On a Random Day in Jamaica….
I LOVE days with no agenda. It leaves room for these most random and treasured moments to happen.
This afternoon which turned into night began with having lunch with two Canadian friends in Ocho Rios. That lunch turned into the three of us driving up to one of our hangout spots in the Milford area. While we sat and enjoyed a flask of rum a taxi drove by the bar, stopped and then backed up again. Out steps an acquaintance of mine from years ago who saw me and decided to come in and say hi. As it turns out he was on his way up to Parry Town to put together a little cookout for anyone in the community who wanted to join. FREE jerk pork and unlimited rum were on the menu and he invited us to come up and enjoy. No one had to twist our arms very hard to make us go.
We drove waaaaay up to Parry Town and found the spot right outside a small community shop. Sure enough there was a quart of Appleton rum waiting for us and the jerk pork was ready to eat. We parked our butts right in front of the shop and enjoyed. Several people in the area started coming over, some to buy things at the shop and some to enjoy the cookout. It didn’t take long for a good crowd – mostly children – to build. Another good friend of mine and his wife, who live in the area, came by to hang out as well.
Us foreign girls quickly became popular with the swarm of Jamaican children. As soon as they see cameras they want to be the center of attention and for me, this is no problem because I love the kids!
Late in the evening I had fallen in love with these kids – the dancing, picture taking and videos. I was leaving Jamaica the next day and one of the boys wanted to come back to Canada with me. I told him his parents might have something to say about that so he suggested we go to his house and ask them. So Richie and about five other kids led me off into the dark, through some trees and bushes – it was so dark I couldn’t even see where my feet were walking but the boys were so kind as to hold my hands and make sure I didn’t trip on anything. The first thing I thought of is those swarmings that happen to foreigners in other countries, where they get stripped and robbed LOL.
Sure enough, at the end of this dark walk to nowhere we ended up at Richie’s little house. When his aunty opened the door she seemed surprised to see that he came home with a white lady, so I introduced myself. She was very pleasant and played along when Richie was asking her if he could please come to Canada with me tomorrow. She and I shared some laughs, I said it was a pleasure meeting her and that I would come back up and visit next time I’m in Jamaica. The boys walked me back up to the shop and we reconvened with the rest of the people. It was a most pleasant way to spend a last night in Jamaica.
Comments
13 responses to “A Swarming In Parry Town”
great story . please keep them coming
great story . please keep them coming bill
A trip to Jamaica with you is officially on my bucket list!!
This sure made me smile! Moments I will cherish forever!
Brenda – yes that was the best night! We will relive many of these in the future.
Heather – would be lots of fun to do Jamaica together. That’s an easy bucket list item.
Bill – I will keep them coming as long as I can finance my trips.
Such a fun story…..kids sure do make laughing easy with there care free spirits…….love the boy in the yellow shirt..he had great dance moves 🙂
Thanks Vera. Yea this was one of those nights I will remember for a long time. So much fun.
This is so awesome! Great way to end your recent trip.
I ran across your blog 3 months ago and I just keep coming back. Its my weekly fix. Im a yardie living in the US. Your stories bring me back home and also, an overwhelming feeling of joy. This recent story, I had to leave you a comment. Thanks for taking me along on your trips:)… You are showing me parts I did not of.
Thank you so much for the comment Jason! It’s the comments from Jamaicans that I love the most because I feel flattered that you guys read my blog and enjoy it 🙂 It is my pleasure to share my stories and I’m glad you’re enjoying them!
LOVE the video. Kids in Jamaica are always so happy to be around me too. I just love them. I remember the first time I was there, we drove past a school and I was so excited to see the kids in their uniform and at school. I asked him to stop so I could take a picture. I remember saying…”I wish I could take a picture with one of them with their cute little uniform on”. He said, “Well, just walk up to the fence and they will come”. Sure enough, AS SOON as I stepped next to the fence, they came running up to me and wanted to take pictures with me. It was so cute.
I have never heard of swarming before??
Yea the kids always wanna come see the foreigners. I love it too.
About the swarming thing – I THINK (don’t quote me) that I heard it about Peru. They have a bait kid who talks to you and then many of them swarm around you and rob you of everything. I don’t really remember what country but it’s a true thing.
Enjoying the re-read, Thanks for re-launching the site!
Still so much to get through but loving the read, videos and pics.
Thanks Vera. I have fun some days reading through old posts that I forgot I had!