Cinquain: Homesick February 24, 2008

Home called:
The swish of sea
On sand. The fish that fly
O’er land. The scorching sun; Barbados hums
My name

© Lisa Hurley, 2008

Cinquain: Happiness February 17, 2008

Sunshine
Green grass, and fine
White sand on Barbados
Shore: these things all make me happy
Inside

© Lisa Hurley, 2008

Why The Heck Did I Ever Leave? November 17, 2007

That’s what so many people ask me when they find out that I moved to the Tri-State area from Barbados. And now that I’m back, I’m asking myself the same question.

I mean, what’s not to love about year-round sunshine, balmy breezes and fresh-caught fish spiced with local seasonings? (Speaking of which, If you’re ever here, make sure to take in the Oistins Fish Fry. A bit touristy with all the jewelry stalls, but the zesty, tender, grilled-on-the-coalpot fish cannot be beat.)

Here’s a few lines I wrote a few years back that capture the essence of Barbados/the Caribbean and what I enjoy about it most:

Blazing sun
Pumping beat
Congo drum
Now you have no choice: you move your feet
Rhythmic dance
Sweet kadans*
Carnival prance
Now you know you’re in the Caribbean
A certain flair
Je ne sais quoi
It’s in the air
When you’re here you feel so wild and free
Tinkling sound
Ting, tang, tung
Steel pan drum
That’s what the Caribbean means to me

The beauty of
The scenery
Blue skies above
Every bird, every mahogany
Sweet sugar cane
Torrential rain
Even hurricanes
Integral part of the Caribbean scene
Molasses, rum,
From sugar come
Cockspur** fun
All this makes here more dear to me
No matter where
I go this year
I’m coming back
Back to my islands in the Caribbean

© Lisa Hurley, 2007

*Kadans (rhymes with advance) is a form of music indigenous to the Caribbean. Closely related to Calypso.

**Cockspur Rum is one of the local brands of the island’s favorite brew.

Back in Barbados–and Loving It! November 16, 2007

So here I am in Barbados for the first time in 7 years. Wow. First impression: it’s great to be driving on the correct side of the road again!!! . Feels like home.

As soon as I come out of customs yesterday, before I even greeted my family, I saw a couple of people that I used to work with, and, of course, had a quick catch up chat. They even remembered that it’s almost my birthday! That’s Barbadians for you. Tres cool.

I feel like a tourist! So much has changed. Now it’s all Mercedes, Beamers, million dollar mansions, Internet cafés…and I experienced my first real Bajan traffic jam.

Despite the changes, though, so much is familiar: Roundabouts, sleeping policemen (speed bumps to you Americanos), dub music blasting from ZR vans and houses painted in Disney shades of turquoise, pink, coral and mint green (my sister’s is a pretty shade of pale yellow).

And where else can you find names like “Cuthbert”? And phrases like “One, Two, Tree”? (This instead of “One, Two, Three” – surprising in a country with 98% literacy, but there you go.) What a blessing for my eyes, joy to my ears and balm for my soul. I feel truly happy.

Today passed in a humid glow of homestyle pleasures. Pre-sunrise playtime with my niece Taryn, early-morning dip in the sea, midafternoon siesta, then off to watch Taryn go through her paces at swimming lessons. Sounds simple, but it was so, so sweet.

I don’t know why I’ve been away this long…but now that I’ve experienced the joys of “Little England” again, I’ll be coming back a lot more frequently.

The Great Escape November 8, 2007

And in the same vein as yesterday’s…

Island for Lovers

Lately we been stressing
Lately we been feelin’ blue
Life’s been so depressing
How ’bout a little rendezvous?

(Why don’t you)
Run away with me
(Let’s have some)
Fun and fantasy
Let’s get away
Let’s escape it for a while
A holiday
Yeah, come and visit my
My island for lovers

Baby how’s it going
Baby now you’ve got your groove
Baby how’s it flowing
Hoping your mood has improved

(Now that you’ve)
Run away with me
(Let’s have some)
Fun and fantasy
Let’s get away
Let’s escape it for a while
A holiday
Yeah, come and visit my
My island for lovers

Can you feel the heat of the sun
Blazing down, sweet and warm?
Can you feel the beat of the drum
Beating down
With a sweet, sweet rhythm?

(Now that you’ve)
Run away with me
(Let’s have some)
Fun and fantasy
Let’s get away
Let’s escape it for a while
A holiday
Yeah, come and visit my
My island for lovers

© Lisa Hurley, 2007

Lighten up! November 8, 2007

So many of my friends and family have said to me that my blog looks dark and foreboding that I decided to change the look and lighten it up.

I’m also taking the whole “lightening up” theme further and applying it to my life. I’ve started working out again – finally! – and have already lost some weight (yay!). I’ve also decided that I need a sanity break, so I will be going to Barbados next Wednesday. I can hardly wait!!! I am totally thrilled. Can’t wait to see my Mum, Sis, big brother and my niece Taryn. And when I’m not with them, I’ll be at the beach. I can feel the weight of the world floating away already…

So on that note, here’s a little ditty I wrote a while ago that kind of sums up how much I LOVE Barbados, and its laid back vibe.

Summer in the Islands

I wanna know if you’d appreciate
Some time away; a short escape
A respite from the hectic pace of life
Maybe a place where skies are never gray
A paradise, a holiday
Away from all the stress and all the strife

(Swimmin’ in) Deep blue seas
(Feelin’ the) Sweet cool breeze
(Sippin’ on) Daiquiris
(Women in) Bikinis
(Swimmin’ in) Deep blue seas
(Feelin’ the) Sweet cool breeze
(Sippin’ on) Daiquiris
Yeah, baby, that’s summer in the islands and the Keys

No Mr. Jones you’re s’posed to keep up with
Each moment floats away as if
You’re in a dream of peace and paradise
Only a freedom that intoxicates
A rhythm that invigorates
Your mind, your heart, your soul, your hips, your vibe

(Swimmin’ in) Deep blue seas
(Feelin’ the) Sweet cool breeze
(Sippin’ on) Daiquiris
(Women in) Bikinis
(Swimmin’ in) Deep blue seas
(Feelin’ the) Sweet cool breeze
(Sippin’ on) Daiquiris
Yeah, baby, that’s summer in the islands and the Keys

Come to Barbados
Come to Bahamas
Come down Ocho Rios
That’s where you’ll find us
Come to Barbados
Come to Bahamas
Come down Ocho Rios
That’s where you’ll find us

(Swimmin’ in) Deep blue seas
(Feelin’ the) Sweet cool breeze
(Sippin’ on) Daiquiris
(Women in) Bikinis
(Swimmin’ in) Deep blue seas
(Feelin’ the) Sweet cool breeze
(Sippin’ on) Daiquiris
Yeah, baby, that’s summer in the islands and the Keys

© Lisa Hurley, 2007