Do All Jamaicans Smoke Marijuana?
Visions of sunny beaches, the blue-green sea, palm trees and gorgeous sunsets come to mind for many of us when we think of Jamaica. For some, the first images are those of pot-smoking men on the street corners. Believing that…
Jamaica Vacation: 10 Things to Pack
What do you need to pack for your vacation in Jamaica? Anyone who travels knows that you have to pack differently for each location. What can be useful in one country, for example, is a waste in another. Time spent…
How Slow Can You Go?
I think it’s safe to say that most countries run with a definitive sense of “time.” Offices and businesses run on a schedule. Life is hectic and often stress filled. Meanwhile, life in Jamaica is generally slower and simply moves…
4 Cultural Norms: Just Roll With It
People often seem surprised when I mention going through Jamaican culture shock. While many things about Jamaica are similar to the USA, others require one to make adjustments. For instance, I have recently noticed that Jamaicans, in general, seem to…
Jamaican Me Crazy!
Your first, and possibly only, contact with Jamaican “locals” may be in an all-inclusive resort on the sunny shores of this beautiful island. You may go home believing that the Jamaican people you dealt with are the happiest people on earth.…
Let’s Talk About Crime in Jamaica
I remember that first trip to Jamaica like it was yesterday. As we rode the shuttle bus from Montego Bay out to the resort in Negril, I watched the scene unfold like a sad photo album. Crime was the last…
Torn Between Two Worlds
Today, the world outside my window is a melting mess of white snow and sloppy brown mud. It sounds like rain as it cascades off of my roof. Snow? In Jamaica? No, sadly, I’m back “at home” in New Hampshire for…
Jamaican Men, Beauty or the Beast?
As anyone who has ever visited or lived in Jamaica knows, the roles of males here are quite unique and sometimes a bit complex. Let’s delve in the variety of men that foreign women tend to encounter on our travels…