Jamaicans are the absolute best. We have this unique ability to be shocked by the inevitable even though we know these things were bound to happen. Here are 6 things that always shock Jamaicans:
1. How fast children grow
“Lawd gosh! Is when yuh get so tall?” or “Mercy! A when di bwoy foot get so big?” Statements like these are used by Jamaican parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends of the family we haven’t seen in a long while. Every Jamaican child is familiar with them because Jamaican adults are always shocked at how fast boys turn into men and how rapidly little girls turn into women.
2.Sudden Rainfall
Now This is something I don’t really understand. Even if the weather reports says rain will fall and dark clouds linger for most of the day, Jamaicans will still be shocked the moment heavily pregant clouds deliver rainfall. “Lawd gosh, look how di rain come dung and wet up mi clothes dem?!” Interestingly this is how Jamaicans behave when they hear that a hurricane is heading our way – we are always shocked when it hits even though we knew of its arrival.
3.How hot the weather is
Jamaica is located in the tropics and has sunshine 365 days a year. Yet hot weather is something that always shocks us. We are always bemoaning heat as if it’s a foreign occurrence. What’s more interesting is that many Jamaicans don’t attribute unbearable heat to global warming. Rather, rising temperatures is often a sign of God’s wrath for mankind’s wickedness.
4.Rising costs of goods and services
Although Jamaicans know we don’t have the best economy, the ever-increasing prices of goods and services always shock us. We know times are hard that that our economy is on life support but when the price of bread increases every week and the price of patty moves from $5 to over $200 within twenty years, I guess shock is the only emotion we can muster.
5.The death of elderly persons
Even if the person dies at the age of 110 and was suffering from 10 different ailments at the time of death, Jamaicans will still be shocked when they hear of the passing of an elderly person. They’ll always be quick to tell you the last time they had a conversation with the deceased and how “hearty” they were.
6. Weight Gain
Why are Jamaicans always shocked when others gain weight? “Lawd geezas! A when you get so fat?!” We do have a lot of carbs in our cuisine so I’m shocked that Jamaicans are always shocked when they see others gaining weight. The funny thing is, the persons who usually comment on your weight gain are usually packing a few pounds themselves.
What are some other things that always shock Jamaicans? Tell us below. Walk good!
