere else.

What makes Jamaica a beautiful place... isn't the food or the weather or the politicians! It's the PEOPLE... JAMAICANS!!

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Contribute
Help others in Jamaica by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Jamaica.