Could you please do me a favour and explain some of the terminology used by Jamaicans in their letters to you so that I can understand what they are referring to? I don't understand some of the sayings/terms used by some Jamaicans. For example in a recent letter to you, a woman said that her boyfriend likes "browning" women. Another woman's boyfriend said that she is his "belly". What does that mean, pastor? Please help me to understand. I could ask a Jamaican that I know, but he would laugh at me and call me a Yankee Jamaican. So, that leaves you, pastor, to help me understand.

Cultural changes

I was born in Jamaica, but I left about 40 years ago when I was a child and I have not kept up with the cultural changes on the island. In fact, I'm embarrassed to say that in all those years, I've being back to Jamaica about five times. I am trying to reconnect with the Jamaican culture, but it's been difficult because there is so much that I've missed over the years. Reading your column has been helpful to me.

Thank you, pastor. You're so kind.

D. P., New York, USA

Dear D. P.,

When a person says that he likes a 'browning', he is just talking about a woman who is of brown complexion. Some men prefer to date women who are of brown complexion. And some women prefer men of light complexion. Interestingly, many women who are of brown complexion tend to date men who are of dark complexion.

A man may refer to a woman as his 'belly' because she means everything to him. She deeply loves him and takes care of him.

Pastor