05-11-2015, 10:55 AM
"I don't tend to follow along with the idea that if you are not a Jamaican still living in Jamaica that you are then deemed a tourist. It seems to me that there is far more to it then that. I also don't believe that if you live on the Island part/full time that also makes you a tourist. There are so many levels of being a non-Jamaican, but to me it is more about how you experience Jamaica."
Agreed - somewhat. My friend is visiting, he has been living in Jamaica 25 years and he was laughing about the fact that he still looked upon as a "tourist" - in what some want to charge for services and goods for example, for the fact that because he's white he has more money than most. In the neighborhood he is treated equally and as a local but on the beach he'll be asked 1000 times to buy the same bracelet, lol.
I live there for 2-3 months each year and I have the same experiences. In my neighborhood I'm never bothered - in fact most of West End Road "knows" me so I don't get asked for money or to buy something but I always get a warm good morning, good evening and good night. I am a tourist when we take our road trips to the North Coast - touring, that's what we're doing and we're not ashamed of it! In Negril I still love doing new things, checking out new restaurants and bars - but so do my local friends. I don't "feel" like a tourist in Negril...and living there, even for a few months a year plus my 30 years visiting there does give me a "unique" perspective on the place and a knowledge of the runnings that others less experienced with the place do not have. I could not tell someone where to eat or stay on the beach at all - its not in my experience bank. But I can make great recommendations on the cliffs, along with cool off the beaten track stuff to do and how to avoid "situations" purely based on my experience. I can also tell someone where to find the freshest produce and fish - more from my experience bank.
RastaRon has it right - the more you think you know the less you do. This is true in life in general but is really pronounced in Jamaica. I learn every year and plan to continue learning and enjoying my second home.
Agreed - somewhat. My friend is visiting, he has been living in Jamaica 25 years and he was laughing about the fact that he still looked upon as a "tourist" - in what some want to charge for services and goods for example, for the fact that because he's white he has more money than most. In the neighborhood he is treated equally and as a local but on the beach he'll be asked 1000 times to buy the same bracelet, lol.
I live there for 2-3 months each year and I have the same experiences. In my neighborhood I'm never bothered - in fact most of West End Road "knows" me so I don't get asked for money or to buy something but I always get a warm good morning, good evening and good night. I am a tourist when we take our road trips to the North Coast - touring, that's what we're doing and we're not ashamed of it! In Negril I still love doing new things, checking out new restaurants and bars - but so do my local friends. I don't "feel" like a tourist in Negril...and living there, even for a few months a year plus my 30 years visiting there does give me a "unique" perspective on the place and a knowledge of the runnings that others less experienced with the place do not have. I could not tell someone where to eat or stay on the beach at all - its not in my experience bank. But I can make great recommendations on the cliffs, along with cool off the beaten track stuff to do and how to avoid "situations" purely based on my experience. I can also tell someone where to find the freshest produce and fish - more from my experience bank.
RastaRon has it right - the more you think you know the less you do. This is true in life in general but is really pronounced in Jamaica. I learn every year and plan to continue learning and enjoying my second home.
"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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