Happy New year to all. Here's to wishing everyone a productive, healthy, and happy 2007!! Hope everything works out the way you would like in whatever you may be pursuing. Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trini Christmas

A la Lime's post Christmas renovation is in full swing at my house, we are having our kitchen re-done (finally) But its SUCH a hassle, right now the function of a kitchen is located in several areas. Fortunately alot more has happened since I took this pic so we're well on the way, I can't wait to pull the ham from the oven and put it on the new counter.
Also had a chance to go shopping, its CRAZY in port of spain but I love it, especially walking down the middle of the road on charlotte street heheh. Didnt so much enjoy paying $4 for a apple J, I could get 45mins at the cybercafe for that! Some of the prices... :-/ Every year I tell myself you can't go around converting $US but then my dad says "a dollar is a dollar" and its true! When you hear some ridiculous number, you eh studyin to divide it by 6, you only saying LAWD LOOK AT MONEY!!
Anyways, I got sorrell on charlotte st. and a great jar for setting some wine I am going to take back for my other foreign friends (non-americans) for our planned "mini christmas in january" when we get back from break.
And guess what?!?!?! I flew american but my boyfriend flew bwee and stole me a blanket!! woohoo!! I welcomed him to the blanket stealing club. I always wanted a bwee blanket for the collection :-) And to besides when I offload the gifts here, I will need some padding for the bottles that i'm taking back hehehe

Till nex time... (this slow internet drivin me up de wall)

I'm leeeeavinnn on a jetplaaane....
pastelle sorrell black cake ponche de creme ham parang homemade wine here i come :-)

Stay safe for Christmas!!

"Mr. gentleman, you is to drink, I is to drive, yuh understand what ah sayin?
but yuh tellin me drink, doh frighten you go drive, and TWO AH WE drinkin!
I am de designated drinker, you is de designated driver!
If yuh know yuh cyah take de pressure, drink, I go drive,
but two ah we is not to be de same ting
because one ah de ting go put de two ah we in TROUBLE!"

-- Sprangalang

As requested: Christmas in NYC

What better way to start it off than with Santa in Macy's windows:

Just turn around, look up, and there's a Christmassy-looking Empire State...

Of course we have the ever-popular giant Christmas ornaments...

With Radio City Music Hall across the street

Snowflakes coming down in the background

And now the one you've been waiting for...

The Rockefella Tree

Its 80something feet tall and from Connecticut. Represent!


Just so you know, these pics took quite a bit of walking through thousands of people in 0*C. They are also unedited since I am still working on my class projects. Enjoy!

Why Wednesday - WHY?!?!?!?!

this post is SOOOO late...cuz I MAD busy and blogger was down for a while during the day:

WHY I HAVE TO LEAVE EVERYTHING FOR LAST MINUTE?!?!?! WHY?!?! I in a mess now to finish 3 projects in a week cuz I ALWAYS leave everything for last minute! But this time I think I reach a new level. PRESSHA!!

I have my own theory on an answer for this week's "why" but it would be funny to get some suggestions heheh

Anyways, thanks for stopping by to all the folks who have been checking out this blog. Sorry I don't post more often, I hope to get more organised after I get through the next 7 days.


till nex time...

a lil update...

Hi, just a few lines to say I'm still alive and haven't abandoned my blog. While I read every morning with my coffee (SOOO enjoying reading all the Trini blogs) I can't find time to write. With end of semester on top of me and final papers to write, plus shopping before I go home (I startin to look like flickin santa claus, it was suppose to be 2 lil gift for my nieces but yuh know how trinis stop when they know somebody travellin, jes so I come a mule) so blogging have to take a side for now. I have a request to post a picture of the Rockefella Xmas Tree so I suppose I will make a trip to NY for that plus some other errands in the city (and maybe a lil club while I'm at it hehe).

Till nex time...

Christmas Kickoff!

Yes yes I'm really getting in the Christmas mood now! Parang on in the car, lights up in my place, and my flight to Trinidad inching ever closer!! Over thanksgiving weekend I went up to Burlington, VT. I was a college freshman there, Its just a lovely place year-round. So they had their tree lighting ceremony and this is it! The tree is at the top of a cobblestone pedestrian mall called Church Street (note the steeple in the background), cozy shops and restaurants and now the tree to cap it off! Christmas is finally getting in full swing here with people decorating, there's wreaths and bows all over. All we need now is to have some ponche de creme over the weekend to relly get in gear!

Till nex time...

Why Wednesday - paid to kill

Let's get straight to the point:

Why do police officers get put on paid leave after murdering people??

By now you should have heard about those undercover police officers in Queens, NY shooting some guys outside a strip club. The men, just having been in an argument and seeing people in plain clothes pointing guns at them, understandably try to drive away. Claiming to have seen a gun on one of the men, the officers proceeded to fire 50 rounds at the group in their car. One of the officers yelled "he's got a gun" although he never saw it, nor was one ever found, thus prompting the spray of bullets. Of course the officers were too busy firing to notice that nobody was firing back or had EVER fired on them for that matter, although they would term the incident a "fire-fight". All this is happening while the suspect they could positively identify as having a gun in the club is running away. Why didnt they get HIM?? And why is that police in this country should be accused so regularly of using excessive force? Do they really feel so threatened? Or is it a power trip? A bit of both I think.

So many questions on this...

Why Wednesday - reflect...

Let me say up front that I actually DIDN'T think of this in the shower:

Why do people think about life and reflect and come up with ideas in the shower? Is it we're really so busy we have no other time to? Seriously I'm looking for suggestions here...


Happy Thanksgiving!

new ting

Change of template just for a friend who had trouble reading the old "white-on-black" text. This is a good one...what with all the beach talk, its appropriate to where I live...see? harbor/lighthouse/sky theme -> Lighthouse :-)

I miss Trinidad....#2

Las Cuevas
I am reading so many other blogs with people talking about working out so they could look hot in they Carnival costumes. I could just imagine the gyms and 'round de savannah, PACK! Me, I more the beach-conscious type, I SOOOO miss the beach, and it doesn't help when your college is on NASTY Long Island Sound, the "beach" is 1 minute walk from here but the water remind me of by the Lighthouse in P.O.S. Eeek! Can't wait to hit the north coast...

I miss Trinidad....

Actual sign posted somewhere in San Juan earlier this week:

"This driveway does NOT belong to the doubles man"

How yuh like dat? LOL LOL LOL!!


Only in Trinidad...

Why Wednesday - Are we stupid or what?

Ok I know in my first why wednesday I said I was really much into politics but hey current affairs affects us all and you should have SOME idea of what's going on in the world. My question for today is:

Why do politicians and public administrators purport to insult our intelligence by making statements contrary to or severely downplaying current news reports? Or making statements that completely bypass the core issue?

I can understand to some extent the need to try to seem in control or avoid any public outcry or hysteria, but come on now... what is a "phased redeployment" of troops? Are we meant to think it's a withdrawal or are they really just putting the same troops in another area of Iraq? And are we really supposed to believe that no more urgent action is being taken to deal with the nuclear bomb-building religious fanatics out there?
And on the homefront (Trinidad), National Security Minister, on the issue of unauthorised prisoner comminication with media houses said that prison regulations stated that prisoners were forbidden to use cellphones to communicate with those beyond the prison walls. Now tell me why prisoners have cellphones in the first place? Are they calling each other WITHIN the prison walls "aye boy wha goin on over by your cell block? I comin' over to lime a while so we could plan a lil' riot"

Sometimes you really have to ask yourself...

A question of dress

I met one of my professors in the hallway last week and for some reason we start discussing life lessons for students, you know, things professors teach you thats not on the syllabus. The School of Business Dean held a faculty meeting, and one of the things that came out of it was students' dress code. Fortunately I had class with him later on so I was dressed nicely (not that I am a sloppy dresser if I do say so myself, and anyway us MBA students tend to think of how we dress).

Being an hour away from New York, and having many students from the suburbs, we inevitably have a large body of students that follow the stereotypical African American thug-style dress code with oversized clothes all over the place. In fairness I should also mention the athletes who go to class in slippers and tank tops, and let me not forget the ones from further north who think pyjama pants are appropriate. So, said professor will henceforth no longer allow the wearing of caps in his class, will more actively discuss attire with his students, and as an added bonus will no longer allow students into the class who are more than 15 minutes late. How does the late thing tie in with dressing? Are students taking longer to dress sloppy and therefore arriving late to class?

Of course not. It's all a matter of discipline he is trying to underline. And I completely agree. I have been meaning to do a post about school uniforms for a long time, not that we necessarily wear "uniforms" at this level but I think the wearing of school uniforms instills a certain level of discipline and self awareness that certainly comes in handy later on in life. Why uniforms in ""? Because most of us comform, we wear what is considered appropriate, follow loose guidelines; all similar to the concept of a uniform.

I for one am all for uniforms and all the stuff that goes with it, the discipline, belonging blah blah. The opposing views about freedom of expression is bull-crap! There are so many other ways to express onself. But let us stay with the question of dress: how is it better to allow this freedom when it leads to teenagers dressing like bums to go to class? Does that not say "I don't care"? or "I don't know better"? There are no enforced standards in the name of freedom of choice/expression (mind u we are talking about pre-teens and teens) but then later on they are criticised for the way they dress and are suddenly expected to change. However there is no sense of what is appropriate, no sense of neatness, just wear the same "comfortable" (as opponents of uniforms would say) clothes all the time.

At least in Trinidad, where all schools enforce uniforms, when people get to university/college and they can wear whatever they choose and they wear the huge shirts and the baggy jeans, when the time comes for it they still do know how to wear a shirt and tie with pants that fit. Unfortunately there are some students here that you don't know if you want them at a school function or dinner because you are afraid of how they will dress.

So I applaud, and fully support, this professor in having the concern and courage to take a small step in repairing the damage.

Till nex time...


p.s. I wanted to add a pic but blogger playin de ass

Why Wednesday - dogs

Photo from today's Trinidad Express


And for my second installment:

Why do Trinidadian photographers, and cameramen for that matter, like to capture photos/film that include dogs? and POST them??!!

Albeit I think it's hilarious, ( Trinidadian dogs have a distinct personality heheheh) in light of the fact that these images are now available worldwide, one must wonder if it's the most professional approach to take in covering Trinidad news events.

Flying with Bwee - PRESSHA!!!

A post inspired by Manicou....

Now in my 6th year of school here in the U.S. (wow can't believe its been that long already), this is the first time I have a full-fare, confirmed seat, no standby ticket to Trinidad for Christmas. Alas it's on American Airlines. I shouldn't complain since I've travelled with Bwee the last 5 years using rebate tickets, but with some of the things I've seen people go through with Bwee....

Let's start at the start: the last time I flew American was 2001 on my way to Vermont to start college. Why American? it was cheaper in that it allowed a stopover in NY to visit with my family before going on up to school. One-way ticket paid for out of my own savings. So what happened when it was time for a visit to Trinidad? Enter my cousin, then a purser with Bwee. MANY of us know how it is to have family who work with an airline: rebate tickets! BUT you will always be a standby passenger. PRESSHA!!!!

It was jump seat fuh so! Even when my cousin was still flying and I would come back to NY when she was working the flight so she would get me on, it was still jump seat in meh ass! Jump seat in the galley. I remember once it was so busy in there, they put me to sit on some container in a corner while they moved the trolleys in and out. PRESSHA!! A couple times I got a seat in the cabin though, guess where? the exit row ones that don't recline. I doh know how those flight attendants get used to sitting straight up so whole time, well I suppose because they're NOT sitting whole time. But to be sitting facing the back of the plane...

Once I got to go in the jump seat in the cockpit. I'm sitting there looking at the instruments while the pilots tell me how against the rules it was that I am there LOL. "if anyone from the FAA comes in here, you are my niece." LOL How's that for a Bwee pilot? HAHAHAHAA SO funny looking back on it. Turned out that was one of the times I got a seat in the cabin, they realised there was a space when boarding was complete. Then there was the time my cousin got me in first class POS to JFK. I was at a window seat, nobody next to me and she bring a doubles she got by the vendor in the airport. A man on the other side of the aisle notices I eating doubles. Next time she came back, he asks how come everybody in first class not getting doubles? LOL Ah yes....good times....

Of course I have to talk about being stranded at the airport, JFK to be specific. Cuz let's admit it, you can't really be stranded at Piarco, Trinidad too small for that. But when you have to be crossing the Whitestone and paying tolls, and it taking long going through traffic...PRESSHA!!! I have thus spent a few nights well at JFK, talk about wanting to go home! Last year I think I spent TWO nights...they kept adding flights to try to get rid of all the overbookings (a great Bwee trait by the way) so we kept staying to try to get on. We? Yes yes, if you've ever flown standby, you know that you make friends with the other stand-by people. So it turns out several of us stayed overnight. I got there for the customary morning flights, didn't get on. Stayed for an additional afternoon flight, no luck. Still there were people who were overbooked left over. Then look! ANOTHER extra flight, hope on the horizon. Turns out it was a charter flight simply using a Bwee plane. What happened next was quite the spectacle for us stand-byers: Bwee put their overbooked on the charter, and BUMPED OFF people who pay dey good money for a charter flight home. Well I never see people cuss so! I surprised they didn't call security. In the meantime, we enjoying the entertainment; I mean we're flying for next to nothing so we get bumped, its expected, but these people....PRESSHA!!!

I hope the new airline has more strict standards about baggage, or maybe I should say ENFORCES the standards. It was always amusing to watch people open up their suitcases and repack on the floor by the check in counter. You ever see that happening at any other airline? I swear, the things people would pack to take to Trinidad, as if you can't get those things at home, soap? really now... And where does the stuff go that these people unpack to get their check-in pieces the right weight? In plastic bags they conveniently brought with them!! Now as far as I could tell, said plastic bags then go as carry on! so all the stuff is getting on the flight anyways! So much for the weight/no. of pieces restriction. Only Bwee....

Fortunately my cousin got outta there way before the true end came, so last year's ticket was the last "free ride" for me. And what a ride (or rides) its been! I have to say thanks to her, with all the nonsense, I've still been able to go home every year, sometimes twice a year. And with all the nonsense, in my Trinidadian nature, I will miss Bwee.


Till nex time...

Why Wednesday

In the fashion of my favourite morning radio show from back home, where callers are invited to express opinions in the form of a "Why..." question. e.g. "why do politicians make such STUPID remarks?" accompanied by a short summary of what provoked the thought. (SENATOR KERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!) But seeing as I am not much into politics, and only gave that one as an example... ;-)

I decided to start off this week with a somewhat frivolous "why", but one which caught my attention the last couple days even though its been right in front of me for quite a while:

Why do some ziploc bags have a "date and contents" label on them? I would think if you cant remember when you put something in there or you can't recognise what it is, THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T USE IT!!!!

till nex time...




maybe this will ensure that I post at least once a week haha

Cricket Lovely Cricket

The ICC Champions Trophy is currently being played in India and I have found a LIVE STREAM online through which I can watch our beloved West Indies team play in the tournament. Yes I repeat: LIVE STREAM.
So far, I have been able to watch 2 games, one being the nailbiting victory over India, where in classic 1-day international style we were counting balls vs runs at the end. But as was well as Samuels slapped Agarkar for a boundary to produce the winning runs. Not so today as West Indies batted first, posting a solid total of 272 which they were unable to defend. Yes this is what they are good at: inconsistency. Oh well....

As I was watching I was wondering how many Indians on this campus were watching as well (they also I have heard have a gift for finding streaming sports). They have formed a cricket club and had an intramural tournament, which I was never able to attend, but really wanted to!Don't get me wrong! I think it was a good move considering the number of international students here. Through that venture I also found out that Canada is sending a team to the Cricket World Cup, which will be held in the Caribbean next year. Yes Canada has a team.

So in spite of inconsistency, the West Indies has managed to make it into the Semi-Final round of the Champions Trophy. As defending champions one would hope they advanced to a respectable stage. But to win it all again would be legend. Not that they were in any sort of consistent form when they won 2004. So who knows...I somehow don't think the punters will be too aggressive this time around.

I could just imagine all the talk back home: "well dey get thru to de nex rounds" "yuh eh see how Lara throw way he wicket?!" "how dem fellas could loss to England?" "doh study dat, dem fellas lookin good" ... I miss that...

What a boost it would be for West Indies to win this thing going into the World Cup next year, especially since we are hosting it. But I think having gotten to the semifinals, we would, maybe I should change that to "I" would, settle for a respectable showing going forward from here: if we lose please don't get disgraced, at least make it a close one. Good luck fellas!!

till nex time...

Timeless

Since I'm on a music thing these days, I thought I would post another song, one of my favourites these days. Its from the aforementioned CD produced by Sergio Mendes, Timeless sung by IndiaArie. Enjoy!!!



Get music codes at Bolt

Chutney? huh??

no not the stuff you eat!! It's MUSIC!

Regarding my previous post, a couple people told me "chutney" would NOT be readily understood by all. Duh...I shoulda thought about that! damn.

Ok so in Trinidad we have QUITE the mixed population, of which about 40% are of Indian descent (Indian meaning from India). Arriving in Trinidad as indentured labourers in 1845, they have thus contributed much to the Trinidadian culture, festivals, food, and music, having passed down customs and songs from generation to generation. The name "chutney" I suppose gives a hint as to the flavour of this genre: generally hot and spicy. It basically follows the rhythm of Hindi classical music but has come to incorporate the flavour of other ethnic groups, and music on the island. It is sung in Hindi or English and can cover any topic you like. I just found this link from Wikipedia, you can read more and explore on your own if you like, but I wasn't too far off the mark myself.

Here's some samples of chutney music in Hindi, English, or you can try some Chutney-Soca if you like. I had a hard time today finding Chutney-parang samples. Maybe for a future Christmas/parang post I'll upload something.

Enjoy!

*music samples from Toronto-Lime

My non-trini habits

Of course in the last 5+ years, I have inevitably picked up some things that the average Trini would find decidely "weird" or "crazy" or "like white people" hahaha. For example, I know no Trini would find eating pizza straight out of the fridge 'normal', or how about apples and peanut butter? Sweet relish on a hot dog? Or putting chips INSIDE of your burger. The frequency with which people eat pasta is kinda unusual. Otherwise known as macaroni, I have never actually seen "macaroni" at the supermarket like there is at home, there's 20 different shapes and sizes of pasta but no macaroni.

My family finds it funny the way putting on my seatbelt has become second nature (like if accidents don't happen in trinidad). I know how to pump my own gas now! People don't believe I didn't know how to do that all along: "you didn't know how to pump gas?" nope sorry, they do it for you in Trinidad.

If I was home, think I would be listening to Joss Stone, Pink, or (dare I say it) PussyCatDolls?? Hell No! PINK?!?! White people music! So you have to expand your horizons, appreciate other things. I certainly would not have discovered one of the BEST albums i have ever listened to: Timeless, produced by Sergio Mendes (discovery courtesy Costa) So yep I go home and I'm listening to the most unlikely music, people looking at me funny but who cares. On the flipside, I have SUCH an appreciation for calypso now, I'm looking for and downloading stuff (don't tell anyone). Also chutney, I just got some Adesh Samaroo, and I have plans for a chutney/chutney-soca CD hehe.

I couldn't end this post without talking about my damn vocabulary. It's becoming so limited! 'sup, reply: 'sup. Thank god I have family here I can talk to, and finding trini websites and blogs :) I can go to so as not to lose my trini tongue. THAT would be a tragedy!

Till nex time...

What a great coach I am!

wow this'll be 2 posts in 2 days!

Part of the reason I am so busy and backed up with school is that I am engulfed with coaching! or is it that I am engulfing myself... sometimes I truly feel like I spend more time planning my sessions than on my homework. And with kids tryin to get me to come to their games (admittedly I also promised during summer that I would) I am also running into scheduling problems - I missed half of a class to go to a game, and probably will do the same again in a couple weeks. My grades never suffer from this though, all I need is to pull over-nighter to catch up on my projects ;-) But in the meantime it's good PR for myself as a coach: the parents like me, the kids ask for me, and some of it gets back to the coaching director which makes me look good :-)

SO back to the game when I missed half my class: talk about parents liking me, I'm invited to dinner (for the second time from these people). So I'm hanging out with the parents, we're talking about the team and the season blah blah blah, then about camp: this kid (senior, goalie & captain) tells her Mom about a conversation at camp where the coaches were talkin about getting her to supervise the dorm for us so we could all go out to the bar! LOL Fortunately she also said that I would never let that happen. Now I'm REALLY in the good books right? I'm looking at the mom telling the story, laughing along, while thinking "if you knew that me and your daughter took a shot together..." What a great coach I am!!!



p.s. Great player, good head on her shoulders, and WELL above the drinking age in Trinidad ;-)

i'm still alive

Hello Hello!!
Just writing a quick one to show I'm still in existence and I haven't abandoned my blog :-)
School is gettin to me with having to do group projects, which I should be working on right now instead of typing this and chatting with people on MSN.
Update: after following up and asking one my soccer kids about Jewish holidays, I am still waiting on some info/explanation/enlightenment from her. Maybe when I see her on Wednesday.
That's all for now....

another sensitive topic

Ok so one of my teams that I coach seems to have a small preoccupation with Judaism (did I spell that right)...that sounded completely wrong. I'll try it again: several kids are Jewish and it takes priority over soccer practice, and rightly so. I'm not complaining about it, I suppose my complaint is that it annoys me that I don't know more about the religion and the culture in general since there is still somewhat the attitude of "THOSE Jews" and it's not the most common topic if you know what I mean. Just an opinion folks, just an opinion. I'm actually trying to figure this thing out:

It appears that I am having to rearrange my practices and/or cancel due to upcoming Jewish Observances. But what are they?? What do they mean?? I've only heard of a couple of them so today I went online to research. Now at least I have some inkling of the significance of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I've posted about holidays before and how this would probably a public holiday in Trinidad. And again I have to say I do think that it gives an opportunity to get involved in knowing whats going on and finding out about other people's observances and what they mean, instead of each group doing their own thing.

So now my new "project" is to find out about Judaism, should be pretty easy...I have a bunch of 12-yr old girls who talk all the time that I can ask. I also just found out what Hebrew School is, maybe I'll ask the ones that go to that. Another thought: do they teach kids here about others' religious observances? Or is it some # amendment violation? :-/

Positive Discrimination

....as they say in other countries.

Is it normal for a college soccer team in New England to have probably 90% black (or maybe I should say non-caucasian, some of them are mixed) guys? Some people think not. One day one the sideline, I heard someone say "what is this? affirmative action?" And it was kinda funny in its own way but I really don't know these days if people are still truly sensitive to these things and whether they are offended. I know I'm not. My friends aren't. I make comments about white people; some of my closest friends are as white as they come, no big deal, I say to them "you damn white people!" And I'm as mixed as they come so I guess I have no say hehehe.

Now of course I don't consider myself naive but sometimes it strikes me when people are so race-sensitive. Once in the airport with a friend, I felt there were some strange glances and I had to ask her if she noticed. And I don't usually feel affected by these things but I had to wonder if people thought it strange to see a white person and a (relatively lol) black, let's say "coloured" person hanging about in the airport. I experienced that a bit on my Scandinavian trip as well but then that was different, I guess I looked "exotic". But this really shouldn't be happening at JFK airport.

Then the other thing is my sister-in-law. I'm telling her about soccer camp, coaching in general, my girls' teams I have now, and somewhere in there she often manages to ask "so it does have any black chil'ren?" I have never said anything to her about it, probably because I only think about it afterwards, but why ask that?? I don't even see that anymore. Does she want to know if black kids also play soccer here? If the opportunity is equal? If there is interest? Or if I only interact with white people? Am I being influenced by white people !?! ...GASP! I've gotta remember about this next time...

damn i gotta post more often...

Back to class

So what class am I taking where the professor says "at some point everyone in the world is a minority"? Philosophy class! Sociology? come again?

An MBA class at U Bridgeport. I think I counted, excluding myself, Mongolia, China, India, Puerto Rico, Pakistan, Jordan, Nepal, Greece, Bosnia, Taiwan, and CT USA! Yeah we went from international to as local as you could get. And one of the 3? Americans family is Columbian. Its awesome though! But unfortunately this doesn't happen as much with undergrads and it is usually mostly the athletes that are the foreigners so that not as many American students as one would wish benefit from having us around.

But back to class...I sat there thinking, looking... are there any Americans in this class? Well I met one I knew at the beginning, so I'm htinking besides her..hmmm...yep it was 3. Then I started thinking if this happens to my boyfriend at U of south florida. Certainly wouldn't happen on this scale at U of the West Indies...well now...maybe I should take that back, how many other islands are there..? But its not the same though. So now I'm in a team with at Mongolian and an Indian. Will be fun to follow the accents.

Ok this post is rambling, I'm gonna stop

Coaching kids

I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF KIDS ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I swear I'm about to shoot myself! just cuz I can't shoot one of THEM instead!! Smart-ass kids, ADD kids, kids seemingly with speech impediments, wimpy kids, kids chattering all the time, they're doing my head in!! All this out in the sun too!!

Thankfully there's also the small cute ones whose ball reaches knee height to them, there's the intelligent ones you can talk to, the older ones you can laugh with, the ones who are serious about learning stuff, and the ones you might actually have a good relationship with.

What a summer! only two more days to go. And then what? MORE KIDS! fun. The life of a coach. Well I guess nobody held a gun to my head and told me to go be a coach. It's in fact a good experience for me, I'm only venting now because I've been doing this EVERY DAY for the last 7 weeks, but to be honest I like it. I've had a couple EXCELLENT weeks where I miss the kids later on. Then there's weeks like this one where I want to squeeze their necks, but we'll just leave that alone. Yet I hear we're getting good reviews. THere's nothing like when you complete the week and the kids want to make sure you'll be there the next time they come to camp, or they make sure they come to say goodbye, give you a hug, introduce you to their parents, ask for your screen name (bad idea to give that out). Yep, the end of the week, the end of the week, end of the week....end of the week......

5 Questions from Lime

Well this took a helluva long time!
Ok here we go... I needed some focus since I'm still at soccer camp, there's alot to write about but I can't settle on one thing till i get home and organise my thoughts. So I got these questions from Lime to keep my posts going till then:

1. You are from Trinidad but studying in Connecticut. What made you decide to study in the USA and do you plan to return to Trinidad upon completion of school?

I actually came to the U.S. because I was bored and football gave me the opportunity to leave and get a degree at the same time. I have known many people who come tp play for one year just for the experience and go back home. Its the question of my life: to return or not to return...and I keep putting off answering it until I ABSOLUTELY have to. When I completed my BS it was there, then I got accepted to do my MBA so I put off thinking of that for another 2 years (still have one to go) Then what? well after that I apply for Optional Practical Training (thats another year I can stretch it out for hehe) Maybe something else might come up after that. Or maybe I might grow up by then and actually decide...


2. The Northeast USA is said to be a very 'cold' place, not just the climate but the people as well. I loved the warmth of Trinidad's culture when I lived there and found this a very difficult place to return to. Do you find 'cold' to be an accurate description and even if not, how do you cope with the cultural differences?

One of the biggest things I miss about Trinidad, especially my neighbourhood, is the people on the street. And I don't mean like what you see on TV with unemployed people on the corner. But the open doors, the WALKING down your street and saying good afternoon to people as opposed to driving, the way you can just drop by someone's house for a few minutes without calling in advance, "lime" by the front gate. I always thought it noticeable how you hardly ever see anyone on the street even in the more residential neighbourhoods.

It is a bit difficult to make a comparison of the Northeast since my experiences here have been filled with people who have also come from other countries. Somehow it usually happens that the "foreigners" gravitate towards one another, I never put thought into whether it was a Northeast thing or simply an American thing.


3. If you were taking a friend on tour of Trinidad, what spots would you be sure to visit? This may include but is not limited to obvious tourist places....(oooh, i feelin' fuh an Aptee's roti or some doubles from by de airport......)

Been thinking about this one since I finally visited my european friends. Definitely they would have to take a ride in a maxi taxi, a main road one at that, not a bus route one. Port of Spain, from the President's House to the Light House; of course Maracas Bay, as much for the scenic drive and the beach as for the bake and shark; Invader's Bay, Chaguaramas, great sunsets; Chaguanas to experience the hustle of street shopping; West Mall for mall shopping and Trinidad White people hehe; Aranguez savannah where I learned to play football and fly kites; Smokey and Bunty, bar and grill (more bar); east coast leatherback turtle-nesting-watching; Asa Wright nature centre; La brea, pitch (asphalt) lake; University of the West Indies doubles vendors; ferry to Tobago: then Charlotteville to pull seine; Store Bay/Pigeon Point, beaches; Buccoo Reef/Nylon pool (clear shallow in the middle of the reef); Fort King George, history, great view;o and we would have to choose a couple good nightclubs ;-)

Those were just a few off the top of my head, but I definitely think its important to experience the daily culture and not only the tourist spots .


4. What do you enjoy most about living in the USA? What cultural traits or opportunities/experiences will you miss if and when you return to Trinidad?

Cultural traits... I feel that in spite of the American influence on caribbean society, our way of life and approach to things in general, have quite a British or European flavour. I have always had more in common with other foreigners than Americans. I really don't know what can be identified as an American trait...hmm, you drive everywhere? You like to claim your heritage e.g. Portugese, Irish etc even if you don't know much about it? You like to have parades! That's a good one! Oh and processed food!
I will miss most the opportunity to meet so many different people of various cultures. Many Americans marvel at the fact that I left Trinidad on my own, but there are in fact many like myself and such people have enriched my experience here in indescribable ways; great friends. I enjoy the ability to drive for hours and not reach the other end of the island; New York City; visiting my Grandmom; in some ways I enjoy being the novelty, the caribbean girl; coaching, coaching girls; I will miss things being open in the middle of the night e.g. Dunkin Donuts; there is so much more to do here, things to try, I guess thats why its big; I will surely miss skiing (I plan to learn to snowboard this coming winter); sometimes I am afraid I will get like one of my Uncles and be bored back in Trinidad but I know things have gotten very different in terms of nightlife and liming spots in the few years I've been away; as long as I can travel i'll be OK.


5. Now for the question I was always tickled to have asked when I lived in Trinidad....What yuh mix, gyal?

I always say I'm as mixed as they come, the only thing I am yet to discover in my heritage is some Chinese. But i've got the European/African/Indian thing goin on ;-)

Americans and accents

I'm at summer soccer camps now and it's ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!! I'm here with the Brazilian women's national team coach, a Scot, a New Zealander, a Zambian, 4 Brits, and 7 americans (two of whom were born in Portugal and are fluent in Portugese). A great mix huh?

so why is it Americans have such a hard time following our accents? But they are strangely intrigued by them? Don't Americans realise they have an accent too? And a pretty weird one at that? It's funny the way Americans expect other people to talk like they do and can't appreciate the fact that a T is a T and not a D. We all went to Friendly's for dinner one night and we had such a hard time ordering a glass of waTer with our solid T's and flat R's. The waitress kept hearing ... well who knows what she thought we were saying.

Yet on the other hand, the foreign coaches always draw the most attention, all we have to do is talk, hehehe. The parents are most enthralled as they meet us when they come to drop off the kids: "I notice you have an accent, where are you from?" all excited: "oh REALLY!" You'd think they'd be a little more sensitive to picking up the nuances of accents and try to avoid asking over and over "what was that?"

What's notable is the fact that the kids are fine, I have no problem with my Rec practice kids or my U-11 and U-12 teams, or any of the kids who come here. It's the adults that have somehow developed a filter of some sort and are only able to follow their own accent. Unfortunate really. One reason why people think Americans are not "world citizens." In my opinion it's a comfort zone issue: although interested, they are also intimidated, having lost the curiosty and fresh brain cells of youth.

Oh well...more later, I'm sure there'll be plenty to write about from this whole camp experience. Cheers.

Iceland Norway Sweden Norway Iceland

That's the macro view of my intinerary. So of course, at each stop, everyone wanted to know what I thought of the place/people. This was because at the first stop for my connection in Iceland, I thought everyone looked strikingly alike. So have I come away with the same opinion at the end of the whole thing? Here goes:

We have to consider that I only saw one city in Sweden, many in Norway, and Iceland is small to begin with hehe. Sweden had the largest variety of people in the largest numbers. Response to that from a 'rival' country: well they have the most immigrants. But it was nice to see different kinds of people, not that I felt at all self conscious after having spent a year each in Vermont and South Dakota. It was an interesting mix, and the white people didn't all look alike either, though I was warned to expect that all girls are blond and look the same. But I beg to disagree. In 5 years I've learned to pick up on the differences. Also I have to say that Goteborg was my favourite city: bicycles, trams, the architecture and open atmosphere were awesome for a major city, 180* from the grind of NYC. A la NYC, there's also a huge public park, but it blends in rather than being an oasis in a concrete jungle.

In Norway, thanks again to Aase (LUV YA!) I got to see different sizes of cities/towns. Oslo, Bodo, Porsgrunn, Korgen, large to small in that order. Less of the mix of people but more Japanese-&-cameras. Still I got the feeling sometimes that a coloured person was a bit of a rarity, especially in little Korgen hehe, although there it was probably the combination of stranger AND colour that drew the stares. Interesting that Porsgrunn had this International festival thing going on; one day there was a Middle Eastern or Indian dance troupe, and I somehow got the feeling as if they were somewhat of a curiousity, not part of the community. Of course the people I met were great, easy-going and fun. Oslo had a bit more of the city-bustle, the congestion, and buildings of the "modern city" but parks etc. are never far away. You can always grab a coffee or maybe a 0.6L beer ;-) So Norway was the most beautiful in terms of varying landscapes, fjords, lakes, snow-capped mountains, streams, cows in front of the car, absolutely breathtaking views from aboard my 4 within-Norway flights. The weather was not the best while I was there but that brought its own charm and sometimes bewilderment to the experience. It leaves me something to look forward to when I go back, the Midnight Sun. Best view with feet "on the ground": from atop the jump tower at the Oslo Ski Museum. How do these guys decide to ski down and jump from this thing?!

Back to Iceland. "Back" because it was the first 'taste' I had of what was to come. And I was challenged to trash or uphold my initial observation that they were all alike. Comment on that: but they're all related, of course they look alike! Ok so they don't REALLY all look alike, they just look more similar than one would expect. Can I bullshit or what?! They are less unlike people in the other countries? Ummm...more of them share more features? Enough of this, like they said, alot of THEM think all black people look the same so there! hehehe Iceland was interesting to say the least, around the airport looks like the moon, some of the coast has the most amazing colours, then you will see the brightest green lush grass amidst bare rock. It is a place of contrast, bare cliffs then beautiful waterfalls, near featureless landscapes that are enchanting in their own way: maybe you are waiting for something to happen, maybe it's a calming nothingness.

There is no saying where I enjoyed the most; you simply can't make that kind of call. Each place you visit has unique traits and will hold special memories, they all contribute to the overall experience. Even the socks and sandals...

universal phenomenon

ok say it with me now: phe-no-me-non, take your time, it'll come ;)

Considering now I've experienced some of Scandinavia, and thinking of a couple other countries I've been, I think there are some things you'd likely see in most parts of the world:

* the people who are dressed like "what the hell is he/she wearing?!"
* the British or American tourist with the shorts and bright white sneakers
* the stalker guy at the club
* the weird guy at the club (as distinct from the stalker)
* the grumpy service employee
* McDonalds (except in Trinidad, we got rid of them)
* the Indian taxi driver
* the harmless drunk middle-aged man (very entertaining)
* the group of boys having fun messing around
* football fans
* street/road construction
* cute toddlers
* droves of Japanese people with cameras
* people who don't know the meaning of "personal space"
* helpful people
* great food
* a good laugh :-)

Of course I'm sure I'm forgetting a few more but...

A journal of 18 days

Finally I'm back on here :) Here's my trip in a very tiny nutshell, pay attention!

Greyhound - Boston Logan - wait for hours - flight 1 - Reykjavik - delay - flight 2 - Oslo - airport train (surreal, I'm actually 'there' now) - Anne! - bus 1 - Gothenburg - Annika! - now been travelling for 30 hours - tram - Kallebacksvagen - best salmon dinner ever - "catching up on old times" :) - stay on your side of the bed - lakeside breakfast - Swedes tanning on cliffs - Jitex 3 Billdall 2 - Liseborg, Trinidad v Sweden VM 2006 - kebab - Goteborgs-Posten photographer - match drawn! - pre-party - club - home 5am - "beach" 10am (more tanning on cliffs) - my picture in the Gothenburg Post! - finally relax a bit - Hanna! - Liseborg, Balder! - BBQ - more catching up :) - football - day out with Hanna - hjort, balls - dinner - football - head out :(

- bus 2 - Oslo - Aase! (finally) - Sigrid - flight 3 - Bodo - Hans! - Siv - rain :( - midnight clouds - flight 4 - Mo I Rana - Korgen - freezing my ass off, 5*C - Mira :) - fiskeboller - lakes - mountains - waterfalls - Kibsgaard cabin - awesome! - outhouse - cows - flight 5 - Bodo - Trinidad v England - loss :( - Saltstraumen - Kjerringoy - yellow houses - ELK stew - whale - smoked cod - pants down, legs up hahaha - coffee house - Hans' new house :) - flight 6 - Oslo - train - Porsgrunn - BBQ - clarinet - explore Porsgrunn - international festival - Henning cooking - 'student house' - weird sculptures - Grandiosa - circus - train - Oslo - Anne & Stine - Andreas - Trinidad v Paraguay - loss :'( - Viking Ship museum - Kon Tiki museum - Ski museum - apple pie - Oslo Royal Palace - Aker brygge - more rain - game and beer, ein ol til - breakfast @ Stine - souvenir shopping - meatballs! - game and more beer ;) - head out :(

- airport train - flight 7 - Reykjavik - Hildur, Lilja, Hilmar! - Thora! - alcohol - the boob - Rut! - lamb dinner - hot tub - alcohol - club - alcohol - guys - almost getting lost - helvete domu bindi - 6601947 - hangover - Gardabaer - Valthor teasing me - burger with egg - grilled banana - horses - sheep - afvelta (its a sheep thing) - Althingi - Geysir - Gullfoss - attack of the spray - practice - dried fish - hung meat - getting a cold? - yes :( - eve-online - penis mall - time to go :( - delay - skyr - flight 8 - Boston Logan - Greyhound, and here I am.

This doesn't even come close to telling half the story. I'm tired as hell (I got a really bad cold) but it was a fantastic trip. Thanks to all my wonderful hosts, love you all!! ... and see ya soon

More on the Beautiful Game...

Here's an article appearing in Trinidad Express drawing on a National Geographic publication which samples the views of various journalists regarding the World Cup.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=160969068

Enjoy!

T&T!!...We want ah goal!!

taking a break

Hello to any potential visitors!

i'm away for a while, but I'll have SO MUCH to write about when I get back. I'll have to sit down and categorise it before I start. Can't wait!

T&T!!!... we want ah goal!!

American footballer in Norway

This is an interview excerpt sent to me by a friend in Norway, its the observations of an American guy playing in one of the pro leagues there:

He says:
- Vi hadde like mange tilskuere på kampene i USA, men de kom bare for å være tilstede. Her er det intelligente supportere som forstår spillet og som er med og heier oss fram under kampene. Det er veldig inspirerende og morsomt, mener Borchers.

-We had just as many people watching our games in the US, but they just showed up to be there. Here there are intelligent supporters who understand the game and who are with us and cheer for us during the matches. That is very inspiring and funny, says Borchers.


To follow up on a previous post: ESPN have been airing some great commercials about the passion and unifying influence of the World Cup. Gatorade should have a look at those.

T & T!! WE WANT AH GOAL!!

Football Fever

I'm writing cuz I haven't in a while and I don't want this to become something I gradually forget about. So I've been visiting my Brasilian friend Costa (of course we talked about football and who's gonna win the World Cup) and she got me to join a fantasy game on Yahoo. And now I've had a visit from
Fortress Guiness talking about football again so... I guess I can ramble on for a bit...

THE WORLD CUP STARTS IN ONE WEEK!!!!!! Can u beleive it?!? All of a sudden we're in June and here comes the one month we, the people who play football with the foot and the round ball, look forward to with such expectation and excitement ;) So of course Costa thinks Brasil can do it, but thinks they're too laid back, maybe even cocky. I like Holland, and of course Brasil. NOT England, never been an England fan. And it's not helped by the fact that Trinidad are playing against them. As for Trinidad, there's no point in being the stupid fan and saying "TRINIDAD WININ' DE WORLD CUP!!" no sorry, I'm not unpatriotic, simply realistic. As long as we don't go and get completely disgraced i'll be happy. Altho things dont look so good right now as we've lost 2 warm up games...hmmm, that's happened to other teams too though... One of the African countries might surprise, as have happened before with Cameroun and Nigeria, that'll be fun.

So now I'm just waiting for my Trinidad & Tobago scarf to arrive in the mail so I can wave it at the sports bars hehe, there's a huge lime in Manhattan (new york) for the Trinidad v Sweden game, and I'm sure there'll be more after that, no lime like a world cup lime :) So I'll have my scarf and be a proud TRINI! regardless of the result. I love football for that: yes the passion causes fights and stuff but everybody appreciates a good game. You english hooligans need to cool down! someone keyed my uncle's car in London when he put on a Trinidad decal, geez.

I need to go finish picking my World Cup fantasy team. Much strategy involved you know. You get points based on the players stats so I'm gonna have to look at the groups carefully. e.g. I picked the Trinidad goalie I guess he will be pretty busy making saves lol (again realistic) and therefore more points. hehe Maybe I should find a player who fouls alot, I'll collect points for tackles HA..but then i think they minus for fouls :/ This can be figured out...

Till next time... T & T!! WE WANT AH GOAL!!

Random conversation

World cup dates - JUNE 10, 15 and 20th says:
I really not feeling to job search
Trini to de bone says:
i c this
World cup dates - JUNE 10, 15 and 20th says:
I wish someone will do itfor me
World cup dates - JUNE 10, 15 and 20th says:
LOL
World cup dates - JUNE 10, 15 and 20th says:
all i want to do is chill out for a month or two
Trini to de bone says:
well nobody stoppin yuh
World cup dates - JUNE 10, 15 and 20th says:
yeh true
World cup dates - JUNE 10, 15 and 20th says:
buh send me rent and limin money
World cup dates - JUNE 10, 15 and 20th says:
and while yuh at it gro some cereeees


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!! What a comment!!! Only a Trini would say that!
LOL what is cerees? who cares?! she might as well have said apples LOL

The beautiful game

I can't help but comment on the new Gatorade commercial about the U.S. going to the World Cup. It has the "take me out to the ballgame" instrumental going on the background...amid all the hostile, evidently middle eastern, fans; the NFL-like tackles; the battered bodies; at least they thought about putting in a goal at the end. jeez. What a horrible commercial. When I saw this, the first thing I thought was "is this what Gatorade thinks is attractive to market this sport to Americans?" Cuz hey now, we have to admit, football the beautiful game, is not in high regard in the U.S. So unfortunate. A commercial like that in other countries would most definitely be about some fancy footwork and some combination play resulting in a breathtaking goal, the supporters going crazy celebating. Poor taste to show a group of fans with a sign saying "go away yankees" to get people psyched about supporting your team, rather than focusing on great performance from the players. Disappointing.

It's pretty difficult being a football/soccer coach here because of the heavy influence of the "big 3" american sports, moreso the NFL and the NBA. These sports have promoted such a limited appreciation of a more dynamic game, and players' creativity, that young players have a difficult time understanding and digesting the more multi-dimensional aspects of football. wow that was a mouthful. It's diagonal, it's horizontal, you can play backwards...and then I can't even begin to touch on the skill level required to use every body part except your hands to play. But I diverge...
I mean really, basketball has a shot clock: you don't hit the rim/score = turnover; "football" 10 yards: you don't make it = turnover. Focus on only forward movement and the coach draws up the plays. (It's a lil bit annoying having to deal with kids who are only encouraged to boot the ball forward) Of course, these sports have their own great players, no denying that. But it all seems so programed at times...What happens if the coach says Play 1 but the team runs Play 2? More like the coaches playing than the players. The demand for a winner, the inability to simply enjoy a good contest I think somehow takes away from the whole experience. A 26 inning game? Just to get a winner?! Come on now?! In Japan they call it a tie after the 12th. Shake hands and accept it. Appreciate the other guy was as good as you today. Celebrate the brilliant moves, the skill, the passion to play.
If you've never done it before, you should find a sport you like and go play pick up in a park or something, figure out everything yourself, refine your skill that way. That's what the Brasilians do and they have 5 World Cups to show for it.

ok its getting kinda late now, i wish i could sit and write one of these things without doing other stuff in between, takes FOREVER. I have to include here one of my favourite skills videos Tricky Football and also a closing thought:

Why is it called the "World Series" when it doesn't involve the world?

House of Lime: Trini Tuesday-Coat of Arms

House of Lime: Trini Tuesday-Coat of Arms

Sorry to say Lime but personally I think straws are for tourists ;-) hehe doh feel a how lol
Here I am in Puerto Rico

talk about experiencing new cultures...

So guess what? I have a roommate!!! I'm really too old to be having roommates but this happens when you are broke. AND guess what else? She's Korean! pleasant kid so far but damn! I have to really concentrate on everything she says so I understand, its already getting tiring and its only been a week :-/ But she IS really nice though. The problem here is the age difference, I found out that in Korea your age begins from conception so she is "older" in Korea than here, isn't that interesting? The things you find out about other peoples... O and she is also a nail technician (no stereotyping) so I might get a free manicure outta this! But this whole situation is gonna take ALOT of getting used to cuz I've been lucky enough to have my own space the last couple years, let alone having to deal with such a vast culture difference. I'm wondering if her name is really her name...I doubt it. This is another thing: Asian people, young ones coming over here, often adopt an "american" or "english" name that they go by. While that may be convenient, I kinda disagree with it. Your name is your name and people should learn it, part of appreciating where you come from.
I'm curious now to know if Koreans have "conventional" naming methods. Considering some of the friends I'v made and the naming conventions I've learned about, I'm not putting anything beyond anything. So if you didn't know: 1. People from Iceland, their surnames translate to "son of" or "daughter of" their dad's name, so brothers and sisters have different surnames. O and I just love the Brazilian method: 2. ever wonder why Brazilian names are so long? Its a string of their parents' surnames! Or maybe their grandparents if they feel like it. Yep if they feel like it. (Costa I know u'll post a reply to this) 3. I can probably include Trinidad in this too: I have my mother's surname. It's common for children to take their mother's name if the parents aren't married, or in a common law relationship. I know some people that find that weird as well. When my roommate's english gets a lil better I might ask her.
I had a Japanese roommate once. She turned out to be real cool too, after a somewhat rough start. Again, culture clashes. She was all quiet and we were all boisterous. We? there was a Norwegian too. hehehe. It was awesome. Beat THAT combination! We all got along great after a while, its all about learning about the other person. Japanese custom...hmmm...they are very private about hygiene and have music or other device to mask any 'noises' in public bathrooms. Norwegians...it is NOT the custom in Norway to give peeved toddlers alcohol to make them go to sleep HAHAHA, what a hilarious conversation that was!
Ok I gotta go, its getting late but I'll leave you with an American custom to consider: they like to eat out alot. ;-)

some things to get used to

Keep in mind these posts are inspired by random conversations which come up often seeing as I work in a building full of Americans:

By now most people have seen the new $10 bill? kinda orange and freaky-looking? So someone says "Have you guys seen the new $10 bill?!?! since when is money not green?!" uuumm...since when you come from other countries? Yep, Having to check every bill to make sure it was a $5 and not a $10 was really annoying at first being so used to having colour-coded money. Turns out its pretty much the same in other places too: either different colour or size. Cool! So people are going on trying to tell me how "different" the bills are "Look! they all have a different president...the numbers are different..." yeah no S*#T! thats really distinguishable huh?!

Next is the issue of outerwear. If I said 'outerwear' to the average Trini they would say "Wha?" This see-saw spring we've been having in the Northeast this year is driving me crazy. And I STILL haven't gotten used to the necessity of different jackets yet...or maybe i don't care? It's a bit annoying to have a light jacket, a heavier jacket, a rain jacket, a windbreaker, the winter jacket, vest, the list goes on. Exhausting. It takes getting used to when u come from a country where "cold" is 19, 20, 21 celsius (your high 60's/low 70's), and the wind is otherwise always warm even when it rains. And this is YEAR ROUND!

A bit of culture shock? Each state has its own liquor laws. What? What does that mean? It means if you live in CT, you have to drive to NY to buy alcohol after 9pm HAHAHAHA. This is so strange, why can't they all be the same? And whats with PA? I think they have some weird license arrangement, a friend once bought a "six-pack" in a bar, can you imagine how much they paid?! There was nowhere else closeby allowed to sell. And well the no drinking in public thing is a whole other issue. I can just picture all the people standing on the corner with beers in hand saying "wha kinda ting is dat?" My cousin got a big kick outta waving a beer at a police officer when he visited Trinidad hehehe.
Picture doing that! ;-)

A blog fuh Lime

House of Lime: Trini Tuesday-Derek Walcott
Dis is a real good blog for anybody to read an I like it as a Trini to see a foreigner talk about my country an give a nice picture of de culture an ting.
To answer yuh question Lime, is because of blogs like dis I find yuh. I think i google some Trini ting and your blog come in de results, I tink it was de one wit de Trini words. Now if somebody google Derek Walcott Love after Love, they might find yuh. Yuh real representin fuh Trinidad. Love dat.

more holidays!!!

Here's to hoping everyone had a great Easter weekend!! no matter what persuasion you may be. That's how it is in Trinidad. It's unfortunate that America doesn't have more national holidays...it's mostly just each group celebrating their own thing. Back home it was a nice 4-day weekend for EVERYONE. Everybody 'celebrates' everything. Its not about imposing your religion or beliefs on anyone, its about everyone appreciating your beliefs. And its probably also about knowing some background since you're getting a day off on someone else's account hehehe. It's awesome! You get to learn about other's customs AND you get the food and the holiday! Trinidadians like to celebrate things. The neighbourhood where I grew up, it was mostly Hindus, some Christians, some Muslims...EVERYBODY has lights up for Christmas! My family and everyone else gets food and sweets from the Hindus at Divali (festival of lights) and we go help with their lamps. I remember we gave our old Xmas tree to one of them! how about that!? AND they would put it up on the porch too! Everybody knew they were Hindu but they were in the holiday spirit, not "celebrating" xmas per se. We have Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Baptist, Indian, African holidays, All public holidays. Like I said, we like to celebrate things. Plus all the 'regular' ones like Independence day and New Year's, O and Carnival! Its funny how Carnival is NOT an official holiday but everyone treats it like one, is two free days to do wha yuh want. A nex free 4-day weekend! I think we have at least one holiday a month:
New Years,
Carnival Monday & Tuesday,
Shouter Baptist Day,
Indian Arrival Day,
Good Friday,
Easter Monday,
Corpus Christi,
Labour Day,
Emancipation Day,
Independence Day,
Republic Day,
Divali,
Eid-ul-Fitr,
Christmas Day,
Boxing Day
Then of course we also find opportunities to take a half day, or leave work early. Or if a holiday falls on a Thursday, its not so surprising when half the office is empty on Friday! Yeah we LOVE our 4-day weekends! People need to chill out over here man! Doh be stress out! Just think... all the free days off... yup... island life is great, we're all (mostly) tolerant and laid back and chill. Just when things get hectic: O! there's a holiday coming up, nice! Definitely need some more of those over here.

Life in "foreign" - maintain your identity!

OK so after much debate, I've decided the easiest thing to pursue here (and undoubtedly the thing that often occupies my thoughts) would be my life and observations on living in the U.S. as a foreigner. Mostly including cultural differences, perceptions, adjusting to life, similarities?...u get the idea. I've been thinking I might end up writing in my dialect, give it a little personality, so that should be funny hehehe. But as a friend pointed out once, Trinidadians tend to revert to "proper" english as more complex expression dictates. I have to agree ;-) On to my first topic!

Its always funny to me to see how people adapt to being here, especially my fellow caribbean people: the way they switch accents, the way they fall in line with "the group". I'm not saying you shouldn't try to fit in but don't lose your identity in the process. It's hard because you inevitably pick up traits, behaviour, expressions, from others you associate with on a regular basis. I have a friend who complains that "nobody seems to think [I am] Trinidadian anymore"...I almost feel that she is leaving out at the beginning of the sentence "Since YOU came along..." I've been here a few years now and I'm proud to say I'm as Trini as I've ever been (I hope hehe), my t's are still solid t's, not the American 'd' sound as yet ;-). Its really not THAT difficult to keep your accent if you want to, or to share about your country if you want to, or to get excited about things going on "back home". And the great thing is, you will find that people get interested, they want to learn about another culture. And eventually they accept it as being part of who you are, includingthe way you express yourself.
Then the other thing is the people who conveniently claim heritage because of whatever advantage they think they get out of it. People! you can't claim nationality if you weren't BORN and raised there. That's just my opinion. And I daresay an opinion shared by many people I've met from other countries as well. "Hi I'm Trinidadian too!" "yeah where are you from?" "Brooklyn, NY" What? Trinidadian parentage. That upsets me. I have been trying to grasp the American habit of doing the same. The way people claim to be Irish, or German, or Italian. I understand that these are major groups that came here and want to keep their heritage alive but still I just don't get it. I somehow don't think the people from Ireland would think you're Irish. Help on that anyone? I would appreciate some solid counseling on that topic.
Ah stoppin' now cuz dis ting gettin' real long. Laterz

ok so this is my first ever post on one of these things, I really only created an account so I could post a comment on someone else's blog! lol I almost couldn't remember my sign-in. I tend to creat these accounts but never follow up on them, i wish there were 26 hours in the day at least. I just read a most intriguing post on House of Lime (i haven't explored yet how to make that a link) inspired by another blog called Jericho I think it was, talking about the whole experience of blogging and what u get out of it, what u hope to achieve through it...really fascinating. So I thought probably the reason why i haven't ever posted here (or the other places I have empty accounts) is that I haven't thought through all that yet...there's things floating around in my head...I think mostly I want to write about my country, or moreso my experiences being in a foreign country...I guess the flip side of House of Lime: Trini Tuesday, in a way ( hope i figured out the link right)
wow. first blog. So I'll be thinking about it and hopefully I'll be back.