A Life Lived

As I prepare to say goodbye to Japan after five enriching years, my thoughts gravitate towards the diverse education systems that have shaped the young minds I've encountered. One striking contrast emerges when comparing the experiences of my Japanese 6th graders embarking on their secondary school journey with the realities faced by their counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago (TT). In Japan, the transition to secondary school is marked by considerations of sports offerings, location, and a desire for a change of pace. Many of my kids chose schools because they offered baseball or they had a strong tennis team.  Conversations with Japanese students revealed a sense of relaxation and a lack of the overwhelming pressure associated with decisions that seem to shape their entire future. This stands in stark contrast to the scenario in TT, where students navigate a system heavily influenced by the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA). Our students are choosing schools as we truly believe, ...

    The Mighty Sparrow ponders on the purpose of education in 1960's T&T What really is the purpose of education? I don't think that this is something that I've considered. We know that education is important and we are aware that we must pursue it vigorously for a way out, a way up, a way to bridge the gap...etc. However, what really is the purpose? A great place to start when considering this question is with the bodies who control education.  In his address to the nation of Trinidad and Tobago on the eve of it’s gaining Independence from Great Britain on August 31st, 1962, first Prime Minister of the nation, Dr. Eric Eustace Williams, fired up the audience at the International Youth Rally by declaring to them that they “carry the future of Trinidad and Tobago in your school bags”. He underscored the importance of education for the very young nation.  Prior to this, the first Education Policy for Trinidad and Tobago was made by Governor Lord Harris in 1834. At...

One year ago, I was ugly crying in my apartment after saying good-bye to my kids at home. Now, one year after, I am ugly crying in the school's bathroom after saying good-bye to my students here in Japan as I will switch schools next term. Now, if this is a foreshadow of how all my Julys will be in the future, then I may need to reconsider my career choice.  This was the first school that I visited when I came. I was also at this school when I saw snow for the first time. I made mistakes here and made friends here with both the teachers and students. I learned a lot here. I never expected to feel the torrent of emotions that I felt. These children are amazing. They are so smart, funny and so cool! I love them. People always say that love knows no boundaries and I accepted it but I've now experienced it. We are so different and I don't even speak the language well but in a few short months, I was already ready to give my life to keep them safe and happy. Love ...

I've only been to J'ouvert twice in my life. Once in Maraval with my Aunty Deborah when I was about 15 and in Curepe last year with my nephew (mainly because I wanted to see his reaction). I've tried to describe J'ouvert to people who aren't from Trinidad and Tobago but I'm never satisfied with the words that I manage to force out. I try to explain the historical context and the modern day celebrations but, to me, it falls flat. (This same thing happens when trying to describe doubles. "Doubles is life" is by far the only definition of it that we acknowledge). Some things you just have to experience yourself. So, if you told me last year that the Okinoshima Ultramarathon would remind me of J'ouvert then I would say that that seems impossible. After all, how could a 5 to 8 hour run (INSANE) around an island be similar to a --- It starts with the anticipation. People prepare for these events as soon as the last one is finished. Musici...

We know that we need to exercise. We know that we should encourage our children to exercise daily. We'd love to do this but the days are so long, busy and fraught with admin requests, classroom projects and behavioral issues. It is hard. So, so, so hard.  So... do we just throw up our hands in defeat? Nah. Here are a few moves that I'd like to implement in my classroom to get my students moving more and instill lifelong positive attitudes about exercise and living a more active life. 1. Let's get creative De chirren tired of de ole, beat up ball and broken hula hoop.  Google images I've taught at schools that have unicycles for riding, gigantic tyres for crawling, tall monkey bars for climbing and an array of gear for basketball, tennis, football, table tennis and even frisbies. I've also taught at a school which only had a few broken hula hoops and a football.  I've found, though, that the more creative the schools got with their activities,...

Today, I taught my last lesson of my first term in Japan. These are 10 things that I want Term II Ariel to remember: 1. Prepare everything well. A good teacher prepares for every eventuality 2. Read what they will cover before the class. Do extra research even if you'll never be able to articulate it in Japanese. Duh. 3. Be yourself. You are more than enough. 4. Be innovative. Try something new each-time. You never have to be great at something to give it a try.  A good teacher takes risks 5. Make the kids a study. 6. Spend more time with them outside of class. Bit by bit. 7. Always stay gracious with your co teachers. 8. TALK with your JTEs. 9. Wait for the respect. 10. You deserve to be here. HAVE AN OPINION. It's what you're here for.

You have not lived until you are packed into a very small, dark room with good people, a karaoke machine, a mic or two, a chac chac, a tambourine, some alcohol and nothing but determination to sing the stress all away! I can tell you it took me 25 years and 2 months to truly start living when I went to my first karaoke lime in August. I have been craving karaoke since then. That's something I never thought I'd say. At home, going to karaoke never really appealed to me so I never went. What is it that makes karaoke so special? I'm trying to figure it out myself. Maybe it's the collective energy before you arrive. The build up. Everyone knows that, yes, life may have all its problems but in a couple hours, as those off key notes gush out of your mouth, so will all that stress. Maybe it's the start when everyone is not yet loose. Still uptight from the struggles of this life and as the songs and drinks keep flowing, the voices keep rising, new moves appear, anx...

I wish the delinquent boys in Trinidad were like the delinquents in Japan. Seriously. Maybe, then, we'd get somewhere as a people. I can't take 'delinquent' students in Japan seriously. They're simply not believable. How do you expect to be 'gangsta' and you have a pencil case? Coming from Trinidad, I've met a few 'little harden rugrats' who actually have no effs to give. Like, really really. They really do not care and you have to jump through hoops and put on a performance that partially lubricates some deep part of their charred souls in order for them to give you and your content any attention.  They come to school with their school pants shiny without a wrinkle in sight, waves on swim with a sharp haircut and a Jansport schoolbag matching their uniform. The schoolbag? EMPTY. If you're lucky, you'll find an 'everything' book in it. A book that he uses for everything. ...but there is one thing that 'wutless...

Food has always been an large part of my life. My mother is an excellent cook and spent almost all of her life preparing delicious meals for enjoyment and profit. She would have annual bbqs and almost every holiday culminated with a lavish meal at our home. She is the go-to woman for meals for every reason and every season. My childhood is filled with waking up on mornings to the sound of potspoons clanking against pots and the sweet aroma of whatever amazing dish my mother would be up to that day. That woman adds love as her secret ingredient to every pot. Some pictures that don't do my mother's range or her cooking justice at all. Just imagine this but 100 times better. I remember when she was driving down a street where some guys were liming on the block and this one guy said comically, “Aye, goodday... goodday...BURGER!” As you can see, her face is synonymous with food. Mummy and Tyrell (my nephew) “If is one thing I will never deprive anyone i...

Last year, I wrote 24 things I learned before 24 and I had high hopes of making this an annual tradition on my birthday. However, this did not materialize this year. Not because I did not start it and worked hard at it but because I don't think I Iearned 25 things last year. I mean, I'm sure I learned many things but one thing outshines them all . I learned one major thing that has changed my life in more than 25 ways. It hinges on some level with the 3rd gem on my 24 things I learned before 24 list : 3. Knowing what helps you on days when you can't see the light is crucial.   This life hack is amazing. Are you ready? This is about to change your life. Here it comes: NO EXPECTATIONS Get it? Reconditioning my mind to have expectations of myself but no expectations of anyone else has been the single most powerful change I've made in my 25th year and has lead to a more peaceful, wise and honestly, more grateful me. I can't remember when it happenend. M...

Why did you come to Oki? One month into my life on this mind-blowingly beautiful but remote island and this question is soon in succession after the initial greeting.  My simplified answer is: SAFETY. Oki is extremely safe and unfortunately, Trinidad is not.  In my interview for this programme, the same question was asked of Japan (Why do you want to go to Japan?) and my answer was the same. I've grown up hearing about how long ago in Trinidad, people would leave their doors open and if you dropped something, a stranger would not steal it but hunt you down to return it. We were always told of how neighbours lived together in harmony and there was no violence. This coupled with religious teachings that things are getting worse worldwide because we are near the time of the end caused me to believed that extreme violence was a constant all over the world and peace was a thing of the past. It was, in a sense, the natural progression of things.  I accepted that I woul...

I'm used to kids running to me and getting hugs from all different directions. I'm used to sweet smiles and clear understanding. This hasn't been the case in Japan. There is a lot of misunderstanding between us. They look at me curiously, I smile and then they run away. I understand why but it still stings a bit. I look different. In a nation that  places so much emphasis on sameness, my deviation is jarring. Further, the language barrier creates an even wider divide. This isn't just a job about teaching English. It's about opening little hearts and minds to see the beauty and even, safety, in differences. I ,like all foreigners here, carry not only the weight of my reputation but that of my entire race, country, region and foreigners as a whole. I carry it proudly as a gift to be entrusted with this responsibility. I'm here to create and change perceptions. It may not be done through a focused lesson but through words and actions outside the classroom as ...

Sharing a taste of your new book to an audience of readers and writers must be a daunting task but the finalists of the inaugural People's Choice TT Book of the Year Award made it look easy at Hart Arcade on the final day of Bocas 2018. They congratulated their fellow competitors and seamlessly segued into their readings. Some swayed to the rhythm of their own poetry while others stood confidently and allowed their bodies to be governed by the punctuation of their prose.    The finalists are Nichola Harvey with 21 Powerful P’s to Success, D.H. Gibbs and her book Don’t Go Mango Picking, Shivanee Ramlochan's Everyone Knows I Am a Haunting, Lyndon Baptiste with Men and Misfits, Kevin Jared Hosein and The Repenters and Michelle Borel's   Soulspection: A Collection of Poetry .   This initiative by Bocas Lit Fest,together with Newsday and NALIS, aims to promote local writing in various genres and put the power into the hands of the readers to choose the ...