Host Family vs. Real Family

Every since I got to Jamaica almost 9 MONTHS AGO (still can't believe it), I've been comparing and contrasting my life here to my life in America.  From style to infrastructure to food to male/female relationships, multiple times per day, I find myself thinking: How would this situation look back home?

So, in response to pressure from JULIE ANN EMSLIE to write a new post in order to keep from being deleted from her blog list (love u Julie!), I will now examine the similarities and differences between my Jamaican family and my American family.

First up, Mommies!
Jamaican Jean vs. Alabama Sandra (I almost went with American Sandra, but I think Alabama works better. Don't you? K.)
Now, I think we all know that moms are the backbones of the family.  Without them, the household would basically fall apart.  These two women are no exceptions.  Jamaican Jean takes so much pride in her family and house.  Whether she's mopping, sweeping, and dusting daily, helping 5 year old EJ with his homework, changing 1 yr old Tash's diaper, or making mint tea for PCV Benita, she makes sure that everyone and everything in her surroundings are well taken care of.  The amount of laundry that woman does is amazing.  I'll admit that I used to wonder if housewives/stay-at-home moms ever really did anything during the day. Now I definitely have a new appreciation.  Alabama Sandra, on the other hand, works as a billing clerk at a mental health center by day and a wife and mother by night.  Because of this, Sandra's house might not be as spick and span as Jamaican Jean's, but I think it would meet most standards.  She is probably one of the sweetest and most forgiving people you will ever meet, and because of this, has probably put up with a lot more stuff than most people would.  But she keeps going, being a good employee and taking care of a family that doesn't always appreciate her as they should.  I would say Jamaican Jean and Alabama Sandra are much more alike than different.  They both are very dedicated to their families, although one is slightly more gossipy than the other. I won't say who...

Next, the fathers!
James vs. Errol
But who's the host dad and who's the real dad?  Thats for you to figure out.  I'll give some descriptions; you see whether you can guess who's who.  James works as a correctional officer and loves to watch sports.  Errol is retired and loves doing projects around the house; in fact, he recently finished a gazebo.  James can make the best cheese grits...ever.  Errol doesn't really cook much.  You can find Errol watching the Discovery Channel one minute and curled up in bed with his son watching cartoons the next.  James has been known to have Wheel of Fortune competitions with his kids and refuses to admit that his kids are smarter than him.  Errol drives a Mercedes.  James drives a Ford Explorer.  Some similarities:  both like to spoil their sons, both would rather spend hours trying to fix something before they would even begin to consider paying someone to fix it, and both can be very silly at times.  Who's who people? Seems pretty easy to me.  I'm gonna be really sad if I don't get any comments...

In the next post, I will be comparing the sistaz, the brothas, and the niece/nephew.  Stay tuned!