Riting Rambler

A slice of Barbados (Part 1)

2009-07-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

DIVIDED into eleven parishes with a national dish of cou-cou and flying fish, Barbados stands east of the Caribbean Sea at the southern end just outside of the Caribbean chain with St Lucia and St Vincent being its closest neighbors. Some parts of the isle can be described as more developed than other areas. In less developed quarters lots of fruit trees and wildlife can be found, while in more developed areas mostly houses and business places stand. With a wonderful tropical weather condition, visitors and nationals alike can enjoy the social events all year round. It is a great island for vacation. Spending time in Barbados can be an experience of some of the most pleasurable days, humorous times, relaxing moments and adventurous days.

Barbados affectionately known as “Bim” gained independence just over 40 years ago. Since then the small island has proven to be strong, withstanding financial crisis, the fight against illiteracy, gaining overall development, hence, having the chance of being ranked in the top 35 or so countries in the world, according to the Human Development Index. Barbados has evolved into a land known to produce great doctors, sportsmen and women, artists and other professionals in other aspects of life.

Despite the compact 166 square mile of land mass, its enormous production in all aspects has proven the loyalty, integrity and constant commitment of its people. While there is a great supply of human talent, quantitative production and high standard of living, like many other countries Barbados has its challenges. With Barbados being vastly geographically different from the rest of the world, it is still found to be a place for adventure, with wonderful picturesque view.

Beaches and hotels

Barbados being one of the few islands in the Lesser Antilles is known for its long stretches of white sandy beaches, without a doubt, some of the best and most varied beaches in the eastern Caribbean. All the beaches are open to the public and cannot be privately owned. If you are a lover of huge waves and fierce currents you may want to visit the north and east coast. You may choose to spend leisure days or days filled with action; take a long stroll along the shore, join in a loved game of beach cricket, go scuba diving, try surfing or go snorkeling. There are so many beaches you may never happen to visit the same one twice during your vacation, unless of course, you want to! Don’t forget to take along your towels and sunscreen.

During the twentieth century, Barbados was seen as the place to be for the pleasure and great relaxation for some celebrities. The visit of such people led to the building of some magnificent houses and exquisite hotels within the compact land mass. There can be found a disproportionately wide selection of highly attractive properties. Lining the south and west coast are a number of these well established hotels, cottages, guest houses and villas, a wide range that cater to all cross section of society, both locals and visitors. These brick risings can be described as luxurious, contemporary and stylish.

2009-06-28T21:37:00.000-07:00

Throughout the Caribbean, one can see various settings of a market place but there are always some things that are the same. While it is a place to do shopping for various food items it is also a place that you can visit just to see the daily activities of some important people of our society; the farmers and vendors.

Overflowing from the market place unto the sidewalks are anxious vendors; some with funny looking faces, waiting to get their products sold. Vendors who have been in the market place from the break of day, some frustrated, others smelly and still others confident of making at least one sale for the day, sit by their colourful stalls patiently waiting for their food to be sold, while others move about with items in their hands and on their heads, looking for customers.

Some desperate vendors lower the prices of some ground provisions in order to welcome a sale or two, as some idle vendors chat with each other.

People of various colour, background and occupation move about the busy shopping area. As tourists and locals walk about, vendors beckon to them to buy. Busy housewives scamper through the already busy market place trying to find affordable food for their family.

Making their merry way through the passage, young boys push hand-carts of goods for shoppers, transferring them to bus parks and others to their vehicles, parked outside the market place. Occasionally these lads are given change for their load of the work. At other times some of these children who seek to make a living from what they do, are cheated.

Animals can be seen scanning different parts of the food area, while bugs and other insects seek to annoy shoppers and vendors. The scent of fresh fruit and vegetables with a mixture of raw meat and running water fills the evening air. Careful shoppers move about protectively, while idlers slip about in the wild market crowd, seeking to take a leap at an opportunity to steal a few schillings from these shoppers. Spoiled fruits and other food kind, carelessly lay on the ground, adding to the pollution in the market place. Running pipes seem to add to the blocking of drains and large puddles. Men of unsound mind, some of whom are mistaken by strangers to be shoppers, walk by the market, looking for unwanted ready to eat vegetables and fruits. Others walk about begging and swearing.

Above the market place, black birds fly about noisily as they seek to find food. Rays of sun light shines through some openings in the roof. Few scattered clouds dance slowly across the evening sky, while the wind whistles softly.

The yellow and vivid coloured world of vegetables, fruits and other food items gleam in much splendor in the smelly, noisy market place so crisp and gorgeous.

The Caribbean market place is an avenue where you can find both your locally and internationally produced fruits and vegetable. Some vendors even take the time to sell meat kinds and even bread. A place you must visit when you take that well needed vacation to the Caribbean.

Please join the line!

2009-06-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

IT IS QUITE SOMETHING else if you are fresh out of a learning institution and do not have that “link” that will land you straight into a job. Like me, you better join the line of job seekers!

It is that time of year again when hundreds and thousands of young people are out of school and are seeking jobs all around the world. High school leavers who may be going to college in September but need something to do during the summer, there are those college graduates who now hold a degree and not to mention the thousands of university graduates who just finished their Bachelors, Masters and more. These young, vibrant and imaginative minds are now ready to take on the world of work. Wait a minute!!! The line is going at snails’ speed and you better be qualified, have good references, have an impressive résumé and it would help that while you are waiting, you do lots of networking and try to know people in “high” places. I am still working on that and I am sure millions of other people are doing the same.

Each week it seems as if the line is getting longer and longer and the demand for human power is shrinking. A little recession here and a little lost in profit there. No wonder the employers don’t want to and can't really hire anyone. Work hours for some staff have been cut. Many people have been severed from their jobs while some have been laid off and have to rejoin the already long line. Some have to settle for a demotion and still others have to accept a cut in their wages.

As if that is not enough, what about starting a business of your own? That can be a tricky one at this time as certain institutions are not in the position to lend money for such ventures in this time of economic downturn. Everyone is making a little cut back here and a little cut back there in one form or another. I recently had the opportunity to speak with an individual who was turned down when she went to get a loan to start a business.

While in line...

So what do you do then? Some people I have been speaking with over the past month or so, who are working of course, keep telling me to hold on and continue to apply and do follow ups. Others say to continue praying and hoping for the best. My very good friend in Canada tells me to hold on and look to the universe. Being the person that I am, I do all of this and continue to. To all job seekers out there, I would advise that you do like me for now; Join the line, stay focused, don't get discouraged... and wait your turn!

Where do I start?

2009-06-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, as we prepare for this hurricane season and get deeper into another summer I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to a whole new world. YES! my world! A place where you can read for entertainment and ideas. Your comments are alos welcomed. As we get started I would just like to share a little story with you.

Let's go shopping

'No, i have one of those already'. 'Um, I wonder if this will go good with my black jeans'. 'I bought something similar to this last month'. 'I wonder if this will work.' These are some of the many thoughts that run through my little head when I go to buy anything, no matter how small. I sometimes wonder if the same thing goes on inside the head of millions of other people or if it's just me.
Time and time again, we go shopping for various items, well I do of course, and I find myself talking but to no one in particular, trying to find out if I am making the right choices. It was just last week I went to an electronic store trying to find a nice headphone for my laptop. Not hard! you might say but I have no idea about the electronic world. One thing is for sure, I buy them, use them, clean them and use them again and dispose of them if needs be. That is as much as I know about electronics. So I walked in the store and after a few minutes of waiting patiently a young woman came to my assistance.
"I want to buy a headphone to use with my laptop," I told her. Without asking any question or suggesting anything, she walked over to where she had two variety of the product and came back to me with one. When I took it from her I remembered that I had gone in the store before and had asked the price and it was that same young woman who assisted me.
"Do you think this is the better one to get?" I reluctantly asked since I knew it was cheap and usually you know what they say about cheap things.
"It should be ok," was her response. Hearing that from a sales person I was a little sceptical as you also might know what they say about sales representatives. Anyway, I did buy it and when I got home and plugged it in my laptop later that night to have my usual chat with a friend in another country, I found that it was very clear. The audio was 'kicking' but I had a big problem. Maybe not as big a problem but it was not fitting my head the way I wanted it to fit. After using it a few times however, we grew accustomed to each other.
I wout suggest that when you go shopping for anything. Yes, anything. Please acquire a little knowledge about the intended item or items. It does help to know what exactly you need. I would also suggest that you walk with a friend who have a wealth of knowledge or prior experience about a product you wish to get.

Most importantly, don't do like me. Do not buy it because it is the cheapest!! That can turn out to be rather bad. In my case, it was not bad after all, I am using it regularly and have stopped complaining about how it fits.