devils in trinidad

{Sarah}

As we are nearing the halfway point in our time in Trinidad and Tobago, I felt that it was time for me to reflect about my overall impressions of the country. Honestly, when I applied to this Duke Engage, I knew next to nothing about Trinidad and Tobago. Now that I have lived here for a month, I am so glad that I have been able to learn about the vibrant spirit of this country. Soca, danso, and reggae music is always blasting everywhere you go here, and it’s all you can do to keep from dancing along and continue to work. The food is spicy and flavorful, the coconut trees and mountains are beautiful, and the racial/political tensions here have been fascinating to observe (political parties are often divided by if you are Black or Indian, and there is racism against Chinese, which Sheena, Charlotte and Lisa have had to experience).

People here are so focused on the positive and so open, I have started to say that it would be impossible to be lonely or depressed here. There are parties with friends every weekend, and every day will have a “lime.” Limin here is an integral part of the way of life, and means to simply chill and hang out with friends. People lime everywhere, basically all the time. While this slows down the speed that work can get done, and means you might wait 30 minutes for your taxi driver, I honestly think the benefits outweigh the negatives. At home so many commercials are about some way to medicate away a problem, and shows are filled with violence, cheating, and other reminders of the worst of human nature. The independent workaholic American would laugh at the idea of a lime everyday. But the importance of a great social network, and looking at the best in people is so meaningful, and I think it’s something American culture sometimes forgets.