07-05-2014, 08:28 AM
Gerry, here's my response (not a retort, look the word up in the dictionary)
As far as the barrel thing, like I said, I didn't want to say anything but I think Jitterbug is right. There are certain things that are dicey to do when it comes to relating and living well among them in your neighborhood. Having a chicken barrel that you sell on the street is one of them. Oh, you could do what you want but there are bad minded and jealous people out there who might try to sabotage you in different ways (i.e., mashing up said barrel). Owning a hotel or a restaurant is different - Jamaicans are used to foreigners opening up and running establishments such as these and go with the roll on that - plenty of Jamaicans own hotels and restaurants too. But the vision of a white guy in a chef's coat running a barrel down the road from the Jamaican with no shoes I'd think would raise eyebrows. I don't know - never tried it never saw anyone else try it so who knows, you might start a trend, lol. You have Jamaican friends - run it by them to get their honest opinion.
I have a friend who started a charter fishing business, brought a boat in from the states (which was an expensive and not an easy thing to do). Someone or some people got a bug up their butt about it and for a year stole stuff off the boat again and again and again. Took the poor guy three years to establish himself and ingratiate himself into the community so that he and his boat would be left alone.
Just to clarify (Suzengrace) - I live in a yard with full time Jamaican residents who happen to be foreigners (i.e., expatriates). My landlord's wife is Jamaican. My neighbors are Jamaican for the most part - a few expats as well. When I hang in my neighborhood at my friend's shop its mostly Jamaicans that come by. Any questions?![Wink Wink](https://jamericans.net/yellowboard/images/smilies/wink.gif)
Carry on LBB! Can't wait to hear more about your stay!
As far as the barrel thing, like I said, I didn't want to say anything but I think Jitterbug is right. There are certain things that are dicey to do when it comes to relating and living well among them in your neighborhood. Having a chicken barrel that you sell on the street is one of them. Oh, you could do what you want but there are bad minded and jealous people out there who might try to sabotage you in different ways (i.e., mashing up said barrel). Owning a hotel or a restaurant is different - Jamaicans are used to foreigners opening up and running establishments such as these and go with the roll on that - plenty of Jamaicans own hotels and restaurants too. But the vision of a white guy in a chef's coat running a barrel down the road from the Jamaican with no shoes I'd think would raise eyebrows. I don't know - never tried it never saw anyone else try it so who knows, you might start a trend, lol. You have Jamaican friends - run it by them to get their honest opinion.
I have a friend who started a charter fishing business, brought a boat in from the states (which was an expensive and not an easy thing to do). Someone or some people got a bug up their butt about it and for a year stole stuff off the boat again and again and again. Took the poor guy three years to establish himself and ingratiate himself into the community so that he and his boat would be left alone.
Just to clarify (Suzengrace) - I live in a yard with full time Jamaican residents who happen to be foreigners (i.e., expatriates). My landlord's wife is Jamaican. My neighbors are Jamaican for the most part - a few expats as well. When I hang in my neighborhood at my friend's shop its mostly Jamaicans that come by. Any questions?
![Wink Wink](https://jamericans.net/yellowboard/images/smilies/wink.gif)
Carry on LBB! Can't wait to hear more about your stay!
"Once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right..."
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