"You can learn the runnings they allow you too. Does this make you knowlegable or part of the runnings? no. For those who think they can be a local again, imo you are fooling yourself."
Let me rephrase.
I have learned the runnings and still DO learn each day I'm here. I don't pretend to know everything. I know the runnings as I need to - learn more as I need to. I don't need to know everything and I am not nor do I consider myself a "local". But my friends that live here full time do. Local yes - Jamaican...no. When you run a business here there is a whole DIFFERENT set of runnings you need to learn and "they" don't always make it easy - whether its ordering supplies or getting your work permit. Its the land of "one form short", lol.
I am very fortunate that when I tell someone I can't buy them a patty they don't get insolent with me - I am very fortunate that I have had Jamaican friends for over 20 years - and make new friends year to year, real friends who never have asked me for a thing...friends I can have a coffee or tea with and just chat with, have over for dinner, etc.