Let me tell you, growing up in a Caribbean household is way different than an American household. You live in a home full of high expectations, AND you don’t really have a say in what happens. And plus, you have a bunch of these “weird” remedies that you don’t even question how they work. But you love your culture no matter what and you’re glad that you can relate to others. Here’s 23 signs that you grew up as a Caribbean:
1. Getting cursed at in front of your friends in another language.
Everyone thought it was “unsafe” for you to go home and were deeply concerned for you. Guys I’m fine!
2. Developing a thick skin because you already get yelled at by your mom at home.
It’s impossible to drag me because I already get roasted in front of my relatives at home. I definitely got my pettiness from my parents.
3. West Indian relatives constantly ask you when you’re getting married or not.
“But I’m only 20—you know what.” You can’t win. Your parents tell you at 18, you’re too young to have a boyfriend, but also asking you about your “missing” husband at 23.
4. Looking for the tub of butter when it’s just rice and peas from last week.
That’s the reason why it’s called “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter.”
5. Foreign parents will NEVER be satisfied with your achievements.
Man…you ever felt sad because you got an 86 on an exam? And then your parents hit you with, “WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE I WAS GETTING 120’s ON EXAMS!”
6. You don’t have a say on whether you want to go to college or not.
I dare you to tell one of your Caribbean parents that you’re not going to college and instead pursue a rap career. Good luck!
7. Your mom has these cultural remedies that you still to this very day don’t know how they work.
My mom would wet a small piece of paper towel and put it on your forehead to stop the hiccups. I don’t know HOW…
8. Every Caribbean mom has THAT pot
9. Even stealing meat from THAT pot and recovering it was the longest 30 seconds of your life.
That pot was loud for no reason. Trying to snitch and what not.
10. Coming home from college and you find out half of your clothes were sent to your relatives back in Jamaica.
Yes, this has happened to me in my freshman year, and then my aunt on Facebook sent my mom a photo of my younger cousin wearing my romper…
11. Saying “tree” instead of “three”
Jamaicans be like.
12. Getting so mad your Patois comes out.
You have to make me really mad for my Patois to come out.
13. Your parents always make you LATE
If a party starts at 10 p.m., what time does it start?
14. “Yes mummy”
This was the Caribbean version of “yes ma’am.”
15. You can’t wear shoes in the house.
Kind of everyone’s rule but Caribbean parents don’t play around when it comes to their carpets.
16. Everyone has that embarrassing nickname.
I’m not even going to type up these examples because I’m too embarrassed.
17. Cola = Kola
But all Kola is GOOD Kola.
18. Walking into a room and greeting every single family member with a kiss.
Even the ones you BARELY know.
19. Posting something on social media and your West Indian aunties are ready to snitch.
When your aunt on Thanksgiving asks why you blocked her and then everyone realizes they’re blocked.
20. Bringing certain food for lunch at school and everyone is so fascinated by it.
“OMG YOU EAT BABY GOATS! EW!”
21. People ask you to “do an accent” for them.
Someone asked me to “talk African.”
22. Everyone at your white school thought people from the Caribbean lived in huts.
This is not just white people, that’s the sad part. No we don’t live in huts, we live in regular houses like people in the United States. There’s always rich and poor areas.
23. No matter how rough it is growing up in a Caribbean home, you love where you came from and you’re proud to rep your flag!
I love representing where I’m from!
