La Caribeña: A Jamaican in Mexico

In 2016, medical student Olivia Valentine graduated from Northern Caribbean University with a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology (called Clinical Laboratory Science in the USA and Canada). Though she had plans on studying medicine in Jamaica, life did not allow it to happen the way she envisioned it. She, instead, traveled 2480 km away from JA and ended up in Latin-America.  She currently resides in Mexico and is a member of a club she describes as ‘lauded externally but suffers internally’; she is a 4^th year medical student.

Olivia describes Mexico as a third world country filled with first-world amenities.

“It has the best of both worlds: a tropical climate that promotes the growth of the foods we can find in Jamaica such as plantain and mangoes, and a temperate climate in the northern regions that yield the foods that are not grown back home such as strawberries and peaches.”

She describes the difference of climate, however, as one of the hardest things to get used to.  “I have experienced summers of almost 50 degrees Celsius (unheard of even on the hottest Jamaican days) & a few months later, temperatures of -4 degrees and even snow. Yes, sometimes it snows in Mexico.”

When comparing Mexicans to Jamaicans, she describes them as being just as warm and friendly and always down to party. “Hearing music blaring from a neighbor’s house at random or from passing cars is quite common; and to be honest, it makes me laugh as I think about Jamaicans and our affinity for loud music. Also, like Jamaicans, they love holidays & relax time. Siestas are quite common, and a lot of offices have two-hour lunchtime from 12 to 2 pm and close in the evening at around 6 pm.”

She also admires their resilience, their hardworking nature, and their patriotism. “In that respect, they remind me a lot of Jamaicans. We will do what we must and go where we must to make it.”

She thinks Jamaicans, however, could fully adopt their culture of eating what you grow and growing what you eat. She says, “I don’t think we have fully grasped the concept. Even in the huge Walmart stores here, most of the products on the shelves are Mexican made and produced. In Jamaica, it is the opposite. Jamaican products tend to be the minority in retail and the last option chosen by the populace. If we would adopt the mentality that buying Jamaican will only improve our economy, we would be better off.”

The biggest culture shock —

Other than the English-Spanish adjustment, the biggest culture shock was dealing with extreme curiosity about black people. “It was very common for people to take pictures or try to touch me. Also, the media usually portrays Mexico as looking like a scene from Desperados, so on my first flight here, what I saw was not what I expected. The country is highly industrialized, has great infrastructure and entertainment galore. Big cities like Monterrey, reminded me of Dallas and Orlando.

Lastly, I found the similarities between Reggae, dancehall music and “Reggaetón” very uncanny. I am yet to convince them that they have to thank Jamaica for this genre of music.”

On Jamaicans who’d like to move to Mexico, she says —

Do it! Mexico’s economy is one of the largest economies in the world. Jobs are available, especially for trained professionals, and learning a new language is always a plus. The market for English Language teachers is also booming and teems with opportunities for someone looking to expand their horizons. As it relates to education, it is cheaper and opens the window to many other Latin American countries.

People also must realize that new experiences yield new opportunities. Being here, I’ve learnt a new language, gotten the opportunity to teach English as a Second Language, become a Spanish-English translator, travelled, met people from all over the world and seen things from new perspectives. This is sometimes hard to do when you’re in the same environment all the time. I’ve also become more self-reliant and learned to use my talents and hobbies as earning tools, which really helps when moths begin to make homes in my pockets.

On returning home —

Life has taught me that things don’t always work out the way you plan it, but I truly can’t wait for the end of my studies to get on that first flight back to Jamaica. Mexico has been kind, but it isn’t home.

I’m a Jamaican girl through and through and I love the Jamaican lifestyle as well as being close to friends and family. When I envision my future, I see Jamaica.