Presentation 2: Jamaican Culture

Presentation 2: Jamaican Culture Chelsea Burns EDU 457

Jamaican Leader ???

5 Things I would like to See/Experience in Montego Bay • Gallery of West Indian Art @11 Fairfield Road, Montego Bay, Jamaica, JM • Croydon Plantation Tour- Coffee & Pineapple Plantation, Catadupa, Jamaica • Half Moon Equestrian Centre- Horseback riding on the beach • Rastafari Indigenous Village- guided walk through an authentic village & Montego River Gardens • Mount Zion • Live reggae music/dancing (not dancehall)

Looking for inspiration for art projects/paintings… Anything scenic- I like to take take photos and then create art based on the photos… Wondering if there are any waterfalls in this area. Couldn’t find any online that are in the Montego Bay area.

Relationships I have a tendency to trust people I don’t know very quickly and very easily. In a way it is a good thing because I don’t have a problem making new friends but I have definitely learned the hard way that I can’t trust everyone… I definitely thinking interacting with the people is one of the most important parts of travelling anywhere. Typically, I try to go to the local bars to do this.

Circle of Relations: First Ring: parents, grandparents, sister, grandparents, first cousins, closest friends, aunts & uncles, boyfriend Second Ring: second cousins, good friends, my boss Third Ring: acquaintances Fourth Ring: people I’ve met once or twice, complete strangers I think, however, that we should all be responsible for each other’s happiness and well-being. People looking out for people

The Limits of Friendship: Things I would do for people I consider to be my friends (according to this checklist): • lend a substantial amount of money (if I had it) • Help person gain special advantage to get a job • Take care of their child for an extended period of time • Look after their house

Responses to “What would you do?” Scenarios… Visa Problems: I would ask this teacher friend to find out and let me know exactly what I could do as an American to help him/her get a visa. I would also ask him/her to explain in depth why they want to move their life to America. Once I knew this information, if it didn’t involve any illegalities or lending out a lot of money I would probably help them.

… Going Away: I would explain to this family that although I typically wouldn’t mind helping out, I am only in this country for a short time and have many things to explore and learn about. I would say that I like to go out after work and exercise, paint, or some kind of other hobby and that I wouldn’t be very reliable but could help out some days.

… A Parental Visit: I would tell this friend that it had nothing to do with not thinking she was worthy enough but that I wanted to devote all my attention and energy to my parents. We had a lot of catching up to do and my friend might feel out of the loop at that point.

… Loan Star: I would never let anyone know how “well off” I am doing in terms of money, especially in another country and therefore would tell them I could not do it. But if I did get myself in that situation, I would explain that when people start their own businesses they have to “roll with the punches” and take responsibility for the potential downside they may experience. To counteract the “but that’s how we do things in this country” argument I might say that in America, people support themselves and their businesses independently and expect loans from a bank, not necessarily their friends or even their family.

… Missing Funds: I would immediately explain to him that even though he stole this money for a good reason, it is my job to report missing funds to the organization and if I do not do my job, I won’t have one. I would help him think of ways to replace the money as soon as possible but if it wasn’t going to be soon enough I would report it. Although I would feel bad, I would try to help him realize that he should have asked for help before stealing - it makes more sense for him to pay for his own consequences rather than both of us.

Romantic Relationships • I had a hard time answering these questions about the American perspective. There are many different ways people do things- especially in a country where there is such an eclectic mix of people.

Romance: “What would you do?” Responses… After Dark: That is a pretty ridiculous misunderstanding. When it comes to things like this, I tend to be very upfront and honest from the get go. If I felt a connection with a guy and things were moving along nicely like that, but I did not want to get into anything physical, I would literally tell him that before he even walked me home. If I was in that situation, I would say “sorry for shouting, no hard feelings but I thought we were just being friendly”.

… Wedding Bells: Unlike the first scenario, I don’t think I would have seen this coming. Therefore, upon receiving the card I would explain to him that he is moving way too fast and that I am interested in meeting many people, definitely not ready to settle down for marriage yet.

5 Observations I plan to make in Jamaica: • How often people typically bathe and the rules of dreadlocks (how they maintain them, how popular they are) • When out eating, do people spend more time talking or eating? (are people more focused on the social aspect of going out to dinner with people or is it about getting fed and just kind of chit chatting because you can) • The dress code in schools vs.. the streets/out in public • The attitude towards time- Do people seem to always be in a rush or do they take their time walking slowly down the street, completing tasks leisurely, acknowledging other people they pass, etc… • How do people react when I go out of my way to introduce myself out in public when it’s not expected?

Chapter 6: Adjusting to the culture • I am sure I will look at myself differently after being in Jamaica. My two Rastafarian coworkers on Block Island always kind of laughed at me for acting neurotic. They had me feeling like I was always making a big deal out of things and I noticed that they always seemed completely at ease even when the restaurant was out of control busy. • However, I am pretty good at presenting myself as humble in most scenarios…

Cycle of Adjustment Since we will be experiencing more of a honeymoon period than anything, I am sure I won’t feel too many of the anxieties felt in the typical Peace Corps transitions. I wish I could stay longer so that I could maybe learn a bit of the language and really submerge myself in the culture. “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”

Four Levels of Cultural Awareness Reading this, it occurred to me that a lot of people are not only unconscious to their own culture in America, but also consciously incompetent on many levels. People are just generally unaware of things going on outside their own thoughts/feelings/fears/desires. I aspire to be energetically aware and arrive to Jamaica already consciously competent, ready to adjust my own behaviors and instincts in ways I am not used to. The only thing I wonder about is how accepting these people will be of us. I can be humble but will they make it difficult to open up? On the other hand, I hope I do not get too comfortable and then make some kind of culturally incompetent mistake…

Sources • http://www.montego-bay.world-guides.com/montego_bay_art_galleries.html • http://www.montego-bay-jamaica.com/ • Culture Matters – Peace Corps Cross Cultural Training Workbook

Presentation 2: Jamaican Culture