Jamaica provides a fascinating study abroad opportunity for those looking for a diverse and challenging Caribbean experience.

While Jamaica is traditionally pictured as a Caribbean paradise, the island also has a rich cultural heritage to offer to willing students. Jamaica's civilization began with the Carib and Arawak Indians long before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1494. After Columbus, the island became a Spanish colony, and after 1655, a British colony. Under the British it became famous for its wealthy sugar plantations, which required the importation of an extensive number of slaves from Africa. (Over 90% of Jamaica's current-day population is of African descent.) With the emancipation of the slaves in 1938, the plantations then began to utilize indentured labor from India and China. Jamaica gained freedom from the United Kingdom in August of 1962, but remains a member of the British Commonwealth.

Today, the island's economy is heavily dominated by services, with industries such as tourism and bauxite mining contributing a significant proportion of the country's income. Sugar remains important to the economy, as does the rum that is a byproduct. Jamaica's Blue Mountain coffee is also famous worldwide.

Jamaica has inherited an interesting legacy from its complex roots, stemming from African, Caribbean, American, and European influences. Perhaps one of the best expressions of Jamaica's culture is in Reggae music, as popularized by some of the island's most famous musicians. Reggae singer Bob Marley received one of Jamaica's highest honors, the Order of Merit (OM) for his cultural contributions to Jamaica and his efforts in bringing peace between different parties and points of view. In his music, Marley consistently sought to be a voice raised against racism, oppression, and injustice. Jamaica today is still struggling against high unemployment, poverty and debt, and music has provided an outlet through which the Jamaicans can express the difficulty of struggles yet see beyond them to the promises of the future. Jamaica's African heritage has also contributed to Afro-inspired spiritual beliefs and practices, including the Jamaican-born Rastafarianism.

The higher education system in Jamaica consists of a variety of universities, colleges, vocational centers, and teacher-training colleges. The biggest and best-known institution is the University of the West Indies, which is an international institution and serves the countries of the Commonwealth Caribbean. UWI began as a College of the University of London in 1948, and achieved full university status in 1962. Today UWI serves as the region's premier educational institution and offers undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs near Kingston, Jamaica's thriving capital and cultural center. The school places a strong emphasis on Caribbean issues, which makes it an ideal location for international students with an interest in Caribbean society and Jamaica's efforts toward development in the contemporary world as the leader of the Caribbean community.

From the paradise of its Caribbean atmosphere to the complexities of its Reggae music and rich artistic and cultural heritage and its modern-day development efforts, Jamaica has much to teach a willing student.

Jamaica provides a fascinating study abroad opportunity for those looking for a diverse and challenging Caribbean experience.

Resources -

Embassy of Jamaica: http://www.embassyofjamaica.org/
University of the West Indies: http://www.mona.uwi.edu/
Lonely Planet: http://www.lonelyplanet.com
World InfoZone: http://www.worldinfozone.com