Which Jamaica Do You Want Your Children to Grow Up In?
I traveled all over the country, from Port Antonio on the east side, Montego Bay on the west, and the Blue Mountains and Kingston in the middle, and I can say with huge confidence that Jamaica’s got one of the most positive vibes in the world. Yes, there is poverty, and yes, there’s been heavy violence in the past, yet despite those struggles, Jamaicans as a whole maintain a fiercely positive and unified spirit,” says Annie Daly in an article titled, ’25 Reasons a Trip to Jamaica Will Make You a Happier Person’.
Jamaicans have grown accustomed to foreigners’ fascination with the island and they can’t help but boast.
However, feel good moments like these are a mere break in transmission for many, who on the flip side spend their days lamenting the negatives which permeate this little dot of paradise, while the patriots hold their breath in hope that it too doesn’t go viral and taint our image of sun, sand and sea. One could say that perhaps, Jamaicans love their country so much that they want it to be perfect and consequently are the biggest critics at times.
In this issue of Buzzz Magazine, we will explore both sides of this intriguing story.
Paradise
Every island has sun, sand and sea, but what they don’t have is the Jamaican people and our cultural heritage; that spirit which exudes warmth to a total stranger, the one who says “yeah man” with a broad smile at the end of every sentence in a light conversation. Many would argue that indeed it’s our people which are our greatest asset. And when we take stock of the amazing talent which has been unleashed from our shores to the unsuspecting world, we understand why this may be so.
Jamaica produced the likes of National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, who stood out amongst the greats with his Back to Africa vision and movement which he fought so valiantly for, earning himself a place in World History. Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley, internationally acclaimed Reggae artiste and singer of ‘One Love’, the Song of the Millennium, and ‘Exodus’, Album of the Century, shot to stardom in the 60s -70s and music as the world knew it has never been the same.
Music lovers the world over were being entertained with a unique genre, powerful and inspiring lyrics about love, war, peace being delivered by a Rastafarian who would become one of the world’s best-selling artistes of all time. His music transcended borders long after his death in 1981.
Usain St. Leo Bolt, the sportsman who many describe as the greatest athlete of all time and a legend in his own right, cemented what many knew for years, that Jamaica was the sprint factory of the world.
And when visitors arrive on the island, their taste buds are tantalized in every way; from the Blue Mountain Coffee and Ackee & Saltfish (voted the second best national dish in the world) to the spicy jerked chicken in the evening, sipped with an icy cold Red Stripe Beer, finished with some Devon House ice cream (voted the fourth best place to eat ice cream in the world).
A visit to Jamaica is an experience to die for! But just imagine for a moment that you actually live there, you’d be tempted to use the increasingly popular hashtag #ILiveWhereYouVacation.
To continue reading, purchase Vol.8 #5, 2016 Issue.
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Which Jamaica Do You Want Your Children to Grow Up In?
I traveled all over the country, from Port Antonio on the east side, Montego Bay on the west, and the Blue Mountains and Kingston in the middle, and I can say with huge confidence that Jamaica’s got one of the most positive vibes in the world. Yes, there is poverty, and yes, there’s been heavy violence in the past, yet despite those struggles, Jamaicans as a whole maintain a fiercely positive and unified spirit,” says Annie Daly in an article titled, ’25 Reasons a Trip to Jamaica Will Make You a Happier Person’.
Jamaicans have grown accustomed to foreigners’ fascination with the island and they can’t help but boast.
However, feel good moments like these are a mere break in transmission for many, who on the flip side spend their days lamenting the negatives which permeate this little dot of paradise, while the patriots hold their breath in hope that it too doesn’t go viral and taint our image of sun, sand and sea. One could say that perhaps, Jamaicans love their country so much that they want it to be perfect and consequently are the biggest critics at times.
In this issue of Buzzz Magazine, we will explore both sides of this intriguing story.
Paradise
Every island has sun, sand and sea, but what they don’t have is the Jamaican people and our cultural heritage; that spirit which exudes warmth to a total stranger, the one who says “yeah man” with a broad smile at the end of every sentence in a light conversation. Many would argue that indeed it’s our people which are our greatest asset. And when we take stock of the amazing talent which has been unleashed from our shores to the unsuspecting world, we understand why this may be so.
Jamaica produced the likes of National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, who stood out amongst the greats with his Back to Africa vision and movement which he fought so valiantly for, earning himself a place in World History. Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley, internationally acclaimed Reggae artiste and singer of ‘One Love’, the Song of the Millennium, and ‘Exodus’, Album of the Century, shot to stardom in the 60s -70s and music as the world knew it has never been the same.
Music lovers the world over were being entertained with a unique genre, powerful and inspiring lyrics about love, war, peace being delivered by a Rastafarian who would become one of the world’s best-selling artistes of all time. His music transcended borders long after his death in 1981.
Usain St. Leo Bolt, the sportsman who many describe as the greatest athlete of all time and a legend in his own right, cemented what many knew for years, that Jamaica was the sprint factory of the world.
And when visitors arrive on the island, their taste buds are tantalized in every way; from the Blue Mountain Coffee and Ackee & Saltfish (voted the second best national dish in the world) to the spicy jerked chicken in the evening, sipped with an icy cold Red Stripe Beer, finished with some Devon House ice cream (voted the fourth best place to eat ice cream in the world).
A visit to Jamaica is an experience to die for! But just imagine for a moment that you actually live there, you’d be tempted to use the increasingly popular hashtag #ILiveWhereYouVacation.
To continue reading, purchase Vol.8 #5, 2016 Issue.
Share this post: