TEN THINGS I LEARNED WHILE LIVING ABROAD!

One of the most difficult decisions I have ever made in my life was when I decided to quit my job, and left my little island in search of new experiences.Moving abroad is definitely the BEST and hardest thing I have ever done. The best because it made me more aware of my culture, it made me more confident, more humble, stronger and open minded. The hardest because I am a family oriented person and I missed my family greatly especially my mother.

One thing for sure about moving away and being a part of a completely different culture is that it will change you FOREVER whether it is mentally, physically or emotionally.

Here are ten 10 things I learned while living abroad:

1. “Nuh weh nuh better than yaaaad” (There is no place like home). Whenever you are far away from home; your heart is still stuck back in your own home ( Nuh matter if is a old pop dung fowl coop)

2. You become more aware of your culture. (A swear me never know Jamaican dancehall music was so beautiful!)

3. Anything is possible. This sounds cliché but believe me, moving away teaches you that anything is possible. It’s challenging and it forces you to push your boundaries and really get yourself out there. ( I got lost on a bus for almost two hours; Uber became my best friend) Imagine being held up at gun point just because you look different.

4. Material things are really not that important. When you realize that you have to squeeze your entire life into two suitcases that’s when you understand that having ten pairs of shoe was not really necessary. You will also realize that you have a lot of useless crap that you never ever use. (When mi really tan up and look pon all the rubbish weh me tek mi money buy). Smh

5. The Jamaican Accent is Powerful.  I am a lover of languages and as such, I am always interested in different languages and the different accent that accompanies each, but surprise surprise! Fi wi likkle patwah make people affi tan up an look in awe.  My heart smiles every time I am asked to speak because the accent is too pure or too beautiful. My favorite is when people ask me to say a curse word and of course you are taken aback, because of all the abomination that runs through your mind and you don’t want to be too RUDE, so you gently whisper "BAXIDE" in your purest Jamaican accent.

6. Some people just don’t understand. They could never understand why spice is life (A weh raw chicken ago?)  NOT ALL JAMAICANS KNOW HOW TO DANCE! NOT ALL JAMAICANS SMOKE WEED! And yes we are the nicest, meanest people you will ever meet.

7. It’s all one big roller-coaster. The emotions that present themselves and the things you learn about yourself is beyond what words can explain.  I now have this constant desire to explore and push myself to achieve new things and I love it. I know now that it’s one the best decisions I have ever made.

8. They don’t get it! Some people will just assume that you are running away from something at home. They will never understand why Jamaicans love to hear about other people’s business but don’t like to share their own.  You will explain the same things repeatedly and they will just create a perception and stick with that opinion regardless of your myriad of explanations. "Dem jus nuh get it yah man"

9. It's not always easy, It gets really hard. The food is different, the climate is different, the music is different and everything is foreign. You can’t just go to the beach or go grab some jerk chicken on Friday night , because it doesn’t exist. You miss your nieces’ birthday and you can’t just hit your best friend up to go for beers because you are having work, family or even boyfriend issues. All because you live thousands of miles away. But honestly, moving abroad is a choice, and a choice is all about sacrifice.

10. You will definitely change forever. The whole process of moving away changes you. You become more confident and develop a level of trust within yourself that you will find a way to make things work.You develop habits that you use to cope with all the noise in your head. Before I moved away I wouldn’t have been caught dead wearing one hairstyle more than two months. Not all things change though, you grow to love your friends that stick around to hear about your adventures more. Your love for your family deepens and when you finally see them, it’s like a void inside of you has been filled.

One Love

Shaneika Smith