my Papiamentu

Yo tengo un libro de papiamentu, pero esta tiene muchas palabras y yo no puedo .....  I am trying to learn Papiamentu, but I fall back on the Spanish I know.  Below are photos of us living the last few days.  Trips to shop, conversations about politics and fixing things in the yard.  There was a lot of coconut water drinking.

Mi tin un buki de papiamentu.  Mi ta papia ingles.  

thank you to the Carregas and the Isenias

Thank you.  You made my stay in Curacao more than I wished for in just a few days.  Ingrid gave me lots of help; she found the people and she translated.  John gave me a view of Curacao that only a native can share.  And, today, the family on both sides made my last day full of good conversation and food.  You shared with me a lovely view and the peace and quiet of your island and that made for a perfect goodbye.

children of the family

fabulous photos and visit

A must hear video of Curacao slave trade history

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mea8v4ZRhyE&sns=em

A very good morning

Hello Myrugia, thanks for the great company on our beautiful morning walk.  Myrugia and I met this morning on the path around the pool and the park at about 7:15 or 7:30; we walked until about 9 a.m..  It was early and we were both happy to see each other.  We decided to do five laps.  I learned quite a bit about Curacao as we walked.  Children in Curacao are first exposed to Papiamentu at home (years ago the first language in school to learn was Dutch now it is Papiamentu).  After Papiamentu, they learn Dutch, Spanish and English.  In high school they can add French and German to the list.  Myrugia told me that there are people of African descent, some with ancestors from Venezuela, others from Santo Domingo, lately there are immigrants from China and India.  There are a number from Haiti.

After shariing a number of interesting topics about us as Caribbean people and Caribbean neighbors, we started discussing issues of identity.   There is talk that Curacao cannot govern itself because it has very little resources.  I recalled that someone had mentioned to me that a number of Curazoleans are selling their land to foreign investors and that a number of businesses and land were now owned by non-Curazoleans.  What will that mean in the long run?

An idea came to mind.  Why can't Curazoleans sell this valuable commodity that they have.  Obviously, the pedagogy used here is working to make a nation quadrilingual. 

What is even more valuable is Papiamento.  A Caribbean university should be established on the island to teach everything about the language and the language itself.  If we are aiming to become one people of the Caribbean, it means that these languages should be spoken by members of the Caribbean and we should be schooled on them.  This goes for the language of the Garifuna, the languages in Suriname, the creole of Haiti and the creoles of the many other Caribbean nations.  This is a commodity of identity and a commodity of power.

Caribbean people must be aware of and versatile in these languages.  Children must learn how clever and how much advanced ability it takes to learn to communicate in multiple languages and to use those languages to build another that crosses borders.

The self made woman

journalist, mother, wife, grandmother and more....

Teacher and artist

Sandra has an amazing place.  This is woman teacher, woman collector of antiques; wise woman.  Sandra the artist; Sandra with her mother.  What a rewarding interview and terribly sobering insight.

This fantastic woman - this fantastic voice

Elia, Elia, Elia and she gave me the honor of an interview.  What a lovely voice; what a lovely woman.  She is dynamic; I heard her; I was captivated and I didn't even know the language.  Woman power.

I must pause to sip and to make you readers jealous.  I was just given a cold and open baby coconut.  I'm sipping and I will eat the jelly.

Another visit

Tomorrow I'm off to another part of the island.  We gon' catchup.

My lucky day

Mi stima bo a todos - masha danki - dushis ::)) I hope I have that right....

I often find that the unexpected happens to me just when I need it most.  Then again, I ask myself if it is really so unexpected!  Aren't we family?  I am always healed by the warm affection of not so strange strangers in far away places and Curacao was no exception.  Inevitably, I learn, that after rain comes sunshine; you can depend on it.  The kind of human and the human kindness that reached out to me in words like "mi amour" and "dushi" from the women and the morning smiles and howdies of the men who sent me on my way for my 6 a.m. walk; this was balm to my soul.  They made my stay at the Hilton such a pleasant experience.  Thank you for the beautiful smiles and the words that let me know that my comfort was your concern.

Kimberly, thank you for my first lesson in Papiamentu.  I'm writing the phrases here as my first assignment.  I also wanted to let you know that I stopped at the bookstore and I now have my first book.

Bon dia - good morning
Bon Tardi - good afternoon
Bon nochi - good evening
dushi - sweetheart
mi stima bo - I love you
Hopi bon - very good
kon ta bon - How are you?
Danki - thank you

Ah comin' back one day.  Ah gon send nuff nuff people to you.
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A few pictures from up above

Friday in town

Thursday - 5/2/11

Today I'm nervous.  I know.  I've been told that there is no reason for nerves to act up.  But, what can I say.  It seems to be in my nature.  I'm the nervous type and at this age I'm still trying to come to terms with it.  I did take some beautiful video clips of the dance performances, but the computer refuses to upload them.

the view from the hotel

Tuesday - 5/31

Okay I've been busy with the conference but I've been having some fun too.  Last night I had a fish dinner - the whole fish - in an ocean-side restaurant which was not prepared for a crowd, but the people were fun and the talk was interesting.

This morning I walked for an hour along the ocean and then I came back and took a dip in the ocean.  I attended some interesting panels; the one on education made me realize how much my work connects with a lot of progressive theory.

The breeze is just heavenly and I'm looking forward to a nice and relaxing evening.  I haven't taken any photos, but I'll have my camera tonight and tomorrow morning.

today's beauty

Today I took my camera places and met people.  I taped a fabulous woman entertaining a group of female teachers who were celebrating 55 years of teaching.  She was dynamic.  I then ate some local food ... uuuumm good... and then went on to meet and interview another great woman - an artist and a teacher.  It was all I could hope for.  Tomorrow I'll meet two more women.

This evening I spent interviewing a 104 year old native Curazolean woman.  Here is a photo of us two.

photos - Friday 5/27