24 December 2008

How do you know you've been in Jamaica to long?

I was in the bank the other day depositing a check and I waited in line two hours. And it didn't bother me too much. I certainly didn't enjoy it, but it didn't really phase me. That's when I knew I have been here quite a long time. Oh no, I have slowed down too much. I have become used to making slow progress. But then again what is progress? Until you live here and experience the lack of productivity you won't realize how inefficient the day can be. I get happy when I can print something without a hiccup. Or receiving/sending a fax without having to follow-up to make sure it went through or that other person had sent the fax. Wait a minute, have I had an instance where I haven't had to follow up a fax? No, don't think so.

I do believe I have become more assimilated with the Jamaican people. More and more people have commented on me "understanding the Jamaican language" or "looking Jamaican". I even was called a "brown man" the other day. (A brown man being a lighter skinned Jamaican.) Some after a while will call you a Jamerican. I haven't gotten this one yet, but I have learned (I think?) how to say "Waa Gwaan" or "Yaa Maan" or "mi de ya" or "mi alright" the correct Jamaican way, and it goes a long way.

2 comments:

Christine said...

No worries Man you have just caught on to the way they roll there. Our favorite line was "time is time"

Christine said...

No worries Man you have just caught on to the way they roll there. Our favorite line was "time is time"