Spring Break was an opportunity for me to fulfill the fantasy of every Jewish boy, I visited Jamaica. My pilgrimage to Jamaica was very different than I expected. Although I only visited Negril, it seems like the Island of Jamaica is quite similar to Jamaica Queens, save for the irie weather and guava fruits.
Jamaica is hood, no doubt. If you choose to stay on the resort, and look at white girl eye candy, power to you. But my curiosity brought me to downtown Negril, the Cliffs, Errol's I-tal shop and a dance hall concert/rude boy gathering. The concert/rude boy gathering (rude boy is patua for gangsta) consisted of motorcycle gangs riding through the audience to mark their spot, fluffy Jamaican girls and a general intolerance for batty boys. Honestly, I expected some violence in Jamaica, as it is a developing third world country with infamous crime issues. But the rude boy gathering far surpassed what I expected. I expected a concert, especially reggae, to act as a peaceful gathering where Jamaicans and tourists can vibe peacefully. I was wrong. I saw more guns at this concert than in Terminator III. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the music, food, weather and the old Jamaican women that will haggle and hustle you. After the concert, which proved to be a very educational experience, I came to the following conclusion:
Jamaica misses Bob Marley. I look forward to the day when Jamaican music and culture will be dedicated to peace, equality and tolerance.
Anyways, here is some patua you should be familiar with before traveling to Jamrock:
Jamaica is hood, no doubt. If you choose to stay on the resort, and look at white girl eye candy, power to you. But my curiosity brought me to downtown Negril, the Cliffs, Errol's I-tal shop and a dance hall concert/rude boy gathering. The concert/rude boy gathering (rude boy is patua for gangsta) consisted of motorcycle gangs riding through the audience to mark their spot, fluffy Jamaican girls and a general intolerance for batty boys. Honestly, I expected some violence in Jamaica, as it is a developing third world country with infamous crime issues. But the rude boy gathering far surpassed what I expected. I expected a concert, especially reggae, to act as a peaceful gathering where Jamaicans and tourists can vibe peacefully. I was wrong. I saw more guns at this concert than in Terminator III. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the music, food, weather and the old Jamaican women that will haggle and hustle you. After the concert, which proved to be a very educational experience, I came to the following conclusion:
Jamaica misses Bob Marley. I look forward to the day when Jamaican music and culture will be dedicated to peace, equality and tolerance.
Anyways, here is some patua you should be familiar with before traveling to Jamrock:
Irie: a positive response to nearly everything. Hows the weather? Irie. Hows the jerk chicken? Irie
Batty Boy: Homosexual, definitly the most offensive epithet for a Jamaican man.
Wagwan: Whats going on?
Raggamuffin: ghetto dweller
bumbaclot: explitive, noun or adjective
fluffy girl: a favorably looking jamaican woman
slaaba slaaba: fat man
Bad Man Zekes: extortionist, notable Jamaican gang leader
Biggup Widsom readers!
