Cultural Adjustment

[Sonshyne 2]

Hello!

There are just differences in the way Jamaicans speak versus Americans...not the patwa cause thats obvious...i think Jamaicans are just "harder" in how they speak and when you don't understand it, it can come off very offensive. There's not much for the word "offensive" in JA, but as American we are pretty sensitive any many things hurt or offend us. Jamaicans I notice just say it how they see it no matter how harsh it may actually be.

Yuh suh right, mi husband tell mi "yuh tuh senitive hall deh time" Wen mi tell 'im dat sumting 'im seh was rude, 'im tell mi dat he didn't tink ie was

[Jesse and Hema 2]

Hello!

Well even though I'm married to my man, he has not been to the States as of yet. I think we already have cultural differences that we deal with now and we don't even live togehter. There are just differences in the way Jamaicans speak versus Americans...not the patwa cause thats obvious...i think Jamaicans are just "harder" in how they speak and when you don't understand it, it can come off very offensive. There's not much for the word "offensive" in JA, but as American we are pretty sensitive any many things hurt or offend us. Jamaicans I notice just say it how they see it no matter how harsh it may actually be.

In the beginning of our relationship my father and his side of the family were against it. Rude and ignorant comments made about me and my husband all behind my back. My mother and her side loved the idea and were completely open to it. i think they knew me more....cause I haven't dated and American born man in YEARS. Plus none of my friends are American so dating him was really nothing new to me. The only difference is that I met him outside the US an the whole "green card" thing came up. Like everybody wants to come to the blessed land of the USA!

Anyway, I don't really care what people think about me...it actually makes me feel good about myself when other people worry themselves with my business, haha . We married and lots of folks turned around. My father LOVES Evan now! They met when my dad went down to JA early for my wedding. Evan picked him up from the airport and thats how they were introduced cause prior to that dad didnt want to speak to him....dads juss stubborn, but I'm daddy's lil girl and he'll do anything for me. Evan pretty much has phone calls with all my family now...mother, father, sis, brother. I don't even know they speak til days later and it happens to come up. then I get all jealous, like why don't you call me .

His family loves me, end of story. They are some of the sweetest people I have ever met.

One adjustment is racism. The concept of racism isn't really in Jamaica much. Blacks in JA are not a minority. They don't know what its like to feel like a minority in the country in which they live. Blacks in JA may be like Blacks in the US because of our slavery history...but it ends there. They didn't have civil rights oppressions like Blacks in the US. Hubby and I discuss this cause of issues I face here in the US with racism and he tells me that he doesnt understand it much cause they never had to deal with it. He doesnt have parents or grandparents who dealt with the 1940's-60's, like I have, so he has a different persepctive. This is just one thing that may be odd to him to see the current struggles Black Americans still have to go through to just get people to move away from racism. This is just one thing i notice as an adjustment.

Did you just call me SENSITIVE?! *crying*

Thanks for the input, though. I'm sure my sister will come around and realize it's not about a green card or money!

[Marlita 0]

Ha Ha! Jesse, you ain't the only sensitive one. My husband is one rude little something at times, and he don't even know it. He gets genuinely mad when I tell him he's mean or rude too, cause he thinks those are horrible traits to have and just doesnt see that things he says are just harsh! As you can see when I get harsh right back with him he just can't take it. Its the only way to show him how it feels.

[brownnskinn 0]

I agree with all of the above esp the racism. My husband dosen't realize when he's being discrimated against and gives excuses as to why people mis treat him. He basicly dosen't feels it exist and feels that we " black american's are too sensitive.

...and on the being too harsh.... I feel bad sometimes when he disiciplines the kids. It comes out so harsh at times, I want to seh .. low mi pickeny dem. I know they need it sometimes but can we jus get some luv in our voice for goodness sake. In return I get in JA we do this, or we do that. I understand but maybe you should tell them how it is in JA before you treat them like they've grown up with parents with such strict parenting. He's alot better but it's still and adjustment.

[Forever Young 1]

Lawny,

I agree wid heveryone...COMMUNICATION IS KEY!!!!!!! I think bout dat same ting ALL deh time!!

Even last night, I took my boys tuh Friendly's fuh Ice Cream...han mi haffi wonda is what Ken wouldda git? Dem doan 'ave nuh Great-nut, Sour Sap or Rum Raisin!!! I ran home han called him wid my worries...What do I get...

"Lawd gawd Gill...stop from worry yuhself ova foolishness...mi favorite flava is Vanilla...dem 'ave DAT?!!"

Next fear is bribey!! Inna yard dat is jus' deh weh hit is!! Everyone a look a money!! I have told Ken a million times...if a cop pulls you ova...BE RESPECTFUL (which he is hennyweh) HAN DOAN OFFER DEM HENNY MONEY!!!! Dat will mek matters WORSE!!!!

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate...that's all yuh cyan duh...afta wi men nuh fool...dem will cyatch on tuh!!

Blessed,

Gill

[SupportOAFJF 0]

Lawny,

I agree wid heveryone...COMMUNICATION IS KEY!!!!!!! I think bout dat same ting ALL deh time!!

Even last night, I took my boys tuh Friendly's fuh Ice Cream...han mi haffi wonda is what Ken wouldda git? Dem doan 'ave nuh Great-nut, Sour Sap or Rum Raisin!!! I ran home han called him wid my worries...What do I get...

"Lawd gawd Gill...stop from worry yuhself ova foolishness...mi favorite flava is Vanilla...dem 'ave DAT?!!"

Next fear is bribey!! Inna yard dat is jus' deh weh hit is!! Everyone a look a money!! I have told Ken a million times...if a cop pulls you ova...BE RESPECTFUL (which he is hennyweh) HAN DOAN OFFER DEM HENNY MONEY!!!! Dat will mek matters WORSE!!!!

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate...that's all yuh cyan duh...afta wi men nuh fool...dem will cyatch on tuh!!

Blessed,

Gill

hahaaaa.....lawd Gill...Ken mus tink u blinkin head a go...mad ! we have a ice cream parlor by me weh sell everything Jamaican dem 'ave...stout, rum raisin, grapenut....everything...

[Jengles 0]

Lawny,

I agree wid heveryone...COMMUNICATION IS KEY!!!!!!! I think bout dat same ting ALL deh time!!

Even last night, I took my boys tuh Friendly's fuh Ice Cream...han mi haffi wonda is what Ken wouldda git? Dem doan 'ave nuh Great-nut, Sour Sap or Rum Raisin!!! I ran home han called him wid my worries...What do I get...

"Lawd gawd Gill...stop from worry yuhself ova foolishness...mi favorite flava is Vanilla...dem 'ave DAT?!!"

Next fear is bribey!! Inna yard dat is jus' deh weh hit is!! Everyone a look a money!! I have told Ken a million times...if a cop pulls you ova...BE RESPECTFUL (which he is hennyweh) HAN DOAN OFFER DEM HENNY MONEY!!!! Dat will mek matters WORSE!!!!

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate...that's all yuh cyan duh...afta wi men nuh fool...dem will cyatch on tuh!!

Blessed,

Gill

hahaaaa.....lawd Gill...Ken mus tink u blinkin head a go...mad ! we have a ice cream parlor by me weh sell everything Jamaican dem 'ave...stout, rum raisin, grapenut....everything...

I live in brooklyn, the ice cream truck down on Flatbush had grapenut....I never even knew it existed!!!

[JA Tam 7]

Lawny,

I agree wid heveryone...COMMUNICATION IS KEY!!!!!!! I think bout dat same ting ALL deh time!!

Even last night, I took my boys tuh Friendly's fuh Ice Cream...han mi haffi wonda is what Ken wouldda git? Dem doan 'ave nuh Great-nut, Sour Sap or Rum Raisin!!! I ran home han called him wid my worries...What do I get...

"Lawd gawd Gill...stop from worry yuhself ova foolishness...mi favorite flava is Vanilla...dem 'ave DAT?!!"

Next fear is bribey!! Inna yard dat is jus' deh weh hit is!! Everyone a look a money!! I have told Ken a million times...if a cop pulls you ova...BE RESPECTFUL (which he is hennyweh) HAN DOAN OFFER DEM HENNY MONEY!!!! Dat will mek matters WORSE!!!!

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate...that's all yuh cyan duh...afta wi men nuh fool...dem will cyatch on tuh!!

Blessed,

Gill

hahaaaa.....lawd Gill...Ken mus tink u blinkin head a go...mad ! we have a ice cream parlor by me weh sell everything Jamaican dem 'ave...stout, rum raisin, grapenut....everything...

OHHHH, Stout Ice cream...dat ah wan ting wi nuh have dung yah!!! That is what Aaron love, though him caan hol' him liquor

[Forever Young 1]

Lawny,

I agree wid heveryone...COMMUNICATION IS KEY!!!!!!! I think bout dat same ting ALL deh time!!

Even last night, I took my boys tuh Friendly's fuh Ice Cream...han mi haffi wonda is what Ken wouldda git? Dem doan 'ave nuh Great-nut, Sour Sap or Rum Raisin!!! I ran home han called him wid my worries...What do I get...

"Lawd gawd Gill...stop from worry yuhself ova foolishness...mi favorite flava is Vanilla...dem 'ave DAT?!!"

Next fear is bribey!! Inna yard dat is jus' deh weh hit is!! Everyone a look a money!! I have told Ken a million times...if a cop pulls you ova...BE RESPECTFUL (which he is hennyweh) HAN DOAN OFFER DEM HENNY MONEY!!!! Dat will mek matters WORSE!!!!

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate...that's all yuh cyan duh...afta wi men nuh fool...dem will cyatch on tuh!!

Blessed,

Gill

hahaaaa.....lawd Gill...Ken mus tink u blinkin head a go...mad ! we have a ice cream parlor by me weh sell everything Jamaican dem 'ave...stout, rum raisin, grapenut....everything...

I live in brooklyn, the ice cream truck down on Flatbush had grapenut....I never even knew it existed!!!

Yeah...I haffi guh tuh Taste of Deh Tropics inna Brooklyn fi git those flavas...unless I want to buy deh whole tub!!

Gill

[SupportOAFJF 0]

WRONF THREAD

Edited January 20, 2008 by kimmykashi

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

Cho........

My man is worrying about the food areadi. Bout im ago fet FAT (like he don't need to). He is so DAMN skinny. (Mi can't wait fi im fi gain some weight) He could gain about 80lbs and you would not even notice. I live in Maryland near DC and Jamaicans and Jamaican stores are everywhere...they sell ice cream and things of the sort, but I get the BEST and I mean the BEST bread, patti and ice cream in NEW YORK or FLORIDA...rahtid even ENGLAND have more of the stuff ovah deh than we had here. I hate buying bread in DC, so when my people come down from Brooklyn, Queens or Mt. Vernon, I tell them to bring a DOZEN bread and I freeze it. Now, mi hungri. Talking about ice cream it's only 16 degrees OUTSIDE...and I need my LIVE BLANKET wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[SupportOAFJF 0]

Cho........

My man is worrying about the food areadi. Bout im ago fet FAT (like he don't need to). He is so DAMN skinny. (Mi can't wait fi im fi gain some weight) He could gain about 80lbs and you would not even notice. I live in Maryland near DC and Jamaicans and Jamaican stores are everywhere...they sell ice cream and things of the sort, but I get the BEST and I mean the BEST bread, patti and ice cream in NEW YORK or FLORIDA...rahtid even ENGLAND have more of the stuff ovah deh than we had here. I hate buying bread in DC, so when my people come down from Brooklyn, Queens or Mt. Vernon, I tell them to bring a DOZEN bread and I freeze it. Now, mi hungri. Talking about ice cream it's only 16 degrees OUTSIDE...and I need my LIVE BLANKET wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

U r too dyam funny...mi live a mount vernon

[*JG* 2]

I'm so jealous of those who can get the grapenut ice cream. I haven't had any in nearly 2 years!

[Shemmy 4]

Cho........

My man is worrying about the food areadi. Bout im ago fet FAT (like he don't need to). He is so DAMN skinny. (Mi can't wait fi im fi gain some weight) He could gain about 80lbs and you would not even notice. I live in Maryland near DC and Jamaicans and Jamaican stores are everywhere...they sell ice cream and things of the sort, but I get the BEST and I mean the BEST bread, patti and ice cream in NEW YORK or FLORIDA...rahtid even ENGLAND have more of the stuff ovah deh than we had here. I hate buying bread in DC, so when my people come down from Brooklyn, Queens or Mt. Vernon, I tell them to bring a DOZEN bread and I freeze it. Now, mi hungri. Talking about ice cream it's only 16 degrees OUTSIDE...and I need my LIVE BLANKET wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Trelawny - do you like the bread from Brown's Caribbean bakery on GA avenue? I only go there to make Jamaican gift baskets for friends who don't have access to Jamaican foods. Just wondering...

We drive all the way to your side to the Jamaican ice cream store...Damien loves his grapefruit ice cream....

[TRELAWNY PARISH 10]

sjb-

Brown's bread is okay...but not like the ones in New York or Miami, so when I can't get it from those areas I'll settle with Browns. You must be talking the ice cream shop on Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. My dad did not like the way the grapenut ice cream taste up here, so he makes his own...