I left America to live my best life in Jamaica: An Expat’s Story

In June 2017, Phelicia Deorrah, was sitting in Atlanta traffic. She was tired, uninspired, and desperately needed a change. She called her sister and told her, “I’m moving to Jamaica.”

Of course, this begs the question, why Jamaica? She says —

It all started when I visited Negril for my 33^rd birthday in February of 2017. It was just 3 weeks after being laid off from my full-time non-profit job in Atlanta; so, I was devastated & I felt extremely anxious about celebrating my pre-planned birthday trip, knowing that I would return to Atlanta jobless and unsure that my minimal unemployment check would help me make ends meet. Although I do not have children, I still lived paycheck to paycheck; so, the stress of finding a job to support myself was overwhelming. Unbeknownst to me, going to Jamaica ended up altering the trajectory of my life. I was mid-flight on my return to the United States when I turned to my sorority sister Beverly and said, “I have to find a way to return to this place.”

Being on the island brought about a sense of freedom and renewal that I’d never experienced before in my life. It was as if Jamaica was calling my name.

During my connecting flight home, I drafted and sent an email to a resort owner in Negril, asking him for a meeting to discuss bartering my art services for lodging. I was tired of the 9-5 life and had a deep longing to do something more. So, I dreamt bigger, took a leap of faith, and started on the path to reinvent my life.

The bartering idea did not work out, but I feel that was the tiny spark that ignited a flame. God was pushing me to dream bigger! So, three months later, instead of bartering, I decided that  I would set down a path to start a business in Jamaica and that’s how Dee’s Tropical Paint Parties was born.

The move wasn’t easy. I lost my job & I had to move in with a sorority sister. Then, in January 2018, I found a better paying job and began saving.  After 12 months, I was packed and ready to go. But, when I finally got to Jamaica, I found the cultural differences and constant patois overwhelming.

I was not daunted. I was determined that this would be the land I settle in. Jamaica was going to be home.

How has it been living in Jamaica so far?

Though I’ve been adapting to the major differences between living in Jamaica and living in the US, I still can’t get over the laid-back personalities of the people and the laid-back vibe of the place. There is absolutely no sense of urgency here (whether in a professional setting or not). This is good though and I’m grateful for the experience because it has showed me just how wired-up I was living in America. And, believe it or not, it has forced me to relax.  Another major difference is, in America, you must follow a chain of command when dealing with business matters.  In Jamaica, it’s all about who you know! It is not a faux pas to just “show up” and speak with a manager or owner of a business without making an appointment.

Next is customer service. In Jamaica (outside of tourism and resort areas), I’ve had to adapt to what I’d previously perceive as “rude” customer service. In the US, we are so politically correct and passive. So much so, that when someone is blunt, it’s considered rude. I’ve come to realize that the people here are not rude per se, they’re just very straightforward. I had to quickly learn to adjust to the directness of Jamaicans.

The language barrier was another thing that I struggled with. Learning the basics of speaking patois is a process and navigating the fact that certain words mean completely different things is another story. For instance, “hush” in Jamaica is an expression of sympathy (even if they say it in a rushed way). So, imagine telling a Jamaican that your stomach hurts and you’re in pain and their response is “HUSH” and they keep talking. That happened to me. Can you imagine my shock (and relief) when I learned that the word “hush” wasn’t intended to be dismissive or tell me to shut up – it actually meant, “I’m sorry”.

Eventually, I figured things out and life became less intimidating.

Most vivid recollection —

Going to a local beach (no tourists) and seeing all black people on a beach for the first time. It is one of those things you never knew you’ve never seen before until you actually see it.

I am happy that I took a chance on myself & I’m thriving. Sometimes I think about what I would be doing if I didn’t take that chance; I’d never know just how happy I’d be and how accomplished I’d feel!

If you could change one thing about Jamaica, what would it be?

The poverty levels. I wish that the rate of poverty wasn’t so high, and I wish that Jamaicans could have an easier path to living a life of financial comfortability. For example, in the US, our poor have a lot of resources available. There are homeless shelters everywhere, domestic violence shelters, programs, free resources – but those things are slim to none here. Also, I’m an empath; so, seeing people work for the minimum wage of 7,000 JMD (or 56 USD) per week affects me more than I anticipated. As a result, I have created a charity called, The Traveler’s Contribution. This helps me to feel that I am contributing instead of coming here and just taking.

Lastly, I’ve been reaffirmed that what you put into the universe; you will get back. I followed my heart to relocate and God has provided for me.

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Top 3 things about living in Jamaica

1. I love going to the beach and I love that I live 5 minutes away from the water. It is interesting to me that a lot of Jamaicans don’t understand why I moved to the island, since a lot of them want to go to the US.  I’ve never lived around water; so, lounging at the beach whenever I feel like it is like an indulgence that I’ve never had before! It’s surreal to know that two years ago on a Tuesday morning, I would be in corporate America getting ready for a staff meeting, but now I can decide to go swimming, eat jackfruit and drink rum at the beach at 10am.
2. The abundance of fruits! It’s so different being able to walk out into my yard and pick mango for breakfast or guinep for a snack. I love discovering the tropical fruits here. So much so, that I started a Tropical Fruit Tasting experience for tourists who visit the island! I give them about 10 fruits to sample and I get to teach them about each one and offer my unique American comparisons and perspectives.
3. The laid-back pace – which is a blessing and a curse. The pace is slower, so that has taught me to slow down in all aspects of my life. I still struggle with it, but it’s been a mental relief to not always be on “go”. The negative part about the laid-back pace is that it’s been a challenge for me to grow accustomed to the lack of urgency when it comes to business and services.

Fun Facts 

• Just because you called the police here, it doesn’t mean they’re coming quickly (if at all).
• There is a strong sense of community here! Neighbors all know one another.
• It’s normal and common to leave your doors wide open so that the breeze can come in.
• There are no carpeted floors.
• There is a huge population of Chinese-Jamaicans (yes, they speak patois).
• There are no open-container laws!
• Jamaicans will burst into song or dance wherever they are. It’s the absolute best.
• Instead of knocking on your front door, people shout your name or shout, “HELLO” over and over until you answer (that takes a lot of getting used to).
• Jamaicans give everyone nicknames. If you are missing a finger, you may be called “Finga”. If you are missing an arm, you may be called “One-y”.
• If a Jamaican man calls you fat , a “strong body gyal” or “stout”, it’s actually a compliment!

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BONUS: Though this blog focused on an American expatriate to Jamaica, I still wanted to share two Jamaicans jaminating in Japan.

Sandie Heron: Author

Sandie is a Jamaican radio personality and author. Her second novel, A Traveller’s Notebook: Stories of a Jamaican’s Journey in Japan, will give an insightful perspective for those who are thinking of making a similar move. It will also prove a great read for those who are curious to learn more about the Japanese culture. You can purchase here.

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Tiffani Byfield: Owner – Tiffani Collections