My Parish Project – New Blog Series

Comments

7 responses to “My Parish Project – New Blog Series”

1. 

   Christine

   May 6, 2013

   Hi, came across your site. I lived and worked in Jamaica for over two years. (miss it bad) Longing to return. I always thought that tourists were being robbed of having a true Jamaican Experience when they stay in the confines of the lovely hotels and glossy tours. While I understand the hoteliers reasoning for such protection ( they tried to tame me and curb my enthusiasm when I first got there) but there is a whole side to Jamaica that tourist really never see. The real JA and all its beauty. the people who make Jamaica what it is. your site attempt to open those experiences up the travelling public. I have been to all but one of the parishes too, ( Portland). Btw, when you get your chance to visit st. Thomas, make your way to the hot spring, its an experience of a lifetime and leaves you walking out of there rejuvenated and energized like you would not believe. Ask for Uncle Chris, he massages you with pimento oil and hot rocks, it was an amazing experience. the want money so be prepared. LOL. My time in JA was an amazing experience. I would live there if I could. My years there were phenomenal, the good, the bad, and the ugly. But I love that crazy place! and consider it my second home. even tho I left a year ago. I am longing to return. Hopefully, work will lead me back again. take care and thanks for sharing your site.

   Reply
   1. 

      Kristi

      May 6, 2013

      Christine thank you SO much for your comments. Aside from working there for 2 years this sounds like something I could have written. I truly do love Jamaica for all it’s good AND bad as well, and it will always be my second home even. It’s ingrained in me now.

      Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on it and I hope you enjoy my little parish project. I don’t know where you lived when you worked there but maybe you can share a little about what you learned. Here’s my first parish – http://www.jamaicamyway.com/negril-jamaica/westmoreland-jamaica/

      Thanks again for your comments! 🙂

      Reply
2. 

   Christine

   May 6, 2013

   I lived in the Ocho Rios area primarily, but my work sent me to Mobay and Negril often. Admittedly, I am very bias about Ochi. Its my favorite place to live and work. Its a crazy place, but I love it! It was the perfect blend of city and country. My experiences in Jamaica are not touristy, they are REAL. I have lived in 5 Star hotels and accommodation to typical Jamaican yaad living. I have seen what tourist experience, ( and for some it is perfect) but there are many tourists who long for more of what Jamaica has beyond the 5 start hotels. The Jamaican tourist board got it right when the produced the motto “Once you go, you Know”. It is like no other place I have ever been to. I have travelled a lot and Jamaica for me is a very special place. Before getting the job there, I had always wanted to travel there but it is a very expensive destination compared to other surrounding islands such as Cuba or Dom. Rep. who make it more attractive to Canadian tourists by offering more affordable price points. But Jamaica is a place worth spending the money on. I believe in the Jamaican product because I am living proof that you can survive with no scares or scratches if you do it right. I lived primarily in ST. Mary and St. Ann. Both lovely parishes with rich experiences to be had. There are many hidden pockets with so much offer, if some of the glossy branded tours are not your thing. My work was in tourism for a very large hotelier and I was awarded many opportunities to experience the island ( when I wasn’t being bullied and harassed to work a 85 hour work week) LOL. but I loved every minute of it. It can be a sad reality that there is a lack of balance in ones life when you work in tourism, but the experiences and exposure is unbelievable. I have met some of the most amazing people during my time in Jamaica. Some experiences opened my eyes to some harsh realities in this world( that I never knew existed before moving to Jamaica.) Coming from a place like Canada where there is more equity and human rights, it is hard to accept certain things. HOtel business can be very abusive and demoralizing, especially to a society who is made to feel they should be grateful to be employed. Scare tactics are often used as motivation, and out of fear a lot of hotel workers are accepting abusive situations to be apart of their every day life. I am happy to have had the opportunity to experience both sides of the world in JA. it helped me to understand the local people better and the mentality behind hotel work. In Jamaica I have met some of the bravest, hardest working people I have ever seen. There are some local realities that the media tries capitalize on, making the country look unstable and unsafe. The Jamaica that I know and love is not how the negative reports portray. Common sense is common sense where ever you live. the country is home to unofficially 3million pple with over 2million pple living in the capital Kingston, (town as we Ochi pple would call it ). I think anywhere there is overcrowding there will be increased frustrations. especially if the opportunities are not in abundance. Its a hustling world we live in and in Jamaican they have mastered the art of hustling for survival on every level. the common people to the high society of Jamaica. In North America we are doing the same thing, but it is camoflauged by Unions, workers rights, government grants, public policy and first world ideals. Jamaica is what it is. The land of Wood and Water! Built by everyone “Out of Many, One People” Living in what the world calls a third world country, made me one of the richest people I know! My experiences there both tourist wise and personal opened my eyes to the raw beauty of that sweet sweet island, I call home in my heart!

   Reply
   1. 

      Kristi

      May 6, 2013

      I love everything you just wrote and it rings true to the way I feel about it as well. When you mention the JTB – I secretly want to overthrow them (LOL) because I know that what they promote on the island isn’t what the island is ALL about. Sure the places and activities they promote are awesome and amazing attractions but I would rather see them push for more local support, and I would rather see the country on a whole, abolish the unfair wages and treatment of the people who work inside resorts. THOSE are the people who make the travelers’ vacations what they are and they should be treated as valuable assets – not slave labor.

      I could rant for days about the same things you talk about but I would rather continue to share my personal experiences as well and hopefully open more eyes to the “raw beauty” that is Jamaica…..as you said.

      Reply
3. 

   Christine

   May 6, 2013

   I could rant for days as well. My time there exposed me to a lot of experiences and I could tell stories that even when I recall them, I have a hard time believing them even though I lived through them and witnessed them. Jamaica isn’t a destination, its a lifestyle! again, “ONce you go, You know!

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4. 

   warren

   May 24, 2013

   I love you guys 🙂

   Reply
   1. 

      Kristi

      May 24, 2013

      “You guys” is only me! I’m a one-man show over here LOL.

      Reply