June 3, 2024 - Week 19

Sashimi.

I finally found a recommended Japanese restaurant that sells raw items and could satisfy my sushi craving. Having said which, it was recommended by a Jamaican who never had sashimi in their sushi so I went in with lowered expectations. Jamaicans have two categories: cooked or uncooked food and they have yet to fully embrace raw items e.g. sashimi, ceviche, tartare. The closest my friend approached sashimi was torched tuna and that was only because he was 'tricked' by the chef and didn't realize it was not on the 'cooked' menu. Yes - they have a clearly demarcated cooked and raw menu section!

After sushi, we also had a coconut-based ice cream and I had a soursop-flavoured one - it was creamy, sweet, and a bit tangy, but overall quite lovely. To close the day, I plucked a low-hanging mango (i did have to jump to grab it!) off the courtyard's tree to check that off my list. I still do not know the etiquette of picking mangos off trees not in your own backyard, but since I did not get in trouble, I assume that was fine!

Today, I had a heart-to-heart conversation with a teacher who opened my eyes to what life was like for some Jamaicans. She took an elderly uncle to the beach and said that he had never been to the beach and that one day she wished to visit Australia but had never flown on a plane before because she was scared and it was expensive. It really hit me that a Jamaican has not been to a beach and that it is such a privilege to have flown on a plane and been outside one's own country. We should be thankful for our experiences and what we have.