More than a decade after leaving Jamaica, Latoya Cosbey has built a life in Los Angeles with her husband, Chris, and their three sons.
Home, however, was never something she left behind. It lives in the records playing through the house, the meals cooked in the kitchen, and the flights back to the island that have become part of the family’s rhythm.
Latoya moved to the United States in 2014, living first in Florida, then Connecticut, then New York before settling in Los Angeles three years later. She met Chris in 2019. Their relationship began with music.
Chris had spent years building a reggae vinyl collection that now numbers well over a thousand records. When he played her one of his favourite Dennis Brown recordings, Latoya knew there was only one place to take him.
That December, she brought him to Jamaica.
Their first evening was spent at I Love Soca in Kingston. Chris disappeared into the crates at Rockers Record Shop on Orange Street. They lingered over vegan food at Ibo Spice, where conversations with Rastafarian elders stretched far longer than either of them expected. They visited the Bob Marley Museum. Before the trip ended, Chris proposed on the pier at S Hotel in Montego Bay.
By then, Jamaica had already done what Latoya hoped it would. It had helped him understand the place that shaped her.
Today, the couple are raising three boys in Los Angeles. Jamaica is not simply part of the family’s history. It remains part of everyday life.
Jamaica still feels central to your life, even after more than a decade abroad. How have you managed to keep that connection so strong?
No matter where I’ve lived, Jamaica has always been home in my heart. I moved to the United States in 2014, but I made it a priority to go back at least twice a year to spend time with my dad and reconnect with the island.
Every trip reminded me where I came from, whether I was relaxing on a beach in Negril, floating down a river, exploring Kingston, or discovering another parish. Those visits kept me grounded.
Now that I have a family of my own, staying connected isn’t just for me anymore. It’s about making sure my children know and love the place that shaped me.
When you brought Chris to Jamaica for the first time, what were the places and experiences you knew he had to see?
Chris had a huge love for Jamaica long before we met, especially through reggae music. He’s collected hundreds of reggae vinyl records over the years, so when I finally brought him home, I wanted him to experience the places that meant so much to him.
One stop at the top of his list was Rockers Record Shop on Orange Street in downtown Kingston. Watching him dig through records in such an iconic place was really special.
From there we walked to Ibo Spice, where he spent time talking with the Rastafarians and learning more about their beliefs, culture and way of life. Those conversations meant just as much to him as visiting the landmarks.
We also visited the Bob Marley Museum , which was another unforgettable experience. He hoped to visit the Peter Tosh Museum too, but we ran out of time. That’s at the top of our list for our next trip.
What made that trip so meaningful for me was seeing Jamaica through Chris’s eyes. Watching him connect so deeply with the music, history, culture and people reminded me just how special home really is.
Your boys are growing up in Los Angeles, but with Jamaica woven into everyday life. What does that actually look like at home?
Jamaica is simply part of everyday life in our house.
We listen to reggae music around the house, cook Jamaican meals, celebrate our traditions, and talk about Jamaica often. My boys know where Mommy is from, and they proudly tell people they’re Jamaican too.
We read books about Jamaica, play Jamaican music while we’re cleaning or cooking, and I make sure they hear stories about my childhood growing up there. Most importantly, we take them back to Jamaica so they can build memories with family instead of only hearing stories about home.
If another Jamaican family living overseas asked how to keep their children connected to home, what’s the first piece of advice you’d give them?
Take them home as often as you can.
There’s only so much you can teach through stories or videos. Let them feel the warmth of the people, hear the accents, eat the food, swim in the rivers, and spend time with grandparents, cousins and relatives.
Those experiences create a connection that lasts a lifetime. Culture isn’t something you simply tell your children about. It’s something they need to experience.
What’s one Jamaican tradition your children have embraced that you hope they’ll pass on to their own families one day?
I hope they always value family the way we do in Jamaica.
Growing up, family wasn’t something reserved for holidays. It was part of everyday life. We looked out for each other, gathered together often, and everyone helped raise the children.
I want my boys to carry that same sense of community and togetherness into their own families one day. That’s one of the greatest gifts Jamaica gave me.
What’s one place in Jamaica you’ll never stop bringing people to, and why?
Every parish has something special, but if I had to choose one place, it would be Negril
There’s just something about Seven Mile Beach, the sunsets, and the laid-back atmosphere that makes people instantly fall in love with Jamaica.
At the same time, I always encourage people to go beyond the beaches. Visit the rivers, explore the Blue Mountains, spend time in Kingston and experience the culture.
Jamaica is much more than a vacation destination. It’s a place built on history, community and people who make you feel welcome.
When people finish watching your content, what do you hope they understand about being Jamaican abroad?
I hope people understand that no matter where life takes you, your roots can remain part of who you are.
Being Jamaican isn’t just about where I was born. It’s something I carry with me every day.
I also hope people see the richness of our culture beyond the stereotypes. Jamaica is filled with kindness, resilience, creativity, incredible food, music and people who make you feel like family.
If my content encourages someone to visit the island, reconnect with their own heritage, or simply appreciate Jamaican culture a little more, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.
