Travel to Jamaica - What (Not) to Expect

On a recent visit to Canada, I couldn't help but contrast it with my home, Jamaica. It struck me that visitors who travel to Jamaica from developed countries must suffer culture shock if they are unprepared for the lifestyle of our developing nation.

I stayed in and near Toronto for two weeks, so my observations will be particularly relevant for those who live in urban areas.

In Jamaica we take our warm weather for granted, but that's about the only aspect of life at home that seems easier to me. Let me outline some of the things that the people of the developed countries take for granted, which they should not expect to be duplicated in Jamaica.

Malls - Huge malls with every possible convenience. In Jamaica, the malls are mostly in Kingston and are quite small in comparison with the giants I saw. Only a few are indoor malls.

Wheel chair access - Most buildings have proper wheelchair access. Only a few buildings and services in Jamaica easily accommodate the disabled. Most shops and supermarkets have narrow aisles, and not many buildings have elevators.

Credit Card - Ease of use. Possibly a good thing, Jamaican merchants are more careful than Canadians when accepting credit cards. Many ask for ID, and many of the smaller shops don't accept credit or debit cards.

Returns Policy - It amazed me how easy it was to return an item purchased. In Jamaica most shops do not refund cash. Some give you the opportunity to exchange an item for something else, and some don't accept returns at all, unless you can prove the item was damaged before you bought it. This forces us not to spend without thinking!

Greetings - Particularly in the rural areas, Jamaicans do expect you to say Good Morning, Good Evening or Good Night when you enter a room. I said Good Morning when I stepped unto an elevator in Toronto, and everyone looked surprised.

Customer Service - Jamaicans like to argue back. Be happy if you are treated with the attitude "the customer is always right".

Punctuality - Businesses open on time, events begin on time, the bus runs on time. Our laid back concept of "Jamaica time" makes us a bit late in most things we do. Many of us try, but not many of us succeed in being punctual!

Paramedic Service - There is no state run paramedic service in Jamaica. A few private ambulance services exist. For the most part, if you have a medical emergency, you need to find someone to take you to the hospital or to a doctor. Surprisingly for me, waiting time in hospital emergency rooms seems to be even longer in Toronto than in Jamaica, where it can be many hours before you receive treatment.

I was also surprised that we had our car window smashed and items stolen out of the car while we were at a wedding reception. The Canadians weren't at all surprised. I think maybe they're better at covering up their secrets than we are, as every crime in
Jamaica seems to make the international news!

Overall it struck me that the society is very ordered and that apart from the cold (I had to sleep in socks, under a comforter, in July!), everyday existence seems a lot easier than it is in Jamaica. A little too easy, maybe. Some of the inconveniences I heard people complaining about were very trivial in comparison with the reality of third world living.

Maybe it's a question of balance - that those who have life relatively easy shouldn't expect to have wonderful weather as well? And those of us who have warmth and sunshine need some hardships to keep us grounded.

However you look at it, Jamaica is a very enjoyable experience, and after two weeks of fun, order and temperate weather, I was dying to come home.

So when you travel to Jamaica, expect warmth, music, fun and beauty, with a dash of disorder.

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