Whenever I travel I normally stay with friends or family, next to the obvious cost benefits it is always more comforting to stay with somebody who you can relate to about being back home and what life is like nowadays and why we are all planning to revolt against the government (but that's for another post). But this isn't one of my travelling stories, nor is it banter against the current government. Instead this is about something I have always found interesting when abroad and that is the Jamaican Diaspora.

First of all, all the Jamaicans who are abroad all share one thing which can be compared to the chinese, and that is the fact that they are a very tight knit group. In fact the only major difference between Jamaicans and the chinese is that chinese people in essence all stick together and kind of choose a community and just stay there, they essentially form a "China Town" (everywhere there's one) and are normally just an arms length apart. With Jamaicans its different however, there is no "Jamaica Town" we dont normally live that close to each other, however the chances are we know every Jamaican that lives within a 10 mile radius... Its true.

You see (especially in America) meeting a Jamaican is always a joy, because we come from what is easily the best country in the world (yes I said it) and when somebody moves abroad and end up in the cold unfriendly rest of the world that exists out there, its always nice to be in the warmth and kindness of a fellow Jamaican. It is for this reason that the group sticks together closely, normally when a Jamaican sees another Jamaican, it doesn't matter if they never met before or if one is from Portland and the other Westmoreland... The one commonality that will make them become friends is the fact that both of them are from yard!

Dont believe me? I implore you the next time you travel (if you have the time), find a Jamaican restaurant, and sit in there for 2 hours, and tell me the type of customers you see come in and how long they sit and speak to each other. Or here is another experiment you can try go somewhere where you can see a bunch of people who are obviously Jamaicans - This is normally really easy to spot because Jamaicans all seem to give out these signals of their Jamaicanness; either by "chipping two claat"; constantly listening to as much reggae and dancehall as they can find; the Jamaican flag somewhere on their person or on their property (cars are a very popular place); or just their look... even through the thickest accent you can spot a hint of Jamaicanity. However when you meet this group let it be known that you have only recently landed from yard and look at the response you get as people will begin to ask you where you're from and what's new. News about home is precious to the community.

But essentially that is the kind of people we are. We are a very close knit group and we are alwayss there for each other when abroad - Despite not knowing each other from Adam.