I'm saying bye to Jamaica

[wandaweberg]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

Amanda ATL, Smileawhile, Q3210 and OchiGal

I thank you for sharing your stories about your experiences. It is helpful for “tourists/visitors” who are considering becoming “residents” to identify with the entire Jamaica. The beauty along with the challenges.

Respect.

Wanda

[Q3210]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

Thanks to you too Wanda. Hope you give Jamaica a try and not give up just by listening to the likes of us you mentioned.

Ochi, I find by that nonchalant throw the box/garbage out the door onto the public thoroughfare contemtuous to say the least.
Yes, I understand perfectly when you say you got into arguements constantly.
It`s like no one learns. A lot of contempt beneath the friendliness of some...just wait till you leave within earshot...and the plotting and deception to gain by ill-will.
The mind-set and the will of the people will have to go through a major cultural revolution before any better will be realised.

Another thing is the abuse of the language. We say, "Yeahman" just to hold you so you dont go away. We call mediocrity `excellence`.
Tall is long. Gulf is golf. Boom is bomb.
The whole farce about `tomorrow` is a promise to a fool.
"Tomorrow me will dweet", ends up never being done.
We are plainly an indisciplined people, commited to mostly self interests. If we were a truly cultured people, lots of the foolishness and petty eediatness wouldn`t take place. We`d have goals, an eye and a vision of attainment.
We have so many churches all for themselves. If these churches so much as half agreed on demanding a stop to violent crime and a stop to over-burdened political corruption, Jamaica could say we have a common moral understanding and acceptnce.
We accept too much noise as kultcha. We articulate in sign language and body movements, suggesting our limitations in the best use of the various forms of our language.
We tend to disturb our neighbour than to propagate peace and quiet.
Why do we have such a high murder rate?
Why are we so violent prone?
Why have we degenerated into monsters rather than have grown into mature and responsible adults?
Trust me. You see manifeatations of the monster right here on the BB by how some of us re-act and by how some of us approach with nastiness and an air of indignation and braggishness.
It mek mi laff when I hear big men argue about who come first as if coming first is the only deal.
There`s nothing about participation.
Nothing about manners and charm.
Ruff and cut and bad you wanna be is the Jamaican informal motto.

[Bink - the Only]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

and, therein lies my reason to get outta dodge. i spent the better part of a year easing into the lifestyle (not that i have nuff to say compared to you, Ochigal). i accepted being a mygunza (or whatever blugiant calls me) in a land of non-mygunza (sp?)

i found out after moving from one neighborhood to another that my then husband was told "they" would get the white woman. that stuff honestly did not phase me at all.

the things that drove me up and wall and outta jamaica were ... standing in line for at least onehalf hour to collect my mail ... and being pushed aside over and over by jamaicans until i stood my ground.

spending hours and hours and hours in sav getting the appropriate documents to register my car. man, that was a hoot!

spending a whole freaking day standing in line at the registrar general (or whatever it is called) to get certified copies of my marriage certificate to continue on getting my work authorization. this is NOT an exaggeration ... it literally was nine freaking hours.

attempting to get my car "smogged" only to be asked by the inspector to grease his palms. i said nevermind.

being stopped by the gendarme to make certain he or she could get his/her piece of blood from me ... cause, hey, i was white and american.

all things taken in consideration, i still am happy for my experience living in jamaica. i learned more about myself and i became a better human being. i am more careful with picking friends. i am also more open to others' pov.

oh, and then when i decided i need to give up my dream and move back to states ... i spent weeks and weeks and weeks trying to get title to my car.

i remember so well ending up in kingston at their version of the dmv. i was dissed by the counter ppl and asked for a supervisor. i was lead into the supervisor's office and she pulled up some stupid stuff on her computer about me owning some kind of truck. huh?

i finally asked her to call sav la mar and she said she could not as she did not have the number. i told her to give me a phone book ... she said she did not have one. she capitulated when i pointed out the phone book on top of her file cabinet.

wow, so many memories.

i will not for one minute regret my time living in jamaica. nor will i for one minute pretend it was all sweetness and light.


how are you, Qster?

[Q3210]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

Bink, if yu ever hear me when dem draw mi tongue...is not a nice ting...Government offices and agencies are definitely the worst places to be...apart from police stations and prisons of course...But there is the problem...leadership or lack of it...The whole atmosphere is not conducive to servicing the public...the nonchalant ultra-laid backedness..all within the conforms of the managers and supervisors as you gave example with the woman who pretended there was no phone book in her office...she reminded me of the story titled, "The Emperor Who Wore No Clothes"
Compare all that to when you go into a well run business, far and few in Jamaica, where you are attended and made to feel you`re there for something worthwhile.

[jacobsammy]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

I guess I was truly blessed. I never had problems getting through at the bank. Post office was always quick for me. The long delays getting things done I only experienced that in town and clearing things.

Yes I did come across one or two people that tried to fight me down or such but I stood my ground and then it was done.

Even when bad things happened they were different then here in the states. I was robbed once while at Runaway Bay public beach. People I didn't know helped me to get my things back. People I had never seen. I don't know that if I were robbed in the states if anyone would run to my aide like so many did in Jamaica.

I was harrassed in Ochi one evening leaving work and my husbands cousin whom I never met made sure I got home safe because I was Chiney's wife.

Jamaica definatley makes you a more patient person.

Thanks Ochigal, Bink and Amanda for sharing your stories and allowing me realise just how truly blessed I am.

[Bink - the Only]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

Originally posted by Q3210:
[qb] Bink, if yu ever hear me when dem draw mi tongue...is not a nice ting...Government offices and agencies are definitely the worst places to be...apart from police stations and prisons of course...But there is the problem...leadership or lack of it...The whole atmosphere is not conducive to servicing the public...the nonchalant ultra-laid backedness..all within the conforms of the managers and supervisors as you gave example with the woman who pretended there was no phone book in her office...she reminded me of the story titled, "The Emperor Who Wore No Clothes"
Compare all that to when you go into a well run business, far and few in Jamaica, where you are attended and made to feel you`re there for something worthwhile. [/qb]

Qster, i agree with everything you say. but, hear me now .... many things are the same here in the grand ole US of A.

the difference for me is being a member of the hoi polloi.

as a white woman, my voice is heard more in the states.

the stuff is the same, but different .. if you get what i mean.

[Q3210]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

Bink, because America is a better run business with goals and proven attainments as reference.
Americans know that goof ups are a waste of time and production.
Jamaicans goof ups mean more time off from work.
btw. Work is a 4 letter word in Jamaica.

[Bink - the Only]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

damn, Q ..you speak just like the man in kingston. i guess i try to fight it ...

i also tell ppl that work is a 4 letter word here.

[Q3210]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

Your 4 letter word gets your bills paid and your savings somewhere...ours...oh what the heck...If we go on vacation and leave our Jamaica house locked up, we come back only to receive a water bill of the same if not more numerals than when we were actually present and using x amount of water.

[Travellah]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

As i am reading all the things that everyone has to say ..good and bad about jamaica ,i can remember the not so good things so clearly, and remember the exact reasons why i left 14 years ago..but at this point in my life MY jamaica seem like a "bed of roses" compared to canada.
I am thinking hard about moving back home in the near future...my kids love it there and so does my husband who happens to be african.

[Q3210]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

Pesha 1, come put your toes in before you wade again fully.
14 years, things can either have gotten better or worsterer.
Canada? Is it the cold that`s getting to your bones?

[777]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

me tink a de cole a chat to him yes...
and wait..
me tink it start *already!* [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[777]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

Americans know that goof ups are a waste of time and production.

anoh all a dem productive doe. one problem me have bout America is dem *signage*..
Me never see a country what have signs dat noh mek no sense!!?!!

[j-can]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

Originally posted by Q3210:
[qb] J-can, your post in this thread is most un-gracious and if not, NASTY.
Why you bring your envy in here, I do not know.
Amanda has posted on the Board for many years. She has stated her Truths, what she sees in and about Jamaica. I have never seen her being a target for being in a hellhole as you say Jamaica is. I have never seen Amanda and anyone here in any nasty chat.
For you to come in here and distribute your rightful opinion is fine, but to be wishing Amanda good riddance is quite out of order and rude.
Thanks Amanda for your input here on the BB whilst living in Jamaica and before. We hope that you`ll continue dropping in and at least update us on your Jamaican dogs going to Atlanta. [/qb]

Envy?....What has she got That I need to be envious of?....
I stand by my posting 100% if it was not within the rules I am sure the powers that be would have gotten in touch with me...
The same way you all can speak about your truth
Is why I retain the right to speak my truth
whether you like it or not
You think my comments are nasty?..well tough...This is how I fell..I am a lone voice in here in defense of my beloved country....
We all know how it is in jamaica it's tough as hell...
But you dont leave the first world and go to the third world and then whine constantly about how tough it is [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]
Why am I out of order to wish her good riddance
What is so different about her that I cant wish her good riddance?.....Please enlighten me oh holy one..

[CeaBee]

Re: I'm saying bye to Jamaica

j-can i can sympathise..but for this thread i followed the adage of

...uuno carry on..