Confluence of cultures - Bringing up a child in Jamaica

published: Monday | September 15, 2008

Two years after coming to Jamaica from India, Ajitesh Sharma, is settled in his adopted country. "Right, my yute?" - photo by Amitabh Sharma

Little Ajitesh was five years old as we prepared to board the early morning British Airways flight to London on the way to Kingston, Jamaica. It was July 2006.

We did not know anything about the land, only that it was a place where great cricketers are born (coming from a cricket-crazed nation, India, Courtney Walsh and Sabina Park were Jamaica).

A void

Leaving the motherland created mixed feelings, especially the void caused by loved ones left behind. Ajitesh was the first grandchild in the family, and had been constantly surrounded by either of the grandparents. It was a big blow in his life, suddenly finding himself with no companion to pamper him and listen to his endless gibberish.

Losing friends was another issue; for months he would remember his school friends and the fun they had.

At school

It was still summer vacation when we arrived and the first job was to get him admitted to school. He had to take a test for grade one; thankfully, he got through, but had to take reading lessons. The pronunciation and the accent had to be worked on ... another new.

The school in itself has been a learning experience; at times he would be upset that his classmates commented on his name, and that he ate 'strange' food (we made it a point to pack lunch from home).

The teachers were very supportive at school, and made it a point to help bring him up to the prescribed level in class and also helped him adapt quickly.

Ups and downs

Life came in crests and troughs, the sudden passing away of his grandparents in India; a void he still feels, pointing out to the stars sometimes. "The brightest star is my grandfather," he often says. "He is looking at me."

Coming from a predominantly Hindu society, and as practising Hindus, we were exposed to a new culture. Thankfully, he did adapt. We taught him to be tolerant and respect other religions, and that the Bible was as holy as our Bhagwad Gita (one of the holy scriptures of the Hindus).

Thankfully, we have got a very good set of friends, who help us strike the balance between the two worlds. He is exposed to both the Hindu way of life and the teachings in school.

Getting settled ... fast

We were sceptical of how he would adapt to the food here, but it is the universal language, I suppose. Overnight the patty was a huge hit and so was KFC. He was transforming from an India-brewed, to Jamaica-adapted kid.

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com