As I wrap up my time in St. Augustine and my first home in Trinidad in SAL Hall and head to Tobago and Port of Spain, I thought I would do a bit of reflecting on the first half of my experience. My take aways from Trinidad thus far are:
1. The power of people. When I made the decision to study anthropology over any other discipline, I did it out of the intention to take a wider look at humanity and our place in the political, social, ecological and technological institutions that we are interlaced with. But each person holds a galaxy of experiences, thoughts and a narrative capable of moving others. Multiply that by 9 million and that is that database I have to work with.
2. The language of generosity. Making friends from over a dozen countries in three weeks, and close ones that I trust, confide in and care about has shown me that some things, generosity and curiosity in particular, might be universal characteristics of our species.
3. The ability of identity to change according to setting. One Wednesday in Tunapuna, I can convince people I am Colombian. One Thursday in a salon in Curepe, I am the epitome of whiteness. One Friday at a fete in Port of Spain I am ambiguous and exotic. I have the privilege of connecting with many people with similar experiences in Trinidad and firmly believe the multicultural dynamics here, both the racial stereotypes and the ability to transcend ones ethnic identity are challenges that many more people in more countries will be facing in the near future.
4. The almost universality of colonialism. The way it has constructed beauty ideals, language distribution and hierarchies of identities are everlasting, whether you are in the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean or the United States. Whether I am at the International Convention on Breadfruit, a Reggae themed coffee shop or watching a Carnival costume fashion show, colonialism is a force I have come to recognize in the many ways it embeds itself in daily life.
Four statements hardly does much justice to everything I have gathered so far from being in Trinidad, but my mountain of field notes is too intimating and all of this brain work has left me mentally exhausted. Until next time.
