Children in Jamaica

A true hidden treasure in Jamaica are the children. They are by FAR my favorite way to spend time there. For the most part the children I’ve met in Jamaica are not shy or quiet at all! They’re the exact opposite?.bold and outgoing. The questions that come out of their mouths are hilarious because they really just have no concept of certain things, and I expect that even though some might see plenty of white people they probably don’t interact with many.

Picture of Jamaican girl on beach

If you choose to spend your time in beach areas you’ll see kids who have been exposed to tourists so its no big deal for them. But if you venture out into the country or the hills, that’s where you’ll discover the children who are in awe over your skin color and voice their curiosity without hesitation! Also if you happen to be a white female you will no doubt have at least one little boy who has a major crush on you. They start young here LOL.

Picture of Jamaican school children

I have one special little friend Devin. Whenever I’m in his area I will go take him off his grandmother’s hands for a day and hang out. This little character has a ridiculous personality! When he was 8 years old he didn’t hesitate for one minute on showing us all his latest dance moves. The boy can dance too! Just a couple months ago I went to see him again and took him on a lunch date. His choice of the day was a burger and fries?.he’d never had that before but he’d heard about it. Then I rented a jet ski and took the little charmer for a ride?.let me tell you I’ve NEVER heard such laughter, screaming and giggling come from a child. That 30 minutes of pure joy made my entire trip!!

In my experience the mothers of the children I meet in Jamaica are pretty open to letting you spend time with their kids. I think they know the kids might get a taste of something they wouldn’t normally experience. Like my hamburger lunch with Devin…I was shocked he’s never had a burger and fries before. He asked what the ketchup was for so I instructed him to put it on the bun. And I bet he NEVER thought in his life that he’d ride a jet ski! It just so happened that day that we had seven other kids from the country with us, who’d never even been to the beach before. You can imagine their reactions to the jet ski! It was awesome.

Picture of Jamaican boy

Pretty much every child I’ve spent any time with in Jamaica instantly latched on and became affectionate. They want to hold your hand, sit on your lap, lean on you in the car, etc. Its so touching and I love them all. I truly believe they are Jamaica’s national treasures because when they grow up they’ll be the future of the country.

Picture of Jamaican girl

Funniest Things Jamaican Kids Have Said to Me:

• “Why did you scrub off your skin? ” (meaning why am I white instead of black?)
• “Are you waiting for your husband to bring you money?”
• “Where’s your husband?”  When I said I didn’t have one he replied “Did you kill him?”
• “Girl you’re FAT!”  In Jamaica that’s a compliment meaning you’re healthy looking.
• “Hey a Whitey!!”  Some little kids yelled this in the streets when we drove through a remote country area.

Resort in Ocho Rios

I stayed at Rooms on the Beach for my first trip to Ocho Rios, and I was glad I did considering I was traveling alone. It was my fifth trip to Jamaica but I’d never been to the north coast before. This hotel would be my home for the next five nights.

I had no troubles checking in at Rooms, the front desk staff was really friendly and I was even given a choice of rooms so of course I chose beach front! A porter helped me with my bags and did a little orientation of the room with me. It was beautiful and the veranda was to die for! Sliding doors open onto some breathtaking scenery. To the left were the hills of Ocho Rios, dead ahead was the cruise ship dock, and to the right was a long stretch of beach with the Sunset Jamaica Grand hotel in the distance.

Rooms on the Beach is a nice, centrally located property, within walking distance to anything you want in Ocho Rios. It has 24 hour security at the front gates even though I’ve seen the guards out there napping occasionally. There is a restaurant on site which I only ate at once, I had ackee, saltfish and dumplings for breakfast one day and I seem to remember enjoying it. Rooms also has free continental breakfast daily which includes fruit, pastries, coffee & juices.

There’s a swimming pool even though you’re only 50 feet from the beach. There’s a bar right beside the swimming pool but the drinks aren’t cheap there. If you’re out on the beach, the bar staff will walk out occasionally and see if you want any refreshments.

My two favourite things about this hotel are:
#1 A different cruise ship pulls into Ochi 5 out of 7 days a week and it parks right outside the window. I love seeing those HUGE boats! Something I’d never seen before.
#2 The beach out front is mostly full of locals. It’s really nice just watching all the Jamaican children at the beach all day.

Least favourite things:
#1 The beach isn’t very nice in comparison to Negril and other places I?ve been on the island. A beach is still a beach when you’re Canadian but it’s not the best one I’ve been to.
#2 They make it difficult to have friends in after 11pm. It’s only a problem if you know people in Jamaica and want to do any pre-drinking in your room before fun nights out. The night life in Jamaica doesn’t start til after midnight.

Awesome TIP: If you’re considering booking into Rooms on the Beach I HIGHLY recommend checking out SkyAuction first. It’s an auction website where you can bid on hotel rooms worldwide and this hotel is always up for bids. I scored my beachfront room for $52 US/night but I’ve seen winning bids as low as $40 US/night. I guarantee you will get a better deal than booking directly with the hotel.

See More of Jamaica

I regularly surf the internet and read other peoples reviews and experiences in Jamaica.  The negative commentaries make me cringe and I wish I could call all the negative people up and tell them “if only you’d known how to handle yourself…..”.  So here it is, a post on how to leave your hotel and handle yourself out in the streets to get the best possible experience you can that day.

Craft Market in Ocho Rios

First of all, this post is NOT for people who stay at all-inclusive resorts.  The very fact that you’re at one in the first place means you didn’t go to Jamaica to experience anything except a bunch of other tourists.  This post is for those of you who are budget travelers and have some sense of adventure, want to see things, meet people and be a minority for a week, function in a foreign country and respect the culture of where you are.  This post is for those of you who REALIZE that the Jamaicans you see who work in the resorts are NOT a good cross section of the real Jamaica.

To venture out of your hotel – put one foot in front of the other and walk out the door. Make sure you have no agenda for the day except to end up where you end up.  You will undoubtedly get solicited by every single taxi that drives by you, they’ll honk the horn and say “taxi?” out the window.  You simply say NO THANKS and walk on. Don’t assume they’re all harassing you just because they want something.  Driving taxi is their livelihood, of course they’re going to ask if you want a ride.

Dance party we discovered in the hills - St Ann's Bay

When you walk by shops usually the person who works there is hanging out front and they will also “harass” you.  They’re more difficult to turn down because they’re a lot more persistent.  But guess what?  If you’re not shopping that day just say NO THANKS and walk on.  Instead of seeing the pushy Jamaicans as public enemy number one, see them as trying to make a living in a country where things never come easy.

Before you go out be aware that you will run into people in the street who just ask you for money.  This is common.  Again, life in Jamaica isn’t easy and this is how some people get by.  Decide BEFORE your walk about, if you’re going to be generous that day or not.  If you don’t have the money just tell them you don’t have the money.  Its not like they’re going to follow you around and keep begging.  Its no different than people back home begging in the streets, so don’t leave Jamaica and tell everyone that all you experienced is a bunch of poor people begging in the streets.

Accidentally found a recording studio and ended up getting a tour - Ocho Rios

Its a good idea to ask a Jamaican what’s a good LOCAL place to eat.  The benefit of that is you’ll dine with locals, eat great food and pay a lot less than you would at a touristy restaurant.  Don’t be afraid to get off the beaten path, you will not get mugged, raped and murdered.  Just read my posts about how to carry money around and you’ll be fine.

One of the best tips I can give you is act like you want to fit in!!  Don’t act like a snooty tourist who’s better than everyone.  Genuinely try and act interested in being there.  Look like you’re having fun instead of looking like you’re afraid or too good.  I can’t even begin to tell you the awesome things you’ll experience if you befriend a Jamaican or two and look for some adventure!  If you read any of my other posts in this blog, you’ll see all the cool places I get to discover because I just trusted the people to what they do best – share their culture.