Rosemary Parkinson, Contributor
Mango came from India but our soil made them sweeter.
Summer is here, children are out of school; some waiting nervously to enter another stage of life. One of the things that I am against is seeing children sit all day in front of video games or cable television, clutching the remote controland munching on junk food. By the end of summer, not only will they have put on unhealthy pounds, their brains will be 'thick and tired' rather than refreshed.
As difficult as it might seem for parents to make 'changes', take some advice and take matters into your own hands. Throw away the technology for a bit and leave the house. Jamaica is a land of contrasts and unmatched beauty. There are mountains to climb, rivers in which to swim and beaches to visit. In the city, there are gardens to see such as Hope Gardens; museums like the National History Museum and the National Gallery (home of the national collection of art). The capital abounds with art and galleries worth visiting for stimulation include The Art Centre, Contemporary Art Gallery and Grosvenor Gallery.
Feeding the Mind
Jamaica's traditional cuisine that is often taken for granted has much history attached to it. Every fruit, vegetable and even cow, goat, sheep and pig has a story. With historic influences from the Amerindian Tainos, the Spanish and English explorers, Africa, Germany, India, China and the Middle East, travelling around the island with stops for healthy food can provide an indelible teaching tool. How many children, for instance, know that the Amerindians were the precursors of the barbecue? How many know that the Spanish brought bees to the region and that Clarendon purportedly has the best honey in the world? They also brought pigs. Some are now wild in the hills of Montego Bay - anyone seen Animal Farm?
Cassava that makes our bammies was found here, as was cocoa and scotch bonnet peppers. Did anyone know that Jamaica's cocoa is as top of the line as a Ferrari? That most likely Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory was filled with chocolates made from Jamaican cocoa? Are we aware the Amerindians peppered their meats with scotch bonnet peppers, the explorers naming same because they looked like Scottish Tams? That pimento is indigenous to Jamaica? That the Amerindians taught the Maroons how to season andcure their meats with peppers and pimento so that while fighting the English they would never get the munches? That this meat would later be called jerk?
Children may not believe that the Maroons hid from the English by wrapping cacoon vines around their bodies so successfully that the same camouflage military uniforms used in The Transformers were invented from the idea. Cacoon is still eaten by the Maroons, taking six days to prepare. It can also be used to test whether water is contaminated!
Pineapples were discovered in Guadeloupe by the explorers and brought to Jamaica. Once perfected in sweetness here, they were shipped to Hawaii becoming famous. Did anyone know that having a drawing of a pineapple on your door means, 'you are welcome'? That the Jamaican Coat of Arms boasts a pineapple and perhaps that's why Jamaica is such a welcoming country?
Gifts from other countries
Gizzadas were introduced by Jewish settlers. - Photo by Rosemary Parkinson
Can anyone imagine that it was the Jewish people who brought solomon gundy, gizzadas and escoveitch to this island; the Portuguese handing over salt fish? That salt fish is so beloved, Trinidadian calypsonian Sparrow wrote and sang about it?
Now the English can cook a stew, but it was the Africans who threw in the spices that came all the way from the Far East, making the dish sweeter than ever ginger was one of those spices, once in Jamaican soil, became the best ginger in the world. What about vanilla? That dark liquid that tastes so good in cakes and ice-cream? Vanilla was used by the ancient Aztecs as a tribute to their gods. Found growing wild in these parts, chefs think Jamaica's vanilla came straight from god. Same goes for that coffee seen growing all over the Blue Mountains. It is one of the best ever.
With talk rife over 'Pirates of the Caribbean', how about taking a drive out to Port Royal? Visit its museum laden with stories of all the famouspirates who used Jamaica as their resting place between raids of Europe's merchant ships. Captain Henry Morgan was a pirate and later became Governor of Jamaica showing that you can be foolish as a child but famous when you grow up!
Get the picture? Get the children on their feet. Be creative. Take them out scouring the land for healthy food. Make a 'yummy' educational tour of it. You will be surprised how many stories can be told, how much you might learn in preparing the adventure.
Jamaican cocoa is one of world's best.
Rosemary Parkinson was last seen roaming the countryside naming everything in sight.
