From Dubai to Kingston: How I Found My Home in Jamaica's Warmth & Simplicity

Babes, How Did You Get Here? | Lana: From Beirut to Dubai to Kingston – Building Home Wherever She Lands

What happens when a Lebanese tax professional gets a random call from a UK recruiter about a job in Jamaica—a place she only knew through Bob Marley—and decides to leave Dubai’s glossy efficiency for an island she’d never even Googled?

In this warm, deeply authentic episode, host April Jackson sits down with Lana—a Lebanese expat, tax professional, former Dubai resident, and now a proud Kingston-based mom who’s called Jamaica home for seven years. Born in Gabon, raised in Lebanon, educated in Dubai, and now raising her Jamaican-born daughter in Kingston, Lana shares what it really takes to build a life “elsewhere”: culture shock, misconceptions, unexpected belonging, and choosing to truly live where you land—not just exist.

In this episode, we talk about:

The unexpected recruiter call that changed everything
Leaving Dubai after seven years and trusting the timing
Googling Jamaica (“most dangerous city in the world”) vs the reality she found
Jamaican warmth vs transactional service—community, kindness, and being cared for while pregnant
Pregnancy and giving birth in Jamaica (including home-birth planning)
Taking a full year to decide: move closer to family or stay—and choosing simplicity
Raising a confident child in a community-centered culture
School choices, standardized testing, and why “outdoor/forest days” mattered
Food, culture, vegan life, cravings, and what she just can’t eat
“Jamaican time” and adjusting to a different pace
Safety misconceptions about Kingston—and why she’s felt secure
The mindset shift: home is wherever you live fully
If you’re considering a big move, curious about expat life in Jamaica, or need a reminder that home is something you build—this episode will inspire you (and might make you crave callaloo).

About the show – Babes, How Did You Get Here?
Hosted by entrepreneur and former Miss Jamaica April Jackson, this podcast shares real stories of people who left the script—choosing courage, community, and a life elsewhere.


📚 To join the Parenting community: https://april-s-site-fcfd.thinkific.com

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: The Call to Jamaica
02:13 From Lebanon to Dubai: A Journey of Phases
03:16 Manifesting Change: Ready to Leave Dubai
05:51 First Impressions: Safety and Settling In
07:32 Mom's Blessing and Visit
09:08 Island Life vs. City Living
15:05 The Warmth of Community
19:19 Raising a Jamaican Daughter
16:46 The Decision to Stay
22:27 Education, Food, and Cultural Adjustments
30:12 Jamaican Time and Honest Conversations
32:20 Home is Where You Live

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