tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5864666779103025602024-02-19T11:36:10.996-04:00Garvin's WorldA blog by Garvin Tafari Parsons: my views, my feelings, my life!Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-61168818139425042412015-10-25T18:59:00.000-04:002016-03-11T13:06:55.710-04:00UWI Got Me Like<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxPHqlIWd_7-EuZ2IdyAwIBeWhyOFWRy9QKqZQ2UNJ4Xg8mUl6EQziZnucxTJznF6yGsJEir165QgLF6uvWHRtc_003la-DzPacb42I3o89ZtPiYIuCkXmH5ilVnStDjZe6tqn6vsSP12/s1600/WP_20150930_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxPHqlIWd_7-EuZ2IdyAwIBeWhyOFWRy9QKqZQ2UNJ4Xg8mUl6EQziZnucxTJznF6yGsJEir165QgLF6uvWHRtc_003la-DzPacb42I3o89ZtPiYIuCkXmH5ilVnStDjZe6tqn6vsSP12/s320/WP_20150930_002.jpg" width="177" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.8; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ugh!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hey.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Confession: I looove working at UWI. It's a part-time gig, meaning I make my own hours. I have a great rapport with my boss. The work is challenging and rewarding. I can stroll to my classes on Mondays and Thursdays. I have an air-conditioned office with really fast Internet access and an abundance of stationery. I have my own key for the staff bathroom, which has hand-soap and paper towels, and is always open. Life is good at UWI. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Except, I haven't been paid for the past two months.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I did the job application process online, sent in all my documents, the whole shebang, since May. We’re in October, and I am yet to receive a contract; at UWI, no contract means no salary. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Calls to the relevant bodies in charge of processing said contract have gone unanswered nine-out-of-ten times. When they do answer, the Resident Hog replies with more run-around and unhelpful suggestions to “check the system”. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've asked questions. I've been very patient. I’ve channeled my frustration into unbridled enthusiasm. I’ve hoped and hoped and asked more questions. All to no avail. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meanwhile, my bank account is on its last. I’m maxed out on borrowing money. I mean, let’s face it, no one wants to lend a 26-year old, technically employed, “functioning adult” money, especially when you can’t give a date of repayment.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’m honestly at my wits’ end. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I fantasize about asking a friend that lives close to campus to get me a tyre. Entering through the gate closest to the Bus Route (the guards never ask questions), I’d roll the tyre on campus all the way to the lawn in front of the Staff (Old) Admin Building.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’d douse the tyre in kerosene and set it ablaze with the Bic lighter in my bag. I’d sing Negro spirituals into a bull-horn. When employees peer from the windows above, I’d chant: “Ah want meh money right now!”, repeatedly. The wind would carry my plea to the heavens. Students would update their Facebook and Instagram accounts about the crazy, high-voiced boy in orange and royal blue, staging a one-man protest against the system.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheT7epKxhcu7lvHEOgIh35PK83I-AoI4MGNTziHM-CNBAP9d3Y8MRH1IANSdXW63eoMqgRoFp1eMnrcoX6gqorSX_X1ZIpiC2hMWHOFTHEd_f6iGbiZon4LbOTo5PTc933xmulzBBhDko5/s1600/Image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheT7epKxhcu7lvHEOgIh35PK83I-AoI4MGNTziHM-CNBAP9d3Y8MRH1IANSdXW63eoMqgRoFp1eMnrcoX6gqorSX_X1ZIpiC2hMWHOFTHEd_f6iGbiZon4LbOTo5PTc933xmulzBBhDko5/s320/Image.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's how I see it in my mind's eye</td></tr>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Khamal would show up, cameraman in tow, and interview me. I'd lambaste the poor administration at UWI. I'd convince him that those in charge of approving contracts don’t give a damn; they have their contracts; they were paid last Thursday; they drive off campus in their nice cars to their cushy lives.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’d point out that when anyone has money for UWI, is deadlines and late fee and shit. The efficiency is lost as soon as UWI has to do the paying. I’d, then, run off campus before the security guards catch up with me. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I feel like the general sentiment is: “When UWI pay yuh, is ah lump sum yuh gettin’!” And!?!? I am on the ground NOW, working. My needs are in the NOW. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don’t get up on a morning, clap my hands and appear on campus in a puff of fluorescent-orange smoke, dressed and ready to work. Transportation, clothes and shoes, personal care items, lunch, activities to de-stress, photocopying chapters for my courses, Internet access at home etc, etc, ALL come at a cost. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Believe it or not, smiles and giggles and a somewhat winning personality are not accepted forms of payment. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I just wanna scream: “CARE, DAMN IT! I’M A PERSON WITH NEEDS AND WANTS! APPROVE MEH FACKIN’ CONTRACT AND BE DONE WITH IT!” </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I work, UWI pays me at the end of the month. It. Is. That. Simple. Or not. Ugh.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The way forward is clear. More waiting. More calls. More run-around. Maybe, November month-end will be it. Maybe, I should write a scathing letter or two. Maybe, I turn to prostitution. Anything’s possible at this point.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Basically: #UWIOnShit #EwwWI #ApproveMehContract #PayMe #PovertyIsHell. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So yeah, gonna channel my ire into my midterm essay.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-58da8715-a0f4-d1b6-5c3d-57d19dfb2ed1"><span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Until the next post. Ugh!</span></span></span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-13055963005709089782015-09-20T19:13:00.000-04:002015-09-24T15:31:03.826-04:00Hello, High Season! <div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnv1vEWvIZATOa2bShp41ZNTrQpF8Dlah7BVox01AtfuLk3z8AOfgs6qNfDnbrZXZEgPLPr73lO8tiLJRgS4Xn5JE1fuQZD50reWQbIjYjU79EtQ8TwBsZofmM4pMXDC58o3nVD2RYTw-/s1600/wp_ss_20150914_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnv1vEWvIZATOa2bShp41ZNTrQpF8Dlah7BVox01AtfuLk3z8AOfgs6qNfDnbrZXZEgPLPr73lO8tiLJRgS4Xn5JE1fuQZD50reWQbIjYjU79EtQ8TwBsZofmM4pMXDC58o3nVD2RYTw-/s320/wp_ss_20150914_0001.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Midterms, presentations, assignments, the oral exam, the quiz, Love & Friendship Day</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Allow
the ebb, and ride the flow!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My undergrad thesis adviser turned
life coach has spoken to me on many an occasion about the ebb and flow of life.
She believes that we go through seasons; the high season is a time for
work, the low is a time of rest. She stresses the importance of enjoying both
seasons for what they are, without complaining.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As of a few weeks ago, I was very
much in the low season. No school for four months, no employment for two. I
took the opportunity to read all the books I had bought on Amazon, get some
writing done, spend time with the family, devote time to Rotaract, and sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With all that, I still complained; nothing
to do, no life, no friends, there’s only so many books I could read, sleeping
all day isn't as fun as it used to be, et cetera, et cetera.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, I was quite excited when Sept. 1<sup>st</sup>
finally arrived. Hello, High Season! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Work looks promising.
I foresee more responsibility, meetings and opportunities to help in the
planning and execution of some really fantastic projects. I’m doing my usual
two postgraduate courses. And my first class for Debates in Caribbean Cultural
Identity was a good one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Buoyant best describes my attitude
and outlook for those first two weeks. Nothing or no one could burst my bubble.
My renewed sense of purpose and desire to be more present seemed manageable.
This would be a good semester. Yay!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then, last Monday happened. I had
had my first class for the course in Caribbean Poetics. And I wasn't ready, y’all!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It was an information dump of epic
proportions. We received six articles, ranging from 15-30 pages each. The
course outline was eight pages. The reading list so long, each title was
separated by semi-colons. The course assessment
included five presentations, two essays and three response pieces. And the flustered
air of the lecturer did nothing to alleviate the doubts that were creeping into
my mind. </span><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This must be what anal feels like sans
Vaseline.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What just happened? This was the first
day of my first full week of school and work, and the tension between my
shoulder blades had already set in, my left eye was twitching and I had a
pounding headache.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How am I going to manage with this
course and its readings and the lecturer? I still have another course and a
job. My already fragile social life would disintegrate. The Blink Internet
service continues to be a thorn in my side. Not to mention the new TV season
begins next week, and will bring with it the twenty-two shows I watch a week, and
new ones sure to be added to the list. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">There it is! High Season and its pin/promise of a heavy workload,
little to no sleep and weight gain ready to burst my bubble.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEPH9m4LJY4Iz-NV5DRsTltE4K6RV_tFp_C7e_wDWu8NQOLs7yA2gFW-CkVhRKqNvQ1SRuizNwGd6s2PbEztV2MUdJCpHlNlwQ1_k-17Lpic9kJcqyWDdH2IhebVKSpiVM2Kqj5RQBSCH/s1600/wp_ss_20150310_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEPH9m4LJY4Iz-NV5DRsTltE4K6RV_tFp_C7e_wDWu8NQOLs7yA2gFW-CkVhRKqNvQ1SRuizNwGd6s2PbEztV2MUdJCpHlNlwQ1_k-17Lpic9kJcqyWDdH2IhebVKSpiVM2Kqj5RQBSCH/s320/wp_ss_20150310_0004.jpg" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Oh. Shit.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My Granny, in her wisdom, reminded
me of something: “Life never gives you more than you can handle”. I’d forgotten.
And she was right, this is High Season. I have to adapt, to come up with a plan
to survive. I need some Vaseline (this sounded better in my head, but you get
my meaning).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’ve got to dig deep, starting now. I’ll
have to embrace time management and discipline. This won’t be easy as an
impending deadline brings with it a surge in creativity, which I enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I must remember to have fun. I
really love my programme of study, and Cultural Studies continues to tickle my
brain in fanciful ways. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I must remember to be grateful. I
have a job that allows me to grow and work closely with brilliant individuals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">High Season has its merits, and I
have to accept it for what it is. With that said, I will complain from time to time, and be overwhelmed. It's all about balance, after all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To all those out there, juggling
work and school, managing massive workloads, familial responsibilities and
personal lives, we shall persevere. When in doubt, remember:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_HAFHeS1t4LvfFd1sfmTuknY-gLPkoWm4E83WUFsFWqAq-NYf0-IKKqxnS97VbrXXsgBNoTT4JUn8lWFccZ79axNMzbcdkkggN7ddpFHKx2q3tMwfC1D18oa7OIo5prOarYbpKeBS7QC/s1600/wp_ss_20150330_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_HAFHeS1t4LvfFd1sfmTuknY-gLPkoWm4E83WUFsFWqAq-NYf0-IKKqxnS97VbrXXsgBNoTT4JUn8lWFccZ79axNMzbcdkkggN7ddpFHKx2q3tMwfC1D18oa7OIo5prOarYbpKeBS7QC/s320/wp_ss_20150330_0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until the next post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-39172459202670175092015-09-13T18:40:00.001-04:002015-09-20T17:10:41.914-04:00And That's The Way The Cookie Crumbles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cWG2CYxiJolnQTyBq71MEV3_NppgDZ5g43H4OaiK-redm393tiovy7PlobMaE-KwQi9M-bUuiV0E-38l22l02d20ZYeWuhhJg4_6BGjMURBxQNh8QF8h40rW9DEhRsNI9NOhfKsGYFAU/s1600/WP_20150907_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cWG2CYxiJolnQTyBq71MEV3_NppgDZ5g43H4OaiK-redm393tiovy7PlobMaE-KwQi9M-bUuiV0E-38l22l02d20ZYeWuhhJg4_6BGjMURBxQNh8QF8h40rW9DEhRsNI9NOhfKsGYFAU/s320/WP_20150907_003.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Life
goes on.”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">-
<b>Andy Nguyen</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hey, there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">OMG, Election 2015 was intense! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For most of the campaigning, I was a
passive observer to the goings-on, not really invested in either party winning
because, you know, life goes on after the 7<sup>th</sup>. A lot of people did
not feel the same way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Imagine my surprise when, on the
night of the 7<sup>th</sup>, I woke up from a short nap (that day was rough) to
see 489 unread WhatsApp messages. These ranged from ‘OMG, PNM losing’ to ‘another
five years of Kamliar’ to ‘meh heart cyah take it’ to ‘that announcer kinda
cute’ to ‘Lawd, Desha!’ to ‘go, Tanty Kams’ (this would have been my response,
since I like being contrary for no apparent reason). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Naturally, I went to Facebook. Here,
a lot of voices came out of the woodwork, sending prayers to the heavens, and
calling for the blood of Jesus to intervene and lead PNM to victory. And
everyone knows that, when you call on the blood of Jesus, <i>tings</i> serious! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Some forewent religion and placed
the blame on those who didn’t vote; they admonished them for not coming out and
hinted that they deserved what came their way if the PP regained power. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">PNM seemed to be losing; the
prospect of another five years of Tanty Kams set in; abandon ship, abandon ship!
To say their reaction was a hasty one would be an understatement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then, out of nowhere, PNM had more
seats than the PP. ‘Thank you, Jesus’; ‘We red and ready’; ‘God doh sleep!’
were the popular refrains. On television, more balisier flags were appearing
out of nowhere while the yellow-clad supporters left in droves, looks of
incredulity and disappointment etched on their faces. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There was no end to the shade as
cameramen zoomed in on faces, and reporters commented on the box to people
ratio at the ILP camp and the music going down several decibels at the PP camp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then, there was the “Decision Desk”
guy on TV6. His bias and over-zealousness knew no bounds. It was clear that he was pro-PNM, which was very unprofessional on his part. I mean, there were
supporters of each party tuning in. He couldn’t wait for the powers that be to
call the elections; he bounced on his seat on the brink of salivating, sending
us back to Fazeer in studio, all frenetic energy and no tact. #NotCute<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">They called it. The PNM was
victorious. Balisier House was a sea of red. Music trucks and radio stations
played “Bye Bye, Kamla”. Dr. Uncle Keith gave a rousing speech. It was over.
Onwards to September 8<sup>th</sup>; fina-frickin’-lly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But, wait… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Is Tanty Kams delivering her
concession speech from Siparia, and not Rienzi? Did she congratulate Dr. Rowley
and the PNM? Has she accepted defeat? What is this popular vote she speaks of? Is
this even a concession speech? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That was only the tip of the iceberg.
In the days since, she’s launched a campaign to have the results cited as null
and void. What!?! And I’m still waiting for my ‘thank you’ email. I never
deleted a single one; how yuh could do yuh boy dat?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tanty Kams, no, Mrs.
Persad-Bissessar you are a sore loser! That much has become apparent. And it
makes me call into question your level of maturity and your interest in what’s
best for Trinidad and Tobago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yes, you’re probably going through
the Five Stages of Grief, but you need to get to Acceptance, like <i>ya mismo</i>. Just concede defeat, send
congratulations and get to work. You can cry and have your existential crisis
behind closed doors. Sheesh!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">NB:
Since writing and editing this post, I’ve received a 'thank you' email from Tanty Kams and
have seen the words being shared on Facebook. Better late than never, I say.</span></b><br />
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AtZi9GpDXDgAoa3rqXuwZZW3PS_gH8BIZxgv0GwA-d5YKi0kW5rksTCIUw3W9U3ZoqUwXx1wArsoEExj1yyLygK0JIWJ2rcpuH8iOKehfmrsp9d8pMswFmIjmwF8nYQjt9CaxRC4GaU3/s1600/11987132_10152973517771901_7850015367249339626_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AtZi9GpDXDgAoa3rqXuwZZW3PS_gH8BIZxgv0GwA-d5YKi0kW5rksTCIUw3W9U3ZoqUwXx1wArsoEExj1yyLygK0JIWJ2rcpuH8iOKehfmrsp9d8pMswFmIjmwF8nYQjt9CaxRC4GaU3/s320/11987132_10152973517771901_7850015367249339626_n.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Luckily, there were no overtly
racist comments on my Facebook Newsfeed. I must have good taste in friends.
That’s not to say that there weren’t some <s>iffy</s> outta-timin’ posts, which
suggested that: 1. a lot of people actually believed the smear campaign against
Dr. Rowley, and 2. some persons are not racist, but rather prejudiced and
discriminatory against certain sectors of society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To all those spewing vitriol and threats
and warning Dr. Rowley to bless his premises to ward off Hindu spirits, thanks
for alerting us to your existence. You’ve got the attention you were craving.
Now, crawl back under your rocks or into your suits, and fester in your hatred
and ignorance. Meanwhile, the rest of us can continue to enjoy the perks of
living in a multi-cultural society. All yuh know ah love meh parsad! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Ultimately, I think a lot of people
were dissatisfied and fed up of Kamla. Her intentions were good, but the PP
seemingly disintegrated from the very beginning (there’s a blog post referencing
this). If I’m being honest, her campaign became more about “The Kamla Show”,
than presenting a united front. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The country needs a strong leader
and united party to steer us through our closet recession and move us forward.
At this moment in our country’s trajectory, the PNM is the best bet. So, the
Management and Staff of Garvin’s World congratulate Dr. Rowley and the PNM on
their victory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I think they deserve a chance to
prove themselves. I’m waiting to congratulate them for the good, and call them
out on their shit. It’s a democracy after all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until the next post.</span><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-20192407411451514822015-08-09T18:06:00.000-04:002015-09-20T17:10:41.909-04:00Who Yuh Voting For?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF7kFMrY6TAgkaxzbBT4Zv1X3DvBJwxJp-sCgJfSB0_LM2pvZex6TikqBipGy6QunuEAqGGNxdIdjHVBUJawodm37YpYPa1o5THBTnIl9qY6QGvoik4lENwIq1jEs6UNVp8dax8dmcwH7/s1600/1378117_10151619921121901_184398520_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF7kFMrY6TAgkaxzbBT4Zv1X3DvBJwxJp-sCgJfSB0_LM2pvZex6TikqBipGy6QunuEAqGGNxdIdjHVBUJawodm37YpYPa1o5THBTnIl9qY6QGvoik4lENwIq1jEs6UNVp8dax8dmcwH7/s320/1378117_10151619921121901_184398520_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ugh!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Every election is determined by the people who show up”</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- Larry J. Sabato</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hey, there. I'm listening to David Rudder's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dms_VJL9GRU" target="_blank">Madness</a> as I type this post. Gypsy's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKCAJhJgSYw&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">The Sinking Ship</a> is in the queue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: justify;">I try not to discuss politics. Like
topics of religion and sexuality, some people are overly passionate about their
politics, and can be unreasonable, volatile or prone to idiotic outbursts if
you were to present a dissenting view.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For some people, it’s this sense of
blind loyalty bordering on reverence towards political leaders and their
parties. You’re either UNC or PNM, there’s no in-between (sorry, COP); if UNC
is in power and does something good, you had best not like it if you support
the PNM and vice versa. And I’m not even getting into race and politics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I remember back when Kamla had
unveiled the People’s Partnership some years ago, I had commented to a
classmate that I thought it was a good idea, and I looked forward to what she
had to offer going into the 2010 General Elections. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“So because you went ah Hindu
school, you ha</span><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">dda vote for she?” he asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">His implication was obvious. I was
shocked that someone whom I had regarded a friend would stoop so low and throw
that in my face. If anything, my years in Hindu school left me with, among
other things, an addiction to parsad</span><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Anyway, that was one of many
interactions I've had that scarred me. I vowed to not discuss politics with any
and anybody. That was then, this is now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With the 2015 General Elections fast
approaching, unless there’s another SOE, of course, I am faced with the
decision of which party I should vote for. Were it up to me, I would stay home
on Sept. 7<sup>th</sup> with a nice book and listen to Florence + The Machine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I would remain separate and apart
from the nonsense and there would be none of that repulsive electoral ink
staining my finger; a win-win, if you ask me. But, you know, voting is my civic
duty and all that jazz, so I have to weigh my options. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In 2010, I voted for Kamla and the
People’s Partnership. She had convinced me. I wanted change. I did not want
Manning as Prime Minister for another five years. The PNM had been in power
long enough and I wanted to see someone else in the driver’s seat. I liked
their manifesto. I liked the double entendre of their slogan. I wanted to rise
too. Plus, I was convinced that the candidate for my area had stolen money from
the last organization he had been a part of. So, hell yes, I voted for Kamla
and the PP. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The last five years have been, well....
I am literally wracking my brain. I want to speak of the successes that she has
had, of the development the country has undergone, of where I see the country
heading were she to be given an additional five years. But, all I can think of
is the disappointment. And how hard it is to determine what went right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">From the creation of Government
Ministries all willy-nilly to the revolving door that was her Cabinet to the
characters that formed a part of said Cabinet. I think of Section 34; Volney; Glenn
on the plane; Chandresh in the car-park; Life Sport; Anil; despicable character
assassinations; the list goes on and on and on. It was a circus, <i>bobol</i> and scandal at every turn, <i>un fracaso total</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I think Kamla is aware of the public’s
perception and has been doing everything in her power to sway the voters to her
side. It’s reflected in her campaign. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">All over the Internet, there are
little ads, each signed with “Kamla 2015” in the colours of the national flag,
depicting a photo and what she stands for. From the requisite “interacting with
children” (Manning used to kiss babies) to her and Gregs, hugging for Family
Values.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuV0ExeYqhxLqowxJhGdbkjNKtBrVUfYtNKJis54ER0pwjcsjHXyRHW__Ho4GGhWg7oet20_kYs_-ERsZwv21zCLQESLbaZk5t6zmGotU6lehTNDP6m7n-E21_lHbFkBUpd7MQEjHNM40w/s1600/WP_20150809_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuV0ExeYqhxLqowxJhGdbkjNKtBrVUfYtNKJis54ER0pwjcsjHXyRHW__Ho4GGhWg7oet20_kYs_-ERsZwv21zCLQESLbaZk5t6zmGotU6lehTNDP6m7n-E21_lHbFkBUpd7MQEjHNM40w/s320/WP_20150809_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On YouTube, the “Why So Growley,
Rowley?” and “The Gruesome Twosome” ads have disrupted many a streaming of The
Wendy Williams Show’s segments. And we shall not speak about that televised <i>masturdebate</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The emails are another thing. Whilst
I’m mostly hurt that she referred to me as ‘Friend’ as opposed to ‘Garvin’, ‘Garvs’,
‘Nephew’ or ‘Son-Son’ and confused as to how she got my email address in the
first place, I get what she was going for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">She bashes Rowley, as usual, but she
also reiterates the successes of the last five years and lists her 2020 plans,
however, vague. Sure, it’s mostly backfired (have you seen Facebook?), but her
intent was clear. I might have also downloaded the 2020 Plans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What her campaign has done is made
me genuinely sit and wonder if she’s deserving of my vote. With any Government,
there's the good, the bad and the downright scandalous. It’s unfortunate that 'The Bad' and 'The Downright Scandalous' have overshadowed 'The Good'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then, there’s Rowley. I find his
campaign to be the opposite of Kamla’s. On the one hand, his is ‘meet with his
supporters on a grassroots level and engage them’, whereas hers is more ‘bombard
the electorate with facts, promises, photos and invasive emails’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I feel like I’m experiencing ‘The Taming
of the Raging Bull’. The softer, more gregarious side of Rowley is almost
enough to make me forget about his perceived arrogance, the Vote of No Confidence,
Vernella’s accusatory filth, and his allegedly poor pick-up lines ("You looking
rosy." Really?).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On the other hand, from what I've
heard at rallies and read in the newspapers, it’s all mudslinging and
reiterations of past transgressions from him. It’s obvious that he’s playing
with the majority of the population’s disdain and ire over what has transpired
over the past five years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But, aside from Late O’ Clock News
and their reporting his plan to give <a href="http://lateoclocknews.com/keith-rowley-promises-to-give-every-child-a-tiida-with-his-tiidas-for-toddlers-programme/" target="_blank">Tiidas to toddlers</a>, and his incredulity
over Kamla wanting to build a bridge from Toco to Tobago, I'm yet to hear anything of his plans for the next five years. Maybe, they flew over my head or Google has failed me.
Should you have any links you wish to share, do so, please. I’m all for learning
more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At this point, I feel like I’ll be
voting for the lesser of two evils come Sept. 7<sup>th</sup>. Kamla has a 2020
plan, but her campaign reeks of desperation and I cannot forget. Rowley can’t be any worse than
Kamla, right? He seems to be more than capable of working for the people. Ugh!
I envy those who know exactly where they’ll put their <b>X</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I should forego the back and forth
and simply follow the words of Mark Twain: “Politicians and diapers must be
changed often, and for the same reason”.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Andalus","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until the next post! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-7249443572360152132015-08-06T19:57:00.002-04:002015-08-07T04:38:59.489-04:00BIMming, Part Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCL5WHCO-D5rLBy6d7qNevFflF8ujXyqhKe5RZgxkiBiIqUCw_4mz4heA_xa2H00rq6rSuKHHZoIXg9gRUz6DNPLRJ3qKPm6Kcel4bZFWPFZR-fkuPzkqgvYv5bUojOtgfAHElumVIWt7E/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCL5WHCO-D5rLBy6d7qNevFflF8ujXyqhKe5RZgxkiBiIqUCw_4mz4heA_xa2H00rq6rSuKHHZoIXg9gRUz6DNPLRJ3qKPm6Kcel4bZFWPFZR-fkuPzkqgvYv5bUojOtgfAHElumVIWt7E/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hey. In case you missed it, here's
<a href="http://garvinsworld.blogspot.com/2015/07/bimming-part-one.html" target="_blank">Part One</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">About two months ago, I went to
Barbados for a week. For three of the seven days, I was a tourist and did
touristy things.</span></div>
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<a name='more'></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Between that Research
Methodologies course and hunting down the Deputy Campus Registrar for close to
three months, I had had a pretty intense semester. And whilst I had gotten
through it all, my face had taken on this malnourished quality complete with
acne and bags under my eyes. So, I wasn't about to go to Barbados to only
attend a Conference, a little R&R was necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">With Conference over, the morning
after was spent benefiting from free breakfast for the last time, a stroll
around the hotel’s grounds and a wade in the pool. By 11:00am, we had checked
out and were on our way to the South Gap Hotel, where we would spend the remainder
of the trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The hotel afforded us breathtaking
views of the surrounding seascape; miles and miles of sea that blended
seamlessly with the sky. Out on the patio, as the waves crashed against the
wall, a crab sauntered sideways on the tiles, a couple sat nearby in their
swim-wear, taking in the rays and soca music drifted over from the bar, I realized
that I had not one shit to do. Just when I thought the afternoon couldn't get any
better, there was a complementary rum punch with a sprinkle of nutmeg. Bliss! The
rest of the day was spent sleeping, lazing around and drinking.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVn1-82VYXu_nLDhvz1kvjLBsHlCdQvDNsd0-l-mWpAiO0pUYgh2gdyMFutGd6EUfOpN4XTw3Ajh96v_t-m5CmpGHIdeY34DcKP-7gtEygN4AqK4yXhq5BjOa8PGS7YtQU5-xuf4Ctlbf/s1600/WP_20150526_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVn1-82VYXu_nLDhvz1kvjLBsHlCdQvDNsd0-l-mWpAiO0pUYgh2gdyMFutGd6EUfOpN4XTw3Ajh96v_t-m5CmpGHIdeY34DcKP-7gtEygN4AqK4yXhq5BjOa8PGS7YtQU5-xuf4Ctlbf/s320/WP_20150526_005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sky was a bit overcast, but normally, it's clear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By the next day, we were well
rested and eager for the Atlantis Submarine Tour. Our guide for the day was the
very affable Afiya (see what I did there?). On the boat ride over to where the
submarine was </span><s style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">parked</s><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><s style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">docked</s><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> anchored, she injected the usually
bland safety briefings and history of the Atlantis with lots of personality and
humour. Oh, there’s the submarine!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xoFGk2-l8fLGEHV-bjRpLEvSYLAhWnCp7GkCTlf3QiqAYI8c50BQf79DwFQ_oafaUGY05C-zhymojIXIK7f0kTkGa2DvoMe44X1Mg4KMj1LwE4fOSQhKgPkWY2Kf-kPvEs8IvNEkqt4k/s1600/WP_20150526_044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xoFGk2-l8fLGEHV-bjRpLEvSYLAhWnCp7GkCTlf3QiqAYI8c50BQf79DwFQ_oafaUGY05C-zhymojIXIK7f0kTkGa2DvoMe44X1Mg4KMj1LwE4fOSQhKgPkWY2Kf-kPvEs8IvNEkqt4k/s320/WP_20150526_044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">With barely contained excitement,
I climbed down backwards into the interior of the submarine. The space was a
confined one, and didn't leave much room for anything, except making a beeline
to your seat. These seats were like hard, plastic egg-holders that cupped your
buttocks; mine were too big though. The walls were plastered with posters that
had the names and corresponding pictures of the marine life that we might see
during the tour.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The intermittent beeps signaled that
our voyage had begun. The first site we visited was the Lord Willoughby, a
sunken ship off the Silver Bank Reef. Fun fact, it’s not a widely popular dive
site for scuba divers given its depth. I leaned forward excitedly, my love for
history and my fascination with the movie, Titanic, coming to the fore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As we moved away from the Lord
Willoughby and sunk deeper, the light inside the submarine dimmed, and our
clothes, faces and everything took on this eerie look. Outside, there was a
burst of colour and movement as the world around us came alive. There were
schools of fish, varying in size and colour; some darted to and fro, others
peeped sullenly from under corals. Corals swayed lazily in the currents. The
appearance of a turtle elicited ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from everyone. The tour was
over before it even started, and with a heavy heart, I bade the underwater
kingdom adieu.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sr6zhC-sl7KBsxXSNbqsY-hL0xQMKjAWmmXUIAA4lwYnPcU6I5g6oAfW-wO3Bd12uJrCTh_z6Pb9K4tsOUZ9q2JO6mTsk6YwFNMMgBqaY7Uhr3u_3S_mHmkfDnuoc023rb8t7PQ6nibd/s1600/IMG-20150806-WA0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sr6zhC-sl7KBsxXSNbqsY-hL0xQMKjAWmmXUIAA4lwYnPcU6I5g6oAfW-wO3Bd12uJrCTh_z6Pb9K4tsOUZ9q2JO6mTsk6YwFNMMgBqaY7Uhr3u_3S_mHmkfDnuoc023rb8t7PQ6nibd/s320/IMG-20150806-WA0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When yuh big, yuh large</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We had had enough macaroni pie,
and were therefore, looking forward to having lunch at Chefettes. This was a
chain of fast food restaurants all over Barbados, presumably owned by a
Trinidadian, which reminded me of the JAPS franchise. I can’t remember if
macaroni pie was on the menu, but I did see fried chicken, burgers, ice-cream,
and roti (?).</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I had three pieces of fried
chicken, a side of fries and a medium drink, all for a reasonable price. The
chicken was saltier and browner than I was accustomed to, but the serving size
was more than enough to full my belly. We wiled away the rest of the afternoon,
shopping for souvenirs and admiring the colonial architecture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The last day of our trip to
Barbados w</span><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">as reserved for the Jammin’ All-Inclusive Catamaran Cruise. The day
cruise boasted such attractions as snorkeling with turtles, visiting a
shipwreck and debauchery. Bob Marley’s </span><i style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jammin’</i><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
welcomed us on board and we were treated to a breakfast of pastries, a sandwich
and jammin’ rum punch, which was more juice than rum.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQttgCm1XWWKNtgAk1ppheykkBbF-yRiD_Z-Xn1qVmftG-SRSskIMN86cPf2hgFdTT9JY5Lj-b9EDXw8OLIORnhsfWKlgAbFeWARmCzaQlHmXSGzk721jBuj2VDFtqmo7iYPf_AEpUT1B/s1600/11401045_575656322573823_156013695355466519_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQttgCm1XWWKNtgAk1ppheykkBbF-yRiD_Z-Xn1qVmftG-SRSskIMN86cPf2hgFdTT9JY5Lj-b9EDXw8OLIORnhsfWKlgAbFeWARmCzaQlHmXSGzk721jBuj2VDFtqmo7iYPf_AEpUT1B/s1600/11401045_575656322573823_156013695355466519_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When it was time to go swimming
with the turtles, it dawned on me that I couldn't actually swim. Naturally, I
panicked as soon as I dived into the water. It was so salty, I didn't have my
glasses (duh!), and the more I tried to paddle my feet, the further away I moved
from the boat. Mummy!?!?! She wasn't there, so I latched onto the President of
our club; we tend to look to our leaders when situations are dire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He was having none of my panicky, “Oh
my God, I’m going to drown” ridiculousness. He firmly reminded me that I was
wearing a life-vest. When I only gripped his arm harder, he guided me over to
the others. There, I found another member of our club in the same predicament
(she was calmer), and we braved the waters together.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgxB3KxFT0NBwz-l1znQW3B85Tk_-SAFKlybbh5R0d8qzl0H0VeVvK3mWXDy2m-spis2ihI3M6s2Rgp-mhAF2MV-S-_Fye5BCZtp5pxdJ74SL5VqxwTJyMc-_AcXMBGiXS2Tb8hNjgggS/s1600/11390192_575656582573797_4533516611220192385_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgxB3KxFT0NBwz-l1znQW3B85Tk_-SAFKlybbh5R0d8qzl0H0VeVvK3mWXDy2m-spis2ihI3M6s2Rgp-mhAF2MV-S-_Fye5BCZtp5pxdJ74SL5VqxwTJyMc-_AcXMBGiXS2Tb8hNjgggS/s320/11390192_575656582573797_4533516611220192385_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teamwork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The ship’s crew was busy luring
the turtles over with fish (or was it cabbage?). Fastening my mask to my face,
I put my head under water. Ooh, turtles! There were at least three of them,
swimming gaily underfoot, approaching us only to grab a piece of cabbage (yes,
it was!), before diving again. I was over-the-moon when I finally managed to
touch one of their shells.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was so high off of the swim with
the turtles that I was amongst the first in line to grab a life-vest and
flippers as we approached the shipwreck site. Approximately one minute after
jumping into the water, I realized that I had not blown up the life-vest.
People! It was useless. I could drown! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My adrenal glands pumping, I
vaguely remember grabbing on to the railing of the steps and yelling out. I
spit water out of my mouth and immediately blew into the tube to inflate the
life-vest. A crew member asked if I was OK, my water buddy stayed close to make
sure that I made it out alive. And I’m writing this blog post on my bed, two
months later, so survive I did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Anyway, there’s not much to write
about the second stop. I was reminded of the Submarine Tour, except this time,
we were wet and partially submerged. The wrecks were home to more marine life,
i.e., fishes and turtles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Back on the boat, we were treated
to a macaroni pie (again!?!) and baked chicken. I was so tired; being in water for
an extended period of time tends to do that to me. It took my remaining energy
to eat, and when I was finished, I simply lay down and watched people jump off
the boat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was encouraged to get up and
participate. In a few hours I would be home-bound. So, I got up and jumped off
the boat too. I even went out on one of those flotation devices that were
pulled by a speedboat. Of course, I fell off and bobbed in the water like a
cork for a few minutes before I was rescued. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rum punch shots went around and
around and around and around and around. And there was a bit of dancing under
the boat’s sails. With a dazed expression and my body tingling from the alcohol
intake, the cruise came to an end.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpmLs7sIjJbPw2DRc9M4AM6vqnKhdyIKCXwny_yL1Ijof6HggwV-KiUbMi_LM-7Nf-AaB2u-I5xBhMhJpBtcNUHMr2GKA2c0CW6FFJzS9qQ2eFJICLNgav9u92SSKN8at48S8mmXmSJ9Q/s1600/FB_20150606_15_33_02_Saved_Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpmLs7sIjJbPw2DRc9M4AM6vqnKhdyIKCXwny_yL1Ijof6HggwV-KiUbMi_LM-7Nf-AaB2u-I5xBhMhJpBtcNUHMr2GKA2c0CW6FFJzS9qQ2eFJICLNgav9u92SSKN8at48S8mmXmSJ9Q/s320/FB_20150606_15_33_02_Saved_Picture.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Jammin' punch does give man powers, yes"- Ajay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So yeah, I thoroughly enjoyed my
week-long trip to Barbados (well, that was abrupt!). </span><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Until the next post!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Andalus, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-74619019982027361382015-07-19T18:56:00.000-04:002015-08-04T16:39:55.539-04:00BIMming, Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdXHKIplPR3-qkGOMqRejVf9ZGmv09BgdRXUNiTWA5kC-Ym2g-LV5-eHLf9DkadiYDyYobj3GeMI8Ue9VmvcUg7WhmxWpArQApEkCkSCb8VB9ZOeAywDd-_D1MuZGFYXd-imTOeNYi6tS/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdXHKIplPR3-qkGOMqRejVf9ZGmv09BgdRXUNiTWA5kC-Ym2g-LV5-eHLf9DkadiYDyYobj3GeMI8Ue9VmvcUg7WhmxWpArQApEkCkSCb8VB9ZOeAywDd-_D1MuZGFYXd-imTOeNYi6tS/s320/01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Building, Integrating, Motivating Through Service</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">Hello.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A little over a month ago, I went to
Barbados for a week. On four of the seven days, I participated in the 29th Annual
Rotaract District 7030 Conference. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I admit that I was a bit skeptical
about this year’s Conference given some last minute notices, impersonal and
tardy email responses, and the non-existent vibes. I mean, that newsletter had,
like, no personality! But, having spent time, energy and monies in preparation
for the trip, I had to pull up my big-boy boxer-briefs and approach the entire
experience with an open mind. M</span>y approach worked as I thoroughly enjoyed Conference and didn't allow any of the negative goings-on to affect me much.<br />
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Enough rambling. Read, enjoy, comment and come back again.<br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Training
Sessions, an Assembly and PDG Elwin<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This year's District Assembly
wasn't a drawn out affair. Quick was the word from adopting the minutes to Director’s
reports to paying District dues to voting. I didn't fall asleep this year and that’s
a huge compliment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Then, there were the actual
training sessions. These were spread over a three-day period. My brain wasn't
saturated with too much information at the end of any given day, which meant a
less lethargic and more enthusiastic Garvin all around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I loved that Rotaractors from
those Clubs that were exemplar throughout the District facilitated most
sessions. It gave a <i>"if they could
do it, so could my club"</i> vibe to the proceedings, which was
appreciated. And it was nice to learn about other clubs and the methods they
employed to successfully plan and execute their projects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On the last day of training, my
club turned facilitators. We were asked to present on planning the inaugural District
Leadership Training 2014. (As it turns out, there’s a draft about DLT that I
never got around to posting….) There was an ice-breaker activity that involved
balloons, markers and the moniker, “Chocolate Thunder”. I was proud to stand
together with my club and address our peers, and actually have them
participate, ask questions and show genuine interest. Even the one guy nodding
off at the 45-minute mark didn't faze us.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2PZPQI8GlcxdrQ-FzFRR_ehvRlr40XoW0thyphenhyphenBLL5RV_i-x1iAcMw765UOhx6kaTM-1N9oHeyyfmEJI1exSnCKDzSHRRWV_ua9R9Y9X8BvsLOFG9n-38j9UE0qAcZAzd1_mQuOdP5kZCD/s1600/Collage-+Planning+DLT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2PZPQI8GlcxdrQ-FzFRR_ehvRlr40XoW0thyphenhyphenBLL5RV_i-x1iAcMw765UOhx6kaTM-1N9oHeyyfmEJI1exSnCKDzSHRRWV_ua9R9Y9X8BvsLOFG9n-38j9UE0qAcZAzd1_mQuOdP5kZCD/s320/Collage-+Planning+DLT.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After his presentation on the very first day, I wanted nothing more than to shrink PDG Elwin and put him in my shirt pocket. Don't worry, it's totally normal, especially when I really admire someone. Anyway, h</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">e was able to put so much of his
fun personality into his discussion on the relationship between Rotary and
Rotaract without it devolving into a bad comedy show. He maintained the
seriousness of the topic and his message. I left with a better understanding of
the Rotary-Rotaract dynamic and the responsibility of both parties in
sustaining the relationship. I tend to reference his points whenever the
opportunity presents itself.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A Sprinkle
of Sugar, Oistins by One, Otherworldly Harrison and The Jolly Roger<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Outings & Fellowship Limes
are a staple at any Rotaract gathering, and this year didn't disappoint.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There was Sugar Ultra Lounge on
Thursday night. We danced to every genre of music, and yours truly,
spilled his drink on some girl in a denim jumpsuit. Oops! After apologizing and
giving her my cutest of smiles, she stalked off, cursing my very
existence. How rude! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We hit up the fishing village of
Oistins on Friday; people, sheds and BBQ fish galore! I had the dolphin, which
reminded me of the time I cried during <i>Free
Willy</i>, a movie about a whale. And because Rotaractors train hard and party
harder, they just had to take over <i>de people
dem</i> pavement and stage, where they sang, among other ditties, ‘Like
Ah Boss’ at the top of their lungs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On Saturday afternoon, we went
spelunking at Harrison’s Cave. We didn't actually crawl around a cave system on our
knees with pick-axes and helmet lights. Instead, we were treated to a 30-minute
tour in a tram. Although I fell asleep during the informational
video (I had just eaten), I made sure to stay awake for the actual tour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My God, inside the Caves were
magical! The twisted limestone formations, stalagmites and stalactites, underground streams and
waterfalls, eerie, unnatural lighting and drip-drop from the cavernous ceiling
gave the Caves an otherworldly feel. I was reminded of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> and <i>The
Hobbit</i> film trilogies. I whispered improvised tales of elves, dwarves and
other mythical creatures. Thranduil rolling up on his reindeer would have been the only thing that would have made the experience better.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01KLbo2gpUpGoIDv2r8De3yjpZRGRDqaBokiRaWrbQb9Tv6paZ2KyZs_afDJMlNAHzt9lFVasslc2pWDwIuN9sKivb2l92KKaRVtwLWup1XxEr1MFpxc7vb4MAowTeULXIffFJzeP1oL9/s1600/Phototastic-18_07_2015_884ce6fb-1e7b-405d-b36d-333cceb09211%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01KLbo2gpUpGoIDv2r8De3yjpZRGRDqaBokiRaWrbQb9Tv6paZ2KyZs_afDJMlNAHzt9lFVasslc2pWDwIuN9sKivb2l92KKaRVtwLWup1XxEr1MFpxc7vb4MAowTeULXIffFJzeP1oL9/s320/Phototastic-18_07_2015_884ce6fb-1e7b-405d-b36d-333cceb09211%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Saturday evening was reserved for
the pirate-themed Theme Party. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Conference Committee had
promised that their Theme Party would be different. And did they ever deliver on that
promise! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We were hosted on The Jolly Roger, a decent remake of an actual pirate ship. The boat </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">rocked to and fro in tandem with the movement of the
water and the music on board. We also had to buy our own food and drink. The latter created a rippling effect all over social media in the days leading up to Conference; the statuses and comments were both malicious and hilarious, some more than others. Sigh, Rotaractors and food. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Neither stopped the revelry though. If anything, the alcohol flowed more freely. Or was it vibes? Either way, the
jammin’ and winin'</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> were too real considering that you had to hold on to ropes and banisters to
avoid falling overboard or accidentally damaging </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">somebody girl-chile</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> from your pelvic thrusts. I mean, a private
album was necessary. And that’s all I’m going to say about that!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLclHnnPILJmhqNRmZydKQTiCQ8aZpxxwNT8eQvXUfOi4BZ2CeWA8TiZlKoILzKEG35-ZgIvXq2BXcSKj_5NdTlUPR4sShLIiWNs84HpdsWcoYRar10pj-VEAk8nEEumFsB8p5pebxWztW/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLclHnnPILJmhqNRmZydKQTiCQ8aZpxxwNT8eQvXUfOi4BZ2CeWA8TiZlKoILzKEG35-ZgIvXq2BXcSKj_5NdTlUPR4sShLIiWNs84HpdsWcoYRar10pj-VEAk8nEEumFsB8p5pebxWztW/s320/15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A cross-section of the crowd. Those to the left holding on for dear life!</b></td></tr>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In Love with
the Coco(a)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I've often questioned the
necessity of having an early morning Community Service activity after the Theme
Party. With this in mind, I turned up to this year’s activity, “Row for a Cause/Rotaract Village”
dehydrated and with a pounding headache. Never being one who enjoys going to
the beach, I settled for sitting under a tent, bottled water and good spirits
in tow, to talk with visitors to our table about RC Sangre Grande and sell them
some Sangre Grande-produced cocoa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Before long, we were dared to
sing, <i>‘we in love with the coco’</i> to
everyone. The darer promised to buy a huge bar of cocoa. Always ready for
ridiculousness, I stood up on a chair, and with my fellow members supporting
me, sang the refrain, even adding, <i>‘no
Milo’</i> at the end. Our audience was very appreciative. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Somehow, I eventually found myself
on the beach, which I regretted after fending off seaweed and toppling over in
a canoe. As with most things, the afternoon ended with music and a good, ole-fashioned
lime on the beach.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Where’s
my Wallet?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Everywhere I go I try to be
myself. Sometimes that means dour silences, accidentally burning pants and shoes, and
leaving half-eaten mints on my bed. Other times, it means marching to the beat
of my own erratic, sassy, happy-go-lucky, inappropriate drum, which tends to
get me in trouble. So, at every Closing Ceremony, in addition to the awards (My Club and President were both recognized) and
food (Surprise! Macaroni pie is on the menu), I look forward to the reveal of the Sergeants-At-Arms and their charges.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmh_AlQiQrFSYfxBGHqryatYQL8Kbft7Id1rNFOYhexnLHUJCzvmFjaDaIkamwT_eiL1wtOjTtx5grh5YDYP_Y7gEAqbTifBc3yClMd1Ex8YIwU6o0VsI7Hc2CZOpmIgBMZ9DF58yQLt6/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmh_AlQiQrFSYfxBGHqryatYQL8Kbft7Id1rNFOYhexnLHUJCzvmFjaDaIkamwT_eiL1wtOjTtx5grh5YDYP_Y7gEAqbTifBc3yClMd1Ex8YIwU6o0VsI7Hc2CZOpmIgBMZ9DF58yQLt6/s320/18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Before the Sarges revealed themselves</b></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This year, I was charged for
drinking water from that waterfall in Harrison’s Cave. In my defense, the tour
guide said that it was pure, natural, spring water and drinkable. Translation: “Go
ahead, have a drink, Garvin!” Surprisingly, my club and I were charged for singing, <i>‘we in love with the coco(a)’</i> much to
the amusement of the Rotarian that had dared us. I paid up again for ringing
the bell on the bus after the Theme
Party, and for posing in a photo with the hash-tags: #SupposedToBeInDistrictAssembly
#ButNot with two other Rotaractors that appeared on Facebook.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Other
Blog-worthy Moments<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The journeys to and from our
various destinations were memorable. On the one hand, the drivers tended to
weave through traffic, swerve dangerously and approach roundabouts with wanton
speed. Passengers cheered and screamed in the same breath. One girl was even reduced
to tears. On the other hand, no trip was complete, unless you were on the “boring”
bus, without singing, shouting, stamping, pounding, bell-ringing etc. Those
buses were definitely an added bonus to the weekend’s proceedings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Some members of the Conference
committee and other Rotaractors from Barbados truly went above and beyond to
make us feel welcomed and accommodated. I saw some familiar faces and met new
ones. Your pleasant dispositions made up for the revolting attitudes of the
Grumps and Rudeieshas that were moping around, watching you <i>cut-eye</i>. So, thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For the Opening Ceremony, I wore a
kurta top, which was borrowed, iridescent and fancy. Suriname’s cultural
presentation was phenomenal. I’m still waiting to be named an honorary
Surinamese. Also, I had no idea Absolut vodka came in so many different
flavours. Now I do!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8d-p3bFI__wFVh456VvdBxHA8K4thYhnrYb0XjP5Fh3gEcTs1nAJk8KO8Ma2uib8p-Ho238f2Gbu4QpalCmHzwoMMbJ96p2Vy9uaqsFl-TzE5yL5KvJWaX0G6pOlL7T1zf9y_1yiDAPxk/s1600/05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8d-p3bFI__wFVh456VvdBxHA8K4thYhnrYb0XjP5Fh3gEcTs1nAJk8KO8Ma2uib8p-Ho238f2Gbu4QpalCmHzwoMMbJ96p2Vy9uaqsFl-TzE5yL5KvJWaX0G6pOlL7T1zf9y_1yiDAPxk/s320/05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The training booklets, in addition
to being austere, included common Bajan proverbs. I read through these riveted,
drawing similarities and differences to common sayings I've heard in Trinidad
and Colombia. Some of my favourites: <i>‘If
blackbird fly wid pigeon he will get shoot’</i>, <i>‘Common dog does bark in Church!’</i>, <i>‘When yuh en get horse, ride cow’</i>, <i>‘Two poor cow does make good dung’</i> and <i>‘Yuh can’ put mongoose tuh watch chicken’</i>. There’s also a <a href="http://ncbac.weebly.com/bajan-proverbs.html" target="_blank">website</a>.
Thanks, Kavan.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Someone
stole the bumper sticker I bought from Club FRESH at the Community Service
activity. Whoever you are, may your car go down in a deep pothole.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">Conference was four days well-spent. Thanks everyone for your hard-work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That's all. Part Two will be posted in a week or so. Thanks for coming, and do come again. Chao.</span></div>
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Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-30854001992822952632015-04-05T18:39:00.000-04:002015-09-20T17:11:05.753-04:00Why I Write<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSeZvadlSMEi3r385ylECI5hV91HvySp7Yd3bUHyShgjLE9pmd2OFCfs1gjj1GL_seXX4VD9MBjZVrT8O5fpgtntdk3NF5R9GW-3Xab-qJGuH2jVK_BCbQP5xnY9vdkGyOeobX8Bqsbum/s1600/quoter_635638547562871782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSeZvadlSMEi3r385ylECI5hV91HvySp7Yd3bUHyShgjLE9pmd2OFCfs1gjj1GL_seXX4VD9MBjZVrT8O5fpgtntdk3NF5R9GW-3Xab-qJGuH2jVK_BCbQP5xnY9vdkGyOeobX8Bqsbum/s1600/quoter_635638547562871782.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><i>"I write because I must. It's not a choice or a pastime, it's an unyielding passion and my calling"</i>- <b>Elizabeth Reyes</b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hello and Happy Easter! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">One day, I was enjoying a
currants roll during a class break when a former classmate from my days as a
Spanish undergrad came up to me. We exchanged pleasantries and got to talking.
Eventually, she asked how I was doing, which is code for “ah want to mind yuh
business”. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a name='more'></a></div>
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I said, “Living life.” She
chuckled.</div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I said, “Working with Dr.
Roberts as a Research Assistant.” She nodded, looking mildly impressed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I said, “And doing my
Masters’ in Creative Writing.” Her mouth opened slightly. Her eyebrows knotted
in confusion. She looked from me to her hands, speechless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then, a look of dismay/shock/pity
(disshockity?) crossed her face before she said, “Good luck with that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If I had a dollar for every
time someone from the Spanish days, or most persons for that matter, reacted like
that to my choice of degree, I’d have about ten to fifteen dollars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Some part of me likes to think
that they’re generally baffled and sincerely don’t know what to say or how to
react. I mean, how dare I try to turn a hobby into a career? Someone with a
degree in Spanish & History should become a teacher, do IR or work at a Ministry.
No ifs, buts or maybes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Another part- let’s call him
Sassy Garvin- wants to respond with either: “Wham?” or “Is none ah yuh damn business”
or “Is my money paying for half of it” or “Yuh name ain’t Emma or Dexter or
Daphne, my decisions ain’t your concern”. Simply put: #ByeFelicia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I don’t have to justify my
decisions to anyone. Much less, a random girl who had one class with me in 2009
and can’t begin to understand The Garvin. Those that matter support me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But, I’m a Libra meaning the
amount of figs given are a lot, but you’ll never know until we write about it.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> I started beating myself up. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What was I thinking when I signed up to do a MFA? Why
am I doing this? What am I going to do with this? Am I wasting my time? Why
didn’t I go for the Masters in Cultural Studies? Ugh, why am I letting this
girl get to me?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For all my apparent
randomness, there are legit decision making processes behind almost everything
I do, especially something as important as my Masters degree. I’m most
certainly not wasting my time. And I can get a Masters in Cultural Studies
whenever I want. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But, why am I doing this? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As an answer, I thought back
to the beginning of the first class for my Writing course when the lecturer
invited us to introduce ourselves. He wanted to know our names, our first
degrees, and most importantly, <b>Why We
Write</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When it was my turn, I said
something about not wanting to wake up at 40, regretful and unhappy with my
life, and slit my wrists. No one got my morbid sense of humour, so I tried
again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’m passionate about writing,
and I figure now’s the time to pursue something that I’m passionate about. Aren’t
we supposed to do what makes us happy? Writing makes me happy. There’s
something about watching your thoughts turn into words on a page, about
creating scenarios, about creating a character from the ground up, about
expressing that part of yourself that wants to be heard. It’s exhilarating, it's therapeutic, it's my creative outlet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yes, I want to be an author.
I want people to read my books, to relate to my characters, to have heated
discussions about the narrative. I want to win awards. The MFA is a step in
that direction. But, the path can go anywhere. I could become an Editor, a Copy
Editor, a Playwright, a Freelance Writer, or a Travel Writer. I can write
screenplays, proofread documents, teach children to write creative essays,
blog, critique books/movies/scholarly articles, and the list goes on.... It's really up to me to parlay the skills learned in this degree into money-making ventures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Ultimately, I want to write
for television. Like, seriously! Those who know me know that I’m a
self-described TV whore. I watch some 27 shows a week, sometimes putting off
assignments and my already struggling social life for a TV show. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My queue on YouTube is full
of Writers’ Roundtables interviews. I look forward to the Writers’ Room. I
enjoy listening to the behind-the-scenes action. Think about it, what’s a TV
show without the script? Writers are integral to a show; they are the
magicians, developing characters and storylines. I want to be a part of that
energy of creativity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Oh, that's why! I write because it makes me happy. I write because I envision a future for myself
where it’s a part of my everyday life. I write because I must. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Until the next post, chao. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Blog Post After-Thoughts: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">1) The alternative title for this post was: The Illuminati Made Me Do A MFA in Creative Writing</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">2) Emma, Dexter and Daphne- Mummy, Daddy and Grandma</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">3) I respect teachers, and those doing IR and working at Ministries</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">4) I might have to migrate to write for television</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">5) I wonder if anyone clicked on "The Garvin Behind The World" </span></span></div>
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Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-58992804632534867122015-03-13T15:47:00.000-04:002015-08-04T16:36:42.154-04:00A Letter To Rotaract<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reshma's collage makes another appearance</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">#21 Katwaroo Trace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Ojoe Road<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sangre Grande<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Friday, March 13<sup>th</sup>,
2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Dearest Rotaract, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Happy Birthday to you! 47 never
looked so good. When I think of your humble beginnings in 1968 in
North Carolina, and how much you’ve impacted the lives of your members and
Communities around the world since, I smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a name='more'></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I remember the exact moment
you came into my life. I was suffering from abject boredom and lacking purpose.
Jobless and without a social life, I had just returned from my 11-month sojourn
to Colombia. The thrill of living-eating-speaking-dancing-breathing Latin
American culture had dried out and morphed into a monotonous cycle of
sleep-eat-surf Facebook-watch TV-repeat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, your intervention into
my life on that rainy Wednesday afternoon was timely. I saw the Facebook post
from The Rotaract Club of Sangre Grande Central, asking interested persons to attend a
meeting, and I decided to attend with my awkward energy, barely concealed crazy
and questionable sense of humour in tow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There I found a group of young
people. Some I already knew, like the girl that was in choir with me in
Secondary School, the girl from Little Hardware, and the guy that was my best
friend in Primary School. Everyone was very welcoming. It was clear that they
were passionate about you. They were detailed in their description of what you’re
all about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, although my introduction
to the others made me seem like I was unaccustomed to being around people, I
returned home excited about the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A year and some months
later, the mission to end the boredom has become a <b>Passion for You, Rotaract</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I look forward to all
activities in your avenues of service. Visiting the Children’s July/August Vacation
Camp in Sans Souci; Necessary Paperwork Sessions; distributing Christmas
hampers; donating to the End Polio Fund; attending Conference, RYLA and other training
seminars; random Friday night outings with my fellow members. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I would like to thank you.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thank you for the <b>camaraderie</b> of your members. I have
found new friends. Correction: an extended family. Sure, we have our
disagreements and personality traits that irk each other, but the love and
support is there. They have accepted me, and I, them. Our WhatsApp group is the
best one out there. Outside of my club, I’ve met some great souls too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thank you for your motto, <b>Service Above Self</b>. It has changed my approach
to life. It’s not always about <b>me</b>.
Sometimes, I need to put my ego aside and do the good work without expecting
anything in return. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thank you for the <b>opportunities for growth</b>. I’m talking
about Conference, hosting District Leadership Training 2014 and attending RYLA
2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thank you for the much
needed <b>sense of belonging</b>. I’ve come
to appreciate two things about you: 1) <b>anyone</b>
can be a Rotaractor, and 2) there is something to be said about being a part of
something that’s so much bigger than yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thank you for the <b>opportunities to network and share in cultures. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thank you for the <b>epic theme parties and limes</b>. There
is no doubt in my mind that your members always go full 100. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Overall, thank you for giving me a <b>Purpose</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tomorrow, my club members
and I will celebrate your birthday with a Health Clinic and Membership Drive in
Sangre Grande. We hope to encourage others to join our mission to change lives
and be exceptional.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Happy Birthday and love
abounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_9s5wSLEO_GXBQThzxF9bKzvIIc2sYa3w89ahqwvLNczSJScr5JeHHS1OtFDDauQDkLJUX1uYxkz6LmeXMFcyvRA_BKQTxJzHgxGiqXjz6I5C98BW_qeFOJw_2rA0maImLEPhCoryVHt/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_9s5wSLEO_GXBQThzxF9bKzvIIc2sYa3w89ahqwvLNczSJScr5JeHHS1OtFDDauQDkLJUX1uYxkz6LmeXMFcyvRA_BKQTxJzHgxGiqXjz6I5C98BW_qeFOJw_2rA0maImLEPhCoryVHt/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few moments captured in photos :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yours in Service,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Garvin Tafari Parsons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">International Service Director<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Vice President (Elect)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Rotaract Club of Sangre Grande Central</span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-79660814988875647332015-01-18T20:30:00.000-04:002015-08-04T16:41:17.867-04:00I'm Baaack!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUY5I8PCIl9j7vkb5nK5S_dBVFyl_Dt48ZeEeEJBdjBqJq2M9FiFXrdyAE6dAQHLel47V9L79Y4cMvzmWRZBgTaysv1BoZMOxncSz8o0q71F89PjuKqMS4qJxz6r8wQlJJuSbFvLuHo407/s1600/now-panic-cause-i-m-back-9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUY5I8PCIl9j7vkb5nK5S_dBVFyl_Dt48ZeEeEJBdjBqJq2M9FiFXrdyAE6dAQHLel47V9L79Y4cMvzmWRZBgTaysv1BoZMOxncSz8o0q71F89PjuKqMS4qJxz6r8wQlJJuSbFvLuHo407/s1600/now-panic-cause-i-m-back-9.png" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/now-panic-cause-i-m-back-9/" target="_blank">Source</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hello! *waves emphatically*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I would say Happy New Year,
but the novelty of 2015 has worn off, so... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">According to my blog stats,
the last time I posted an update was Sunday, July 20<sup>th</sup>, 2014,
approximately 5 months and 29 days ago. Looking back a lot has happened in that
time, and the phrase, <i>time waits for no
one</i> has new meaning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After months of worry and a
blog post or two, I was accepted to and started my Masters in Creative Writing.
I celebrated the Quarter Century of birthdays last October.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I became heavily involved in
Rotaract, and helped plan and execute a three day training seminar in November
with the members of my club. I started working at UWI again, and bought a bed
with my first month’s salary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I tasted <i>Carib</i> for the first time, and declared <i>Carib Pilsner</i> and <i>Coors Light</i> my beers of choice. In fact, there was a lot of
drinking...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Shonda took over Thursday
nights on ABC, which became known as Shonda Thursdays (read, Bacchanal
Thursdays) and spawned <i>#TGIT</i>. Then,
there were the awesome TV shows that premiered, from <i>How To Get Away With Murder</i> (Viola Davis is a goddess!) to <i>Empire</i> (Cookie is everything!) to <i>Jane The Virgin</i> (yay, Gina and The CW on
the Golden Globe win!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I gave in to Netflix and
went through all ten seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, the last four seasons of
Charmed in a week and three days, and started watching <i>Orange Is The New Black</i>. I also discovered the Amazon Kindle App,
and have taken to buying books like a mad man.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And that’s just the tip of
the iceberg. People died. Babies were born. Israel and Palestine happened. Ice
was dumped on people’s head all over the world, and most people still don’t
know what ALS is. I mean, I only decided to Google the term after watching the
pilot for <i>Empire</i>, way after the Ice
Bucket Challenge took over social media (who says TV can’t be educational?) Oil
prices dropped. Kamla forgot her glasses and showed that, on the hot mess
spectrum, she reads a “Big, Ole Mess!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My second semester as a
Masters student begins tomorrow, I still have no grades, and Carnival is in
full swing. So yeah, a lot has happened... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You know what didn’t happen?
I didn’t write shit that wasn’t obligatory; I had to write the three essays for
Cultural Studies, the short story for my writing course, and the newsletters
and club reports. None of it was done for me or my craft or my sanity. And it’s
no one’s fault but my own. Instead of bemoaning the fact, like I have done for
the past few months, I’m doing something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And here I am now, updating
my blog. I think of it as a revamp of sorts. As the “How to revamp your blog
after a lengthy unexpected hiatus” articles suggested, I’ve taken to changing
some aspects of the design. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There’s a new background and
header (I have to change the image of the guy at the type writer, since it
might be copyright infringement... I’ll just leave the source- better safe than
sorry). I’ll be adding some widgets and pages as well, once I do, I’ll let you
know in the posts that follow, kind of a “<b>What’s
New on Garvin’s World</b>” blurb (I really enjoy that word). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But, that’s just window
dressing, there must be content. Coming in from a hiatus, I was advised not to
apologize or go into lengthy details, but to simply write and update my
friggin’ blog. Duh! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That’s what I’m going to do.
Welcome to Garvin’s World 2.0. Let’s go! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until the next post... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Blog
Post After-Thoughts: </span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1) Is it me or did I use the
word “just” a lot?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2) I watch a lot of
television. I wish that I could work in television as a writer. I should Google
that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-46843518572482305922014-07-20T20:39:00.001-04:002015-08-04T16:41:40.915-04:00Rotaract District 7030 Conference, Day Three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiernx4yksLp8_VZMS_i0F9_dS-QxtD2Z4pMGTCup_hvGv-xGcJSeOY-MHYUJFR1NSRDirV0AR7efZrJIWZoO2SEG64nNocGhelDJBItpkdEhb2TU8IC3sEBr1nTB77j9o0A9NS8e3DPy6w/s1600/10402837_10154283584380646_3706624172083965889_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiernx4yksLp8_VZMS_i0F9_dS-QxtD2Z4pMGTCup_hvGv-xGcJSeOY-MHYUJFR1NSRDirV0AR7efZrJIWZoO2SEG64nNocGhelDJBItpkdEhb2TU8IC3sEBr1nTB77j9o0A9NS8e3DPy6w/s1600/10402837_10154283584380646_3706624172083965889_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">“Nothing ever
becomes real till it is experienced”- <b>John
Keats</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Hello!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">This here’s
the third and final instalment in my <b>Rotaract
District 7030 Conference </b>series of blogs. I would like to take this
opportunity to thank everyone, who read until the very end. Your commitment and
comments on Facebook and WhatsApp made my heart smile. Love abounds! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">And that’s
enough niceness from me. Below is a recap of <b>Day Two</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">I was sore from the night before. I did not want to get off my bed, but
I had to. Today was District Assembly. It’s a glorified meeting of all the
stakeholders in the Rotaract organization. I needed to be there. I complained
about how poorly my blazer was made. I might have referred to the tailor as a
colossal <i>caca-hole</i>. There were a lot
of reports. These seemed to have lasted a decade. I was struck by how
far-reaching the organization is. I compared myself to a tooth on a cog. I fell
asleep a lot. We took a photo in the hot sun. I was very excited when the bus
came to take us back to the hotel.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The theme of the 2014 Theme Party was Candy-Land: Colours of the Rainbow.
My club and I went as Skittles. I was orange. I looked really cute and rotund. We
made Skittles-flavoured rum in the 421 Distillery. We could not take it to the
party. We were sad. At the party, there was a long line for food. I was annoyed
by this line jumper, dressed in yellow. The food was worth the wait though. I
drank Black Cat and danced the night away. I was drunk. I spoke Spanish
non-stop for 45-minutes. I helped push a trolley. </span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">If that recap
spoke to you, you can read the entire account of <b>Day Two</b> right <a href="http://garvinsworld.blogspot.com/2014/07/rotaract-district-7030-conference-day_18.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Now, that
that’s out of the way, I present to you the happenings of</span><b style="line-height: 115%;"> Day Three</b><span style="line-height: 115%;">. Enjoy!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">NB: The story picks up after the Theme Party. </span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The date was
Sunday, July 15<sup>th</sup>, 2014, the time was sometime after 3:30AM, and I
was making a prank call. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Alcohol fills
me with energy. I’m not the kind of person to dive straight into bed after a
party and sleep it off. I eat, I have conversation or I clean. There was a post-Theme
Party party, hosted by the Rotaractors of Guyana in Room 307. Members of the
Sangre Grande Central club, all gathered in Room 421, decided to prank call the
party’s hosts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The actual
making of the prank call was my responsibility. You see, I have a flair for the
dramatic, and had learnt a few Dutch greetings during my stay. Plus, I had a
lot of energy to expend. After adopting a crazy <i>HisDuFreNi</i> (Hispanic-Dutch-French-Trini) accent, I called Room 307
and pretended to be a member of hotel staff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The first
call was unsuccessful. So, we figured that we needed to make our story more
convincing. We needed facts. Luckily, we had a secret weapon in our club, Yvonne*, The Queen of Disappearing Acts*. We sent her downstairs for a bit of recon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Armed with
more details, the second call was made. This time, I was more specific, saying
that guests had complained of a door constantly slamming, as though a lot of
people were entering and leaving their hotel room. He tried to feign ignorance
again, but I advised him not to lie to me because the hotel had surveillance
cameras.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">It worked. He went to investigate the source of
the noise, or at least, pretended to. He blamed his room-mate, and assured me
that he had spoken to him. I wasn’t so easily swayed, so I threatened to throw him
and his room-mates out of the hotel if the noise persisted. Then, I promptly hung
up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Laughter
followed as we were very pleased with ourselves. When we replayed the video of
the prank, we registered the fear in the guy’s voice and laughed some more. I
was in a celebratory mood. As such, there was some dancing to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWOyfLBYtuU" target="_blank">Dog Days AreOver</a> by Florence and the Machine. Don't believe me? Click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtwZ3_dlObU&list=UUHjd_-Hdaz0uMT65LnsJR_Q" target="_blank">HERE</a> and see for yourselves.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1X2TnY062E9o5t6eBAMuzGJYgsYYU_h8HpWSEk0yBES8-R3baAv2xUbydaGhMn7pIn-CIrEzb01mHfsA18KwkoZeTqI0k5BTFLN9Rol0bI6JkEpCATd6KWNchymHjtyJrxyxBJpF4Avv/s1600/20140616_044936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1X2TnY062E9o5t6eBAMuzGJYgsYYU_h8HpWSEk0yBES8-R3baAv2xUbydaGhMn7pIn-CIrEzb01mHfsA18KwkoZeTqI0k5BTFLN9Rol0bI6JkEpCATd6KWNchymHjtyJrxyxBJpF4Avv/s1600/20140616_044936.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I might have spent some time under a table. #DontJudgeMe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">NB: A few days later, we learnt that the “Room 307 After-Party” was
stopped. Apparently, my <i>HisDuFreNi</i> accent
was more convincing than I’d thought. Oops!</span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">I had no idea
when I had stopped dancing and went to sleep. What I did know was that I got
up, in my hotel room, at 7:50AM in absolute panic. As I flew off the bed, I
muttered, <i>“Oh crap, crap, crap, crap,
crap, crap, crap, crap, crap...”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">You see, the
Community Service Walk for the Blind was scheduled to start at 8:00AM. My <i>“Oh crap(s)!”</i> turned to <i>“Oh shit!”</i> as I realized that I had to
bathe, iron, leave the hotel room, have breakfast, and board the bus in the
space of ten (10) minutes. It was an impossible feat; my baths are longer than
ten minutes. Shit! Something-someone-anyone-Jesus help! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">“Oh shit, I need clothes!”<b> </b></span></i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">I
flung open my suitcase, looking for the white T-shirt and shorts that I
had put aside for the morning's event. I berated myself as I threw clothes to and
fro. Why did I have to drink so much? Why didn’t I come back to the hotel room
and iron my clothes? As a matter of fact, why didn’t I iron everything the
first night? This must be pay-back for the prank call during the wee hours of
that morning. When I did find my pants and T-shirt, I decided that drastic
times called for drastic measures, and did not iron a thing. <i>“No one would notice”</i>, I reassured
myself, <i>“I’m not that important.”<b><o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">“Oh shit, I have to bathe!” </span></i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">If I’m being
honest, for two seconds, I considered not doing the deed at all. I don’t smell,
and I’d be sweating, anyway. Drastic times, drastic measures, right? I’d just
not sit close to anyone. But, then I had a flashback of all the dancing I had
engaged in at the <b>Theme Party</b>, and decided that a quick wash was very necessary.
<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">“Oh shit, it’s 8:00AM! Where is my floppy hat?”</span></i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"> In
hindsight, I probably deserve a medal. I think my bath-time was 2-minutes. At
8:02AM, I was leaving the hotel room. A bit ramfled, not that clean and
hung-over, but leaving nonetheless. When I got to the lobby, I was happy to see
that the buses had not yet arrived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">NB: I apologize for the excessive “Oh shit(s)!” That morning, I was a <i>hot mess</i>, and it was the only word in my
vocabulary to truly capture how much of a wreck I was. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">“Oh shit, I still have to eat!”</span></i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"> (Sorry!) At
the breakfast station, I brought to life the saying: <i>“running around like a headless chicken”</i>. I zoomed from entrée to
entrée with a Styrofoam box; I was picking up things to eat, but not really
picking up anything. In my haste, I had even forgotten to get a cup of Lipton.
It was Sundhini*, who reminded me. I said a silent prayer to the heavens that
my immunity to its power had only lasted one day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">We arrived at
Palmentuin in downtown Paramaribo. The park comprised of hundreds, if not
thousands, of towering palm trees, and was to be our start and end point for
the day’s Walk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">In my
hung-over state, I had become hyper-sensitive. My head was pounding. The hustle
and bustle of the city reverberated in my brain. My floppy hat was squeezing my
gargantuan head. The sun was too hot. The grass was too wet. The air was too
fresh. The morning people were too delighted by the prospect of a 3K
Walk-A-Thon before 10:00AM. Ugh! <span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnuddpI-AxcLt1lhiX2eLb1aReINIOfvc5XZQLOc6kXBZFTii1qll1DvfxsRFOCaSZudKxkyZ0CxYlI5FA5-8qOQMR_0axMV2f6NZC6kTh44rK_q5XXvq7MstAChg7-HG2QAq-30scMRs/s1600/WP_20140615_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnuddpI-AxcLt1lhiX2eLb1aReINIOfvc5XZQLOc6kXBZFTii1qll1DvfxsRFOCaSZudKxkyZ0CxYlI5FA5-8qOQMR_0axMV2f6NZC6kTh44rK_q5XXvq7MstAChg7-HG2QAq-30scMRs/s1600/WP_20140615_003.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely, "ugh"...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">The morning
of the third Conference day is normally reserved for the Community Service
Project. This year’s project was entitled, </span><b style="line-height: 115%;">The
Red and White Walk</b><span style="line-height: 115%;">. The project was aimed at helping children with visual
impairments. The goal of the 3K Walk was to raise awareness, show solidarity
and raise funds for the </span><b style="line-height: 115%;">Braille School</b><span style="line-height: 115%;">.
With respect to the latter, we had all donated $10US to purchase school
supplies for the students.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The PR
Goddess, Melissa led us in a short prayer, the Four Way Test, and introduced a
gospel-rap artiste. He was entertaining. Once assembled, I noted that we all
looked nice in our white T-shirts and red ribbons wound around our arms in solidarity.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">As we made
our way out of Palmentuin, the Rotaract saying: “<i>Service above Self”</i>, came to mind. I had been so self-absorbed and
grumpy that I hadn’t stopped to smell the proverbial roses. I thanked God for
the opportunity, and resolved to be more appreciative and involved. <span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKtrny5cZY14Bd5w4oA-9dM9A0LygfXx5QHylxgUYA6Fu1Ia5xsFMRQ1TOutagyIgaHpzEbb3VjMycvdoID3xHNmo-_8dzz4Ju5iRmBeaIqYEM9JEd_tXvhAry50Qrs6bGzqWUtVjG6op/s1600/Woo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKtrny5cZY14Bd5w4oA-9dM9A0LygfXx5QHylxgUYA6Fu1Ia5xsFMRQ1TOutagyIgaHpzEbb3VjMycvdoID3xHNmo-_8dzz4Ju5iRmBeaIqYEM9JEd_tXvhAry50Qrs6bGzqWUtVjG6op/s1600/Woo+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">The route was
a scenic one. My eyes feasted on the colonial houses in Fort Zeelandia, the
flags of CARICOM countries, blowing in the breeze, and the ever-present and
boundless Surinamese river. The walk was surprisingly rejuvenating. My blood
was pumping. The sweat and rain was detoxifying; I felt the bad juju and vestiges
of last night leave me.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">On our
return, we were given lollies, before we gathered under a thatched-roof hut.
There, the principal of the Braille School was presented with the school
supplies. There was music, line dancing, and Chinese food. The morning’s
activity had ended on a high note. #Hallelu<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dVB_vGSHoY2R7udRtSM6c3ojRNwgLkDj0D5DugTm0Tiu2WZDDvdiUJ7UxCMPAfSxv056nkmFiDUNae-ZDkhHgStUR5nuYaBUuMyOzA3pJdupB6vPtF89ATXH8_Uyppso0eua6yaXg5qR/s1600/1558531_740197279352902_5167362556470987829_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dVB_vGSHoY2R7udRtSM6c3ojRNwgLkDj0D5DugTm0Tiu2WZDDvdiUJ7UxCMPAfSxv056nkmFiDUNae-ZDkhHgStUR5nuYaBUuMyOzA3pJdupB6vPtF89ATXH8_Uyppso0eua6yaXg5qR/s1600/1558531_740197279352902_5167362556470987829_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Service to man is service to God</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">That evening,
the three days of fun, fellowship, and food culminated in the </span><b style="line-height: 115%;">Closing Ceremony</b><span style="line-height: 115%;">. The dress code was
formal, so I unearthed my graduation suit from the wardrobe. As usual, I had a
small meltdown, while I was getting dressed. I was appalled at how the front of
my pants was pulling at the crotch. My belly had a mind of its own and tried to
escape the confines of the white shirt. Thank God, I had a jacket, yes. Sigh!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">After a
couple of self-affirmations, I calmed down and made my way to the lobby. For
the past three days, the Rotaractors had kept back the organizers. This
evening, the tables had turned as the Rotaractors waited on the organizers to
sort out a technical glitch. In local parlance: <i>current went</i>. <span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBFXZWDGxoZyF_C27N5Or7N7GvMMqcjVNcehsJOvxIPvjEXEsTaCedG-xmmqEPKvl4V2emmMGbf_AlNWUp-sFCieq0yaKDMIjCd8-XIcE2gfP5soJki5uC9udumc6NuG9G3fraApLIVDM/s1600/10426635_740197469352883_2070974804448056947_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBFXZWDGxoZyF_C27N5Or7N7GvMMqcjVNcehsJOvxIPvjEXEsTaCedG-xmmqEPKvl4V2emmMGbf_AlNWUp-sFCieq0yaKDMIjCd8-XIcE2gfP5soJki5uC9udumc6NuG9G3fraApLIVDM/s1600/10426635_740197469352883_2070974804448056947_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"We're so fancy, you all ready know"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">One bumpy bus
ride later, we arrived at Cherics. The venue was quaint, picturesque, and decorated
with twinkling, fairy lights. Guests had their photos taken on arrival. It was
all very </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">red carpet-Hollywood-movie
premiere</i><span style="line-height: 115%;">. I thought that everyone was too posed, so when it was my turn, I went
all “hood in a suit”</span><i style="line-height: 115%;">.</i><br />
<i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></i>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV_ngjw81ROslaedPrm5zjiRMr8EZY9FWdNId_kCi17CI7F7LCyHR8mAHq4QzeTBnwIJh4wtM7-hQpyZhoRbkBzlJ5rLvCHvpGp_I1TjbS-u7gPzaJE5U0nx84L1U35BCG7oVTpwF9mez/s1600/Holla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV_ngjw81ROslaedPrm5zjiRMr8EZY9FWdNId_kCi17CI7F7LCyHR8mAHq4QzeTBnwIJh4wtM7-hQpyZhoRbkBzlJ5rLvCHvpGp_I1TjbS-u7gPzaJE5U0nx84L1U35BCG7oVTpwF9mez/s1600/Holla.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#Holla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">The highlights
of the evening’s proceedings were: 1) The Four Way Test, 2) A Prayer, 3)
Opening Remarks and Greetings from Important People, 4) Dinner, 5) DRR Speech,
6) Dessert; there was a chocolate fountain, 7) Touching Tribute to the
terminated Rotaract Club of Chaguanas, 8) Handing Over of the DRR-ship, 9) New
DRR’s Greetings, 10) Announcement of District 7030 Theme: </span><b style="line-height: 115%;">“Share Rotaract, Live the Experience!”</b><span style="line-height: 115%;">, and 11) Presentation of
Awards; we didn’t win any.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT2mQj8tekXzWr6lPfCr3A6q9KamN9zezCuF1_ApYjYMQUO1aodB_vmRw9u9nHzwwrDU6pVno3DO62yE3rQuKIMNlfa-jgmqa4DwJVIRUBaklgzHGuWjEBdjr-i3_59-1pO7R20CntJ3_/s1600/Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT2mQj8tekXzWr6lPfCr3A6q9KamN9zezCuF1_ApYjYMQUO1aodB_vmRw9u9nHzwwrDU6pVno3DO62yE3rQuKIMNlfa-jgmqa4DwJVIRUBaklgzHGuWjEBdjr-i3_59-1pO7R20CntJ3_/s1600/Collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">The moment I
had anticipated was upon us. At every Conference, persons are appointed Sergeant
At Arms. These persons remain anonymous to the other Conference attendees, and
their job is to be a part of the action, on the look-out for bad behaviour, and
dole out charges accordingly at the end of the <b>Closing Ceremony</b>.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">On the one
hand, the wait had been nerve-wracking. At our table to the back, my fellow
club members and I went over the events of the past three days, highlighting
instances of bad behaviour on all our parts. My paranoia set in as I recounted
all the stories I had heard about the types of charges that are usually dealt
out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Dancing
scandalously? <b>Check!</b> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Rushing for
buses? <b>Check!</b> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Not adhering
to the dress code? <b>Check!</b> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Not being a
good comrade? (I had left my Incoming President in the lobby on </span><b style="line-height: 115%;">Day Two</b><span style="line-height: 115%;">) <b>Check!</b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">On the other
hand, it was amusing. We spent the better part of 45-minutes, guessing who the
Sarge’s were: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">“It must be our Incoming President? He was way too calm. What about the
guy from Barbados? He did ask me what my entire name was when I purchased the
raffle ticket. I assure you it’s not me, I’m a newbie and my conduct was too
poor. Could it be the Conference Chair? I did wine on her. I’m sure she enjoyed
it, but you never know. Maybe, it’s Yvonne*? She did disappear a lot.”</span></i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">And on and on
it went until the PR Goddess asked the Sarges to reveal themselves. Slowly,
they came out of the woodwork: <i>“Oh shit!”</i>
<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">I had trembled,
rather violently and perversely, on that young lady during the <b>Theme Party</b>. I had told that guy that
another guy’s shoe was <i>coskel</i>. I had
prank called the <i>Frenchie</i> on <b>Day One</b>, and told him that his
photography skills were abysmal earlier that night. I took out my wallet,
prepared for the worse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The charging
process turned out to be hilarious. Some were charged for not adhering to the
formal dress code; ladies with dresses above the knee, gentlemen without jackets.
The new DRR was charged for not waking her room-mates. The previous night’s
birthday boy had to pay up for stopping the <b>Theme Party</b>, and not sharing his birthday cake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">In total, I
got charged six times. There were those I shared with my fellow club members;
we had taught the Frenchie “bad words”, like <i>cyat</i>, and had worn our pink T-shirts, instead of the Conference green
for <b>District Assembly</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Separately, I
was called out on my drunken, 45-minute Spanish speaking, the prank call I had
made (I had called the <i>Frenchie</i> and sang <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWbcQyePchA" target="_blank">“Do You Want to Build a Snowman”</a>) and
my comment about his photography skills, and for being a part of the A/C crew
during <b>District Assembly</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The Conference was officially called to a close. Overall, it had been an eventful three days. I had learnt so much. Partied so hard. Had several crises. Made new friends. And forged a stronger relationship with the other five members from my club. Joining Rotaract had been a good decision. Thus far, it had been a worthwhile experience. I'm yet to regret it. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Next week, look out for a tribute to Suriname. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><b>NB: (*) not their actual names</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Until the next post! Toodles! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-74162613132749752482014-07-18T20:59:00.000-04:002015-08-04T16:42:02.655-04:00Rotaract District 7030 Conference, Day Two<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuSkHJzSDQDiXNjyNIPHb_06qrwAHm_pgMRbewBIUfoyYsBHiEl67hRStMADXVAv1OsPJOw17iMLNfStL_rJSrOeFkL-Wl8F1zykY0cr9ugz-bjl5dtjUZX7cjWStEwGpHaq1NbuMntou/s1600/10402837_10154283584380646_3706624172083965889_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuSkHJzSDQDiXNjyNIPHb_06qrwAHm_pgMRbewBIUfoyYsBHiEl67hRStMADXVAv1OsPJOw17iMLNfStL_rJSrOeFkL-Wl8F1zykY0cr9ugz-bjl5dtjUZX7cjWStEwGpHaq1NbuMntou/s1600/10402837_10154283584380646_3706624172083965889_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">“Nothing becomes real till it is
experienced”</span></i><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">- John Keats</span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Hello!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Welcome to the second instalment in my three-part blog series that
chronicles my experience at the Rotaract District 7030 Conference in
Paramaribo, Suriname. Below is a summary of <b>Day One</b>:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The Rotaract District 7030 Conference
started. I was late for the first event. That event was RETS, which stands for
Rotaract Executive Training Seminar. It was a day-long exercise. We were to
learn skills. We had four sessions that gave us lessons in emotional
intelligence, leadership, ethics, and event planning. It was most instructive.
I got a certificate. I was proud.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Later that evening, there was the
Opening Ceremony. I was excited. I love culture. And culture was the running
theme during the evening’s festivities. There was a Flag Ceremony. Then, a
Surinamese drum ensemble took the stage. There was an Amerindian Chief as well,
he looked like Powhatan. I was left mesmerized by the entire experience. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Finally, we went clubbing. The club
was named 22 Yards. It actually measured 22 yards. There was no space. It was
hot. I was annoyed. I bitched about it. But, a shot of tequila and an
appearance by Queen Elsa put all that to bed. I managed to enjoy myself. I might
have let out my inner <i>jamette</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Day One was exhausting. </span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">If reading that made you curious about the finer details of the day, you
can satiate your curiosity right <a href="http://garvinsworld.blogspot.com/2014/07/rotaract-district-7030-conference-day.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. You might even have a laugh or two. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">As to the happenings of <b>Day Two</b>,
you can find them after this paragraph. You know the usual, do enjoy and please
come again! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The date was Saturday, June 14<sup>th</sup>, 2014, the time was 7:15AM,
and my muscles were sore. I figured that my <i>wotless</i>
behaviour from the previous night’s clubbing experience had a lot to with it.
We were to leave the hotel at eight to go to the venue for that year’s District
Assembly, but I had no zeal to get off my bed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">What my body lacked in inactivity, my mind made up for with a running
commentary: <i>“Why should I even go? It’s
probably going to be boring. And I might just fall asleep. I wonder if the hotel’s
tuck shop sells </i>5-hour Energy<i>. But
no, if I take that, I’ll eventually crash and miss the Theme Party. I hope the
omelette lady is there. Her eggs are heavenly. I should get up. My team would look bad if one
of its members doesn’t show up. Plus, I’m new at this Rotaract business; I just
might learn something today. Good thing I ironed.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Half an hour later, I was praising Lipton Yellow Label Tea for its
ability to wake me up as I boarded the bus. We arrived at the Surinamese
Olympic Stadium after a short drive. The venue for the day’s activities had a
nice interior, but the exterior and surrounding infrastructure left much to be
desired. Ah well, you can’t have it all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Presidents, Incoming Presidents or Representatives of the President of
each Rotaract club in the District had their seats reserved for them at the
front of the Assembly. I was elated, and promptly bade our President a hearty
farewell and gravitated to the back. But, before I could be seated, a tiny
photo-shoot to show off that day’s attire needed to be had. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Usually, I like having my photo taken. It not only feeds my vanity, but
it’s a service to mankind. I mean, who am I to rob the world of my smile? But, the prospect of taking a photo did not
fill me with the same joy on that particular day. You know why? Two words: my
blazer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Flashback- WTF, Mr. Courtney!?!</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Our club had always wanted to invest in a Rotaract blazer. So, when the
Conference newsletter stated that it was part of the dress-code for District
Assembly, we seized the opportunity to have them made. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">One member found a reputable tailor in Sangre Grande, named Courtney to sew
them for us. My Granny- a seamstress- spoke highly of his abilities, he seemed
to know what he was doing while he was measuring me, and he charged $300. I saw
no reason not to trust him. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The day before I was to leave sweet T&T for Suriname, I came home to
find my blazer in my room. I immediately took it off its hanger and put it on.
The sleeves were abnormally short, the stitching atrocious and the blazer
itself looked dejected. It was a burgundy mess! Like, WTF, Mr. Courtney? I
thought you were supposed to be good! <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">At first, I was nonplussed. Then, I got angry. My voice turned into a
screech as I berated Mr. Courtney and his craftsmanship from afar. I called him
a host of names like, a colossal caca-hole and an overrated anus of a tailor. I
could not believe that I had paid $300 for a blazer that I wouldn’t even use as
toilet paper. Steups! <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">End Flashback<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbN0nX61rIs" target="_blank">***Musical Interlude***</a></span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Three days later, I was still seething. However, I was comforted by the
fact that we all looked like well-packaged maroon boxes in our Bullshit Blazers
made by Courtney. With the photos out of the way and my blazer hanging on the
back of my seat, I was ready for the day’s events. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGKiKIeeVHE3iGMHjnm9lELAu122Q_fJ24Erd6EpVzrjTLRctqU2BTLOKNBlwsSVhuwktBhfzrvBGhU-1yo8MIRtb1TCq_Wkpfs0pfijDyPKueFH_XQZorunV1lONGeU2aM70rVfpkTsC/s1600/Us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGKiKIeeVHE3iGMHjnm9lELAu122Q_fJ24Erd6EpVzrjTLRctqU2BTLOKNBlwsSVhuwktBhfzrvBGhU-1yo8MIRtb1TCq_Wkpfs0pfijDyPKueFH_XQZorunV1lONGeU2aM70rVfpkTsC/s1600/Us.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They don't look so bad, right?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">The District Assembly brings together the District Committee, Rotary
representatives, and Presidents and members of the thirty-five (35) Rotaract
clubs in District 7030. I had been forewarned that it’s often a drawn out
affair, but given the novelty of the entire experience, my mood was
anticipatory.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">It began with a prayer and the Four Way Test. Important persons were
acknowledged. The minutes of last year’s Assembly had been reviewed in advance,
and when no one had anything to say in terms of corrections, we moved on. There
was an infomercial about the Rotaract District Committee (RDC). Reports from
several District Committees followed. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtMiQhcfjZKDMgk1nkUkH5NjpyKL_gYtCjkuCzXl3SDDt1PfBEzyKun_s8Qt9N1TmHoUo4Us66duc3Ci-U0WIp45WEeDEwA2up5UhXaW5VqQdzlWHw84ThnNNVMiBpbw7mvVj3U_moH6o/s1600/Them.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtMiQhcfjZKDMgk1nkUkH5NjpyKL_gYtCjkuCzXl3SDDt1PfBEzyKun_s8Qt9N1TmHoUo4Us66duc3Ci-U0WIp45WEeDEwA2up5UhXaW5VqQdzlWHw84ThnNNVMiBpbw7mvVj3U_moH6o/s1600/Them.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cross section of the Rotaractors gathered</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">When the District Rotaract Representative (DRR) began her report that
listed the number of Rotaract clubs in the District, outlined the achievements
of each club, and detailed her visits to the different clubs, I was struck by
the enormity of the Rotaract organization.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Now, I had always known that my club could not have been the only one in
the District, but I had never sat and thought about the <i>big pictur</i>e. Think about it, there are thirteen (13) countries that
make up District 7030, from St. Kitts to Trinidad and Tobago to French Guiana
to Guyana to Suriname. </span><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">In total, there are thirty-five (35) Rotaract clubs
with thousands of members. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The District Committee is just a
bigger Rotaract club that represents all the clubs in the District. Well,
that’s how I see it, anyway. Don’t even get me started on the fact that
District 7030 is just one District, and that there are other Districts that
encompass the Caribbean, and the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">In essence, I am one tooth on a cog
(my club) that is attached to other cogs (clubs) that turn the giant machine
that is Rotaract District 7030. And in the grand scheme of things, District
7030 is yet another cog in the Rotaract machinery, and so on and so forth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">I sat there, thinking: <i>“I am a part of something that’s so much
bigger than me!”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The three to four hours I had been sitting there, listening to all those
reports, had felt like a decade. Given my sleep deprived state and the heat of
the room, I started nodding off on myself. I drank two cups of green tea, but I
had apparently become immune to its restorative properties over the course of
the past two days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Trying to fight the sleep and failing miserably was so frustrating. Every
time I thought that I was winning, I would jump awake, look around and register
the sniggers of my peers. On several occasions, I could have sworn that a
camera’s flashing light had startled me awake. Fighting was futile. My ending
up on Facebook in the official album of Conference sleepers was inevitable. I
gave in. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGydC5ZKwN2Rqsp9IFIEAgCt6q1jkfF6SNT2cYifaQvJCAM2ZclxEhtWQxUoiILthQ_MhD4l8tgm_wxO_-ynlUg2IQbdj10ly3K6G1IPiVlVEoooDfC7WR_QtuopgT4_HFNg7PMs4IF7pP/s1600/20140614_110327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGydC5ZKwN2Rqsp9IFIEAgCt6q1jkfF6SNT2cYifaQvJCAM2ZclxEhtWQxUoiILthQ_MhD4l8tgm_wxO_-ynlUg2IQbdj10ly3K6G1IPiVlVEoooDfC7WR_QtuopgT4_HFNg7PMs4IF7pP/s1600/20140614_110327.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sigh!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">My nap did help, but I think having to stand under the blazing
Surinamese sun in a sweat-box of a blazer, surrounded by a group of persons,
posing for the official Conference photo, went a long way in keeping me firmly
in the Land of the Awake.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Lunch quickly followed and we moved into the afternoon session, which
comprised of a bid to host next year’s conference- Barbados won-, elections,
more reports, and a small disagreement that went on forever. I wanted very much
to go back to the hotel, and did not hesitate to jump in the bus when it
arrived. There was more fun to be had later that evening; I needed a little
rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The Theme Party is yet another part of the Conference experience. This
year’s theme was <b>CandyLand</b>, and
invited persons to dress up in colourful, candylicious outfits. My proclivity
for bright colours, over-enthusiasm and eating candy meant that I was looking
forward to dressing up and attending. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">We settled on a Skittles inspired costume; each of us would choose a colour
and wear a uniformed bottom- a skirt for the girls and pants for the boys. I
chose the colour orange because it goes well with my complexion. An important
part of our overall presentation was giving everyone shots of Skittles-flavoured
rum. We needed a distillery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Flashback- The Distillery in Room 421<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The night before Conference officially began; the Grande massive took
over Room 421 and turned it into a distillery for their Skittles-flavoured rum.
The main ingredient was White Oak, which, in my mind, is one step above Hard
Wine in the Ghetto Rum Classification, and Skittles. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">First, we separated the Skittles by colour. In our case: red, green, blue,
orange, yellow, and pink. Second, we divided the three bottles. Third, we dropped each colour into the rum. Fourth, we shook the
concoction like our lives depended on it. Fifth, we named our creations: <span style="color: red;">Red
Light District</span>, <span style="color: lime;">Horny Wheatgrass</span>, <span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">Indian Tonic</span></span>, <span style="color: orange;">Bup
Bup Juice</span>, <span style="color: yellow;">Sunrise Venom</span>, and <span style="color: magenta;">Bubblegum Kotch</span>. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_kub33OMZXybI_3QfQLzEaIH6NLG-s3QplXRCnqGA-I6Cc5dGwz2ZhyphenhyphenEEVubvf9hvbVFg_Uoh4T-s2ai7kAZIK9enJrkg6Ma-nyC4ah_yYTAYfd4Fcm0-yUY_5fbK5TFL3JzkbDIRKSp/s1600/Pizap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_kub33OMZXybI_3QfQLzEaIH6NLG-s3QplXRCnqGA-I6Cc5dGwz2ZhyphenhyphenEEVubvf9hvbVFg_Uoh4T-s2ai7kAZIK9enJrkg6Ma-nyC4ah_yYTAYfd4Fcm0-yUY_5fbK5TFL3JzkbDIRKSp/s1600/Pizap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The fumes from the White Oak, the vodka and orange juice we had been
drinking, and the general vibes in the distillery had obviously influenced us.
Ha!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">End Flashback</span></i></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Unfortunately, the venue for the party did not allow patrons to enter
with alcohol. Oops! But, the show had to go on. We got dressed in our
multi-coloured garments, and looked splendid and uniformed as we made our way
through the hotel’s main lobby. Other Rotaractors had gone all out for the
festivities, and I was giddy just from looking at them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The mode of transport to the club made me very nostalgic. It reminded me
of the <i>chiva rumbera </i>I had gone on
when I was in Colombia back in 2010. This was an uncovered party bus that
boasted a stripper pole, seating accommodations, and a number of railings. We
were treated to sweet, Soca music, and given a small tour of Paramaribo before
heading to the club. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYkPiZBbc73e0B1laxh_L-ORrcGBlPuIWwRJjeO9d1O-yecNAU7gnb4BXcz8QLwpZph7lcaC5srK_3O_WDe0bxW3aTGiFGubfVQbDzmEYp8oIgW4z5RYLgrx6I_4zzGirgHxIWrGrJ9yd/s1600/20140614_211010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYkPiZBbc73e0B1laxh_L-ORrcGBlPuIWwRJjeO9d1O-yecNAU7gnb4BXcz8QLwpZph7lcaC5srK_3O_WDe0bxW3aTGiFGubfVQbDzmEYp8oIgW4z5RYLgrx6I_4zzGirgHxIWrGrJ9yd/s1600/20140614_211010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#GrandeMassive #SkittlesCrew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKYdSLWsmh1yPHapekju3OhYi3USgt6R3XAa4K880u7XHOYhjkAxhRmOkkGQmsmkQudw5ImEstI4z8yNTkARkN12Qa-YzfTRJMjpDQwenhV1UdYmqoJlecOgZC65XwbVfXEPW8_7ejeMm/s1600/20140614_222448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKYdSLWsmh1yPHapekju3OhYi3USgt6R3XAa4K880u7XHOYhjkAxhRmOkkGQmsmkQudw5ImEstI4z8yNTkARkN12Qa-YzfTRJMjpDQwenhV1UdYmqoJlecOgZC65XwbVfXEPW8_7ejeMm/s1600/20140614_222448.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serving Skittle realness! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Havana Club</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"> was much larger than the club we had gone to the
previous night; a fact that I was very grateful for. The host Surinamese clubs
had gone all out with the decorations. It was as though I had actually stepped
into a Candy Land. I imagined a troupe of ballerinas alighting from the woodwork, outfitted with
giant confetti cannons that shot out shining dust and candy and pies. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">In the food line, some persons were behaving as though the food would
finish. I hate line jumpers, more so, when hunger is gnawing at my stomach.
There was this one girl, who seemed to appear out of thin air (no easy feat
given her bright yellow costume), and stood on the side of me, inching closer
into the line, bold as brass. I was fuming, silently. I gave her pointed looks,
but she paid me no mind. Heaven knows she tried my patience. (If you happen to
read this and want to apologize, feel free to private message me on FB) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">As it turns out, the food was worth the wait. I was fed. I was content.
The music was pumping. There was ample room to dance. I needed to shake a leg,
badly! </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Oh, there was an open bar. </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">I decided to try the Surinamese rum, <i>Black Cat</i>. By itself the liquid wasn’t
black, but that all changed when <i>Coca-Cola </i>was added as chaser. It was so good, and I committed myself to drinking it the rest of the night. The party was even better under the cat's influence. I unleashed my inner <i>jamette</i> for the second time in two days. I think my <i>jamette</i> level was pretty high, since I pulled a muscle in my leg after wining down low.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sdxkJl2iGHkvPLdJBkznLZLdRYCRTUGc-3BC_HZ9r6ZdhlIp0NS4DvOh-SVoUgHnDOtO-gpDBUFb8t1ejmTVKN4Z8lhS4RKJGYym5bertnx0jBTgTUkEjxmDcFHSu4rLLHeDssvOph6y/s1600/20140614_235126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sdxkJl2iGHkvPLdJBkznLZLdRYCRTUGc-3BC_HZ9r6ZdhlIp0NS4DvOh-SVoUgHnDOtO-gpDBUFb8t1ejmTVKN4Z8lhS4RKJGYym5bertnx0jBTgTUkEjxmDcFHSu4rLLHeDssvOph6y/s1600/20140614_235126.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwRXijHPT9Pn1mq6vEywJwz-KRooRcSeTqfRQkoD5jDm4lpMA6MEgjaqAzcsXLP5J_OEXQVEBM106I9uBUrWXJ4mdlImCuh5-3lzO34eY_ToQr7Aprs36766_77Rd0lTW32CNeg0Eh47A/s1600/20140615_010737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwRXijHPT9Pn1mq6vEywJwz-KRooRcSeTqfRQkoD5jDm4lpMA6MEgjaqAzcsXLP5J_OEXQVEBM106I9uBUrWXJ4mdlImCuh5-3lzO34eY_ToQr7Aprs36766_77Rd0lTW32CNeg0Eh47A/s1600/20140615_010737.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rhWEK0pCc86A7b0QsA6TJjn1K1s0k6UVtkmLB8lmPgo2BKOnYcyIi0SX_B_v_4GgxtlITrd9cb-96GVm49TQ_eRwp0NLxjJPWFwodwzqBR-Cbs52_a4PqJWTKfKR6gwMaBHFrz78MXdB/s1600/20140615_010749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rhWEK0pCc86A7b0QsA6TJjn1K1s0k6UVtkmLB8lmPgo2BKOnYcyIi0SX_B_v_4GgxtlITrd9cb-96GVm49TQ_eRwp0NLxjJPWFwodwzqBR-Cbs52_a4PqJWTKfKR6gwMaBHFrz78MXdB/s1600/20140615_010749.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">I didn't realize how drunk I was until I found myself dancing to and singing Rasta-people music out loud. It was all downhill from there, and I ended the night speaking Spanish to non-Spanish speakers. I always insist that one's proficiency in a second language improves under the influence of alcohol. Ha! </span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_w4C8KBle5izHxnBwNBl4U1756OUzCfsBQuMYcknJBYV5lvqQCDt5M1_pKPuO9CJWtwqLHmJSaXnWOs3D8A8OsQ2v2q8L3QgcuKJBkZ9oymQUYyBJ1opdr1i3PJKb-P0SBvvlSXq4YsOx/s1600/20140615_025946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_w4C8KBle5izHxnBwNBl4U1756OUzCfsBQuMYcknJBYV5lvqQCDt5M1_pKPuO9CJWtwqLHmJSaXnWOs3D8A8OsQ2v2q8L3QgcuKJBkZ9oymQUYyBJ1opdr1i3PJKb-P0SBvvlSXq4YsOx/s1600/20140615_025946.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm a helpful drunk :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="line-height: 115%;">NB: Day Three debuts on Sunday. </b><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Until the next post. Toodles! </span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-87521055520244186002014-07-15T20:32:00.001-04:002015-08-04T16:42:26.182-04:00Rotaract District 7030 Conference, Day One <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxe0JDf6tPtCWwPao2X4gikniYUPobnhI9cyIhFm1rb-dPrrVfqvvp3-l6GX7tyt4Waifq-FelK5ND3rF5g1y5QZjg4mSrGMpgn_XXi6YLqDmY0VmBgwTq5-JYeXJQk8HEt89dwEJjcKu/s1600/10402837_10154283584380646_3706624172083965889_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxe0JDf6tPtCWwPao2X4gikniYUPobnhI9cyIhFm1rb-dPrrVfqvvp3-l6GX7tyt4Waifq-FelK5ND3rF5g1y5QZjg4mSrGMpgn_XXi6YLqDmY0VmBgwTq5-JYeXJQk8HEt89dwEJjcKu/s1600/10402837_10154283584380646_3706624172083965889_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">“Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced”</span></i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"> -
<b>John Keats</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Hello! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">For three
glorious days, I was fortunate enough to participate in the Rotaract District
7030 Conference in Paramaribo, Suriname. I had heard about the annual meeting
of Rotaractors in the District two months into my probationary period with the
Sangre Grande Central club, and I was eager to participate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">I figured
that it would be an opportunity to understand Rotaract in its entirety, meet
new people, and indulge in my love for travel and new cultures. Plus, the
stories of almost sleepless nights, balcony jumping and other extracurricular
activities that would make Carrie Bradshaw jealous, seemed too good to be true.
I had to experience it for myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">It’s been a
month since Conference ended, and I can write, without a shadow of a doubt,
that it far exceeded my expectations. The three days were filled with so much
activity that it was a task to fit everything into one, nicely-written blog
post. Sigh! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">After much
thought and scrapped writings, I decided to write a three-part blog series with
each post relating the events of a day. In theory, it’s a good idea, since I
can tell you about all the happenings without the post turning into my debut
novel. And well, I’m just hoping that it works in practice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">OK, this
introduction is becoming ridiculously long. I should get started with the
blogging. Readers, I present an account of the first day of my Conference
experience. Enjoy! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The date was
Friday, June 13<sup>th</sup>, 2014, the time was 8:00AM, and I was late for RETS. T</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">he Rotaract Executive Training Seminar (RETS) is usually the first event during
Conference. It involves training in a number of skills that are aimed at making
us better Rotaractors, and by extension, functional human beings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">I groaned
inwardly when I entered the Conference Room a few minutes later. Everyone was
assembled in groups of five or six, and as a rule, I detest working in groups.
I always end up holding the shitty end of the stick. The fact that these were
Rotaractors did nothing to soothe my initial misgivings. I needed to be with
people I trusted, so I joined the group that consisted of members from my club.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Once settled,
I turned my attention to the facilitator of that morning’s session, <b>Emotional Intelligence</b>. His name was RY
Jong and he was a Rotarian from Suriname. He was a spritely, middle aged man of
short stature. He spoke animatedly, made jokes, bounced on the balls of his
feet whenever he had to stand still, and seemed fit to burst with optimism...
and rainbows and butterflies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">In short (no
pun intended), he was a ball of energy with an infectious personality. I
imagined stealing him away in the still of the night, shrinking him with my
home-made shrink ray and making a little house for him in my pocket. That way,
he could whisper/shout words of encouragement whenever I feel down. Is that
weird? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Anyway, the
first order of business was introducing ourselves to the other members of the
group in a matter of seconds. Before the intros could get under way, The
Jong-Man swooped down on my group, and spirited me away to another one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">There, I met
Syffra and Giovanni from Suriname, Nikeisha and Christon from Trinidad, and
Jamila from Guyana. With the introductions completed, we were to create a
poster that: 1) outlined what we hoped to achieve during Conference, and 2)
depicted the emotions we felt as a result of being involved with Rotaract. Ours
looked something like this: <span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5StGQJN4oOZQrwIPqSp_i8GQ37DJlPWVSHMda1BBjZpySikLbA9it7f122in5FijVHszFX2x57IKBtuyxZJCCRiMwiZOfQ4r9J25HaGJMyRl3KgU5nSdK1JSRLmZ-nY59pGzFi-KbYiS/s1600/WP_20140613_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5StGQJN4oOZQrwIPqSp_i8GQ37DJlPWVSHMda1BBjZpySikLbA9it7f122in5FijVHszFX2x57IKBtuyxZJCCRiMwiZOfQ4r9J25HaGJMyRl3KgU5nSdK1JSRLmZ-nY59pGzFi-KbYiS/s1600/WP_20140613_003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Sometime
during the poster activity, I grasped the point of the session. It wasn't
going to be like an episode of Dr. Phil as I had expected, but rather, it
was about learning to express and control your own emotions as well as
assessing and responding to the emotions of others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Every member
of my group had a different emotional response to the poster-creating process. Some were
over-zealous and euphoric, whilst others were indifferent and exasperated. But,
instead of becoming frustrated with one another, we were able to pool our
resources and create an almost beautiful poster. I mean, let’s face it, our
poster lacked colour and pizzazz. <span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHN6ha2u70-GVpXWszlbuc-t9PzZJ_hyGljIK3k2NAw5R8Xa_IQW2ECcInXCEM21nHbiaEj2ZBlX8EC3lGhllLXQ2ITch0YJ1q9zm12Q8MQ7ZVfZz-zxshogbBbYJpGNpxfQ2WF18DY6Th/s1600/InstagramCapture_8e7cd7ff-d867-4206-b04e-b5057fc96ef2_jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHN6ha2u70-GVpXWszlbuc-t9PzZJ_hyGljIK3k2NAw5R8Xa_IQW2ECcInXCEM21nHbiaEj2ZBlX8EC3lGhllLXQ2ITch0YJ1q9zm12Q8MQ7ZVfZz-zxshogbBbYJpGNpxfQ2WF18DY6Th/s1600/InstagramCapture_8e7cd7ff-d867-4206-b04e-b5057fc96ef2_jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But, we looked pleased.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Next on the
agenda, were a number of active exercises. We began with aggressive karate
chops. We moved on to pulling an imaginary rope, a few persons managed to look
seductive, whereas the majority looked downright constipated. Then,
we leaped through the air </span><s style="line-height: 115%;">gracefully</s><span style="line-height: 115%;">, which became affectionately known
as </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">“The Picking Mango One”</i><span style="line-height: 115%;">. We ended
the activity by aiming mini karate chops between other people’s hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Afterwards, I
felt like Blaxx during a Soca Monarch performance. For those who don’t get the
reference, I was out of breath, and possibly, on the brink of death. As I
breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth in a valiant attempt to
slow my racing heart, I had to ask myself: <i>“What was the point of all this?” </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">We were asked
which of the four exercises we appealed to the most. Since that week’s episode
of <i>So You Think You Can Dance</i> had
rekindled my desire to learn contemporary dance or ballet, I chose, <i>“The Picking Mango One”.</i> My choice meant
that my personality was more aligned to the Air Element. Behold, the point! </span><b style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">*begins a
rousing rendition of the “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c&feature=kp" target="_blank">Hallelujah Chorus</a>”*</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">In the
PowerPoint presentation that followed, Mr. Jong explained that each element had
a number of strengths and weaknesses attributed to it. For example, my strength
lies in being thoughtful and wanting to be informed, but my weaknesses are
being indecisive and judgmental. It was yet another way of understanding who
you are, which can go a long way in predicting and controlling your emotional
responses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">I found
Session One very eventful and instructive. Plus, I had even exercised for the
first time in months. So, it was easy for me to give the Session a perfect
score in the anonymous evaluation sheet. Admittedly, the other sessions were
not as eventful and flew by in a blur. In the spirit of keeping things concise,
I’ll give a brief summary of the remaining three sessions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Session Two</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">: "You Can’t Lead If No One Follows"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Facilitator</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">: Rotarian Larry a.k.i.g.w.a. (also
known in Garvin’s World as) The Rotaractor That Became a Rotarian <b>*insert dramatic thunder and lightning*</b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">About</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">: The five P’s of leadership as previously
outlined by John C. Maxwell. Click <a href="http://www.johnmaxwell.com/blog/the-5-levels-of-leadership" target="_blank">HERE</a> for more info. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Thoughts</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">: I enjoyed Larry’s sense of humour, and the
references to <i>A Game of Thrones</i> in the presentation. And I learned that everyone
has the potential to become a leader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Session Three</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">: "Applying the Four Way Test"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Facilitator</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">: PDRR Vishi Beharry <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">About</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">: Using the Four Way Test (click <a href="http://thefourwaytest.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to read) to
find solutions to real life and Rotaract-related situations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Thoughts</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">: The Four Way Test might only have four
questions, but applying them to situations is easier said than done.
Informative, nonetheless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Session Four</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">: "Plan It! Execute It!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Facilitator</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">: PDRR Julian Skeete. Sidebar- I think
him a good example of who a Rotaractor should be. We didn’t interact much, but
he struck me as very intelligent, professional, purposeful and humble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">About</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">: How to successfully plan and execute events. Also,
emphasized the importance of follow up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Thoughts</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">: The ice-breaker activity was unsettling. I had
to stare in this girl’s eyes and have her stare back into mine, after a few
minutes of interaction. I felt all exposed. Other than that, the session was
very interactive. I appreciated that he didn’t tell us <b>WHAT</b> to think, but rather <b>HOW</b>
to think. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">After eight
hours of listening, talking and being friendly, I was exhausted. I was,
therefore, happy when I received my first-ever RETS certificate. I felt all
accomplished and what not. A nap was in order before the evening’s festivities.
<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQu8Z29ecjblTbXx0p1mtC6X8JMzgyMjNavbo4U3YgzfIeHQ-pDmffs9SGYfNXynK2OokPlFZsHrDxB4JyOXDfpnGai2dpqCwavEMdtDtjStshMxY8bvyNyNjA4tIlVJciuVAENTCSLQ24/s1600/10373518_740195149353115_8842944255759682986_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQu8Z29ecjblTbXx0p1mtC6X8JMzgyMjNavbo4U3YgzfIeHQ-pDmffs9SGYfNXynK2OokPlFZsHrDxB4JyOXDfpnGai2dpqCwavEMdtDtjStshMxY8bvyNyNjA4tIlVJciuVAENTCSLQ24/s1600/10373518_740195149353115_8842944255759682986_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Unfortunately,
I failed at napping since, in the time it took me to leave the Conference Room,
get to the hotel room and change out of my clothes, my excitement about the
Opening Ceremony had reached new heights. Given the theme of this year’s
Conference, “</span><b style="line-height: 115%;">Learn, See, and Accept the
Different Cultures”</b><span style="line-height: 115%;">, and my love for all things cultural, I had every right
to be.</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fkNZJpXEMwtylOa53SqGyINn89Hu2jLeCQNBCYTxrFBamRpea8020wimnpEWIL670kfxyy70l2xcaO_hWtPwa8qUCpvpe4z_5e24xrSCxm8ljLyAik51lYg8z20qi9eQ8kKjsKqvTt5e/s1600/10383578_740195229353107_8754691262791984884_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fkNZJpXEMwtylOa53SqGyINn89Hu2jLeCQNBCYTxrFBamRpea8020wimnpEWIL670kfxyy70l2xcaO_hWtPwa8qUCpvpe4z_5e24xrSCxm8ljLyAik51lYg8z20qi9eQ8kKjsKqvTt5e/s1600/10383578_740195229353107_8754691262791984884_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In our cultural wear for the Opening Ceremony. Aren't cheesy photos the best?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">A man,
beating a drum, welcomed us to the venue, The Suriname Rumhuis. He wasn’t the
only one; more drummers dressed in pangis and indigenous wear heralded our
arrival as we made our way to the reception area.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZmiuU5B5KG0JyT5M94T6SMy3na73WwFcJ_oqW8r9MWHDuh1G-05rGe1L9j0vaMkbI6lsjJLGf31Q5HNLGiJqUmFgHrynD-UqtzX18oLJdAcEUTGoTYfgfrj1LiQqm-71plqZXAVc8C2L/s1600/20140613_183229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZmiuU5B5KG0JyT5M94T6SMy3na73WwFcJ_oqW8r9MWHDuh1G-05rGe1L9j0vaMkbI6lsjJLGf31Q5HNLGiJqUmFgHrynD-UqtzX18oLJdAcEUTGoTYfgfrj1LiQqm-71plqZXAVc8C2L/s1600/20140613_183229.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">We were to
gather in the compound’s backyard, which had been covered with tents and
boasted simple yet effective decorations. I was literally bouncing in my seat
as I took in everything from the colourful clusters of Chinese lanterns on the
roof of the tent to the Band setting up on stage to the arrival of other Rotaractors
dressed in traditional regalia.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The formal
part of the evening began with the Flag Ceremony. Basically, members of the Interact
Club marched in with the flags from the thirteen (13) countries that make up
Rotaract District 7030. As abridged versions of the National Anthems of each
territory were played by the Band, the Interactors placed their flag in a
holder of sorts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">The Ceremony
was followed by speeches, and many rounds of applause. Waiters passed rum and
fruit cocktails to the guests. And for a hot minute, there was even a young
lady distributing tokens of appreciation. It’s worth mentioning that while all
this was happening, a number of persons, including the four drummers I had seen
when I entered, were on stage with their instruments. You know when you know
that something is going to happen? Well, I knew! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">That something
was the <i>Ala Kondre Dron</i>, a
multi-ethnic, Surinamese drum ensemble. A hush fell over the audience as a
powerful chant rose to the heavens. The chanter was an Amerindian Chief, who
reminded me of Powhatan (Pocahontas’ daddy) and exuded otherworldliness. Goose
pimples erupted all over my arms and face. I was wholly captivated.<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FmSqAsMKz7tTiMutINLLhaQD0dB1SHH7572iIFkQ_2XMIMjto2_cxExOgHfeLB6Cci_hSSA0CMf8xdjPXD9lwnXzbMR-P4Z1baf-poDKChuGpdmb9hYNpQsdD71CBUCuqgAhvvsy3YJw/s1600/20140613_203233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FmSqAsMKz7tTiMutINLLhaQD0dB1SHH7572iIFkQ_2XMIMjto2_cxExOgHfeLB6Cci_hSSA0CMf8xdjPXD9lwnXzbMR-P4Z1baf-poDKChuGpdmb9hYNpQsdD71CBUCuqgAhvvsy3YJw/s1600/20140613_203233.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le Chief!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">He was the
Head of a procession, comprised of Rotaractors from Suriname, bedecked in
traditional garb, which made its way to the stage. Chief Powhatan went on stage
to pass on the ceremonial baton, whilst the procession made two parallel lines
to the front. Then, the </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">Ala Kondre Dron </i><span style="line-height: 115%;">began
their performance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Simple words
cannot describe what I heard that night. Drums from Africa and Asia were being
beaten in unison. The sound was transcendental and melodious. The pulsating
rhythms reverberated in my soul as a world of colour and tiny stick figures seemingly
exploded before my eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Although each
drum group had its time in the spotlight, together they were more impactful. The
<i>Ala Kondre Dron</i> perfectly captured
the cultural diversity and harmony that exists in Suriname. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Eventually,
many of us found ourselves in front of the stage. The tassa was infectious and invited
persons to show off their best Bhangra moves. The Surinamese demonstrated a
wide array of dances. We cheered. We laughed. We joined hands in unity as a
Mother closed off the performance with a stirring vocal. I was left mesmerized,
y’all! <span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHIKKJTQ9BcCVMkMbW5QVK5bPiYjhLe2wkUuLTjTyOoV9xg1t0o79PSr1BOTqW0EPa0iY619R-3Y6iczmr06dwqroClbmE4Ac5XQC9gdEuwei00KsEbZhkiWu-tItkR1bQqVl6DX53-qk/s1600/20140613_205447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHIKKJTQ9BcCVMkMbW5QVK5bPiYjhLe2wkUuLTjTyOoV9xg1t0o79PSr1BOTqW0EPa0iY619R-3Y6iczmr06dwqroClbmE4Ac5XQC9gdEuwei00KsEbZhkiWu-tItkR1bQqVl6DX53-qk/s1600/20140613_205447.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing us how it's done!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXna-eFbNGmJk1jnuH44s-kjsu7wFOQjJYaZ5XKXaDwS9MyUxGqymtaek4s0bWxivlvtxZ1y85m8b7faYRtis1gE6Tc-iRTleKXM-Bm1i_7mhDceD6-oRg5f39UwStnh6HvCiJnpX3jvE/s1600/20140613_205845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXna-eFbNGmJk1jnuH44s-kjsu7wFOQjJYaZ5XKXaDwS9MyUxGqymtaek4s0bWxivlvtxZ1y85m8b7faYRtis1gE6Tc-iRTleKXM-Bm1i_7mhDceD6-oRg5f39UwStnh6HvCiJnpX3jvE/s1600/20140613_205845.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unity, and my big head...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vKZ2ZXFP-naiMff9MyXkQFz7atJirkbXc__OFiX2Gk18doNsjzLc_a66SpB5NHa22FDMO4MFdywD_BPHGTzLUz9VzgRiAnaZmZJq0wlGYK6FjNj9BG0bp9hc-z9zGiBHT9qaLc1TrxYr/s1600/20140613_210238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vKZ2ZXFP-naiMff9MyXkQFz7atJirkbXc__OFiX2Gk18doNsjzLc_a66SpB5NHa22FDMO4MFdywD_BPHGTzLUz9VzgRiAnaZmZJq0wlGYK6FjNj9BG0bp9hc-z9zGiBHT9qaLc1TrxYr/s1600/20140613_210238.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deserving of all this and more. Bravo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Soca,
Dancehall, Zouk, and other musical genres from the Caribbean blared from the
speakers as we engaged in food and fellowship. What an evening! I was pumped to go clubbing. I mean, I did pay $10US for the experience. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">A soak in the
rain, two bus rides, an </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">“Oh my God, my
belly is huge!”</i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> crisis, an elevator <i>usfie</i>, and a cat nap later, I arrived at 22 Yards. It was
the clubbing venue and I was not impressed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyNYSUVgpWdk-x1dmFEu3meXtbbJuUhBnRZg5RQq1XMWPKRTq6MLFY5VoB_qrd7fAlnwJynShvefx2jBQ3D-j2bZ6Vn0xUJj9cZkN435DME2peMiGas7L6J_q0_H77x1UmTnGTOD6zwxa/s1600/Photo+Jun+13,+10+30+28+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyNYSUVgpWdk-x1dmFEu3meXtbbJuUhBnRZg5RQq1XMWPKRTq6MLFY5VoB_qrd7fAlnwJynShvefx2jBQ3D-j2bZ6Vn0xUJj9cZkN435DME2peMiGas7L6J_q0_H77x1UmTnGTOD6zwxa/s1600/Photo+Jun+13,+10+30+28+PM.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevator usfie- the only photo of that night's fun.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">The club must
have gotten its name from its measurements; I swear there was no room by the
time we arrived. To add insult to injury, all the nice drinks were done, and there
was a lot of sweating and bouncing and wining interruptions. Not long after, my
nose was assaulted by the acrid smell of bad perspiration. I was so annoyed! I
needed to get out like, </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">ya mismo</i><span style="line-height: 115%;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">I stormed out
of the club- in my head, I did- and sat on a bench outside, pouting like a
spoiled brat, and bemoaned my very existence. I was sleepy. I wasn’t having
fun. My throat was parched. I wanted to go back to my air-conditioned hotel
room. I did not come this far and pay so much for a heat stroke! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Fifteen (15)
minutes into my existential crisis, a shot of tequila in an orange flask found
its way into my hand. I looked at it, and wondered where the salt and lime were.
The bar must have run out. This pissed me off even more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">After some
coaxing from my friends, I took the shot, and Elsa, one of my many voices of reason, made an appearance. She implored me to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MK7qz13bU&feature=kp" target="_blank">"Let It Go"</a> because I didn’t know when I would be in Suriname again. She did have a point. Right then and there, I made up
my mind to <i>carpe diem</i> the shit out of
the party! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">My friends
and I formed a circle, creating a small albeit well-ventilated dance space. The
bar had lots of water on sale, which kept me hydrated. And I danced. I gyrated.
I yelled. I jumped. I fist pumped. I fired off an imaginary gun in the air,
screaming: <i>“Bup bup bup bup!”</i> I ended
up having an amazing time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">I was running
on empty by the time I made it back to the hotel. I was dreading the early
start to the day tomorrow. Ah well, you know what they say:<i> "No rest for the handsome"</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;">Until the next post on Thursday, God spare life! Toodles! </span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-31967491525793292862014-06-08T18:49:00.000-04:002015-09-24T15:19:37.508-04:00Acceptance Pending<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOUuq9ooZ3wq9iB7tAqR-uPHW0Vlv9uqZF_DTtcBGAGTiFj6IDdxpEu4HbHYaGHVu_laF9sZUFfYx-VklmbdYQcL42_CGK4h3YxbNCZ11uK-7CTdrzyHUDE1Qx-eMJH-BZCLGIFY4BkCH/s1600/pending.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOUuq9ooZ3wq9iB7tAqR-uPHW0Vlv9uqZF_DTtcBGAGTiFj6IDdxpEu4HbHYaGHVu_laF9sZUFfYx-VklmbdYQcL42_CGK4h3YxbNCZ11uK-7CTdrzyHUDE1Qx-eMJH-BZCLGIFY4BkCH/s1600/pending.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jetpackweb.com/blog/tags/autotest/" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“You
see I study art<br />
The greats weren't great because at birth they could paint<br />
The greats were great cause they paint a lot”</span></i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">-Macklemore,
Ten Thousand Hours<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In January, I wrote a blog
post about my struggle with <a href="http://garvinsworld.blogspot.com/2014/01/self-doubt.html" target="_blank">self doubt</a>. If you read it, you may have remembered
that it left me wondering if pursuing a Masters’ in Creative Writing was a step
in the right direction. What you may not know is that I eventually decided to
apply. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Part of the application
process involved presenting a manuscript. I opted to write a short story
entitled, <i>“The Broken Path to
Indifference”</i>. It told the story of a boy’s reaction to his father’s
infidelity. It outlined the stages of his emotional breakdown, and ended with
him becoming indifferent to it all. After a million and one revisions, well
thought out insights from others, a thorough read through in the maxi and a
post to <i>Instagram</i>, I submitted the
story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndzCTyFB8rUuon1YlZU9nU1oBHp49rfdwWzwXZanUoA8cGxFDFOValzurVjenImdDd-Gah7NF0PCAdfshkCO65xFpdftF3wbDa4bmO_cwCbp5ev2x0IVvM1HyNMiUhuSHBu33JgbziyN_/s1600/wp_ss_20140608_0001.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndzCTyFB8rUuon1YlZU9nU1oBHp49rfdwWzwXZanUoA8cGxFDFOValzurVjenImdDd-Gah7NF0PCAdfshkCO65xFpdftF3wbDa4bmO_cwCbp5ev2x0IVvM1HyNMiUhuSHBu33JgbziyN_/s1600/wp_ss_20140608_0001.png" width="192" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Two weeks ago, I received an
email from the Department of Literary, Cultural and Communication Studies. I
had to present myself for an interview with the Programme Coordinator, Prof. Funso
Aiyejina. I was nervous and excited all at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I went to my trusty Google
and entered the words: <i>“common questions
postgraduate interview mfa”. </i>With the questions printed, I began to draft
appropriate responses. I interviewed myself in the mirror. I asked that good
vibrations be sent my way. I took a haircut. And I tried on different shirt and
pants combinations. By the day of the interview, I was more than prepared. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, when the first question
Uncle Funji asked was: <b>“Why do you want
to do this MFA?”</b> I smiled and rattled off my pre-planned response complete
with my signature hand gestures and facial expressions. This was going
according to planned. My enthusiasm and confidence was palpable. Then, he asked:
<b>“What did you write about again?”</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You know in the movies when the character falls into an abyss, hands and legs flailing, screaming, “NOOOOOOO!”?
Yeah? Well, that’s how I imagined myself in that instant. I figured that he
honestly did not remember what I had written or worse yet, my story was -g<i>asp!</i>- forgettable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I did not stop to ponder
both possibilities, but gave him a summary of my short story. After which, he
pulled it from a pile, skimmed through the pages, looked at me, and said, <b>“OK, Garvin, we have several problems.” </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My stomach plummeted and my
armpits started itching as I came to the realization that what I thought was
going to be an interview was really a critique of my manuscript. I had not
prepared for this! Why is he clearing his throat? Why is he opening his mouth?
Don’t. Say. It. Oh no, he’s saying it!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Listed below were the five
main problems (NB: The lines in red are to be read with a Nigerian accent, so as
to fully grasp what it was like):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1)</span></b><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Too much “telling”, not enough “showing” in the story. </span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For example, instead of telling him that the
protagonist is tall, show him a man brushing his head against a door frame
every time he enters the room.</span><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2)</span></b><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Poor story structure. It was too basic. </span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I went from A to B to C to D. It would have been a more exciting read if
I had started at C gone to A jumped to D and ended with B.</span><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3)</span></b><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> A lack of defining moments. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">4)</span></b><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Too analytical. Almost like an academic essay. </span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It links to the first point; I need to “show” more.</span><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5)</span></b><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Inappropriate vocabulary. </span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Use of “big words”
came off as me wanting to show off.</span><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">He provided examples when
necessary. He advised that I read more widely and critically. Finally, he ended
his critique with: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“If
you are accepted into the programme, you have A LOT of work to do. We usually
take a small group as the programme is rigorous and hands on. The committee
still has to meet. You will hear from us very soon.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I wanted nothing more than to
run out of the room, crying with my imaginary long, red hair blowing in the
wind behind me. It probably would not have been in my best interest- whatever
little I had left- if I had, so I pulled it together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When prompted, I asked him
questions about the programme. I told him about the type of novel or short
story collection I envision myself writing. He reiterated that they had not
made a decision about my acceptance. We shook hands. It was over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As I exited the department office,
the words of the last half hour washed over me, and I whispered to myself: <b>“I am not getting into the programme.”</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I needed to process.
Naturally, I went to the office of my former lecturer turned thesis adviser turned
one of the few people who can talk me out off spiralling into emotional
despair. And we talked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I told her that Uncle Funji
was never malicious. In fact, his critique was constructive. He knew what he was talking about. Plus, the whole
purpose of doing the MFA was to learn more and perfect the craft. I knew that
entering the field would involve critiques like these. But, in spite of all
this, I felt like a watery load of faecal matter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Furthermore, being accepted
into the MFA had completely captivated me for the past year. I need the
technical knowhow if I am to realize my dream of becoming a writer. I finally
know what I want to do. I never stopped for one instant to think about what I
would do if things didn’t go my way. Basically, in the space of half an hour, I
had become very uncertain about my future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">She completely understood. I
did put my heart and soul into the manuscript. And no matter how imperfect it
was, I was proud of it. So, to hear someone tear it apart, although it was to
help me in the long run, was bound to hurt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">She advised that I not dwell
on whether or not I was accepted. In a few short weeks, I will know my faith. If
it’s not to my liking, it doesn’t mean that I should give up. Most times, you
must be prepared to work hard for what you really want. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And that’s where I am now,
walking that fine line between <i>getting my
hopes up</i> and <i>not getting my hopes up</i>,
until I know for sure. What I do know is that, no matter the outcome, I intend to <b>KEEP WRITING</b>. Stay tuned! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until the next post. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-21395921780527861902014-05-04T20:46:00.000-04:002015-08-04T16:43:39.338-04:00In Between Jobs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;"><i>Just a fancy way of saying that I'm unemployed...</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;">Hello, blog-o-sphere! About 7-months ago, I updated my
Facebook status, announcing to the world that I was unemployed. I was frustrated
and angry, and simply needed to vent a bit. Thus, I was pleasantly surprised
when a job offer came my way the following day. Of course, I jumped at the
opportunity as I needed a pay cheque and it’s not every day that your FB status
lands you a job. Seemingly overnight, I became a Research Assistant, and the
rest is history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;">As of four days ago, my duties as such came to an end;
the data had been analysed, information updated, collated and submitted, and
the payment claim form signed. On the way home, I realised that the cheque I
would receive in a week would be the last. Suddenly, the reality that I was
going to be unemployed for God knows how long hit me. This should definitely be
cause for concern, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;">For starters, I’m travelling to Suriname in June to
attend the Rotaract District 7030 conference. Sure, I’ve already registered for
the event, purchased my plane tickets, and put aside money for accommodation,
but I still have T-shirts, a blazer, raw material for a costume, and a <i>dashiki</i> (don’t ask) to buy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;">There’s the need for spending money as I want to see
as much as I can, and I have no intention of being a sour, money-free, starving
<i>bum</i> in Suriname. Plus, I need to purchase
a bottle of Grenadian spice rum in Duty Free on my return. I'm worried
that I may not have sufficient funds to get everything done. Or, God forbid, I'd have to prioritize and forego the rum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;">The uncertainty as to when I’ll be employed again
makes me nervous. Yes, there are two job offers on the table, but I’ve been
waiting for an interview for the first since Carnival, and the second starts in
September and depends on me being accepted to pursue my Masters (look out for a
post on what it’s like waiting for word). <i>“Will
they call?”, “Will I be accepted?”, “What if it all comes to nothing?”, </i>and<i> “What will I do?”</i> are just some of the
questions going through my head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT;">Then, there are the numerous job applications I have
floating around in ministries, the OJT sub-office in the Sangre Grande Bus Terminal, and
the Guardian Newspaper Headquarters. I’ve heard nothing from any of them, and
well, OJT is not exactly known for contacting you when you need a job. So,
excuse me if I’m not fit to bursting with optimism at my odds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Last time I was
unemployed, I didn’t handle it so well. For the first few weeks, I was all
blissful. I applied for jobs, and while I waited for a reply, I simply enjoyed
lazing around. Eventually, my responsibility-free existence became a burden. I
thought I had no purpose. I spent the days in the doldrums, since all the
things I loved doing- reading, sleeping, and writing- lost their appeal. Let's just say that I’m not particularly excited about returning to such a dark place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There they are:
all the reasons I should be worried about being in between jobs. I should be
spiralling out of control, gnawing my fingernails, and creating drama-filled, <i>“what if?”</i> scenarios in my head. I have
every reason to, but strangely enough, the uncertainty and prospects of abject poverty
are not that overwhelming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I figure that I
prepared myself mentally and financially for the inevitable. I mean, I knew that it was part-time position and would end in April. Furthermore, I did a good
job, which has done wonders for my self esteem. I am hopeful for the future and
ready to <i>carpe diem</i> the crap out of
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For as long as I can remember, I’ve had this <i>“I don’t make money an
issue”</i> attitude towards life. Having acquired close to $7000 for my second
trip to Colombia, I am of the belief that there are many legal avenues to
obtaining money. All you need is the proper mindset, a good support system, an
idea, and an indomitable will. I have several money
making ventures in mind, and am sure that, once I acquire the starting capital and stop
procrastinating, they will become a reality.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The point of this post was to remind myself that, although I do have reason to worry and fret, all is not lost. Here's to life, and being in between jobs! </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until the next
post, folks! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-53522037405481524232014-03-23T20:30:00.001-04:002014-03-23T20:30:40.131-04:00First Time J'ouvert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauDDUR-Nk8J642ujQzWrMb_AZbVwMwtVBw5vjt3qc3PHwPv7sLrM9han86x24HW9VllbJuBdI-D83B0hIoN_XOONi2EB5rTSlSaZaMsS4cD3wvnmQRcO3RJ4pBHRkqPBae_lr4T8Dghwf/s1600/WP_20140305_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauDDUR-Nk8J642ujQzWrMb_AZbVwMwtVBw5vjt3qc3PHwPv7sLrM9han86x24HW9VllbJuBdI-D83B0hIoN_XOONi2EB5rTSlSaZaMsS4cD3wvnmQRcO3RJ4pBHRkqPBae_lr4T8Dghwf/s1600/WP_20140305_003.jpg" height="400" width="223" /></a></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Ah wanna wine, wine, wine, wine<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Ah wanna grind, grind, grind, grind<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With meh bumpa ‘bout<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And meh foot cock out<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cuz it feels like the first time”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe0LKRIrbJk" target="_blank">Destra Garcia, First Time</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The idea of
playing J’ouvert never appealed to me. For starters, I like being clean and
there was nothing clean about dancing in downtown Port- of- Spain in the wee
hours of the morning, covered in mud and oil, rubbing shoulders with
smelly people. Witnessing the revelry as a teenager, only served to cement my belief in how disgusting an affair it was. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I don’t remember
the reason why I changed my mind, but as soon as the Carnival 2014 season started, I expressed an interest in playing J’ouvert. My friends were initially
unenthused by the idea, but a month before Carnival Monday, they came around. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">What followed was a mad Internet search to find an appropriate band. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The first one that came to mind was </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Red Ants</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">, but I
was greeted by a </span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: red;">“Sold Out”</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> stamp on their Facebook profile photo.
Next, I looked up </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Chocolate City. </i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">However, I was put off by the ghetto vibe and rumours that the chocolate smelt like sh*t
by 8AM. I went through about five or six bands, until I found out about,</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Jus’ Paint</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">.
The band promised premium drinks, breakfast, a 40 foot music truck, tight security,
and an on board medic service, all for the price of $400. Plus, some liming buddies of ours were playing with them. It was no surprise that two days later, I purchased three packages. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A few stuff from the package</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">On J'ouvert morning, the traffic started at Morvant junction. Initially, we- my mother, my best friend, the driver and I- took everything in stride. We talked amongst ourselves, shared anecdotes and some laughs, and sang along to the radio. After 45 minutes spent
in more or less the same spot, the light hearted atmosphere became one of dour
silences, grunting and restless shifting in seats. I spent the time muttering
reassurances, berating myself for not having left home earlier,
reading, jogging the driver awake, and being assaulted by the pungent aroma of
The Beetham Landfill.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We had spent
over an hour, sitting in traffic, only to be ushered through the checkpoint with the flick of a wrist, along
with a lot of other vehicles. Basically, the roadblock was pointless and stupid. We made haste
to St. James as the city came alive around us. Revellers were making their way
to their bands, clad in colourful T-shirts and short shorts, whistles and/or
cups hanging unceremoniously from their necks. The pulsating rhythms of the
music truck pushed us along a street, lined on either side with
food stalls. Patrons waited in line or sat on the pavement, having breakfast,
while the cloying smell of oil and grease permeated the air. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The streets of
St. James were home to a host of people; from the <i>movers and shakers</i> to those
in between to the <i>gunthas</i> and <i>ghetto Barbies</i>. They were in varying stages of
undress, sporting paint, mud, oil or <i>abeer</i>.
For all the people present, there was no one from our band, like... anywhere.
We tried calling our acquaintances, but no one answered, which was
understandable. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It wasn’t until
we were close to Long Circular Mall that luck favoured us. Our band had been spotted!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A man, decked out in his <i>Jus' Paint</i> T-shirt, a
pair of Superman-inspired boxers and rubber boots, welcomed us to the band by
admonishing us for our cleanliness. This was followed by a proper dousing of
paint and a blow of a whistle. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The first order
of business was getting something to drink, which proved difficult. Not only
were the drinks situated on a mini truck that lurched forward at regular and
unexpected intervals, leaving us in its wake, but we had to shout our orders
over the boom boxes. I remembered being appalled at having to run behind a vehicle for a beverage, but you know what they say, “When in Rome...”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With my vodka and orange juice firmly in my grasp, I found a spot behind the truck. I wasn't worried because I had on my glasses, which meant that I would be able to judge the distance between myself and the truck's crushing wheels. Paint splatter be damned! The more I got into the groove, the more I realised that chipping
in time to the music was no easy
feat and required coordination that I lacked. Oh, and it’s OK
to wine in front of a church, once you make the sign of the cross. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYherfJP5Q5sa3VXwgDcYfQScm4RotBRw2r9aZb64EVOF8WimqR6G6YXLyiqG1sVlzgvA-Qgeg35ZcDIJ8eBmm3LaEcVlZ28RxfQfMPMKGIaMUQHn49j_g2_deTdt9Jk6R6MCyc0F2N_l/s1600/10008492_10152191185183956_774397062_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYherfJP5Q5sa3VXwgDcYfQScm4RotBRw2r9aZb64EVOF8WimqR6G6YXLyiqG1sVlzgvA-Qgeg35ZcDIJ8eBmm3LaEcVlZ28RxfQfMPMKGIaMUQHn49j_g2_deTdt9Jk6R6MCyc0F2N_l/s1600/10008492_10152191185183956_774397062_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Getting in the groove; obviously, I'm very excited</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Slowly but
surely, the music invaded my soul, and I was gripped by this unyielding sense of
euphoria. I wanted to climb on walls, jump and touch the clouds, and wine on
every surface imaginable. What manner of sorcery was this? With all thought, worries and self consciousness gone, I gave into the sensations. I blew my whistle, yelled and screamed, hugged and wined on
strangers, and sang at the top of my lungs. All of a sudden, running on the side of the mini truck to replenish my drink was exhilarating. I peed in a bamboo patch. And spoke Spanish... at random... to myself. I was even scolded by security for letting go in the middle of the street, hands outstretched, oblivious to oncoming vehicles. My crowning achievement was that I was
able to do all that without a speck of paint landing on my glasses or face. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As the final beats of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUxfgSdYNN4" target="_blank">'Ministry of Road (M.O.R.)'</a> petered out and we made our way to the breakfast area, I found that I was wholly satisfied with how the morning had turned out. Although we had only gotten two of the scheduled four hours of play, it was
time well spent. In the breakfast area, w</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">e were met with
the poor conduct of some patrons. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There was shoving, line
jumping, <strike>swearing</strike> </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">cussing</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> and pleas
for order. One committee member was having none of it and stormed off. The
doubles man put his hand on his head, equal parts frustrated and flustered. One
woman tried to use her feminine wiles to get ahead. Another complained of how
hungry she was and how long she had been waiting, her complaints beautifully
decorated with different versions of the word, 'f*ck'. For all her hunger, she
only took one doubles with slight. It was all hilarious to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVEeBf3TwcWQOrArnCKCoQVKVT0wDc8pP7AoA3yeK2CuLTnJF7j8OndusF4bvBTCkCACu1E8aicQkN_9lkitUlNHqI8n2TMU8uY3NA7dvEULdjdwytpDpjFY7M3e-VLEHqPAZxVCE_jGN/s1600/WP_20140303_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVEeBf3TwcWQOrArnCKCoQVKVT0wDc8pP7AoA3yeK2CuLTnJF7j8OndusF4bvBTCkCACu1E8aicQkN_9lkitUlNHqI8n2TMU8uY3NA7dvEULdjdwytpDpjFY7M3e-VLEHqPAZxVCE_jGN/s1600/WP_20140303_001.jpg" height="400" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Clean faced, fed, tipsy, and exhausted</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">With the
excitement of the morning’s activities dying down around us, my crew and I sat
on the pavement to eat our doubles, which turned out to be tasteless. I was
still high off of the music and alcohol and vibes, which served me well on my trek
to City Gate. I hadn’t realised how tired I was until I got home and went
straight to sleep, without bathing. 'Low meh nah, all yuh!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Overall, it was a great first experience, and I can't wait for J'ouvert 2015. Until the next post! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-22065283420919032432014-01-16T20:07:00.000-04:002015-09-24T18:34:34.115-04:00Back To Basic<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqH2sbdXjdzL4VegubYOTHlYWH7pHDY0t85ijDYd2d3fR9Fwkol2TbYwCVdwhG9VYPQ6PUEE82qRL3gww-2rh6uY60UPbe-YK4Yil8L6Jb2ZYeEzQyzI46QPTbrK6BEgDHHE1tiT5QMCo/s1600/WP_20140115_021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqH2sbdXjdzL4VegubYOTHlYWH7pHDY0t85ijDYd2d3fR9Fwkol2TbYwCVdwhG9VYPQ6PUEE82qRL3gww-2rh6uY60UPbe-YK4Yil8L6Jb2ZYeEzQyzI46QPTbrK6BEgDHHE1tiT5QMCo/s1600/WP_20140115_021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>“There
is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- <b>Ernest Hemingway </b></span></div>
</div>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For two long, agonizing days, there was no water in Sangre Grande. To survive, we had to depend</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> on our tanks, bottles stored under our sinks, or a neighbour’s good
grace to get by. Everything that required the use of water was a task in
itself. I can’t begin to count the number of trips I made to and from the
tank, hauling buckets of water to different parts of the house.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">During one of my trips, I commented on how difficult it must have been when a pipe borne water supply in these parts was virtually
non-existent. When I asked my Granny, she wove an interesting tale about
walking three to four blocks from their house to get water, and having to wait in line, peradventure their neighbours had gotten there first. She recalled that, although she was disgusted by the people she would see brushing their teeth and spitting under the
standpipe, she would have to return to the same standpipe to bathe, under the watchful eye of her mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To me, it seemed horrendous,
but the smile on her face and the mischievous glint in her eye made me realise
that she didn't see it as such. She must have had happy memories of that time. Her story, coupled with the lack of water, got me thinking about Trinidad Rio’s calypso, <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cNVAgelYPY" target="_blank">Back to Basic</a>. </i>While the idea of digging a latrine appalled me, I wondered how my life would be if I were to simplify some aspects. I'm referring, in part, to my writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My last blog post detailed
my struggle with the pesky, <a href="http://garvinsworld.blogspot.com/2014/01/self-doubt.html" target="_blank">Self Doubt</a>, and its effect on my writing. In trying to overcome it, I would spend hours on websites, obsessively reading
articles on writing, and the history and length of the short story. In doing so, I was complicating my writing process
by focusing too much on technicalities, which meant that little to no actual
writing was done, and if I did write, I was wholly unsatisfied. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’m not saying that the
technical aspects are not important; I’m sure that I’ll be learning about most
of them, eventually. But, as of right now, I need to follow
my passion. I must write again with reckless abandon,
letting my creativity and captivating ideas guide me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Basically, I want to go back to basic, that is, back to what made me want to write in the first place, and the things I did that made writing fun. I'll start off by resurrecting my notebook and pencil, since inspiration can come, and go at the drop of a hat. Then, I want to rejoin the library and do more reading. I've found that reading nourishes your talent, and helps you to see how it's done, or not done, in some cases. Finally, I'm going to return to writing in the serenity of my backyard. </span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I feel like my way forward is a little clearer.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until the next post!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-11379413874869234502014-01-05T20:06:00.000-04:002015-09-20T17:11:22.814-04:00Self Doubt<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESBus7vbXUTqpa7wnks-bp-guQc48Fc7Uba6tfi_7dhJPndCP2Kc95noZ2KSTg6rGbapMD1hWcaoWGhe-5v9Xzx6spHfXZP_cRHV4V4Yo0sfKp5MYOBD7Pt2nnuZ6i1IietW-Ifi6Qzob/s1600/self-doubt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESBus7vbXUTqpa7wnks-bp-guQc48Fc7Uba6tfi_7dhJPndCP2Kc95noZ2KSTg6rGbapMD1hWcaoWGhe-5v9Xzx6spHfXZP_cRHV4V4Yo0sfKp5MYOBD7Pt2nnuZ6i1IietW-Ifi6Qzob/s1600/self-doubt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://katerawlings.com/2012/01/11/self-doubt-youre-not-alone/" target="_blank">(Source)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i>“And by the way, everything
in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the
imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self doubt”</i>- <b>Sylvia Plath</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The New Year is off to a
slow, depressing start for yours truly. My old friend, Self Doubt, has returned
to piss all over my manuscript that will determine whether or not I am accepted
to the Masters’ programme in Creative Writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Do you know what it’s like
to be your own worst enemy? How about getting up every day, with the intention
of writing a page, only to have your creativity flounder? What about feeling as
though every word, sentence and paragraph you write is <strike>pointless</strike> shitty? Or that
the dream of being a writer that has captivated you for the better part of two
years was a passing fancy? Garvin, the Writer? Ha! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I wish I could pinpoint the
exact moment that this debilitating disease crept into my life. I have a great support
system. I've won prizes. I've been chosen to travel to Colombia, twice. I was the Head Boy in Sixth Form for crying out loud! All these
moments and more have proven that I’m more than capable of doing anything. So,
I have every reason to be confident in, not only myself, but my abilities.
Except, I’m not! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Maybe, it happened during
the “bullying phase”, when I was made to feel that I wasn't good enough as a
boy? No, that can’t be it! I could just be afraid of opening myself up and
exposing my creativity to constructive criticism. I’m very sensitive, and often
misinterpret constructive criticism for malice. Plus, I've read that the path to
being a writer is not an easy one. I must be mentally sabotaging myself in the
hopes of avoiding the incoming bumps in the road. That makes sense, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How do I get over this? I
have tried everything. I've re-read my past blog posts, only to find faults. I've gone over all the compliments I've gotten about my writing, but if I don’t believe
in myself, what use are they? I've forced myself to write, but end up being
even more frustrated than before. Sigh! What’s the point? I can’t just sit
around, wallowing in self pity, watching old episodes of “Wilfred” as the
deadline draws closer. I would hate to be rushing at the last minute in a
daring “Make It Work” moment. I should just throw in the towel from the get-go,
and apply for a “safe” Masters in Cultural Studies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Maybe, all hope isn't lost;
I did just write a blog post. Then again, I might read this tomorrow, and think
it’s a load of shit...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until the next one!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-60190637887688552332013-11-19T19:31:00.001-04:002015-02-10T02:14:56.884-04:00Night Time Musings of A Garvin: Conflicted<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEezmzFPsc3nnXGNLgwYUyDMpV0X6LoeYf1gLfjvNexA4CUHqMfQhzTSKYiKvM6XlA5f3jil-bIq93qA7yK_SsCABdKXdtCZOY_fxfWYj5pGHDGW_i2OTsc_F5hR10jhwHeTi7sXSLFIqN/s1600/tumblr_mdafukJiVI1ryv12ko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEezmzFPsc3nnXGNLgwYUyDMpV0X6LoeYf1gLfjvNexA4CUHqMfQhzTSKYiKvM6XlA5f3jil-bIq93qA7yK_SsCABdKXdtCZOY_fxfWYj5pGHDGW_i2OTsc_F5hR10jhwHeTi7sXSLFIqN/s320/tumblr_mdafukJiVI1ryv12ko1_500.jpg" height="168" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Ever had someone disappoint
you? Yes, I have! </span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Ever had that disappointment morph into a myriad of other emotions? Yes, to that, too! </span><br />
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, who did the disappointing? Someone who I've admired for quite some time </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">because of their strength of character and values</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. I've thought of them as one of my many
role models. You can say that
I've always had an idea of who they were, and what they stood for; that was
until a year ago. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I could say that their
actions came out of left field, but I’d be lying if I did. The signs were
there, but I ignored them because I was too young to truly comprehend them for
what they were. Then, that bitch came into the picture, and comprehension
dawned on me as the shit hit the fan.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Initially, I was shocked;
what, how, who, when, cómo? It eventually dissipated, and I was left with this
empty feeling, which I would later identify as disappointment. Their actions
were not in keeping with the values they stood for. Their change in attitude
and perspective was astounding. It’s like, you thought you knew this person,
but one day he/she decided to take off their mask and show you who he/she
really was. Maybe, he/she adopted a new personality altogether, and secretly
suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Seeing the change left me
reeling. The disappointment was still there, but unbeknownst to me, other
emotions had begun to fester. I noticed anger, even hatred, when I saw their
face, heard their voice, or someone mentioned their name. I picked up on hurt
when I saw how their actions had affected the relationships they once adored.
Confusion reared its ugly head when I laid on my bed, in the dark, desperately trying to understand it all. I can’t even begin to describe the betrayal and helplessness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But, amidst all those
negative feelings, I still held on to a glimmer of hope. Overtime, I developed
this blind optimism. My naiveté sprang into action, and I started to look
forward to their visits. I started to believe their impassioned declarations
that they had seen the error of their ways, and their intent to change. I was
asked to be patient, and although I had my doubts, I agreed because I wanted it
so much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That was a month ago.
Nothing has changed; the bitch, and the “new them” are still very much present.
Yet, they continue with their reassurances of impending change. Sadly, my
patience has begun to wear thin, and I've noticed a trend. The apologies, grand
gestures, and admissions of guilt only seem to come when they want something.
The harsh reality is that nothing has changed. I was being used... emotionally manipulated... nothing more than a pawn in some twisted game of chess. Soon, all the
negative sentiments that I thought I had done away with came rushing back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And, that’s where I’m at
right now. I ask myself: "What’s the point of hoping if
nothing is going to change? Why put myself through all this? Should I even care?" I'm left feeling apathetic to it all. I wonder how long that's going to last?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until the next post! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-80618137228342105852013-11-17T19:55:00.001-04:002015-08-30T19:43:35.985-04:00Lawd Fadda Dis Is Heat! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKJhw-JXXny2IccmNlFER66WV53w5S4sDapU4LcANvp6ZMQMP1-icA9Zi2jS5f60qST5Pu6hHJAjOxohYb4Ab5WK3RW86s7xMolbtINjKzrxiJ5XwChXPOCsqw76MBLjnEpDI4fdODR8-/s1600/11903899_10204851291657537_5381702104886596760_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKJhw-JXXny2IccmNlFER66WV53w5S4sDapU4LcANvp6ZMQMP1-icA9Zi2jS5f60qST5Pu6hHJAjOxohYb4Ab5WK3RW86s7xMolbtINjKzrxiJ5XwChXPOCsqw76MBLjnEpDI4fdODR8-/s200/11903899_10204851291657537_5381702104886596760_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204851291657537&set=a.3453621574731.2132837.1096554112&type=1" target="_blank">(Source)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Andalus, serif;">Hello! I'm editing this post
in front the fan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: Andalus, serif;">During my yearlong sojourn in Neiva (I've always wanted to write that),
I used to complain about the sweltering heat, a lot. And, like most foreigners
faced with a less than ideal situation, I compared my host country to my
homeland. I swore up and down that Trinidad was never this hot, and that the
breeze usually quelled the heat. Most times, I would end up giving a monologue
about, "The Perks of Living on an Island".</span><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: Andalus, serif;">Over the past few weeks, except during those rare occasions of
torrential rainfall, I've come to the conclusion that I treated Neiva unfairly.
I was wrong, and I'm sorry! You see, I've been experiencing a level of heat
(not sexual) that is on par with (does this make my apology moot?), and
sometimes, surpasses (better?) that of Neiva, and lies somewhere between the
temperature on the sun’s surface and the deepest pits of Hell. The intensity of
the sun’s rays coupled with the absence of clouds in the sky has been an
inconvenience, making my existence an uncomfortable one. Before you think me dramatic,
allow me to explain.</span></div>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: Andalus, serif;">I went to school and actually paid attention to my Integrated Science
teacher, so I’m aware of the importance of sweating. Quite frankly, I could
care less about regulating my body temperature when there are rivulets of sweat,
cascading from my hairline down the side of my face; or when I have pit stains,
and feel sweat on my butt after sitting for five minutes. I go through all this
and more whenever I leave my humble abode, which is annoying. I have to wipe my
face at regular intervals. I feel uncomfortable talking to people when I look
like a fried bake. I’m afraid to raise my hands, pass a certain point, to wave
to people; I end up doing that awkward and ridiculous "throw your head
back in greeting" thing. So stupid!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Andalus","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIrLWrEDjtEZEDMQeSj0UBbQg4ADXH9NypquaGI0-ktQ4HydH4d0yVyLw2Tct0Lx0m3Bq2h3IRr3QPPvJeplc7qyYiHDJpjdx_09f8I8tg1BWJbhyphenhyphen1AOumJWNMSHJ0iTgqYpHr1ImunKB/s1600/Snapshot_20131117_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIrLWrEDjtEZEDMQeSj0UBbQg4ADXH9NypquaGI0-ktQ4HydH4d0yVyLw2Tct0Lx0m3Bq2h3IRr3QPPvJeplc7qyYiHDJpjdx_09f8I8tg1BWJbhyphenhyphen1AOumJWNMSHJ0iTgqYpHr1ImunKB/s320/Snapshot_20131117_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Andalus, serif;">Between the hours of 9 AM and
2 PM, my fan is rendered useless as it recycles the hot air. This doesn't bode
well for me for a number of reasons. Firstly, I’m fascinated by the art of
sleeping, and I enjoy perfecting my skill. It’s quite difficult to do so when
the fan doesn't keep you cool. Have you ever had sweat behind your knees and/or
neck? Trust me (because I'm an authority on sleeping), it can make sleeping
during the day a nightmare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: Andalus, serif;">If the fan keeps recycling the hot air, one would assume that an easy
fix would be to put up the curtains and open the windows, right? Wrong! This
brings me to my second point. I enjoy having my curtains down; it gives the
room a nice cozy feeling, makes me feel like a sexy, hibernating bear, and
keeps Ms. Murray’s wandering eye away after bath-time. I lose all these perks
when I have to put up my curtains and open the windows. And, to make matters
worse, the sun ends up coming through the open window in all its blazing glory
on my bed. Everything I've just mentioned (moves hands <s>emphatically</s> hysterically),
has interrupted my daytime sleeping in ways I can't even begin to enumerate.
The bane of my very existence! </span><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: Andalus, serif;">Travelling has become a task in itself. Lately, I've had to either deal
with the pungent odour of perfume/cologne mingled with sweat or had to sit next
to sweaty people, who disregard the considerate notion of “personal space”. To
my chagrin, it doesn't stop there. I've become obsessed with the directionality
of the sun in relation to where I sit, when travelling. For example, I know
that, when leaving Grande before midday, I have to sit on the right-hand side
of the maxi to avoid the sun, and vice-versa. Thus, I get very upset and/or
nervous when I enter a maxi with no seats in my desired position. Sometimes, when
it becomes too much and I have time to kill, which is almost never; I wait for
the next one. </span><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: Andalus, serif;">Honourable Mentions: The heat has made my skin overly sensitive, so much
so that I can’t wear certain fabrics. At home, I always want to walk around
naked, but I can’t. I've actually thought of going to the beach to escape the
heat, and I hate the beach.</span><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: Andalus, serif;">So, there you have it! It’s been really hot, and I hate it.
Unfortunately, there’s not much I can do, except write a blog post, because I
live here.</span><span style="font-family: Andalus, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: Andalus, serif;">Until the next post! </span></div>
</div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-53356278562373691682013-11-14T20:02:00.000-04:002013-11-14T20:02:26.420-04:00What's In A Name? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjz7dNVVsIE5eP-7SyVcwN0CHRiv5gDKgwm6yhrJzrhPyQnSpUN_GCyUxo0eli5PhElqIXYDGhITgSYPtrjAo_hzRAyT3XAPo3SPtHlDDRPeG8xDg-gkGJlknT_XKjr6ZI_O57zFFBCYWs/s1600/pizap.com13844596355621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjz7dNVVsIE5eP-7SyVcwN0CHRiv5gDKgwm6yhrJzrhPyQnSpUN_GCyUxo0eli5PhElqIXYDGhITgSYPtrjAo_hzRAyT3XAPo3SPtHlDDRPeG8xDg-gkGJlknT_XKjr6ZI_O57zFFBCYWs/s320/pizap.com13844596355621.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>*chants, <i>"Goosbraba"</i>,<i> </i>and rubs earlobes* </b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’m ANNOYED because someone misspelt my name, yet again! </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I HATE that some people
leave out the “R” in Garvin, or else, add letters to my first name, and come up
with “Garving”. Like, seriously, what’s a “Garving”? And don’t get me started
on those who spell my surname P-A-R-S-O-N! Ugh! Helloooo, there’s supposed to be a big ole “S”
at the end! Unless it’s “Garvs” or “Gobin” or "Garvos" or “Fari”, whenever I
see those other travesties done to my name on Facebook, security logs, or in emails,
I just want to punch someone in their trachea. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Before you think me
ridiculous, maybe I should explain why I feel so strongly, and I suppose, violent about all
this. It’s simple actually; I believe
that names are important for they are part of someone’s identity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now, because I feel this way
about names, I tend to try my very best to spell people’s names correctly. This extends to placing the correct title in front of someone's name. So,
I’ll ask a question, do a Google search, and look on Facebook, etc. I do this because I believe that I am respecting this person's identity; you know, who they are, all that they have achieved, their history, etc. Quite frankly, when I see my name misspelt, I feel disrespected. I can't help but think that I'm not worth the two seconds it would take to ask a question, or proofread what you wrote. I mean, I don't expect you to go as far as I do and search on Google, but you could at least pay attention to my email signature, or my name as it appears on my profile and at the top of the message pane on Facebook chat.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I was named, Garvin, after
my grandfather, who died one year before I was born. Tafari is my African name,
given to me by my father. It could mean, either “The Chosen One” or "He Who Inspires Awe", and it was the birth name of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, KING of Kings, LORD of lords, Conquering Lion of Judah, Defender of the Judean Faith, The Light of the World (he was born Tafari Makonnen Woldemikael, FYI). Lastly, there are only a couple of people in Trinidad with the surname
“Parsons”, which makes it one of a kind, to a certain extent. All this has made me VERY PROUD of my name; it’s unique in some
aspects, it has history, it links me to the grandfather I never knew, and it has a
powerful meaning. In short, my name is important, to me.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This brings me back to
my initial point about your name being your identity, in this case, MY
identity. Knowing what my name means and where it comes from has shaped the
person that I am, as much as, or maybe, more than, any experience that I've had.
This feeling has manifested itself in several ways. Aside from becoming
“irrationally” upset when I see my name misspelt, I've come to write my full
name on anything from forms to my Facebook profile. I, also, start by
introducing myself with the words “I am” instead of “My name is”, which says a lot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Whew! It feels great to have gotten all that off my chest. Writing this post has served to remind me why I get the way that I do. What's more is that I'm going to continue demanding that people get it right in the most polite way possible. For future reference, I AM GARVIN TAFARI PARSONS! <br /><br />Until the next post! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-78573647669022384012013-10-29T19:30:00.000-04:002014-03-09T18:04:21.174-04:00Words Hurt As Much As Sticks and Stones<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFF6Cz78WW_gspr4FGX5RT-VfUkmZ7CiMEEHtF03O7eJY9bI7SPprKE7pwnAuvzivoQ3CaJF7YaRDofCOSj_N7qA95YryGfsZ-_D6RavptZheiPRqXCPETGZXySyRYk4cA5A0DimR5p2U/s1600/tumblr_luexe1kS8b1qmau0mo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFF6Cz78WW_gspr4FGX5RT-VfUkmZ7CiMEEHtF03O7eJY9bI7SPprKE7pwnAuvzivoQ3CaJF7YaRDofCOSj_N7qA95YryGfsZ-_D6RavptZheiPRqXCPETGZXySyRYk4cA5A0DimR5p2U/s200/tumblr_luexe1kS8b1qmau0mo1_500.jpg" height="198" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://breakthatstereotype.tumblr.com/post/12568835842" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">(Source)</span></a></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-TT">“Bruises heal. Cruel
words can make us cry for years”</span></i><span lang="EN-TT">- <b>Unknown</b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">In comparison to other
boys, I’ve always seen myself as different. I liked reading and being indoors.
I enjoyed the arts: singing, dancing, drawing and acting. I preferred the
company of girls because I felt more understood. I would often be seen at
recess or lunch time, playing ‘Miss Universe’ or braiding someone’s hair. I saw
no problem with any of this. I was simply unique. Then, I went to Secondary
School and it all changed.</span><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">From the very first day,
I was considered ‘gay’, and called every gay related term; admittedly, some
were more creative than others. There were the usual, derogatory terms thrown
my way, like <i>faggot</i>, <i>panty-man</i>, <i>buller-man</i> and <i>girly-boy</i>.
Sometimes, the bullies used their imagination, coming up with stylised names,
like<i> Garvgina</i> or <i>Garvina</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">When they were bored
with the name-calling, they asked hurtful, mocking questions, referencing all
my mannerisms and interests that made me less of a boy, in their eyes. They
pinpointed my walk and shake, my high voice and use of Standard English, my pop
culture references to Britney Spears and knowledge of pageants, my love of
books and singing, and my hand gestures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">The torture was
never-ending; morning and evening, from the first bell to the last. Usually,
I’m an optimistic, charismatic and creative person, but the constant barrage of
insults had taken all life from me. I was miserable and wanted to be invisible.
I tried my hardest to achieve the latter. I would sit quietly, never answering
questions. I would walk the corridors with my head bowed and my hands in my
pockets, hoping that I would make it back to my classroom, unnoticed. I would
try to dissimulate by walking with a ‘bounce’, deepening my voice, and talking
about ‘boy stuff’, like the Premier League. The consequences were disastrous,
to put it mildly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">I went in search of
‘comfort zones’; those are, places I could be my optimistic, charismatic,
creative self. It was important for my sanity. The library was my go-to place
during free periods. Silence was golden and talking was frowned upon, so
although I got the looks, no one said anything. I quickly became friends with
the library staff, too. I joined the school’s choir, where my creativity
flourished. I met other individuals who shared my passions. Sure, the hecklers
were in attendance when we performed at school, but for a few minutes, I was happy.
Making friends- adults and students alike- instilled in me self confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">I made the valiant
decision to stand up for myself by using snappy retorts. I told my bullies
about ‘how their mothers made them’, ‘what I did with their mother the night
before’ and ‘to make way for their new step-father’. I took it a step further,
too. I noted their shortcomings, limitations and insecurities, and used it
against them. Nothing was off limits; everything from their academic
performance to their living situation became a weapon with which I could hurt
them. Pretty soon, I was not only gay, but a smart ass, a <i>meanie</i> and a bitch with a <i>‘hot
mouth’</i>. I was unstoppable.</span><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">For a short time, it
made me feel better. Then, it came to a screeching halt when I made a boy cry
in the choir room. I hadn’t realised that, in fighting fire with fire, I had
become a bully myself. I had projected all my hurt on not only the bullies, but
others who reminded me of myself, like the snivelling boy in the seat next to
me. What had I become? On the outside, it was all bravado, but the truth of the
matter was that I was hurt, sad, angry and confused. In short, I was a mess on
the inside. I cried that night, alone in my room, asking God, “Why?” This cycle
would replay itself for four years. </span><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">I started to take a few
steps in the right direction, after a school trip to Venezuela. During the
trip, I overheard my roommates complaining that they didn’t want to sleep in
the same room as <i>‘the faggot’</i>. I was
left reeling; until that point, I was having fun, making friends and being
accepted/ respected, or so I thought. It was a rude awakening. With tears
streaming down my face, I cursed the boys and stormed out of the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">A few minutes later, I
was seated in the lobby, waiting for a room change. I was going over the ordeal
again and silently sobbing when a teacher sat next to me. Instead of cuddling
me, she told me as it is. I was different from most boys my age, and there was
nothing wrong with that. It was unfair that my uniqueness made me a target, but
I needed to develop a thicker skin. I had to stop feeling sorry for myself.
School was a preparation for life, and in life, there would always be persons
or groups who would try to tear you down. She explained that only I had the
power to decide how I allowed it to affect me. </span><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">I pondered her words on
the remaining leg of the trip. Initially, I thought that she was stupid. She
didn’t know what I went through every day. Her words had no bearing and heeding
them would not have made anything better. I had another breakdown two days
later, where I screamed at a cashier in a restaurant. I felt justified in my
behaviour, until I registered the looks I got from other patrons, students and
teachers. I was reminded of the crying boy in the choir room, and felt ashamed. I had to regain control of my emotions and
manage my anger. I needed a complete overhaul in perspective. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">I began by muttering
self affirmations. I am different. I am intelligent. I am confident. I am going
to be someone one day. This stage of my life is not forever. God made me in his
image and likeness. Eventually, I accepted and revelled in my circumstances.
When I went to the library or attended choir practice, I did so because I loved
it, not because I was trying to hide from everyone. I became more open-minded
and accepting. I no longer felt the need to degrade others, and discovered that
I had a killer sense of humour that was dark, self deprecating and sarcastic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">Most importantly, I
didn’t allow the words to affect me. This was the hardest part because the
name-calling did continue, and along with it came the desire to retaliate or
cry. When I offered to help one of my bullies with his SBA, I was quite proud
of myself. It would have been quite easy for me to turn him away and chastise
him for being too dumb, but I didn’t give in. I was on the mend. I spent the
next three years of my Secondary School career happier than I had ever been. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT">To this day, I remember
the teacher’s words, and I use my affirmations. I surround myself with people
who love and accept me just the way I am. The truth is- and I say this without
any reservations of sounding cliché- circumstances really make you who you are.
For, if I hadn’t gone through all of those things, I wouldn’t have been as
contented and confident as I am today. No one is perfect, but I am proud of the
man that I have become and I wouldn’t have it any other way. </span><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-59259929409433259512013-10-20T18:46:00.000-04:002018-07-04T12:03:23.904-04:00I Dislike Miley Cyrus, But... <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ojJyC633mH-6SvBhrV47njQMo5ByWnNLPLtXXuH9hYRp0mP8BhctUEcBtHK831CPG9Fr3WYc8nYWxN2BDwqCaNniyDXoMUxny-Bb8REBB2a-_rpvyoR9bJj-G_MALfGcFZWkyb4e0b64/s1600/Snapshot_20131019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ojJyC633mH-6SvBhrV47njQMo5ByWnNLPLtXXuH9hYRp0mP8BhctUEcBtHK831CPG9Fr3WYc8nYWxN2BDwqCaNniyDXoMUxny-Bb8REBB2a-_rpvyoR9bJj-G_MALfGcFZWkyb4e0b64/s320/Snapshot_20131019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">... She can teach me a thing
or two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nine out of ten times, I’m an optimist. I
usually try to put a positive spin on things by, for example, finding the one
redeeming quality in a person and focusing on that, rather than being a hater.
Sadly, there are those “one” moments when I can become a real pessimistic, self
righteous, sarcastic, judgmental, hasty, hater-bitch. I can get REALLY mean and
nasty; oft times, I just delete people from Facebook. Shado from Arrow had a point when she explained to Oliver that we all have two sides, light and dark, a yin and a yang.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Today’s post puts this balance to use. I’m
going to attempt to write something good and positive about Miley Cyrus. I’m
sure that my optimistic side can find something if I were to try really hard.
Of course, before that can happen, my bad side needs to rant a bit, like for
three paragraphs. Enjoy reading what they both have to write.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGgwQPzN_AZRouSMKRHRwC1YpXayK-x_ry6DLoMVgOmbsyttFK7jfXf94KaZtHlvlIlsQwia7W4S1uv17rkNpXW2ko_VsF1eTWNXrm1a5XhuMAgI79Xyc14iOSb73b7Cbhud8m9jonFgk/s1600/Devil-And-Angel-cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGgwQPzN_AZRouSMKRHRwC1YpXayK-x_ry6DLoMVgOmbsyttFK7jfXf94KaZtHlvlIlsQwia7W4S1uv17rkNpXW2ko_VsF1eTWNXrm1a5XhuMAgI79Xyc14iOSb73b7Cbhud8m9jonFgk/s320/Devil-And-Angel-cartoon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogher.com/one-baby-step-makes-all-difference" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: red;">(Source)</span></b></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Guess what? Part of me detests the New
Miley Cyrus. Everything she does lately seems to be over the top. It’s like she
tries TOO hard to be sexy and/or ratchet in her valiant, albeit slutty, attempt
to separate herself from her squeaky clean “Hannah Montana, Disney Child Star”
past. So, she walks around and dances onstage half-naked, licks hammers in
videos, and acts like she’s THAT bitch *snaps fingers*.
To me, it comes off as contrived and desperate and disgusting, and it gets old
quickly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">As a result,
her antics have become particularly annoying with a capital A. First, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">there’s the incessant <i>twerking</i>; from
onstage at that guy’s concert to her now, infamous performance at the VMAs. Then again, I
don’t even know if what she does can be considered as <i>twerking</i>, especially after seeing Rihanna’s tasteless video for
“<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehcVomMexkY" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: red;">Pour It Up</span></b></a>”. She made Miley look like a country bumpkin with no ass who simply
bends over, wiggles her backbone, and thinks that she’s <i>twerking</i>. Although I thought that this
phase in her development would end when her hair eventually grew back, she
seems to have had enough, for now.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Then, there was the
whole “tongue out of her mouth” thing. For the life of me, I couldn’t (still
can’t) fathom why someone would think that sticking their tongue out all the
time is flattering, especially when that tongue is all white and dirty looking.
In a recent interview on the Ellen Show, she explained that she feels awkward
when posing, (sic) like a normal celebrity, so she chooses to stick her tongue
out. That totally makes sense, Miley, and <b>Garvin’s
World</b> thanks you for that illuminating piece of information. Check out an interesting take on Miley's tongue <a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2013/09/miley-cyruss-tongue-debate/69799/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: red;">here</span></b></a>.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbAzwDpiRzVareUvH2Xq2L-4MLkccE4NYzDQEvdCjvJ4feWUjwSlKjsugiw9yK_3Ub34_JwqtTGuaQDjSbxpH3NQxa0vBGJP8qNkyrggDt8mjn9pYBHW7_yG1y_epjOCEYgYtfNk84uBd/s1600/article-2403214-1B7737A9000005DC-542_634x793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbAzwDpiRzVareUvH2Xq2L-4MLkccE4NYzDQEvdCjvJ4feWUjwSlKjsugiw9yK_3Ub34_JwqtTGuaQDjSbxpH3NQxa0vBGJP8qNkyrggDt8mjn9pYBHW7_yG1y_epjOCEYgYtfNk84uBd/s320/article-2403214-1B7737A9000005DC-542_634x793.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still very disgusting... <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2403214/Kelly-Osbourne-tells-Miley-Cyrus-stop-sticking-f---g-tongue-VMAs-2013-performance.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: red;">(Source)</span></b></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, what of the good? Let me think...
hmm... <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9MvUdR6j3w" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: red;">I got a pocket; got a pocketful of sunshine</span></b></a>... ahm, focus... Miley can
actually sing? Yep, that’s it! I’ve listened to her live performances, and most
times, she does a good job. Plus, most of her songs are good. For example, I like the message behind <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My2FRPA3Gf8" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">"Wrecking Ball"</span></a></b>, but the general nekkidness on display is a turn off. I also like that her voice is very distinctive, and polarising; you
either love it or hate it, which brings me to my next point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">There are those who absolutely adore this
girl and think that there’s nothing wrong with what she’s doing. Then, there
are others who are offended and/or disgusted by her showboating. And what does
Miley do in the face of all the criticism and open letters? She continues being herself, which I think
is somewhat admirable. (Sidebar: her making fun of people with mental illness is not!) Personally, I can be more thick-skinned and not let
what people say/think affect me, while being respectful, at the same time. Like,
she says: “Only God can judge ya, forget the haters, cause somebody loves ya”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDLdu6U11OowW9fzusFi85AwXLzNWGKAFDgRax7-Q5Jkjes_8XvP5ZJdcDvtzBdLTIivCR2bpGVfp5yq6rtH23-WyXZ4ej7rri3WSNB3BlaoI_k5IJ97Hzrn8uhxpRAuCL0tEJUM2iqZN/s1600/pizap.com13823072685381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDLdu6U11OowW9fzusFi85AwXLzNWGKAFDgRax7-Q5Jkjes_8XvP5ZJdcDvtzBdLTIivCR2bpGVfp5yq6rtH23-WyXZ4ej7rri3WSNB3BlaoI_k5IJ97Hzrn8uhxpRAuCL0tEJUM2iqZN/s400/pizap.com13823072685381.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">After watching her “documentary” on MTV,
I’ve realised that Miley knows EXACTLY what she’s doing, and it seems to be
working well for her. So, you go girl! Maybe, I should put as much energy as
she does into realising my dreams? Nah, I’m doing just fine!</span><br />
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Until the next post!Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-5799917889422204452013-10-17T20:34:00.000-04:002015-08-05T14:51:21.801-04:00Exploring T&T: My Zip-Lining Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkzxYSCVUdvUOJ5k6UKptCh7Yrl8WmYSV4cO-FwvGriHiRsBqMI2FF3jko_C0zACVwcQFrm4c_9wNuirNN19vxJ2AxUOlwBe7AHndwG8vkRgrSIp0Qwa70frQg8hncEYjk_NF9TBYnIu2/s1600/992900_591472830903272_1791500150_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkzxYSCVUdvUOJ5k6UKptCh7Yrl8WmYSV4cO-FwvGriHiRsBqMI2FF3jko_C0zACVwcQFrm4c_9wNuirNN19vxJ2AxUOlwBe7AHndwG8vkRgrSIp0Qwa70frQg8hncEYjk_NF9TBYnIu2/s1600/992900_591472830903272_1791500150_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Zip-Lining: Terrifying, Exhilarating, Liberating, Amazing</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’ve wanted to go to the Zip-Lining
facility at Macqueripe, Chaguaramas, since its inception. I figured that it
would be a new and interesting experience, and provide me with a chance to
conquer my fear of heights. Thus, when I learned that the Rotaract Club of
Sangre Grande Central had planned a trip to the facility, I knew that I had to
be involved. Basically, I did go, and it was everything I expected and more.
This post details how it all went down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It was a sunny, Sunday
afternoon, and I was seated in the Zip-ITT Office at Macqueripe Bay, reading a
waiver and giggling. The source of my giggle was a sentence that outlined a
number of risks associated with zip lining that the company was not liable for,
namely scrapes, scratches, bruises, debilitating
injuries and death (yes, they appeared in that order). Although reading those words rattled my nerves even more
and made me question the necessity of the day’s activities, there was something
dark about them that I found hilarious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Once the waivers were
signed, we were ushered over to an area where we were suited up. We were given
two harnesses; one went on like a diaper, the other, like a vest. Both came
with several clips and other gear used by mountain climbers, I assumed. Then,
we were given a hairnet and helmet, and a pair of smelly, heavy duty,
construction gloves. The overall look not only exacerbated the size of my
stomach, but left my nether regions residing in close quarters. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvdhxkdLRp0YG5SnInL1KeLk9zuM5HiFydywB4CDsJKKHycaM0vsbKElxcxzNhz2FZk7iBebNmfoRujXN95sGBCycHHZm8qe_Asv7YZ1LVVBhpC3hUPKGDwV9VTvp6JWflt7K9jyRrX63/s1600/IMG11665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvdhxkdLRp0YG5SnInL1KeLk9zuM5HiFydywB4CDsJKKHycaM0vsbKElxcxzNhz2FZk7iBebNmfoRujXN95sGBCycHHZm8qe_Asv7YZ1LVVBhpC3hUPKGDwV9VTvp6JWflt7K9jyRrX63/s320/IMG11665.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>But, why she watching me cut-eye, though?</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Next, we were given a crash
course in “How to Zip-Line without Dying 101”. I really wanted to return to
Sangre Grande that evening, so I shushed my cousin and gave the two instructors
my undivided attention. There was a lot of information to process, but the
instructors interspersed it with a few jokes, which helped to make me less
nervous. I'm not going to go into all the details, but the instructions basically revolved around how to position your hands when zipping, how to slow down, and the proper way to approach the platform as you're coming in. With all the bases covered, the moment of truth had arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To reach the first platform,
we had to climb four flights of stairs. We did so in single file, and I
expertly placed myself at the back of the line as my stomach did somersaults. The
fact that a quasi thunderstorm came out of nowhere as the third person from our
group zipped into the trees beyond did nothing to alleviate my trepidation. I
started to think about my science classes in Secondary School, where I learned
about conduction and looked to the skies for any sign of lightning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Before I knew it, it was my
turn. My legs felt like jelly as the guy hooked me to the zip line. My heart
thumped wildly in my chest as I was ordered into the sitting position. My
armpits started scratching as I said a silent prayer. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and
let go. As soon as I did, I opened my eyes, looked around and started screaming at the top of my lungs. The line
seemed to hum as I zipped at the speed of light to the second platform. The screaming
didn’t stop, but my fear was replaced by exhilaration and joy. I felt so
liberated, and as I slammed into the padding around the tree trunk, I started
laughing hysterically. The platform monitor looked at me, like I was crazy, but
the adrenaline left me laughing as I moved on to the next part of the
course. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Part of the zip lining
experience involves crossing these canopy walks. I remembered the term “canopy”
from Form Two Geography, and was therefore, not surprised to see that the
“walk” would take us from one tree to another, and involved crossing a net
bridge with a plank down the middle. I HATED every moment of it! The breeze and the movement of my body caused the bridge to sway from side to side. To keep my mind of it, I looked straight ahead, and slowly made my way across as I hummed, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlcIKh6sBtc" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: red;"><i>“Royals”</i></span></b></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTmCULcGjSKmryUv-yoOn_YRssxqrkRVc6W1KhKMiiz3l5EGseheM22eR8xHhWfqMCddz-lGNaD3oWib4FN2S7gZHIYeL6jDK2w_XwIxG6KboppbsDiOSEDwa1Zflkkr2V0g-UzQFOCMJ/s1600/382172_568344763216079_272201587_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTmCULcGjSKmryUv-yoOn_YRssxqrkRVc6W1KhKMiiz3l5EGseheM22eR8xHhWfqMCddz-lGNaD3oWib4FN2S7gZHIYeL6jDK2w_XwIxG6KboppbsDiOSEDwa1Zflkkr2V0g-UzQFOCMJ/s1600/382172_568344763216079_272201587_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Le Canopy Walk. Scary!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There were five more
platforms and four canopy walks to complete before I got to the last zip line.
Nothing much happened except the fact that I slammed into the padding of two
more trees at high velocity. Apparently, I didn’t see the guy on the platform signalling for me to slow down. In fact, I slammed into the second tree so hard that my legs straddled the tree trunk, which prompted one member of staff to ask if my "jewels" were fine. Oh, I also
missed one platform and ended up stuck and panicking over the forests of Macqueripe. I had to turn around and pull myself to the platform. That was hilarious! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On the second to last platform, the instructions got a bit complicated. We were to zip slowly to the tree
marked with the red flag, and then, go faster. As soon as I let go, I knew that
I was going to be in trouble. I forgot how to go slow, and instead, went faster
and faster and faster. Then, I also forgot to extend my legs, so when I crashed
into the padding, my left ankle hit the edge of the platform. It hurt so much
that I yelled out, thinking that it was sprained. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">While I
was having my ankle examined and stretched, I was told that my crash was so
resounding that it shook the platform and caused the rain droplets to fall off the leaves of
the tree. It was so loud that several patrons looked up in alarm, wondering
what went wrong. Of course, the adrenaline was still coursing through my veins,
so it wasn’t until I got home two hours later that I started to feel the after
effects of being George of the Jungle for an hour. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Overall, it was an exciting
adventure. My only gripe would be that it should been longer, but I definitely
recommend you all to try it out. If I can do it, anyone can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until the next post!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-80648537104256218572013-10-11T23:36:00.000-04:002013-10-11T20:26:09.191-04:00Yep, I'm Getting Older! <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8U4SwFNhd8Na0HO-5tSr1r0grcaCt0-BvyU4QRt54ozrcOiuNoYyFKpCISNQgAz-uC-mfshyphenhyphenetaExucCotfYunoUOjKWn_bs05GXC-Fe7_8cxAiy155Imj4MzJCpEvXizV02a6Vwl8Zo/s1600/getting-older.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8U4SwFNhd8Na0HO-5tSr1r0grcaCt0-BvyU4QRt54ozrcOiuNoYyFKpCISNQgAz-uC-mfshyphenhyphenetaExucCotfYunoUOjKWn_bs05GXC-Fe7_8cxAiy155Imj4MzJCpEvXizV02a6Vwl8Zo/s200/getting-older.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Happy birthday to you too,” I smiled. “How does it feel to be
eighteen?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Pretty much exactly the same as seventeen,” Rhys laughed. “Do you feel
any older?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“No, not really,” I admitted.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Oh, come on,” Matt said. “You’ve matured so much in the past six
months. I can hardly even recognize you anymore.”</span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">- Ascend, The Trylle Trilogy- Book Three by Amanda Hocking.</span></b><span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hey, folks! As you may or may not know, I celebrated
my 24<sup>th</sup> birthday a week ago. Mostly, it was a day
of reflection that focused on my growing up and what it all means. For some
reason, although the physical signs are mostly there, I don’t feel any older. In
reflecting, I realised several things, for examples: </span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">I have more responsibilities that don’t revolve around doing chores and homework.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">More so, I am responsible for my actions and the consequences of those actions.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">I find myself thinking about my future, and ensuring that the decisions I make today facilitate it.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">I have to work; gone are the days of Mummy and Daddy providing my every need. I mean, I have to buy my own deodorant.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">On those rare occasions that I go out, I no longer have to/ feel obligated to tell my family where I’m going. I do so because I want to.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">Life is happening to the people around me; from past classmates getting married and/or pregnant (not exactly in that order) to baby cousins writing CAPE and entering UWI. It makes me realise that life is happening to me too, although I don’t see it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">For me, the fact that I’m trusted to look after people’s children speaks volumes to my level of maturity.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">Speaking of which, I feel like I have matured. When I think back on Secondary School Garvin, and even, UWI Garvin, the change in attitude and perspective is astounding.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">My family, friends and acquaintances have commented on my more mature look.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">I find myself annoyed by and complaining about the antics of today’s youth. This is usually followed by a story or two about how things were when I was younger.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">Oftentimes, I ponder my own mortality. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">I now use sayings and/ or phrases that I used to associate with older, more experienced people. For example, “All skin teeth eh grin”, “If is not one thing is the next”, “Do so doh like so”, “Tomorrow, please God”, “Look how big you get!” (I used to hate when people told me this), and “We went to school together”. </span></li>
</ol>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, all signs seem to point to the fact that I am
growing older. In arriving at that conclusion, I’ve decided to embrace
adulthood in this, the 24<sup>th</sup> year of my life. I’m still not sure what
there is to embrace, but I’ll start with the responsibility, maturity, wisdom
and independence that come with age. Meanwhile, I’ll figure out the rest as I
go along. Wish me luck! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-TT; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until the next post! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-586466677910302560.post-70731309798389379292013-09-26T18:57:00.000-04:002013-09-26T22:02:45.757-04:00Throwback Thursday- I Used To Be A Bad Boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw1ueEVMUfm2pUW1_OkvIhCCR1qjTMxl5QOCr_-zgNuhq05djDjc1yntTl41Xa14-N-VKnClbeSSFoYXNG8o00zwobWQpy7ehd4z7kGzpAlF2mkQZL6NAd79pPB8o_dCmjj44txGv3HmI/s1600/pizap.com13802085962031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw1ueEVMUfm2pUW1_OkvIhCCR1qjTMxl5QOCr_-zgNuhq05djDjc1yntTl41Xa14-N-VKnClbeSSFoYXNG8o00zwobWQpy7ehd4z7kGzpAlF2mkQZL6NAd79pPB8o_dCmjj44txGv3HmI/s320/pizap.com13802085962031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A throwback with a difference!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hey, folks! I happen to like
the phenomenon, that is, Throwback Thursday. I think it a fantastic opportunity
to reminisce and share funny glimpses into your past with your friends,
families, and acquaintances. As such, I really wanted to do a "Throwback Thursday" post on my blog. Who knows? Maybe, depending on the feedback, it would be the first of many more to come.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-TT" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today, I'm going to write about those few instances during my childhood and adolescence, that I can remember, when I got into serious trouble. When I write, "serious trouble", I'm referring to those times when I got licks, was banned, slapped, sent to the Principal's office, had to do lines, and/or disappointed my parents. I used two photos from my school days, which best depict what I looked like at the time of each incident. So yeah, let's throwback yo!</span></span></div>
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<b>1) Childhood, Primary School, 8-11 years old</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbZ003gF4RQD0HKYZ84biGZtHr4h02X4tEf3u4JEcfueEPIbT4WvwHiA5N9LYmzQE6-ZV3cFTO8NcMxr5KTMOy0Viqf2V_BpdPkTyXcirk-ZJq6cdjrT1RnLXRCSSYjyoajRIrmshaHR1/s1600/26524_323608011900_7973947_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbZ003gF4RQD0HKYZ84biGZtHr4h02X4tEf3u4JEcfueEPIbT4WvwHiA5N9LYmzQE6-ZV3cFTO8NcMxr5KTMOy0Viqf2V_BpdPkTyXcirk-ZJq6cdjrT1RnLXRCSSYjyoajRIrmshaHR1/s400/26524_323608011900_7973947_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: small;">My brother and I. </span></b></td></tr>
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In Standard Three, my class had some sort of competition, which I lost after trying my hardest. Being the sore loser and killjoy that I was at 8-years old, I booed the student who won. As a result, I was sent to the Principal's Office. I was terrified; I mean, I was off to the Principal's Office for the first time, corporal punishment was legal, I had a low threshold for pain, and as if that weren't enough, my parents were going to find out, which meant another cycle of punishment. I almost started crying as I explained to him what had happened. I ended up lying, and told him a vapid story about the guy booing me first a week earlier (I know, not my best). Thankfully, I got off scot-free, unless you count the fact that I had to swallow my pride and apologize. </div>
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In Standard Four, I placed 34th out of 36 students in my end of term exams, and to this day, I can't understand why. At the age of 10, I was concerned about having a fun filled vacation, and I knew that there would have been no fun if my parents saw my grade. So, I decided to put my report book in a black, plastic bag and hide it under some clothes in a barrel. I told my parents that the report would be given at the start of the following term. Everything was fine for one day. What I didn't count on was how much my treachery would weigh on my conscience. I swear I almost had a nervous breakdown, and was therefore, relieved when my mother found the book. Although I got licks for lying, was banned from playing and watching TV, and disappointed my parents all in one day, I was happier for it.<br />
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<b>2) Adolescence, Secondary School, 12-15 years old</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpqDIJe8avnAgA1BV0ShHPVut2odNwRH5g9gGDFy7jSBe5VhWO1Z4o7AYCH_PBuisHIKx1TkS0Uyv9PARdqy-gix5p4d59_eniAD8N9-TZ7ev11tsQsEP2Odf8DqiCEqz1_uNsNK4xOHb/s1600/26524_323607941900_156819_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpqDIJe8avnAgA1BV0ShHPVut2odNwRH5g9gGDFy7jSBe5VhWO1Z4o7AYCH_PBuisHIKx1TkS0Uyv9PARdqy-gix5p4d59_eniAD8N9-TZ7ev11tsQsEP2Odf8DqiCEqz1_uNsNK4xOHb/s400/26524_323607941900_156819_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: small;">Me: First Day of School- Form Three</span></b></td></tr>
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In Form One, some of my classmates and I started a sou-sou in an attempt to be more responsible and manage our money. My father was pretty impressed by our initiative and was eager to lend his support, as long as our Form Teacher supervised us. Of course, I lied and said that she was. Eventually, the bacchanal hit the fan! Surprisingly, someone stopped paying after they received their hand (I thought all 11 year old children were responsible), which angered the others. There was a shouting match, the Form Teacher intervened, and parents were called in. In short, <i>d</i><i>e mark buss</i>! There was no licks, no being banned, just pure disappointment from the parents, especially my father. Basically, my life was ruined, since being told that you are a disappointment is pretty much the worst kind of punishment.<br />
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More than anything, my rudeness, <i>hot mouth</i>, and general <i>outta timing-ness</i>, got me in trouble. For starters, I went through the phase of rudeness, which was directed at my grandmother more than anything. I would mumble under my breath, walk off in a huff, and complain that no one understood me. It all stopped after Granny <i>cut meh ass</i> with some kitchen utensil one afternoon at my aunt's house in Mayaro. Even worse, the masons outside heard every lash and scream. How embarrassing!<br />
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Then, there was the time that my mother slapped me because I had mumbled to myself that a friend of a friend of the family was being grumpy because she needed 'ah man'. I also had to apologize, in front of a group of people with tears running down my face. Lastly, on a trip to Tobago, I said that one of the teachers lived for minding her student's business. Given my luck, her daughter had heard me. Basically, I had to apologize and write lines. Looking back, not much has changed; I just learned to be more tactful.<br />
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That's all folks! Thanks for stepping back in time with me. Until the next post! </div>
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Garvin's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506045125443536729noreply@blogger.com3