Why I Don't Go To The Market I wish I could go to the market. Coronation Market, specifically. It's so much cheaper to buy your fruits and vegetables there, rather than the supermarket. But I can't go to the market. At least, not by myself. Because I simply do not speak the language necessary to get the market prices. I do not speak patois.

The Twin - part #1 – Granny B’s funeral in Jamaica The ultrasound confirmed my fears, twin, and two boys; at age 36 this was considered a ‘high risk’ pregnancy, however, I managed to go through the entire pregnancy without a hitch. I worked up to the day before I gave birth to two healthy, cute boys weighing in at 5lb.8oz, and 6lb.2oz. They were the pride and joy of my husband and me, until he left us when they were 15 months old, which leaves me to take care of them physically by myself.

My mother’s 5 favorite Jamaican proverbs – Happy Mothers day !!! As mother’s day approaches I’ve been reflecting on the advice my mother gave me using Jamaican proverbs. She has used many great Jamaican proverbs to steer me in the right direction while growing up. There are a few Jamaican proverbs that stuck with me throughout the years. Here are my 5 favorite Jamaican proverbs from my mother and what I learned.

Jacob DeCordova, the Jewish Jamaican who founded the Jamaica Daily Gleaner newspaper The official motto of Jamaica “Out of Many, One People” is one that is readily apparent in the faces of the people of Jamaica.  Indeed our strength as a nation is a result of Jamaica’s unique ability to rise above color and race and in so doing create institutions that stand the test of time.  No more is that more evident that in the Jamaica Daily Gleaner a newspaper founded by a Jewish Jamaican, Jacob DeCordova in 1834 and which is still going strong 176 years later in 2010.

Chinese New Year : In Jamaica AS children growing up in a village shop in rural Jamaica in the 50s and 60s Chinese New Year was one of the times we eagerly looked forward to. Perhaps more so  than Christmas. In fact the celebration was called by our Jamaican friends “Chiney Chrismus”.

The Plane With The Broken Neck

By now you must have heard all about the spectacular arrival of American Airlines flight 331 which ended up in three pieces on the sand of thePort Royal

road.

Playing Translator For The American Doctor In Jamaica The esteemed American Doctor, Ted Hofflin was determined to go to Jamaica to research their Medical practices. His first day at St. Joseph's Hospital was not as straight forward as he thought it would be.
While he sat in the Doctor's lounge trying to absorb the culture that surrounded, he felt confident that he would be able to pursue his research without a hitch.

Bridgette Jones' Diary - Part 3 After 7 long months in the good old US of A, Bridgette is quickly realizing that life in the land of the free and the brave is not as peachy as she originally thought it would be.

Bridgette Jones' Diary - Part 2 Bridgette is invited to a church Tea Party and she has nothing to wear. She then sends a message to her cousin Sharon asking her to send certain special items.

Bridgette Jones' Diary - Part 1 After 3 weeks in America, Bridgette buys a camera from a neighbor and records her first letter to her friend Sharon back in Jamaica.

School Days! The cool, fresh and invigorating air of autumn has arrived and with it, another exciting school year abound with hopeful anticipation and great sighs of relief from worn out and cash-strapped parents. The familiar bright colored uniforms crisp and stiff with pleats that stood up as if saluting, shiny new and polished shoes, book bags (knapsacks) packed with new books, sharpened pencils, erasers, rulers and other tools of the trade were neatly packed away inside.

The Bridgette Jones' Video Diary We are pleased to announce the Bridgette Jones' VideoDiary. The Adventures of a Jamaican country girl living in America.

Interview with Garry Hess the creator of the Jamaican inspired Cartoon Comic strip Akil and Saltfish This month we interview Jamaicans.com member and artist Garry Hess. He has created a Jamaican inspired carton comic strip called Akil and Saltfish. 

Man Tree I was in the backyard helping her to hang some clothes on a line that stretched from the kitchen window to an avocado tree, which was fast becoming blighted under the heat of the sun. The line was so long it drooped like a pregnant cow so when the clothes were hung, they touched the ground, and she had to hold it up with a long bamboo stick.

My Memories of Jamaica Independence Day August 6th, 1962 This month we celebrate Jamaica's independence from the British. Here are memories from Jamaicans of Independence day on August 6th, 1962.

So Mom's visiting from Jamaica It's been 3 years since we've seen her and while we are happy to, she's only been here 3 days and we are ready to send her on her way. First, she raised hell about the...

Many Rivers To Cross The fountain is clearest at its source -Proverbs Time? It belongs to God, and I have no control over it. No human being does. Time does not even belong to itself, really. That is why whenever I tried to manipulate it, I ended up with the short end of the stick and a fog of perplexity would come over me. It masquerade in front of my face in a carnival costume solicitously, and then disappears just like that, without a trace.

Cooking Saltfish This is not a recipe by any means but a childhood memory of me cooking saltfish for the first time. As a child growing up in Clarendon during the seventies, if you happen to be the eldest child in the household it was your responsibility to learn fundamental domestic duties. Cooking, washing, ironing, sewing, things like that.

Growing Up Like A Jamaican - The Book June is a special month for me not only because of my birthday but also because of the "birthday" of my book, "How To Raise Your Child Like A Jamaican." In honor of "How To Raise Your Child Like A Jamaican's" 2-year anniversary and because I just released the second edition, which includes an excerpt by Gen. Colin Powell (ret.) and comments by Michelle Bernard of the Independent Women's Forum - they're both Jamericans - for this month's blog I am including an excerpt.

Sammy lose him cool ( Part 2) Much to my ease and comfort I had just dispelled intestinal gas when out of no where my ‘wishy washy’ looking grandson would suddenly appear.  “Granpa! Granpa!  There’s a lady at the gate asking for you,” said he excitedly as he stood before me in close proximity.

Childhood Days I spent some of my childhood years growing up in a small community called Lionel Town in the parish of Clarendon. It was a sugar town, meaning sugar canes grew and were harvested there for the Monymusk Sugar Factory. Lionel town had its own hospital of the same name; it had a court house, a community park known as Pawsey Park, several supermarkets, shops, a post office, police station of course, library, gas station, I even remember a “Bata” shoe store, but most importantly it had decent hard-working, law-abiding citizens.

Dog Get A Raw Deal In this place of solitary confinement and except for the occasional ‘ra-ta-ta-ta’ outburst of falling excretion, it is very quite. Here, I am able to think and ponder certain things and review my thoughts to see if there is any thing I’ve over looked.

Jamaica and Film The beauty of Jamaica cannot be denied. Christopher Columbus called Jamaica the “fairest island” he had ever seen. Pirates became so entranced with the island that they sometimes opted to stay they rather than continue looting. And now, Jamaica’s natural beauty has made it a draw for modern moviemakers.

Memories of Back a Yaad-- It's all about Sammy (Part1) Not so long ago when I was a little barefoot, suck finger, tear-up  trousers boy, I use to sing this song, ‘Sammy plant piece a corn down a gully.’ Now stop y'u foolishness, stop pretend you don’t know it for neither of us is any young guinea chick and as a matter of fact, "y'u of all persons older than Moses rod."

The Best of Both Worlds I believe I am a much better person because of my British heritage and Jamaican culture.  Being rooted and grounded in both, interchanging dialects as only Jamaicans can is something that fascinated my British work colleagues – little did they know my lapses into patois were simply to stop them eavesdropping on my conversations! 

Going To Jamaica for Christmas I plan on going home for Christmas this year. But for the first time it is with ambivalent feelings.When I close my eyes, I remember all the warmth, love, happiness and joy of a Jamaican Christmas. A white and cold Christmas can be nice but compared to a warm Jamaican Christmas? Priceless!!

Yuh Memba de days - Remember This in Jamaica Check out 48 great "Memba de days in Jamaica". Here is one...Memba wen yuh do all yuh homework at school so dat as yuh h reach home yuh ramp so til yuh hear smadddy shout out "yuh madda a ccooooommme!" and yuh dash inna yuh house and change yuh school uniform as yuh would surely get a beaten fi inna yuh uniform at 6pm.

You know they're Jamaican if they... Express disgust by 'sucking' or 'kissing' their teeth....Point with their mouth...'Cut yeye' when upset with someone...Wear a 'frock', not a dress...Refer to fancy shoes as 'boot'

Memba some more - Remember This in Jamaica Icy mint for 1 cent and fudge was 5 cents. Stroll down Jamaica memory lane. When Air Jamaica had stewardess with looks and manners. "Teenage Dance Party" on JBC radio.

"Life dung Memory Lane." Unknown to Misses Matilda, a handful of ravens (A beg y’u pardon; black buds) are ravaging her tomatis crop. They are drilling and sipping sweet nectar from the cherry-red plumy ones.

Life Abroad... ‘Tory come to bump’ Jamaicans are the most creative and determine beings in the whole wide world ‘mi ha tell y’u’ and I write that with no fear of being wrong. I have written it with absolute conviction and without jingoism. (Weh y’u seh, y’u agree sah?  Haw-right then.)

Jamaica Tidbits & History Part 1 Who was Jamaica's first Jamaican-Jamaican Born Governor General?  When was breadfruit first introduced to Jamaica? What was Jamaica's first broadcast station? Learn about these tidbits of Jamaican history today!!!

Out of the Frying Pan & into the Fire I viewed a television program that depicted a gentleman reflecting on his young life during the sixties. Inspiringly, I picked up my diary which I maintained since my elementary school days. My former teacher, Mr. Clark (now a National Commerce Bank senior executive and a major sponsor of Jamaica’s National Volleyball Team), taught us the importance of keeping a diary. Plus, he nudged us to write about our daily activities.

Final Journey “I was a pretty young gal wen I was young ” said Aunt Hilda, her voice trailing off as she gazed afar – way back into the distant years. It seemed she was reliving every episode of her life. I remained silent, holding a tuft of her hair in my hand, waiting patiently for her to continue. “You’re still beautiful, Aunt Hilda. Even more so now,” I said, trying to bring her back from her journey into time.

My Trip to Jamaica! For several years I wanted to return home to Jamaica for another visit, but circumstances keep me from doing so, well that day I wished for finally arrived in which I boarded the Boeing 737 jet, in-route to my homeland. I was happy because I was to see my brothers and sisters, whom I have not seen for quite some time and also my schoolmates. Except for a few bumps on the highway in the sky, the flight was okay.

Reflections on my School Days I was in the fifth grade at Ewarton Primary School. I was a fifth grader who was very accomplished as he was competitive. Throughout my previous years at the school, I have won a nationwide art contest; skipped a grade, and maintained an ‘A’ average. In the fifth grade, I ranked first in my class. Naturally, during the preparation for the annual ‘Class Challenge Quiz’....

Is Patois Doomed in a Global World? Jamaicans are going to have to learn "global" English if they want to prosper in the world of tomorrow. Yes, I enjoy the beauty of Jamaican patois, when it is used to express gentle thoughts, and I acknowledge the power of Jamaican patois when it is used to express anger or frustration.

Gully-bank (Part2) The Old Harbour Road is in a mess. Skipping between traffic I make my way over to the other side; trespass through big-nose Buro’s yard and onto the gully bank which leads to Strebor Avenue. Men are already beneath the shed.

Ah...The memories of JOS I read of the newly opened bus depot in HWT and it brought to mind the buses of my time. When I lived in Jamaica, JOS was the company that provided bus service throughout the corporate area. Jamaica Omnibus Service or Chi Chi bus as they were called, probably due to the sound heard when the doors were being closed. Needless to say, this was before the name "'chi chi" took on a whole other meaning.

Gully-bank - Part 1 Along the gully bank beautiful concrete homes now replace the1951 Hurricane-Charlie Relief Board-houses. Telephone and hydropower lines run from rooftops to roadside poles and noticeable everywhere are spawning signs of social improvements. This is Homestead, south west St. Catherine, just a mile outside the old capitol, Spanish Town.