Day 1
One of the first things I noticed when I arrived in Jamaica was the lack of what I would have thought the average Jamaican would look like. There is actually quite a mixture on the island, ranging from native Jamaicans, people with European descent, and even a few Asian people. I was thoroughly surprised by the diversity.
Jamaica's migration patterns have been that the Jamaican population will immigrate to the United States or European countries, due to the job opportunities available and the better standard of living. In the past, the majority of migration to the island of Jamaica was due to the slave labor trade when the Caribbean islands were colonies, and as a result, the population is mainly African and Asian descent.
Recently, the tendency of the Jamaican population to migrate to the United States and European countries has continued, but not at as high of a rate as it has in the past. There has been very little migration to Jamaica recently, but most of the migration comes from other Caribbean Islands such as Haiti and Cuba.There is also a slow but steady flow of Asian immigrants coming to Jamaica and some of the other Caribbean islands. The migration is mainly caused by economic opportunities.
Some positive results of the migration in Jamaica is that the culture is spreading to other countries such as the United States, France, and Spain. Also, Jamaica will be able to be more successful economically due to the ideas flowing in from Asian immigrants and the migrants from other Caribbean islands. On the downside, many of the people who emigrate from Jamaica are unable to find jobs in the areas they move to, and end up stranded in the country. Also, Jamaica is losing its' talented laborers and athletes to other countries where they will be more successful and receive more money.
Day 2
Today I was walking around the streets of Jamaica and was able to witness the cultural aspects. The people go about their days very differently than we would do in the United States.
The political system in Jamaica appears to be a Parliamentary Democracy. There is some corruption in the government, as with all governments, but the people are still very well represented. The people involved in government can be seen on the streets interacting with the people.
Jamaican cuisine is a very interesting mix. The different styles involved in their cuisine come from many different European countries like Spain and France. Jerk spices play a very important role in their cuisine.
There are many different languages spoken in Jamaica. British English is the main written language and is used for oral communication as well. However, many indigenous languages, specifically Jamaican Patois are commonly used and spreading to other Caribbean nations.
VIDEO LINK (Jamaican Cuisine):
Day 3
When I walked around the town today I realized that the general mood of the people was not as upbeat as I would have expected from an independent island nation. After thinking about the situation for a little while, I realized that since Jamaica gained its' independence from British rule, they have struggled politically and economically.
Back in the 1960's, Jamaica gained its' independence from British Rule. The citizens of Kingston celebrated by tipping over the Union Jack. However, there have been very few positive results of Jamaica gaining their independence. In fact, Jamaica may be worse off on their own because Britain was able to keep the country supported. Nowadays, many Jamaicans are feeling that they have accomplished very little since gaining independence. The same situation is true for many Latin American countries since they have gained their independence from British, French, and Spanish rule.
Impact: Jamaica is struggling since gaining their independence from Britain. There is a shortage of natural resources available because of the overuse during colonial times. Also, Jamaica cannot keep its' skilled labor force because there are better opportunities in foreign countries.
Jamaica's economy cannot grow without industrialazation occuring. This is problematic for the government and the people because there is not enough money in Jamaica to start the process of industrialazation. The only way that they will be able to advance is if they get foreign aid from much more wealthy nations such as the United States and Britain. However, the people do not want to owe other nations anything out of fear of going back to colonialism.
Impact: The economy of Jamaica will not be able to keep up with the growing global economy, and the people will struggle to make a living. Jamaica will continue to lose all of its' skilled laborers because of economic opportunities elsewhere. Until, the economy is fixed in Jamaica, the country in general cannot improve.
Day 4
The first factor of Jamaica's social development is the education level and literacy rate. Education is readily available in Jamaica, and is very affordable. The literacy rate of Jamaica is 94.3%, which is one of the best rates in the world. The government has done a great job with providing affordable education to the citizens of Jamaica. Due to the high education levels, the people of Jamaica are able to make a decent living and enter into the skilled labor force.
The next factor of Jamaica's social development is the poverty level in Jamaica. While poverty is an issue in Jamaica, there is also a large sector of succesful people. The GDP per capita in Jamaica is $8727, which is very good compared to the other Caribbean island nations. As a result of the decent GDP per capita, the economy of Jamaica has been steadily growing in recent years, and Jamaica has been successful in the global market.
The final factor of Jamaica's social development is the life expectancy in Jamaica. With a life expectancy of 75.4 years, it is clear that there is an adequate access to medicine and a functioning healthcare sytem in Jamaica. Due to the high life expectancy, the citizens of Jamaica are able to contribute to society for a longer period of time, which will result in a faster growth rate of important economic and social factors.
Day 5
From what I have seen during my tour of Jamaica, everything functions smoothly and successfully. Therefore, I believe that Jamaica is a developed nation. The life expectancy of Jamaica, 75.4 years, is much higher than most of the world, and is a clear sign that the healthcare system is functioning well in Jamaica. The literacy level is a huge indicatior of Jamaica's development. With one of the best literacy rates in the world, 94.3%, it is clear that Jamaica's education system is effective and affordable. Finally, the GDP per capita in Jamaica is not as impressive as you would expect from a developed nation, but it is growing at a good rate. At $8727, the GDP per capita could be improved, but it shows that people who get an education and make the right choices are able to be successful in Jamaica.
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