Dusky Darkness

I hear the joyful chirping of the birds in the dusky light, As the day’s blanket of heat slowly lifts and The evening’s coolness shrouds the earth as a welcome relief.

It’s so peaceful … so quiet, Oh, that each day of each year could come to an end with such a calm… no violence, no noise, just peace, with the birds singing in their resounding voices in joint harmony. Yes…another day has come to an end, the crickets have welcomed the night with their high pitched fiddling, the birds have said, good night.

This poem reminds me of Jamaica as I wrote it when I was 14 years old reflecting back to the day I sat with my uncle on the veranda. We sat in silence, looking into the distance as the dusk was descending onto the outline of the Blue Mountains, sensing everything beautiful. It was the day my father passed away.

I knew then, at 12 years old that our life would change. But little did I guess that a couple years later my mother would move us all to Canada, bravely facing life in a strange country leaving all behind - family, friends, home and life as we knew it. Had my father not left us, I think we would still be living in Jamaica. How he loved Jamaica!

My dad epitomized Jamaica’s Moto “Out of Many One People” written on Jamaica’s Coat of Arms. He treated everyone with respect and care. He appreciated and valued those who put their hearts and minds into what they were doing. Even as young as I was, I saw him laugh and then instruct and then correct kindly with a passion that was almost scary if you didn’t know him, all

in the same interaction. He loved teaching – he seemed happiest then. It didn’t matter who it was he was teaching. This might be contagious as I think I have this affliction.

It was a beautiful night, and I remember sitting there thinking about the birds chirping and the dusk settling it seemed onto the mountain top as the sun sank behind it. I remember thinking how peaceful it was and feeling that we would be okay, that I would be strong for my mother and six younger siblings and that I would make my dad proud.

I left Jamaica a teenager. Although Canada is my home now, I am still very proud of being Chinese Jamaican. I love Jamaica, I am grateful for all that Jamaica gave me, and like many Jamaicans living abroad, I have a special place in my heart for all things good that’s Jamaican.

My formative years were spent in Jamaica. What I learned in Jamaica was discipline. My dad taught me to respect myself and others I from when I was very young. I too loved the Jamaican Coat of Arms with the Motto “Out of Many One People.” It touched my heart even as a child, to see that no matter what color you were, being of Chinese descent with parents both born in Jamaica, that you were accepted as just you. I learned how to love each person for who they are, not according to the colour of their skin, their religion, their gender or their nationality. I am grateful for my many teachers who were all strict disciplinarians, but who strived to elicit excellence from all their students.

I loved that for the majority of the years I lived in Jamaica, it didn’t matter what colour you were - you could have been red, orange or purple that is how it felt up to then, and you’d still be welcomed and accepted as you. I still recall the day a Canadian girl joined our class. She had an endearing French accent as she spoke English hesitantly. Everyone loved her waist length beautiful blond wavy hair and what was delightful was before the first school recess, she was surrounded by new friends. I loved Jamaica, the land of wood and water, and I still have many places I have not yet been that I’d love to see.

It was a joyful trip in 2014, when I took my mother back to Jamaica once she agreed to return. I think for decades she had reservations about doing so as when she left, she had to overcome so many challenges, the most difficult one being told, “Go back to weh yuh come fram.” (Jamaican patois is now a recognized language – “Yuh can tek a class to learn Jamaican Patois at Harvard University yuh nuh!)

Her reservations about returning to Jamaica quickly dissolved. There were many changes since we had left decades before. However, there were many things that were still familiar. Happily, we were met and greeted with the down to earth and gentle nature of the Jamaican people that I remembered from so long ago. I was very thankful for this as it was so much different than decades ago, when we departed Jamaica’s shore.

To be different and unique – isn’t that what we all wish to feel? Unique and special? We totally enjoyed our vacation in Jamaica at our family reunion that year. Everywhere we went, even to Coronation Market in the heart of Kingston, we were greeted with friendly smiles and helping hands. We felt safe as I have family members who took us everywhere, except when I drove myself keeping to the wrong side of the road. (Jamaicans drive on the left side of the road). I knew I have a Jamaican accent but I found out at the big craft market in “Ochi”, Ocho Rios, that I had, a “Kingston” accent. “Yuh soun like yuh come fram Kingston nuh?” asked the street vendor. Who knew?! I didn’t realize accents were different depending on which part of the island you came from.

I have gone back to Jamaica a few times since then and happy to say I have enjoyed everyone one of those trips. I hope to return again, soon. In my travels, I have found that fellow Jamaicans are the most fun and engaging people to run into. As Jamaicans, we get excited when we meet another Jamaican. It is one of the most endearing things because we just seem to connect and it is a wonderful meeting. It feels almost like meeting a family member, in an unexpected place – a

nice surprize! I had this happen to me last month going through airport security in Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. I got introduced to Ricardo because of the “Jamaican” in me, who was called over to meet me. Fun!

One of the things that calls out to many Jamaicans is a love of reggae music and dancing to it. Bob Marley with his vision and message of One Love, put Jamaica on the map. One Love to me is that Universal Love that binds us all together with Love Unconditional. Bob Marley as well as other heartcentered reggae artists still carry on this torch of One Love, as I do too, in hopes that this Universal Love will enable us all, to see the beauty in, about and around us, and have the care for one another.

So, what do we have in common as upstanding Jamaicans? I feel we in general have a love of music and rhythm, reggae and Bob Marley as an Icon, a love of good wholesome food, like Usain Bolt’s yam. And a love of good food e.g. fried fish, bammy, ackee and salt fish (the national fruit and dish of Jamaica) and of course, Jerk pork and Jerk chicken with rice and peas. Jamaicans have a saying “A hungry man is an angry man!” We also have a love of Jamaica’s beautiful beaches, Appleton rum and the world famous Blue Mountain Coffee, second to no other coffee in the world in Jamaicans’ and many coffee connoisseurs’ opinions.

Let’s not forget the Jamaican pace of life, easy going and slower. Where being relaxed about inviting people into our hearts and into our homes and helping others where we can, comes as second nature. I think that is the beauty of meeting “real” Jamaicans. “Make yu self at home” kind of hospitality is what I remember. Nothing more endearing than gathering to eat crab, dance or just have a drink and a chat to share stories, lend an ear, laugh and relax.

As Jamaican Diaspora, we can make a difference. Any positive difference is good. In November 2015 at a 40 year high school reunion, I found out that one of my classmates had started over a decade before in Dallas, JamaicaYes.org. This she did with a bunch of friends there after she identified a need for school children in Jamaica’s countryside who didn’t know when their next meal was going to be. This past June, I organized a Sparkle and Shine Book Launch and JamaicaYes Benefit Gala. Through the efforts of beautiful amazing people who participated in the 9 hour Zoom on-line event, we raised funds for 5000 meals for the children. We learnt quite a few lessons as my hope was to raise much more. However, the words, “Nothing tried, Nothing gained” and “Where there is a Will, there is a Way”, phrases I grew up with in Jamaica, come to mind.

Let’s find the Will within us to, as Jamaican Diaspora, do a little bit more to help the island that is in our hearts as the home away from home. It feels good giving back a little bit to the island that in my heart was home for me for a while and still is home for some of my family. I am really grateful. Jamaica and Jamaicans hold a special place in my heart.

I have two hopes:

My first hope is that no matter where we live in the world, that people will somehow find a way to get past biases and judgments, becoming more tolerant and kind towards one another.

• I hold a vision for people welcoming people who are different from them, able to see them and accept them for who they are, and go a step further to treasure others for their uniqueness.

• Let’s not demand that others be the same as ourselves.

• We are all different, and it’s great when we have things in common. However,

• Let us remember that It’s our uniqueness that afford each of us the ability to share and teach

and enrich each others’ lives and the lives of everyone else in the world.

My second hope is that Love, and love of self, respect for self and then same for others, will become stronger and stronger in the world.

• We all want to be loved unconditionally.

• We all want to be accepted and appreciated for who we are.

• We all want to be valued for just being authentically ourselves.

Is it possible to put aside the judgments, the differences as long as we’re not hurting each other?

One thing, I’d like to set the record straight on being Chinese Jamaican. My father came from a very poor family. He worked hard to make ends meet and yes, we did have a roof over our heads but only through his determination to work and provide for us. And another thing, it was only by the grace of God that my mother got through to move us all to Canada because, the person who was to do the financial review of her bank statements cancelled the appointment because he was sick and they never did check that!

What I learned from growing up in Jamaica and what I’ll always treasure is the dedication, the knowledge transferred by my teachers, my family and the spirit of togetherness of Jamaicans sharing a love for reggae, good food, care, consideration, goodwill and love of ALL peoples.

I wish all Jamaicans the best, to keep safe in these times and to love and respect each other, because through love, we will make this world a better place.

Let’s come together and share our knowledge, skills, expertise - help each other, help Jamaica. Lend a helping hand if we can.

Let’s continue to meet and greet each other with love, expanding this to all peoples.

Written by Michele Ho Lung