Culture and My First Impressions

After only one day here at Jamaica, a couple of things have become very clear to me - this trip will not at all be what I had in mind. and I really had no idea what Jamaican culture is truly like.
 
Knowing I was assigned to reflect and write about Jamaican culture forced me to be more observant than I usually am - I tend to get caught up in what's going on in the present, but taking a step back and really looking at what we've experienced today allowed me to really appreciate the environment I am in.
 
From first impressions and the short amount of time I've been here so far, I've noticed many Jamaican people we've come in contact with are fairly relaxed. I'm hesitant to say slow, but there has never really been any kind of rush in anyone's behavior or in anything we've done - from the owners of the resort were staying at, to our driver, to the employees at the places we've eaten.
 
Today we were able to experience a typical mass at a Pentecostal church nearby in Treasure Beach, which was extremely memorable. I'd like to preface with saying that I'm fairly familiar with church as someone who attends Roman Catholic mass, but today was something I had never experienced. The moment we walked in we were greeted by a woman who was helping to run the service. The entire first twenty minutes or so was one long song. Just about everyone there was singing, clapping, and waving their hands. One of the speakers even mentioned us and we were welcomed by everyone there with open arms. Once things got going, the amount of passion and energy was contagious, you couldn't help but clap and sing along! We were handed a couple of books so that we could join in (as if we didn't already stick out, in that environment it was weird if you didn't participate). There was so much love and energy (and heat) in that room that I honestly would have liked to stay longer. Everyone was so friendly, the entire church even sang for Phil since it's his birthday today! Here and even at the safari we visited after, I felt so welcomed and I'm extremely appreciative of how, even as strange visitors, the people have been nothing but kind to us.
 
The differences, obvious and subtle, between Jamaican living and U.S. living are beginning to become clear. We've experienced many signs of a "developing" country - extremely narrow/poorly paved roads, normal power outages, many buildings loosely held together on sides of the road - as well as things that aren't surprising here but would definitely attract attention at home, such as goats and cows littered all along (and in) the road and dense shrubbery coating every space that isn't a road, building or  beach. I'd like to point out that I'm not mentioning this to highlight how much better off we are in the U.S. It has only been one day and I can already see how much I take for granted. As we reflected today, in our opinion we may be better off, but I'm beginning to realize that different doesn't always mean worse
 
In my attempt to take on this week with a more open mind, I've decided to take the words from a discussion we had on the bus earlier today and just roll with it! This was in reference to me holding a watermelon we were given on the side of the road for a 40 minute drive, but I think it will have some quality use this week at our worksites. My first real taste of Jamaica today has made me very excited to learn more about and serve this country!
 
Laura Oliveto
 

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