Jamaican Culture
Ms. Dulcie Sey: “What a Bam-Bam!”
Allo me wanderful fans! Ow iz all uno good peple doing hout dere inna de Wul? Well, opefuly uno iz hangin on, elp iz on de way. Oraka Bama win de helection so maybe we will haff wul peace hafta hall. Ms. Dulcie is very bizzy dese days, through me all ova foreign a promote me book cyall, “Dulcieism”. Me go a de Sag Award, me go to de Golden Globes, Me was in Cannes, France and Ms. Dulcie was heven at de Sundance Flim Festival. Hif you heva see me pon de Slope dem, you wuld a fal dung wid hexcitement. Man, when Ms. Dulcimer put hon har gear everybody tap fi look wid shellshock.
A Marriage Proposal Plan: Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien Part 44 I was having second thoughts about getting married. I was now regretting having mentioned my proposal plan to Sue. She told my mother who now called frequently to find out when I was going to ask. The pressure was building in my family. Even though I don’t want children, I knew what I wanted. I wanted a better job and a better life. I wanted a chance to travel back to Jamaica and other parts of the world. The only way to achieve that is to get married and get a green card.
Growing Up Like A Jamaican - Being Grateful for the little things Even in the toughest times my Grandparents never wanted for much. The cylinder they requested in this letter is for gasoline for the stove. Since they didn’t get electricity wired through their house until 1997 they still lived by lantern light, there was no TV and only a transistor radio that was powered by batteries.
Ms. Dulcie Sey: “Since mi nomination dem a mek mi life a livin hell!” Howdy out dere hall you patriots an political watchas! Hall hof uno finelly convince Ms. Dulcimer fi run fi hoffice. Is bout three months now since me decide fi run fi Prime Minista hof JA. But me haffi tell uno dat sum very ragamuffin tings is happenin since me decide fi run far Election.
Granny declares, "Babies are not playthings!"
Many remarks have been made about caring for babies. Some have been old wives’ tales,
while others are mere conjecture, a result of modern research and technology.
My Granny loved babies.
Granny and I talk about Childhood Infectious Disease
A lifestyle in Jamaica provided children with a good education , picturesque atmospheres, as well as strict principles and social mores.
However, part of growing up and going to school in Jamaica also included being immunized against infectious diseases such as polio, smallpox, measles and chicken pox. Because most Caribbean Scientists believed that in warmer climates, germs and bacteria tend to spread like wild fires. During the ‘70’s there was an outbreak of polio and everyone was panic stricken.
Ms. Dulcie Sey: "De Crime ina Jamaica is Trecherous!"
Greetings and Salutations to halla mi frens dem inna de United Nations.. Me ope sey all a uno haf a wanderful Halliday Season. Lawd! Ms Dulcie had a very boddersome time ‘cause me tek hup mi likkle tiad self a go fly all de wey a Hengland fi go meet hup wid Hingrid an Yehuda.
The Aftermath: Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien Part 43 I will never forget the "arrest experience" as long as I live. I would put this up there on the list of scares with my trip to the Bahamas. This was worse because I was caught. Even though the “arrest incident” happened on a late night, we were convinced that some of the neighbors saw or heard something.
Ms. Dulcie Sey: “Lawd Jesus! Dem Kidnap Ms. Palomina Pickney!”
Greetings hall of you folks out dere inna de Universe, Ms. Dulcie iz writin to uno unda some very grievous circumstances. Lorks have mercy! Me cyan heven consantrate, me belly-bottom a gripe me you see. Mek me tell you bout sum very hupsettin happenins inna St. Mary.
A Conversation with Granny: History of Jews in Jamaica
When Foreigners think of the Caribbean they mostly think of people of color, however, after many travels and research they realize that the Caribbean consists of many different nationalities and cultures. Jamaica is no exception.
Growing Up Like A Jamaican - The New Year These letters from my grandparents are precious because my grandparents didn’t have a phone and to this day when we go visit their home in Hodges Land we have to first buy a phone card in Black River and then borrow a cell phone to make a call.
Humiliation and More Trouble : Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien Part 42 Two weeks became a month. Ritchie’s plan was to eventually go to Atlanta, but Sue would not let him go. She kept insisting that he stay another week. I could not protest. The guilt of Ritchie helping me overweighed the risk I was taking having him at the house.
Ms. Dulcie Sey: “We Nevva Cum Wid Wan Hempty Crocus Bag!” Ow iz hall you folks out dere in de Galaxy doing? I ope uno iz all well. Tings roun de Globe iz getting very cantankerous, iz like people is gweyin Raggamuffin all de way. One Country tunning pon de nex, people revoltin gainst odder people. Iz a shame an abomination wey a go on. De time of Revelation iz at hand.
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!
Ms. Dulcie Sey: “Dem No Tek No Pride Ina Wey Dem Do!” Ow are hall a uno folks dere doin? Well me an Ms. Precious daughta was a watch de Wul news an it get me so blinkin vex you see. De whole wul is inna a real “roonkus-poonkus” state. De school bus driver dem a lef de pickney dem miles away from dem destination and de Teacher dem a run way from de children dem.
Granny’s Sister Has A “MeltDown” Granny had three sisters and each one had a strong personality, not one of them was easy lead a stray by anyone’s tom-foolery or shenanigans. However, when Granny’s Sister Emma found out one of her sons was marrying an older woman, who did not come from his same heritage. She alerted the family council and then decided to have a “meltdown”.
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!!
Frustration, Death, Homosexuality in Jamaica, More Trouble : Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien Part 41 As an illegal alien you deal with frustration all the time. There are many times I felt that I was at my break point. The request to bring papers to show that I could work in the United States was stressful. Not because I did not have the “right papers” but because it was just another reminder that I was an illegal alien. I had confidence that my driver’s license and social security card would be sufficient.
Christmas in Jamaica is Better White wash walls, sorrel, rum cake, Christmas breeze and family. Three Jamaicans.com forum members tell us why nothing compares to spending Christmas time in Jamaica.
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.
Ms. Dulcie Sey: "Dem No Have No Consantration!" Howdy-do hall hof you fine folks hout dere inna de worl ! Well, Ms. Dulcie haf sum intrestin news far hall hof yu readas. I will be migrating to Canada far a few months, me a go start wan radio show dere fi a while. Hafta tings get sekkle den me will cum back a JA an continue on at RJR as dem special consultant as hallways.
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'
The Ring: Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien Part 40 In this month's "Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien" his "sticky" situation gets even stickers. The illegal alien family puts the pressure on him with his new girlfriend. They are dropping hints of marriage to him.
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.
A Granny's Remorse: Granny Ghetta & Me When parents divorce children suffer the most, however some of the most inconspicuous casualties are the grandparents. Many times they are forced to take sides, and some are often not permitted to see the children.
Ms. Dulcie: Mrs. Bhoodrasingh’s Troublesome Pickney Dem.... Greetins mi wonderful fans hall ova de wul, well ow hall of you is doin dese days? Lawd, me know de pressha hof de economy haff hevrybady hup inna arms. Jus de odda day me go a Missa Chin Shoppe fe buy wan loaf a hard dough bred……Guess ow much im a sell de bred far?
Rationalization : Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien Part 39 In this month's "Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien" he examines how to deal with a "sticky" situation. The illegal alien is caught between family and a new girlfriend in his quest for a green card. He tries to rationalize each decision.
Granny's Irish Legacy: Wills 'N' Such It is true what they say, the Irish tend to respect a good wake and they always remember their dearly departed. For as long as I can recall, everyday that the sun shone on earth, my Granny talked about her parents.
"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.
Ms. Dulcie Sey: "Strange Tings A Go On At De Golden Globes!" Tally-ho! To hall you people out dere inna T.V. Land! Dis is Ms. Dulcimer Peaches Robothom talking straight to you from de Golden Globes Awards inna Los Angeles, Caliefornia. I am ere wid mi side kick Ms. Puncinella Hortensia Simpsonia.
Granny & I: "Those Two Girls!" My Granny never believed in having “favorites” for grandchildren. She tried to love us all equally, however, due to life and circumstances, the grandchildren that rallied around her the most, ended up being the ones she talked about quite frequently.
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.)
What to do? : Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien Part 38 In this month's "Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien" life gets complicated. The illegal alien is caught between family, friend and his quest for a green card. Which one will he choose.
