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Aaron
Stone
. . . Beach Haven Villa,
December'02
12/24/02 Jamaica Mon!
Before I embarked on my trip, I envisioned what Jamaica would be like. The main thing I thought about was how the physical environment affected a personís lifestyle. Afterwards, I reflected on how the setting had an affect on me. I knew that my visit to Jamaica would be a perfect opportunity to really see and understand how the environment plays a role in peopleís everyday life.
I didnít realize that the landscape at the beach house would be incredibly striking. There were so many magnificent trees and plants surrounding the house. Some of my favorite trees were the mango tree and the tuna cactus. The backyard had a medium size pool that had a couple of potted plants surrounding it. About half of the pool was shaded by the house roof while the other half was exposed to the sun. There were other kinds of contrasts in the backyard. The mango tree was an overpowering force of beauty and protection. It sheltered you from the heat that was towering over Jamaica. A white hammock was tied to the mango tree. The leaves of the tree had many different shades of green.
Occasionally, cats, mongooses and other animals hung around the yard. I remember when I was lying in the hammock; a mongoose was walking right by the tree. I looked over and didnít even know what this animal was. It turned around and looked at me with its beady eyes and then took off running. Another time during the night, I was outside walking around the pool and saw an animal. However, I couldnít identify it because there werenít many lights outside. I stared at it for about five minutes. It just looked at me with interest. It felt like we both had mutual respect for each other. I went inside and looked at the animal through a window. Its eyes were still fixated on me. This animal was very human-like in terms of being observant. It could have been a cat, a dog, or even a mongoose but I never figured it out. That was an experience I will always remember.
Continuing around to the right of the house, you will see a lopsided cactus. The thorns on the cactus were spread out quite evenly. About seven thorns were on each branch along with some small vibrant pink flowers. There were about a hundred branches on this cactus. Some branches seemed darker than others. Overall, the cactus didnít have a nurturing effect, although it had quite a presence. The surrounding grass was short and smooth and gently massaged my feet. This added greatly to the relaxing vibe of Jamaica. The environment placed all of my family into a state of relaxation. My mom got up early and would lie on one of the lounge chairs reading a book. My brother wore a giant smile throughout the vacation, especially when he was lying on an air mattress in the pool. Just looking at the tropical landscape in the backyard amazed all of us, but that was nothing compared to the amazingly stunning beach.
A heavenly beach that contained glistening sand, luscious blue water, and an overlooking gazebo, filled every soul with awe. Crying in Jamaica was rarely heard, especially at the beach. There were never more than thirty people on the beach. Most people just laid on the lounge chairs reading. The waves were a bit choppy due to the frequent breeze that eased the heat. The kids seemed to enjoy the beach the most. You could hear their screams of joy when the light blue waves came thundering down over their heads. These events are unforgettable. Watching the waves form was like a childhood memory waiting to happen. Occasionally, there would be big rough rocks in the water that were almost invisible. This was a downside to the beach. Every step you took, you feared that a rock would be protruding near your foot. It was waiting for you to make a careless error. This is why most people were not in the water.
Walking down the path on the left side of the beach took you to a white gazebo. While on this path, sprinkles of water would come up from the booming waves and tickle you. The view from the gazebo was incredible. You could look out and see the clear water with a few cruise ships passing in the distance. On the left side of the gazebo was a snorkeling beach. It was very isolated. I never saw anyone else there besides my family. This gave us the feeling that the snorkeling beach was there just for us.
After putting on the tight mask and the unbearable flippers, we headed out on an unforgettable journey to the undersea world. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of muscle power and stamina to swim out to the coral. The first ten steps were very irritating since we were stepping on rocks, seashells and other aggravating objects. After those ten grueling steps, paradise awaited us. Looking face down into the water was like looking through a telescope. My belly was only a few inches from the sandy bottom. The sea urchins were quite intimidating with their long white spikes sticking out at us. There were thousands of these creatures. When we were parallel to the gazebo, you saw the most spectacular fish. It was like a fish ghetto. All of the fish would be grouped together and swim amongst us. Some of them were eating some sea grass. We were aliens in their environment.
There were many different types of fish. Some had florescent colors on their sides, while others were polka dotted. However, the one that stood out the most was a fish that I called ìcock-eyed Bubbaî. It seemed to spend most of its time under a small rock. It was more of a recluse perhaps because it looked very abnormal with its greenish black coloring and distinct way of opening its mouth. It looked like an outcast. I really related to this fish the most.
On the way back to shore, the waves would push us the entire way. The waves seemed to say, ìI hope you enjoyed your time hear, thanks for comingî. Once we got to the shore, we threw our flippers and mask to the sand. We left smiling having experienced the beachís many wonders.
One day we took a taxi to visit a town called Falmouth. Falmouth seemed like a very busy but mellow environment. Falmouth had many shops and a huge open air produce market. When I was walking with my family, suddenly, a vendor selling oranges offered me one. My family discouraged me from taking it. I thought he was going to ask me to buy it, and he started peeling it for me. I told him that I had no money, but he said ìfree mon freeî. So I took it and shook his hand. In America, you would never have anyone give something away for free. It is just unheard of. I remember biting into the orange, and it was the juiciest and freshest orange I had ever tasted.
After walking around the town for a few more minutes, I heard three loud shots. I started to run and everyone laughed at me. They said that it was only fire crackers. I explained to them that in America, the majority of people would think it was a gun. They understood, but still kept laughing. Most of the people were shirtless and would joke around. They would ask you to try their goods, and if you didnít, they would still smile at you and not take any offense.
The thing that surprised me the most were the prices. Everything was extraordinarily cheap. Twelve oranges were only a dollar. One pineapple was only a dollar. A water coconut was only a dollar. Everything seemed to be just a dollar. I realized that Jamaicans donít care too much about profit. They just want you to be happy and enjoy their food. In America prices are high, and the food is just mediocre. Falmouth is an experience that any visitor would always remember.
The more I stayed in Jamaica, the less I missed America. In Jamaica, everyone would go up to you and say hi. They will socialize with you and try to get to know you. If you feel uncomfortable, you can just tell them, and they will leave you alone. In contrast, at home, there is a lot of pressure for people to go to great schools, to have a high reputation, and to impress everyone you meet. Jamaica doesnít have this overbearing shield of superficiality. Keeping the landscape clean was of utmost importance in their society. In America, corporations are destroying natural habitats so they can build factories and pollute the country even more. When Iím at home, I tend to spend my time watching TV, going on the computer, and doing other mindless things. Jamaica made me reflect on my life and what I was doing with it. The most important lesson I learned was that the environment can be more influential than material goods.
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