The Weather in Greensburg

The weather in Greensburg Pennsylvania is so different form the weather in Jamaica. Jamaica is an island, so the weather is most likely always sunny. Here in Greensburg, the weather changes periodically. One minute its cold, then another minute it's sunny in a few hours it’s raining. This weather pattern occurs all through the day. Because of the changes in the weather, I was ill twice already. After all, my roommate and I were having a conversation, and it so happened that the weather topic came up. The weather here is so weird I exclaimed! Sarah, my roommate stated “welcome to western Pennsylvania that’s the way the weather pattern is here”. Because of the weather I mostly stay in my room which is located in the village called Apollo. There, I try to overlook the other side of the school watching the pouring raining running down the hill and the river flowing heavily as if it wants to overflow.

The National dish in Jamaica Ackee

INGREDIENTS :
• 1/2 lb. Saltfish (codfish)
• 1 dozen ackees
• 1 small onion
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 slices hot scotch bonnet pepper
• 1 small red sweet pepper
• cooking oil

METHOD:
1. Soak Saltfish in warm water to taste.
2. After soaking saltfish (codfish), place it in cold water and boil.
3. Clean the achee. Remove the seeds and all traces of interior red pit from the ackees.
4. Wash ackees five times
5. Cover and boil until moderately soft.
6. Drain, cover, and put aside.
7. Pick up(flake) the saltfish and remove all bones.
8. Saute thinly sliced onions and sweet pepper rings.
9. Remove half of the fried onions and peppers
10. Add saltfish and the ackees, and turn the fire/stove up slightly.
11. Add black pepper
12. Pour in to serving plate and garnish with remaining onions and pepper slices

JAMAICAN ESCOVEITCH FISH RECIPE

(Escoveitch: A variation on ceviche, the raw fish in lime juice popular in Latin American cuisine.)
Ingredients:
2 lbs any whole small fish or filets
1 lime
1/4 cup flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
oil for frying
Sauce:
1 cup white or cider vinegar
1 cup water
pinch of salt; pinch of sugar
1 cup julienned strips of carrot and chocho (chayote)*
1 hot pepper, such as Scotch Bonnet, cut in rings
1 large onion, cut in rings
6 pimento (allspice) berries

After you have washed fish, squeeze lime into rinse water to reduce fishiness. Dust with flour and fry. Set aside.

Boil together water, vinegar, sugar and salt. Add the remaining ingredients and cook briefly. Pour sauce over fish and leave to marinate in the refrigerator 4-24 hours before serving.

Recipe of my favorite Jamaican dish Curry Shrimp with white rice and vegetables

INGREDIENTS:
Serves: 4
2 lbs fresh shrimps
1.25 fl oz oil
2 onions, chopped
1/4 shin of a scotch bonnet pepper finely chopped up
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons curry powder
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 sweet pepper chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
black pepper
1 1/2 cups water
Rice
1 ½ cups of rice with 2cups of water
This is interchangeable depending on the servings

Difference in the food

The food in Jamaica and the food here at school have two totally different tastes and yes I know you all are saying were you really expecting the food in Jamaica and the food in Greensburg to be the same? That’s Jamaica for God’s sake! Not being critical but this food here at school has no taste, no seasoning and most of all doesn’t appear appetizing. The only days the food is good are on the days when they have pasta. This is probable because I am a pasta fin addict. I just love pasta whether it’s good or bad. Another thing about the food is the proportion. For the amount of students there aren’t enough servings. They told me at that cafeteria that i needed to come earlier and i will get my serving. I laughed because I thought that what she said was quit rude yet so funny, but she didn’t know what I was thinking. I thought to myself what if everyone came early what would happen then?

Dancehall Music

Dancehall music

What comes to your mind when you think of dancehall music? Yep! Exactly what I was thinking, dancehall music is the “Real McCoy” people would do anything for dancehall music. In Jamaica, people are so laid back that they actually make up dances like every week for the different party events. Dancehall music is an outlet for people in Jamaica. It is a way to free their mind and release some stress. However, I decided to try out for the dance team here at UPG. The first day of auditions the teacher asks “how long have you been dancing?” This was a question for everyone. Some people said ten years, others stated five and so on. When she gave the first count most people were stumbling on their moves. I decided that the team was going to be a total disaster and that I wasn’t going to be a part of it. Any way, I wanted to do something at my leisure, but there wasn’t much other from clubs.

Soca

Soca is another type of Jamaican music. Even though it was invented in Trinidad and Tobago, we Jamaicans still listen to it and have singers who sings it. Soca is really seasonal in Jamaica; it is played only at carnival season. During this time of year, there is lots of hostility because the island becomes overcrowded with people. Even though the island is overcrowded and hostile, that doesn’t stop the people from having fun.
We have food such as Curry Goat, Jerk Chicken, Jerk pork, Jamaican Patties, and all the best tasting and greatest food you can ever imagine. Apart from the food, the costumes are to die for. Most people's attire is very skimpy, revealing yet exotic. They will be jumping, singing and dancing everywhere in the streets all day long.