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 Jamaica: A Family Vacation Idea - Meet-the-People.  Jamaica KidsWhat many families love most about Jamaica is the warmth of our people. Which is why visitors are invited to join “Meet-the-People,” a program made possible by the generosity of Jamaicans eager to share the sounds and sights of their island paradise.  

An Enriching Experience of Hospitality. What better way to experience the culture of a nation than through its people? For travelers seeking insight into the Jamaican experience and the warm welcome of a Jamaican friend, the island's Meet-the-People program provides an ideal option, taking them way beyond the traditional resort and beach setting into the colorful realm of Jamaica's lifestyle, tradition and culture. The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has re-launched this popular program, originally introduced in 1968, reaching out to visitors curious to explore the culture of this vibrant Caribbean island.

Connecting interests.  Visitors wishing to take part in the Meet-the-People program are teamed up with Jamaican hosts or volunteers who share a common profession, hobby or interest. In true Jamaican fashion, these volunteers offer a hand of friendship and hospitality to visitors who genuinely want to know Jamaicans and the Jamaican way of life.

Meet-the-People allows the visitor to meet a Jamaican who can enhance enjoyment of the real Jamaica. Guests may get to meet a family, get to know a fellow musician, businessman, photographer, nurse, teacher or artist, or participate in a wide range of activities, such as hiking, shopping at a local craft market, enjoying a simple Jamaican meal, visiting a church, a clubhouse or theater, touring the countryside or even accompanying the host on daily errands.

Whatever the focus, these outings are uniquely Jamaican, providing an island experience that only locals can create and a pathway to the unique aspects of Jamaica's rich endearing heritage in people, culture, music, cuisine and natural landscape.

Unforgettable experiences of Jamaica continue to linger through Meet-the-People encounters. In March 1976, the Jamaica Tourist Board adopted the forget-me-not flower as the symbol of the program. The flower grows wild all over Jamaica, especially in the cooler areas, producing white, pink, or blue blossoms. It was selected to reinforce the significance of the people-to-people contact, after which each person can truly say to the other, "It was a wonderful time of togetherness. Forget me not."

International Friendships Blossom. Deputy Director of Tourism - Marketing - David Shields is enthusiastic about the Meet-the-People revitalization. "This is an excellent way for our visitors to explore Jamaican culture," he commented, "and can be very rewarding for visitors and hosts alike. In many cases, the friendships that have grown out of these social gatherings have flourished for decades and led to subsequent trips in both directions!"

How to Participate. To participate in Meet the People, visitors planning a trip to Jamaica should explore details online at www.visitjamaica.com, select the Meet-the-People link, and fill out the registration form. Meet-the-People participants will be contacted by a program volunteer.

Content provided by Everett Clay and Associates, Miami. 2004

Vacation Book Connection

Jamaican Folk Tales & Oral Histories. By Laura Tanna, DLT Associates, Inc.; (August 9, 2000). This book provides many rare insights into Jamaica’s culture and unique heritage. This is an excellent reference for growing young citizens of the world.

Anancy-spiderman. By James Berry, Walker Books; (July 27, 1989). Every young child will be enchanted by the folktales of Anancy (Anansi). This book contains a collection of 20 tales about the antics of the West Indian trickster and his companions Bro Monkey, Bro Dog, and Bro Tiger. This collection is ideal for an airport layover or a prelude to naptime.  

A Caribbean Counting Book. By Faustin Charles. Houghton Mifflin; (March 3, 1996). The perfect trip companion for parents with young travelers, this book engages tykes in the island culture with rhymes and rhythms typical of Jamaica, Martinique to the Dutch West Indies. Count pawpaws and breadfruit, guava, centipedes, and fish. This book works really well with the lighthearted  A Caribbean Alphabet by Frane Lessac. Both create a sense of place for young children by making them a part of the learning base.

 
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