I am not Yaadie, but I have been following dancehall-reggae music (and socca) since 2008 and roots/reggae even before that. My favourite artist and music camp is Mavado/Gully Side coz I relate to him and his story a lot. Anyways, around 2011 is the time I put effort to listen and learn patois from the music I listened to, and even though I still struggle with speaking (coz no one to talk to), I can hear, read and write quite a large part of the language. I also watch YouTube shows like Onstage TV and follow a few musical shows when I can (like Sting). Now, something I am yet to grasp with is the accents that I hear which vary from person to person and region. Sometimes, I can hear the person fluently and sometimes some words pass me, or even the accent from the person becomes hard to hear entirely, especially when they speak fast (like an interview I watched of a woman in the market). Mostly, since I follow the music, this is where I notice this a lot (even I do miss some words from my favourite artist, Mavado, in some songs and have to search the lyrics). For example, I hear (almost) everything Tony Matterhorn says, but I struggle here and there to hear what someone like Bounty Killer says (and his baritone voice does not help). I also notice that, even though I am a big fan of old school riddims, especially the 90s, the accent is even harder compared to, say, music past 2005. Red Rat and King Yellowman are another example of exceptions, and I would put them in the Matterhorn category. So my question is, for those in Yaad, does the accent vary between different places in Jamaica, and would any one area be considered to have a more deeper (and harder) accent than another?

I have family in Jamaica and come to visit them periodically (usually about 3 times a year in normal times). My family is upper middle class in Jamaica and they live very comfortably in a gated villa. We interact with locals regularly but I know there is a large part of Jamaican society that I’m completely sheltered from. Every so often we go and stay at the resorts. I’ve stayed at maybe 7 or 8 resorts in various parts of Jamaica. There is a question that has been gnawing at the back of my mind that I’d love to get peoples’ thoughts on that I feel like my family hasn’t been able to answer adequately. All the people working at these resorts seem very respectful and cheerful, etc. I know they’re paid to do that, and I also see some of them play up the whole Jamaican act (ie. “Yah Mon!”) for tips. Some of them seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs. So my question is how much do the resorts serve to increase the quality of life for these folks? They’re constantly exposed to foreigners with money, see how they live, see how they’re served, and see massive amounts of consumption that may not be the norm in their day to day lives. Does all of this have a positive impact on their lives? Does it create potential resentment? Is it just a job that they believe is detached from an unattainable reality? Or does it inspire them to achieve more? Not sure if there is a right answer, hence why it has a discussion flair. Would love your thoughts!

I've heard that when you travell to Jamaica it's highly recommended that you do not leave the hotel especially for white people. Is it true because I think Jamaica is a beautiful country and it would be a big shame if I ever travell there for basically nothing.

Okay so here are some examples of what I mean by this question: -I don’t see images of traditional Jamaican wedding compared to traditional Nigerian, Greek, Indian, etc weddings. Needless to say, the traditional dances you would see at other weddings, I don’t see it in Jamaican weddings. -As for clothing, I can always point out “okay this person is Pakistani, Nigerian, or Japanese” because they have cultural attire that represents their country. Why don’t I see much of that for Jamaica? Everything seems westernized. I don’t know much about Jamaica so please educate me on the country and tradition.

Hi! Me and my friend are now in Montego Bay and we want to eat some authentic Jamaican food. We just ate at hotel-tourist areas and we would want to eat something better, like some good and spicy Jamaican curry. Thank you really much for the suggestions!

I plan on traveling there soon and would love to know what food I absolutely MUST try when I am there!

We're taking a delayed honeymoon since it wasn't in our budget when we got married last year. So, after widdling it down from 7,000 islands to just a few, we decided on Jamaica. It has everything we want to do, including swimming with dolphins, scuba/snorkeling, hiking, off-road jeep tours, etc. So we're looking at RIU Palace Tropical Bay in Negril. It's within our budget, right on the beach, and has everything we would need. Is there any reason we wouldn't want to stay there? Sometimes reviews online can't be trusted. It looks great for the price, but before we commit, I just wanted to double check through you all in case there's something we should know. Also, and more importantly, is Negril a good place to stay to begin with to see the actual culture of Jamaica? From what Inread, it's better than Montego Bay for what we're looking for. Yes, in Negril we'll still be at a resort on the beach. It's obviously a tourist destination, and we do want to relax and be tourists because we're going on our honeymoon. But we also want more than just the beach experience -- we can do that in the U.S. We're interested in the awesome parts of Jamaica you don't see in vacation/honeymoon advertisements. We'd also like to know of any common tourist mistakes or annoyances. We don't want to be assholes when visiting, but we don't know much about hit country. So please, I'm all ears. Also, if you all just don't want any American tourists at all, and if you hate us all before we even arrive, I'd like to know that, too. I get it and understand. Americans suck sometimes. Anyway, I'm at work and typed this quickly, so I didn't get all of my thoughts out. But please, tell me anything that comes to your mind that you think a visitor should know. Planning a trip to a country you've never been to is realky difficult without the help from those who have. So we greatly appreciate any info you're willing to provide. Thank you all im advance!

It’s my first time going to Jamaica. I am going for the last week of September. 2 adults. Any suggestions for places that may meet my needs? Negril for now, but open to suggestions. I want to go to a resort with beach access, outdoor activities (zip line, scuba, snorkeling, etc.) spa (massages and facials), INCREDIBLE food and strong drinks, bonus points for nightlife such as fine dining and clubs. I am all for supporting local resorts however is it more expensive to do all of those activities at a non inclusive? How difficult is it to plan those activities? Thanks in advance!

I'm specifically looking for men particularly black men, who have had experience with Jamaican Women. Me and a Jamaican woman hit it off through text and phone. She has a spark about her and she seems genuine and caring as well as patient. Any advice or personal experience with Jamaican Women? Share your thoughts.

I have recently visited Jamaica on a trip with my family, and I fell in love with the island and the community. I visited Montego Bay primarily, of course I know the tourist experience and the residential experience must be different. I’ve done some research on the topic, as in cost of living in certain areas and how to go about getting a work visa, and I know about the recent spikes in crime rate, but I want to know what else I should know. Pros and cons, the perfect place to pick, jobs accommodating to American immigrants, anything you think I should know or think about before I make up my mind. Thank you all!

I’m trying to help my friend who has no money figure out how to access dental care. Are there any nonprofits in JA that offer services or dental schools that take on patient volunteers?

Hubby (teacher) and I (self employed) have booked a trip to Sandals South Coast in early April of 2023 (his spring break). We are spending a pretty good chunk of change because we haven't ever been on a "luxury" vacation and haven't traveled at all during COVID so we're ready for a splurge. We are staying in a beachfront walk-out one bedroom butler suite in the Italian Village. Because hubs is a history teacher he would love to visit at least one, possibly more, historical sites or museums that aren't a 3-hour drive from Whitehouse/Sandals South Coast. I'm also not super thrilled with the number of tours/offsite activities that are being promoted on the Sandals website, so I'm now wondering if there's good suggestions for any private tours/drivers that we might be able to contract on our own. It's our first time in Jamaica and I love nature, he loves history, and we're both in love with food. I mean, I kind of daydream about eating "real" jerk from a small stand, we've never had ackee, I'd love to taste some real pepper pot. I have it in my brain that the "jerk shack" at the Sandals resort is going to be softened for tourists. Is there such a thing as a Jamaican food tour? Are there any historic sites within an hour of Whitehouse/Sandals SC that are worth seeing? Are there any private tour guides/providers that also do the standard trips that are marketed through Sandals like visits to (any) falls, etc.? Anything that's a must-see or must-do in that area? I'm a person who has traveled a lot in Mexico, I speak Spanish, and so when we do visit Mexico we end up spending a lot of our time eating with/hanging out with locals, but I understand that my expectations should probably be a little different in this case. Thank you very much in advance for any ideas/thoughts/experiences with Sandals SC, recommendations of favorite things at that Sandals, or favorite staff, any particular butler we should request, anything like that. We have already booked our flights and our MoBay as I've been told that will shave time and stress off of arrival and departure.

I am American, but of Asian and European descent but was wondering if Jamaica had much of a Hispanic community. Apparently it seems not so much, and only one Mexican restaurant I can find via Google in the whole country. I’ve never been to Jamaica but it looks great and Jamaican and Hispanic cultures seem vibrant on the surface so you would think there’d be some form of community. There may be thousands of Cubans and Puerto Ricans but can’t find much info. Is there much of a population of them? I know Jamaica has some White/British, Chinese and Indian populations but was wondering of the Indigeneous or Hispanic which isn’t too far away. Would be great to experience a little bit of Latin America in Jamaica.

My white friend was told that they’re cultural appropriation and is offensive to Jamaican people (by someone who’s not Jamaican 🤦🏾‍♂️) but in my opinion i wouldn’t be offended by it. There’s a voice in my head telling me I should be, but that’s only because I feel like that’s what other people would say. Again in all honesty though, I don’t see white peoples with dreads as super disrespectful or offensive. What do you think?

I have been thinking about this for quite a while now. I know that Jamaicans claim to be very patriotic. Therefore, they will let everybody know that they are Jamaicans, especially during the Olympics or when we are doing well on the international stage. Also, I notice that some of the harshest criticism comes from Jamaicans overseas. Some will even discourage people from visiting and make it seems like the island is the worse place on the planet. What causes this bitterness? Let's have a discussion.

Hi all, I was looking for some information since I won't get a reply from the Jamaican embassy for a while... I am estranged from both parents, my father is Jamaican-born and my mother was born in Canada to Jamaican parents. My maternal grandfather has offered to help me apply for my citizenship through him, however I don't have my mother's birth certificate. And I can't apply for a copy unless she is deceased, as per Canadian laws. Are there other documents I can provide that could connect us? The story gets more inconvenient: my father was not listed on my birth certificate as my parent, but he was in my life up until a few years ago when I had to cut him off. It would be easiest to apply through him since I can order his documents from RGD, but I'm not sure if there are alternative documents I could present that would connect us otherwise. If anyone knows of a way I would greatly appreciate the help. I feel so defeated because my family is so dysfunctional and it shouldn't be this hard to reconnect to my heritage but I really want to try one last time before giving up completely. Open to different ways of applying as well. ​ TIA!!

I'm a Male in my mid-twenties coming to MoBay with my family from Canada. We are staying at Secrets Wild Orchid. We currently don't have much planned in our itinerary. We chose MoBay over Negril as it served as a better area to understand the people and culture of Jamaica better, and see the day-to-day life as well as enjoying a resort. We will most likely spend 3 full days at the resort, as well as 3 days split between the resort and venturing into the city. For the 3 days we venture into the city/partake in activities - I'm currently thinking we do: * Bamboo Rafting * Horseback Riding * Hip Strip * Doctor's Cave Beach * Pier 1 (Mainly for me LOL) What else would you reccommend? Ideally we could hire a driver for 1-3 days that require further travel. Also, what would you reccommend with currency exchange? We carry Canadian cash. Thank you!

The commonality between all-girl schools in Jamaica is that they aim to produce well-rounded ladies: ladies who are elegant, educated, resourceful, skilled, and independent. To enter one of these schools, a child needs to be successful in the national PEP examinations. They cater to grades 7-13 students. They are often based on Christian principles and encourage high moral values and principles in conduct. They usually excel academically and are top-ranking high schools. The following are the 10 best girl schools in Jamaica.

If by chance you are contemplating working and living in Jamaica, make organizing an aspect of your responsibilities search plan. By working on systems administration, you can likewise investigate the Jamaican work market and way of life, all of which will make the progress of finding a new line of work and living in Jamaica simply that amount more straightforward. As systems administration is a two-way road regarding correspondence, you will want to get experiences from others along with sharing your perceptions and making new companions.

Do you find it challenging to obtain a job with or without qualifications in Jamaica? It can be a real struggle especially during these times of the raging global pandemic. Not to worry, you can start a business using your talents and or qualifications. Here is a list of the best businesses to start in Jamaica. 

Health expenses have been proven to be costly year after year and thus it has become significant to have a health insurance plan that provides various medical coverages. Here we have selected the best health insurance companies for your benefit. 

When deciding on a particular career path, there are a lot of variables to consider such as the qualifications needed and how much the job pays. Here is a list of the best and highest paying careers to join in Jamaica. Hope you enjoy it. 

Do you want your sons and daughters to feel like the special princes and princesses that they are? Then get them those awesome shoes and affordable footwear in Kingston Jamaica. Here is a list of the all time favorites.

When choosing to further your education after high school, it can be quite frustrating to figure out just which college is the best one to choose or what career path to take. Here we have made selection a little easier with our list below. 

Beauty never goes out of style. This line of business is always trending from hair to make-up, to nails, to fashion and skincare. Because the business of beauty is well sought after, both by customers and entrepreneurs, it is important to distinguish oneself from the crowd with cutting-edge skills and techniques. It is always smart to invest in improving one’s education and skills in the field of beauty if that is where the dreams and aspirations lie. The better skilled you are, the more you will reap the financial rewards. Here are the 10 best beauty schools in Kingston, Jamaica that can transform your average skills to exceptional and exquisite skills in the line of beauty.

Need a fantastic getaway from the stressors of life? Need to feel relaxed and carefree? Or probably you just want to go on a family trip or romantic soiree. Check out the fantastic hotels in Montego Bay.

Looking for scenic and delicious bruncheries and breakfast restaurants in the heart of Jamaica? We have put together the top 3 best reviewed restaurants for breakfast and brunch in Kingston Jamaica.