Childhood Memories- Jamaica

I grew up on the paradise island of Jamaica. Many call my country the “land of wood and water,” but it is so much more. Throughout my childhood, my life was effortless but impressive. I knew all my neighbors by name and everyone in the next town over too. All the neighborhood kids played cricket, soccer, kickball, and baseball smack in the middle of the street. You name it, we played it! The abundance of swim holes in and around my neighborhood made summers sensational. After long hours of house hopping around the area, we ended our days by swimming in the crystal-clear rivers, and sometimes we opted to take a beat down from one of the many waterfalls, pure amazement!

Picturesque, Lush, Green, Mountainous, Tropical. I could go on forever! Jamaica is a small island in the Caribbean where I grew up. Many people across the world love this majestic island. Many have experienced its beautiful blue waters and white sandy beaches; some have delved into its aroma of great dishes, yet I still cannot explain what life was like on the island. Growing up in the countryside was one of my most incredible childhood experiences. The exquisite culture of food, dance, dialect, and togetherness always resonates with me. Jamaica is so peaceful and simply stunning. As a child, I enjoyed many trips to the river, camping in the hills, learning how to cook using an outdoor wood fire, and just waiting for school to end so I could rush to the school gate and buy my favorite (June plums with salt and pepper). These experiences have shaped my entire being, and I reflect on the good ole memories of the authentic island life each day.

My childhood experiences were very profound. I remember my days of going to church camps all over the island. My dad was not very happy the first time we asked him to go camping, and he thought we had lost our minds. He said no the first time my sister and I asked him to go camping. There is one thing about my childhood that I honestly cannot forget: my camping experience. I learned many survival skills by navigating through rivers, mountains, and hilly areas. I remember we would have to be awake by four every morning, and we had instructions from fire building, knot tying, handcrafts, and arts to learning about various types of seeds and plants.

How could I forget the long walks to and from church every Saturday? There was something about being able to assemble with other young people from the community. The most remarkable aspect of church was the ‘food‘ and the many Saturday socials that involved churches from all over the St. Elizabeth area—those social nights involved ring games, board games, and just some good knowledge from the elders of the church. At times, the nights did not end until midnight. But that was the only time our parents were not worried about us being at home because we were in ‘church.’

Jamaica will always have a special place in my heart-my; my roots and culture will forever be embedded there. Each year or so, I look forward to taking trips home so I can visit the beautiful locations on the island. There is nothing like a hot summer day at Bluefields beach in Westmoreland, Some good fried Fish at Little Ochie, climbing the falls at Y.S Falls, or just a chill day at Floyd’s Pelican Bar in Black River.