WRITER WALKER JOHN SMITH IV

PHOTOGRAPHER WALKER JOHN SMITH IV

Jamaican dreams STRUGGLE AND HUSTLE IN JAMAICA PROPAGATE

MOTIVATION, EMOTION, AND SINCERITY.

JAMAICA IS A COUNTRY WHICH PERFECTLY BLENDS

SOCIETY WITH NATURE, MAKING THE MOST OF THE
BOUNTY PROVIDED BY THE LAND.

Montego Bay is Jamaicas most densely populated

tourist trap. However, Montego Bay is also host to
a slew of local communities, providing ample
opportunity for intermingling. Let us delve deep
into the heart of Jamaica through the eyes of locals
and foreigners alike.

Before interacting, it is important to dissect some

important observations from the people of
Jamaica. Everyone in Jamaica is friendly states
Sunny Dobson, Canadian Citizen and Honorary
Jamaican, but be careful, because not everybody
is your friend. Sunny owns a B&B in Negril, Jamaica
and has been interacting with people here for many
years. Everything in Jamaica costs money, nothing
is free. She goes on to elaborate that due to the
poor economic state Jamaica is in (1 USD is
approximately 128 JAD), the local people have had
to become master entrepreneurs and work very
hard for pennies on the dollar. Everyone knows
how to survive here; lacking street smarts is not
acceptable. Sunny offers one last bit of advice
LEFT Balance by Basil Watson - Sculpted to depict
before returning to her hammock under the sun
rays beneath a mango tree, never come to Jamaica harmony and support between man and woman. This
without money, but learn how to spend it sculpture serves as a welcome to Doctors Cave
efficiently, talk to the people. The people are
always willing to help, they are beautiful, like Beach.
Jamaica is beautiful.
ABOVE Bogue Heights, Jamaica - Local houses and
apartment communities built in a way so as not to
Be warned, beneath that beauty lies a dark side
most people dont see claims Mickeal Levy resident
The beach offers clear water, reef snorkeling, disturb the natural beauty of the land, a testament of
of Bogue Heights and Jamaican native. Better left respect and harmony.
unseen, for now. As a descendent of the water trampolines, pristine views and front
revolutionary Maroons Mickeal has a deep love of
Jamaican history and of the Jamaican People. For BELOW Doctors Cave, Montego Bay, Jamaica
those who are unaware, the Maroons were a group row seats to boat races and other watersports. Montego Bay boasts high tourist density and almost
of escaped slaves who retreated to the mountains to
all those tourists pass this beach at one point or
live off the land before launching one of the most This is the first place one would want to visit in another. Naturally Jamaica has begun to capitalize on
successful revolutions in history. Theyre still
around ya know quips Mickeal you just have to
know where to look. Mickeal is a local entrepreneur Montego Bay. Located in the heart of the Hip- this. It now costs you $600 JAD (or $6USD) to get in.

who will soon be opening a business on the Hip-Strip Many locals visit this beach as well, making it a
with his wife Linda. Strip, Gloucester Avenue. perfect place to interact with people who live here
and learn the secrets of Jamaica.
Mickeal and Linda a symbol of the generosity of
Jamaica. Let me digress momentarily to provide the
following context: I had not known Sunnys advice
before reaching Jamaica and upon arrival had $200
JAD (or approximately $2 USD) to my name. I came
to Jamaica for a spiritual journey with nothing but
the bags on my back, which is when I met Mickeal
and his wife Linda. Mickeal and his wife Linda took
me in and looked after me for my time in Jamaica
and I cannot express my gratitude for the care and
love they showed me. They even kept me well fed!

Bearing this in mind Mickeal still often reminded me

Be careful around here man, they see the color of
your skin and they just assume you have money his
wife sharply added and a lot of them want your
money. A recurring theme I have found in Jamaica
is that while most Jamaicans are in fact nice, they are
skeptical of other Jamaicans, especially those who
are the nicest.

Romario Mcgwan, another local entrepreneur said it

best Jamaica is a beautiful place where anyone
would want to be but it needs prayer. It needs a lot
of help, theres a lot of things going on and some
Jamaicans dont like their own. But a ray of hope
shines as he asks me to tell everyone to pray for
Jamaicans to come together as one; not trying to kill
each other. So you can come to Jamaica for the next
10 years, so you can come here peacefully.

All Jamaicans I have met so far have a positive

outlook of the future and desire happiness.
 That begs the question, where does all this pessimism come from if
the outlook and hopes are positive. Thats what I decided to try to
solve. What I found was that like many problems, it was a
complicated mix of things. I started by asking Romario a question:
What makes you Jamaican? My mother and Father were born
Jamaican, he replied matter-of-factly. I asked him what was most
beautiful of Jamaica, he told me the land, water, and the woods. I
found it interesting that he left out people but he told me what
makes him happy is seeing others happy. Sunny mentioned to me
that Jamaican communication is very direct, open, and close. This
most prominently displayed in the gesture of pressing thumbs to
show friendship. Jamaican communication also considers the
subtext of said conversation.

Take for instance Negril Resident and local artist Black Moon. I was
introduced to him as a friend by some German tourists and I was
delighted to see locals and migrants blending. However later in the
night admittedly after a few drinks there was an incident which
helped clarify that dark side, the pessimism, and the suffering for
me. Black Moon and I were the only two left on the porch as the
Germans had all gone to their rooms. He is telling me I could be
the hype type, but I choose not to... when suddenly one of the
tourists, David came out of his room in a huff. He was looking for
his sandals and the first thing he said was Cmon Moon, I know you
were wearing them earlier, thats not cool man. He was implying
that Moon had stolen them when in fact they were left on the porch
which Moon then showed David. The latter of whom went back to
his room and turned to Moon to say minimum disrespect man.

ABOVE Ackee Many have heard of the

Moon looked at me after pausing and staring at the ground. He
national fruit but few have dined on the
began to tear up as he tells me Him thought I was gonna steal him
national delicacy ackee and salt fish, and Do you know how far I have to walk to get shoes thats the last thing I would want them think bout me. Do
fewer still have seen the fruit intact. you see my feet? He showed me his feet, full of calluses depicting
home from here? I have to walk fifteen miles! a journey of years of walking long distances barefoot. He tells me
Do you know how far I have to walk to get home from here? I have
BELOW (LEFT) Soursop, stringy mangos,
to walk fifteen miles! Thats the distance I walk barefoot every day
and green skin mangos The juice of Thats the distance I walk barefoot every day and him think I steal him shoes now, me dont need him shoes. I
soursop is said to increase sperm count chose to come spend time with my friends. No other Jamaican

and overall virility.

and him think I steal him shoes now, me dont would do that to spend time with tourists He then paused again to
catch his breath and hold back the tears. They dont understand
me, then can never understand me, no one understands me.
BELOW (RIGHT) Free Range Goats- Goats
need him shoes. Thats when it started to sink in. Despite how close the
communication is, there is still something to be desired. Genuine
are much more prominent as food in
Jamaica than many other countries. They
Black Moon altruistic interest in one anothers well-being. This is a lesson for the
world to hear, not just Jamaica
also make a great curry.

I have learned many things since I began my journey to Jamaica. Other than learning the local produce and RIGHT Puppy As
local communication I have learned a new way of life. I have found respect for many subtleties I had not
further incentive to stay
thought of before and most importantly I have spent time living and relaxing with real Jamaicans in real
Jamaica. In Jamaica, because much of the money earned is from the export of produce and tourism there local, you can find a
is not the stockpile of resources that other countries have. This is what prompted Romario to plead that I guesthouse somewhere
ask people to help Jamaica. When you do come here, support local industry. While it is true that Jamaica
in Jamaica for only
earns much from tourism, much of that money is funneled back out of the country because very few large-
scale businesses are locally owned. In fact, most are owned by people or corporations headquartered in $19USD (about $2000
India, Spain, or China. If you make it a point to shop local, stay local, and speak local you will have a more JAD) per night which
authentic Jamaican experience and end up spending far less money. In addition, you will be helping to
support the people in a country where everyone works very hard and revives very little for it. The drive is houses this precious
there, the motivation is full, but the competition is unreasonable and so the poor of Jamaica need you, the puppy. See if you can
youth of Jamaica need you, and the beauty of Jamaica needs you. Help to support them all. Come and see
find him and his 5
for yourself what your own authentic Jamaican experience can be.
siblings before they
grow up.