Everyday Life
How do the Jamaicans live? Everyday life in Jamaica
What is life like in Jamaica? In any case, it’s always pretty warm. You can walk around outside in a T-shirt and you don’t need a winter jacket here. In autumn, however, there is a risk of hurricanes and floods sometimes occur when it has rained heavily.
Most of the houses in the city are made of stone. In the countryside, many people live in small, one-story, colorfully painted wooden houses. Not all families there have running water either.
The roads are often not in as good a condition as you are probably used to. There are many potholes. The cars drive on the left, that comes from the British. Many people also travel by bus or minibus.
Jamaicans are often described as relaxed and happy people. You like to listen to music. You enjoy doing sports, especially running, cricket and soccer.
Below you can see pictures from everyday life in Jamaica.
Children and School
School in Jamaica
In Jamaica, children go to elementary school for six years. This is followed by a test that determines whether the child can continue to go to school. This is followed by five more years, divided into three plus two years. After another year, the Abitur takes place. It’s called A-Level here like in Great Britain.
All students wear a school uniform. Most of the boys in primary school wear a beige shirt and trousers, while the girls wear a plain dress, for example in green, blue or purple, over a white blouse.
The lessons are in English. The school year starts in September and ends in July – similar to ours. School grades are letters: A is the best grade, with an F you fail.
As a child in Jamaica
There are many poor families in Jamaica, a country located in Caribbean and Central America listed on neovideogames. Then the children are not doing so well either. You don’t have enough to eat or you can’t buy new clothes. Overall, however, Jamaica’s situation has improved in recent years.
There are also children who work. This affects 3 out of 100 children. Compared to other countries that is not that much, but still too much. The children work in markets, as street vendors, in fields, on fishing boats or as domestic servants.
And what are the names of the children in Jamaica? Boys are often called Jayden, Daniel, Joshua, Justin, or Ajani. Girls are often called Gabrielle, Amelia, Tianna, Brianna, or Jada. Most of these names sound British, but Ajani is of African origin. The last names are also very British. The most common surnames are Brown, Williams, Smith, Clarke, Campbell, and Johnson.
Eating in Jamaica
Jamaican cuisine: hot!
Jamaicans like to eat hot and flavorful. A special and typical preparation is called jerk. Meat, mostly from chicken or pork, is put into a spice mixture. But fish or vegetables can also be seasoned with it. The main ingredients of the seasoning are allspice and paprika, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, garlic and ginger can also be added.
The national fruit: Akee
The Akee fruit is originally from West Africa. It is the national fruit of Jamaica. It is bright red and opens into three columns when ripe. The pulp that surrounds the seeds is edible. Jamaicans especially like to eat ackee with saltfish, which is salted and dried cod. This dish is considered a national dish. The fish is fried with boiled Akee, onions, peppers, tomatoes and spices such as allspice. It is eaten for breakfast or dinner and served with it, for example, rice, plantains, dumplings or breadfruit.
Breakfast in Jamaican
Akee with fish can be served for breakfast, but also callalou and dumplings made from flour, bread with jam and citrus fruits. In the picture you can see a breakfast as it was served in Jamaica: Callalou, a leafy vegetable, is on the right in green on the plate. There is also ackee and saltfish (in the middle), bread with jam, citrus fruits and a piece of banana. You also like to eat fruits for dessert or in between meals. Mangoes, bananas, papaya, pineapples, guavas – all of them grow in Jamaica.
