Memories of School in Jamaica
What are my memories of school in Jamaica? Well the first thing that comes to mind are Khaki school uniforms, lunch boxes, (school lunches weren’t sold at school) and a smiling teacher in the morning to greet me at the end of my trip from home to school. The school I attended in Kingston was […]
Living in a Tenement Yard -Part 4
Obeah deh bout. As crowing roosters seemingly take turns to welcome the new day, a mild morning breeze sway the crotons and hibiscus flowers in Thelma’s garden. The sounds and motions of the branches cause some feeding pigeons, hens and guinea-chicks to scatter. In an instance, they were back, filling their craws, pecking rice grains […]
A Death In Jamaica : Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien Part 26
I will never forget my semester of school. The first week of school was hard. The class work was not difficult, but adjusting to the new schedule was hard. I had changed my work schedule to have a late workday on Tuesday and a day off on Thursday. I was taking 2 classes 3-credit course: […]
Jamaican Dead Yard – A True Story
On the evening of March 24, 2007, I was at 35,000 feet aboard an Air Jamaica flight to Los Angeles. I work there, though my home is in the Rose Halldistrict of Montego Bay, in a community known as Barrett Town. I had left my wife, daughter, granddaughter and grandson behind, for the 14th time […]
Tenement Yard Part 3 – Hard-Aze Pickenies.
Hard-Aze Pickenies. Ever since infancy, things seemed ‘weird’ with Kyman. Never would he show any interest in the stuff little boys his age do, but rather love to play with girl-toys and act ‘girlie girlie’ every ‘live long day.’ His mother Miriam, has been trying relentlessly to curve his ways, but ‘no bra-ba, nuh him’ […]
More Changes: Memoirs Of An Illegal Alien Part 25
Everything in my life was about to change. My father came back to make arrangements for my sister and I to live together in an apartment. I was happy to be on my own, however I would miss Aunt Fern and her family. They were my second family. They helped in easing my transition from […]
Traditional Jamaican Marriage Customs
A traditional wedding in Jamaica typically involved the whole village or community where the couple lived. Relatives of the couple and members of the community all had roles in preparing for the ceremony. Today, modern couples seek help from wedding consultants or planners, but in the past, planning responsibilities were taken on by those who […]
Living in a Tenement Yard (Part 2)
The Landlord. Upon seeing the landlord a look of frustration and panic instantaneously changed her countenance. ‘Poor mi, Sweet Jesus Savior Divine bless my soul,’ she mumbles. Quickly, she picks up the coconut bough broom and begin to sweep the already swept yard while intentionally positioning her back to the gate. It is the 15th […]
Living in a Tenement Yard – Part 1
‘Tenement Yard,’ is not included in my Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary. I have had this dictionary from ‘Wappy kill Fillo’ and so it may very well be in a newer edition. I nonetheless came across a similar word. It is Tenement House—n: an apartment house used as a dwelling…one meeting minimum standards of sanitation, safety […]
Mi did waa go foreign
Mi memba di day mi left Jamaica fi com a foreignMi aunti tell mi late inna di night fi pack caa mi a go next dayMi did so glad lawd mi tun fool an all a singMi neva even get fi seh bye to mi frien cross di street name cay Adid mi, mi father […]