- Contributed An adventurous grandma in the wilds with grandchildren.
SOCIOLOGIST Hermione McKenzie, lecturer in the Department of Sociolgy and Social Work at the University of the West Indies said, "Being a grandmother doesn't put me into a wheelchair. If there are going to be young mothers, then there will be young grandmothers."
The grandmothers of today, she said, are keeping up to date with what is happening and they are living healthier and longer.
"Among Caribbean people and especially in our climate, there is more longevity and grandmothers are not confined to the house as it was at one time," she explained.
Mrs. McKenzie said most grandmothers tend to travel to their children in the USA or Canada and very often the children need that kind of matriarchal figure.
Grandma is needed especially when there is a new baby, or a new job and during family crises, Mrs. McKenzie explained.
The sociologist noted that there are many matured women whose children are abroad and these women have very little commitment to Jamaica so "it is easy for them to just pick up and go and they can spend three to six months there." Family reunions and other occasions such as Thanksgiving, weddings, Christmas and New Year's celebrations will see the grandmother travelling abroad to be with the family. It is cheaper and more convenient to ask one or two members of the family to join them. Mrs. McKenzie noted that travel has become a lot easier and a lot more convenient for the seniors with airlines and travel agents offering special rates and arrangements.
The jet-setting grandmothers study the travel trade and take advantage of the deals offered by travel agencies and airlines.
COSTLY JAUNTS
IT cannot be cheap to travel to as many places and as often as these grandmothers do. The 10 percent senior citizens discount that travel agencies offer can go so far and no farther. But as we know, women from that generation can be thrifty and always save their monetary gifts for a rainy day.
According to 65-year-old, Christine Hewitt, "You should try to catch the sales and the low seasons there is always a sale between September to November and if you travel at that time, you might get your ticket at half price."
Since retirement, Mrs. Hewitt's children have financed her tickets, but she ensures that she has some money to buy gifts. "I don't go to the hairdresser, I don't drink, don't smoke, so I save my money," she said.
Her three children and five grandchildren live in the United States.
Her daughter Lornalives in Miami with her Italian husband, son Johnlives in Kendal, Miami with wife and two boys, and daughter Francineresides in Atlanta with her husband who is from Pennsylvania.
Francine's parents-in-law still live in Pennsylvania among the Amish people and although her son-in-law grew up among them and is a Christian his family have not adopted the Amish practices. However, Mrs. Hewitt said on her visit to Pennsylvania, she observed the Amish make a living from their craft, pastry, jams and jellies. It is amazing how they function in the global world with their simple life, Mrs. Hewitt said, noting that they still speak German.
This grandmother travels about three to four times per year. She said she does so "because when you live here alone there is always an occasion and you want to see your grandchildren, to be able to put them to bed and read them stories."
The families periodically have concerts where everyone performs. Although some members are shy, they do their thing and they take pictures.
When they visit her in Jamaica she makes sure that they get as much of a Jamaican experience as possible. According to Mrs. Hewitt, "When they visit we go to Guava Ridge, above Gordon Town. They like to walk in the river," she said.
"Jamaica offers them a unique experience. They open the cocoa pods and eat the cocoa and they try to learn as much about Jamaica as they can. They were all born in the US, but love the natural beauty and scenery and how people relate and the duppy stories," Mrs. Hewitt said.
Names changed on request.
