Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer
SINCE IT was established as the University College of the West Indies in 1948, what is now the University of the West Indies has been a hub for Caribbean integration. At the three campuses (Mona, St. Augustine and Cave Hill), students from the region pursue not only academic studies but take time to share the intricacies of their cultures.
Several noted figures attended the Mona campus in St. Andrew, including Prime Ministers, Owen Arthur and Ralph Gonsalves of Barbados and St. Vincent and The Grenadines, respectively, and the Guyanese historian Walter Rodney.
There are still many students from the Eastern Caribbean at Mona. Last week, The Gleaner spoke to five of them to get a feel of how they perceive Jamaicans and Jamaican culture based on the experience they have had while studying here. Is there anything in particular that fascinates you? Any likes/dislikes? Have you observed any major cultural differences between Jamaica and your country?
Mark Daniels, 21, Bahamas, Biotechnology and Botany
"I appreciate how Jamaican culture recognises its African heritage in some respects. Generally, I like the people, the music, the food and overall good vibes here. The landscape, such as the mountains and rivers, is great and also the females. However, I don't like the violence, and the segregation between classes."
Deon Ford, 24, Belize, Medical Science
"What I found most surprising when I first got here was the openness of marijuana use - it was a shock for me. Besides the women, I admire the high level of black pride. Here most things are black-oriented, which is quite different from the situation in Central and North America where few things are black-oriented and blacks have to fight for everything. The level of crime and violence against women and children in particular, is very disappointing."
Bianca Lutchman, 19, Trinidad, Physiotherapy
"I quickly learnt that people here are a lot more aggressive than those back home (Trinidad). I don't like how some Jamaicans handle their issues in a violent manner, which does not solve anything. At home, I am accustomed to seeing people worship under a variety of religions, but here it is all about Christianity. Here followers of Hinduism are just a minority, where they are a majority in Trinidad."
Leianne Forde, 19, Barbados, Actuarial Science
So far, I haven't ventured much outside of the campus, so most of my experience is with campus life. I have observed that everything here is so fast-paced and rush-rush. The people are much more aggressive that what I am accustomed to. In Barbados there is virtually no terrain, just blue skies all around, but here there actually are hills and mountains, which are nice to look at."
Pryah Griffith, 20, Barbados, Medical Science
"I like that everything is cheaper than back at home - it is much more affordable. The music and the dances are great, but I notice that at the parties, everyone does the same thing in sync. In Barbados, the clubs play many different types of music and each person does their "own thing", the music here is only dancehall, very little soca notably, and everyone dances in line. The food is also lacking in variety. Everyday people have rice and peas and chicken. What I found shocking was the "ghetto fabulous" dress of many of the people. Some of the guys look very strange because of how they dress."
