Should It Stay In Jamaica?
You KNOW how everyone loves to say this about places they’ve been on vacation, and it always makes one think of things that are better left unknown, or things that you wouldn’t dare do at home. And although I KNOW you think you know the direction this post is moving in – you’re partially wrong – unless you want to air YOUR dirty laundry.
I raised this question to myself after reading some comments on a previous post; WHY do we do things in Jamaica that we’d never do at home? Lets talk about it! But first I’ll have you know that I’m only talking about Bingo and Karaoke LOL. I’ve never played bingo in Canada and wouldn’t be caught dead singing in front of an audience either. Yet when I did it in Jamaica I took it one step further and posted it on Youtube! Trust me, its awful.
There are lots of things I wouldn’t dream of doing back home that just seem to be the way I roll in Jamaica. I’ve accepted rides from strangers (in the dark even!), which makes NO sense whatsoever that I wouldn’t do it in Canada but I’d do it in a foreign country! I’ve driven with no seatbelt and been ticketed by the Jamaican police more than once, yet I can’t remember the last time I broke driving laws in Canada.  Taking the bus when you know you’d never use it as transportation in your real life, the list goes on.
The question is WHY do we behave so out of our ordinary when in Jamaica? And just to keep it spicy I’m gonna go there and bring up the “vacation fling” topic too, because it’s relevant. What is it about travel to Jamaica that makes women let their guard down and do the fling thing with someone they barely know? Or even better, what makes women accept the exact opposite of what we’d normally accept back home? Standards go down, wallets fall open, blinders go on and it’s a done deal! But in the same dating scenario back home you would fully expect a man to take you out, pay and be chivalrous.
It’s funny how travel challenges us to become “rebels” and we change who we are. It makes me wonder if that’s our TRUE selves coming out but we’re not comfortable being that person unless we’re away from normal life. It also makes me wonder what it is about normal life that makes people so boring! If we all behaved like we do when traveling would the world be happier or would it be too much of a free-for-all?
Anyway, those were my thoughts for today.
Comments
18 responses to “What Happens In Jamaica…”
This is so true…I guess wherever we travel we are uninhibited and there will be no stories told of the “sins” of any of our trips!!
That’s the theory huh Kenna. Too bad people can’t always be uninhibited.
Vacation= freedom! Maybe your right we are more of overselves or the selves we like to be when noone is watching (im guessing) The fact that we are in a place where people, wont judge us, dont know us, and wont be thinking about us when we are gone(we think or hope) and theres no worries of daily life. Maybe we are wound so tight that by the time vacation time comes around its “no holds bard” (is bard a word? lol).
LMAO – I think the word is barred.
And I also think you’re right about what you said. Kinda of sad that our daily lives are set a certain way and we’re not more free to be who we want – without the worry of being judged.
Hahaha! Something must be wrong with me then because I’m crazy and adventurous no matter where I am. LOL! Seriously. I’ve done some mad shit in Jamaica even though its quite possible I might run into people I know. I just don’t care, I guess. In my mind, I’m grown and as long as I’m not hurting anybody I do what I want. Recently took a spin to Amsterdam and I went wandering alone in their infamous Red Light District. I chatted with the girls (those who were willing to talk to me) and caught a €35 live sex show. No, I wasn’t going in there to be titillated (I went alone afterall). I think sex workers are extremely brave souls. I’m too much of a pussy to even take off my clothes publicly in the changing room at the gym muchless having sex in public and watching other people watch me. It’s mad so I just wanted to witness their reaction.
Now as for the vacation fling … I have to say I’m different in this regard too. I’m extremely picky when it comes to men. I’m one of those chicks who can’t and won’t sleep with a guy I’m not 100% attracted to. There’s a certain type of man I like and I can tell you that outside of the United States and sometimes Jamaica, my type of man rarely pops up on my travels! For the most part European men are white and skinny. I prefer them black and bulky so really no nookie nookie for me! hehe
Perhaps the only thing I do on my travels that I wouldn’t do at home is go clubbing with crazy head bangers. Man I don’t do all the techno/house shit, but it’s kinda hard to escape living and travelling mostly within Europe! lol
LMAOOOOOOOOOO Shelley!! Black and bulky. Oh girl you’re too much! Your honesty is refreshing really…not many will lay all out like that. Although I have a few close friends who are just like you.
My son went thru the red light district alone when he was 18 too and he told me he actually felt sorry for the girls who work there. He said if he was braver he would have paid one just to go in and sit and chat with her, to let her know she’s worth the chat. Craziness in Amsterdam.
Hahaha I Love Shelley’s very candid comment! I have only been to Jamaica once. As Shelley noted I am pretty crazy at home so Jamaica was no different…except in the “hooking” up with a Jamaican man …LOL also no intentions to meet someone on my trip however I fell short on that with the allure of brown sugar…Yuummmy …..Well worth it….blush..
So? Why i have no idea that it was that easy to just go with the flow without questioning?? Yes maybe the ease of not being home and just accepting the hear and now…what ever it is, I’m happy to go back and give it another go Hahaha and see what happens next time..maybe I’ll even try Bingo LOL
Haha! I saw a sign on Facebook today. It said: Be yourself, everyone else is taken. I so believe in that. I’m just being me. Sometimes I’m too candid for my own good I know, but I can’t help myself because that’s just how I’m built. I speak my mind and talk the truth as I see it! lol
Anyway, my first impression of the girls was envy. Many of them had supermodel looks and body. I thought to myself if I was so damn hot I wouldn’t be showcasing myself like a piece of meat through a shop window. I’ve seen some less than attractive women who were prostitutes and I always wondered how the heck they attractive customers if what they say about men being visual creatures is true. In Adam I couldn’t say the same about the prostitutes there. They were seriously smoking. Of the few I spoke to they all said they were in it for the fast dollars though the competition is stiff. #Mad
@ Vera – thanks for your comments and your honesty! I had no idea you’ve only been down once…you look like a regular LOL!
@ Shelley – I’d go broke trying to be a prostitute in Amsterdam if they’re all that hot LMAO!!!! Bankruptcy over here LOLOL.
Kristi….Bankrupt in JA LOL Good One LOL My one and only trip..thus far, felt like a lifetime mostly because of the amazing people I met and keep in touch with almost daily!! So I feel like I’m still there most days!! I’ll be back in Ochee before this year is up….That’s the plan so far LOL From reading your blogs and having visited JA I totally understand how difficult it is to stay away and how much its missed.
Vera, it’s how they say “Once you go…you know!”
I guess wherever we travel we are uninhibited and there will be no stories told of the “sins†of any of our trips!!
That’s so true FTG!
Hello, I’ve always wanted to live in Jamaica as I was taken away when I was young and so all the wonderful memories of childhood played a great part in my quest to live in Jamaica. I must say it’s been quite interesting BUT I’m not as brave as you are in your adventures.
Last weekend I went out walking, journal and pen in hand, to talk w/ random people to ask them why they are doing what they do (as far as their employment) and other details. Got some interesting insight from some rastas and had a good day out. Still in search of what I want to do to make a difference in Jamaica and call to the attention the plight of certain groups of people in Jamaica.
BJ I like your style. That’s totally something I’d do, walk around interviewing people. I’m going to be in Mobay soon and might link you, we could chat over a drink!
As for your thoughts about why people behave so differently from the “norm”. I think it’s because when we are away from our lives as we know it and especially when we are in another land, we feel free and happy and we are our true selves — uninhibited and the best part is no one knows us and may never see us again. Many of us are more trusting and giving and likely to be daredevils. It’s like visiting the land of alcohol. We totally become someone else when we’re enebriated. But when that’s over we forget or sometimes are ashamed that we exhibited certain behaviors that we (normally) wouldn’t have had we not been drinking. Then we go back to our normal lives and bac to the norm we lived there leaving the vacation “me” back in whatever country we were in.
I TRY to ALWAYS be true to myself..& not afraid to just be me..I really have NO choice…i say things & do things because i am me..& i LiVE HARD…& i vacation even HARDER…in JA 😉 … i am not embarassed or ashamed by what goes down while i’m there..but it was “my” experience..”my” Adventure ..it’s that ‘ol…”guess ya had to be there…” …unless u were there your not gonna get it.. sometimes even being there ya don’t get it..like …why did i jump on that guys motorcycle…& go for a ride…in shorts & flip flops…the Red Stripe made me do it! ..no regrets..got my motorcycle fix..even if i was i riding bitch…& I survived..
LOLOL Lisa!!!!!!!!!!! I love you already aahahaha! Check it….I jumped on a crotch rocket in shorts and flip flops too! http://www.jamaicamyway.com/jamaica-transportation/jamaica-motorbikes/
We need to travel together sometime.