Rooted in Yard

From inconsistent utilities, to culture shock, to my daily fight with bugs, I was constantly frustrated and feeling overwhelmed. By 2017, I couldn’t wait to leave, and was grateful he finally allowed me to apply for his Canadian residency. When we left, I was determined not to come back for a long time.

But well, as Jamaican’s say, “Long run, short catch.” Because that’s exactly what happened. In 2023, things shifted. I was burned out (burnt to a crisp) from work, got laid off, and my husband wasn’t working either.

Mentally and financially, we were in a different place and able to re-consider Jamaica. After considering our options, we realized that Jamaica was still more affordable that Canada, and we knew we still had strong ties here. But we also knew that if s&#t hit the fan, we could always go live in a bush somewhere on the island and survive. Either way, we ensured that we came back prepared for the things we know we’d face.

After settling in, I found myself constantly answering the same questions online — about the outages, cost of living, and what it really feels like to live here. Eventually, I thought, “You know what? Let me just make a whole channel.”

That’s how Rooted in Yard was born: so others can learn from my mistakes, laugh at my misadventures (and stupidity), and move to Jamaica without losing their minds (or their money). It’s not all sunshine and rum punch — but it can be worth it, if you know what you’re getting into.