Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

[jaith]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

great report gb...i didn't pass out, just got nostalgic & had to sit & stare at my own photos for awhile...(big sigh...)

i don't want this report to end....

[JB7Colie]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

The last night was a good time. I also will never understand why males and females cant just hang out, but then again I cannot figure out how they wear pants all the time. I did however enjoy a lot of the music. Some of it was not my favorite but now holds a special memory of Jamaica. Even some of american artists they listened to seemed to have been remade with different beats. I was wondering if anyone knew a good place to download modern Jamaican music. Im not even good at getting american music so I do not really know where to look at all.

Leaving Jamaica that Tuesday afternoon was so difficult for me. I felt like I was leaving so much there, but then again I was bringing home with me a much better perspective. It used to bother me how materialistic many americans are, but not it is driving me absolutely nuts. Just today my younger cousin was telling us that she would rather have no car than the free one that was being given to her because it was no good enough for her. Any Jamaican I met would have jumped at that chance. I know that the family we stayed with owned a van, it was the one that picked us up from the airport, but also the one that brought us back [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] I was so sad. I was trying to figure out ways to stay ie:accidentally lose my passport. There was a moment in the MoBay airport that Donna and I just looked at eachother and started to cry. I am sure she will tell you more about it. Up until that point we were both doing pretty well, Donna better than myself because it was my first time and I will have very little time in the near future to go. I will get there though.

Donna do not forget the safety manual!

[Hush Darlin]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay Colie7

[Hush Darlin]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

GB I am still waitig for the rest that you promised me

[atticus]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Thank you very much for thaking the time to post this thread. I have only had time to review the pics and loved every second of it. I hope to get back and do the reading soon.

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

LOL...love reading your perspective Cole...no matter how short...the safety manual...you may need to jump in with that one...you tell it better than I....

Hello ColeS! QK, IM, Q, Dave, Lucija, thanks to all ...did I forget anyone off this page? Soon come Sweets! Hello Atticus, nice to see you! Been awhile. Jaith, glad to see you are still with us...(((Nina))) I would love to hear your perspective on the whole male/female dynamic....

Okay, lemme see if I can get to the rest...

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

I danced alot later in the night....my kids sound asleep right inside the door (they don't sleep alot, but when they do, sound is not an issue), everything done more or less. I love to dance, used to go pre-kids alot. So the party was a great time, and although I was totally bummed that Anette couldn't make it becuase of her back, it was a success. All of the beer and rum were gone, so I guess that was a good sign... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] The only I was missing was my husband. If he had been there, I may have never come home!

Finally, everyone wanders off, and it is time to clean up and put the things inside and so on...bring the kids back to the house....it feels like a wake or something, in a way....I was trying not to get emotional but knowing I am leaving the next day is such a drag....to top it off, my husband has had a change in one of his trips, and won't even be home when we get there. Now I am really feeling ripped off....oh well, time for bed....you know I haven't packed yet!

[Green_Biscuit]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Originally posted by jaith:
[qb] great report gb...i didn't pass out, just got nostalgic & had to sit & stare at my own photos for awhile...(big sigh...)

i don't want this report to end.... [/qb]

You know what I just realized? Neither do I...I will wait to finish until tomorrow or so...thanks, Jaith...

[rudemonk]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

wow, wood home...that is nice to see nice wood being used. I would say don't paint it, but go old skool and stain it.

about the materialism mentioned- not quite sure how to put this- let's just say I would advise people not to wax too romantic about people's situations wherever they might live.

[hannahcommunications]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

GB - Thanks for taking us to Little Bay with you - seems like wonderful people there. I love rural Jamaiaca. Definitely a unique learning experience for your kids...I would have liked my kids to have that kind of exposure.

Rudemonk you make a good point...one of the nice things about travel, if you're open to it, is that you're able to appreciate different ways of life and gain new perspectives on your own. Sometimes that is all it is and all we need.

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Originally posted by Lucija:
[qb] GB:
Clap, clap, clap, wonderful report. Once you experience this type of "immersion" there's no going back to "resorts". [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

You children are adorable . . . they seem so at ease . . .

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [/qb]

Amen !

[Laurel]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Greenie and Colie .... how wonderful to come in this morning and get caught up ....

Like all the rest - sad to see this one coming to a close.

I love all the shots with Cudgie and your sweet wee baby .... such a natural ease he has with your babies .... how lucky you are to have all these lovely people in your life!!

[BND1999]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Originally posted by rudemonk:
[qb]
about the materialism mentioned- not quite sure how to put this- let's just say I would advise people not to wax too romantic about people's situations wherever they might live. [/qb]

i feel the same way.... i think people tend to over romanticize life in Jamaica.. and often it's because they can go home .. and come back... it's not living it in and out day to day with all the struggles and the political mess.. and corruption.... the notion of freedom to come and go is huge.. and access to do it

that's not to say.. i dont do it a bit too.. i surely do.. but i get why...

on the other hand.. people overly materialistic is a turn off too.....

let's say a happy medium is just fine.... i have an appreciation for the aesthetic.. and some creature comforts... but jamaica does make one realize how to appreciate more.. and to see that there is less one can live on..or shall i say..live without.. in fact it feels quite good to minimize.

another thought.. i think quiet.. simple.. living..helps to make for a meditative state of mind.. spirituality.. i get that in the bush... and GB i know you felt that in likkle bay....

that is hard to get in a busy frenetic environment at home.... unless you go off to the beach.. or mountains... more easily attained in jamaica

GB.. well talk on the women / men thing

[Sandysan]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

Smiling as I type this, I know all these people GB writes about and I have been going to the same village for the past 12 years. This family is the first family I met as well upon arriving the first time in da islands. After Ivan hit so hard I was on one of the first flights to arrive down there. Going in with two other owners of homes there ( americans) we had no idea what to expect but I only knew that we had to do SOMETHING to help them all. Times were hard before Ivan but with him hitting them so hard, times had to be next to impossible. When we arrived I found that it was more true than I could have ever imagined. I have kept quiet since returning and I thank all of you that sent me things to get to the people down there. We got everything there and then some hahaha. It ended up being that we shipped two containers and two barrels of food, shoes and clothing and were able to go to Little Bay, Brighton and Revival and give to so many that were without! My mother , in addition, was so wonderful and with our help she bought food for about 100 yards. Rice, bully beef, Lasco, sardines, flour, oil...ect. We went yard to yard via van to drop these bags off. Red Cross had been at the church in Brighton and the school in Little Bay but they just did not reach the people! Their supplies were limited ...it was so much more effective to just stop by, wish them a better day and Jah Bless, EVERYTIME. More soon!

[n.c.rootswoman]

Re: Cultural Immersion in Little Bay

great read GB [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] As Ive said before you are hard core Jamaicaholic! What a Blessing you and Sandysan have been to this less traveled area