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USA Vs Jamaica
12 Major Differences Between The Two

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USA vs JamaicaUSA vs Jamaica

USA vs Jamaica | by Sheree-Anita Shearer, Associate Writer

The differences between the USA vs Jamaica are many. Both countries have different, cultures, climates and histories. Here are some of the key differences between the two.

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1. Climate - The climate in America varies drastically depending on where you are located. In Jamaica, we don’t have extreme variations in weather. Being in the tropics, the weather remains warm for most of the year, rarely dropping below 71°F or higher than 91°F. That makes Jamaica a great escape from those cold winter months in the United States.

2. Government - Both Jamaica and the United States were once ruled by Britain, because of this, Jamaica’s government is still modelled after the British parliamentary system and is governed by a Prime Minister. The United States, however, removed the parliamentary system and replaced it with its presidential system.

3. Animals - While Jamaicans love their pets, there are certain things that the animal will not be able to do in the average Jamaican home. Things like jumping on the bed, or other furniture or for some, especially dogs staying inside the home is a huge no. Most persons have a doghouse outside or in their garage if they have one for the dogs to stay in.

That way the dogs are free to roam about the yard safely and then return to their house should it start to rain. I think a big difference between how animals are housed in the USA vs Jamaica has to do with the climate and the housing situation itself. Most Jamaican homes, especially in the countryside have huge yards where the animals can safely roam about. Also, since the weather doesn’t ever get too hot or cold for the animal to get sick there is not such a great need for the animals to be indoors.

When it comes to wildlife in the USA vs Jamaica, Jamaica’s wildlife is a lot tamer than the United States. Jamaica does not have many large, predatory animals such as bears or wolves and we have no poisonous snakes here. Our largest snake, the Jamaican Boa, is fairly harmless to humans.

4. Food - In Jamaica, our food is generally, unprocessed, unpackaged and as close to farm-to-table as we can get. While everything is available for purchase at the larger supermarkets, we get fruits and vegetables at the farmer’s market, meat at the butcher’s and everything else at the supermarket. These items tend to be more expensive in the supermarket than at the other locations stated.

5. Fast Food - In the United States, fast food is very important. Because everything is mostly fast-paced, getting something to eat has to be just as quick, that way you can fit in a meal in the small breaks you may have.

While we do have fast-food restaurants in Jamaica, we don’t eat out until the weekend. During the week especially in rural areas, our fast food is mainly patties or box lunches with various styles of chicken, curried goat, fish and other meats served with rice and peas.

On weekends, however, is when most people will visit fast-food restaurants. The lines are usually quite long and it can take hours to get through. Not as fast as we’d like obviously. 

6. Shopping - Shopping, for clothes especially, is cheaper in the USA than in Jamaica. It is also cheaper to buy international food brands in America and Jamaicans will either go up to shop or those already living in America will send barrels back to Jamaica filled with clothes and food. It is also cheaper to buy electronic devices in America and most people will wait to buy those items in America.

7. Directness - Jamaicans are very polite and will not go out of the way to be rude. However, they will not be dishonest just to spare your feelings. You will always know where you stand with a true Jamaican, if they are fond of you be prepared to be showered with love and kindness but if the opposite is true you will experience indifference.

8. Laidback - In most cases, apart from the major cities, the country is quite slow-paced and easy-going. A fact that is sometimes a curse as much as it is a blessing. It is often relaxing to be in a slow-paced area and not have to consider the time, however, that means sometimes engagements scheduled even months before don’t always go as planned because someone might be late. We experience this a lot in restaurants too, where the food is sometimes very late.

9. Economy - The American economy is significantly better than that of Jamaica. Where America has multiple streams of income to boost its economy, Jamaica relies heavily on tourism, remittances from Jamaicans living abroad and the exportation of goods produced on the island.

10. Water - Most Americans find it strange that we can drink the water from our taps as this is not advisable in the USA. In Jamaica, however, our tap water is safe to drink. 

11. People - Some people often complain that in some parts of America the people are unfriendly and you can go hours sitting beside someone on a bus or train without a single word passed between each other. That hardly ever happens in Jamaica.

On public transportation, especially on long journeys, there will be a hearty conversation about current happenings in the country, past life experiences or the destination ahead. You will hardly ever go on a full trip without some chatter on the bus or taxi. It is quite normal to have a conversation with a stranger here…laughs included.

12. Travel - When it comes to travelling in both countries, America has more options to travel. In Jamaica, buses and taxis are the primary ways to travel around the island and most of us only take a plane for international travel. The country is small and therefore it doesn’t take very long to travel from one end to the next.

When it comes to driving, America has way more highways than Jamaica has or needs for that matter. The largest roads in Jamaica accommodate four lanes of traffic, (two lanes in each direction).

These are just some of the major differences between the USA vs Jamaica. Can you think of any other?

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References & Sources For USA vs Jamaica

  1. Quality of Life United States Jamaica Comparison, https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/compare/united-states/jamaica

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