Reflections

This post has obviously been long in coming but it's one that i have been thinking about for quite some time. My perspective on things has inevitably changed soemwhat since graduation as I look back on my "life in foreign" and how i've developed as a person, my likes, dislikes, skill set, aspirations. Moving from Vermont to South Dakota (god bless those people) to Connecticut. Getting into coaching. The most striking thing for me is noticing how i have managed to let go of things that , previously, I would have felt set me back when compared to others; things I would have tried to keep to myself, or even those which i felt may reflect badly on my own character. I got here playing football and these revelations I must owe to football as well (coaching included). To think the girl who used to play football with the fellas in aranguez savannah went abroad to play on scholarship, completed her MBA, and is a decent coach on the side is a nice little story....

Reflecting on how how far I have come, places i've been to, people i have met, the wonderful friends i have made, I realise life is so much about what you make of yourself, your ability to keep moving forward, and to let go of hang-ups. People won't judge you for things you can't control, or for your past, or having a different background if you are positive, give your best, and show good character. I remember times back home when we were really scraping through at the end of the month; I would no longer be ashamed to share that. Here I am coaching kids who live in 6-bedroom houses with a couple acres of backyard and a pool, they care that i have developed myself in the field and am a good coach to them here now. It would be quite a change of environment and culture shock but I would love to bring some of my european friends on a visit so they could see where i grew up, on a street without a sidewalk and with cows at one end and the field where i learned to play at the other (especially after having visited some of them in their well-coiffed neighbourhoods hehehe)

I also realise that in my case I have been fortunate for people to get to know me in a vacuum so to speak, because people do judge you. No I wasnt about to write a blind, feel-good post. I've experienced the side glances some coloured folks still get, the impression people have about west indians being backward, about my accent, the education system, the annoying caribbean people and wannabe's who create a less-than-savoury stereotype. So anyways, the vacuum: I've had the chance to have people get to know me for me and what I was able to share with them about Trinidad, without too much negative influence. And the many people i've met who know another trinidadian have only had good things to say. I suppose we might be a rare species, us Trinis, I wont call names of other islands hehehe

So five weeks of summer coaching over with now and I cant wait for Fall season to start. I have people asking for advice about their game, about their playing future, I have kids who I coached in the past running up to me, happy to see me. Its the best feeling ever.

Here's to the next chapter!!

Till nex time...
(i'll try to get back to more regular posts now)

i'm not dead

...just realising that's the name of Pink's last album...
anyways, thanks to those people who have been checking in now and then, and to the couple of new visitors I have had. I do apologise for not having written in so long. Things have certainly NOT gone half as smoothly as they did last year when I worked at this same camp. Here I am into the fourth week and I only just got internet in my room. But thats the least of my problems. This morning I slept in last being told I had the morning off and my assistant would take care of things. Only for her to call me at 8:25 to say ummmm we're you told it's not this morning it's tomorrow morning you have off?
well fuck me. And thats kinda how its been since the first week. Just not run correctly for days in a row. Thank god last week and this week the kids have been great. Definitely going for a couple of drinks tonight!!

Back online!! woohoo!!

Vermont

What does Trinidad and Tobago and the state of Vermont have in common? The outsider's perception that everybody is smoking weed all the time. Isn't that great? Thanks alot Bob Marley. Other than that, I cant think of much more there is... it woodsy? Well its not quite the same look, plus that would be vermont in general, and only a few parts in Trinidad, maybe tobago would be a better comparison.

On the other hand there are MANY things which are immensely different:

1. FRESH air!! In case you didn't know, Ver-mont comes from french for green-mountain. When you go up there and everything is open and green, you KNOW and FEEL the air is fresh and clean. And not just away from the towns that its cleanER, but that its clean throughout. Meanwhile, as I said here, Trinidad is right up there with countries producing the most carbon emmissions. Lovely!!

2. Big dogs and Pick-ups. Everyone in VT has a big dog and a pick-up truck haha, no kidding. BUT these people actually need these things whereas trinidadians just playin de ass. Huge vehicles to show off, and big dogs? also to show off. steupssss....

3. Huge properties and wildlife. Who thought I would ever say that sighting deer would be an almost mundane occurence LOL Well!! The fox I saw bounding across my friends property with a crow cawing in the background, was quite exciting! All I needed to top off my visit up there was for the elusive moose to come meandering out of the woods, as I was told they do ever so often. You have to be real living in the bush to spot any such wildlife in trinidad (manicou etc don't count, lest I get into all the racoons and skunks I see right outside my building).

4. Surely I must mention driving at the speed limit. Of all the states I have been to, I don't think anyone sticks as close to the speed limit as they do in VT (highways not included) Kudos to them :-) In the meantime people exceed the speed limit just in getting out of the driveway in Trinidad, so stupid it makes you laugh.

5. The "hippie" culture. Self-proclaimed hippies. It's a different sort of laid back than in the Caribbean. Must be the weather. Difficult to describe... like wearing nice "home clothes" to go out...or sitting wherever on the street/in a park as long as it looks dry and it's sunny out. LOL I guess you have to know a Vermonter to know.

All in all it was a great few days I spent up there, DEFINITELY one of my favourite places to visit. I need to track which seasons/months I haven't been yet and plan a trip then.

Till nex time....

Hail!!

No not hail anything or anybody, the thing that falls from the sky hail. Supposedly there was a hail storm not too far from here yesterday. Did I see it? nope. Was hail forecast for here? Yes. There was spectacular lightening. There was wind. There was some rain. No hail. Again disappointment. I live too close to the sea, but thats only now. What about the other years before now? Can you believe I've never seen hail? And it's even funnier to think that people only a few miles away say "oh yeah it looked like it snowed yesterday!" I'm like "damn!!" Even small hail I think would fascinate me, not tiny like freezing rain, although I think technically freezing rain is a type of hail. And even THAT fascinats me anyways! lol Watch how it'll be my bad luck to experience a really bad hail storm the first time I actually do see it (shaking head). What a waste of time that year I lived in South Dakota....

i'm baaaacckk!

No I have not abandoned my blog, as someone so pointedly asked me. The problem has become my time/coaching schedule: it is weird being able to now sleep in (the mornings the dumpster doesnt wake me) and then coaching/playing in the afternoons and nights. That is just a recipe for laziness, when other people being productive, I home playin de ass, and when is time to relax in the evening I now heading out. Well you know who will never have a shift job.

What makes it worse is that since Memorial day weekend I have had to get up early on the weekends to go coach, this will include this weekend. This getting up early unfortunately spread to other days of the week. Thus I get up early, lie around trying to go back to sleep, and eventually get up horribly late. I tried telling myself its good practice for getting up early at camp, but really, I DON'T need to practice from all now :-S

On a good note, my u-11 girls team won their league! Moving up a division in the Fall! Guess who is a hero of a coach?? Yes yes they are all going to kiss my feet at the end-of-season party LOL It's been a great time with this team, I feel quite proud of them :-D A few are even coming to residential camp so that'll be fun, I've been threatening making them do chores for me anytime someone makes a smartass comment LOL They're great kids tho, such a good-natured and enthusiastic group. And the parents have been nothing but keen and appreciative.

Ok I'm going to try to be active now seeing as I managed to be up at a reasonable time today. Hopefully I will get some more inspiration soon, probably after my trip to Vermont next week :-)

Till nex time

so what happened to the bike?

*taken with permission from the blog of said friend

"....At night, when I came back, all that was left was the cut-open lock. My bike was stolen!!! I was too tired to get mad, but I just thought “blæææææææææææææææææææ” Frick-it! I figured I’d never see my bike again..

I went to the police and reported the crime (yes we do that here in Norway…). The police lady said I’d receive a letter in a couple of weeks that said that they’d left the case.. Oh well.. I checked with the insurance people and started moving on from my loss. Still cursing the stupid people who stole my ride…

BUUUUUUUUUUUUT!

Yesterday as I was walking to school I saw a man riding MY bike I’m BROKE and want my bike back, so I called out to the man (in a smiling, friendly tone)

“Hi! Excuse me?!”

- uhmmm, yes?

- I just wondered, where did you get that bike?

- Uhmmm…I borrowed it from a friend in Skien..

- Humm.. that’s weird..That is actually my bike… It was stolen last week..

- Oh.. woops..

- Can I have my bike back?

- …

To make the story short: He, an old “druggis”, gave me my bike back!!! ! I thanked him for his cooperation and he walked away.. expecting a few hits in the face from his “friend” in Skien!

I got my bike back!!! And! The best of the story: The thief had brushed off all the stickers (okay, that’s not cool) but he also brushed off the rust, tightened the loose breaks, putting on new “dirt-stoppers”, and putting “5-56” on the rusted nails and such!!!! LOL! MY win! "

See what I mean? I need to go live over there for a while!

falken sykkelregister

I've been meaing to do this since the scandinavian post as I was chatting with one of those friends and this came up:


Her: ....and took the bus home from [ ], just to discover that my bike was stolen!!!
Trini to de bone says:
your bike was stolen?!?!?!
people steal things over there?
her: yes
Trini to de bone says: damn
BUT
been lots of raids of East-Europeans having large trucks and just stealing every bike, so it must be one of them
so u mean u can get it back somehow?
I'll report it to the police
they left the lock, so I'll bring it as evidence
i'm sorry but this is hilarious!
u live in a country where u report a BICYCLE theft to the police
thats fucking AWESOME!!
and then each bike has a registration-number, so I'll report that and they'll look for it
a registration number!!!?
it gets better and better!!
the suck-part is, that I've been thinking about getting an extra insurance on my bike, but I postponded it until [we moved] so i wouldnt have to go through the address change

WHAT?!
of course we do
it's a theft
u MUST see my viewpoint on this?!
i guess....
but still
we put an whole lot of money in it, soo...
this is just amazing
you skiped that extra insurance part?
yeah i was laughing too much
you get a sticker on your bike and it will be registered in an official thingi..
a registar for bikes
no way!
heck yea!
this is killing me!
seriously: can I blog this one?

Can you imagine?! I couldn't stop laughing through this whole conversation LOL She have de lock as evidence! LMAO!!! I jes picturing myself goin in the police station in trinidad an tellin them my bike get tief LOL LOL LOL And the insurance!! She have insurance! I wanted to be a smartass and ask if it was collision insurance HAHA But i can understand how annoyed she must have been so i didnt push it.

I was so completely amused by the thought of such a system, I was thinking "MAN! I GOTS to go spend a whole year over there!" Another friend, when I asked her, said O yeah if you see a bike you dont touch it in case its evidence or something. Somehow I thought of getting on the trams via ANY open door and people going automatically to dip their farecards at the boxes throughout the tram. Its the idea of doing the right thing I htink...having such a different mindset... knowing that small things can have a ripple effect. And expecting quite rightly that good will come back to you if you do your part. Planning with confidence to report your stolen bicycle!

I just realised i never got an update on this... i hope she does get it back after i laughed so much!
Till nex time...

What's next?

Hello Hello!

It seems like now that I am OUT of school I have LESS time! hehe, nah its just more sleeping, more taking it easy, more doing things on my own time. But I must apologise for not including blogging in the "things on my own time". I even got ideas for topics but havent gotten around to sitting here and writing.

Since graduation, the inquiring masses want to know "so what are you going to do now?" Well that is my own damn business!! just kidding ;-) Ok, as an international student, I have to apply for "Employment Authorisation which enables [me] to accept employment in [my] field of study and commensurate with the degree level completed." All dat to say I cant take a job e.g. as a pharmacy clerk or something. So i'm waiting for the INS to complete that, suppose to take a couple months. In the meantime, I am enjoying the free life :-D

Planning to visit some friends/family in the next couple weeks. Also a concert, a soccer game, and of course still playing. Too bad you can't travel overseas while that application thing is going on (I'll have to get a visa all over again to come back). Looking forward to summer camps again. By the time that's over I should have the Employment thingy. So yep... just floating along at the moment hehehe....

In the more immediate future though, I'll try to blog some more.
Till nex time....

Obituary

Unfortunately my "return blog" has to be about my dog Toffey, who sadly fell ill and passed away last week. Soundin nice eh? haha. He "passed away". De damn dog dead. The story is he get sick, stop eating only drinking water. Then I suppose they (my mom or my nephew) found him on the side of the house not moving and realise he dead. I was happy to hear they didnt throw him in the river which runs maybe a 150 meters from my house. Instead a friend who come all the time to lime by me, dig a hole in the yard and bury the dog. Apparently they had a lil service an ting, my nephew cry, awww. I'm sorry but I had to laugh when my Mom say they light a candle! LOL Somehow she is always the one there when the dog dead (my father is visiting in NY at the moment). The one before was the same thing: come and put her head through the burglar-proof in the front and stay there and dead and my mother was all sad. So the nex summer when I went home I get a nex dog, Toffey, to keep them company as I up here. He was truly a fun and happy dog, yuh know the dogs with the smile? And he had a lil dreadlocks, two strands, one on each side coming from just behind his ears, it gave him character. Unlike the previous dog, he would never run out when the gates was open, and would furiously guard each one, having his own lil way between the plants to get from one to the other. And most of all, when I started goin home only for Xmas, he would remember me :-) He DAMN WELL better had after I keep him in my room in de night through the cryin when he was small! So here's to my dog, now I feel sad as I'm writing this and reflecting....

I wonder if I should really get them another... I could probably arrange it from here, but then is them who go have to take it if he/she cry in the night in the beginning... and then the nex time I visit, the dog eh go know me! Pressha! Hmm...I have to think about this one...

Till nex time

The Scandinavians in my life

ok as promised, I am back after the hectic week last week, all graduated and everything now :) Now I've slept late for 2 mornings and have a bit of focus back now to do this, not to mention the pressure is on as some of the following people are actually looking out for this post:

a small sample

Hanna, Aase, Maria, Jennie, Anne, Stine, Sandra, Lilja, Rut, Hildur, Tove, Amanda, Erik, Andrea, Annika, Sara, Thora, Sigurros, Therese, Johanna, Sofia B, Camilla, Maja, Sofia H, Linda, Cecelia, Malin, Pernilla, Sofie, Hilmar, Hans, Siv, Henning, Magnus.

Isn't that cool?! A small paragraph! Consisting of Swedes, Icelanders, and Norwegians, in the ratio of 10:3:3, I suppose reflecting the general ratio of swedes. Over the years there has been varying levels of intimacy, which is just a fancy way of saying I knew/know some of them better than others :-) And to be honest I wish I had gotten to know more of them alot better. Anyways, they have all in some way had some influence in my life, again some more critical than others but I will proudly claim the ability to recall a moment of fun, a laugh, a drink, a smile, with each of them.

From the beginning, its been good. Really rough at times but that is to be expected with any new experience: my coming to school here and then rooming at close quarters with a Norwegian. Turned out to one of the best things ever to happen to me. What a great friend! Took some figuring out, but then... they all kinda take some figuring out. In my first year there was also a Swede: a most non-typical swede as I came to realise after another couple years, she was real impulsive, and wasnt too level-headed. Later on I met another who had some of the same qualities but not as pronounced. Still good-natured though.

Second year two more Norwegians and two more pleasant, friendly, and thoughtful people. Then I got to Bridgeport (current location) where began the cascade of Swedes and Icelanders, starting with my coach who happened to be another non-typical swede. Although I can't quite explain how, even though I know another 30 of them now, I know he's just different, maybe too Americanised or something, I still find it amusing to hear him speaking swedish.

So what's "typical"? well I already touched on a few characteristics not the least of which is being good-natured, they dont go around being aggressive or in a bad mood. In general, if you see that then theres a problem. More or less straightforward in their approach, they say what they mean. BUT the thing I MUST really mention is that of those that I have met: these must be the most patient people in the world! Probably a function of the above, they take alot of shit from people, yet seem to always take their time to try to figure things out, not necessarily letting things slide but always keeping cool. Amazes me. Also good listeners.

Such a level headed approach to life must be difficult to maintain, but as I mentioned, I have also met some that didnt fit the mold. They say variety is the spice of life hehe and damn sure! the 2 or 3 exceptions provided entertainment and stress alike. Impulsive decisions, statements, and unexpected actions (all of which were magnified since none of these are associated with nordic people therefore unexpected x 2) brought laughs as well as uncomfortable moments. All part of the experience I guess.

I remember covering different cultures in an International Business class, one of which was the Scandinavian. Theoretically, they are supposed to be quite a reserved people and I think they would agree to that description...to some extent...with a big HOWEVER at the end. Like anyone else, they like to have fun, and most can drink like Vikings of old, a trait which most are proud of. lol. And you know what else? After you get to know them, and they you, quite an affectionate people in their own way, not all cold like one might think. In fact I consider some of my closest friends Scandinavians.

Ok well its pretty late now, and I've covered the major traits. I know some would have liked me to do a separate post for each group but really, what does it matter? unless I was going to get into a description of each person. I love you all! Never met one I couldn't get along with.

So here's to a great people, good friends and most of all to my next visit! skål/skál!

All blogged out....

After Lime challenged me to post for 5 days straight (which ended a week ago) I haven't been able to get any focus on here, I haven't even been reading that much. I'm in the mad rush now to get prepared for Graduation on Saturday, just got my new hood today after I thought I had had the right one all along, that could have been most embarassing. Damn I need to get on top of things! Hopefully I can get in a post I planned for this week...but not tonight.

In the beginning was Mapquest....

No excuses but I really was just to busy to do my post yesterday, I had a good one planned too; I'll save it for Monday. In the meantime, I stumbled on this thing and couldn't help but post it:

Back in the day there was mapquest. You needed directions? just type it in mapquest, many people still believe in it and use it exclusively. Me, I got turned on to yahoo maps. It was a phase where I could say "I yahoo": mail, news, chat, weather, music, maps. BUT THEN! then came Google maps, ok I'll try it. What I loved was the uncomplicated layout of the directions and the map alongside, and moreover, the ability to simply drag and zoom the map instead of having to click the desired function and wait for the page to refresh. So I started using google all the time since I'm good with maps and liked being able to browse it in this way.

Now with the advent of google earth, I'm wondering if they got ahead of themselves. Next weekend I may have a clash between playing and coaching. Being in denial that I may not be able to play, I proceed to look at how far it is between the two locations. First I enter Danbury ct (playing) and then drag it around to see for myself how far I might have to go. DAMN it's a long haul.... but still let me see just how long it would take. Search terms now amended to Danbury ct to Colshester. Results are below:

Drive: 3,920 mi (about 29 days 10 hours)

1. Head west on West St toward Deer Hill Ave
2. Continue on Lake Ave 0.6 mi
3. Turn right onto the I-84 E/US-7 N ramp to Waterbury/New Milford 0.4 mi
4. Merge onto I-84 E
Partial toll road
Entering Massachusetts
5. Take the exit onto I-90 E/Mass Pike/Massachusetts Turnpike toward N.H.-Maine/Boston
Partial toll road
6. Take exit 24 A-B-C on the left toward I-93 N/Concord NH/S Station/I-93 S/Quincy
7. Merge onto Atlantic Ave
8. Turn right at Central St
9. Turn right at Long Wharf
10. Swim across the Atlantic Ocean 3,462 mi
29 days 0 hours
11. Slight right at E05
12. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto E05/Pont Vauban 0.1 mi
13. Turn right at E05
14. Take the exit onto A29/E44 toward Amiens
15. Take the exit toward Dieppe/Amiens/Calais/A151/Rouen
Toll road
---abridged directions---

How intuitive is google?!?! WOW!! just freakin amazing!! Colchester in England. SWIM across the Atlantic and then continue on my merry way taking a slight right onto the E05. THe whole thing shows I'm taking a lil detour through France too! Oh and by the way, I start swimming from New England Aquarium in Boston. How do you like that?

I HAD to go see what happened if I entered the same on Mapquest. Unlike google it gave me a choice of possible Colchesters, all within the U.S. because it simply doesn't have, i suppose, any other directions.

Should I be going back to using Mapquest?

"real" roti

I titled this "real" roti, not that I think Trini roti is fake, but that I have now seen roti being made by Indians from India. THis was pretty much what we would call sada roti in Trinidad and the method was quite similar.

That's one thing about living in such shared housing, and as a matter of fact going to a college with one of the most international student bodies: interacting with other cultures.

There I was minding my own business waiting for my rice to boil when two indian girls come in the kitchen with all their stuff. So I was htinking they were going to take a long time preparing things as they usually do (cooking seems to ALWAYS be quite a social occasion for them) But not this time! The dough was already prepared and one started rolling while the other put what would be equivalent to a tawah on one burner and a wire grill on another. Now the tawah had a handle and was slightly concave. And the bilna was basically a non-descript stick, near uniform thickness throughout, slight taper towards the ends.

The speed of the whole business was what really fascinated me. Each roti (she did refer to it as roti to a friend who came in to look) was only about 6 inches in diameter but still, they must have made 30+ while my rice was boiling and they were still in there when I left. The one girl rolled out the dough, each starting out about golf ball size. Then straight onto the super-hot tawah. That lasted about a minute, including turning. Then it was moved over to the grill, almost touching the burner (we have electric). Immediately it puffed up, the entire thing, like a balloon. It was enthralling, uniform, each one like the one before. And it was at this stage that the roti acquired the colour we are used to. Of course, this demanded the undivided attention of the cook to ensure the initial tawah stage was just right to allow the puffing up stage which also demanded deft handling of the thongs to turn and turn the roti over the grill to avoid burning.

I was thinking they probably making roti like that since they small to be that skilled and nonchalant about it. I guess it's like me making stew chicken now. LOL yeah whatever. I just thought of the fact that I have never made stew chicken in Trinidad hahaha. But here? ooohh there have been a couple that were magic! Could you imagine if I make a stew chicken ONCE home? It would be the end of "eating for free"
;-)

It's late in the day but I really had no time today, still I'm in under the wire: my 4th consecutive day posting! woohoo!

How big is your Carbon Footprint?

In layman's terms, your carbon footprint refers to the amount of stuff or resources you use up e.g. if you have a car, your footprint is bigger than someone without (you use gas, oil etc. AND emit more fumes in the long run) Of course carbon footprints are calculated as a country average.

I thought I would do this post due to all the recent resurfacing of the global warming issue. Is the earth really getting warmer? Is it just a natural cycle? Is human activity really responsible? Time magasine had quite an interesting issue April 9th with a cover reading "The global warming survival guide" and included "51 things you can do to make a difference". The subsequent letters to the editor were varied: some complimentary, and others making you think about the writer "you just don't understand, do you?"

Wikipedia has a nice little entry about carbon footprints along with a world map which gives an overall view of the worst offending countries. Immediately you see North America highlighted. I was a bit surprised to see Australia right up there as well. Guess what? If you click to enlarge the map, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO is also guilty. In fact, according to this Trinidad is worse off than the U.S. However, this map shows carbon emissions per capita, not that that makes it any better but explains why the United States comes under fire from environmental activists. These statistics show the U.S. being way out ahead of other countries in terms of total carbon comsumption. The Kyoto Protocol was drafted in an effort to have governments worldwide take steps towards reducing levels of carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases, emitted due to industrial activity. The U.S. has come under fire for not ratifying the protocol but admittedly it isn't as simple as it seems.

Part of the problem is that Americans are perceived to be a [lazy] people who go around using things up without regard to others or the effects of their actions. I always say stereotypes are born out of some grain of fact. Let's go back to those letters to the editor. One person said "...it is not a question of whether we will kill the planet. It is a matter of maintaining a survivable habitat for ourselves." OK so let's just do whatever we feel and if it comes to that we can build a bubble to live in? On the other hand another letter said "We can give up the feeling of entitlement that pervades our society, we feel entitled to use a disproportionate amount of the world's resources...As the greatest nation on earth, we should be leading by example." Some people see a true reflection in the mirror. I will put my own meaning on "greatest": for a country with such international political and economic influence the world community expects the U.S. to "do the right thing" and so far it seems that the policy is to get away with as much as possible until.

THe 51 things suggested by Time included many that we as individuals can do now while the government decides what to do later. I do subscribe to the view that every little helps. Here are a few: ride the bus or carpool - yes some transport systems aren't up to scratch, try carpooling; say no to plastic bags - why do american supermarkets put like 2 things in each bag? you leave with 10 bags carrying stuff that could have fit in 3; and the #51 on the list

"consume less, share more, live simply"

How big is your carbon footprint?

Class etiquette... and other things

I will never forget how teachers in high school in Trinidad would make sure everyone greeted one another at the start of the class. And you better had say "good morning" or "good afternoon" if you walked in late or everything would stop till you did loud and clear. So engrained was it that I used to do it when I just got here 6 years ago until I realised there was a reply only 10% of the time. Also, people come in and have small picnics in class. I can understand having a coffee or a soda etc. but salads and Subway? the class smelling like a food court? I mean jeez.... or how about the continuous chatter when the professor has arrived and is trying to start the class? or worse: the little conversations that pop up DURING the class?! I wouldn't even say these are "pet peeves" in my mind they are simply a matter of respect. I've posted before about a professor who was doing his small bit to improve discipline among students. He greets people if they happen to come in late, and pull up people who start talking during the class. Good for him. At least there are still a few who care.

Which brings me to the "other things": plagiarism. I read somewhere, and can attest to the fact, that graduates plagiarise more than undergrads. Isn't that funny? According to Plagiarism.org:

A national survey published in Education Week found that 54% of students
admitted to plagiarizing from the internet; 74% of students admitted that at
least once during the past school year they had engaged in "serious" cheating;
and 47% of students believe their teachers sometimes choose to ignore students
who are cheating.

The site further states that clearly instructors know what is going on but aren't about to do anything about it. "55% of faculty 'would not be willing to devote any real effort to documenting suspected incidents of student cheating'". So many professors just let things slide. I would love to see comparable statistics for Trinidad. To be honest I think at least people's conscience would kick in, I'm not saying it would stop them but I think Trinis would at least feel bad. On the whole I think the international students really try, but then we get sucked into the culture :-/

You know what? at this point I am just counting down the days, the final I cheated on is in the past. I can proudly say though that I have never done the "cut and paste" bit, that is just plain laziness. I was supposed to have a presentation this evening but my group couldn't get it together in time, I know there's going to be some cutting and pasting for the paper itself which pisses me off but hey, the professor likes me. Just picked up my graduation packet, I was invited based on GPA to join an international Business Society, so now I'm just waiting to see if I graduate with honors.

2 down... till tomorrow!

Radio shows

No I'm not going to talk about Imus or whoever else there is. Fact is I've probably only ever listened a handful of times to any radio talk in this country, even the couple times i've listened to stations from New York or Tri-state area, they tend to be either boring or over-the-top. Thus after I happened to be awake last Thursday to listen, I confirm or re-affirm The Morning Drive with Paul & Nikki on 96.1FM (Trinidad& Tobago) to be my favourite radio show ever!

According to Wikipedia 96.1 is thought of as "young people ting" which may or may not be true since I wouldn't consider the presenters to be of that age group. I must agree with the assessment that they approach all issues with "a level of fairness" and make listeners aware of pressing issues. They have been accused in the past of being partisan; personally I feel this is because of entertaining calls from certain regular callers who were clearly for or against a certain political party.

So since last week I have been inspired to try to get up early and listen in, it was a great start to the day, good laughs. Its great to have a hearty laugh at 7:30am. Reminded me of back in the days at home, getting ready for school, and later getting ready for work, listening in. Then hoping the maxi I got had 96.1 playing (until i got my discman w/ radio hehe) Allyuh remember when Nikki used to just have the lil 5-min "nikki says" thing before the 7:25 news? That was when I started liking her, she seemed to really think through those segments as it was going on national radio lol. She has really matured as a comedienne since (notwithstanding the forays into soca, lawd) and she and Paul make for an entertaining duo.

The day I listened, I'm not quite sure if there was any specific topic: callers talked about Akon of course, the policeman who has missed 25 court dates to prosecute a child abuser/molester/murderer, the widespread water shortages. But for me the hit of the day was the new Prime Minister's Residence which is being constructed at record speed (while the Grand Stand remains untouched) on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens at a cost of TT$148mill. A man calls in and talks about it and requests a song for PM Manning. Well they certainly had it in for him!

"and now we have a special selection for Manning..." Of all the songs to play, they put on "It's my House" by Diana Ross LOL And you bet they are singing along:

It's my house, and I live here
(so hall allyuh tail)
It's my house, and I live here
(one four eight Million)

Cuz it's built with looooooove
(taxpayers money)
An it cuttin thruuuu
De botanical gardennnss

Let me tell you, I had to catch my breath laughing!! That was the funniest thing in a loooong time. I miss listening to them I realise...listening to my own accent, the jokes, the "pong" LOL I just might start getting up a bit earlier to listen and have a pleasant start to the day.

Till tomorrow...

(yes "till tomorro", i have taken a challenge from Lime to post for 5 consecutive days, who tell me do dat :-/)

Trini on wikipedia

Through the maco-machine Facebook, I found this link while browsing some trinidadian groups (i find these enjoyable as many people write almost exclusively in creole, MOST amusing LOL )

List of Trinidadian English Terms

It's quite a long list, some of the definitions I don't quite agree with... but you can draw your own conclusions.

Take a look!

The weather

Unless you really completely outta it, you must know that the Northeast US has had terrible weather the last few days: snow, sleet, rain, flooding. And it was unseasonably cold even before all that started. UUUGGGHHH!!!

Yes I know I've come to enjoy the different seasons and for once I am actually getting out of spring in a good mood which I attribute to changing the clocks earlier than usual so the dark afternoons ended sooner. But now this is getting just a tad annoying. Yesterday I sat here and watched the rain, and along with that, watch the park slowly flood. Couldn't it be like home where the rain is warm? even when its windy as hell?! DAMN! Times like these is when you miss the wet and dry season life. I can't even imagine how those people who are getting snow must be feeling, and is not a lil snow, is PLENTY snow. Meanwhile flood like mad closer to the sea where it is "warmer", and it might go on for a couple days more.

Hear nah, is really time to stop being cold now man, geez. This cold is crippling, I gone with my fas' self and pack up my winter stuff. Now I only have a few long sleeve things, 2 or 3 sweaters, and a light jacket. Thank god I thought about keeping my underarmor for late-evening coaching on those damn windy fields. Why they like to put fields on top a hill in the back of the bush? and when is time to go home and it gettin dark you have to make sure you eh bounce no deer in the road?! Lawd my poor old car if I bounce a deer...

ok clearly I am annoyed and rambling. But seriously is the weather. I didn't even work out today because I was cold. And then to make it worse there was no heat when I came home, better I had go to the blasted gym. Can you picture those people running the Boston marathon today? Torture. Somehow I think it would be easier when it is hot and just keep drinking than having your joints freeze up as you try to run.

For all the times I've said 60'sF (teens celsius) was "nice" and for all those people who were thinking something must be wrong with me as a Trini: I WISH IT WAS WARM!!!!!!!!!!

Everybody pray to the Sun Gods.

Till nex time...

If I get sick...

it is because I ate a whole can of vienna sausages
because I didnt feel for anything else since I am getting a cold
because I didnt want to get up and close the window last night
because the sleep was going sweet at the time.

maybe nex time I will get up an close the window

Pet Food

Sorry to all those people affected by the "national pet food recall" but I couldnt help being a bit surprised by how far-reaching it has become despite knowing how some americans love their pets more than people, having the dog in they bed and kissing them and all that. I see big people come on CNN and bawling down de place cuz they dog or cat dead. I understand it sad and unexpected and is a shitty way to go but oh gosh!

It never crossed my mind how huge the pet food industry must be over here. Now when I tell my friend dogs in trinidad eat rice, she in shock: "it doesnt do anything to their stomachs!?" Well clearly not. And by the way, I see some rice in the supermarket here that eh look too far from trinidad pet rice, probably only one grade better. I swear there are people that would eat what my dog eats, at least it smells REALLY good while being cooked. Usually it's just the rice cooked up with entrails etc from preparing our own meals, but we season it and everything as if the dog cares HAHA. At one point when I was at home, I used to buy packages of chicken liver to cook for the dog (it was dirt cheap). Another time I bought some dry dog food to mix in with the cooked food to make it last longer. Guess what? the dog ate around the pellets! LOL Now bear in mind this is equivalent to eating only the peas out of the peas and carrots. That was hilarious, we were in shock but almost died laughing. I must point out that this is the same dog that would "eat" mangoes (don't ask how he got them) and bananas (again dont ask) Crix is always a hit, and how about some scrambled eggs?

All kicks aside, I wonder how many trinidadians buy the so-called "cuts and gravy" style pet food? It only occupies a small space on the shelves, the dry food seems to be much more popular, and pet rice is always available. One of my cousins used to buy it(dry food), but again, she would mix it with rice. Those Trinis that do buy the "gravy" stuff probably still happy happy buying it cuz who bothering to check labels and dates and all that? If the dog dead it dead.

One more question: what do cats in trinidad eat??