one, two, erbody pump ya fist

All weekend I had been excited for our second HIV outreach event in Kingston. I had heard it would be a carnival and we were to pass out condoms. The idea flowed in my head: awesome costumes, dancing and an all around amazing time-- while still doing worthwhile outreach. When the day finally arrived we received a text explaining that Jamaica Aids Support had bailed but we were still going. I was a bit confused as to why we were going if not do outreach, but was still really excited to get out and see some floats.

Around 12pm, we got on our first coaster (these are the mini-buses that drive insanely fast on various planned routes across Jamaica) and arrived in Kingston about 20mins later. After a bathroom/ice cream break at Devon House (really famous homemade Jamaican ice cream http://www.devonhousejamaica.com/)  we walked to the corner and awaited the parade. About a half hour later,  we began to hear extremely loud dancehall music and from a distance noticed a few floats sponsored by cell phone carriers. Around five minutes later came a high school marching band, a giant float full of people daggering (essentially grinding) to dancehall music, costumed bikini clad woman, jacked men with cowboy hats, drunk tourists, and pretty much every person you could imagine. It was a giant burrito of wild drunk fun.  Women of all shapes colors and sizes were dancing, daggering, singing, and drinking in beautiful bikini costumes. Some of the bikini costumes were amazing-- bejeweled, peacock feathers, feathered boots,  pretty much anything you could imagine. People on the floats were going crazy; daggering, drinking and unfortunately not handing out beads. I absolutely loved every minute of it. 

At one point myself, and a few other volunteers got right in the middle of the parade and broke it down under the pouring rain. One of my favorite dancehall songs came on and the float MC screamed "one two erbody pump ya fist!" There were 1000's of jamaicans and us dancing and fist pumping in the pouring rain-- it was awesome.  At this moment I realized I love Jamaica. Unfortunately anything this fun comes with a price, and when we were found to not be wearing the expensive bracelets that allow you entrance into the middle of the parade, we were sidelined. We walked over to the sidewalks where people were partying just as hard: there were cameras, blowing vuvuzelas, yelling, more daggering, drinks being thrown everywhere, and just generally a joyous crazy atmosphere. It was during this time a large man danced to the front of me and I just laughed and danced right behind him. The last time I had had this much fun was at Mardi Gras New Orleans, where the beads were abundant but the dancing and culture lacked in comparison. On our walk back to the coaster we stopped to observe two people daggering each other on the ground in a large puddle. Only in Jamaica. 

Here's a few of the popular dancehall songs right now: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLWN1qyxwbM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8EGI6_SqmU

watch and enjoy.

One Love,

D