Expat Community > Jamaica

oosh858
Joined 2018
Posts: 8

Honesty about Kingston

6 years ago

Hello! I'm planning on moving to Kingston this winter (work permit and everything taken care of). At least, I was until I started receiving pushback from family and friends based on recent news stories, such as retirees being murdered. Based on much of the news, you'd think Jamaica is currently at the violence/tension levels of South Africa.

I'm writing to ask you, true expat residents of Jamaica, to give me your honest feedback about life in Kingston and how much violence and crime really affect day-to-day life, as well as whether it's worth moving there. For reference, I'm an early-30s female coming from the U.S., and I'll either be living in Stony Hill, Red Hills, or Papine (unless there are better areas you can also recommend).

I'd really love feedback from U.S. expats especially, as this is my current environmental context. I visited Kingston for one week last year, though I know a holiday is always different from an actual life somewhere. My main concerns are really the levels of violence/crime, how much I'll stand out or if this will be an issue at all (I'm white), and what type of housing I should go for (apartment complex, or renting a room from a family).

Thanks for any and all answers. I'd like to put my family at ease, but most of all, I want to feel at ease myself.

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Expat Community > Jamaica

Honesty about Kingston

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