~ romae ~ wrote:'What variables could have changed their experience?
Black tourist vs. White tourist
Understanding patios vs. not understanding patois.
Sharing with locals vs. not sharing with locals
4 men vs. 4 women '
Thinking a little more about this, these are my thoughts and what could have been different...maybe.
1. Us 4 are white. We kinda stuck out. lol. We might have not been as noticed as much if we were black but I don't think it would have made much difference. We would still be seen as foreigners,
2. Understanding Patois would have helped a lot! I would have been more aware of what was going on and being said about us, instead of having to rely on someone else to translate for us.
3. Sharing vs. not sharing. Well...I don't know. We have so much more than most of the people we encountered. I know that some are better off than we are but if we can make someone's day a little brighter by sharing a little of what we have, than I'm gonna keep on sharing. Now I could go and not share at all but then we might be seen as being greedy or selfish (which I heard a few times being said about some of the other tourists *cough*italians*cough*)<< Not my thinking, what I heard. I share at home with neighbors, friends and strangers so I will continue to keep doing so elsewhere.
* a little story our good friend Dingo told us a couple years ago. He was in Kingston selling his fish. He saw a man looking at him funny. He went up and started chatting to him. He bought him a beer. After a few drinks the man told him "I was thinking about robbing you, but after talking to you, I realized that you are a good man". Dingo said sometimes it's just better to put yourself out there and meet people and give them a little something, because they can take it if they want to.
4. 4 men vs 4 women.
There were 4 of us. 2 men, 2 women.