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December 04

After a thoroughly exhausting gym session yesterday a Erin, a friend and I went out to Juici Patty. Juici Patty is a great fast-food patty chain in Jamaica where you can get a whole lunch for under USD $3.

As usual Erin and I were the only white people in the restaurant when my friend mentioned something that really hit home in terms of how little interaction there is between real Jamaicans and ex-pats. "Guys I feel like I'm your tourist guide here"

It is true though, in order for an ex-pat to get involved or integrated into a Jamaican community or just with Jamaicans in general they generally have to be invited and have somebody bring them in - i.e. a tour guide. On Friday night I played basketball at the local university and I needed a "tour guide" to bring me along otherwise I wouldn't have been very warmly welcomed - in fact I wasn't very warmly welcomed still - but then I started smack talking everybody on the court and made some plays and soon they were smack talking back and there was a normal basketball level of relationship on the court.

Another example of the lack of integration is with eating. Jamaicans are shocked when they see ex-pats eating their food... the team beside my desk all sat and stared at me the first time they saw me eating patties... and Erin's colleagues still can't get over white people eating patties.

I'm not sure why there is such a low-level of integration, I'm not sure if it is due to white people being scared to open up and expose themselves or black people pushing away white people or if it is due to the perceived income differences... probably some combination of a number of things. Truthfully its a shame, I know that my stay here would be much more welcoming and enjoyable if I had more Jamaican friends willing to show me the ropes.

9:19 AM | Blog it | Jamaica

Comments (2)

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MooseMorel wrote:

Interestingly I read a book recently, written by a professor at University of West Indies, trying to explain the crime which touched on this subject - and largely blamed crime on this topic.

Jamaica is largely made up of exclusionary social structures -
1. Upper class and lower class are very divided - there is basically no middle class to bridge them.
2. Gangs are highly exclusionary - to the point of garrison cities that the rest of society cannot enter.
3. Police are excluded by and exclude civilians.
4. All-inclusives are completely All-exclusionary for tourists and Jamaicans.
5. Universities and high-schools are completely walled-in and unaccessible to the general public.

I don't have know if I have a point, but never-the-less I thought it was somewhat relevant and interesting.

Jan. 17

Dyolfskoord wrote:

Well thats how Jamaicans are, they are probably looking at you guys wondering who you all are.

I am Jamaican myself and I know that they are friendly people to strangers regardless of where you are from.

Jan. 13

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