Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

[Stormmey]

I have always wondered about this? I mean apart from you visiting Jamaica and loving your vacay was there a deeper connection.

My reason for becoming a member of this site my Dad (Jamaican) deceased since I was a toddler and I grew up not knowing anything about him in my formative years. When I touched early teens always knew somethings just did not add up like I look totally different from the Maternal family most things they like I detested ever since I was a little kid

Started question stuff and answers were not forthcoming... matterfact Mom went on the defensive......no pictures of him nothing. Mom remarried eons ago she said she did not keep pictures. Anyway I was told he was from Jamaica....so started a search for anything Jamaican.

The year was 2001 I was a teenager (had a different board name then).....joined the site that year. A very helpful lady on here that PM me and told me about a site that I could do a search for my Dad's family. I posted few ADs in couple Jamaican Newspaper (she provided the info for the sites) and found a sister, brother and my Paternal Granmama the rest is history.

I had to wait until I was nineteen to go......my granperes were totally against it......thinking something bad will happen if I go by myself. I am telling you the reunion at the Kingston aipport was awesome...... You should have seen the big piece of cardboard they hold up high with my name on it I instantly knew I belonged so much similarities.

It has been an awesome journey for me....some sad.....poignant..... but mostly joyful and a feeling of coming home. I found out stuff about my Dad.... could not get enough in those days talking with my Granmama about my Dad.

btw.......did not even know I was British until years later..... that is where my Mom met my Dad when she was sent to Britain to attend University. My grandperes had this thing about a British education back then. They met fell in love, got married he passed when I was a baby.....my Mom was a widow when she was twentyone the granperes raised me.

So that is my connection to this site.....waiting to hear yours

[Marielle]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

Wow, Stormmey, what an amazing story.....

Good for you for following your heart in searching out your family, despite opposition from those around you.

Why did I become a member?

Well, grew up in UK and always loved the Jamaican (Carribean) people I'd met. Just their warmth and zest for life etc. Went to a few shebeens as a teenager.

Adored Bob Marley. Many people were introduced to his music through me.....

1993 - For the first time fares to the Caribbean came down, before that it was very much a jet-setters destination (Mustique etc.).

So I grabbed the chance, took my then 20-month old son. Loved it. So did he. Went to Bob Marley's Mausoleum (which was lovely and uncommercialised then).

Been back about 4 times since (lost count), had a Ja boyfriend for a while.....but LDRs are so difficult!

My son, now 20 is still into reggae. He has Bob Marley and a lion as his computer screensaver

Became a member cos I'm curious about everything and wanted to find out more about Jamaica.....

[Tulip]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

You two have great stories, but mine is boring. I came, I saw, I liked, and decided to stay. How else was womankind going to learn how to properly cook oxtails or callaloo?

In all seriousness though, I like the boardites. It could have been anyplace, but I vibe here.

[Stormmey]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

flowers love that name..... a mean why were searching for something jamaican.

Oh just saw where you said something about learning how to cook oxtail and calalu

[Stormmey]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

Marielle!! good for you.

I do not know anyplace outside of Kingston/Saint Andrew as that is where the Paternal family lives..... prolly spent a total of 10 hours total in all the years been going to Jamaica on the north and south coast. I tend to stay close to where they live.

Also went to a few street parties/shebbeens in the inner city when granmama lived there, even bought a house in Jamaica shortly after my granmere died and left me a trust fund. Sister now live there and granmama moved from the inner city Dudus part of the world finally get her to move

Saw a pic of your son in your trip report.....nice looking young man....plan though in the future to explore other parts of Jamaica for 2012 and get my son when he born immersed in the jamaican culture.

[Tulip]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MrsStormmey1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">flowers love that name..... a mean why were searching for something jamaican.

Oh just saw where you said something about learning how to cook oxtail and calalu </div></div>


LOL This is not my first Caribbean message board. I hate to admit my interest was first piqued by dating a man from Guyana. I was also a bit curious after a trip to Jamaica, but I can't say aside from callaloo that I was enthralled.

That first trip to Jamaica showed me a side where I was the enemy. Granted my behavior left much to be desired, but I really wasn't trying to snatch up man and drag home. I was just trying to enjoy my vacation care free.

The reason I even found Jamaicans.com has to do with my past. The reason I stayed is because I like you all quite a bit.

[Stormmey]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">That first trip to Jamaica showed me a side where I was the enemy. Granted my behavior left much to be desired, but I really wasn't trying to snatch up man and drag home. I was just trying to enjoy my vacation care free.
</span>
</div></div>

sideyeye Tulip and curious about the above

Tulip this was my first Carribbean board.....at first it was a challenge trying to read the patois. Read quite a few boards.....cannot say I spend much time on them like I spend on jamaicans.com or the Swedish site.

I was hooked on Oxtail from the first time the jamaican relatives made it. I overdosed on it so now not so much. I do notice though that oxtail made in Canada taste so different from when it is made in Jamaica

[Rivers]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

Granparents are jamaicans
some of the bedtime stories
they told us were about jamaica
I prefer how they cook more
than my Mom,so always
searching for jamaican recipe
this site is awesome for that
like reading the site
I lurk alot
school and part-time jobs
dont allow for much else

[Tulip]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MrsStormmey1</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">That first trip to Jamaica showed me a side where I was the enemy. Granted my behavior left much to be desired, but I really wasn't trying to snatch up man and drag home. I was just trying to enjoy my vacation care free.
</span>
</div></div>

sideyeye Tulip and curious about the above ...
</div></div>

I was a typical tourist and fell into every frap trap. Suffice it to say I hope I never run into any of those people again. I've been fortunate. I stay far away from the Mobay side by that witch's house lest my past catch up with me. Can't say i didn't have a helluva good time though.

[Marielle]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

Stormmey, Port Antonio and the Blue Mountains have been on my to-do list for years!!

(Port Royal, Zion Country, Milk River Bath, Alligator Pond etc.).

Will definately have to do it in 2012.................

Maybe I need to fly to Kingston.....

Amazing how I can travel the width and bredth of Kenya, and Senegal/Mali/The Gambia as well as Sri Lanka/South India....

but to the other side of the island of Jamaica seems to elude me......must be the great time I'm having!!

[Stormmey]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

Marielle, I see by your trip reports that you have done some extensive travelling. I have been to most of the Caribbean Islands, Sweden, Paris, Spain and of course Jamaica. I use to love going to Trinidad Carnival, now those people know how to pawtyyyyy

I plan though next year to see other parts of Jamaica.

Rivers, so your Mom did not get the gift of cooking from your Granmama eh!

[Marilyn]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

Stormmey Seveen told me about your story which was what brought me to this thread. Amazing, and as the Aussie's say, Good on you.

For me I came to this BB in 2000 seeking information about Jamaica prior to my very first trip. If I recall a google search led to a post and then to the board itself. I was all new to the internet period at that time, and I had to realize how the board worked.

As for Jamaica herself, when I landed on the plane that first day and looked out of the window I was in love, and I felt something else as I walked through Sangster for that brief moment before getting on the JUTA bus to go to my first AI. I don't know what that something was, but it really cemented the night we were taken off the AI in Ochii to go out to Little Pub. Around 1:00 in the morning as we were returning the streets were filled with barrels and tons of people were out in the street like it was a party. I had never seen such life in a place in the wee hours of the morning. I longed to get off the bus and join them, but I was not &quot;allowed&quot; to. From that moment my goal was to return and break out of the confines of the AI so I could do what I wanted to do.

When I returned I went deeper into Jamaicans. com trying to soak up any little bit of knowledge about Jamacia I could and feel some kind of tie when I was away from her. This forum became my life line as my life was now changed to what it remains now. not a whole person here, and missing little bits of home when I am there.

I have no family ties to Jamaica that I can trace, I wish somehow we could come to realize, that as Seveen says, the tie IS there, it is just that some of us got dropped off the ship in Jamaica, and some in America. I wish I did have a real Jamaican claim, and for that Stormmey I envy you truly,

That's my story and I'm sticking to it,

[Stormmey]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

Marilyn!! I will never forget my first smell of jamaica when I came off the plane....smelled so sweet and I do not mean the usual sweet. Its like something rose up from the earth to greet me. and the people watching is awesome just a certain rythmn to the walk of the peeps <span style="font-style: italic">sigh</span>

[Rivers]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

stormmey my mom cannot cook
whether jamaican or Caadian food
she can bake tho
Marily is that you in the picture?
Stormmey is that your kids?

[Marilyn]

Re: Non Jamaicans what made you become a member

Yes Rivers that is me. pLeased to meet you