March and Carnival

Sorry I have not posted in a while; just got caught up with everything happening.

Carnival was a lot of fun, but it was a LOT of standing in the sun for hours. They changed it up this year and took different routes, which brought a lot of confusion by the time we got to the main stage. We had never performed with our pans before so that was an experience! We did not realize we would get hungry sooo fast; no one ate enough that morning. A truck came with us for half the way with drinks and our bags. After a while the truck split off since the road was too full and that is when the standing started. By that time it would have been worth it to have money for food with us. Rosalind, the head of our band, was really nice and bought us snacks and brought us drinks. We did our final performance (less than stellar by that point) and then most of use rode in the truck the last few miles back to the Mas camp. It was worth it to have spent more on shoes because most people's cheap shoes had fallen apart during the day. In all we were chipping and dancing for about 10 1/2 hours that day. When they say you have to experience Carnival to know what it is like; it's true.

Wednesday, the day after, most people went to Maracas beach. I stayed and slept all day. I guess the beach was really busy and not as relaxing as they hoped. The rest of the week was break; most people slept. The next week lectures started again, this time focused on the Indian presence in Trinidad rather than the African.  We took a tour of Central Trinidad in Chaguanas (Shu-GWAN-es) and looked through their big market, got the most AMAING doubles for breakfast, saw the Temple in the Sea, and another temple in the area.  We stopped for a lunch of roti and after looked at a few other places.  It was a fun tour!

The next week we had our mid term exam for our CCS class; I’m glad I studied! One of the parts was naming island in the Caribbean on a map and what country they belonged too; that was a little harder than I thought since the map was missing islands!  That Friday we went to Holika Night, which tells the legend connected to Phagwa.  Honestly, I don’t think I get the story; I kept getting mixed up who was supposed to be good and bad.  On Sunday we met with the PLU people who were visiting for the 20^th year celebration for the program being in Trinidad.  We made suggestions about the program and amenities and it sounds like things will change for next years program (sadly, our beds are staying just as hard and mattress topperless).  We all then went to Phagwa, close to the same place we went for Holika night (or maybe it was the same place).  I wore sunglasses because I didn’t want dye in my eyes and it was a good idea! A bunch of the girl’s contacts got dyed from powder being blown in their faces and they had to throw them away.  The little kids there were the worst; they would sneak attack you and get you right in the face with dye or powder.  That evening we performed with Malick our Carnival dance for the PLU people.

Wednesday was the big celebration dinner; some of the students wore traditional costumes to welcome guests, there were a lot of speeches, and we performed our dance with Malick again.  On Saturday almost the whole group went to a beach at Chaguaramas (Shog-er-RAM-us) and went zip lining! It was about 45 minutes long, 7 zip lines, the highest was about 100ft, and less than $20 US a person!  We all agreed we want to do it again before we leave if we have a chance.  Sunday the 30^th we went to the Spiritual Baptists Liberation day.  I don’t think I have ever heard so much singing.  Someone would start to say something and everyone would sing it.  We only stayed for a few hours; it started about 10:30am and didn’t end until around 5 or 6pm. 

This week we had two lectures and some meetings, but have a free weekend this week.  I am working on my mas costume for class; have the frame of my headpiece done!  Now it’s mostly working on finishing up all the papers and final projects that are due; the program tries to finish everything by the beginning of May except for the final presentations.

1 Month Down

Hello everyone; I haven't posted much lately because there really hasn't been that much going on.

Brendan decided to leave the program about 2 weeks ago and started PLU for spring semester.  For our Caribbean Culture and Society class we have usually 2 lectures a week with guest lecturers and short paper/reflections to turn in based on that. We also have dance class twice a week...seems more like boot camp than dance class! We are yelled at a lot for doing it wrong.  We are learning two different dances to perform, one dance has to be moving to get across the stage quick enough with all the big bands now.  We finished J-term and the third class with the volunteering doesn't start till after Carnival when things slow down.  Below is an example of one of our schedules for the week.

We've had a few excursions on the weekends; went to Maracas Beach and had Bake 'n Shark (tasted like fish), visited some steel pan (drum) yards, went to a few more Mas costume camps, and we are going to a Calypso tent this weekend.  This saturday we are hoping to join the UWI Bio club to go on a hike to a waterfall! I introduced my friends Aubrey and Giorgio and now they are dating.  Classes have started at UWI; I'm taking photo and a Carnival class; Mas: History, Development, and Meaning.  The Mas class is my favorite so far; we are learning about Carnival history, what the traditional costumes mean, etc.  Our final is a paper on someone who works with Mas and to make a costume that we design.  My sewing skills are not extensive so that will be interesting!

The internet is slower than expected; there is wifi but it's often dial up speed.  I have a room at the end of the hall with two windows which is great for ventilation but not great for internet.  The program isn't quite what we expected; I don't think it ever will be.  Of course it gets hyped up, trying to get people to go, but sometimes I feel like it has been hyped too much.  First they tell you you will have lots of free time, then they say you are always busy.  In actuality it's a mix of both.  When we have to go to events in the evenings or lectures it's busier, but we actually end up having a lot of free time during the week. There's not a lot to do in Tunapuna besides shopping and for a single white girl, I can't really travel without a companion.  I mean, I'm sure I could, but it wouldn't be very safe.

When they say there is every culture food in Trinidad that is a lie.  There is roti which is good and doubles which I could eat for every meal the rest of my life.  There is Trini food which is lots of stewed chicken and pigs/chicken/ox feet/tail/random body part.  We have a joke that if it moves, a Trini will eat it.  They have a large Indian culture but that doesn't mean you will find Indian food like tikka masala or vegetable korma or anything.  They don't have many sit down restaurants here.  No Thai food either! Aubrey and I are longing for peanut sauce.  At least I can cook italian food easily. Boneless skinless chicken breast is really expensive here; Trinis like their meat on the bone.

Things I miss: My family, Daniel, my cat, doughnuts, pad tai, indian food (an actual meal), stores with everything you need in one place, not sleeping with a mosquito net, italian food...mostly everyone here misses food!

Today was the first day it's been cloudy all day; it's the best!  There's a cool breeze coming in my window all the time and when it rains it cools it down even more.  I'd hazard it might even be 75 right now--pure heaven.

Registering at school was a mess; most people changed their classes from what they first picked so there was a ton of going back and forth to professors and trying to get signatures and registration codes for classes. We are still trying to get financial clearance so we can get our IDs, it took a week or two to even get the codes to register for classes.  Everyone swears that the school system is better than it has been, but it's a far cry from PLU!

Things are slow right now, they are supposed to keep picking up as we get closer to Carnival March 3-4th.

3 Months and Start of School

It is the start of the school year!  With that, comes the start of study abroad plans.  In October we have our first meeting about study abroads in general and then later in the month and November are two more meetings specific to Trinidad.  At the end of this month we already have forms due: classes to pick, university applications to fill out, passport photos to order…the list goes on.  Lots of required readings as well.

When we first arrive at Trinidad we have a few days to move into the Lodge and settle down.  We then have homestays for the weekend before going to Charlotteville, Tobago for a week.  The cottages we are staying in there are right on the beach with access to reefs!  I am planning on bringing my snorkeling gear so I do not have to rent it, despite the room it will take in a suitcase.  The cottage website shows some gorgeous pictures of sunsets; what other study abroad allows you to travel to paradise?

We have a J-Term course in January (a month long class taken every day that equals a semester long class) and UWI starts mid January as well.  Then there is not much until March 3-4, which is Carnival!  The trip ends May 17^th.  By then I will have spent 136 days (19 Weeks and 3 Days) in Trinidad.  I'll post more after our first meeting!

A Little Over 6 Months!

Our trip is about 6 months 3 weeks away. I can't believe it's half a year. It seems like so long ago when I was applying, and even longer since I first heard about it!

We had a meeting about the trip before the end of the school year and I got to meet a few of the other students going on the trip. We skyped (or tried) with Candice down in Trinidad and talked to the professor who will be teaching our Literature course there.

We also got a few sheets detailing what kind of things we should pack so we can go shopping this summer. For all their wildness at Carnival, they seem rather conservative in girl's clothing. We were told to tend to stay away from low cut shirts, strapless shirts and dresses, or tank tops with thin straps.

For our flight we all find our own way to Miami and then we will all join up for the final flight to Trinidad. Fortunately for me one of the guys will be flying out of the same airport as me, so I'm hoping we can meet up and fly out together. Makes it easier to navigate the airport and the company will be nice! Still, we don't get tickets until this fall.

That's all for now; going to enjoy this summer till things start kicking into gear this fall!

I'm In!

Hooray!


Last week I got my conformation that I was accepted into the Trinidad and Tobago PLU Gateway Program for 2014!  I also received the Global Scholars award with it.
I have been talking to some of the people that are on the trip right now, asking questions about the culture, Carnival, the type of clothing worn, etc.  Looking forward to doing some summer shopping!  Not much more happens for a few months, sadly...things really start kicking into gear this October.  Hopefully we are going to have a meeting before the end of the school year to discuss the trip before summer.  

On a side note, my roommate got into the London program, so we will both be studying abroad at the same time!

Until then, here's some information on Trinidad and Carnival!

T&T has followers of almost every religion due to the vast ethnic population.  The islands have changed hands more than any other island, about 30 times, leading to this diverse population. It has a reputation for being friendly and accepting, celebrating many different religious holidays despite personal beliefs. At least one public holiday is celebrated for each main religion.  A few are Carnival, Divali (Indian Festival of Lights), and Holi (Hindu festival of Spring where groups of people throw colored dye at each other).  The trip allows us to participate in this last holiday, as well as in Carnival.  

Carnival is held the Mon. and Tues. before Ash Wednesday.  The celebration is about 160 years old. It started with French holding large masquerades.  The Africans slaves saw these parties and adopted them, adding their own culture and practices.  After they were freed they started holding their own Carnivals.  It is now a mix of many cultures.  All ages participate, even children in Kiddy Carnival.  Carnival draws about 50,000 visiters.  Although it may not be as big as Rio's Carnival, T&T prides itself on giving the best experience.

Carnival has elaborate costumes, steel pan performances, and parades. Early Monday morning is J'Ouvert (pronounced Zshoo-veh, I think). This is a ritual of dressing like demons, devils, running through streets.  It draws from early celebrations of the emancipation of slaves.  Monday during the day and afternoon people dance in the streets, enjoy music from DJ's, and wear only part of their costumes.  Tuesday people participate in large parades in full costume.  These costumes can be over 20 feet tall and supported by a maximum of 3 wheels.  There are also Steel pan (drum) performances.

This is as much as I know from research without going there, if I got anything wrong I'm sorry!


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T&T (Trinidad and Tobago) is a unique set of islands at the southernmost point of the Caribbean.  The islands lay about 10 miles off the coast of Venezuela.  Although it is two islands they are one country.  English is the official language, although it is spoken with a dialect.  Most of the population lives on the larger Trinidad. It is thought that the books Robinson Crusoe and Treasure Island were based of T&T.

Getting Started

Hello!

My name is Maia and I am a freshman right now at Pacific Lutheran University.  I want to major in Communications.  I found out about the Trinidad and Tobago program when I came to visit Passport weekend April 2012.  Since then, I've fallen in love with it!  It's not just the location (although that is a plus) but the rich culture that permeates the island.  So many societies have built on top of each other over time and learned to coexist; where else could you go to learn about so many different people at once?

The Caribbean program is one of PLU's Gateway programs, meaning that you pay for your plane ticket and the rest of the fee is the room, board, and tuition you would pay the University if you were not studying abroad.  Compared to the other study abroads, this is a lot cheaper!  PLU also has gateway programs to London, Mexico, China, Namibia, and two different locations in Norway.  My roommate is hoping to do the London one this year; if I have the chance I would like to do it my Junior year! One trip at a time though...

The program runs from the beginning of January to mid May, meaning it covers J-term and Spring semester. For more information on the program, please check here!

I have been talking to the program director on and off since school has started and am working on my application to submit in the next few months.  Here's hoping everything works out!