What’s It Like Being a Jamaican Living in Austria?

[@Jamaicans]

Thanks for watching! Are you ready to visit Austria after watching this video? If you are an expat living in Austria what's been your experience there? Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a video in the “Jamaicans to the World” series - bit.ly/2yRRCxP

[@beachdaisy4080]

I’m going to Austria to take some selfies!! Lol. Beautiful story.

[@patriciarodney970]

That was my funpart of the story. Selfie does it

[@kaydenpat]

😂

[@patriciawillims8213]

Lol why I did not see this interview when I was younger. Just saying dwl 🤣🤣

[@Ehkaya]

@@patriciawillims8213 same thought I had. 🤣

[@andremiller2197]

😂

[@sherifuntastic]

This was one of my favorite interviews...she is so much fun, I really enjoyed listening to her. I could see that she is thinking as she put her thoughts together.

[@violetmullings5753]

Girl you are a true blue jamaican i love that

[@andreeedwards6165]

Is her Portland accent she have up straight.

[@andreeedwards6165]

Althea, you are a real Portlander. Hear your accent so strong as my cousins from mill bank & comfort castle.

[@savannahwilson1295]

Another intriguing video....Althea you are authentic.....expressing and documenting your experience in the best way you can and we appreciate you. Whether you want to talk patios, broken English or a mix up of both.....who cares.....you know how to express and enjoy yourself. As you mentioned you didn’t have a tertiary education yet you were able to successfully navigate in a foreign country and learn the language with little assistance......kudos!!! Many of us do not the opportunity we deserve but you grabbed the opportunity you got and you are better for it. All the best to you and family.

[@rabalaczepol7226]

Couldn't have said it any better, the world is such a beautiful place and she's representing us so well!! I love her, shi naa try twang or nth she jus real, raw and authentic

[@DrDianeThompson]

I was in Austria teaching European physicians around Christmas time 2019. We also visited the church for the Sounds of Music. I said to my husband, I know I can find at least one Jamaican there. My people are everywhere.

[@marcwatson6063]

She is not JAMAICAN..What kind of wired accent is that

[@hyacinthgordon5295]

@@marcwatson6063 . 🤣🤣🤣👍👍

[@hopemcfarquhargraham5402]

@marcjackson...she's authentically Jamaican...we speak differently that's what makes us unique. Everywhere in Jamaica you go people speak with different accent. She is 🇯🇲💯💯

[@msymister6776]

@@marcwatson6063 What do you get from being so overly critical of almost all the interviewees??

[@kondensedyah9249]

@@hopemcfarquhargraham5402 She is truly a Jamaican. She speaks like some of the people from Portland, Jamaica.

[@shawn-a-leebernard6884]

I love this such a beautiful spirit! I especially love hearing about women who move with children, it gives me so much hope.

[@yoshi_godsgift]

Big up to my beautiful cousin Althea 🇦🇹 💛 ❤ 💕 💙 💗 can't wait until this pandemic to end so I can visit 🇯🇲🇨🇦 🇦🇹

[@surfboarding5058]

Plandemic *

[@marshat8657]

Austria is very beautiful indeed! I visited Salzburg, Innsbruck and Liechtenstein in June 2019 with my 2 daughters. In Salzburg our hotel had replays of the Sound of music movie all day and we visited the entire location where it was filmed. Innsbruck is amazing and picturesque with a river running through the center of the town. Driving through the country was just a breathtaking and memorable experience. I will definitely return soon. Great interview as usual Xavier and your guest is so very Jamaican with such enthusiasm for Austria.

[@dolphins3291]

Cheers, Xavier and Althea, for such a warm, informative chat. Fam enjoyed this video -- one of yuh best, Xavier! Althea exuded loads of charm, and was so down to earth in being her authentic self and sharing with your audience about her experiences. A good storyteller, it was engaging listening to her. We especially admire her being self-taught, for the most part, at learning German. She came across as having a great attitude towards life, language-learning, and could poss master other languages if she wanted to. And Xavier, you got down the closing greeting dis time, man! 👏🏾😊 Languages can be fun. During our homeschooling, I demonstrated to mi children, to just listen closely, and parrot back the first-language speaker's pronunciation, and yu got it! As we used to say as pickney -- "easy like-a cheesy!" Some might membah dat one from primary school?! 🖤💚💛(NC)

[@kaydenpat]

She hasn’t heard of The Sound of Music?!! That would be the reason I’d visit Austria as well. 😊 I love her laughter. She seems like a fun lady. The way she met her current husband is very interesting.

[@patwahili771]

Being your true self is the best thing. Althea I really observed you translating in your head. Well done! Well done to Xavier aswell!

[@jeremiahbutler832]

I love this lady's personality, she seems so authentic

[@totalwomanja9105]

This is a very fascinating interview with much to learn from Ms. Althea. Here’s a beautiful Jamaican woman who has made us proud. I really tuned in to this one and May listen again.

[@marshaandy8371]

Lovely lady and a very nice interview

[@worldisbeautiful399]

What a great channel! I learned so much.

[@Jamaicans]

Thanks for watching! Be sure to subscribe here so you don't miss any future videos in the series - bit.ly/2yRRCxP

[@jenniferjones3516]

One of your best interview Xavier. Such a beautiful soul.🌺❤️

[@ookok8446]

This was really fun.. I totally enjoy this interview the most fun one so far

[@ArtsyIslandGirlJamaicanVlogs]

I appreciate this series Xavier ❤️

[@Jamaicans]

Thanks for the compliment! We are glad you enjoyed this episode in the “Jamaicans to the World” series. If you missed any they are all located here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZuop6R9a9l_sNU&list=PLt0YTBf5UEoc1-D9XLrtMdespsht1oBLJ

[@acajudi100]

I listen to Mozart no commercials on here. Super calming. You have the best interviews.

[@authenticjamaican_1]

She has an amazing personality...i look forward to all your interviews Mr. Murphy..keep doing great!

[@Jamaicans]

Thanks for watching! Be sure to subscribe here so you don't miss any future videos in the series - bit.ly/2yRRCxP

[@debbie0813]

Can't believe the only reason I want to go to Austria because of the Sound of Music also. I watch it once a year

[@barbararobinson3369]

I would visit their for the sound of music i just love that movie.

[@you_are_Profound]

She’s so genuine and honest, l like her...😂🤗

[@ArtsyIslandGirlJamaicanVlogs]

I pick that too

[@audreyebrahimi159]

I very much enjoyed this conversation.

[@delightedbyu1]

Good day, my name is Ray Mun and I am one of few speech-language pathologist from our bold enchanting isle. Last year I engaged admiringly in this forum expressing grateful thoughts about the range and breath of the island's impact across the world as embodied by the experiences, joys and laughter of some like myself who swam the distant shores. I made for study in one of the 50 states of the familiar land some call the US of A. Trials aside I wore Caribbean pride on my sleeves and chose to expand myself through overseas experiences appreciating the nitties and gritties of our culture to its daunting core. But ever since my well intended words were posted I've suffered spite compounded with personal gripes and the multiple manifestations of prejudice. Paul's powers paled to match the force of anger poured over one person's "falsities" by prying people. I have been chained to technology that bombarded me daily with a pessillence that pierced the eternities - I have been experiencing HELL!! I may have even identified souls seeking sabotage while personally being searched out and spied on. What is the cause of the scavenge? Right now my greatest desire is to renew my space in quietness. Still wishing for all the best during the splicing of what some would describe as my "Gladderation" turning into the greatest Lesson Plan and Preparation. I now know some big old Badginnals but let's leave them for another day...!

[@icemareid7908]

Really enjoy this series

[@Jamaicans]

Thanks for watching! Be sure to subscribe here so you don't miss any future videos in the series - bit.ly/2yRRCxP

[@roxannemcintosh342]

I loved this interview!!!!!

[@Yesmyjamaica]

Boy Another interesting interview. What a delightful lady. She thinks in German now. Commendations to you.You consistently find such interesting people and they all represent us so well. Big up. 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🖤💚💛

[@eslinemills5375]

The ski jump in Innsbrook, the sound of music estate, the golden roof, Vienna canal trips, etc.

[@876Ronnie]

Love this interview, thanks

[@sherifuntastic]

I can relate as I returned to Jamaica speaking more patios than English....it was a struggle switching from Spanish to English, patios was just easier.

[@delightedbyu1]

You probably weren't speaking patois!!!

[@srb1392]

I’m a Jamaican living in the US but will be on vacation in Austria during the summer of next year.

[@candyreese9643]

I really fuljoyed this.. Thanks for this program I too would like to leave Ja to explore the world..

[@delightedbyu1]

You can do it!

[@Jamaicans]

Thanks for watching! Be sure to subscribe here so you don't miss any future videos in the series - bit.ly/2yRRCxP

[@delightedbyu1]

She love her Jamaican food though... I like the way how she says that she miss "everything!" LOL~!!!

[@richieredw2142]

The photo of the castle at the beginning of the interview is not in Austria, it's in southern Germany near to the Austrian border. The name of the castle is "Neushwanstein" and its in the town of Fuessen, just saying. Nice interview

[@genevievenugent625]

What a delightful Jamaican lady!

[@shevahmorris9132]

I need to be in the right spot for my selfies!

[@dorrellwhyte5437]

Love these interview

[@delightedbyu1]

To all those people judging authenticity based on how deep one's Jamaican accent is, just because somebody "chat bad" doesn't mean that they are anymore authentic than someone else who standardized their English pronunciations!!!!

[@simonelavigne8618]

I would also go to Austria for The Sound of Music.

[@JD-yu3dk]

I’ve visited. Go to Salzburg, Austria for all things Sound of Music and Mozart. Beautiful town,

[@ivarinebell4225]

That lady is so real her smile just wow

[@SBART1]

💠Very interesting, authentic interview💠

[@rosenigg9139]

Austria is beautiful so much to do and see very Historic.

[@everlasting1971]

Beautiful Jamaican

[@Ehkaya]

Xavier - Sound of Music is my all time favorite movie. I would want to visit just for that reason. When you said you have a secret I knew exactly what you were going to say. I have watched that movie so many times.

[@Cavellification]

German is very similar to Dutch! learning to speak it is very hard especially the grammar. TOTALLY the opposite of English, XTREAMLY difficult language.

[@suebell1212]

You can hear the authenticity, you can take the girl out of Jamaica but can’t take Jamaica out of the girl, love this, 🇯🇲

[@delightedbyu1]

Having a deep Jamaican accent doesn't necessarily make you an authentic Jamaican. People can be authentic in so many different ways!

[@suebell1212]

@@delightedbyu1 My statement was not up for debate or discussion. If you watched the video, you can make your own judgement of it, this was MY takeaway. Be blessed!!

[@delightedbyu1]

@@suebell1212 If you don't want debate and discussion you don't post things on KZbin! I'm sick and tired of people measuring authenticity based on how people talk - it's just so simplistic and backward!

[@suebell1212]

@@delightedbyu1 You’re not in my thoughts to know the reason for my comment. The backwardness & simplicity of your mind, of you not realizing that these are just simple interviews, showcasing how far our culture is reaching. I’m not afraid to debate or to have discussions, however, it’s not warranted here, so take your criticism and jump out of my comments.

[@delightedbyu1]

@@suebell1212 Simple interviews or not - stop trying to judge authenticity based on how someone speaks! It's irrelevant and baseless!

[@antoinettewest2951]

Austria is beautiful thank thank you Althea.

[@lillianmartin9230]

Althea nice to see you this program great interview with Xavier

[@claudettelorraineraphael560]

I enjoy the interview no food better than our food

[@zitroybrown773]

Wow really enjoyed this interview

[@InfiniteNaturalMystic]

She’s lovely ☺️

[@britt4404]

Interesting 😅

[@OSmith-yq5vb]

My xgrilfriend is Austrian I meet her in Canada thou I live in the USA beautiful woman beautiful culture very kind person her family is loving,they embrace I am jamaican most people would ask so what happen, I prioritize career thinking it was the most important thing, little did I know I lost a wonderful person

[@TheEleith]

Great interview

[@janellmcpherson5108]

Love it

[@rollingcalfstream]

Let´s go Mom😅😅

[@janzichanz2968]

aww, her jamaican patois strong tho

[@delightedbyu1]

Wonderful interview and story. Amazing lady! I'm gonna educate though as I think Jamaicans need to get over this bit of craziness. So when most relatively intelligent people migrate to other countries with different dialects or languages they don't often lose their patois OR lose their English. In fact, the research shows that for people with average intellect, learning a second language can actually improve skills in another previously learned language. But one of the things that foreigners quickly learn how to do is "code switch." This is where migrants move in and out of their native tongue and can slip into the newer, learned speech pattern at a moment's notice. It's what most immigrants have learned how to do. One needs to communicate in a way that people can understand. Just for an example, take a listen to the delightful interview of Jamaicans in Sweden and you'll hear the two women code-switching from deep patois to standard English effortlessly. Even those who reside in Jamaica do this for professional reasons (e.g. Miss Kitty and a host of other media people, politicians, etc.) It's a way for immigrants and other people to cope with vastly differing linguistic demands and we often become better at both and that's a benefit to living abroad. For example, my patois improved after just living abroad for a year. I use it more now (talk exclusively with my mother on phone in patois). Guess what, my "American English" skills improved too, I learned a whole new set of idioms and adages that are unique to my adopted country's culture and I code switch daily like so many other people from the Jamaican diaspora. So you will notice that this woman is unable to code-switch from informal to more formal like most Jamaicans who want to show off their patois skills while being understood by an international audience (it's just one way for her when she's expressing herself using English)... She has likely adapted German and Austrian and her standard English might have fallen behind in that delightful mix. But please please people don't ever try to suggest that what she's producing is patois or that she's an authentic Jamaican based on how she is speaking in this interview because that couldn't be more ridiculous! And also understand that when people in our adopted countries ask us to speak patois it's often purely just for fun. Absolutely no company overseas is trying to hire someone who can only produce patois on the job - unless it's a niche position. It's shocking that some Jamaicans actually think this way. But this was an awesome interview and I wish I could one day meet this delightful and accomplished lady just to talk and talk some more!!

[@hopemcfarquhargraham5402]

@ray ray .....you could not have said it any better. On point.💯

[@delightedbyu1]

@@hopemcfarquhargraham5402 It's just a little pet peeve of mine. Thanks for reading!

[@cherrypie3942]

She is the real deal love her

[@blacksnowman8106]

Where can i poblish my Story of beeing raised in Austria aß a Jamaican Citizen

[@tiamaria44]

My name sake.....God bless you Athea. You ran right into your spouse.

[@nickydreamgirlnd]

I was gonna say Everything 👍👍🔥🥰

[@joystewart7862]

Sound like English is her second language 🤣😂

[@pierre-cherismallwood1708]

It probably is now she said it because she only spoke in patio or German

[@20kevron]

Wow self taught very impressive.

[@kaydianhoukes8364]

Althea you are a STAR :)

[@leoneyjones1628]

What part of Jamaica is Althea from

[@suebell1212]

Long Bay, that’s in Portland.

[@graceasphall544]

I love Althea. She’s hilarious 😂

[@IdentityinChrist222]

I live in Germany and I get some jamaican products there.

[@theilladvisedminor4915]

I thought this was published already😭

[@marcwatson6063]

Am I the only one who wondering where she get that nasty accent

[@Junjo11]

Beautiful husband and family 💖

[@delightedbyu1]

8:35 She's so sweet and honest to a T... mi woulda mek up suppn!

[@Maitland5]

The question should have been What they do in Austria that shock, surprise you or you find strange or really strange or different from what you used to.

[@MA-yh2ko]

Where in Jamaica she come from? She sounds like my auntie who's from St Thomas.

[@ashleym2713]

She said she was in Long Bay

[@MA-yh2ko]

@@ashleym2713 ahh thank u

[@DS-ss7fp]

Portland, Long bay is in Portland, but she could be from St Thomas also as it's close.

[@nickydreamgirlnd]

Intervie me am a Jamaican living in Germany over 25 years....

[@beverlycross912]

Do u need a visa

[@zaviisims]

This is what I’m talking about, exotic places not no damm Barbados or Trinidad weh everybody know

[@singuntothelordinspiredbyt9140]

This lady must have been living under a hole in Portland Jamaica not to have heard of the sound of music.

[@esbarrett2868]

Funniest intro so far

[@shana100mckday]

you can tell german is now her main language. the english does not sound so authentically jamaican anymore.

[@esbarrett2868]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@hyacinthgordon5295]

🤔🤭

[@shevahmorris9132]

She thinks in German n patois/patwa...n she tlk like a real country J'can woman.... no darn English in her head! Lol

[@cherylmontcrief7600]

My question is do they miss there parents.

[@mellisahenry5875]

Hello

[@annhaughton3153]

Lovely lady

[@anngore3842]

Austria????? No thank you!

[@anthonycoote9546]

It's beautiful there. Use to live there. Once you speak the language, you're fine. You're seen as enigma

[@florencengeleka1240]

Racist country

[@surfboarding5058]

I agree with Ann Gore not for me Austria

[@ethlyna.rollocks1133]

Never heard of The Sound of Music? Very backward! Sad

[@singuntothelordinspiredbyt9140]

This is a raw Jamaican..she still can't pronounce her words correctly.. ee instead of He..picha instead of picture? Tree instead of three, jus instead of just..ting instead of thing, dem instead of them, multiculcha instead of multicultural hahaha and the mis pronunciation goes on and on hahaha. But I like her story.

[@florencengeleka1240]

She sure doesn’t speak proper German , she sounds like Trinidadian

[@marcwatson6063]

She is not JAMAICAN

[@delightedbyu1]

I am definitely Jamaican, and I am having some issues substantiating her "Jamaicanness" with the way she talks!

[@marcwatson6063]

@@delightedbyu1 Thank you .It's sounds Aaawful..I stop watching and 8 minutes

[@kaydenpat]

Please stop. You have no right to say who is or isn’t Jamaican.

[@1marialatoya]

When living abroad for a while, we pick up accents of the places we are and the people we are around. She has been speaking German for years and some of the words she uses are with German pronunciation. With the many Jamaicans around the world, what does a Jamaican sound like? Do we lose our Jamaicanness by sounding different from people who stay in Jamaica? 🙄

[@delightedbyu1]

@@1marialatoya Great questions and without giving out my line of work I think that everyone on this thread may begin to suspect that while I'm not trying to pass as an authority I have developed more than a cursory interest in this topic. Knowing who we are as Jamaicans and our heterogeneity it'll be very difficult to put Jamaicans into a box. Too many factors at play, influences and variables to consider. But some key principles are as follows: 1. Immigrants will adapt to the dialectic variants of their new home as a way of assimilating especially if they develop social and conversational bonds with people from the new country (when in Rome... do as the Romansetc.) 2. The age at which one enters a foreign country will impact on the levels of adaptation. Generally the younger you migrate the more likely you are to lose the dialect/"accent" of your homeland. 3. The extent to which one keeps contact with family members/friends from the native land via telephoning, face timing can affect how much "Jamaicanness" one keeps. So if you madda call you 4 times daily from Jamaica you may still sound a lot like her even though you live in NYC. 4. The spoken language and pronunciation models that you've been taught to respect impacts how you talk. I still emulate some of the pronunciation models that I grew up hearing as a kid. No one is perfect but I think my models were great. Rest in peace Dorraine Samuels and Michael Sharp!!! 5. Your job impacts on the way you communicate. For example if you are a school teacher teaching American born children and interacting daily with their parents and an almost all American staff this could bring out in you a different communication style than if you were to be a computer programmer working remotely. Again not saying that anyone is better than the other!! 6. There's something called idiosyncrasies and people will get mad at me for this, but there are people who are just wired differently and have an "ear" for and is adept to soaking up new speaking parents and dialects (which a lot of people refer to as an accent) and I personally wish I was one of those people. They could develop a communication pattern that is more intuned with their new country for personal reasons while others find a preference for sounding as if they never left their back yard. Most people do code switching though - (a little of both) which I talked about somewhere here. Again this is people's preference and not a point of contention. Personally after living in the US for 9 years (four spent in grad school) I can manipulate how I speak in a given context. I came to America in late 20s - too old to pick up the "yankee" drawl. People detect that I'm an immigrant with a "British touch" to my "accent." Unless they have interacted with many from my region they have no clue and even if they have West Indian connections they never pick Jamaica for me but incorrectly guess Britain/Barbados, Bermuda etc. ...I enjoy the game and quickly tell some people, others I let them keep guessing and that's my RIGHT! I love being a little mysterious sometimes and I can do whatever the heck I want! Then my mother calls me, the animations and speaking rate triples, the rhythm changes and intonation pattern gets more colorful, almost could sound like I'm upset when I'm actually appreciative of the call. I quickly answer with "Whe unno a call me again fah?" which means "Why are you all calling me back so quickly" which is an innocuous greeting but could be viewed as offensive to a non-Jamaican! We can talk anywhere from 10 minutes to four hours! Another cultural standout point, many Jamaicans enjoy talking, as the oral tradition of story telling and dramatizations are valued in our culture. Today I told my mother "Mi almost bun down the house awhile ago" translation, "I lightly burned my toast" which I was eating while chatting to her clapping my lips (a no no if speaking with anyone not exposed to my culture) but totally fine to do with my mom! I think you might begin to get the point that Jamaicanness can mean many different things to many different people. I for one am an accomplished professional who assimilated well to the US who also happens to think that I am quite an authentic Jamaican as I'm deeply enmeshed with the culture, traditions and way of life. My family still lives there. I will forever be Jamaican and will never lose my Jamaicanness even if had chosen to sound differently from the people that stay in Jamaica. My decision, my choice... we are free to do whatever we want. I just think that the way one "sounds" is too small a factor in defining one's overall Jamaicanness. Sorry for the extended response but you know what, it's just my way of responding to the clowns who like to say that I'm not Jamaican enough simply because I chose the conservative path of being clean cut and shaved, studied hard and now do the modern 9 to 5, invest in stocks and opt for a quite life with close friends and don't feel a need to light a spliff or ever say "blood claat" audibly! But that's just my two cents, to each his own. Again we are too heterogeneous a people to pigeonhole! Disclaimer: I have every respect for my Jamaican brothers and sisters who use the word "blood claat" without reservation and of course my good countrymen and friends who keep promising to teach me how to roll and light a spliff ... guess what, at 35 years old... I'm too old...!!!