Life and Debt and A Small Place--Melissa Hurley

I had previously seen Life and Debt in another class that discussed Latin American politics and social structure. We discussed in depth the impact organizations like the IMF and the World Bank have on small countries that rely heavily on imports such as Jamaica. It is so sad and frustrating that large countries such as the US totally take advantage of the helpless, hard working people that provide us with delicious tropical fruits and exotic getaways. I think it was powerful how the film talked a good deal to the tourists. I felt guilty putting myself in their shoes. I have never been to a country like Jamaica or Antigua, but I imagined what I would be like if I did have the chance to go. I would like to think that I would be sensitive and knowledgeable about the conditions of the country I was vacationing in, but honestly, I doubt that any of that would have crossed my mind before I saw this film. I saw myself doing everything those naïve tourists were doing; laughing, drinking, relaxing, and being happy that my American dollar exchanged for so much more foreign currency, yet not knowing what I could get with that money.  Now, I honestly probably would choose to not go on one of those lavish vacations. It would be more beneficial to me to travel simply to a beautiful, yet impoverished country and spend my time volunteering or using my American dollars to help improve the living situations of some of the native people. Kincaid’s book, A Small Place, provided a large sum of the quotes that were heard in the documentary. I really enjoyed this because it helped to bridge the connections between the book and the film, even though the comments on tourists made me uncomfortable. I think it was a good discomfort, however, because it made me look into myself and realize that wow, if I hadn’t seen this film, I could easily be one of those tourists looking stupid through the lens that we watched this film through. I am glad that will not be the case, however. I am happy I got to view this documentary again. I got more out of it by thinking about it along the lines of the effects of colonialism and post colonialism.