Welcome To The Big City

661 59 17
                                    

Jeminye

It is now 9pm, uncle's not yet home he called earlier though to ensure I got home safe. He told me that upstairs could be my section, where I would have my own bathroom, living room & bedroom.

It was basically like a mini apartment up here, even though he says I can stay as long as I want. I hate imposing on people, family or not as soon as I start to work and save some money I will get my own place.

The job my uncle got for me in Manhattan is pretty good , I'd be making what I normally make in 2 months back at home in a week. Imagine what I'll make when I get my masters, mom will be proud maybe she'll be so proud that me coming back won't matter.

Ha! I wish, that will never happen I know she's gonna be pissed when I tell her that I'm not coming back. I don't exactly have a full blown plan, I just know that I don't want to be stuck in the same cycle living my mother's dreams and expectations of me. I want to be my own person make my own decisions and spoil her rotten, when I'm with her I feel like I can't breathe I know she loves me but the pressure is just too much.

So I will work my ass off, save and create a space of multiple incomes. The hard part now is how the hell am I going to stay without violating the terms of my visa?. The rule states that I can only stay in the country for 6 months, am I really going to disregard the rules and do what Jamaicans call "run off"?.

The only option I can think of that would allow me to stay legally is to marry someone who was born here. What the hell am I actually saying I sound like a crazy person. I have a house, a car and a well paying job back at home.

"But are you happy?", a voice taunts me in the back of my head.

Shut up, this makes sense to you ediat gyal?.

When you run off what are you going to do?, well I'll think of something along the way I guess.

"Jem mi niece!, wah gwan". My uncle came in startling me, I was so caught up in my own thoughts I didn't even hear the door open.

"Hey uncle, I'm good". I went and gave him a hug.

"Thank you so much for taking me in, I appreciate it I won't be a burden on you too long this is just until I land on my feet I promise". I began to ramble, yeah that's something I do a lot.

"Stop the foolishness, you're family niecey America is not easy but once you have a good mindset you will make it and I will see to that personally". By the time he was done talking I got a little emotional, it's good to have caring family members because my mom and I literally have no luck with our family. Everyone turned their back on us when we needed them the most so when I heard that my uncle offered to help me with a place to stay I was shocked but grateful.

"You ate?, I left some Chipotle and a box food for you, you know me cyaa cook already". We started to laugh because that is so true, I remember when I was a little girl he attempted to fry plantains and let me tell you how black and crispy those were.

"I ate the box food didn't know if both of them were mine but I'll heat it up and eat it now like how you mek me know".

"So you met my best friend Brayden right?, sorry I couldn't pick you up i was about to leave the hospital but there was an accident on the highway so we had a lot of badly injured patients coming in".

Right I forgot he's a doctor, so does that mean his friend's a doctor too? No wonder he's so uptight and mean.

"That's okay I understand and yes I met him, he was a bit stand offish but still a gentleman". I said fidgeting.

My uncle started to study my movements, I could never be a liar my facial expressions and body language would give me right away.

"Jeminye, you're my niece so I'm going to warn you even though he's my best friend he's a man whore what we would call a 'gyalis', and I don't want to see you get hurt so stay away from him and besides he's way older than you, 11 years older to be precise".

The Jamaican Student: Welcome To AmericaWhere stories live. Discover now