By Kerwin De Matas
I read an article from a local newspaper from Trinidad day before yesterday on Internet, and I found something that really made my skin crawl. The article was about this Trinidadian guy who is now a resident of the United States, and of course lives there now. This gentleman was on a well known game show produced by NBC. There came a point in the show where this guy had to make a very tough decision: Either the 1,000,000 in prize money, or other small prizes, including the choice to build a basket ball court where ever he chose. He chose the latter, he wanted a basketball court built in Trinidad in the town he originally came from. Now I am just describing everything in brief, but to have seen or read the entire story, was really moving. This brings to mind my situation as immigrant in another country. I left my island almost ten years now, and as the years go by, I miss it even more. It's incredible that when someone leaves their country for a better life in another country, this person can either accept everything that is of their new country leaving and forgetting where they came from, or to accept their new country with respect but never forgetting where they came from. Speaking for my self now, I would say that I accept my new country with utmost respect, but I'm always proud when opportunities come by to distinguish myself as a Trinidadian. In my island, the language spoken there is English, therefore, that was all I knew until I learned Spanish. So imagine how it was for me in the beginning, when I had to converse with people from the U.S.A or from the U.K, I felt weird when sometimes they couldn't understand me or the reverse. Then I realized that I and everyone from my island had an accent that distinguished us immediately as nationals from Trinidad and Tobago, that's when I really felt different.
Where I live now is very special for me, because the people has accepted me as one of their own, but when I am alone, it´s difficult to not remember my Trinidad where once, my friends and I would go to the rivers to just get away, or to the coconut fields in search of the sweetest " water nuts ". Don´t even talk about the iguana hunts which was always a thrill. What I would give to be invited again to a Hindu wedding, or to see another Hosein ( a most celebrated Muslim festival ), the President´s Best Village award competition was really a favorite of mine. I remember when the weekends came around, my friends and I would go and gather a team for a game of wind ball cricket. Vacationing in Tobago was always the best! Walking to the beach, not driving, was always fun. I remember when food was prepared, and towels packed in the bags, meant a day at the beach was being planned! We would take our homemade cricket bats or football for a great game on the beach....My God why is it, only when someone leaves their country, the memories are stronger than ever? In Trinidad and Tobago, crime and poverty is just as present as any other country, but it´s no reason to forget that very good things happen there also that would make any Trinidadian home sick when away. Of course this is the case with almost every immigrant in their new country, decisions aren´t always easy to come by. So there you have it, when ever I have the opportunity to make my country proud, I´m going to take it, and I am going to make sure that everyone know where I am from. So, am I still a patriot? TUH DE BONE MAN, TUH DE BONE!!
