"A lot of those questions (where are you staying? First time? When are you going home?) are in my opinion, attempts to discern if you're a potential target or not. "
I disagree! They are NORMAL questions one asks someone upon meeting them. They are asked in every language all over the world. They are or can be "conversation starters".
"Where are you staying" - You can be vague and it be considered a perfectly polite and satisfactory answer - mine, when I'm asked that by ANYONE ANYPLACE, but for the sake of this conversation, in Jamaica...."West End Way" or "Deep West End". I'm not drawing a map to my house for heaven's sake. When speaking with Jamaicans, that often evolves into a little Jewish Geography - "do you know so and so" or "have you stopped by this and that place"?
"First time?" - I ask people that all the time. CONVERSATION STARTER!. Simple answer - No. If they want to pursue it further I have no problem answering in more specific terms, what do they have to gain knowing how many years I've been traveling to Jamaica?
"When are you going home" - now, this question I hate! Not because I'm afraid they are going to rob me at a house they don't know where it is or because I'm a "veteran visitor"....its rude in my opinion. The only people that ask me this are usually white tourists. So, when I'm asked this question, I put on a fun righteous indignation face and say "What??? I just got here!". I'm often asked and ask "how long are you staying" - again, no problem to answer this in any way - its not like I'm giving them my itinerary along with the map to my front door.
"My business" - I don't think I'd say that to anyone - I find it rude, its much easier and respectful to answer a question or say "I'd rather not say" with a smile and a change of topic. "Where do you live?" "Where's a great place to be on a deserted beach" or "Where do I get the cheapest beer"? Conversation goes BOTH ways.
As far as throwing in some awkward patois so that the person you are talking to is "sure you know the runnings" because you say "axe" instead of "ask" or throw out some phrase you parrot from your driver - in my opinion that makes you seem more naive than "local". Just be REAL. In a country where its all about respect, the more REAL you are the more you will be respected. Trust me - you are not less likely to get into some shit because you think you can speak patois.
Tourists tend to overshare....and some predators out there count on that. There's nothing wrong about being cautious with the information you share to anyone NOT just Jamaicans...but there is everything wrong about being rude and living in fear.
Like I said and Westy said - Jamaicans listen more than they talk. That's why they remember when you say "I'll buy something later" - they are really HEARING you and taking you at your word. And, like Shipmaster - I've been rolling around Jamaica for 35 years, from the time I was a novice-clueless 23 year old to now, the jaded, "been-there-done-that" repeat visitor who stays there as long as she possibly can...and I have never been robbed, accosted or threatened as well.
I disagree! They are NORMAL questions one asks someone upon meeting them. They are asked in every language all over the world. They are or can be "conversation starters".
"Where are you staying" - You can be vague and it be considered a perfectly polite and satisfactory answer - mine, when I'm asked that by ANYONE ANYPLACE, but for the sake of this conversation, in Jamaica...."West End Way" or "Deep West End". I'm not drawing a map to my house for heaven's sake. When speaking with Jamaicans, that often evolves into a little Jewish Geography - "do you know so and so" or "have you stopped by this and that place"?
"First time?" - I ask people that all the time. CONVERSATION STARTER!. Simple answer - No. If they want to pursue it further I have no problem answering in more specific terms, what do they have to gain knowing how many years I've been traveling to Jamaica?
"When are you going home" - now, this question I hate! Not because I'm afraid they are going to rob me at a house they don't know where it is or because I'm a "veteran visitor"....its rude in my opinion. The only people that ask me this are usually white tourists. So, when I'm asked this question, I put on a fun righteous indignation face and say "What??? I just got here!". I'm often asked and ask "how long are you staying" - again, no problem to answer this in any way - its not like I'm giving them my itinerary along with the map to my front door.
"My business" - I don't think I'd say that to anyone - I find it rude, its much easier and respectful to answer a question or say "I'd rather not say" with a smile and a change of topic. "Where do you live?" "Where's a great place to be on a deserted beach" or "Where do I get the cheapest beer"? Conversation goes BOTH ways.
As far as throwing in some awkward patois so that the person you are talking to is "sure you know the runnings" because you say "axe" instead of "ask" or throw out some phrase you parrot from your driver - in my opinion that makes you seem more naive than "local". Just be REAL. In a country where its all about respect, the more REAL you are the more you will be respected. Trust me - you are not less likely to get into some shit because you think you can speak patois.
Tourists tend to overshare....and some predators out there count on that. There's nothing wrong about being cautious with the information you share to anyone NOT just Jamaicans...but there is everything wrong about being rude and living in fear.
Like I said and Westy said - Jamaicans listen more than they talk. That's why they remember when you say "I'll buy something later" - they are really HEARING you and taking you at your word. And, like Shipmaster - I've been rolling around Jamaica for 35 years, from the time I was a novice-clueless 23 year old to now, the jaded, "been-there-done-that" repeat visitor who stays there as long as she possibly can...and I have never been robbed, accosted or threatened as well.