The Spotlight on Jamaican Culture
Jamaica, home of jerk chicken and reggae music. The Jamaican flag symbolizes the country through its colors. The yellow represents a ray of sunshine and natural wealth. The green is for hope and luscious nature of the country. The black represents the creative and passionate people of Jamaica.
Growing up in a Jamaican household, there is never a dull moment. My dad LOVES music. He has his own club down at Jamaica. He even has his own sound fixed in the rear of his car. So when we’re driving, he blasts the music to a hundred and creates an earthquake driving through the block. I can easily know if he’s outside when I hear the music. “Yup, that’s him!” I always say to my friends. I get my love for music from him. My favorite genre of Jamaican music is Dancehall. You might have heard of a couple artist like Vybz Kartel or Popcaan. It’s such an international genre. I love when all my family from all over Chicago get together on a calm night and just blast Reggae/Dancehall music and just enjoy the vibes.
Even though I live in Chicago, that doesn’t stop me from enjoying delicious, fulfilling Jamaican meals that my mother or my grandmother cooks. I don’t like jerk chicken that much as I should. I know what your going to say, “You come from a land of jerk chicken and don’t like it?” My all time favorite food would be hominy porridge and cheese patties. Hominy porridge is like porridge from Goldilocks and the Three Bears but with corn soaked in sweet milk. Cheese patties are just like a regular beef patty but with cheese. They have many varieties of patties such as pork or chicken. My #1 dessert is Potato Pudding because it’s sooo sweet and soft.
I visit Jamaica every year for Christmas. It never snows in Jamaica, so my Christmas is never cold and snowy. I love the long car ride from the airport to my grandfather's house, which is where I stay when I’m down there. I just love the cold breeze, the smell of food cooking outside, seeing the people, and buying fruits or donuts that are sold on the side of the road. I even enjoy the crazy road rage from my dad or any drivers. Everyone acts just like family down there. It’s so easy to just talk to people and make friends. My favorite thing to do down there, besides eating all the cheese patties I can get, is the parties. I always go to the parties that my dad throws in his club. I’m always prepared the stay out until 3 or 4 in the morning. My feet are never tired. On Christmas Eve, I get ready to go to Grand Market. The Grand Market is a night out that is full of entertainment from all over. I always go to different locations just to hear the music and see others dancing and acting wild.
It’s always a bittersweet moment when it’s time to pack up and leave. I always look forward to pack my carry on and my suitcase with snacks and cheese patties. I don’t look forward to the goodbyes and going from warm Jamaica to freezing Chicago. Going to visit Jamaica is like an escape from reality.