China, my second home

Jamaica is an island nation situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning 10,990 square kilometers (4,240 sq mi) in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). It lies about 145 kilometers (90 mi) south of Cuba, and 191 kilometers (119 mi) west of Hispaniola (the island containing the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic).

牙买加是一个加勒比海的岛国。该岛面积为10990平方公里（4240平方英里），是大安的列斯群岛和加勒比地区的第三大岛国（仅次于古巴和伊斯帕尼奥拉）。它在古巴以南约145公里（90英里），伊斯帕尼奥拉岛（包含海地和多米尼加共和国的岛屿）以西191公里（119英里）。

Sandals South Coast Over-the-Water Bungalows

牙买加Sandals 酒店水上别墅

Jamaica's diverse ethnic roots are reflected in the national motto "Out of Many One People". Most of the population are of full African or mixed African descent, with many being able to trace their origins to the West African countries of Ghana and Nigeria. Other major ancestral areas are Europe, South Asia, and East Asia. It is uncommon for Jamaicans to identify themselves by race as is prominent in other countries such as the United States, with most Jamaicans seeing Jamaican nationality as an identity in and of itself, identifying as simply being "Jamaican" regardless of ethnicity.

牙买加民族是一个多元名族，这反映在国家座右铭“Out of Many One People”中。大多数牙买加人是非洲后裔或非洲混合后裔，主要是西非国家加纳和尼日利亚后裔。其他主要的祖先地区是欧洲、南亚和东亚。牙买加人很少以种族来认同自己，这在美国等其他国家很常见，大多数牙买加人视牙买加国籍为自身的一种身份，不论种族，都只认为自己是“牙买加人”。

Early Chinese migrants came to Jamaica in the 19th century. Another wave of migration happened in the 1980s and 1990s. Most Chinese Jamaicans are Hakka and many can trace their origin to the indentured Chinese laborers who came to Jamaica in the mid-19th to early 20th centuries.

早期的中国移民在19世纪来到牙买加。另一波移民潮发生在20世纪80年代和90年代。牙买加华人大部分是客家人，许多人的祖先是19世纪中期至20世纪初来到牙买加的契约华工。

Diplomatic relations between China and Jamaica were established on 21 November 1972. This year Jamaica and China will be celebrating 50 years of friendly relationships and partners in economic cooperation. Most notably is the North-South Highway project in Jamaica, which was an investment of USD 730 million undertaken by China Harbor. This was not only the single largest investment in infrastructure on the island nation but also the first major infrastructure investment overseas ever made by a Chinese company. China and Jamaica continue to express strong interest in the development of both nations’ friendships and the cultivation of young talent.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister, H.E. Andrew Holness and the People’s Republic of China President, H.E. Xi Jinping，2019

牙买加总理安德鲁·霍尔尼斯阁下和中华人民共和国主席习近平阁下，2019年

中国和牙买加1972年11月21日建立外交关系。今年，牙买加和中国将庆祝建立友好关系和经济合作伙伴50周年。最值得关注的是牙买加南北公路项目，该项目由中国港湾投资7.3亿美元而建。这不仅是这个岛国最大的一笔基础设施投资，也是中国公司在海外进行的第一笔重大基础设施投资。中国和牙买加继续对发展两国友谊和培养年轻人才表示出强烈兴趣。

Having traveled to over 60 countries worldwide, China has become a second home to me and holds a special place in my heart throughout my adult life. Through my two-plus decades in China, I have developed an understanding of the people, language, and culture, which has gradually allowed me to adapt to and integrate into the Chinese society. I have been fortunate enough to witness the growth of not only the China-Caribbean relations but also the unique evolution of the Chinese society.

我去过世界上60多个国家，不过中国已经成为我的第二个家，在我的成年生活中占据着特殊的位置。我在中国生活了20多年，通过对中国人民、语言、文化的了解和体验，已经逐渐适应和融入了这个被我称为第二个家的国度，我有幸见证了中加勒比关系的发展，也见证了中国社会的独特发展。

My journey has been long but rewarding, memories of the days before my first arrival to China shall stay with me forever, as they played a significant role in who I am today. Before departing my beautiful home of Jamaica in September 1997, I was faced with a major decision that would take me either to England or Shanghai to pursue my education. At that time, I was offered two attractive post-graduate scholarships: a one-year master's program in England or four years at Fudan University in Shanghai. The offers from these two countries provided me a unique opportunity of self-reflection on where I saw the journey of my professional and personal growth. After much prayer, in the end, I chose to start my pioneer journey at Fudan University in Shanghai and made history becoming the only Jamaican student in China at that time. Four years later at the end of my Master's Degree, Fudan University awarded me the distinction of "most outstanding" international student in the graduate program and was further recommended for a scholarship that led to a Doctorate in International Politics.

我的生命之旅很漫长也很有意义。我第一次来到中国之前的那些日子的记忆将永远伴随着我，因为它对今天的我起到了重要作用。1997年9月份我离开美丽的家乡牙买加之前，面临着一个重大的决定。就是要选是去英国还是上海继续我的学业。当时我获得了两项有吸引力的研究生奖学金:一项是在英国学习一年的硕士课程，另一项是在上海复旦大学学习四年。这两个国度为我提供了一个独特的机会，让我反思自己的专业和个人成长路径。在我无数的祈祷之后，我最终选择了上海复旦大学。做完这个选择，我也成为当时在中国的唯一一名牙买加学生，创造了历史。四年后，在我的硕士学位结束时，复旦大学授予我“最优秀”的研究生项目的国际学生的荣誉，并进一步推荐了我拿到学校博士奖学金，使我获得了国际政治博士学位。

After completing my Doctoral studies in 2005, I had the privilege of embarking on several other pioneer roles. That same year, I started my dream job as an independent trade consultant based in Shanghai helping companies, governments, and individuals in the Caribbean and other nations around the world to make business connections in China. Today, I’m also a lecturer of Business & Management at the Sino-British College of the University of Shanghai for Science & Technology, where I have the opportunity to share my professional knowledge and expertise with the younger generation. In January 2020, I was appointed by the Jamaican Government as the first Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) Representative for Asia and the Pacific Region.

Dr. Nicoleen Johnson represents Jamaica participated in 2017 New Media Marketing Seminar of China’s Tourist Cities Alliance & The Night in Haikou

倪考莲博士代表牙参加国参加2017年中国旅游城市新媒体营销研讨大会

2005年完成博士学业后，我有幸从事了其他几项开拓性的工作。同年，我在上海开始了我梦寐以求的工作，成为一名独立的贸易顾问。我帮助加勒比海地区和世界其他国家的公司、政府和个人在中国建立商业联系。我也是上海科技大学中英学院工商管理专业的讲师，这给我一个与年轻一代分享我的专业知识的绝佳机会。2020年1月份，我被牙买加政府任命为首位全球牙买加侨民理事会(GJDC)亚洲和太平洋地区代表。

The GJDC is one of the main mechanisms through which Jamaica and its diaspora can effectively work together to achieve the goals set out in Vision 20/30 of Jamaica’s National Development Plan. I’m also the founding president of both the Caribbean and Jamaican Association in China. Both associations serve mainly as a support network for members who live in China and aim to boost the profile of the region in China.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister, H.E. Andrew Holness and Delegation with Jamaican-Caribbean Diaspora in Shanghai, China, 2019

2019年，牙买加总理安德鲁·霍尔内斯阁下和牙买加加勒比侨民代表团在中国上海

GJDC是牙买加及其侨民能够有效合作，以实现牙买加国家发展计划愿景20/30中规定的目标的主要机制之一。我也是中国加勒比和牙买加协会的创始主席。这两个协会主要为居住在中国的会员提供支持网络，旨在提升该地区在中国的形象。

As president of the Jamaican Association in China (JAC), it brings me great honor to share my wisdom and knowledge with fellow Jamaicans on their own personal journeys in China.  One of my most notable China experience is aiding Caribbean families during the COVID 19 pandemic, specifically Jamaicans, during the prevention of COVID 19. Having experienced the 2003 SARS outbreak, this experience equipped me with a unique perspective of how to help and be impactful. Therefore, within a few short weeks of the COVID 19 pandemic, the JAC Team was able to help establish a comprehensive database of Jamaican nationals across China, that played a key role in aiding the government to disseminate information, prepare care packages and offer other crucial assistance for nationals in both Wuhan and those outside of the epicenter.  It was a privilege to partner with our hardworking staff in the embassy to help fellow Jamaicans. Our work was so impactful that it received praise from Jamaica’s head of state.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister, H.E. Andrew Holness and Global Jamaica Diaspora Council (GJDC) Representative for Asia and the Pacific Region, Dr. Nicoleen Johnson

牙买加总理安德鲁·霍尔尼斯阁下和全球牙买加侨民理事会(GJDC)亚洲和太平洋地区代表倪考莲博士

作为牙买加驻华协会(JAC)主席，我很荣幸能与牙买加人民分享我在中国的经历和感悟。我在中国最独特的经历之一是在新冠肺炎疫情期间帮助加勒比家庭，特别是牙买加家庭在中国的防疫工作。我有经历过2003年SARS的爆发的经验，这让我有了一个特殊的视角来帮助别人，并产生影响。因此，在2019冠状病毒病(COVID - 19)流行的短短几周内，JAC团队很快就建立一个涵盖中国各地牙买加国民的全面数据库，在帮助政府传播信息方面发挥了关键作用，为在武汉和其他地区的公民提供护理包和其他重要帮助。我很荣幸能与使馆辛勤工作的人员合作，帮助牙买加同胞。我们的工作非常有影响力，甚至于得到了牙买加国家元首的赞扬。

We were also fortunate throughout that time to coordinate with the Government of Jamaica to provide fee waiver assistance with the Jamaica Student Loan Bureau and a few banks for some Jamaicans that were having ‘corona impacted’ difficulties in honoring their commitment.  We also engaged the Psychological Association in Jamaica to provide well-needed support for Jamaicans in China.  This pandemic has truly bonded many people together and I am happy to share that we are now stronger as a people.

在这段时间里，我们也很幸运地与牙买加的政府协调，向牙买加学生贷款局和一些银行提供了费用减免援助，以帮助一些因“冠状病毒”而难以履行承诺的牙买加人。我们还与牙买加心理协会合作，为在华牙买加人提供必要的支持。这场疫情确实使许多人团结在一起，我很高兴地告诉大家，作为一个民族，我们现在更加强大了。

Two years after the COVID 19 outbreak, Jamaica now celebrates a historic moment at the 2022 Winter Olympics hosted in Beijing. For the first time in 24 years, echoing the exploits of the 1988 team who inspired the film Cool Runnings, Jamaica's Winter Olympics six-member team will compete in two sports. Upon the entrance of these history-making athletes at this year’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing, it warmed my heart to witness the warm welcome by the Chinese community and diaspora. Guided by the Jamaican motto of out of many one people, I am reminded of the solidarity we all have as humankind to tap into the talents of all peoples for the land we love and its people.

Jamaica’s Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 Athletes牙买加2022年北京冬奥会的运动员

2019冠状病毒病(COVID - 19)疫情爆发两年后，牙买加在北京参加2022年冬奥会，庆祝这一历史性时刻。这是24年来的第一次，也是对1988年首次参加冬奥会的牙买加团队启发了电影《酷跑》(Cool Runnings)的那支队伍的壮举的回应。牙买加冬奥会代表队由六名运动员组成，参加两个项目的比赛。冬奥会开幕式现场，这些创造历史的运动员们走进赛场时，我看到他们受到中国和海外华人的热烈欢迎，心里暖暖的。在牙买加“Out of Many One People”的座右铭的指导下，我想起我们作为人类都具有的团结精神，为了我们所热爱的土地及其人民发挥所有人民的才能。

May we continue to fight together for a shared future.

愿我们继续一起向未来。

One love, one heart. Let’s get together and feel all right. – Bob Marley

同一个爱，一颗心。让我们聚在一起，感觉好点。

——鲍勃·马利