Life Outside School
Activities
There are two 18 hole golf courses in Kingston near to the school. There is a local Hash House Harriers group which meets every two weeks to explore the bush! The U.S. embassy has a variety of functions and sends out the “Doctor Bird Newsletter” once a month to keep people informed. One diving club exists in Kingston, and dive operators can be found in most of the islands resort areas. Hiking in the Blue Mountains is a nice way to get out of the city for some quiet time.
Clubs
There are a number of social clubs in Kingston, many administered by the embassies. For example, the American Women’s Group gets together often and does fundraising activities.
Shopping
Large, well-stocked supermarkets can be found all over Kingston. Many foreign goods are available, but locally produced goods are often cheaper.
The People
The motto of Jamaica is “Out of Many, One People” and people live by this. The people here are warm, accepting, and helpful.
Security
As in any major city, there are areas you may not want to find yourself after dark. However, in general Kingston is a safe city. It has street crime, so a certain amount of precaution is necessary when traveling with possessions.
Food and Restaurants
There are many tasty international restaurants in Kingston that tend to be on the pricier side. There are also many local eateries which tend to be far better and less expensive. Some of the popular local dishes are chicken (pan, fried, jerked, curried, and stewed), fish (steamed, fried, and escoveitch style), and pork (jerked or stewed). There are some fast food chains, such as Subway, Burger King, KFC, Wendy’s and Baskin Robins.
Travel
Jamaica is a beautiful country to explore. Traveling by car is easiest. Although the island seems small, there are endless possibilities for adventure. Some weekend activities include:
- Mountains
- Scuba diving or snorkeling all over the island
- Spend the day on the beach (beautiful ones are everywhere)
- Drive to a tasty restaurant in the country
- Take a boat to a nearby cay for some sun
- Hike in Cockpit Country
- Go cliff jumping in Negril
- Enjoy a reggae concert in the city or in the countryside
- Visit crocodiles on the south coast
- Visit a bar in the middle of the sea
- Visit the national Gallery in Kingston
- Go to the Bob Marley Museum
- Visit various farms and gardens across the island
- Explore Jamaica’s various waterfalls
Jamaica's closest US city is Miami which is approximately an hour and twenty minutes by air. Teachers have found Jamaica's proximity to the United States extremely convenient.
