Ladies, I won't apologize for what i am about to say... but wish to be sensitive to those who may misread, misunderstand the message. So if you happen to be offended I encourage you to take a stiff drink or hot yoga as someone once encouraged me to do.
After living in Canada for 25 years.. ran away for one year thank goodness, I honestly wonder why anyone would leave the warmth of the Island to be here. I am with the folks at the hotel who say these things to some of the fellows who are heading for Canada. I am aware that some of the remarks "why would you want to leave this place" is pure bull coming from some of these guys, who deep down feel they don't need another black guy in Canada. But having lived here all this time I am forced to look deeper. I will list the reasons to be here and reasons why it is insane to do so:
Reasons to be here Reasons to stay in Jamaica
Financial Financial
Educational Educational
Health Climate
Climate crime
crime Health
Wow! There seems to be a tie.. what a conundrum.
Financial
There are more job opportunities here no doubt.. unskilled, domestic, all kinds of servitude jobs, factories etc, Agency jobs galore.. the ones that let you do the work and you pay them half of what you earn for an unlimited time. The taxes is paid to the government(I have no problem with paying taxes since you can see where the money goes.. (good roads, good schools, half- assed health care) respect is due in these cases but if you happen to be in a union situation, big boss guy in his nice suit suck out a large portion of your back breaking work pay..
This is where you are F***** Rent, mortgate, utility, gas, phone bills, cable, GROCERIES, clothes-even the ugly spongebob type they make for fat people..no offence ppl I am fat.
Education
Yes, the opportunity is available to those who wish to pursue it! This was a dream of mine, denied on some level in Jamaica cause of financial standing. BUT the higher you seek to go the more fights.. you want to be a doctor, lawyer, teacher in this country, watch the red tape and bureaucratic mambo jumbo. And if you are a warrior like I am you charge in and break down those barriers only to find yourself in a career with sharks and evil surrounding you. And if you know that silence is a form of resistance, you will cry secretly also. The door appear to be open but the monster wait behind the door..
Health
Free health care, wow! Until Sars or any epidemic break out and you are turned away or worst contaminated by careless, ill-tempered, cold-hearted health professionals. but who is complaining, I can go to the doctor for free and if I happen to be poor I will know what is wrong with me but have to way to pay for my medicine.
Climate
Except for a few months the weather stinks, depressing, ice skating, snow plundering, frigid temperature that make you swear with your christian mouth.
Crime
You are murdered daily..in spirit, body, mind.. There are many who wish they could die, check the hospitals, prisons, schools, workplaces.
Lets look at the same variable in Jamaica
Financial
You have little to no money, live in a board house, have no education but is happy
Those who have not and desire to rise above mediocre learn to survive in an environment that give rise to the term hustle hard, be it work, marriage,talent etc. Food can be expensive but is for the most part food.. GMO foods are eaten by the rich in Jamaica, luckily for the poor they can't afford the crap so they eat yam, banana dumpling, chicken back, porridge.. not harmone filled stake, poison infused breads, fish etc.
Education
Opportunity for further studies is a challenge but if you work hard, there is a teacher there ready to push you ahead.. scholarships, grants, sponsorship etc. Teacher in Jamaica for the most part see a students success as a personal success.. The schools without resources are often run by individuals who lack understanding of the importance in educating our people.. "those who control the wealth will never educate the poor to know what is like to take the power from them"
Health
There is no money but the mental health is much better than people living in "privileged" society.. If JPs cut off your light there are ways around it. If you have no money for food none will spoil in the fridge when the light is gone. Natural remedies still work and the poor use it so doctors wont get rich off the poor. And then there is Western Union run by foreigners who give locals the impression that money grow on tree.. so while they wait in Western Union, they can say they are in the hospital..and bam money is sent. Those who die cause they had no money would have died because they had money.
Climate
Warmth, sun, rain, beach, beach, sun, blue skies, light, sun when it is raining, moonshine, fireflies, did I say beach.. at least crime takes place when you are warm.. die in the sun
Crime
Violence and crime is imported... some deportee and others who learn the trade of where they come from, guns and ammunition sneak in through various means.. no gun factory in Jamaica.
Those who are not influence by outsiders commit crime because they can as those in other parts who seek to violate the right of others.
Many individuals who come here will eventually regret it.. For one, it is not a place that really truly makes you feel like you belong. I am so sick of having "white" folks say to me on a cold day.. complete strangers say "don't you wish you were home now" Wow, I did not open my mouth but because I am black one assume I am from somewhere else... what about this multicultural society we have here - a black chick can't be from Canada. My children are born here and will have to deal with this dunce remark.. So can I call this home? Will the husbands and wife's call this home? This remains to be seen. When thing are not going so well in the marriage are you going to remind them they don't belong here? When they speak of things that made them happy in Jamaica will you huff and puff and blow the house in? There will be a few who will come here and forget where they came from but those are also the ones who will leave you for another woman..searchers of greener pastures.
MONEY is the main reason why individuals leave Jamaica. So after 25 years of living here and experiencing some things that others dream about I say I wish I had never left my country. Being educated sometimes make you more unhappy cause you are able to see the ills of society and often powerless to change one damn thing. Love your roots but don't dare to assume that the trappings of this country outweighs the benefits of my poor lowly upbringing. unedited!
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