The Musical Escape

Isha Kalaga

Ms. Asuncion

English 9H, Block 2

23/09/15                                                    

The Musical Escape

            Last year, I came across this quote by Damian Marley, a reggae artist, and primarily I couldn’t understand what he meant by it. However, once I experienced it, it hit me like a shock wave and everything tied in together. The quote goes something like this, “In Jamaica, them always have throwback riddims, recycled old beats, and hardcore reggae scene is always present. You have stuff like the more commercialized stuff, but you always, have that segment of music that is always from the core, from the original root of it.”

 Around winter break last year I went on a cruise across the Caribbean. One of the destinations the ship stopped at was Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Before going there, I had an idea of what Ocho Rios would look like from the general perception we learn from the internet. However, my experience in the grand country was rather different.

            Stepping on to a ship with an expensively designed interior, I did in fact receive a culture shock, but not in the way one would normally think. My ears were filled with beautiful rhythms and beats will different types of instruments. Some released a wood like sound while others were more of a metal. There were also several differently toned ticks from bottles aligned along the road. However, they all harmonized to a perfect melody.

The men playing the instruments with tattered clothes sat on boxes and rocks they found nearby. They had big smiles on their faces showing some missing teeth, not even worrying about not having enough dinner to eat.

“My music is my escape. It is when I can forget about all my worries and enjoy the moment in time also spreading that same happiness to others,” a local musician told me on the streets, “And I also get some money from you visitors.” He ended with a quiet chuckle.

The weather was also different, I remember it raining. However, the rain only lasted for about ten seconds. It went away before we could reach for our jackets leaving a fresh, earthy smell. But, throughout the whole day it had that humid, gloomy, and depressing weather we experience once in a while.

            It was perfect weather for a tourist. Not too hot, and not too cold. We went to two of its greatest tourist attractions, the waterfall, and the zip line. Walking on the slippery, cold pebbled floor we walked to our first destination. We went to the one of many waterfalls on the island and it contained quite a bit of history for the current residents.

For people of all ages, the waterfall was used to pass time, a game for children, a romantic place, and sometimes even to settle some disputes. Even though the waterfall was a tourist attraction, it was in fact available to the locals, but in a secluded area. Unfortunately, their side was filled with trash and completely polluted while the tourist area was close to spotless with a couple of plastic bottles and paper bags.

On the way up there was a family of seven in front of us. One of their children threw a wrapper over the imaginary barrier that divide us. A little girl came up to us and picked up the rapper as the family walked away, “I don’t understand why you don’t put the trash in the bin. It is not far away. You do it in your country, why not ours?” She was around six and spoke with a heavy accent.

To that my friend’s mom responded, “Where I come from they do that too. But, that doesn’t mean you should do it. Help clean up your country and work hard. You will get far in life.”

Coming from an Indian heritage we all understood how they live. It’s quite similar to India and we were all thankful of our parents’ hard work. They are the reason on why we live our lives today and we should not take it for granted.

She gave a big smile and I asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“A singer.” She turned around, started humming, and walked away.

Music followed us wherever we went. As we went down the zip line, we heard music coming from big speakers over the mountain top. It reminded me of “The Lion King” when Simba was little and he enjoyed his time with his father. Feeling like he can conquer and rule the plains. There is an escape from life and is different from everyone. Some choose the path of drugs, and running away, but others like the residents I have met in Ocho Rios, Jamaica listen to music.