But I messed up on some things too. I got in so much trouble with my cousin Olivia! You would love Olivia—she’s 100 percent BSG material. But we made a HUGE mistake, got completely busted, and had to apologize in front of the whole village! I’ll tell you the whole, sad story when I get home.
So basically the Kgirl business-and-life lesson for this vacation is that things aren’t always what they seem. You never know when a scary old witch could turn out to be a really nice, friendly old woman, so you can’t judge a book by its cover. Or…you can’t judge an island by its beaches! Well, maybe you can. Jamaican beaches rock!
And if you want the REAL insider 411, here’s a Kgirl list of what to do (and what NOT to do) in Jamaica:
1. Try the banana bread with guava jelly. Soooo tasty. But make sure it’s Nana’s Banana Bliss!
2. Take a horseback ride in the ocean. (And say hello to Lazarus, the best horse in Jamaica!)
3. Drink coconut water straight from the coconut.
4. Climb the waterfall at Dunn’s River Falls. If Kgirl can do it, anybody can!
5. Make sure you have a giant bottle of icy cold water nearby when you eat jerk chicken. (Trust me!)
6. Never steal a comb from a River Mumma!
7. Go for the guava ice cream at Devon House. Mmmm.
8. Don’t even try to distract a mean old dog with a piece of meat—it won’t work!
9. Dance with dolphins.
10. Don’t wear a miniskirt to church, no matter how cute it is. I recommend a long, flowy, island-y skirt instead.
And, most of all…STAY AWAY FROM THE GOATS!
TTYL,
Kgirl
Katani’s Jamaican Holiday
BOOK EXTRAS
Trivialicious Trivia
Katani’s Patois Dictionary
Jammin’ Jamaican Facts
Nana’s Banana Bliss Recipe
Katani’s Jamaican Adventure trivialicious trivia
What color is the cover of Katani’s Island Inspiration notebook? A. red, white, and blue
B. turquoise, lavender, and Tuscan gold
C. yellow, black, and green
D. pink, purple, and baby blue
How does Spotty the goat react when Katani meets him for the first time? A. He lets her pet him.
B. He chases her out of the pen.
C. He hides behind Olivia.
D. He licks her hand.
In Cousin Cecil’s story, what does Orrin take from the River Mumma? A. a comb
B. a cup
C. a mirror
D. a book
What kind of pet does Ol’ Madda Bird have? A. a bird
B. a dog
C. a cat
D. a monkey
Where does Olivia find her missing necklace? A. under her pillow
B. in her desk at school
C. up in a tree
D. on Ol’ Madda Bird’s veranda
Who runs into Olivia and Katani outside the bakery at midnight? A. Precious
B. Cousin Cecil
C. Miss Gloria
D. Leesha
What kind of ice cream does Katani have at Devon House? A. mango
B. papaya
C. guava
D. pineapple
Who gives Katani a beautiful beaded bracelet? A. Chloe
B. Selvin
C. Olivia
D. Grandma Ruby
What does Katani make as a gift for Ol’ Madda Bird? A. a blanket
B. a pair of socks
C. a hat
D. a scarf
What sport is Adrian playing when Katani meets him? A. baseball
B. cricket
C. soccer
D. basketball
ANSWERS: 1. C. Yellow, black, and green 2. B. He chases her out of the pen. 3. A. a comb 4. B. a dog 5. D. on Ol’ Madda Bird’s veranda 6. A. Precious 7. C. Guava 8. A. Chloe 9. D. a scarf 10. B. Cricket
Katani’s Patois Dictionary
Patois Words
banyan tree: a large spreading tree. It spreads by sending down aerial roots that kids love to swing on.
bobo dread: dressed in long robes and tight turbans, the bobo dreads are a sect within the Rastafarian community. They live apart in their own areas and make straw mats and brooms for sale.
bumptious: presumptuous or pushy
dem: them
dey: they
escoveitch: literally “pickled.” Escoveitch fish is fried, then steeped in a mixture of hot vinegar, pepper, onions, and pimento seeds.
fass: inquisitive
favor: resemble
fi: for
gwan: go on
gwine: going to
irie: okay
Jah-Jah: the name Rastafarians use for god
mash: smash
mek: make
mon: man
pappy show: puppet show
peenie-wallies: fireflies
pickney: child
pickney dem: children
plait: braid; braided
Rastafarian: also called just “Rasta.” Rasta, or the Rastafari movement, is a religious movement started in Jamaica.
tups: a little
Patois Phrases
So the barrel come: So you got something new. Many Jamaicans who live abroad regularly send home barrels of food and clothing for their families.
Me deh rock so: I am rocking like this.
Come mek we dance and sing: Let us dance and sing.
Mind dem own business: Pay attention to their own problems.
They come long time?: Have they been here long?
We just reach: We just got here.
What gone bad a mawning, cyan come good a evening: Something bad in the morning won’t be good in the evening.
Empty barrel mek the most noise: Empty barrels make the most noise. (People who know the least about something often talk the most about it.)
By and by, yuh wi si: By and by, you will see. (You’ll find out eventually.)
To make a pappy show of someone: to make someone look foolish
Ah fi mi pickney dese: These are my children
Mi mek dem in mi image: I made them in my image
Mi love dem and look out fi dem: I love them, I take care of them
Jammin’ Jamaican Facts
Map It!
Jamaica is the third-largest island in the Caribbean and the largest English-speaking island. It spans 4,244 square miles and sits entirely surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, ninety miles southwest of Cuba.
What’s in a Name?
The name Jamaica comes from the Arawak word Xaymaca, meaning “land of wood and water.” Words like barbecue, canoe, hurricane, and tobacco come from the language of the first colonists of Jamaica, the Arawak-speaking group of people now known as the Tainos.
Land Ho!
In the seventeenth century, Port Royal in Jamaica was the base for many notorious buccaneers and pirates. Among these were Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Anne Bonny, and Henry Morgan. Port Royal was known as the richest and wickedest city on earth until it was destroyed by a violent earthquake in 1692. Three quarters of the town sank that day!
Out of Many, One People
Jamaica’s motto, “Out of Many, One People,” reflects a rich and diverse culture. Jamaica is populated by more than two and a half million people. African and English influences dominate the culture, but the Spanish, Irish, Indians, Chinese, and Germans have all left their mark in food, speech, music, and dance. Jamaicans can tour the world without leaving their island!
Spouting Off
Ocho Rios means “eight rivers” in Spanish, but there aren’t eight rivers near the town. Actually, the name is a corruption of the Spanish word chorreras, meaning “spouts” or “waterfalls.” But most Jamaicans just call it Ochi.
Tee Time
Jamaica can lay claim to the oldest golf course in the western hemisphere. Following the introduction of golf i
n Scotland, a nine-hole course was built in Mandeville, Jamaica, at the first country club in the New World. The Duke of Manchester opened Mandeville Golf Club in 1865—before many of Europe’s most famous courses were built.
Make It a Clean Sweep
In Jamaica, it’s an old custom to place a broom upside down behind a door in your house when you want an unwanted guest to go away.
Pipe Down!
Falmouth, Jamaica, had piped water before New York City! Way back in 1799, a twenty-foot waterwheel was installed on land near the Martha Brae River. This giant wheel was turned by the current of the stream and emptied about one hundred gallons of water per revolution into a wooden trough. Then the water flowed through a six-inch pipe into a large tank in the town square of Falmouth. Even today, people call this part of town Water Square.
Spice It Up
The spice that gives Jamaican jerk its special kick is called pimento. Pimento is the only spice indigenous to Jamaica, which makes Jamaican jerk a very special cuisine!
Nana’s Banana Bliss Recipe
Ingredients
2 eggs, beaten well
½ cup (one stick) butter, at room temperature
4 very ripe bananas, peeled
1 ½ cups flour
1 cup sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
Nana’s secret ingredient: ¼ cup shredded coconut
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Cut butter into small pieces and mix into the beaten eggs with a pastry blender.
In a separate bowl, mash bananas.
Combine bananas with egg mixture.
Mix dry ingredients together, including Nana’s secret ingredient.
Add dry ingredients to banana mixture.
Pour batter into lightly greased 9” x 5” x 3” loaf pan.
Bake on middle rack of oven for 50 minutes. Test with knife—if it doesn’t come out clean, bake another 10 minutes.
Allow to cool for 15 minutes, then invert onto rack and let sit until completely cooled.
Optional Glaze (for fancy parties): Mix 1 cup confectioner’s sugar, enough water for spreading consistency, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Spread on top of bread.