Today is Remembrance Day in Canada, or Veteran's Day in the U.S. It is a day where we remember the acts of service and sacrifice of those who served in war. We look back and the hardships that they faced and that many still face today, and pay our respects to them. At 11:11 am, we have a moment of silence, to commemorate the dead and appreciate all that was sacrificed so that we may live in the freedom that we do today.
In every elementary or high school around the country, it is customary to read the poem In Flander's Fields, written in World War I by Canadian doctor Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae on May 3rd 1915. The opening line of the song references poppies growing in Flander's Fields, in the cemeteries of the fallen soldiers. They have since come to represent the blood that was shed and serve as a physical reminder of the past.
In the six grade I was in choir and we sang a version of this poem of a Remembrance Day assembly. I still remember it and sing it every year. I invite to listen to another version of the poem, sung beautifully by The Queen's University Choral Ensemble and arranged by Elanor Daley.
After lots of recent conversations about Barbados with my parents, I thought it might be interesting to write a bit about it. Not stuff you can easily read in tour guide, but something a little more Bajan. My whole family is from Barbados, living in different places and countries, but with one proud Caribbean heritage. It's a small island that people might not know a lot about so, courtesy of CIA World Factbook, the BBC and my general knowledge, here's Barbados in a nutshell:
Population:286, 705 (July 2010 est.)
Capital: Bridgetown
Area: 430 sq km (166 sq miles)
Language: English (a Bajan dialect)
Major Religion: Christianity
Government: Parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Independence: 30 November 1966 (from the UK)
Economy: tourism is the biggest source of revenue, an overtake from sugarcane exports
1. Bajans from Bim
For some reason unbeknownst to me, Bajans (pronounced Asian with a "b"), the colloquial term for Barbadians, call Barbados Bim. Bim?!?! This makes no sense to me what so ever.
2. Nicknames
A good majority of people have nicknames. When I say nickname, I mean an alternate name that everybody calls you. Your name could be Andrew, but for some reason, every single person calls you Hill. Or Pepsi. And at times, people don't even know your real name. I heard a story about a funeral and in Barbados, everyone listens to the obituary on the radio. So the family put out an announcement of the death, using the deceased's real name. People had no idea who that was and some never made it to the funeral because they didn't recognize the name. It's that intense. Sometimes your nickname is another real name, like Jack. So when people discover your real name, it's quite a shock. This name phenomenon seems to be more predominant with males than females. It's weird, but kind of endearing at the same time.
3. Free public transportation for students and seniors
This just seems logical to me and I wish it was implemented in more countries, but I assume it is the cost that is preventative. All schools wear uniforms and once a student is wearing their uniform, they can board the bus for free. Seniors have an I.D. card they carry and show when boarding. The cost of riding the bus is relatively cheap as well. Last time I was there about two years ago, it cost $1.50 Bajan every time I took the bus. One Bajan dollar is equal to approximately $0.50 U.S. (and now Canadian because we are more or less on par with the U.S.)
4. The meaning behind the flag
You might be able to find this information in a guide book, (actually probably), but I'm including it anyways. I like the meaning. The two bands of blue represent the sky and the sea, both the Caribbean sea and the Atlantic ocean. The gold symbolizes the sand and the sun. The broken trident in the middle represents the breaking of the colonial reign of the U.K. and independence from Great Britain. What gets me is that the trident makes it seem like there was some sort of revolution. Yet there wasn't. Barbados has always been very peaceful and ties with the U.K are very good. The revolutionary symbolism amuses me, and I like the fact that it is a unique looking flag. I also like that the meaning is simple. I have no idea what the colours of Canada's flag mean...
View from the top on a cloudy day
5. You can drive the perimeter of the island in 90 mins
The island is that small. My cousin drove myself and my brother around the island in about that time. We when to a look out point, saw the northern most region, ate in a tourist town, headed south and then back home. Now 90 mins is no way to experience the whole island, but it is an interesting experience. My dad says at night, you can get around in about 50 mins. The roads are a bit crazy, as are the drivers, so I don't doubt that.
Although February has long past, I've decided to share my thoughts on the month. Not on February itself, but more so on black history month and my thoughts surrounding it. I understand the reasoning behind the month but I think it is a bit outdated and perhaps irrelevant. I thought about this after a conversation with my dad. He was reading the newspaper and saw that a prominent Jamaican Canadian had died. He asked me if I had ever heard of him and I said no. What a shame that many people will not remember him or recognize the work he had done for the city, said my father.
His statement made me think about black history month; about how the focus is on history, and mainly American history at that. I think that it is extremely important to remember the past and those who sacrificed and fought for the lives we have now. Understanding the past helps us live in the present and plan for the future. But I also think that people seem to over look the present, not to mention the local. Not enough emphasis is being placed on people who are currently making a difference: the current black community. Those are the people who will serve as role models in the future, but are not getting the recognition they deserve now.
As a child, I always wondered why there was a black history month and not a Chinese, Filipino, Chilean or Irish one. I never understood, but I think I do now. I think it was created out of need for recognition of the black community's place in modern society, especially after the events of the civil rights movements and such. There must have been great force behind it. But that place has been established. If the history is so important that it warrants a whole month, maybe this is an indication that it should be placed somewhere more permanent. In a curriculum perhaps, which talks about civil rights movements, on both sides of the border. A curriculum that not only includes the black community, but one that is more inclusive of other nations.
Canada has a strong European past, mainly French and English, and the history we learn is centered around that. Although in my opinion, there is not enough emphasis on other cultures, considering how multicultural and diverse we claim to be. Not only that, but it would also be nice to learn a bit about the history of the city you live in, how it came to be, the different groups that shaped it into what it is today. I know some cultures played a greater role than others, but that doesn't mean they should be forgotten.
What I am trying to say is that black history month is not needed, but should rather be turned into an opportunity to learn about past contributions of various communities, as well as those who are still trying to improve the world today. All of this is unlikely to happen, because there is only so much you can teach and people are stubborn, but one can only dream.
♥ Turtles
P.S. Here's a little life lesson for ya: "If a man is coming at you with a sword, run. Kung Fu doesn't always work." - Bruce Lee
Now I can't claim to be an expert on Bollywood, or anything Indian for that matter, but I quite enjoy watching Bollywood films. Every Sunday at noon on OMNI, a channel that shows various cultural programming in multiple languages throughout the week, they play a Bollywood movie. Should I not be at church or still sleeping, I like to tune in and enjoy. The films have subtitles, thank goodness, because my Hindi is non-existent. Although the translations aren't the best, you get the gist.
There are three reasons why I think love these movies so much.
1) The music!!: Years ago, I used to be neighbours with a Trinidadian woman. We (my bro and I) would be at her house often after school or when my parents were working. She would always play soundtracks from various films and have them playing on the TV too. I think that's where this whole thing started. I love the music because it's different from the music I normally hear. For one, the woman's voice is always very high pitched. It always sounds so beautiful and I don't think the translations do it justice. Sometimes it's sad, other times happy and jolly. And there are ALWAYS awesome dance moves.
2) India: I know that what I see is not the whole country, just a selection of the beautiful, but beautiful it is. The shots used are often very stunning and the people and the culture are gorgeous. Especially the clothes. Weddings for instance, are extremely ornate, in the costuming, makeup, jewelery, henna, etc. The colours and designs are stunning. Even in sad film, the beauty is always there.
3) The endings: Not all movies have a happy ending, but I have yet to meet a Bollywood one that didn't. Nor do I want to. I like when things end well. Last week, one movie almost had me fooled. I was one the edge of my seat, almost crying, but not quite because the tears would block my view. There was five minutes left and the wife had not returned!! She full out hoped on the plane and went away!! Only 3 mins before the film was over, did she return. I was sooo relieved. My brother and dad thought I was crazy but honestly, I was freaked. An unhappy ending to a Bollywood movie? Never.
My favourite film is the very hilarious Sunday (2008). It's about a girl who goes clubbing, gets drugged, and forgets a whole day, waking up on Monday. She, along with various extremely funny friends and strangers, try to remember what happened on Sunday. I hope that if you're ever in the mood for something different and interesting, you give Bollywood a try :)
…We went to the tree nursery, which was not what I had in mind but fun none the less. There were little saplings everywhere, of different types of trees and flowers arranged in boxes. … Two guys talked to us about how trees were the 5th FTC pillar, not frequently mentioned but important: the environment. He told us about how every school has an environmental club and each child is provided with 3 saplings to care for. Each group has 40 members, 20 boys, 20 girls. All the saplings are planted in biodegradable milk cartons, which are donated for free by a company.
March 14th
SAFARI DAY!!
entry to the safari
So basically we woke up @ 3:30 am to go on the safari because it's such a long ways away. … the ride was probably around 3-4 hours. … The safari was on the Masai Mara Reserve, where a lot of Masai people live. … The view on the ride to the gate was amazing. So many mountains, green and luscious, apparently "hills". We saw many gazelles, zebras and other animals before we were even entered the actual safari part. … Just outside the gate, we saw two lions. We, along with a few other lorries and safari trucks, crowded around, apparently making the lions nervous. When we entered the gate I had to go to the washroom and basically the toilet was a hole in the ground. … where you have to squat and aim. Not to pleasant, but when you gotta go, you gotta go.
The safari it self was amazing! Soooo many animals and unique things you would not normally got to see. … The animals we saw were: zebras, elephants, tikis, lions, giraffes, jackals, hyenas, gazelles, cheetahs, baboons, hippos, a crocodile, warthogs and antelope.
Why is the green thing licking the cherry?
… It had started to rain a while back and we were taking the drive kinda slow. We were on the major (or rather only) road to Salabwek when our lorry got stuck in the mud and two wheels were in the air on one side. [Note: the roads are dirt roads, so when it rains, it becomes mud]. It was really scary when we were actually in the truck cuz everyone was leaning and sliding to one side. We got out and stood in the pouring rain, … and walked for 45 mins to Salabwek, which we could see in the distance. … It was a totally new experience getting soaked to the bone, walking up and down hills, beside maize crops, along side the locals, who came prepared for the weather with umbrellas and raincoats. It was so refreshing, supporting each other as we slipped in the mud and enjoying the beautiful view and scenery at the same time.
The lorry stuck in the mud
♥ Turtles
p.s. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye. - Miss Piggy.
