Going back to Jamaica every year since

by Ann
(Brooklyn, NY)

Growing Up

I spend the first 17 years of my life in this wonderful country.

I remember planting/selling callaloo and pak choy in/from my father's garden where he planted gungo peas. My father bought my sister and I each a pig, a goat, and we were each given a calf when his cow gave birth.

Each and every morning we had a choice of either fresh cow's or goat's milk. We drank milk so much that my sister stop drinking it all together!

I also remember a group of us use to wait for the cane truck coming from Sevens with cane. We would run it down and pull cane from the back of the truck.

I remember on Saturdays my mom would pack up our dirty clothes, and we would spend the whole day at Sevens River. There, we would wash our clothes on rocks and eat sugar cane.

My Mom would cook ackee & saltfish with yellow yam and banana. My brother, sister and I along with our cousins would swim till our skin shrivel up like old people. At the end of the day when our clothes are dry we would pack up and go home only to prepare to do it all over again the next week.

Pineapple season was also a memorable time in our lives. Everyday while at school we would buy pineapples - pineapple for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Each year we would go to the Denbigh showground for the annual event, as well as attend the stage show in May Pen Square by the clock.

Visiting Home

I went back to Jamaica in 1995 - November, when I went to bring my dad back with me to the States.

However, in August of 1998 I went to Jamaica on a cruise. The ship docked in Ocho Rios. My friend of 5 years prior drove down from Kingston to spend the day with me. We drove around and stop at the foot of Duns River Falls sat on a rock and ate sweet sop and guineps.

It was then that I remember what I was missing. I went to Jamaica for a week early the following year and have been going back every year since!