Two White Girls Moved to Jamaica at 8 & 9: Identity, Belonging & What 'Jamaican' Really Means

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Two Canadian Sisters Who Call Jamaica Home: Growing Up Between Cultures, Identity Crisis, and Finding Belonging in the Arts What happens when two Canadian sisters, aged eight and nine, move to Jamaica without a choice, spend their formative years navigating the zoo effect at Mona Prep, grappling with cultural identity, building careers in theatre and horseback riding, and discovering that home isn't where you're born but where you choose to grow—even when you're not sure you're allowed to claim it? In this raw, hilarious, and deeply vulnerable episode, host April Jackson sits down with Alexandra and Scarlett—two teenagers who moved from Montreal to Jamaica in December 2015 and have spent the last decade figuring out what it means to belong. From being flocked by curious classmates on their first day at Mona Prep, to hand learning Jamaican social studies for quiz competitions, to battling the question "am I allowed to call myself Jamaican?", to navigating race and privilege as white foreigners in a predominantly Black country, to building a life in theatre and music, to training horses six times a week, to missing dumplings and real maple syrup, to discovering that Jamaica has given them the gift of culture they never would have had in Canada—this is a story of resilience, reinvention, and choosing authenticity over expectation. In this episode, we discuss: The Move: Arriving in Jamaica in December 2015, starting at Mona Prep, and experiencing the "zoo effect" as the first white kids many classmates had seen. Cultural Adjustment: Learning Jamaican social studies, Patwa proverbs, and current affairs through junior quiz competitions, and discovering that standardized testing became second nature. Identity Crisis: Wrestling with the question "am I allowed to call myself Jamaican?" when you're not Black, don't have a passport, and can't vote—but Jamaica is home. Race and Privilege: Being hyper aware of standing out, navigating street harassment, and realizing that being white and foreign comes with both privilege and scrutiny. Building a Life in the Arts: Teaching piano privately, stage managing productions, working in New York as a music director, and putting on Jamaica's first live musical theatre camp with no backing tracks. Horseback Riding Dreams: Training up to six times a week, competing abroad under the Jamaican flag, and planning to become an equine vet to fill a gap in Jamaica's veterinary infrastructure. The Reality of Growing Up Between Two Worlds: Missing dumplings and maple syrup, being asked if Jamaica has schools, and discovering that people abroad think Jamaica is in Africa. Future Plans: Heading to university in Ontario to study music education, pursuing veterinary school, and grappling with whether to come back to Jamaica or stay abroad. Quick Fire Round: Choosing juicy patties over tastee (or no patties at all because of a traumatic maggot incident), curry goat over oxtail, sorrel over eggnog, and rum over Red Stripe. 00:00:00 Introduction: Two Canadian Sisters Who Call Jamaica Home 00:02:18 The Move: December 2015 and First Impressions 00:08:40 Starting School at Mona Prep: The Zoo Effect 00:13:54 Cultural Identity Crisis: Am I Allowed to Call Myself Jamaican? 00:15:56 Navigating Race and Privilege in Jamaica 00:20:30 Building a Life in the Arts: Theatre and Music 00:17:55 Horseback Riding Dreams: Scarlett's Passion 00:28:57 The Reality of Growing Up Between Two Worlds 00:31:21 Future Plans: University, Veterinary Dreams, and Coming Back 00:36:38 Quick Fire Round: Patties, Rum, and Jamaican Vibes #HowDidYouGetHere #AprilJackson #JamaicaLiving #CanadianInJamaica #ThirdCultureKids #CulturalIdentity #MonaPrep #TheatreLife #HorsebackRiding #MusicEducation #ExpatLife #GrowingUpAbroad #RaceAndPrivilege #JamaicanCulture #LivingBetweenWorlds #Reinvention #CourageOverComfort #FindingBelonging #CaribbeanLife #MulticulturalIdentity