Someone To Talk To

Sarah arrived in Jamaica on 24th April (Our wedding anniversary). It was fantastic to pick her up from the airport in Kingston.

We stayed for two nights in Kingston before heading to Ocha Rios on the north shore of Jamaica.

Apart from anything it has been good to have Sarah here to talk to and listen to about a white westerners view of Jamaica.

Kingston was difficult. We explored Bob Marley's home and had the guided tour. We learnt reggae is as political as it is cultural. Its about a national identity not attributed to any one individual.

There seems to be connections with Bob Marley and my tracing the triangle. His father is from Liverpool and his wife has Ghanaian heritage. Bob Marley was a huge advocate for spiritual, physical and emotional emancipation. Captured in the words of his songs you can hear the pain of servitude tied with the joy of knowing freedom and release.

We were taken downtown in Kingston by a taxi driver who clearly saw us coming and charged us hugely over the odds for the journey. I've been to many places overseas and one of the things people always say is 'Ask how much the taxi journey is before getting in the cab'. On this occasion I didn't and lets just say I learnt my lesson!

The other lesson from Kingston was about what it means to exist in a place where you are a

minority. We stood out like sore thumbs and were shouted at, approached and followed in ways we didn't feel comfortable with but it made us appreciate the reality of what it means for so many people who live in cultures where they feel they are different.

We now have a few days in Ochi to relax, reflect and gather ourselves before heading to Charleston in the US on Wednesday.