We Speak Trini in Trinidad

Two glorious days in Trinidad and Tobago, although I remained on the island of Trinidad. I experienced pleasant and unpleasant odors on the streets. I received stares from people who identified me as a foreigner as I walked through the Port of Spain (the capital of Trinidad and Tobago). The Trinidadians say they speak Trini, which is technically English (you can understand it when they speak slowly), but I couldn’t understand anything at times. I would consider Trini to be its own langauge.

I would describe the island of Trinidad as carefree and kind. Walking through Port of Spain was a great start. We saw most of the government or architecturally-pleasing buildings, but my favorites were Woodford Square and Independent Square, where I enjoyed observing the Trinidadians enjoy the gorgeous day outside. Some strolled through, others sat, others napped, others played chess, etc. Some people wanted to know what I was doing in Trinidad or if I came on the big ship…others wanted to show me around, which I learned later was in exchange for a tip. Some people were more straightforward and asked me for money. I discussed about this in our reflection group, but no one seemed to experience that. I recall 8 people asking me for money to “help them out.” I started to get the impression that they had expected me to just give them money. Well, I’m on a budget too, but I did tip the two gentlemen that helped me around town (Jesus (that’s what I was told his name was) brought Devlin and I to a bar to try Carib (Trinidadian beer) and, the other, Barry who found the local soda that I wanted to try, Canning’s.)

SAS prepared us pretty well for the two days in port. They encouraged us to wear long pants to fit in, but it was just way too hot for me (high 80s, low 90s with enough humidity frizz a poodle.) I did try it but changed into shorts after lunch. We were encouraged to talk to the locals, which those conversations and interactions were certainly the highlight of my experience in Trinidad. Some approached us, and I approached others. They are extremely kind, optimistic, and warmhearted people, but a bit photo shy. One funny incident in a gift store was where I had a funny face competition with a little boy, probably around 4 years old. He touched my hand, probably recognizing someone with pale skin for the first time. Although, Trinidad has an extremely diverse population (Try to imagine the diversity of the US being compacted into Delaware, which is the size of Trinidad). The acculumation of various religions and different backgrounds are what make Trinidad unique, no one seems to be racist or arrogant. They treat each other with respect and take pride in the fact that their nation is not homogenous. Carnival is also a tradition that originated in Trinidad.

So those are my overall impressions of the Trinidad, and I would say that the excursions further enhanced my experience. Last night, at the Turtle Vigil, I observed the Leatherback Turtles lay their eggs and even got to see a few little baby turtles make their way out to the ocean, after getting to hold little Squirt and Turtle, Jr. The Leatherback Turtle is a miraculous gentle giant. The females we saw weighed between 800 and 1,200 pounds and were about 5 ft long and 4 feet wide. I even got to tag one of the unmarked turtles. Leatherback mothers lay their eggs at night to prevent predators from seeing where the eggs are buried, so it was virtually pitch-black as my group witnessed this magical event by a tiny light. We got to see, touch and photograph a total of around 8 turtles during our time at Mathura Beach. The community has made great strides in protecting these gorgeous creatures. The tour guide was also funny describing the road we took to get to the beach as a “pothole with a little asphalt.”

My second excursion was this morning to the Mount St. Benedict Monastery. We started with a driving tour of Port of Spain, stopping shortly at the Botanical Gardens. The tour guide was extremely informative and I really felt the serenity she described.  When we reached the monastery on after driving up a hill at a 45º angle, we had some fruit and banana breads along with freshly squeezed orange juice as we took in the views from the guest house balcony. At one of the highest points on the island the monastery proved to be a quiet place with a mystical sense from the lingering fog (which followed two twenty-minute showers.) The monastery is also famous on the island for its yogurt, which I would recommend the Passion Fruit flavor to anyone except those that are lactose intolerant. That tour concluded with a hug from the tour guide. She seemed to be the epitome of a proud Trinidadian.

After the tour, I tried a Roti, which is a local food made with lots of curry (originating from the Indian immigrants in Trinidad). I tried it with rice, chick peas and chicken in a curry wrap. It was okay but certainly worth trying. Their local soda “Canning” tasted kind of bizarre…and I’m still not sure how to describe “Sorrel”-flavored soda. I also tried the two beers from Trinidad, Stag and Carib. If you’re wondering, I couldn’t tell the difference, they both tasted fine to me. I’d say either brand is worth trying, but be careful because they have over 5% alcohol. As we sailed away from port, I concluded my experience in Trinidad with a reflection conversation in Spanish about my impressions and what I experienced in Trinidad. Overall, Trinidad is a nice country that has a lot to offer American tourists, sort of like an undiscovered treasure. So maybe someday I’ll find myself “liming” (Trini for “hanging out”) in Trinidad and Tobago again.

We’ll be in Panamá in the next few days. I'm excited to use my Spanish! :)
Bis dann,
Matt