Diary of Latoya Hunter by Latoya Hunter Page A

it was sold out. But it turned out to be a nice day. Rondah, Devoy, Rondah’s friend Marcia, our two cousins who we’re staying with and myself walked around Kingston and stopped at the shore of some kind of body of water, took pictures, laughed and talked. Kingston I think is the most busy place in Jamaica. It’s mostly a business area. There are tall buildings that would be hard to find anywhere else in Jamaica. There are people selling things on the sidewalk and they’ll do anything to make you buy from them. They usually travel from poorer areas or farming areas with crops or crafts that they thought people would buy. For most of them, that’s their only source of income. It pains me to see people living like that. It’s not fair that people suffer while people like Michael Jackson make millions of dollars for singing a song. There’s poverty everywhere but at least in New York people can get more help. There is always public assistance like welfare. For the homeless there are shelters. There aren’t any things like that in Jamaica. In that case, I’m lucky to be here.

April 28, 1991
    Dear Janice
,
    I went to church today with my three cousins. The church wasn’t the best church in Jamaica, not even close. I don’t know exactly how to describe it. The seats were made out of pieces of board placed down on concrete blocks. The walls had no hint of paint, there were no doors, everything was just thrown together. My cousins tell me it used to look much better but the famous Hurricane Gilbert struck and that was it. They also told me some other stories about Gilbert.
    For instance, a lady who lives in their housing scheme’s roof was blown off completely and she had to run for shelter at their house. It’s a lucky thing that nothing happened to any of my family or their homes. I remember hearing what was happening down here while I was up in New York and praying that nothing would happen to those I loved. That’s the worst feeling to have.

April 30, 1991
    Dear Janice
,
    R ight now, I’m worried out of my mind. My grandmother has taken sick and she has to go to the hospital for an operation. I can’t believe this is happening to me again. My great grandmother was sick. She had to go to the hospital. She had to take an operation. But she also never came back out. The last time I was with her was when they were putting her in her grave. This cannot happen again. One time was enough for a lifetime.

May 2, 1991
    Dear Janice
,
    T oday we went to a place called Glengoff to visit my other set of grandparents. I don’t know them very well. They’re my father’s side. There wasn’t anyone home except my father’s stepmother. My other grandmother (my father’s mother) had died when he was born. She didn’t even know who we were until we told her who we were. We showed her Courtney’s pictures. She only browsed through and gave them back. She doesn’t seem to have a very nice personality.

May 3, 1991
    Dear Janice
,
    T oday was pretty boring. In a sense it wasn’t though. Because I’ve been on the road so much, just staying home seems strange it was nice to be with Oudia she’s fun. We argue, but it’s friendly arguing. There is such a thing! Just last night we were arguing and fist fighting and I told her we’re only doing this because we love each other. Is that strange to you? It really isn’t. If you were alive with feelings you’d know what I mean. We humans are complicated creatures you know.

May 7, 1991
    I ’m back home! It’s almost like I never left. One thing I’ve found out about this place is you can leave for weeks or even months and when you get back you get right back into the flow of things. I’ve only been back a few hours and life has gone back to normal already. Good old Jamaica is behind me now so is the thought that everything had stayed the same after I left. It’s kind of nice to know everyone has gone on with their lives down there.
    Big news! Sandra has left Dave. She just