On two recent summer days in metro Atlanta, Georgia, I interviewed Jephtha, a 34yearold Jamaican immigrant working as a waiter at a fourstar hotel. He lives in Gwinnett County, one of America's fastestgrowing areas, populated by diverse nationalities. Just two years ago, Jephtha received a U.S. work visa through an international serviceindustry agency, leaving behind the Jamaican paradise of his youth to findlike so many immigrants before himbetter economic opportunities in the United States.

In our candid conversation, Jephtha addresses making money in the US vs Jamaica; misconceptions about Jamaican culture; why American employees may take jobs for granted; Kamala Harris' presidential campaign and her Jamaican roots; marrying a US citizen from the US Virgin Islands and speaking Jamaican Patois with her (an Englishbased Creole with elements from West African languages); Jamaica & Virgin Islands' shared taste in music (including Reggae) and food such as Johnnycakes; traditional southern foods like barbecue, collard greens, and fried chicken; choosing Atlanta over New York, Florida, and Tennessee; and racial dynamics in the US vs Jamaica, including how Black Americans sometimes relate to him as a Black foreigner.

Jephtha also offers insider's advice on traveling to Jamaicaincluding Kingston and Montego Bay. He shares ways to have a fun, adventurous, and safe trip. Finally, he describes his beautiful, tropical hometown, Oracabessa. He highlights the fascinating influence of longtime resident, Ian Fleming, who wrote most of his James Bond novels there.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 INTRO
00:38 Why leave Jamaica?
01:47 Parish of St. Mary
02:09 Getting USA Work Visa
04:42 Preference for USA
05:21 Preference for Atlanta, GA
05:53 Other Jamaicans in US
06:52 Competing with Americans
07:44 Jamaican culture & work
09:10 Father's death
10:38 US Virgin Islands wife
12:03 Jamaican Patois
12:21 Jamaica & US Virgin Islands cultures
13:48 Gwinnett County
14:27 Southern Food
15:03 Jamaica's racial dynamics
16:16 US racial dynamics
17:35 Kamala Harris
19:24 Advice on visiting Jamaica
21:04 US travel visas for Jamaicans
21:32 Why international workers are needed
22:47 Jobs shortage in Jamaica
23:38 Perspective on US wages
24:33 US Immigration culture
25:19 Job realities in Jamaica
25:52 Gratitude for circumstances
26:45 Ambitions in US (Atlanta)
27:37 Advice for future immigrants
28:27 Oracabessa & Ian Fleming
30:31 Longterm plans

Stock footage is acquired from www.Storyblocks.com

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