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...
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
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!
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!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
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
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...
Thursday, November 16, 2006
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...
"This driveway does NOT belong to the doubles man"
How yuh like dat? LOL LOL LOL!!
Only in Trinidad...
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
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...
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...
Saturday, November 11, 2006
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
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
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
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.
Friday, November 03, 2006
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...
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...
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
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
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
Saturday, October 28, 2006
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...
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...
Monday, October 23, 2006
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
Get music codes at Bolt
Friday, October 13, 2006
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
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
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
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...
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...
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
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 ;-)
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 ;-)
Monday, October 02, 2006
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....
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....
Monday, September 18, 2006
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? :-/
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? :-/
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
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...
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...
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
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
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
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
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......
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......
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