If you're from Jamaica, please help with school project?

[lisa]

Hey, everyone! My name is Lisa, I'm 24 years old and I live in New York. I'm working on a project for a class called: The Social, Cultural & Economic Aspects of Foods. I chose Jamaica for my project, and I am looking for some first-hand accounts! I want to know what those of you who actually LIVE in Jamaica have to say! Basically, I'm not just looking for the types of foods you eat, but WHY you eat them, and what's eaten at certain times of the year (for example: holidays). I've come up with some standard questions below & if you could answer even just ONE that would be helpful!

All I'd ask for is your FIRST NAME / AGE / LOCATION IN JAMAICA if you are willing to participate. I really, really appreciate any input that anyone has to give! Feel free to elaborate as much or as little as you'd like.

- What kinds of foods are common in your household?
- What is the place setting like when you eat your meals?
- What is your favorite holiday to celebrate (if at all) and why?
- What kinds of rituals or traditions are common when you celebrate holidays? (for example, it's custom to eat turkey for Thanksgiving or have a Christmas Tree for Christmas)
- Do you snack between meals?
- If you've moved from Jamaica to the US, did you carry over any customs? If so, what are they?
- Do you practice a religion? If so, what is it?
- Is healthy food considered cheap?
- What do you consider healthy food to be in Jamaica?
- Where do you shop for food? How do you get there, and how far from your home is the shop located?
- Who lives in your household? (family? friends?)
- Is your family tight-knit or do many family members live further away?
- Is it easy or difficult to receive medical attention?
- What is your favorite food & why?
- Do you cook? If so, what do you like to cook?

[Jayjay]

-Rice, peas (beans), ox-tail, fish, tripe, ackee, potato, yam, tomato, banana, plantain, coconut, onion, carrot
-knife & fork & plate, plus glass of water or juice sometimes
-Christmas
-Church gathering, singing. Chicken, rice, salad, yam, plantain. The men argue if Jesus was a black man or a white man and they drink too much
-No snack between meals
-All customs travel with us!
-Christianity. Jamaica is a Christian country
-Any food is healthy!
-We're thankful for any food, and don't quarrel too much about it being healthy as long as it taste good
-Public market, about 2 mile walk from home
-Mother, sisters, children
-We all tolerate each other; Aunty lives about 20 miles away in the country
-Medical doctors are expensive luxury. Most times, if someone gets too sick they just die. Some people blessed with a long life. The average lifespan is not great, maybe 40 to 50 years.
-Chicken or fish or ox-tail. They taste so good!
-Yes, we all cook. I like to cook rice & peas