Caribbean.Conservation.Chic.

Mar 23 2010 ∞

“

Back in St. Lucia.
Thank you to my peeps in Dominica, Antigua and St. Vincent. I have a better understanding on life in small island developing Caribbean states. I wish I could afford to go to Grenada.
Jamaica was waaaay to big and metropolitan for me to have grasped the challenges presented by smallness, limited resources and lots of ocean!!
Leaving for Boston in 7 days. How did I accumulate so much?
I am ready. I am not. I miss my home. I do not miss the USA.
Still more interviews to complete for my paper.
My academic advisor says….and I qoute, ” April will be a killer month”.

That’s if saying good bye to SLU doesn’t kill me first…..

—

love

t

Mar 22 2010 ∞

(via obliteratedheart)

Mar 19 2010 ∞

Antigua

The country has 365 beaches…….yup.. One for everyday. Ofcourse, the full post will come soon.

In St. Vincent…….

Mar 17 2010 ∞

after much delay….Dominica

ok in Antigua and realized I still hadnt posted all the pictures from Dominica….so here goes.

PIWI coconut and coffee ice cream. A truly Dominican ice cream company…..yum!

I dont have any photos, but I want to tell you that markets open all night on Friday in case you feel like buying ripe bananas at 1am. We bought pumpkin around 11:00pm for Amonia’s soup next day. Yum, yum , yum.

A fabric store in Roseau the capital had me oooooing and aaawwwing over the wax prints. I should make something…

On my last day in country we did a 7 hour round the island tour. Dominica is the nature isle of the Caribbean…..forest are not the exception. They are the norm. 365 rivers my friend! 365 !!!

Yeah me, another World Heritage site. One day I’ll tell you about my love for them. This is the 3rd of 4 in the english speaking Caribbean. I’ve been to the ones in St. Lucia, St; Kitts and now Dominica….

The first inhabitants of the land live in a communal setting and have opened their community to curious folks like me. See http://www.kalinagobaranaaute.com/ for history.

Carib woman and handsome child getting his hair braided.

Basket and craft in the Kalinago/Carib (european name)Territory.

Serena, the young woman who runs the tour office. We chatted for a good hour or so. I learned much about the Caribe culture, even the unwritten. Asked all the questions that plagued me since I was in high school history. I also shared with her how similar some aspects of Maroon culture in Jamaica was to the Carib.

Why do indigenous peoples remain so oppressed and poor?

It started out with a ‘shy’ ask, ” can i try that?”.

Then I was weaving….waeving, weaving! I should have used my tuition to learn a skill instead. i see huge basket earrings….do you?

Carib man making castor oil. My hair was so happy to see this!

So I didnt have the opportunity to see all the Protected Areas that I worked on in my ‘former internship’. Here I am at the Dominica site….yeah. Eat your heart out former supervisor….seeing is believing and it is by doing that we learn.

North of the island. More forests, a cold volcano and peace on top of mountains……

Good night Dominica and good bye. (Portsmouth)

+ ∞

Montserrat's St. Patrick's Day

Despite being able to see the island from Antigua, I cant go…I have a J’can passport. It would be like Boston all over again.

bonesarecoralmade:

In most of the world, Thursday is an Irish holiday, commemorating the patron Saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, who converted the Irish to Christianity. But in the small island nation of Montserrat, the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, St. Patrick’s Day has become a celebration of the many diverse aspects of its Irish and African heritage.

This heritage can be traced back to the 1630s when Irish Roman Catholic planters brought African slaves to Montserrat to work the sugar cane fields.

“Unless you factor the past in, you’ve left out a piece of the puzzle,” says Montserratian Ann Marie Dewar. For her and many Montserratians, St. Patrick’s Day primarily celebrates the March 17, 1768 Afro-Montserratian slave uprising against the nation’s Irish planters.

Though the St. Patrick’s Day revolt was aborted, the martyrdom of these rebels continues to serve as an inspiration to the island’s people, challenged by severe natural disaster for the past 20 years.

+ +

Mar 14 2010 ∞

@ Antigua

note to self: write a note on the blessing and curse of being jamaican. I learned that the hard way when I was treated like a crap (most articulate word available) at the Lester Bird International Airport last night. …..I have 4 days in the country…..4 days…..because i am jamaican.

Mar 11 2010 ∞

Write.Right.Re-write.

this cannot be so hard. i am over thinking. perfectionist they say. hardly. is two months too long for 10 pages? can i write the conclusion now. objectivity? really? who made the guy in the Journal of Geography and Journal of Development Studies experts? I can bet he is wears glasses. Oh , yeah me too. am i an expert?

pretty necklaces make it easier. Dominica jewelry find….tres chic!

that smile is a fake. buying overpriced tea to make it not look so bad that i’m their to use the internet is so unfair.

Mar 09 2010 ∞

Rustic Roseau, Dominica

This is the first of three posts about my hop over to Dominica….the island is easy. It felt like a rural town that was familiar yet unknown. Each street, corner, mountain, river and face…..good conversations. Good lime. Laid back.

Bakes(fried dough) and cheese from a street vendor for breakfast. Cost $1EC( US0.37)

Basket weaving is a popular art passed on by the Caribs.

Welcome to Screw’s Spa, a must see. Amazing concept by an eccentric genius - Screw!See here

Grad school classmate Amonia who graciously hosted me in her beautiful country. Thank you!

Ofcourse I visited the museum. That’s what I do….I feed on colonial history.

The streets of Roseau arent wide, they arent modern, nor well paved. They are filled with history and life however. Rustic! Rustic Roseau is what I call this post colonial eastern Caribbean town. The people are friendly. I know that sounds cliche but with a population of only 58, 000. Believe me, you feel quite at home.

A

Meet Screw, of Screw’s Sulphur Spa

Mar 07 2010 ∞

obliteratedheart:

(via artpixie)

Mar 05 2010 ∞

On Christopher…

hilarious!!!

I told you museums were fun…..and funny

Mar 03 2010 ∞

iSlAnD HoPPiNg

starts today…..

…..interview with the project staff I’ve been working with via phone and email….

…catch up with Heller School Alum

…seeing another World Heritage Site.

Mar 01 2010 ∞

So this is what ex-pats do…

No work….

No internet at home….lost my photo transfer cord (again) lost my cell phone charger (clumsy is me)

Bank errands, other errands, loose ends…

Working from the “american style cafe” in town

Sipping on fake chai latte

Watching the “locals” bustle by on theor to and from work…

My only agenda to take it easy, write down the lesson learned, submit this draft

Submit this darft

Submit this draft…..plan island hop

Feb 28 2010 ∞

Day 180: moving day

The lease on my work afforded apartment with the divine view ends today. I am in the process of moving. How did I accumulate so much in six months? Doing laundry, cleaning new apt…..preparing an interview script, then to a food festival this evening……photos from Friday’s send off coming soon. I need an assistant!!

I have been reflecting on the past 6 months……

Feb 26 2010 ∞

Day 177: Last day as the intern (UPDATE)

Last day of internship. Beers and barbeque in our honor……

For six months, Judy checked my trash can, amazed by how many snacks I eat each day!

Raise a glass to the “interns”

I said thank you…I’m shy.

Passing the pork around!

on feb 26th: to be completed…….but i know what i’ll be wearing.

Feb 25 2010 ∞

Ever in SLU on a Sunday? Please go to Debbie’s in the south…cant remember which town for Sunday Buffet Brunch. $50 EC per person( 20US). I had lunch there a few months ago with friends…..impressive!! And the music……