One of the first things I do once I get back home to Jamaica is take a tour of my parents' yard. This garden, once the torture of my teenage years, as my bothers and I had the chore of raking up the yard and cleaning up the dog pooh, is now the place of rejuvenation.
Living abroad sure does put things into perspective. In Japan, it is rare to see a yard space this size. That made me realize how "RICH" having a yard with fruits and vegetables is. In Jamaica, I can go outside into my parents' yard and pick 2 types of mangoes, oranges, apples, limes, guava, pomegranate, sour sop, sweet sop, sweet potatoes, ackee, star fruit and I now I am probably missing a few.
In Japan, the chances of finding a house with even one fruit bearing tree is rare. There just isn't enough land for that and the culture isn't there either, unless you are a farmer.
Avocado! How could I forget! This avocado isn't your everyday kind either, it is a very rare variation that is huge as well as tasty. In Japan, we have mini avocados maybe 1/3 the size of this and they are imported from Mexico.
Great seeing the dog I bought a few years back. Though I didn't raise Terry, I am glad she is still around and has a son named King to carry the torch. Terry was welcoming, King not so much. I couldn't pat him like I did Terry but that is the type of dog you need in JA, no pet and pampering by strangers.
Interestingly, a Jamaican friend and I had recently had a conversation regarding surviving in Jamaica VS surviving in Japan if you were to ever fall flat. Without a doubt, Jamaica would be the place to be. Now, this is all based on perspective and which part of Jamaica you grew up in but the general consensus is that one would survive better in Jamaica than any foreign country if one were to fall on hard times.
The reason being, there is an abundance of fruits and vegetables, though it may not be in your garden, it may be in a family member's or friend's. What you don't have, I may have and we can trade. If I have a surplus of something, I can give it away and the cycle goes on.
Now, remember I talked about which part of Jamaica you are from being a factor? Well in my opinion, the more rural areas have more of a bond when it comes to taking care of and watching out for one another.( IMO)
A person born in the so called "countryside" can easily make a call to close by relatives or friends and pop by for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Not always the case but it is common. If you grew up in Kingston, this is definitely not the case if you are in the middle to upper class. The first thing, your pride would get the best of you and the relatives wouldn't be as accommodating. But in the so-called garrison communities aka the ghetto, once you live good with people, you will be taken care of. Funny how that works.
Being back at my parents' house brought back a lot of memories. Also made me wonder how the hell house prices got to where they are. Thinking of the future generations, gardens like this will be a rare site in Jamaica in the years to come as most young people won't want a house with a garden (and wont be able to afford them), but will go for a town house or an apartment building for the safety as well as convenience. This is already happening.
I also think Jamaica is starting to go through something that Hawaii has been going through; foreigners buying up real-estate investments for the sake of short term rentals ( Airbnb ), driving up the prices, making housing out of reach for many.
Ah the ackee tree, the national fruit of Jamaica and the key ingredient of the national dish, ackee salt -fish. I can't believe I only had ackee once while in Jamaica, but it was said that the fruit is scarce due to hurricane Beryl that recently passed Jamaica.
Was good to be home, though I did not go to many places with my parents and siblings, my father made a good point: "We don't need to go anywhere, being in each others' company is what really matters. True words, true words.
