Hey FlorKubana, this is another wonderful TH-cam video. You absolutely captured some critical cultural matters. Yeah the red ink one is an unspoken, but real, one.
Lady ur a great story teller . Jamaicans need to remember what a beautiful and amazing country they have despite all the challenges and problems she faces .
Regarding the personal affection, it’s a Latin thing. If the English did not take Jamaica away from Spain, Jamaicans would be doing the same thing. But, with the tight ass Anglican culture of England, public affection was a no no. 🇯🇲🇺🇸
Another excellent video, Flor.😘❤️ The lack of open expressions of affection is 100% a result of our British colonial experience. You have to remember that for over 300 years Jamaica was a British colony. The British are not known for being particularly warm and loving, and that part of their culture was instilled into Jamaica and (unfortunately) exists to this day. Keep up the great work. Love you, Flor🥰💕❤️🇨🇺🇯🇲
@Grenadiar. Don't believe it's because of the British culture rubbing off, the ethnic make up of most Jamaicans are different, do you see Africans hugging and kissing in the streets in general, no, hence their conservativity.
Hi Flor. I am cuban and I live in Jamaica too but I only been here fir the past 4 years despite that I have been visiting Jamaica since 2008. Your video today is a clear example of how much differences in culture can affect or shocking and for me the coldness in the relationship (I am talking about any kind of relationship not just love) is what shocked me most and, of course, is what makes me feel lonely most of the time..
I can imagine 😢 when I heard my husband and his sister calling my mixer in-law by her name and not mami 😮 I was shocked to the core and to see someone you are so happy to see and don’t kiss them is just weird 😂 it took me years but I comply
Jamaica is a Christian country and go the bible way, all those lovey dovey passionate love goes behind close doors, just like you won't see a Muslim do it or a Muslim woman should never shows any party her skin to the public but only her husband.
@Florkubana majority Jamaicans calls their mom mammy, mummy, mommy or ma, only a handful would called them by their names. Most mom will considers it disrespectful while a handful will be okay with it
I worked with many people from Spanish countries and your personality is so down to earth jovial and magnetic.. I’m a huge fan . Keep those videos coming! 🇯🇲 living in Florida!
Sir P did say that Jamaica is not the poorest country in the world and I’ve always believed that contrary to the myth. This great story further dispels that myth. Keep the great content coming 🙌🏾🙌🏾
I even made a TikTok about it saying Jamaica is a rich country but ppl equate rich to cash and forget about rivers, trees, fertile land, world map position, weather, rainfall and the list goes on and on
Hey Flor..toda energia no es lo mismo. El entendimiento y madurez es un processo. Tu tienes Luz. You are not wothless, and do not accept or feel that way based on the commentary of others. Your worth was gifted to you by the Higher one!
Flor I just love your videos so much. I just shared it wid waa whole heep a people.. ❤❤❤❤. If you gone viral.. a me do it😂 Keep up di good work my girl. Love from Florida
I am an elder Jamaican and I enjoy your video. Jamaica is embedded with very strong Prim and proper British culture'.We had Latrines (out house)which was always a good distance away form the house , had a very deep pit in the ground .that pit was extremely deep so you could not smell the sewage and the newspaper was used, i would get constipated because I did not want to be seen going to the toilet then came the flush toilet tank. over head .
It was not until the early 60s most homes in Jamaica had indoor plumbing & pit latrines were places to dump. We also used news paper as you did in Cuba. During Michael Manley's time Jamaica (70s) experienced a shortage of toilet paper. A spokesperson (lady) from the Ministry of Mobilization reminded us that we complained too much & should resort to using news paper as we did in the past among other backward suggestions. Pit latrines are still in use in rural Jamaica, but the paper was placed in the pit instead of a basket. In the early days Sunday dinner was Chicken, rice & peas and yellow yam or sweet potatoes with cabbage or mixed vegies. Jamaicans inherited private show of affection from the British. Sad to say not many Jamaican folks from the 50s-70s are able to remember their parents kissing & hugging them as children. A show of physical affection was not normal practice as they thought their affection was demonstrated by works, caring & nurturing. Cuba was our savior during the 70s as Jamaica could only afford inexpensive imports. Long life milk among other edible products were imported from Cuba.
Wow thank you so much for sharing so much history with us. I am glad you mentioned the period (70’s) I wish I could say the same about Cuba today. But back in the 70’s early 80’s we had a lot of everything thanks to the USSR I Had no idea it was so much that we could share with Jamaica.
Cuba and Jamaica have always had a close relationship. My grandfather worked there most of his life. We got schools from Cuba in the 70s, and we have always sourced some of our Spanish teachers and medical doctors from them and gotten scholarships as well. The food not so much it was from other Spanish speaking countries like Columbia, and I remembered those Russian sardines that came in a round tin, not Cuban. The food shortage was caused by a mixture of issues both political and economic sabotage. As soon as Manley lost the election we were getting stuff like within a couple days.
I'm shocked at your lifestyle in Cuba. I am presently working with a few Cubans, and they spoke of never having the privilege to eat fish, as the Government would fine them for catching it. Growing up in Jamaica, we had latrines, and we also used newspapers or any that was at our disposal. We were blessed to eat two different types of meats on Sundays and another on Wednesday. Thank you for sharing your way of life, 'back then' with us. I enjoy your stories driving home from work in the mornings. You are intelligent and hilarious at that. All the best, as I look forward to more of your experiences in Jamaica verses Cuba.
Julie make sure to watch this video where I tell you how many months my uncle served in prison for having 2 beef stakes in his bag 😂 Jamaicans are blessed indeed and your Cuban friends don’t tell a lie yet. ❤ thank you so much for watching ❤
Wow! Some of us were spoil. I migrated 45 years ago, and we had a flush toilet and a helper, and every Sunday, we had two meats for dinner. My father was a contractor, and my mom was a seemstrict. I had eight siblings. We also share out food with the neighbors who had nothing to eat. Jamaican are shower crazy, including me. Morning and evening I have to take a shower. All the things you observed about JAns are so true and on point.
Your video is entertaining as well as educational about Cuba. It's facinating to listen to your stories and you describe us very well...very interesting to view us Jamaicans through your eyes ❤
🇯🇲🇯🇲 Flora, my beautiful daffodil and not a daisy. I tried not to blink, heaven knows how much I tried. I enjoy every moment of this posting and looking forward to see episode 2 and possibly 3. Please enlighten us some more of our many blessings, our unwarranted crying and things we need not fix because it nuh brok. The newspaper thing as wipes took me out…..
That's the beauty of Life! You get to travel, make new friends & learn about other Cultures. Some people in Upper St Andrew homes have bathrooms with both a toilet & bidet, while some mainly in the Rural areas of the island still have no indoor plumbing and use a pit latrine, because of poverty. I saw another of your vlogs where you said you did not have any friends in Jamaica and your reasons. Maybe one day in the near future you'll be more open and receptive to having friendships, especially with women. Most Jamaicans are warm and friendly people, but some are not, so over time you'll figure out the ones you can invite into your circle and thereby see how the other half is living. And I know this is going to shock you to hear that some of us shower in the morning & evening before and after work! One Love🎉
Indeed ❤I do look forward to that moment in life where I can cultivate a beautiful friendship. Is funny you mentioned upper StAndrew 😂 that is one of the things that also shocked me and till today my spirit don’t take 😅I just don’t like that side at all
What is wrong with you people???? So inside bathroom is upper St Andrew thing in Jamaica.What is really wrong with you people???Over 80% of Jamaicans have inside plumbing today.Not even Barbados achieved this thus far. It's as if Jamaicans in the comments feel guilty that poverty is being called and Jamaica is not at the helm. JAMAICANS ARE REALLY THE CONSUMMATE "POOR PEOPLE" SMH..DI OOMAN A TELL FI HAR STORY!!
You should absolutely go ahead whenever you feel the urge to display your affection to your husband in public as long as he's comfortable with it...life is too short. Of course nothing extreme.
Flo mi Abuelo vivió en Cuba hace muchos años. Se fue cuando empezó la revolución. Volvió a Jamaica y luego a Panamá. Grandpa used to tell us about the amazingly beautiful Latinas and his exploits which were clearly cleaned up for his Grandchildren. Years later, as a hot blooded young man living in England, I went to Spain to check out the truth of Grandpa’s report. He was right. PDA was every where on display in Spain, where I lived for 6 months. Only in the past 20 years was PDA practiced in the UK and the old folks would frown at it. PDA remains largely tabooed in Jamaica. I’m from the Mountains of Jamaica and I know we used to Tief Piece inna cane field or banana field. We used to bath every morning in the River which ran through our property. Back in the days, like most people, we had a Pit Latrine. Thank you for reminding me about Newspaper, which in turn reminds me of dry banana leaves. Dam the thought of it makes my eyes water. Flo, as a lawyer who identifies as working class, thank you for helping to keep me HUMBLE. I am confident that we will one day!!!!!
Yeah not being able to throw toilet paper in the toilet was a huge culture shock when I moved to Cuba😅. Luckily, I live in an apartment where I’m able to do so.
Jamaica is a very conservative country with very conservative mannerisms due to our British experience being a former British colony..One thing we didn't take from the British..we bathe everyday..British people don't bathe everyday. I suppose things have changed a bit since a lot of Jamaicans live there and good hygiene of our culture rubs off
There is little display of public affection between couples who believe to be in love but the same couples having a disagreements would damage each other in public.it’s a shame.
The stiffness and formality in public is a relic of British influence in Jamaica I think. Appearance is very important. But that also breeds a sort of forced restraint. I prefer the Latin effusiveness. It is more spontaneous and healthy, in my view
@@oscarmarshall5785 we had power 12 hrs of the day we did not open the fridge at ALL only to take out the chicken 🤣. We used to drink room temperature water
YES! We want a part two! No i did not know about the red ink ting, i heard it was just not proper to write in red ink. Yes we used news paper as a child in the 1970's and threw it in a bin as the indoor flush toilet would clog up if newspaper was put in it. Also, i loved seeing your cat (i love black cats) so mi ah beg yu to make a video with your cat(s) please an tanks.
I love and enjoy all your videos. I can definitely understand the culture shock that you experienced. I look forward to part 2. As a Jamaican, I first became aware for the toilet paper issue when I went to the USA on the Work and travel program as a university student. We shared housing and workplaces with students from the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 and OMG they put their toilet paper in the bin, even though they could flush it. Gosh, this gave the bathroom a very nasty smell that stood out at us Jamaicans. 🇯🇲 Also, one time I went to Cozumel in Mexico 🇲🇽 and at the beach attraction they waste baskets in the bathroom had tissue paper and that same nasty smell. I’m now scared to travel to Latin American countries because I don’t know how I’d manage this. I’d have to burn that toilet paper right away. Jamaican people feel a deep sense of belonging to their political parties mi dear. Wearing green and orange can be used to judge you especially during election time. I learned of the red ink being a signs of disrespect in high school, when a teacher made a big deal out of something a student wrote in red ink. Flor, how do you find the following cultural things: - The Taxi system -People lighting fire left, right and centre to burn their trash - The lack of parks and green spaces to just hang out. I enjoyed this video and bwoii aren’t you a great storyteller? ❤
The pda comment made me smile 😊. Im 🇨🇺🇯🇲 and see the difference too. I often have to switch gears with my 🇨🇺 relatives who are much more expressive than my 🇯🇲 relatives. Now, when it comes to carnival season...every 🇯🇲 becomes very 🇨🇺 and there is open pda. 😅
I would love a part 2 & 3. My grandfather worked in Cuba and only came home when he retired so I did not know him very well. I have been to Cuba twice and back then I used to see the Jamaican students traveling there and talk about buying their own toilet seats to take to Cuba. I also recalled on my first visit that there were no seats at the “motel” in the games village where I stayed. I loved the friendliness of the female staff I met and they were very educated some knew a little English.
I am here for it! Why didn't you let the cat speak? She/he was begging to get a word in😁.I know about the toilet paper thing. I used to use the newspaper in my earlier years, and the outhouse. I migrated at age 13th, but when I returned to Jamaica [vaca], I returned to the outhouse and the outdoor shower. I can't tell the last time I had 1 piece of chicken with my meal. Grl, I can't stand pepper [flavor only]. We dn't even show affection to our kids and loved ones. I think the lack of affection goes back to slavery. It's a little different now, but we have a far way to go. We shower twice per day [or bathe at night and wash up in the morning]. Lol [no bra]. I used to remove it simultaneously with my shoes, when I returned home from work. Recently, I had a double mastectomy due to breast cancer, so now I am free [n I dn't feel nuh way]. The political thing is so stupid [orange pants]. Cho. Just stupid! Isn't it amazing how different our cultures are? It's what makes us special. Big you, Flor! See you later. Mi gane help mi nebor with har yard work. Note: I heard on the news this week, Cuba has to ration bread. Yes. We are blessed beyond measure, but many of us are 2 caught up to see it.
What a beautiful comment thank you so much for watching 🤗❤️ the cat is one of 10 in the community we are staying at and she is in heat 😂 bolo de Milo was trying to have his way with her 😂😂😂😂 I wish you much health and strength mucho love
I didn't know that toilet paper was a thing until I work with some Hispanics 😅. As a child, I used outdoor toilet, we raised our own chicken so we had plenty to eat. It was only 2 of us. Btw, when I went to Cuba I did noticed that the beef was cut very small and the food portion was small. I don't like pepper in my food. Jamaicans are not very affection especially not in public. You're right I saw it mostly in Central and South America as well as in the US working with Hispanics. Jamaicans kids are taught very early are hygiene. Jamaican people took their politricks seriously. Teachers used red ink pen to mark wrong bang on your paper😅
No one has a problem with "light" public display of affection in Jamaica; the hand holding and the light kissing, is quite fine. I think it is because Jamaica, for a huge part, is a Christian country, and Christianity is very conservative. I see people holding hands on the road all the time.
Persons who work or live around Cubans observe that they show affection publicly a lot compared to us Jamaican. I observe Cubans greet with a kiss or hugs. Most Jamaicans waves or shaking hands
*Flor, how did your mother in law react to the toilet paper in the bin* I know you have stories on that and other awkward encounters in the early stages living with his parents. If you can tastefully and tactfully share those experiences without offending your extended family, your subbies would like to know😊💙
I would literally die of embarrassment if my partner ever thought of kissing me in public much less try it. Can't stand to see it as i find it distasteful but i guess its because of my upbringing and culture. Culture generally dictate how you behave 😅
People saying the absence of public display of affection is a British thing but I beg to differ because having lived in London for decades I’ve always seen couples “tongue bathing” in public every day. I really don’t know, maybe it’s a plantation thing? This is a great question, really a million dollar question fe real.
It's the era and how the British colonial system treats their slaves and what's expected of them. Jamaicans had no time or enjoyment of public deplay of affection. When you have a strict strangled hold on a people. So that trickled down on how their interact with family, friends, and their own children.
@@Juma2u You are all speaking about its a British thing, forgetting that every ethnicities have their own inate way of socialising. Being treated as slaves did not totally took over the hearts and minds of the individuals. Most people in Jamaica whose relatives were taken there as slaves are of Israelites back ground, and as such would have behaved quite differently from their barbaric masters, even though they built churches on the Island, they were built with for only one reason, and that was to collect the little money the slaves had so they could send it back to England.
Young people doing intimate things in public is a bit different than hugs and pecks on the cheek when greeting a friend hello and goodbye. I was surprised in Jamaica even this is not acceptable. I don't know what England is like now, but I visited in the 80s and noticed a stiffness in social norms. I live in America where there's a melting pot of cultures and you can clearly see how different people are. I've lived in Jamaica and did have to train myself to hold back, even at weddings and funerals. Maybe it is a British thing? Maybe it's an African thing since I know of no African countries that greet each other with a huge or kiss?
As a Jamaican, I’m here to say back in the days, and probably even now, we use newspapers. We wet it first though and threw it in the pit latrine, in the garbage or in the bushes. Trust me, we know that style.
Yes Flor, we don't write with red ink anything that is important, even with official documents we dare not use red ink. In school the teacher only use red ink 2 mark ur work as incorrect, so yes red ink denotes error or not good. Chow.
I am use to the pit latrin and new paper to clean. When I came to America and see all this public display of affection it made me feel uncomfortable and thinking these are disrespectful. Because of growing in up in such culture, I am a bit better now but I still believe some things need to be to be reserved for the bedroom, I don’t need to know or see. Thanks for sharing with us🙏🙏❤❤❤
😂😂😂 hush and America is no wear near Latin America when it comes to that but yeah I understand that’s why I had to learn to read the room well the country and keep the lovey lovey at home 😂 thanks so much for watching ❤
I like that they don't turn away any child from school for any reason: missing button, no shoes etc👏🏽👏🏽. In jamaica they even send ppl home for hairstyles...shame
Opened-toed shoes are accepted at most workplaces (cant even think of where it wouldn't be). I have long toe nails; never worn a closed-toed shoes, and I worked with others from 17-48 years old. And the green and orange clothes thing; these days people really only think about that during elections. I wear any colours I want.
I left Jamaica in 1974 at the age of 13 and during the time in JA we were not allowed to write in red ink in school or write a letter in red ink. Don’t know if that has changed -along with so many other things.
Many Jamaicans are of Cuban ancestry. My sister-in-law, told me, one day she went into het fathers ktchen and heard him speak to her mother in Spanish, her shock, when he told her, her mother was from Cuba.
@@Florkubana i have a frend, also from jamaica, lived in barbican and her father is also from Cuba, and was left in jamaica as a boy. I dont know all the full details.
The use of paper (or bush TBH) was pretty common in rural Jamaica as pit toilets (latrines) or squatting in the bushes was the way to go. Writing in red in in that sense was taught to us as insulting. We mostly use it to highlight things or used for warnings or FYI when it's important that someone notes something No PDA goes back as far as slavery where forming attachments to persons was discouraged as slaves were treated like any other animal on the farm, you have children, they were taken away and sold to other farms as soon as they can be taken off the breast, girlfriend's, husband's, wives etc could be fleeting at best. Here today, gone tomorrow. Most of it is PTSD. It will take centuries and generations to recover.
I used to live in the country side of Jamaica (Linstead). We used toilet paper and flush it but sometimes when I run around in the wilderness I would just do my business in a bush and used the leaves to wipe myself. I also lived in Spanish Town and we didn't have flushing a toilet. It was just a shed over a deep pit that you do your business in. Now I live in the USA and I became spoiled lol
The last statement, "They don't have any hopes" touch my heart.
Hey FlorKubana, this is another wonderful TH-cam video. You absolutely captured some critical cultural matters. Yeah the red ink one is an unspoken, but real, one.
Lady ur a great story teller . Jamaicans need to remember what a beautiful and amazing country they have despite all the challenges and problems she faces .
Indeed 👏🏾 and stand for it and defend it
Would love a part 2. You are such a great storyteller. You have so much to share. 💙👍🏼
Thank you so much ☺️ I will share more for sure
Regarding the personal affection, it’s a Latin thing. If the English did not take Jamaica away from Spain, Jamaicans would be doing the same thing. But, with the tight ass Anglican culture of England, public affection was a no no. 🇯🇲🇺🇸
Not just Anglo, also Indians, Chinese & Africans display very little public affection.
@@kwacou4279now that you mention it 😮
😂😂😂😂 true the Spaniards love kissing you see 😂
Another excellent video, Flor.😘❤️
The lack of open expressions of affection is 100% a result of our British colonial experience.
You have to remember that for over 300 years Jamaica was a British colony.
The British are not known for being particularly warm and loving, and that part of their culture was instilled into Jamaica and (unfortunately) exists to this day.
Keep up the great work.
Love you, Flor🥰💕❤️🇨🇺🇯🇲
Well said! 🤗❤️ thanks so much for watching ❤
@Grenadiar. Don't believe it's because of the British culture rubbing off, the ethnic make up of most Jamaicans are different, do you see Africans hugging and kissing in the streets in general, no, hence their conservativity.
Yes indeed you are very correct, we take a lot for granted in Jamaica it's so good to be reminded of how fortunate we are❤Mucho Love.
Hi Flor. I am cuban and I live in Jamaica too but I only been here fir the past 4 years despite that I have been visiting Jamaica since 2008.
Your video today is a clear example of how much differences in culture can affect or shocking and for me the coldness in the relationship (I am talking about any kind of relationship not just love) is what shocked me most and, of course, is what makes me feel lonely most of the time..
I can imagine 😢 when I heard my husband and his sister calling my mixer in-law by her name and not mami 😮 I was shocked to the core and to see someone you are so happy to see and don’t kiss them is just weird 😂 it took me years but I comply
It no easy!! Jamaicans are fierce, but hopefully you will find a community that lives and accepts you
Jamaica is a Christian country and go the bible way, all those lovey dovey passionate love goes behind close doors, just like you won't see a Muslim do it or a Muslim woman should never shows any party her skin to the public but only her husband.
@Florkubana majority Jamaicans calls their mom mammy, mummy, mommy or ma, only a handful would called them by their names. Most mom will considers it disrespectful while a handful will be okay with it
@@876mostvaluabletreasure2 Mammy or Ma? Never, that's American.
I worked with many people from Spanish countries and your personality is so down to earth jovial and magnetic..
I’m a huge fan .
Keep those videos coming!
🇯🇲 living in Florida!
Awww thanks so much I lived in FL for a year and I couldn’t wait to move up to GA 😂😂😂😂
I love how Hispanic people in general show affection publicly. Although I’m not a hugger. I love to see it. I think it’s beautiful.
Love ur stories.. yes need more , and ur such a sweet treat
Awww thanks 😊 ❤
I love your videos. 🇯🇲watching from Orlando.
@15:57 Jamaica the daggering country afraid of a little bit of PDA. Really like your videos
Back in the days Jamaica 🇯🇲 went through a period like that,,, Respect 🇯🇲💐🔥🔥
Today today Cuba ah go trough that 😢
Newspaper in latrine. No one I know of in Jamaica threw paper on basket.
I went to the Cayman Islandsthey did the same rhing, paper in the basket!
I LOVE LISTENING 🎧 THIS LADY SO SO MUCH. SHE IS SO CUTE ❤
Sir P did say that Jamaica is not the poorest country in the world and I’ve always believed that contrary to the myth. This great story further dispels that myth.
Keep the great content coming 🙌🏾🙌🏾
It truly is not, but the mindset of some people will make it seem that way, especially the ones with the low aim mentality.
@@Itsthe-jyeshta-ascendanttrue
I even made a TikTok about it saying Jamaica is a rich country but ppl equate rich to cash and forget about rivers, trees, fertile land, world map position, weather, rainfall and the list goes on and on
Thanks For Sharing.
My pleasure
Love your Jamaican culture shock story time. Necesito una parte dos!
Thank you so much I will do a part 2 for sure
❤🌍🇯🇲🙏
Hey Flor..toda energia no es lo mismo. El entendimiento y madurez es un processo. Tu tienes Luz. You are not wothless, and do not accept or feel that way based on the commentary of others. Your worth was gifted to you by the Higher one!
Write a book!!❤
Flo I totally enjoy your content. Keep them coming. You are so authentic with no pretense.
Thanks for sharing Flo. Truly an eye-opener. We really aught to be thankful .
Wow! Thanks for being a mirror of what is Jamaica.
Good morning florita I have a lot of Cuba friends they are loving people i need to hear more of your family life in Jamaica one love stay bless
Big up 🤗❤️ sure thing! Nice you have Cuban friends
Hi flor mi love the story back in the day newspaper was our toilet paper out door toilet i would listen to you talking all day
Remember to live your life don't let culture or people restrict you. You have one life to live.
Flor I just love your videos so much. I just shared it wid waa whole heep a people.. ❤❤❤❤. If you gone viral.. a me do it😂
Keep up di good work my girl. Love from Florida
❤Amen..Love your video..in Ja yo hartical
Yes, back in the day we used out door pit toilets. Nice memories!
I grew up in the country, Portland to be exact. We use newspapers also and we had outdoor toilet pit. 😂😂 do not new to me 😊
❤
I heard 😅 except this was and still is in 2024 😂
@@Florkubana It's was normal thing as kids, as we had an outdoor toilet, and indoor flush toilet.
Banana trash. Wipebaxite old cloth wipe baxite old cloth for pad
I'm new here, enjoyed your story and interested in part 2. Bless you and your new home.
I am an elder Jamaican and I enjoy your video. Jamaica is embedded with very strong Prim and proper British culture'.We had Latrines (out house)which was always a good distance away form the house , had a very deep pit in the ground .that pit was extremely deep so you could not smell the sewage and the newspaper was used, i would get constipated because I did not want to be seen going to the toilet then came the flush toilet tank. over head .
I’m enjoying your videos, and yes I would love a part 2
Yay! Thank you!❤
It was not until the early 60s most homes in Jamaica had indoor plumbing & pit latrines were places to dump. We also used news paper as you did in Cuba. During Michael Manley's time Jamaica (70s) experienced a shortage of toilet paper. A spokesperson (lady) from the Ministry of Mobilization reminded us that we complained too much & should resort to using news paper as we did in the past among other backward suggestions. Pit latrines are still in use in rural Jamaica, but the paper was placed in the pit instead of a basket. In the early days Sunday dinner was Chicken, rice & peas and yellow yam or sweet potatoes with cabbage or mixed vegies. Jamaicans inherited private show of affection from the British. Sad to say not many Jamaican folks from the 50s-70s are able to remember their parents kissing & hugging them as children. A show of physical affection was not normal practice as they thought their affection was demonstrated by works, caring & nurturing. Cuba was our savior during the 70s as Jamaica could only afford inexpensive imports. Long life milk among other edible products were imported from Cuba.
Wow thank you so much for sharing so much history with us. I am glad you mentioned the period (70’s) I wish I could say the same about Cuba today. But back in the 70’s early 80’s we had a lot of everything thanks to the USSR I Had no idea it was so much that we could share with Jamaica.
Cuba and Jamaica have always had a close relationship. My grandfather worked there most of his life. We got schools from Cuba in the 70s, and we have always sourced some of our Spanish teachers and medical doctors from them and gotten scholarships as well. The food not so much it was from other Spanish speaking countries like Columbia, and I remembered those Russian sardines that came in a round tin, not Cuban.
The food shortage was caused by a mixture of issues both political and economic sabotage. As soon as Manley lost the election we were getting stuff like within a couple days.
She won't out do a Jamaican with poverty.😂😂Yall obsessed with suffering.The lady telling her story .smh
I'm shocked at your lifestyle in Cuba. I am presently working with a few Cubans, and they spoke of never having the privilege to eat fish, as the Government would fine them for catching it. Growing up in Jamaica, we had latrines, and we also used newspapers or any that was at our disposal. We were blessed to eat two different types of meats on Sundays and another on Wednesday. Thank you for sharing your way of life, 'back then' with us. I enjoy your stories driving home from work in the mornings. You are intelligent and hilarious at that. All the best, as I look forward to more of your experiences in Jamaica verses Cuba.
Julie make sure to watch this video where I tell you how many months my uncle served in prison for having 2 beef stakes in his bag 😂 Jamaicans are blessed indeed and your Cuban friends don’t tell a lie yet. ❤ thank you so much for watching ❤
Rural Jamaicans had pit toilets also
Wow! Some of us were spoil. I migrated 45 years ago, and we had a flush toilet and a helper, and every Sunday, we had two meats for dinner. My father was a contractor, and my mom was a seemstrict. I had eight siblings. We also share out food with the neighbors who had nothing to eat. Jamaican are shower crazy, including me. Morning and evening I have to take a shower. All the things you observed about JAns are so true and on point.
Your video is entertaining as well as educational about Cuba. It's facinating to listen to your stories and you describe us very well...very interesting to view us Jamaicans through your eyes ❤
Part 2 pls😊
The lack of affection was inherited from the colonization from England.
Makes sense 😂
I am just started watching you. Your so sweet
I was told not to use red ink because it's reserved for teachers to mark work, tests etc
🇯🇲🇯🇲 Flora, my beautiful daffodil and not a daisy.
I tried not to blink, heaven knows how much I tried.
I enjoy every moment of this posting and looking forward to see episode 2 and possibly 3.
Please enlighten us some more of our many blessings, our unwarranted crying and things we need not fix because it nuh brok.
The newspaper thing as wipes took me out…..
That's the beauty of Life! You get to travel, make new friends & learn about other Cultures. Some people in Upper St Andrew homes have bathrooms with both a toilet & bidet, while some mainly in the Rural areas of the island still have no indoor plumbing and use a pit latrine, because of poverty. I saw another of your vlogs where you said you did not have any friends in Jamaica and your reasons. Maybe one day in the near future you'll be more open and receptive to having friendships, especially with women. Most Jamaicans are warm and friendly people, but some are not, so over time you'll figure out the ones you can invite into your circle and thereby see how the other half is living. And I know this is going to shock you to hear that some of us shower in the morning & evening before and after work! One Love🎉
Indeed ❤I do look forward to that moment in life where I can cultivate a beautiful friendship. Is funny you mentioned upper StAndrew 😂 that is one of the things that also shocked me and till today my spirit don’t take 😅I just don’t like that side at all
What is wrong with you people???? So inside bathroom is upper St Andrew thing in Jamaica.What is really wrong with you people???Over 80% of Jamaicans have inside plumbing today.Not even Barbados achieved this thus far. It's as if Jamaicans in the comments feel guilty that poverty is being called and Jamaica is not at the helm.
JAMAICANS ARE REALLY THE CONSUMMATE "POOR PEOPLE" SMH..DI OOMAN A TELL FI HAR STORY!!
I love your storytelling sessions ❤
I am so happy yo see yo I are imparting your life experiences with the restof the world and not sugar coating gb an y of it, I see you as a Cubaican
that is my demonym :) Cubmaican lol
People use news paper here in jamaica too, when I was broke growing up, might not be so prevalent bit it does happen
Smh, Jamaicans love being the poorest ,relax!! The average Jamaican didn't use news paper.JAMAICANS ARE OBSESSED WITH ,POVERTY,HAITI AND AFRICA.SMH
It's the norm in Cuba.
Hola having my morning Matha plus am off today..I love it Lol .cultural experience..keep on bringing the good vibes ✨️
People in Jamaica did the news paper thing too but late 60s early 70s too but it changed after a while.
Love your videos, Flo. I need a part 3.
You should absolutely go ahead whenever you feel the urge to display your affection to your husband in public as long as he's comfortable with it...life is too short. Of course nothing extreme.
Incredibly appreciative of my life in 🇯🇲.
Alot of what u mentioned we also experienced but some stuff was just whoa 😮
your Cuban culture made you a good wife!!
Flo mi Abuelo vivió en Cuba hace muchos años. Se fue cuando empezó la revolución. Volvió a Jamaica y luego a Panamá. Grandpa used to tell us about the amazingly beautiful Latinas and his exploits which were clearly cleaned up for his Grandchildren. Years later, as a hot blooded young man living in England, I went to Spain to check out the truth of Grandpa’s report. He was right. PDA was every where on display in Spain, where I lived for 6 months. Only in the past 20 years was PDA practiced in the UK and the old folks would frown at it. PDA remains largely tabooed in Jamaica. I’m from the Mountains of Jamaica and I know we used to Tief Piece inna cane field or banana field. We used to bath every morning in the River which ran through our property. Back in the days, like most people, we had a Pit Latrine. Thank you for reminding me about Newspaper, which in turn reminds me of dry banana leaves. Dam the thought of it makes my eyes water. Flo, as a lawyer who identifies as working class, thank you for helping to keep me HUMBLE. I am confident that we will one day!!!!!
Yeah not being able to throw toilet paper in the toilet was a huge culture shock when I moved to Cuba😅. Luckily, I live in an apartment where I’m able to do so.
Lucky indeed
I was taught in school in the 80s that it’s an insult to write to someone in red ink ..
Yes, was told it was like you were angry or screaming at them.
Yes! Never
No way 😮 😂😂😂 it was part of the curriculum 😂😂😂
@@girlyespodcastandcommunitysame like writing in all caps now 😂
Wow, thanks for sharing. I visited JA on exchange as a college student. The closest I've come to Cuba so far is Miami, FL.
Was told, writing a letter in red ink was bad manners/insulting
Green too..if ur doing business
Green is the official ink
for auditors
Jamaica is a very conservative country with very conservative mannerisms due to our British experience being a former British colony..One thing we didn't take from the British..we bathe everyday..British people don't bathe everyday. I suppose things have changed a bit since a lot of Jamaicans live there and good hygiene of our culture rubs off
Oh good thing it was not a prank 😂 cus I stopped using red ink 😂
@@buttyscott1😂😂😂😂 well that color is harder to come by in ink 😂
There is little display of public affection between couples who believe to be in love but the same couples having a disagreements would damage each other in public.it’s a shame.
Hi: Did you hear about the Jamaican Prime Minister's visit to Cuba in 1975 and did you see the video of The Rolling Stones concert in Cuba in 2016.
Respect 🇯🇲💐🔥🔥🔥
The stiffness and formality in public is a relic of British influence in Jamaica I think. Appearance is very important. But that also breeds a sort of forced restraint. I prefer the Latin effusiveness. It is more spontaneous and healthy, in my view
Indeed, much more nicer
Love you!🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷
I had to do that a number of times in jamaica
That exactly happens to my husband and me and the toilet paper 😂😂😂😂 he was in shock when I was looking for the bucket 😂😂😂😂
Well how do you preserve the one chicken that long without a refrigerator
@@oscarmarshall5785 we had power 12 hrs of the day we did not open the fridge at ALL only to take out the chicken 🤣. We used to drink room temperature water
i have never had one piece of chicken..omg..never even thought about it!!
You have been blessed with abundance 👏🏾
More stories please 😂
Phone directory... when I came back, I did the same bin thing 😂😅
That too but many ppl did not have house phone 😂
YES! We want a part two! No i did not know about the red ink ting, i heard it was just not proper to write in red ink. Yes we used news paper as a child in the 1970's and threw it in a bin as the indoor flush toilet would clog up if newspaper was put in it. Also, i loved seeing your cat (i love black cats) so mi ah beg yu to make a video with your cat(s) please an tanks.
I love and enjoy all your videos. I can definitely understand the culture shock that you experienced. I look forward to part 2.
As a Jamaican, I first became aware for the toilet paper issue when I went to the USA on the Work and travel program as a university student. We shared housing and workplaces with students from the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 and OMG they put their toilet paper in the bin, even though they could flush it. Gosh, this gave the bathroom a very nasty smell that stood out at us Jamaicans. 🇯🇲 Also, one time I went to Cozumel in Mexico 🇲🇽 and at the beach attraction they waste baskets in the bathroom had tissue paper and that same nasty smell. I’m now scared to travel to Latin American countries because I don’t know how I’d manage this. I’d have to burn that toilet paper right away.
Jamaican people feel a deep sense of belonging to their political parties mi dear. Wearing green and orange can be used to judge you especially during election time.
I learned of the red ink being a signs of disrespect in high school, when a teacher made a big deal out of something a student wrote in red ink.
Flor, how do you find the following cultural things:
- The Taxi system
-People lighting fire left, right and centre to burn their trash
- The lack of parks and green spaces to just hang out.
I enjoyed this video and bwoii aren’t you a great storyteller? ❤
The pda comment made me smile 😊. Im 🇨🇺🇯🇲 and see the difference too. I often have to switch gears with my 🇨🇺 relatives who are much more expressive than my 🇯🇲 relatives. Now, when it comes to carnival season...every 🇯🇲 becomes very 🇨🇺 and there is open pda. 😅
Same with my husband he hugs and kisses my parents but his 🇯🇲 mom has a hard time accepting hugs from him 😂 go figure
I would love a part 2 & 3. My grandfather worked in Cuba and only came home when he retired so I did not know him very well. I have been to Cuba twice and back then I used to see the Jamaican students traveling there and talk about buying their own toilet seats to take to Cuba. I also recalled on my first visit that there were no seats at the “motel” in the games village where I stayed. I loved the friendliness of the female staff I met and they were very educated some knew a little English.
PNP Flor with the orange pants😂 POWA POWA! JLP would be SHOWA SHOWA.
I am here for it! Why didn't you let the cat speak? She/he was begging to get a word in😁.I know about the toilet paper thing. I used to use the newspaper in my earlier years, and the outhouse. I migrated at age 13th, but when I returned to Jamaica [vaca], I returned to the outhouse and the outdoor shower. I can't tell the last time I had 1 piece of chicken with my meal. Grl, I can't stand pepper [flavor only].
We dn't even show affection to our kids and loved ones. I think the lack of affection goes back to slavery. It's a little different now, but we have a far way to go. We shower twice per day [or bathe at night and wash up in the morning]. Lol [no bra]. I used to remove it simultaneously with my shoes, when I returned home from work. Recently, I had a double mastectomy due to breast cancer, so now I am free [n I dn't feel nuh way].
The political thing is so stupid [orange pants]. Cho. Just stupid!
Isn't it amazing how different our cultures are? It's what makes us special. Big you, Flor! See you later. Mi gane help mi nebor with har yard work.
Note: I heard on the news this week, Cuba has to ration bread. Yes. We are blessed beyond measure, but many of us are 2 caught up to see it.
What a beautiful comment thank you so much for watching 🤗❤️ the cat is one of 10 in the community we are staying at and she is in heat 😂 bolo de Milo was trying to have his way with her 😂😂😂😂 I wish you much health and strength mucho love
Red ink..insulting they said
I didn't know that toilet paper was a thing until I work with some Hispanics 😅. As a child, I used outdoor toilet, we raised our own chicken so we had plenty to eat. It was only 2 of us. Btw, when I went to Cuba I did noticed that the beef was cut very small and the food portion was small. I don't like pepper in my food. Jamaicans are not very affection especially not in public. You're right I saw it mostly in Central and South America as well as in the US working with Hispanics. Jamaicans kids are taught very early are hygiene. Jamaican people took their politricks seriously. Teachers used red ink pen to mark wrong bang on your paper😅
Also in Jamaica it's normal to have a nurse take care of your elderly relatives and it's normal for doctors to have home visit to
Boy we did have such privilege in a JA and neva realize it!!!
No one has a problem with "light" public display of affection in Jamaica; the hand holding and the light kissing, is quite fine. I think it is because Jamaica, for a huge part, is a Christian country, and Christianity is very conservative. I see people holding hands on the road all the time.
Light very light 😂
@@Florkubana You live uptown so am sure the affection is there
Persons who work or live around Cubans observe that they show affection publicly a lot compared to us Jamaican. I observe Cubans greet with a kiss or hugs. Most Jamaicans waves or shaking hands
@@carolfarquharson-smith3650 my husband had a really hard adjusting to me kissing everyone 😂 in Cuba 🇨🇺
Te amo, Florita
Hola , como estas. Te amo . Soy jamaicano viviando en America . Ten un gran dia senora.
😂😂😂 kissie kissie lovie dovie Cuba 😂😂😂
*Flor, how did your mother in law react to the toilet paper in the bin*
I know you have stories on that and other awkward encounters in the early stages living with his parents.
If you can tastefully and tactfully share those experiences without offending your extended family, your subbies would like to know😊💙
I would literally die of embarrassment if my partner ever thought of kissing me in public much less try it. Can't stand to see it as i find it distasteful but i guess its because of my upbringing and culture. Culture generally dictate how you behave 😅
Our differences are all so fascinating especially since Jamaica and Cuba are so close
Hearing about Cuba when I was growing up , so fascinating . Even now it still is. I always hope things change for the better there..@@Florkubana
People saying the absence of public display of affection is a British thing but I beg to differ because having lived in London for decades I’ve always seen couples “tongue bathing” in public every day. I really don’t know, maybe it’s a plantation thing? This is a great question, really a million dollar question fe real.
It's the era and how the British colonial system treats their slaves and what's expected of them. Jamaicans had no time or enjoyment of public deplay of affection. When you have a strict strangled hold on a people. So that trickled down on how their interact with family, friends, and their own children.
@@Juma2u You are all speaking about its a British thing, forgetting that every ethnicities have their own inate way of socialising. Being treated as slaves did not totally took over the hearts and minds of the individuals. Most people in Jamaica whose relatives were taken there as slaves are of Israelites back ground, and as such would have behaved quite differently from their barbaric masters, even though they built churches on the Island, they were built with for only one reason, and that was to collect the little money the slaves had so they could send it back to England.
Young people doing intimate things in public is a bit different than hugs and pecks on the cheek when greeting a friend hello and goodbye. I was surprised in Jamaica even this is not acceptable. I don't know what England is like now, but I visited in the 80s and noticed a stiffness in social norms. I live in America where there's a melting pot of cultures and you can clearly see how different people are. I've lived in Jamaica and did have to train myself to hold back, even at weddings and funerals. Maybe it is a British thing? Maybe it's an African thing since I know of no African countries that greet each other with a huge or kiss?
There are places that have toilet paper issues in the DR Dominican Republic. In some places, you have to put it in the basket.
So I have heard
Up to this day we dont write in red ink teachers use red ink pen to do correction etc
Incredible 😂
As a Jamaican, I’m here to say back in the days, and probably even now, we use newspapers. We wet it first though and threw it in the pit latrine, in the garbage or in the bushes. Trust me, we know that style.
Teacher use red inch a jus a childhood trauma😅😅😅
😂😂😂😂😂 woiiii
Yes Flor, we don't write with red ink anything that is important, even with official documents we dare not use red ink. In school the teacher only use red ink 2 mark ur work as incorrect, so yes red ink denotes error or not good. Chow.
You're the one who are reserving your husband you both have to establish that all people will do is just look at you❤😂
I am use to the pit latrin and new paper to clean. When I came to America and see all this public display of affection it made me feel uncomfortable and thinking these are disrespectful. Because of growing in up in such culture, I am a bit better now but I still believe some things need to be to be reserved for the bedroom, I don’t need to know or see. Thanks for sharing with us🙏🙏❤❤❤
😂😂😂 hush and America is no wear near Latin America when it comes to that but yeah I understand that’s why I had to learn to read the room well the country and keep the lovey lovey at home 😂 thanks so much for watching ❤
I like that they don't turn away any child from school for any reason: missing button, no shoes etc👏🏽👏🏽. In jamaica they even send ppl home for hairstyles...shame
Jamaican culture is very English and proper - that kind of pda is reserved for intimate moments!
So how come they dagger at parties? Asking for a friend.
@@KaydeneJ😂😂😂😂😂 that was the contradiction I faced 😂
@@KaydeneJbecause we grow up hearing "time and place for everything" dem ting deh a did fi di dancehall.
@@KaydeneJbecause we grow up hearing "time and place for everything" dem ting deh a did fi di dancehall.
@@Florkubana 🤣🤣
My girl change is inevitable
Opened-toed shoes are accepted at most workplaces (cant even think of where it wouldn't be). I have long toe nails; never worn a closed-toed shoes, and I worked with others from 17-48 years old. And the green and orange clothes thing; these days people really only think about that during elections. I wear any colours I want.
I might have 1/2 a wing. I’m in transition and plan to go meatless.
I left Jamaica in 1974 at the age of 13 and during the time in JA we were not allowed to write in red ink in school or write a letter in red ink. Don’t know if that has changed -along with so many other things.
There was an eldery lady where I grew up in Jacks Hill who use to cook checken head soup.. it was strange to us..
Many Jamaicans are of Cuban ancestry. My sister-in-law, told me, one day she went into het fathers ktchen and heard him speak to her mother in Spanish, her shock, when he told her, her mother was from Cuba.
😮 that is shocking 😅
@@Florkubana i have a frend, also from jamaica, lived in barbican and her father is also from Cuba, and was left in jamaica as a boy. I dont know all the full details.
@@Florkubana How I start a chicken and goat farm in Cuba? exporting them from Jamaica?
The use of paper (or bush TBH) was pretty common in rural Jamaica as pit toilets (latrines) or squatting in the bushes was the way to go.
Writing in red in in that sense was taught to us as insulting. We mostly use it to highlight things or used for warnings or FYI when it's important that someone notes something
No PDA goes back as far as slavery where forming attachments to persons was discouraged as slaves were treated like any other animal on the farm, you have children, they were taken away and sold to other farms as soon as they can be taken off the breast, girlfriend's, husband's, wives etc could be fleeting at best. Here today, gone tomorrow. Most of it is PTSD. It will take centuries and generations to recover.
" SHIKEN"
I used to live in the country side of Jamaica (Linstead). We used toilet paper and flush it but sometimes when I run around in the wilderness I would just do my business in a bush and used the leaves to wipe myself. I also lived in Spanish Town and we didn't have flushing a toilet. It was just a shed over a deep pit that you do your business in. Now I live in the USA and I became spoiled lol