CHRISTMAS IN JAMAICA

This time of the year is by far my favourite time of the year. Christmas in Jamaica sees as much festivity as any other country in the world. It’s a very special time of year and everybody looks forward to the weeks of jolly making.

The usual Christmas decorations start going up round the first few weeks of December. Shopping centres, malls, Stores, restaurants, houses, businesses, everywhere, have massive decorations and light shows put up during this time. This is the first signal that ‘Christmas a cum’. I remember living in Mandeville and driving around, during Christmas, to look at all the houses that had beautiful decorations.

There are some key things that will/must happen during Christmas, this I learnt while growing up: Within at least two weeks of Christmas new curtains are bought and put up. I’m sure seamstresses must love this time of year, because the typical Jamaican does not merely go to the store to buy curtains, they must be made by the local seamstress/dressmaker; the prettiest sheets go on the bed, and the house is cleaned from top to the bottom, every nook and cranny; houses are painted-inside and out; sorrel is bought so it can be set out to dry; empty soda and beer bottles are carried to the store to exchange for money so more crates of soda and beer can be bought and of course, the Christmas grocery shopping. Grocery shopping it seems is more vital than gift shopping. Thousands of dollars are spent buying ingredients for the Christmas cake, without which, there really is no Christmas.

The all important Christmas dinner usually consist of several meats, at least 3 in most household who can afford it. Chicken is a must, so is roasted beef and ham. You will also see sides such as potato salads and rice and gungo peas. At this time of year, red peas is replaced by gungo peas in both rice and peas and peas soup. Christmas dinner is had with sorrel, a very important part of the meal and Christmas cake (fruit cake). Our Christmas cake is chock full of rum and some have been even known to send some persons home staggering.

This is also the time of the year that many people see relative and friends who they haven’t seen in a long time. Many persons enjoy Christmas because of the fact that, more than likely, by the end of Christmas day, you would have had at least two complete Christmas dinners; one at home and one at at least one other family member’s or friend’s house.

Another aspect of Christmas is the church service. Many Jamaicans who had not even seen the inside a church, save for the occasional wedding or funeral would be up bright and early on Christmas morning/Sunday to attend church. Churches are full to the brim at this time of year, and church service would normally include the singing of carols and the all important (especially at this time of year) collection of offering.

As far as entertainment is concerned, there is the Jonkonnu (John Canoe) parade. This parade has lost is popularity over the years but it still happens and is still an integral part of our culture. Many parties also take place on Christmas eve and boxing day, and new year’s eve. On Christmas eve there is the Grand Market. This is the time when all the shopping takes place. All the stores and supermarkets are open late; till at least midnight or later. The streets are full of people, including lots of children who are doing the last minute shopping. Last minute shopping is not something that we run away from during this time, it’s preferred. Everybody is out on the street and everyone is bound to run into people they haven’t seen for many years, especially since so many Jamaicans return home from ‘foreign’ during this time. The children get a chance to be out on the town till late, and hang out with their friends. I am getting very excited just thinking about Christmas in Jamaica.

After all the festivities and fan fare, Christmas day is a day for relaxation, church going, and catching up with friends and family. The most amazing sides of people come out during Christmas time. It is an amazing holiday; Jamaican Christmas is a very special time.

A Jamaican Easter

Easter in Jamaica I'd like to think is pretty much the same in Christian based countries except for two things, bun and cheese. Christian families and some semi Christian families (that is those that only go to church on special occasions e.g., easter, weddings, new years eve etc) will go to church on Holy Easter days example Easter Sunday and Good Friday. The Easter period is pretty uneventful besides that and traditionally carnival occurs around that time but thats for another post.

Bun and cheese is natively Jamaican and unless there is some significant Jamaican influence in a country you will not see bun and cheese being eaten at easter or any other time of the year. Bun is a baked product made with lots of spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon along with large amounts of mixed fruits (raisins, cherries, pineapple). The second part of the combo, is the cheese, any type will do ie cheddar, mozzarella, white but to have that true Jamaican experience you need to use Tastee processed cheddar cheese (the one that comes in the tin).

Cut two slices of bun and pop a slice of cheese in the middle and start munching! Great with milk.

Jamaica on my mind.....

I remember it like it was yesterday, feeling scared and brave at the same time, I assembled my necessary possessions into two suitcases and boarded a BWee Flight.

It was August 2003 when I left my homeland, Barbados, to pursue my higher education at UTECH Jamaica. Filled with mixed emotions little did I know that I had embarked on a journey I will never forget.

I never had any expectations, just the intention of going to school and learning something.

Coming from a “small island”, I felt a bit apprehensive in an effort to adjust to this new environment. After a while I couldn’t help but to be absorbed into the hustle and bustle life. Although I found school to be demanding I made sure to enjoy the Jamaican experience.

Below is poem that sort of defines my experience:

Me-mo-ry

Yesterday
I first embraced you
Brave in my explorations
Excited in my discoveries

You enticed me with spice and zing
I sampled just about everything
Tantalizing taste buds left me wanting more
You are the reason….that’s for sure

Infectious rhythms and beats
Cant help but move my feet
Come let we dance
Mi a dancer u a dancer

Long journeys to different places
Smiling faces of varying races
Relationships formed that will last for ages
Distance and time can never destroy
For you my dear always brought me joy

Vowed to always return
Even if only in mind

……the sites
……the food
……the party
……the people

Oh sweet Jamaica…..
Land we love.

Jamaican Patois Translated

Patois bodderashun
By Simone Hudson

wah mek dem haffi chobble wi likkle twang?
mek dem nuh tek dem propa inglish an galang?
nuh everybady mek fi chat inglish lakka di queen
nuh everybady mek fi play golf pon put-put green

wah mek di whola wi haffi roun up wi mout
lakka seh wi deh nyaam whola trout?
lawd! mi cyaan tek dem deh sorta bodderashun!
jus undastan di patois an mek wi tan!
cho!...

Ah our beautiful creole, Patois (pat wa). I don't think English can truly express the deep emotions of our people. When we are really passionate about something "wi draw fi di the patwa"(we speak Patois). Patois is Jamaican creole and it is a hybrid of the African and the English language, essentially resulting from slavery. Slaves and indentured workers brought to the island, carried with them their native tongue and, mixed with the language of the colonizers resulted in the hybrid Patois. Patois has been made popular world wide by persons such as Miss Lou, and various Reggae, Dancehall artistes

Here are some basic Patois to English translations:

Patois	English	Sentence
mi	me, I	mi waan go (I want to go)
yuh	you	yuh nuh hear? (don’t you hear?)
dem	them, they, forms all plurals	call dem (call them) car dem (the cars)
wi	we	wi want justice (we want justice)
cyan	can’t	mi cyan bodda (I cant be bothered)
deh	there	go out deh (go out there)
a go	am going to	mi ago a dung deh ( I am going down there)
a fe	its for	a fe him own (it is his)
outa doh	outside	go outa doh nuh (go outside)
inna	in	she inna di house (she is in the house)
madda	mother	mi madda a call yuh (my mother is calling you)
fada	father	mi fada a go come now (my father is on his way)
pickney	child	pickney stop nuh (child, stop)
mek	make	mek me se’t (let me see it)
di	the	di man cyan come now (the man cannot ocme now)

Click below for pronunciations

Jamaican Education

Education in Jamaica has made great strides since the days of home schooling and the less fortunate being unable to obtain a proper education. It is best served for the purpose of general information to divide Jamaica's Education system into four levels.

Early Childhood Education

Children 2-5 years start school in the various basic and infant schools. The syllabus at this level is not set and children are generally taught basic alphabet, numbers and word associations. Most parents treat this stage as a day care.

Primary Education

When privately owned or run, these schools are called Preparatory Schools.

Primary education in Jamaica addresses the basic educational needs of students and prepares them for secondary education. It includes children between the ages of 5-12 years. Under the Caribbean Examination Council's Revised Primary Curriculum, student assessment has changed significantly from what was generally an automatic promotion to secondary school through the former Common Entrance Examinations at the end of Grade 6. Since 1999, the National Assessment Program (NAP) and Grade Six Achievements tests (GSAT) have been utilizing a variety of teaching strategies to ensure that learning experiences are more broad based and student centred. NAP adopts an integrated approach from grades 1-3 and a discrete subject area for grades 4-6.

• Grade 1: Readiness Inventory
• Grade 3: Assessment tests in Math and Language Arts
• Grade 4: Literacy Test
• Grade 6: Achievement Test: in Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science and Writing.

These exams often greatly figure into which high schools students qualify to attend. In the capital city of Kingston however, where the population is more dense, students are often placed in secondary schools that coincide with their postal code.

Secondary Education

• Lower School - Forms 1-3 (Ages 10-13 or 14)

Students are exposed to a wide range of subjects, including Spanish and French as 2nd languages. Generally, Integrated Science is generally taught until the 3rd form, where students begin taking Physics, Biology and Chemistry as separate subjects. Some schools group students based on their academic achievement the year prior. This can greatly impact what subjects some students might be able to take later on in school, and what teachers they might be assigned to.

• Upper School - Forms 4 & 5

In 4th form, students choose anywhere from 6-10 subjects (8 is the standard) that they will sit in the Caribbean Examination Council's O-Level school leaving examinations. Students are free to create their own curricula which must include but cannot be limited to: Mathematics, English Grammar, Biology, a choice between either History or English Literature, or both. Most students take at least one foreign language. Other subjects include: Physics, Chemistry, Spanish, French, Accounting, Principles of Business, Information Technology, Religious Education, Technical Drawing, Art, Theatre Arts and about 25 others. Generally students are informally classified, or classify themselves as Arts, Sciences and Business students, especially if they plan on going to 6th form.

At the 4th form level students can opt to start taking SAT classes if they wish to do the United States SAT exams in order to gain entry to a United States University. There are various centers across the island where students can sit these exams (usually secondary schools)

• Grading: Some exams can be taken at either the Basic or General Proficiency levels, the latter being more common. Exams are graded from Grades 1 to 4. 1 is a pass with distinction, 2 a pass with credit. 3 is a satisfactory level pass and 4 is either a failure, or a 'basic-level' pass.

• Sixth Form (Divided into upper and lower sixth)

Sixth form is an optional, two year long, advanced post secondary program, at the end of which students write the CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams). These are the equivalent of the GCE A-Level examinations which were the standard up until 2003. Some students still choose to sit A-levels if they wish, but in doing so they must still meet CAPE's basic subject requirements/groupings. CAPE and A-level exams are significantly harder than exams sat at the end of high school, and are often thought to be harder than most exams students will ever sit in university. Entry into Sixth Form is extremely competitive, especially in rural and suburban Jamaica, where there are less high schools with sixth form, serving larger areas.

• Student Government

Tertiary Education

Generally, A-Level or CAPE examinations are required to enter the nation's Universities. One may also qualify after having earned a 3-year diploma from an accredited post-secondary college. The word college usually denotes institutions which do not grant at least a bachelor's degree. Universities are typically the only degree granting institutions; however, many colleges have been creating joint programs with universities, and thus are able to offer some students more than a college diploma. A few universities in the United States have extension programs in various parts of Jamaica. Most of the students who enroll in these part-time programs are working professionals who want to continue their education without having to relocate closer to the nation's Universities.

Tertiary education is offered by the following institutions:

• University of the West Indies Mona, (a regional institution)
• University of Technology (UTech)
• Northern Caribbean University (NCU)
• Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts (an artistic conservatory)
• College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE)
• G. C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sports
• 12 teacher training colleges, 14 community colleges, 1 dental auxiliary school, 1 Vocational Training Development Institute, 29 vocational training centres and 6 Human Employment and Resources Training (HEART) vocational training institutions.

Most of the information above taken from here

THE MAGIC OF REGGAE

'When music transcends the boundaries of art and becomes a lifestyle then to call it great would be an utter disrespect. The unapologetic ingenuity and absolute class of Reggae Music certainly makes it worthy of being termed Magical.' Stanley Thompson

In one of Robert Browning’s poems, a musician desired to create music so beautiful, that even the gods would be entertained. Unfortunately for him, Reggae came later.

While reggae may not be the only music form that can be considered a lifestyle, it certainly would require a prolonged and deep search to find another contemporary genre of music with the dynamics, relevance and mystique of reggae. A part of the music's appeal is its humble and genuine beginnings.

Reggae started as music to deliver a message, entertain the people and be a modern muse to the oppressed peoples of society. However, unlike most other music, it never lost its appeal to these very people and as such maintained its flavour despite the pressure of commercialization. From producers such as Edward Seaga (who would go on to become Prime Minister of Jamaica), who in 1958 he found the West Indian Records Limited WIRL and Chris Blackwell, to the giant companies such Virgin Atlantic Records and Sony, the music maintains its connection with its roots.

It is a genre that transcends every conceivable boundary with relative ease. Robert ‘Bob’ Marley surpassed geographical, religious, cultural and social boundaries with his messages and rhythms. This aspect of the music, puts it in a class by itself and is further symbol of the appeal of the genre.

The allure of reggae is also spurred by the defiance of artists who refuse to conform to emerging social values that contradict those on which the music is grounded. In the 1990's Jamaican artist came under increase scrutiny for their stance against 'overt sexual perversion'. Their reluctance to conform and yield to such pressure, resulted in artists such as Mark 'Buju Banton' Myrie and Miguel 'Sizzla ' Collin losing millions of dollars in revenue from cancellations. But the richness of the music made it still irresistible to fans across the world.

Reggae will never get socially irrelevant or boring. Producers such as Stephen Gibbs, Christopher Birch and the god-father, Don Corleon, creates rhythms that are absolutely orgasmic. These producers, collaborating with young talents such as Tami Chin, Omar Tarrus Riley and the celestial Alaine Laughton are consistently delivering quality and entertaining materials.

Finally, the fact that reggae appeals to audiences of all ages shows the music's longevity. There are but few other forms of music than can boast to be able to attract audiences of as wide a demography and in the unbelievable volumes that reggae does. This is a testament to the quality and class of the music.

Beres Hammond, in one of his plethora of hits, sings that music is life. Well if you subscribe to this opinion, then you must conclude that REGGAE IS THE MAGICAL fairytale

How to recognize a Jamaican

You know someone's Jamaican when they....

• Have Sunday dinner with Rice and Peas and some mix up juice (mango, carrot etc) religiously every Sunday.
• Carry fried fish and bammy when traveling overseas.
• Call soda "soft drink".
• Blink their eyes (cut eye) when displeased with someone.
• Refer to supermarket plastic bags as "scandal bags".
• Refer to green bananas, yams, etc. as "food".
• Have a kerosene lamp with a "Home Sweet Home" shade.
• Refer to Orientals as "Mister Chin or Miss Chin".
• Try to get your attention with a "psst...." sound.
• They say hush as a term of condolence and not for someone to be silent or quiet.
• Use words such as 'irregardless' and are convinced it is a grammatically correct English word
  

Jamaican Food

Typically, when you think of Jamaican food the first things that to mind are Jerk and Patty. Surprisingly enough, those are Jamaican Staples! Congratulations you thought right. You will rarely find a Jamaican who does not eat Patties or some form of Jerked meat. I will attempt to give you an idea of what a Jamaican Menu will look like for different days of the week and for different occasions.

Let's start with Weekdays.

Monday through Thursday breakfast usually consists of a combination of the following:
boiled or fried eggs, fried ripe plantain, cornmeal, rice, banana or hominy corn porridge, Milo, coco or Horlicks, mint tea, or cerase, bread, and fritters. The list is endless but these are some that come readily to mind. Chances are, if you randomly pick a Jamaican and ask them what they had for breakfast in the past week, one or more of these will pop up.

For lunch on the weekdays, it all depends on where you work or how much time you have and how much you want to eat. Lunch can include any combination of the following:
Patty-beef, cheese, chicken, vegetable, shrimp, mega(any meat patty with lettuce and tomatoes, box lunch- cooked food such as rice and peas and chicken with vegetables, Bun and Cheese, soda, coconut water, bag juice and box juice, red peas, conch or chicken soup.

Now, dinner for a Jamaican is meal of the day that we look forward to. A typical dinner menu could include:
Rice and peas- even though this is mostly reserved for weekends, white rice, yam, banana, dasheen, dumplings, sweet potato, irish potato, and cabbage and corned beef, stewed chicken, curried chicken, Stewed peas, tripe and beans, cow foot and beans, corned beef and macaroni, and the list goes on.

Now notice that I said weekdays Monday through Thursday, this is because Friday has one very important feature...NOBODY COOKS ON A FRIDAY EVENING. breakfast and lunch are as per usual but on a Friday evening, its time for something special and the culture is buy dinner. Dinner can either be bought and carried home or eaten on the road. This is the time of the week reserved for things not eaten for the rest of the week and more than likely "non traditional foods" or fast foods. Some foods and restaurants include, Island Grill, KFC, Burger King, Pan Chicken and even Pizza.

Weekends are a different affair. More time is available and as such breakfast prospect tend to change. A typical Sunday or Saturday breakfast may include: Ackee and Saltfish, our National dish, so it holds a very special place in our hearts, liver, mackerel, red herring, fish, saltfish and cabbage, boiled green bananas, yam, bammy, roast or fried breadfruit, festival, boiled and fried dumplings. Sunday dinner is also a special affair and i have noticed that most Jamaican families, settle into the habit of preparing the same set of foods on Sunday. Sunday dinner must include Rice and Peas and one or a combination of the following meats: Fried Chicken, Baked Chicken,Oxtail, Curry goat, Escoveitch Fish, Stewed Pork, Jerk anything....potato salad, toss salad, macaroni salad. Saturdays are not complete without soup. There really is no rule to Saturday eating apart from breakfast and soup.

How could i forget...Sundays are not complete without Dessert Ice cream and Jello or Jello and condensed milk. Or the family goes out to get ice cream.

Special occasions come with special foods. For funerals it's customary for the family of the deceased to have a nigh night before the funeral and to prepare food for families and friends after the funeral. There must and i emphasize must be mannish water and curry goat and White rum. I really don't think anything else is mandatory. You might have heard about blue draws and run dung, but you will be surprised to know that those foods although a very important part of our culture are not foods that you encounter everyday here in Jamaica. You should, after this post, have a very good idea of what to expect when you come to Jamaica and are looking for "traditional" foods. It bears well to know what to expect so you can prepare your stomachs...apart from the rich array of foods we love our foods spicy. Eat up!

Marijuana

Weed, chalice, pot, herb, grass, bush, mary, ganja, skunk, reefer, magic dragon whatever you know it as i am talking about cannabis sativa. This plant has been known throughout human existence to have many uses: as a source of fiber, nourishment, and as a drug. Today its main use is as a drug in spiritual and recreational activities, and has been met with some debate and is considered illegal in many countries. Weed, as i like to call it, has been popularized worldwide by the fact that it is illegal, adding to its mystique and taboo. In Jamaica weed has become a part of our national signature, right behind Bob Marley. The first things that comes to mind when you say Jamaica are Bob Marley, Weed and Reggae, this can be attributed with an earlier post...Rastafari. Many rastas use marijuana as a spiritual herb in order to gain wisdom and it is one of their central symbols, thou not is not mandatory for a rasta to smoke it.

Here in Jamaica weed is indeed illegal. One can get fined and even jailed depending on the amount one is caught with and your intent, that is not to say that weed isn't seen (and mostly smelt) in everyday life. Rastas use it as a part of their religion and are given some leeway in their dealings with the illegal herb, it is generally a common myth that once one is smoking the herb in the confines of their home as a religious activity one is in his right as a Jamaican Citizen to do so. The entertainment industry has also given flight to the activity of smoking weed by incorporating it into lyrics and a right of passage into 'ganstahood'. Now, more and more people are seen indulging into the activity, getting high, and reaching "another level of consciousness". Many people consider the way law enforcements treat weed smoking offenders as lax, as they have more important things on their plate, that is not to say that if someone is blatantly abusing the substance they will not be reprimanded.

A thriving business has been around in Jamaica of people exporting the herb making a hefty profit and also risking life and limb, growing the crop in the shadows of the police. It is rather sad to think that many people who hear about Jamaica first think of weed and are drawn to this place by the idea of it being "ok" to smoke it here without fear of legal repercussions. Jamaica is contrary to popular belief, not a safe haven for ganja smokers. It is indeed against the law.

ATI What a way to Party

Every Jamaican party goer looks forward to Independence weekend. The ATI Weekend has become a part of our independence celebrations and part of our culture. Many visitors make their holiday plans in an effort to be on the island around this time so they can be a part of one of the best party weekends in the world. Hotels in Negril and as far away as Montego Bay book out quite fast, and for month in advance, because of the parties, and the tourist industry gets a boost from all this inflow of visitors.This year the Emancipation and Independence weekends have clashed, leaving all of us in a frenzy. With both RTI and ATI on the same weekend the question that everyone is asking is “you going ATI or RTI”? Both RTI and ATI have upped the ante this year. Red Stripe has been pulling out all the stops to promote their package with the Red Summer campaign, having many parties leading up the main event. It seems Appleton is allowing Red stripe to get the party crowds psyched to go to Negril while they sit back and plan their attack in the package they plan to sell. The entire island is a buzz. In just three weeks everyone will know just who came out on top this year, Appleton or Red Stripe.

For those of you who would like to be in a better position to make a decision about which events to attend, here is some more information about each event:

Both events allow for a “pay one price party all weekend” option, with both RTI and ATI making available All Inclusive Arm bands. If you intend to go to most of the events under one brand, then it makes sense to get an arm band. If you think you might want to “shop around” as you go, or not attend all the parties, then it’s better you pay party by party. But make sure you plan this ahead of going down to Negril so you can have an idea. You will be treated to a variety of music from different genres such as Dancehall, Hip Hop, R&B, Rock/Alternative, and Soca Music.

Some things I've learnt from partying in Negril: Wear comfortable shoes, you will be doing some walking on the strip in between parties, traffic tends to be very stagnant after each party; dress tends to be very causal but you can dress up if you feel like, don't forget most parties are on the beach, there really are no rules; Network service on your cell phone will be very intermittent, there are a lot of people in Negril trying to find their friends, so top up early and try not to get too annoyed if you cant get through; Drink Responsibly, especially if you have to drive to get back to your hotel.

Just a taste of what Negril Weekend has to offer

Negril weekend is one of the things that draws many visitors to our island and makes many of us Jamaicans feel proud. We are proud that we can put on a world class event and we hope that you can come and join in the fun. What more can you ask for than sizzling beautiful people, great music and food, all on our beautiful seven mile strip of white sand beach. Party in Jamaica like you've never partied before. See you in Negril

ATI- Negril Weekend

The term ATI has changed so much over the past decade. Even usual party goers who are generally in the know have been spun for a loop this year with the old ATI now becoming RTI , and a “new” "ATI" being born. It is all quite confusing even for those who live here in Jamaica and have experienced the ATI weekend.

For those of us who are not so quite “in the know”; The terms Independence Weekend and ATI Weekend have become synonymous over the past couple of years. Jamaica celebrates its Independence on August 6th each year and on that weekend each year, Negril is host to a massive series of parties. This weekend has, since 2001, been called the ATI weekend.

The first ATI was launched in summer 2001 with the name Absolute Temptation Isle. The event is an enormous party weekend usually starting on the Friday and ending on the Monday. Each day and night is filled with entertainment from the biggest names in the music business from here in Jamaica, and as far abroad as Japan, and all inclusive drinking and eating. In 2002 Appleton went on board as the title sponsor for the event and Absolute Temptation Isle now became Appleton Treasure Isle. The party weekend continued as usual with the only change being the meaning of the Acronym. In 2006 a rift developed between the sponsors: Appleton and Absolute Entertainment and both decided to host their party weekends with the same ATI acronym on separate weekends with one set of parties on Emancipation Weekend, which is August 1^st, and the other on Independence Weekend. This year things have changed even more. At Absolute Temptation Isle’s Press Launch, it was announced that Red Stripe would become the new title sponsor and so the new name was born “RTI”- Red Stripe Temptation Isle, and with that announcement came much excitement.

Jah! Rastafari

If you live in Jamaica, chances are you have encountered an individual probably attired in some form of red, green, gold and black, having dreadlocks and chanting "Jah!... Rastafari", if you haven't well... you will. The Rastafari Movement has been associated with Jamaica for over seven decades, setting many worldwide trends and associations such as dreadlocks, ganja smoking, color scheme, language and reggae music. There have been many imitations of "Rasta" by individuals using any one of these symbols. To be a Rastafarian one must accept Haile Selassie I as God incarnate and live one's life to specific "rasta" doctrines and beliefs, not only have locks and smoke weed.
The Rastafarian movement has amassed a huge following. Some of these individuals may not even truly believe in the teachings of Rastafarinism. Many of these "rastas' have joined the movement mainly because of persons such as Bob Marley, the the first globally recognized Rasta. Indeed many people have claimed to be rasta but are in no way a Rastafarian and as a result many 'sects' have emerged each following their own path.

Many Rastafarians, apart from Bob Marley have gained worldwide fame mainly in the music industry,of note are Peter Tosh, Sizzla, Damian Marley and more recently Munga Honorable. Because of these 'Rastas' and others, Rasta symbols have indeed become trends and fashion statements. for example, many people are now wearing dreadlocks but it is more for the look than religious purposes and also the meanings of words such as Irie, overstand and Ital are now almost universally accepted and said by everyone having some form of Rasta influence.

Indeed Rastafarians have made significant strides as a part of the Jamaican experience and, their way of life that have achieved worldwide acclaim in its own right. What would Jamaica be without the Rasta? better yet ask the question, what would Jamaica be without Reggae, Bob, Sizzla, Ganja and the Red, Black, Green and Gold.

The Patty Wars

When you're buying a Patty for a Jamaican, make sure that you don't buy one from the wrong bakery. That's a big thing here in Jamaica. People will argue for hours, throwing reasons back and forth why 'their' bakery is the best. The bakeries i am talking about are Juicy Patties and Tastee, the two major ones that supply the Jamaican people with the very tasty pastries. Why do people argue over that you may ask, well, i don't know, some may say Juicy's patties have less crust and more meat, others will say Tastee's patties are flakier but it all just boils down to a matter of preference, there is no right or wrong answer with this argument.

All we know is that if you leave this island for a prolonged period you are gonna long for a bite into that golden brown bundle of goodness. The taste is indescribable and if you ask someone what is a patty and they don't know, that person isn't a Jamaican. In recent years patty fillings have gotten very diverse, at one time it was only beef now we have chicken, shrimp, lobster, vegetable and cheese, each tasting just as good as the next. But i should let you know Juicy Patties IS the best hands down, no argument there so i don't know what the big fuss is for.

Here is a Beef Patty recipe, i hope you enjoy!

Ingredients
Pastry:
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon curry powder
1/4 cup solid shortening
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) margarine
1/3 cup cold water

Meat filling:
2 tablespoon margarine
1 small white onion, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon chopped Scotch bonnet pepper
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice berries
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup beef or chicken stock
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup water

Instructions
Prepare the pastry:
Sift the flour, curry powder and salt into a large bowl. Cut in the shortening and margarine until crumbly. Add the cold water to make a stiff dough. Lightly flour a wooden cutting board and roll out the dough until about 1/8-inch thick. Cut out 8-inch circles. Cover with wax paper or damp cloth until ready to use. You can place the dough in the refrigerator overnight. If you do refrigerate, remove the dough at least 15 minutes before using.

Prepare the filling:
In a heavy skillet, melt the margarine and saute the onion and Scotch bonnet pepper until they become limp. Add the ground beef, salt, pepper, curry powder and thyme and mix well. Brown the meat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the breadcrumbs and stock and combine all the ingredients well. Cover the skillet and simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. When all the liquids have been absorbed, the filling is ready. It should be moist but not watery. Remove the skillet from the stove and preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Prepare the patties:
Uncover the dough circles and place 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling on half of each. Moisten the edges of the dough with water and fold the dough circle over the meat filling. Pinch the edges closed with a fork. Lightly brush the pastry with a mixture of the egg and water. Bake on a lightly greased baking sheet for 30 to 40 minutes or until the pastry are golden brown.

Yield: 10 patties from here

This is how it should come out

Our Beautiful Pledge

Written to invoke absolute pride in our country, the flow and use of words is beautiful.

Before God and all mankind
I pledge the love and loyalty of my heart
The wisdom and courage of my mind
The strength and vigor of my body

In the service of my fellow citizens
I promise to stand up for justice, Brotherhood and peace
To work diligently and creatively,
To think generously and honestly
So that Jamaica may, under God,
Increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity
And play her part in advancing the welfare
of the whole human race.

Most of us don't think like this anymore, its all dog eat dog. When i was in High School and Preparatory School, we had to recite this every morning, hand on left breast at full attention, we saw it as a bother then but i think we should continue it to this day, meditate on the words and see what they mean to you.

Jerk

Jamaica is hailed as being the birthplace of Jerk; a method of slow cooking your food using special spices and herbs allowing for a unique flavor, aroma and taste. This worldwide phenomenon was first recorded among the Maroons, who were thought to have perfected the method from techniques taken with them from Africa and also from the natives of the Island at the time, the Amerindians. This was an excellent way to prepare food as it added a longer shelf life to their meats due to the 'curing' that occurred during preparation.

To obtain this unique flavor and the true jerk experience, a long process has to be followed. First the meat is seasoned with Pimento (allspice), garlic, onions, pepper (scotch bonnet), thyme, escallion and other spices and is allowed to marinate for at least overnight. The pimento is a crucial ingredient and must be present during the preparation. The marinated meat is then placed on pimento wood laid over charcoal and allowed to slow cook (at least an hour) until the meat is well done. Using this process all the spices are allowed to soak through the meat and this is where the aroma and flavor comes from.

In recent days some of these steps have been circumvented or replaced with more modern and faster techniques. In the early 1960’s entrepreneurs who wanted to capitalize on the jerking process devised a unique way of jerking that cut the time in half and made it available to the masses. Oil drums were cut in half and holes were made to allow the smoke to come out. The meat was then placed on a grill and allowed to cook over charcoal for a while. This commercialized the process and was an instant hit in the country. Tourists would come to the island and try this delicacy and wonder how they could make this in the comfort of their own home.

Modern jerk food can be prepared now at home with the advent of commercialized jerk seasoning. Companies such as Island Spice, Walkerswood and Eatons have bottled the same spices used for hundreds of years to jerk food and changed up some of the preparation method to maximize on the jerk flavor. Using your own barbecue grill, oven or stovetop and mix in some of these spices and you’ve got your own homemade jerk food.

In more recent years people have been experimenting with the types of foods that can be jerked and have been having some great and interesting results. To add to the traditional jerked products of pork, chicken and fish, people have been jerking soy products, beef, vegetables and goat, each capturing the unique jerk flavor. In addition to new jerk products, jerk vendors would normally sprinkle some Red Stripe Beer over the jerking food in the final jerking stages; this would add a nice tangy flavor. Each day more and more foods are being added to the jerk menu, many of these being discovered at the annual Boston jerk festival in Portland Jamaica. Thought to be the birthplace of jerking, Boston’s patrons have mastered the art of jerking with each vendor having his secret jerk spice mix. When you go there you are greeted with the smell of jerk pork cooking on pimento wood…an unforgettable aroma. You are then approached with a sample of some of the best jerk foods in the world, jerk pork, jerk chicken, jerked fish and for those vegetarians jerked vegetables. These jerked foods are generally served with fried Jamaican dumplings, bammy or festival…each indigenous to Jamaica and having their own unique and exquisite flavor that compliments your jerk food. And finally, wash down that sumptuous meal with a drink of some cool refreshing D&G Ginger Beer or Ting, which are native Jamaican beverages.

From its humble beginnings as a way of preserving food, Jerk is now a worldwide phenomenon, with its demand increasing in countries such as Canada, USA and Great Britain. Being hailed as one of the Top 20 food to eat before you die, Take a bite and lose yourself in a wonderland that we as Jamaicans have been lost in for so long. With Fast food companies such as Island Grill, Jerk is now a once stop away, competing with KFC and Burger King, the only difference is Jerk being healthy and nutritional.

Here is a video of a Jamaican man jerking some chicken using the drum pan method.

Hurricanes

September 12, 1988 a day that will live in infamy. For those who are old enough, they will remember this day as the day that Gilbert, the category 5 hurricane devastated the island. Gilbert is the second most intense hurricane ever observed in the Atlantic basin and it passed directly over the island leaving in its wake 45 dead, billions (US) in damage and created a massive zinc graveyard. For me (i was three at the time) i can still remember my roof being blown off contributing to that graveyard i was talking about.

For visitors, returning residents and locals, know that the hurricane season begins June 1st and ends November 30th, so for those 6 months ensure that you listen to the weather reports and stock up on your batteries, tin foods, bottled water and ply board (for that extra reinforcement). Try not to travel when you hear of an imminent hurricane or tropical storm, as it may dampen your trip. There are five categories of hurricanes, 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest, a tropical storm with winds between 74-95 mph is a category 1 and anything greater than 155 mph is a category 5.

If you happen to mention the word "hurricane" in a conversation with older folks the first thing you will hear is "Gilbert" for many that is a standard for a hurricane anything less is a "breeze". We may act nonchalant about the possible dangers of a hurricane and most of the time are ill prepared but we somehow manage. I sometimes think that supermarkets love hurricanes as here in Jamaica just mention "tropical storm" and its off to the supermarket, spending loads of cash on food (even perishable foods) only to find out that the storm has missed us or has subsided.

Regardless of it being a tropical storm or hurricane the weather is one thing that makes us truly unique and truly Jamaican, never forget Gilbert and never walk without our umbrellas.

Here are some clips of various hurricanes from 1984-2005

Hello World, Enter' Jamaica!

Welcome to Enter'Jamaica, the place where you can find random but useful and interesting information about my island home. Yes, you guessed it i am from the beautiful and unique island of Jamaica, the home of Jerk, Patties, Bob Marley, Reggae, Dancehall and of course our native tongue Patois (Pat-wa).

The Jamaican entertainment, culture, food and people are known worldwide to be some of the most original, unique, and diverse around and are constantly in the global spotlight. I will attempt to showcase some of the aspects that make us who we are and in the process get rid of some of the stigma attributed to Jamaicans.

As our motto says "out of many one people", see the many things that make us a unique people and feel free to partake on this wonderful ride through my island country.

What does Enter' Jamaica mean? well the name has two meanings. The first one is basically a 'welcome to my island' or 'come in to Jamaica' the second is Entertainment Jamaica, abbreviated by Enter'.