Hi Everyone,
I, Michael Lettman, would like to share how I've felt about the island of Jamaica.
Jamaica is where my Father's side of the family is from but I was born in America. I went to Jamaica back in 2002 but due to being very young, I had no memory of being on that island, so I could call it my official first time going to Jamaica but with no memory. Which leads to me thinking that Jamaica was just a plain island with trees, small houses, & no big houses.
I've observed Jamaica through one of America's Greatest Game Shows: Wheel of Fortune, from whenever Jamaica is where the contestant is going for winning the Prize Puzzle round. Because of that, I've seen unbelievable areas that looked amazing like beautiful beaches, nice resorts, wonderful waterfalls, & more that I can't describe. Which lead to me questioning my doubts with Jamaica plus my family's been telling how wonderful Jamaica is but I kept on having little doubts about it which was very rude of me. They even showed pictures & videos to me but still had my doubts yet I saw exciting areas of Jamaica from Wheel of Fortune & wished that I could be there to see it with my very own eyes. After seeing a few nice houses in Jamaica (through Wheel of Fortune), I kept on thinking that High-Class people live on one part of Jamaica (where I've seen from Wheel of Fortune) & Middle-Class people live on another part of Jamaica. I also believed that maybe me & others aren't allowed to the high-class area because we can't afford to be there but my family wanted to prove to me that I'm wrong.
My Grandmother Guardian had been planning on trying to take me to Jamaica herself to proof everything to me. She did invite me one time but chose to stay behind due to not wanting to absent from school (due to getting good attendance). I thought she would never manage to take me to Jamaica since I believed it would cost a fortune but I was completely wrong as she did manage to succeed at the end of August 2018.
My family had to go to Jamaica to attend a funeral for my Uncle Junior Noble, & it took a long while but actually managed to go to Jamaica for the first time with memory although it was technically my official second time. At the end, I've learned about how there are different parts of Jamaica (just like there are different parts in America) & I didn't get to see the parts where I've seen from watching Wheel of Fortune. That trip did cleared up most of my doubts (& some of my rudeness) while I was there & it's still a very nice island for everyone including my own family.
Day 1
I haven't been on a plane since 2002 (with no memory), but riding on one (with memory) felt a bit dizzy since we were up in the air but setting foot in Jamaica after getting off the plane really felt new including feeling how hot it is in Jamaica. Arriving at my family's houses was unexpected, their homes really were different then the ones in America. I felt a little uncomfortable being in them but it was probably because I haven't settled in yet (especially since it was just Day 1). I hoped that I will feel OK once I've settled in. With me in Jamaica, my family have their chance to show me everything that I was wrong about as I try to experience Jamaica.
Day 2
I was still trying to settle in & haven't done anything much but I did went to a home of a friend of my Grandmother Guardian plus I did see a few big houses on the way to that home. I did experience seeing houses on hills that were unbelievable, I never would have imagined that you have to walk uphill on rough dirt rocky paths in order to get to those houses. Even though I've seen houses that were a bit small than the big houses I've saw, I'm sure they're still good homes for others even if they are a bit older.
Day 3
It was the day of the Funeral for my Uncle Junior Noble & we all got ready for that big important event. I don't remember much about my Uncle Junior but I've felt a little crestfallen of saying our goodbyes to Uncle Junior. We all hung in there & said our peaceful words to him as he rests in peace. It was a little hard for me to believe that the Prime Minster & his wife were at funeral but my family had to prove it to me. I did got to meet the Prime Minster's wife (thanks to Auntie Celia, who's a Councilor) & it was only for a little while but we talked a little about my Uncle & I got to take a picture with her.
Day 4
We went for a drive & I got to see some nice buildings through the drive, saw a few fast-food restaurants like KFC (which had great chicken), had some good ice cream at Devon House, & saw a nice shopping center that I can't describe but had a good time.
Day 5
I went for a drive with my Auntie Celia, who's a Councilor in Jamaica (had doubts about that too). It was a little unbelievable for me to learn that my aunt had a driver, a chef, & others working with her. Was I impressed with Councilor Celia especially with her knowing the Prime Minster, his wife (who I met at the funeral), & even the Mayor of Jamaica. I also went for a drive to a restaurant that was a bit far from the road (I think we went through a dirt road to get there) but it had good food & I got to learn a bit more about Jamaica.
Day 6
I had some doubts about my Uncle Mark being a soldier in Jamaica Military (even with picture proof) but he took us to a Military Area (Up Park Camp) to show us what his home is like. I got to see a few barracks, a Military Cemetery, & even helicopters. Afterwards we went to Hellshire Beach & it was great though I never got to go in the water but my feet enjoyed it. I got to experience a Military Area & enjoyed cooling down at a great beach.
Day 7
I went to a nice warm pool known as Mineral Bath & I misjudged it a bit but my family clarified for me. Mineral Bath is like nice soothing spring for you to relax in & steady the nerves. It was getting dark but a few of my cousins took me to the High-Class location known as Beverly hills & I did get to see a few big houses in Jamaica after all although it was kinda dark so didn't get better looks at them but I got to understand that there are nice big houses in Jamaica after all then afterwards I got to see Middle-Class houses in Jamaica. I'm impressed to learn that Jamaica has different kinds of homes whether on hills, small, or big.
Day 8
We went to a outside-like market area where I experienced how some people & cars are wedged in the streets. We also went to an inside-like market area that's hard to describe. That market was building-like & had tent-like things on the outside part of the market to shade you from the sun. I would like to give out a big apology to Jamaica for being so rude about it all this time & I hope you would all forgive me as I learned my lesson about Jamaica including it's homes. I've learned how some homes take a long while to be build & if there are others who have to wait until their homes are ready to go then I'm hoping they can be OK. I'm grateful to the Prime Minster's wife for a nice backpack that Auntie Celia gave me. I've managed to learn a little about Jamaica & I'm grateful to my family for it.
Day 9 (Final)
As I said my goodbye to Jamaica & returned home to America, I'm grateful to have seen a little proof about Jamaica that I've been wrong about & now I understand that Jamaica is definitely different than America. I had doubts & been highly rude about that island but I managed to have learned my lesson. If I ever get a chance to return to that island then I'll hope to understand more about the island of Jamaica.
A Few Lessons Learned
After that trip, I've experienced how it is heated on that island from now knowing that Jamaica is one of hottest Caribbean Islands. I've wondered how my family survived being in the heat more than being in cold but I know not everywhere is hot & cold so I'm sure they're used to it since Jamaica is their home. I don't think there's any transit in Jamaica but they do some buses that look a little different than the MTA Buses. I didn't get to see the High-Class areas of Jamaica (that I've seen from Wheel of Fortune) but I don't think that I deserved to anyway from being a selfish jerk the whole time about it during that trip.