Jamaica
Jamaica is famous for its free spirited culture and beautiful scenery. The people are friendly, the weather is nice, the food is good and the music is loud. Jamaica is located 90 miles south of Cuba. Jamaica is the third largest Caribbean Island measuring 146 miles at its widest point. The population is approximately 2.8 million. More than half of Jamaica is mountains above 1000 feet high. The highest point in Jamaica is the renowned Blue Mountain Peak, which rises up to 7,402 feet. The mountains are mostly on the interior of the island, the coastlines are flat beaches that stretch for as long as the eye can see. Another interesting fact is that they drive on the opposite side of the road than we do. People just drive crazy down there, not obeying any speed limits or rules. There a lot of deadly accidents. I would not want to drive there at all.
I chose Jamaica for my speech because my husband and I have been there twice. The first time we went was right after 9/11. We stayed at Sandals Resort in Montego Bay. It was right near the Sangster International Airport.
I remember flying into Jamaica for the first time and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. The Airport sets right next to the Caribbean Sea. The plane flew through a mountain pass on the island before landing. We were below the mountain tops passing through small clouds. Then coming out of the mountain above the Caribbean Sea into the airport, seeing the white sandy beaches, turquoise waters blue skies and palm trees. It was very scenic, just beautiful!
We found out the first time we were there that Montego Bay is not a very safe place to be if you left your Resort area. You could take bus tours and they would take you to the safe places to shop and eat, if you wanted to. The resort was beautiful and with plenty of activities to keep you busy or just have a lazy day at the beach with them serving you cold beverages on the beach all day long.
The second time that we vacationed there was in February of 2008. We stayed in Negril which is our most favorite place to vacation. The Jamaican people were very friendly, warm and welcoming. Negril is the party town of Jamaica. We stayed at the Riu Tropical Bay Resort, which was in a Bay area called “Bloody Bay.” Because of the bay area the waters are lot calmer and crystal clear. That beach was called “The 7 Mile Beach”. Absolutely beautiful!
Jamaica has a rich strong and vibrant culture. The culture is very diverse. The people come from different backgrounds and most are a mix of several different cultures. The majority of the people are mostly from Africa, descendants of slaves who were brought to Jamaica when the Europeans settled there. People of all nationalities live and work well together. That’s what makes it so unique. The country’s motto is “Out of Many, One People” speaks of its diversity and its unity.
Jamaica is generally a poor country. There are some rich people and some middle class people, but most of them are very poor. A lot of them live as a family in a one room shack and many are homeless. But that does not change their friendly attitude at all. They are all still very warm and welcoming.
Most Jamaican families are headed by women. Mothers bear the primary responsibility for supporting children, as well as raising them. Jamaicans adore children. Women often raise children alone or in extended families, whatever the arrangement, relatives and neighbors are expected to help with the childcare. Marriage is less common in Jamaica than other countries. Couples often wait until their children are grown before marrying, even then, they face the high cost of a ceremony and reception.
A Jamaican wedding tradition is a dark fruitcake, liberally laced with rum and is served at the wedding reception. Following the celebration, the wedding party slices the remainder of the wedding cake and mails them to friends and relatives unable to attend the wedding reception. People begin sending presents long before the “Big Day.” The most common gift is that of eggs, to be used for making the wedding cake.
English is the official language of Jamaica, with a thick accent. The Jamaicans are known to make up their own words to suit the topic they are speaking about. You hear a new word every now and then and you don’t know what it means. They have an infectious way of speaking. The most popular saying of Jamaica is ”No Problem Mon.” They say you don’t have problems, just situations.
Jamaica moves at a slower pace than the United States. There is less of a sense of urgency to accomplish tasks. Another favorite saying is “All Work and No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy.” Jamaicans show up 2 hours late for everything. If their having a party at 10PM, everyone shows up at 12 midnight, then they party till 7AM the next morning. They show up at their 9AM job at 11AM.
Although it is a generally poor country and the people rely very much on tourism to bring in desirable U.S. dollars. Jamaica markets itself to the outside world as a pleasure and health retreat since the 1890’s. They have over 26 thousand guest rooms at numerous hotels and accommodate well over one million vacationers each year during the tourist season alone. It is such a major industry that one in four residents work directly in the industry. Agriculture is another important industry in Jamaica. They produce sugar cane and grow bananas, but the most famous is the Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. It is prized throughout the world. It is very good coffee, but very expensive. The most money making crop in Jamaica is marijuana, which the locals call “ganja.”
Music is one of the most famous cultural aspects of Jamaica. Reggae music originated there. No matter where you go, you will hear music. Bob Marley is probably the most famous Reggae singer in the world, known for his peaceful melodies of the island culture. A couple of Bob Marley’s famous songs are “One Love, One Heart” “Let’s Get Together and Feel Alright.” Jamaicans can be seen all over the streets playing out their songs on the sidewalks.

Jamaica has a lot to offer when it comes to food. They have a lot of exotic, hot and spicy food. There a lot of tropical fruits and vegetables, due to its location. Jerk Chicken, which is my favorite, is chicken marinated in spices then fried. They then tear it apart, bones and all and usually served over rice with the spicy sauce. Jamaica is known for their jerk huts. Nothing fancy at all. They look like they could be easily blown away by a light breeze. The smell is in the air, everywhere. Also, there is plenty of freshly caught seafood, like shrimp, red snapper, tuna and lobster. They are all very reasonably priced.

Rum is the official drink of Jamaica, Golden Appleton Estates is distilled there. We drank quite a few of them when we where there, very tasty. Also, Red Stripe Beer is the official beer of Jamaica. It is also brewed there. It is a very good tasting beer. The drinking age is 18 in Jamaica.

The average temperatures in Jamaica range between 80 degrees F and 90 degrees F, with July and August being the hottest months and February the coolest. The temperatures generally vary approximately 10 degrees from summer to winter. All though in the higher altitudes of the mountains, the temperature can dip as low as 40 degrees. The rainiest weather occurs in May and June and again in October and November and sometimes into December. For the most part when it does rain in Jamaica, showers are short, heavy and followed by sunshine. Jamaica does lie in the hurricane belt. And the official hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th, with August and September being the peak months.

Jamaica’s most popular colors are red, gold and green. These colors can be found on everything from clothes, to trinkets and souvenirs. The Jamaican women traditionally wear a skirt, top and a headscarf. Men wear western clothes with short sleeves. There are also a lot of people that wear their sacred colored clothing of red, yellow and green along with a hat, known as a tam, in order to cover their dreadlocks. The hat also bears their sacred colors.

In Negril, you can go to Rick’s Café, one of the top 10 Bars in the world and watch the most beautiful sunsets that you will ever see. It is on the western end of the island. They have sunset celebrations every evening. It sets up on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean. You can also jump off the cliffs, if you are brave enough, into the crystal blue waters. We also went horseback riding through the jungles and then rode them into the Ocean for a swim. It was so much fun!

There is also another popular vacationing spot in Jamaica called Ocho Rios. That is where the Dunns River Waterfalls are at. You can climb the high waterfalls if you want. We have not been there, but they say it is more for honeymooners, with plenty of things to do and see.

Jamaica is unlike any other country, not only because of its spectacular beauty, but what sets it apart are the people. They have an infectious way of speaking and doing things that is adored all over the world. Regardless of where you are from, when you are there, you instantly get that ”Irie” vibe, like Bob Marley’s song “Every Little Ting is Gonna Be Alright.” If you ever get the chance to go to Jamaica, go, you would not regret it! It is truly a paradise.