First but foremost, the Jamaican culture is the main culture that influenced who I am today, from the way I speak, how I view certain things, etc. Growing up I identified my ethnic origin as a Canadian-Jamaican, and still do to this day. Being raised in a Jamaican household I grew up being exposed to the Jamaican culture. Jamaica’s official language is English, Patois (which is a type of broken English mixed with African dialect), and Spanish. Growing up the languages that were spoken in the home were English and Patois, My parents spoke these two types of languages in the home which I grew up learning and speaking as well. When it comes to the fashion sense, I didn’t really wear much traditional clothing, maybe because even in Jamaica they didn’t have traditional clothing that was worn. Thinking back, while growing up, I remember every Sunday I wore a church dress with a lace type of socks, and my hair was always braided with clips and beads. The hairstyle was more of a statement piece more than clothing, even in Jamaica hairstyles were worn in many different ways and styles, and clothing attire was more influenced by European fashion. Another aspect of the Jamaican culture that influenced my upbringing is the type of music that I would hear my parents listening to. Although my parents also listen to Americanized music, Jamaican reggae music was also a significant music genre that shaped me. My parents mostly listened to reggae music that was more soft and meaningful as well as upbeat love songs. I guess these small reasons are why I prefer to listen to love songs more than any other music.
Jamaican food also influenced me. In a Jamaican household the women would cook and prepare food, my mother would always cook traditional Jamaican food throughout the week, but especially during the weekends. In the Jamaican culture, they have many traditional dishes. Some of the popular dishes are boiled bananas or roasted breadfruit, sautéed callaloo with salt fish (which is a salted codfish), bread, fried plantains, fried dumplings curry goat, curry chicken, oxtail, corn beef, ackee and saltfish, stewed or roasted beef or chicken, boiled yam or plantains, rice and peas, fried fish, and soups and the list goes on. In the Jamaican culture, there are days of the week that you prepare certain dishes, such on Sundays either fish, ackee n’ saltfish, oxtail, curry goat/chicken, rice and peas, etc. would be made, while during the weekdays chicken and plain rice was often served. In my household, my mother tends to make certain dishes on certain days of the week, during the weekends she tended to make more traditional Jamaican dishes, especially on Sundays.
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Furthermore, Jamaica is an artistic culture, they use many types of art forms through literature, graphic art, music, and dance. I believe that part of the Jamaican culture has influenced me in many ways. Such as the use of literature and creative speeches through proverbs, aphorisms, riddles, and humor. Many Jamaicans use creative forms of speech that can have oneself guessing the meaning of what was said, types of creative phases that Jamaicans might say are “Weh Yuh Deh Pon” which means “what you up to” or “Wah Gwaan” which means “what’s up” or even “Dead Wid Laugh” which this saying is a way to implement to someone that they are ‘very funny’. I sometimes find myself repeating these phases or making up my own. Another art form that influenced me is music, as I referred to before, music was played in my home, especially during the weekends. Reggae and gospel music was the main music that I heard growing up. Jamaicans love music which I can guess is why I have a significant love for music myself and a passion for it.
The Jamaican culture also influenced me through how I view people around me and treat them. In Jamaican etiquette is very important, and politeness and courtesy are highly valued as aspects of being “raised good.” They are expressed through greetings, especially from the young to their elders. A child never “backtalks” to parents or elders. Growing up I learned to respect my elders and parents even my family members and speak using respectful words. To this day I still use these etiquette influences that I learned growing up. More so, religion also is a significant influence as well. Although Jamaicans are religious people, there are beliefs, rituals, and religious practices that Jamaicans follow. Growing up I was raised into these religious traditions, rituals, and practices such as either attending church on a Saturday or Sunday (depending on what type of Christian you were) I went to church on Sundays. For ritual practices, a great example is that every year during Easter Sunday, eating meat wasn’t allowed, we were only allowed to eat fish and vegetation, fruits, and bun and cheese, the cheese that was served during this day was Jamaican hard cheese. Also, my mother made sure to prepare the food a day before because Easter Sunday is basically like a Sabbath day, which is a day you can not work or cook, and only certain foods are eaten that day.
Although the Jamaican culture played a significant influence in my upbringing, the Canadian culture also helped to influence me. Canada is a melting pot of many cultures put into one. I grew up being open to many cultures and foods such as poutine which is a popular Canadian dish that originated in Quebec, hot dogs, and even Indian food. I played popular sports that many other Canadians played such as basketball, soccer, and even hockey. Music being a huge influence in my life, I didn’t only listen to reggae music but also the types of music that Canadians listen to, which is mainly American music such as pop, rock, R&B, ballads, etc. I even find myself saying using Canadian etiquette and sayings such as “Thank you” and “Sorry” a lot more than I should. Although the Jamaican culture basically wears the same fashion as the Canadians, Canada has more than two seasons, so my fashion tends to change throughout the year. But the significant influence that the Canadian culture had on me, is my way of thinking and viewpoint. Canadians are very open-minded people, who believe in equality for all, and peace, which I also believe in too.
In conclusion, Canadian and Jamaican cultures influenced me in many wonderful aspects, I got to experience two cultures and learn different viewpoints, try different foods, and even listen to different music. These simple but life-changing influences made me who I am today.
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