Spanish Town Is Where Her Heart Is

Vacationing in Spanish Town, Jamaica

Emily is a Spanish Town girl, that’s why I love her! The story of how I met her is cool and quite amazing. In November of 2010 I was sitting at the airport in my hometown waiting to catch a flight to Jamaica and decided to open my laptop to prevent boredom. It was probably 11pm – red eye flights are all I can get from Calgary. I checked my email and I had a new message from a girl named Emily who was gushing because she had discovered my blog and couldn’t believe there was another Jamaica addict like her living in the SAME city! She went on and on about her experiences in Jamaica and how excited she was to chat! I loved her from the first email. I immediately replied telling her I’m sitting at the airport waiting to go to Jamaica RIGHT NOW and how I couldn’t wait to get back and link up with her! She replied again and we agreed to get in touch when I returned from my trip.

The rest of the story is history. Emily and I went for dinner and drinks immediately after I came home from Jamaica and we discovered we have SO much in common! We do Jamaica the same way…the local way. I was and always have been very impressed with her love of Spanish Town because it’s not your typical tourist getaway. When Emily goes to Jamaica she stays in Spanish Town for a month at a time, allowing her to experience the “true grit” of Jamaica.

Q: When did you first start traveling to Jamaica and how many times have you been?

A: My first trip to the island was back in June 2008. My aunt decided to take me on a girls getaway to Montego Bay for a week, tired of hearing me mope around after a bad breakup. That week long trip changed my life in such an unexpected way. Before I knew it I was back, once again feeling that wonderful feeling of excitement, contentment, and pure joy blaze through my body. Seven times later, staying months at a time, my devotion to JA has not depleted, only grown stronger.

Q: Which parts of the island have you stayed in?

A: I think one of the reasons I love JA so much is the fact that even after seven times there, staying up to a month at a time, I feel there are so many places I have yet to uncover. Everywhere I go (even to the supermarket) is always fun for me. When I travel there I stay with family up near Spanish Town, so my time is usually spent in Kingston or chilling at Hellshire beach in Portmore. The best memory of staying somewhere else is when I went for the weekend to stay with YOU in Ochi. It was a different scene for me and after getting over my childish homesickness for Spanish Town, we did it up! LOL. After what I can remember there was a lot of rum, dancing, a little daggering and then some more rum. Being with you and meeting all your friends and seeing your ‘hood’ reminded me of how life in Spanish Town is for me. Home.

Q: You know I love you to death because you’re a Spanish Town lover like me! Why would you choose to keep that lifestyle over the vacation lifestyle?

A: Well, to each his own, but I can go anywhere nice and stay in a resort. Its what is outside of the resort in Jamaica that I live for. The good the bad and the ugly. Spanish Town is home for me when I go to JA. My family, my friends, all eight of my dogs are there haha. Trade that to stay at a resort? No thanks. I have met a couple people through traveling that have been to Jamaica and I get excited to talk to them, but then realize they don’t know the real Jamaica, they know the plush lifestyle of the resort or the tourist places they have been to. Don’t get me wrong, seeing some beautiful attractions in Jamaica are wonderful but what thrills me the most is what is outside of all that.

Q: What are your 3 favorite things about life in Spanish Town?

A: Just three? Well let me sum it up by saying that since I was a kid, I was always getting into things I shouldn’t have, I was daring and a brat. I have not changed one bit and I think a lot of that has to do with my love for Spanish Town. It’s not known to be the safest place in JA, but I think that’s why I like it so much. The thought of being somewhere that people always talk down about makes me want to prove them wrong. When I tell someone that I stay near Spanish Town or hang out in Kingston, their first comment is “OMG, isn’t that like dangerous”!? My reply? Anywhere in the world can be dangerous, depending on the situation you put yourself into, Spanish Town is no different than anywhere else. I am careful about certain parts I go to of course, but some of the nicest Jamaican people I have met reside in and around Spanish Town. Also, they throw some of the best parties in the ghetto ever! Out of all my favorite things in Spanish Town, the people are what make it for me. The amazing friends I have made that love my giggly personality and my humor. The children in Spanish Town that I encounter bring light to my life. My Jamaican mum is a schoolteacher for preschool and the highlight of all my trips is going to school with her and being around all those smiling faces.

Q: What do you dislike most about it?

A: Catch me on a bad day in JA when I’m grumpy and I could probably spout out a bunch of dislikes I have for Spanish Town. The top ones on my list are :
-Healthcare. The hospital in Spanish Town is ridiculous. I sat there for hours with someone who had a broken arm and they could really care less. The waiting room is too small so a lot of patients have to sit outside, where even if it’s raining they must wait. I remember sitting in the waiting area which looked like a prison thinking, Jesus, I never thought how lucky I am to be Canadian and have such a wonderful healthcare system. I am in no way disrespecting the ladies and gentlemen of Jamaica who work at the hospital, I am just saying that they are in need of some change. They weren’t going to let me into the hospital as they said my shorts were to short, like I was wearing some pussy printas! The people that I was with stuck up for me and they finally allowed me in, only to let a girl right behind me wearing a see through crocheted top in without question. I’m sure they all heard me start cursing and calling everyone bumboclaats, because they all started laughing.
-Another dislike of mine with Spanish Town is the garbage. Garbage is overflowing the streets everywhere. The fact that there are giant hogs walking around eating the garbage makes me laugh but I wish that people took better care of the town.
-Another thing I dislike about Spanish Town, which I know happens everywhere is seeing children not at school, on the streets hustling for money. It breaks my heart into pieces. I have two younger sisters that are 12 and 15 and the thought of girls and boys their ages having to scrounge for money makes me sick to my stomach. Poverty is everywhere in the world, but seeing it up close is a different story.

Q: Have you had any life-changing experiences in Jamaica?

A: Life changing experiences? Well I think Jamaica alone has been life changing for me. The biggest impact so far has been losing a close wonderful friend. He was shot, leaving two children, a family and a community in sadness. Other than sickness, I have never had someone I care about have their life taken in that way. I remember seeing him every morning walk his son Orane to school, passing by me calling out, “Morning babes”!
His death changed me for installing into me that little bit of fear that was never really there before.

Q: You’re the one person I’ve met who is the most like me when traveling. Why do you think you “connect” so much with Jamaica?

A: I have often wondered why I love Jamaica so much. I mean I could have this obsession with any country. I crave Jamaica. The smell, the sounds, the people. You and I often laugh at how we both love the smell of burning garbage haha. Being there has brought out a side of me that was just waiting to get loose. I could sit and think of many reasons why I connect so much with Jamaica, but I feel like at the end of the day, I accept Jamaica for what it is. And it accepts me! And if I might add, I am obsessed with Jamaican food. Ackee and saltfish is my drug of choice. Yes please!

Q: What’s the craziest experience you’ve ever had there?

A: Too many crazy experiences to count! A few of my favorite are:
-being robbed. I wish it was at gunpoint because that would sound way cooler! My friend and I were staying at a house owned by a sketchy guy who was always trolling around. We left to go tour around for the day, coming back when it was dark. I remember walking up to the gate and seeing all our stuff thrown on the front lawn in garbage bags, scattered everywhere. They took two pairs of my sunglasses, my friend’s camera, blackberry, my perfume (LMAO) and about 50 CAN dollars. Well, it didn’t take long until everyone in the community found out about what they did to us and I swear there was a manhunt out on this fool and his accomplice. They ended up getting so scared that the next day all of our stuff was returned to us. I had to get my sunglasses resized as someone with a big head was wearing them. The funny part was when my friend and I went through her camera, they had taken some pics of random girls walking down the streets!
-Another hilarious experience was the day my friend and I were approached on the beach and asked if we would take part in a local music video. I had a lot of beer in the hot sun and was a pretty tipsy and jumped at the idea and dragged my friend along to the music set at the end of the beach. They had cooked fresh fish and had lobster. We were basically supposed to look sexy, dancing and eat this fish. Well…being drunk, and trying to be sexy while eating fried fish is hard. I ended up looking like a moron.

Emily’s Conclusion: Well, those are my thoughts and feelings! Any other questions for me, ask away! One thing I would like to add is one of the best things I have gotten out of being in love with Jamaica, is meeting a wonderful person like YOU who feels the same way. Finding out you live in the same city as me was like a dream come true! I don’t have to bore everyone around me talking about my love for Jamaica when they don’t get it, I finally have a friend that relates!

Em!! Thanks so much for doing this interview for me and for FINALLY sending me the photos LOL! It really was like a dream come true that we met and have so much in common. I love our coffee dates…we’re the only ones in Second Cup who understand!! Speaking of coffee dates, we need to schedule one SOON before I leave again!