Friday, August 31, 2012

ANGUILLA CULTURE

ANGUILLA IS DEPENDANT ON BRITAIN. COLUMBUS NAMED THIS ISLAND IN 1493 BECAUSE OF AN ELL. IN ITALIAN IT MEANS AN ANGUILLA. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FRENCH MAGISTRATE GAVE IT THIS NAME. IT COVERS 35 SQUARE MILES AND 16 MILES LONG. THIS ISLAND IS A CORAL AND LIMESTONE STONE WITH A DRY CLIMATE. THERE IS LITTLE FERTILE SOIL. THEY HAVE SOME SALT PONDS THAT ARE USED FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION. THEY GENERALLY HAVE AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 90 DEGREES. AND THEY HAVE HURRICANES.

THE ISLAND WAS ORIGINALLY INHABITED BY CARIBS FROM SOUTH AMERICA. THEN IN 1600'S THE ENGLISH SETTLED HERE . TODAY MOST FOLKS ARE FROM AFRICA. THE 9000 FOLKS HERE SPEAK ENGLISH. SEVERAL 1000 YEARS AGO IT WAS SETTLED BY CARIBS. THE ARAWAKS WERE HERE. BY THE 1650 THE ARAWAKS HAD DISAPPEARED..BY DISEASE, PIRATES, AND EUROPEANS. HOWEVER IN 1656 THE ENGLISH SETTLERS WERE MASSACRED BY CARIBS WHO WERE SKILLED WARRIORS. THE AREA IS TOO DRY TO HAVE PROFITABLE FARMS.

DURING 1600'S MOST OF THE ANGUILLAS SURVIVED BY FARMING, FISHING AND CUTTING WOOD. EUROPEAN SERVANTS PROVIDED LABOR. BY 1700'S THE SLAVE PLANTATION SYSTEM WAS DOMINANT ECONOMIC SYSTEM IN EASTERN CARIBBEAN. IT WAS TIED TO SUGAR CANE. SUGAR BECAME A VALUABLE CASH CROP. IT WAS LABOR INTENSIVE AND REQUIRED A BIG WORKFORCE WORKFORCE. PLANTATION OWNERS KNEW IT WAS MORE PROFITABLE TO HIRE AFRICAN SLAVES. THE SLAVE SYSTEM GREW IN THE 1700'S.

BY 1833 ENGLAND FINALLY ABOLISHED THE SLAVE TRADE IN THE CARIBBEAN. BY 1838 MANY LANDOWNERS SOLD RETURNED TO EUROPE AND SOLD LAND TO SLAVES. DURING EARLY EARLY 1900'S THEY GREW VARIOUS CROPS WITHOUT SLAVES. TODAY AFTER MUCH WARFARE IT REMAINS UNDER BRITISH CONTROL. TODAY THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC OF THEIR FUTURE. THEY IDENTIFY WITH BRITAIN AND WEST INDIES. THEY HELP EACH OTHER OUT THROUGH HURRICANES, DROUGHT, AND OTHER PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE FEW DIFFERENCES IN WEALTH AND THEY HAVE FEW DIFFERENCES IN WEALTH AND THEY HAVE A SENSE OF UNITY.

THEIR HOUSES ARE GENERALLY GOOD AS WELL AS URBAN PLANNING. THEIR CONCRETE HOUSES NECESSARY BECAUSE OF HURRICANES. THESE ARE SHIPPED IN . THEY PROVIDE TO THE TOURISTS IN SOME HOTELS. THEY HAVE ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF SEAFOOD, FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. LIFE REFLECTS THEIR CULTURAL HISTORY. THEY EXPORT LOBSTER. THE CARRI BEANS ARE INCREASINGLY BECOMING POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATIONS. THEY CATCH OTHER FISH AND HAVE A MUTTON STEW. THEY PRODUCE SALTED FISH, CURRIED GOAT, AND JERK CHICKEN.
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THEY HAVE NO INCOME TAX. THEY ARE TRYING TO EXPAND ON A SMALL FINANCIAL SERVICES. WITH RISE OF TOURISM PROPERTY VALUES HAVE INCREASED USE. THEY HAVE STRICT CONTROL OF LAND INACCESSIBLE TO HAVE RESULTED IN LOW REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT. THEY HAVE CLEAN BEACHES. BY 1830'S LAND WAS DIVIDED INTO SMALL PLOTS FOR ISLAND RESIDENTS. THEY HAVE NO LARGE RESORTS HERE . COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES ARE RELATED TO TOURIST INDUSTRY WITH SEA BOATS AND DIVING. FISH ARE THE MAJOR EXPORTS TO THE U.S. AS WELL AS SALT. THEY HAVE AGRICULTURAL FARMS FOR CORN PEAS, ANS SOUTHWEST POTATOES. THEIR MEATS ARE SHEEP, GOATS, PIGS AND CHICKEN.

GREAT BRITAIN IS ANGUILLA'S TRADING PARTNER. SEAFOOD IS IMPORTANT SOURCE OF INCOME FOR EXPORT. IN GENERAL THEY HAVE A LOW STANDARD OF LIVING AND EMPLOYMENT AND UNSTEADY. MANY YOUNG ANGUILLA NS GO ABROAD FOR WORK. SINCE ANGUILLA IS INDEPENDENT FROM ST. KITTS AND UNEMPLOYMENT HAS DROPPED. THEIR IS A SHORTAGE OF LABOR. MANY ANGUILLA NS HOLD MORE THAN ONE JOB. ONE OF THEIR BANKS HAS CONTRIBUTED FUNDS TO PROVIDE WORK AND INCREASE THE ECONOMY.

SOME OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF TOURISM BOOM MAY BE FOLKS WHO ARE INSENSITIVE TO THEIR CUSTOMS, POLLUTION, RISING PRICES, A STRAIN ON RESOURCES AND INFLUENCE OF OTHER CULTURES ON THEIR WAY OF LIFE. THEY HAVE SOCIAL CONCERNS OF MAINTAINING THEIR CULTURAL TRADITIONS WITHOUT GIVING UP HEALTH BENEFITS OF TRADE AND BUSINESS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES. THEY KEEP ILLEGAL ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE OUT OF ANGUILLA. IT IS UNDER BRITISH RULE. THEY GIVE WELFARE PROGRAMS AND IN GENERAL AN ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE IN TIMES OF NATIONAL DISASTER.

TODAY MANY WOMEN WORK OUTSIDE HOME. WOMEN OWN SHOPS OR WORK IN THE AGRICULTURAL WORK. MANY MAY STOP WORKING WHEN THEY HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN AND RETURN ONCE THEIR CHILDREN ARE MORE DEPENDANT. MANY FARMS ARE OWNED BY FAMILIES. MEN STILL COMPRISE THE MAJORITY OF WAR FORCES. WOMEN MAY BECOME INVOLVED IN FISHING' BOAT CONSTRUCTION, SAILING, AND DIVING. THE HOME IS CONSIDERED TO BE A WOMAN'S RESPONSIBILITY.
THE HOME IS CONSIDERED TO BE A WOMEN'S RESPONSIBILITY. AND WOMEN ARE DEPENDANT ON MALE FAMILY MEMBERS OR HUSBANDS FOR ECONOMIC SUPPORT.

THEY HAVE METHODIST OR ANGELICAN CHURCHES. HISTORICALLY MARRIAGE WAS NOT CONSIDERED OBLIGATORY FOR A FAMILY. SLAVERY MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR LONG LASTING UNIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO LIVED TOGETHER, IN COMMON LAW MARRIAGES. IT WAS NOT INFREQUENT FOR WOMEN AND MEN TO HAVE A CILD WITH MORE THAN ONE PARTNER. TODAY MARRIAGE IS CONSIDERED A CORNERSTONE OF FAMILY AND SOCIAL LIFE WITH WEDDINGS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. MANY GRANDPARENTS LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE. THE HOUSEHOLD IS GENERALLY STABLE UNTIL CHILDREN REACH ADULTHOOD.

INFANTS ARE CARED FOR AT HOME BY THEIR MOTHERS OR OTHER FEMALE RELATIVES. THEY HAVE MANY FUNDS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST MORE. THEY HAVE FREE PUBLIC PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TRAINING. THEY MUST LEAVE THIS ISLAND FOR WEST INDIES.

THE ANGUILLAN'S HAVE VERY PROPER ETIQUETTE. NO ONE CAN WEAR SWIM WEAR OUTSIDE OF BEACHES. THEY ENFORCE ANTI-DRUG POLICY. THEY GO TO ANGELICAN AND METHODIST CHURCH. OBEAH IS SIMILAR TO VOODOO AND BASED UPON AFRICAN SLAVES IN ANGUILLA. HEALTH STANDARDS ARE GOOD. FOR LONG TERM MEDICAL TREATMENT THEY HAVE VARIOUS THEATRE PERFORMANCES AS WELL.

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RAISING MY SON

I HAD TO QUIT MY JOB WITH THE FOREST SERVICE AND LEARN HOW TO BECOME A MOM IN SANTA ROSA AND UKIAH. IT WAS TRICKY WITHOUT A FAMILY NEARBY. SO I BECAME ASSOCIATED WITH A MOM'S GROUP WHO HAD THE SAME ISSUES. NO FAMILY WAS NEARBY AND OUR HUSBANDS WERE WORKING OR SOME WERE DIVORCED. WE VISITED EACH OTHER'S HOUSES FOR PLAY DATES. I HAD ATTENED A LAMAZE CLASS BEFORE MY BABY WAS BORN SO I KNEW , THESE GROUPS WERE IMPORTANT TO MY SOCIAL NEEDS AS WELL AS MY SON, KEVIN. HE ENJOYED FROLICKING WITH OTHER BABIES. I ALSO ATTENDED A CLASS ABOUT YOUNG CHILD DEVELOPMENT AT THE JUNIOR COLLEGE WITH MY SON. MANY OF THE YOUNG LADIES HELD HIM. ANOTHER CLASS WE TOOK WAS IN BABY NASSAGE. SO HE COULD BENEFIT FROM THAT CLOSENESS AND HEALING. I ALSO WENT TO A GROUP CLASS WHERE E LEARNED ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD BEHAVIOR AND HOW TO BEST BE A MOM. AS THE MONTH'S PASSED I LEARNED THAT RAISING A BABY AND TENDING TO MYSELF WAS TRYING. MY SON WOKE UP DURING THE NIGHT MANY TIMES UNTIL HE WAS THREE TO FEED. I TRIED GOING BACK TO WORK AFTER ABOUT 8 MONTHS BUT IT DID NOT WORK. I WAS EXHAUSTED AND I KNEW MY SON WAS A CHALLENGE AS HE CRIED A LOT. I THOUGHT HE WAS TEETHING SO I GAVE HIM BABY ASPIRIN.

AFTER A YEAR WENT BY HE WAS A LIGHT SLEEPER AND WAS A FUSSY EATER. WE PLAYED A GAME TO INTRODUCE NEW FOODS. IT WAS TRYING ONCE WE MOVED BACK TO HEALDSBURG FROM UKIAH. I WANTED TO GET INTO A MOM'S CLUB AGAIN AND I DID AT A CHURCH. I BEGAN TO LOOK FOR A PART TIME JOB USING MY ART BACGROUND. IT HELPED ME FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF. I BEGAN MAKING SMALL FOUNTAINS AS I HAD AN AHA MOMENT AFTER VIEWING A CLASS IN FOUNTAIN MAKING! I COMBINED MY ARTISTIC SKILLS WITH SOME OTHER PART TIME WORK. ONCE MY SON ENTERED GRADE SCHOOL I BEGAN EXPLORING OTHER JOB OPTIONS. I DID SOME CATERING AND I CALLED SOME HEALTH FOOD COMPANIES TO SEE IF THEY HAD PART TIME JOBS. I INTERVIEWED AT AMY'S AND BEGAN TO WORK AS A FOOD DEMONSTRATOR. THEN I EVENTUALLY HAD A MAJICAL MOMENT AND HEARD THAT ALVARADO STREET BREADS NEEDED A FOOD DMONSTRATOR AND CONSULTANT. IT WORKED FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AS I COULD CHOOSE MY HOURS AND THE STORES AT WHICH I DEMONSTRATED.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

INDIAN CHANTING AT CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE

LAST NIGHT I ATTENDED AN UNUSUAL EASTERN INDIAN CHANTING SESSION FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. IT WAS DIRECTED BY A YOUNG MAN THAT HAD A BEARD AND HE SEEMED TO PART EASTERN INDIAN. THE SINGING WAS IN MOSTLY EASTERN INDIAN CHANTING AND ENGLISH. THERE WERE PROBABLY ABOUT 400 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE MOST EVERYONE WAS INVITED TO SING. THEY HAD PEOPLE REPEAT THE INDIAN WORDS WHICH WERE DIFFICULT.. THE BAND HAD A GUITAR, VIOLIN, FLUTE, AND AN INDIAN STRINGED INSTRUMENT.RUSSELL RASMUSUN WAS THE PRIMARY BAND LEADER AND THEY HAD SEVERAL CD'S FOR SALE.
WE HAD FUN SINGING AND A NUMBER OF FOLKS DANCED TO THE MUSIC.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

HOW ARCHAEOLOGICAL CREWS LIVE

MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO VARIOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AND SURVEYS. I HAVE LIVED IN ABOUT 15 STATES. IT HAS BEEN TRYING USUALLY MY CREW EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN FUN AS WE FORMED NEW COMMUNITIES IN NEW STATES AS WE WORKED IN PART TIME POSITIONS. IN NEW YORK I LIVED WITH WITH SEVERAL CREWS AS WE EXCAVATED A NUMBER OF HISTORIC SITES NEAR URBAN AREAS AND SOME IN THE COUNTRY. THE WOMEN LIVED IN ONE LARGE ROOM ON SLEEPING BAGS ON THE FLOOR. WE COOKED SEPARATELY IN THE KITCHEN.USUALLY WE DID NOT MAKE MEALS FOR EVERYONE. ON ANOTHER CREW OUR COMMUNAL LIVING SITUATION WAS AT AN OLD HOUSE WHERE WE HAD COMMUNAL DINNERS AND BROUGHT OUR LUNCHES TO HISTORIC SITE. LUCKILY THE SUPERVISORS MADE SURE WE HAD GOOD BEHAVIOR.

MY EARLY SURVEYS WERE UNPAID IN OHIO AS WE FORMED AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL CLUB TO LEARN HOW TO SURVEY WITHOUT GETTING LOST IN THE TALL CORN FIELDS. WE ALSO WORKED IN THE KLAMATH FOREST AND DID NOT SHARE LIVING QUARTERS WITH OTHER CREWS BUT WE DID HAVE SOME NICE COTTAGES ALONG RIVERS AND IN REMOTE ALONG RIVERS AND IN A REMOTE CABIN. OTHERS GATHERED AT OUR COTTAGE FOR A PARTY. IN SOUTH DAKOTA WHERE I SUPERVISED SEVERAL CREWS WE HAD SLEEPING SITUATIONS ON THE FLOOR OR ON COTS IN THE BASEMENT. I CAN BARELY REMEMBER IT. WHEN I SUPERVISED A SURVEY CREW IN THE BLACK HILLS WE STAYED IN A ROOM OF OUR OWN AT AN OLD HOTEL. I BROUGHT A COOLER IN MY ROOM AND I ATE MY FOOD HERE. RARELY DID WE EAT AT THE HOTEL RESTAURANT.

IN SOUTH DAKOTA MY HUSBAND AND I STARTED AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL BUSINESS AS THERE WAS MUCH OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION . WE LIVED IN OUR MOTORHOME AT TIMES AND RENTED SMALL HOUSES DURING THE WINTER.

IN ARIZONA I HAD A VARIETY OF LIVING SITUATIONS AS I WENT TO GRADUATE SCHOOL WITH MY HUSBAND. AFTER GRADUATING I WORKED FULL TIME WITH THE BLM WE USUALLY GOT PER DIEM TO STAY IN A MOTEL AND EAT OUT OR BRING OUR FOOD FOR LUNCH WITH US. OUR CREWS WERE SMALL HERE. WHEN I WAS A SUPERVISOR IN MENDOCINO FOREST WE HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT LIVING SITUATIONS ONE WAS A SMALL ROOM IN BARRACKS WHERE EVERYONE COOKED THEIR BREAKFAST OR DINNER.MOST OF MY TIME HERE WAS IN A SMALL TRAILER AT ABOUT 5000 FEET. BEARS CAME TO OUR CAMP. SEVERAL PEOPLE SLEPT TOGETHER IN TRAILERS. WE HAD TO KEEP OUR TRASH CANS SEALED. I THINK THEY TRIED TO KEEP THE BEARS OUT FROM CAMP. THEIR WERE OTHER CREWS HERE AND SOMETIMES WE MADE CAMPFIRES WHEN IT WAS COOL. SOMETIMES WE WERE EXHAUSTED FROM OUR HIKING ALL DAY. IT WAS A WAY TO PERSONALLY DEVELOP OURSELVES AS THEIR WERE MANY CHALLENGES EACH DAY.. EITHER WITH WEATHER, THE TREUCK, ANIMALS, OUR PHYSICAL ENDURANCE OR LOCATING WHERE WE WERE.

IN NEW MEXICO I CAMPED IN A SMALL TENT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS ENDURING SUMMER THUNDERSTORMS AND HAVING FEW SHOWERS. IT WAS A WEIRD LIVING SITUATION. I MET A TEACHER FROM THE NAVAJO REGION WHO INVITED ME TO HER HOUSE FOR A WEEKEND. WE HIKED TO CHINLE AT WHITE HOUSE RUINS AND THAT WAS KIND OF FUN.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS ISLANDS

THESE ISLANDS WERE DISCOVERED BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ON HIS SECOND VOYAGE TO THE NEW WORLD IN 1943. ORIGINALLY THE LARGEST ISLAND WAS ST. CHRISTOPHER , THEM BRITISH SETTLERS SHORTENED WERE HERE IN THE 17TH CENTURY. THE NAME WAS SHORTENED TO ST. KITTS . COLUMBUS NAMED THE SMALLER ISLAND "OUR LADY OF THE CLOUDS" AS IT HAD CLOUDS IN THE CENTER. WHEN THE BRITISH CAME THEY CHANGED IT TO NEVIS.

THEY ARE 200 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PUERTO RICO, AND HAVE DORMANT VOLCANOES. THE POPULATION HAS BEEN ESTIMATED IN 1999 TO BE 35,000 FOLKS ON ST. KITTS AND 9,000 ON NEVIS. MANY OF THESE FOLKS LIVE ABROAD THAN INHABIT ISLAND. MOST OF THE AFRO CARIBBEANS WHO ARE MOSTLY DESCENDANTS OF OF SLAVES WERE IMPORTED TO WORK ON SUGAR PLANTATIONS. OTHERS ARE BRITISH SETTLERS.

THEY MAINLY SPEAK ENGLISH WITH SEVERAL WEST AFRICAN LANGUAGES. ALL SCHOOLS SPEAK ENGLISH. THE NEVISEAN SPEAK ENGLISH. THE NEVIS IS AN OLD LANGUAGE USED AT SOCIAL GATHERINGS. BOTH ISLANDS HAVE TRADITIONAL DANCES, MUSIC, GARB, TALES, AND ARE COMMITTED TO SYMBOLS
THAT ANCHOR CULTURAL IDENTITY. THE ROOTS OF FESTIVALS GO BACK TO THE 17TH CENTURY WHEN THEY WERE ASSOCIATED WITH CHRISTMAS AND MAY DAY.

SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED IN 1834 AND MANY AFRO-CARIBBEANS WERE SLAVES WHO WORKED ON SUGAR PLANTATIONS. BOTH ISLANDS HAVE TRADITIONAL DANCES, MUSIC, AND A VARIETY OF THEIR FESTIVALS HAVE CELEBRATED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.

AFRO-CARIBS VILLAGES WERE WELL ESTABLISHED BY 1834 AND MAINTAINED THEIR TRADITIONAL CULTURE WITH A WEB OF SOCIAL RELATIONS. MANY ENGAGE IN AGRICULTURE AND LIVE SIMPLY. RELIGION AND THE ANGELICAN FAITH PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN EDUCATION SO THEY HAVE RESPECT OF THEIR RELIGION AND ELDERS.

BY THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT PROVIDED FREE EDUCATION BUT MOST FOLKS REMAINED IN RELATIVE POVERTY WITH LITTLE WEALTH. VERY FEW HAD ELITE STATUS. WITH HOUSE AND FURNISHED AND OTHER GOODS.

BY THE 1950'S THEY ELIMINATED SUGAR AND COTTON PRODUCTS AND MANY FOLKS MOVED TO THE GREAT BRITAIN AND OTHER COUNTRIES. THUS SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TOOK PLACE IN THE 1960'S WHEN GREAT BRITAIN ESTABLISHED THE ASSOCIATION STATE OF ST. KITTS/NEVE INDEPENDENT IN 1983. ST. KITTS WANTED INDEPENDENCE FROM NEVIS AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT . IN 2010 MORE KITTIANS LIVE ABROAD THAN ARE EMPLOYED IN VARIOUS POSITIONS. FAMILY TIES ARE STRONG AS THEY VISIT HOME FREQUENTLY. YOUNGER ISLANDERS LOOK FORWARD TO COMPLETING EDUCATION ABROAD AND LIVING ELSEWHERE.

BASSETTE IS THE LARGEST CITY IN CITY WITH 18,000 PEOPLE. SOME FOLKS LIVE IN COLONIAL HOUSES
OTHERS IN CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE. SOME HOMES ARE PLANTATION OWNERS, SOME ARE INNS THAT ARE TRANSFORMED INTO INNS FOR TOURISTS. HURRICANES ARE A THREAT.SOME TOWNS HAVE MODEL WOOD FRAME HOUSES. MOST FOLKS OWN CARS VS. MOPEDS. THEY HAVE THEY HAVE GOOD ROADS.

THEIR FOODS ARE OF VARIOUS DISHES THAT BETRAY THEIR OFF ISLAND ORIGINS AND MANY OTHER TRADITIONS. THEY TYPICALLY EAT RICE, BEANS, THEY HAVE GOAT WATER FROM THE MEAT GOATS WITH VARIOUS VEGIS. THEY EAT FISH SERVED IN CURRY AND CRADLE. THEY FRY CHICKEN AND DRINK BEER AND RUM. THEY HAVE A BREWERY HERE.

MOST FOLKS HAVE THEIR OWN GARDEN AND A FEW CHICKENS. PEOPLE ALONG THE COAST IMP0RT GOODS. SUGAR PRODUCTION IS A BIG PART OF THEIR INCOME. BOTH ISLANDS HAVE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, THEY EXPORT; AND SOME CATTLE PRODUCTS. THEY NEED TO IMPORT MANY FOODS. BOTH ISLANDS MAKE ELECTRONICS FOR EXPORT, AS WELL AS BEVERAGES, BEER, AND PLASTICS. THEIR ECONOMY IS MOSTLY TOURISM AND ACCOUNTS FOR 53% OF THEIR REVENUE. MOST OF THE LARGE RESORTS ARE OWNED BY AMERICANS.

THE ISLANDS HAVE DRUG CARTEL AND SMUGGLING. YET THERE IS LITTLE CRIME HERE.

WOMEN HAVE MORE RESPECT ONCE THEY APPROACH MIDDLE AGE. BUT MALES ORIGINALLY HAVE MORE RIGHTS. SOME SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENUERS ARE WOMEN. MANY WOMEN HAD EXTENDED KIN HELPED WITH RAISING CHILDREN AND PROVIDED MATERIAL AND EFFECTIVE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN WHILE MEN WORKED FARMS. MOST CITIZENS DESCENDED FROM LABOR OF CORN SUGAR. MARRIAGE IS THOUGHT OF AS A SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. MANY CHILDREN ARE BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK. THE NEWLY WED COUPLES PREFER THEIR OWN HOUSES, MANY HAVE NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY ONE. THEIR CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT TO REPECT THEIR ELDERS AND PARENTS THEIR ETIQUETTE REFLECTS THE CONCEPT OF RESPONSIBILITY, BASED UPON BRITISH NORMS.

RELIGION REMAINS A VERY IMPORTANT INITIATION IN THEIER SOCIETY. IT MAINTAINS COMMUNITY AND REINFORCES WAYS TO RESPECT BEHAVIOR. THEY BELIEVE IN CHRISTIANITY AND OBECK A FARM OF WITCHCRAFT. WHERE A SUPERNATURAL CAN BE HARMED BY ANOTHER PERSON.

THE ISLANDS HAVE GOOD HEALTH CARE AND HOSPITAL. THEY HAVE A CULTURE IN WHICH MUSIC, ARTS, AND CRAFTS AND DRAMA PLAY DOMINAT ROLES. IT HAS PROVEN TO BE A VENUE WHICH NEVISANS CAN EXPOSE THE YOUNG TO REAFFIRM PRIDE IN THEIR CULTURAL HERITAGE. THEY HAVE THEATRE GROUP AND SOME CRAFTS-PEOPLE, AND THEY HAVE A MUSEUM.

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Monday, August 27, 2012

MONTERSERRAT CULTURE

THESE CARIBBEAN ISLAND HAS LUSH GREEN MOUNTAINS AND UNSPOILED BLACK SAND BEACHES. THE LAND HERE IS FERTILE. THE TERRITORY HERE COVERS 40 SQUARE MILES. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS GAVE THIS ISLAND IT'S NAME. HE THOUGHT IT LOOKED LIKE THE SPANISH SANTA MARIA DE MONTSERRAT.

IT HAS MUCH VOLCANIC ACTIVITY, EARTHQUAKES, AND HURRICANES. THE COUNTRY IS INDEPENDENT
FROM BRITAIN. IT HAS A BLEND OF AFRICO AMERICAN AND ANGLO CULTURES THEY HAD A VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN 1995 THAT KILLED 5,000 FOLKS!

THEIR NATIONAL EMBLEM IS A CARVED IRISH SHAMROCK WITH A CROSS AND A HARP. THE ABORIGINALS WHO WERE ARAWAK WERE KILLED OFF CARIB INDIANS BY 1494 WHEN COLUMBUS CAME HERE. MONTSERRAT REFERRED TO AN EMERALD ISLAND OF THE WEST BECAUSE OF IRISH EARLY HISTORY. THEY WERE SERVANTS WITH DEPENDANTS ON BRITAIN FOR SURVIVALS.

THEY HAD SLAVES IN 1600 WITH SUGAR AND TOBACCO PLANTATIONS. NATIONALISM IS HELD BY A SMALL SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION AND THEY HAVE A LOW POPULATION AND THEY HAVE A LOW POPULATION GROWTH AND POVERTY. THEIR FOODS ARE BREADFRUIT, MANGO, PAWPAW CASHEWS (LESS DESIRABLE). THEY VOTED TO NOT HAVE HIGH RISE HOTELS AND NIGHTCLUBS.

BY THE 60'S, THE FOLKS OF MONTSERRAT EMBARKED ON A TOURISM VENTURE FOR RESIDENTIAL TOURISM. 90% OF THEW CITIZENS ARE BLACK AND HELPED TOURISM. SOME WHITE FOREIGNERS LIVE BY THE SEA. MONTSERRAT WAS A REGIONAL MEDIA CENTER, BROADCASTING TO THE ENTIRE ANTILLES REGION. THERE AGRICULTURAL HISTORY HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY. THEY WERE BEGINNING TO BUILD FARMING PLOTS AND CREATE A TOURIST INDUSTRY AND SUPPORT REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION.

LOWER CLASSES HAVE SPORADIC EMPLOYMENT. GREAT BRITAIN HAD BAILED THEM OUT ONCE MORE. MARRIAGE IS VALUED AND EVEN LOWER CLASS FOLKS LEGALLY MARRIED. DIVORCE IS FAIRLY RARE. ABOUT 1/2 OF CHILDREN ARE ILLEGITIMATE. THEY ARE CARED FOR WITHIN THE FAMILY UNIT. THEY HAVE PRESCHOOLS PRIMARILY EDUCATION. RELIGION IS A STRONG INFLUENCE. RELIGION PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN EDUCATION. SECONDARY EDUCATION IS WELL DEVELOPED THROUGHOUT THE ISLANDS. CATHOLICS WERE STRONG IN THE 1800'S, BUT TODAY THE THE LARGEST DENOMINATION IS ANGLICAN. THEY HAVE FREE MEDICAL ATTENTION AND MEDICATION IS PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN AND THE AGED. THEY HAVE HEALTH CENTERS SCATTERED THROPUGHOU THE ISLAND.

THEY LIKE CELEBRATINGS ST. PATRICK'S DAY. SCHOLARS MADE IT A NATIONAL DAY ON WHICH TO CELEBRATE THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS OF THE SLAERY IN 1768. EMANCEPATION WAS AUGUST 1768 AND THEY HAVE A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. THEIR NEW CONSCIOUSNESS HAS FOUND EXPRESSION IN RESEARCH, LOCAL FOLK MUSIC, FOLK TALES, PROVERBS, RIDDLES, AND DALECTS.

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AIVARADO STREET BREADS

WHEN I WAS RAISING MY SON ONE OF MY PART TIME JOBS WAS A DEMO DEVA FOR ALVARADO STREET BREADS. THIS IS THE BEST BREAD IN THE WORLD THAT OUR FAMILY AND OTHERS EAT. IT IS SHIPPED WORLD WIDE AFTER BEING FROZEN. I USUALLY SOLD OUT THE STORES WHEN I DID MY DEMOS. I ENJOYED TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND LEARNING WHAT THEY ENJOYED ABOUT THE BREADS. I AM A HEALTH FOOD NUT AND SO WERE MY PARENTS. PEOPLE ALWAYS TOLD ME I WAS DOING THE BESTTHING IN THE WORLD BY SAMPLING THE BREADS. THERE ARE ABOUT 6 DIFFERENT KINDS AND A PIZZA BREAD. I TAUGHT THE PRIMARY SALES ASSOCIATE ABOUT HOW TO COOK THE PIZZAS IN SUMMER OVER THE OUTDOOR GRILL. THE BREADS ARE ALL MADE OF SPROUTED WHEAT AND VARIOUS GRAINS FROMSTATES IN THE NORTHWEST, IDAHO AND OTHER STATES THAN CALIFORNIA. SOME HAVE SPROUTED SOYBEANS, MILLET, FLAX, WHEAT, RYE,LENTILS, OATS AND CORN. SOME OF THE FOLKS SAID THEY COULD NOT EAT THE SEEDS SO THEY HAVE AN EASY TO DIGEST BREAD WITHOUT SEEDS. I USED TO EMPHASIZE THAT EACH BREAD TYPE HAD A DIFFERENT TASTE. ONE HOUSE I LIVED IN THE LADY WOULD BUY THIS BREAD AND I'D MAKE FRENCH TOAST OUT OF IT.

I USED TO PUT VARIOUS TOPPINGS ON THE BREADS - ALMOND BUTTER OR ORGANIC CREAM CHEESE AND JELLY. I ALSO PUT HUMMUS ON IT AS WELL AS A TOFU MIXTURE THAT TASTED LIKE EGGSALAD. PEOPLE REALLY ENJOYED KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE IN WHOLE FOODS.

Friday, August 24, 2012

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

THESE CREOLE FOLKS ARE A MIX OF CARIB AND ARAWAK. THEY MERGED FROM CARIB AND AND ARAWAK AND WEST AFRICA, AS WELL AS EUROPEAN CULTURAL TRADITIONS. THEY WERE EVIDENCED FROM OTHER CARIBBEAN ISLANDS AND ARE STILL EVOLVING.

THESE 2 ISLANDS ARE IN A CHAIN WITH AN AREA OF 108 SQ. MILES FOR ANTIQUA, AND BARBUDA IS 62 SQ. MILES. ANTIQUA IS AN ISLAND OF BOTH VOLCANIC AND SEDEMENTARY ROCK. IT HAS WHITE SAND BEACHES. BARBUNDA IS OF LIMESTONE AND VERY FLAT.

THEIR POPULATION IN 1991 WAS 64,000. 93% ARE AFRO-AMERICANS. THEIR POPULATION IS INCREASING TO 70,0000 IN 1997. THIS IS DUE TO INCREASES FROM MIGRANTS OF NEARBY ISLANDS AND SMALL SPANISH THINKING. THEY HAD 50 YEARS OF NEAR CONTINUOUS BRITISH RULE. ANTIGUA IS A HYBRID PRODUCT OF WEST AFRICA.

THEIR LANGUAGE IS CREOLE, OR ANTIGUA CREOLE. THEY ARE BILINGUAL AS THEY ALSO SPEAK ENGLISH. THE BRITISH RULED FOR 350 YEARS. AS ONE MOVES UP THE HIERARCHY THERE IS A SHIFT FROM CREOLE TO ENGLISH. THE CULTURAL SYMBOLS THAT EMBODY THE NATION WAS LIBERATION FROM OPRESSIVE CONDITIONS AND PERIODS IN THE HISTORY. SLAVERY FINALLY ENDED IN 18IN 1834. BY TE 1930'S THERE WAS A RISE IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT. GOOD EXAMPLES ARE THE AMERICAN FLAG AND NATIONAL ANTHEM. THEY HAVE A CARNIVAL WITH SUN, A PINEAPLLE AND THE FLOWERS AND SEAS OF THE STATE.

THE EMERGENCE OF INDIGENOUS INDEPENDENT NATION WITH AN EVENT DURING THEIR STRUGGLE WITH THE PEASANTS AND WORKERS IN 1935 TO 1939. THEY FORMED A UNION WHICH BECAME VERY POLITICAL, THERE 0WAS A RACE AND ETHNIC HIERARCHY THAT GAVE THEM MAXIMUM RECOGNITION TO ANGLICIZED PERSONS AND CULT PRACTICES. 2500 PORTUGUESE MIGRATED HERE AS THEY HAD A SEVERE FAMINE IN 1840'S. MANY BEGAN SMALL BISENESSES AND GAINED EMPLOYMENT IN RETAIL SALES. MIDDLE EASTERN- ERS BEGAN MIGRATING TO ANTIGUA AND IN EARLY 1900'S THEY BECAME TRADERS. THEY SOON WORKED INTO THE MIDDLE SOCIETY AS A GROUP OF SYRIANS. BLACKS CAME HERE THEY WERE WAGE LABORERS.

MUCH OF THEIR FOOD HAS BEEN IMPORTED AND MANY DISHES ARE CREOLE OR REFLECT THE VARIOUS CUISINE OF THE FOLKS HERE. MANY EAT FAST FOOD. SOME CREATE SPECIALTIES OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA ARE RICE PUDDING, SALT FISH, EGGPLANT, GOAT WATER, SALTED COD, AND CONCH.

THEIR MAIN ECONOMY OF SUGAR ENTERED ABOOM PERIOD IN 1700-1775! THIS ISLAND IMPORTED MANY FOODS FROM THE U.S. AFTER THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. THERE TRADE FROM U.S. INCREASED FOOD COSTS. A DECLINE IN THE SUGAR NEVER REALLY RECOVERED, ALONG WITH THE NEED FOR A NEW LEADING SECTOR. THEY HAVE HISTORIC WINDMILLS WEALTHY AMERICANS COME HERE TO SPEND THEIR MONEY. TOURISM WAS A BIG MARKET. BY 1958 13,000 TOURISTS ARRIVED HERE AND BY 1998 204,000TOURISTS FLOCKED HERE. BY LATE 1980 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON TOURISM WAS A BIG POLITICAL IMPACT.

MARRIAGES AND GENDER ROLES ARE LIKE THOSE IN THE WEST. AMONG THE BLACK THEY HAVE LOST BRIDE WEALTH OR MARRIAGE PAYMENTS. MANY WOMEN WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME. THEY ARE PREDOMINANTLY CHRISTIAN. IN 1991, 32% OF THE POPULATION WAS ANGELICAN, SOME MORAVIAN AND 9% METHODIST. THE CHURCH IN ANTIGUA WERE COLONIAL WITH PASTORS IN CONTROL. CHURCH MUSIC IS A MIX OF CREOLE AND CALYPSO AND GOSPEL MUSIC.

THEY HAVE STREET THEATRE, STEEL BANDS, POETRY READING AND LESS FORMS PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND CARVING. A LOT OF WRITERS ARE POETS AND WRITE FICTION. CALYPSO ARE SONGS THAT RANGE FROM TRAGIC TO COMIC.

STEELE BANDS WERE INVENTED IN THE 1900'S, WITH PANS THAT WE'VE USED TO CARRY OIL. SCIENCES ARE NOT WELL DEVELOPED HERE AS WELL AS THE CARIBBEAN. THE PRACTICE OF SCIENCE IN THE REGION IN THE REGION IS LOCATED PRIMARILY IN THE JAMAICA AREA WITH SOCIAL SCIENCES BEING PRIMARY.

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Thursday, August 23, 2012

GUADELUPE CULTURE

THIS ISLAND OF GUADELUPE IS CALLED KARKERA BY THE CARIBS AND BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IN
1493. IT HAS 8 ISLANDS IN THE LESSER ANTILLES, NEAR CARIBBEAN. THE TOTAL AREA IS 660 SQ. MILES. THE AREA IS ESSENTIALLY LIMESTONE WITH PLATEAUS, PLAINS, AND HILLS. THEY HAVE HUMID CLIMATE AND A DRY SEASON FROM JANUARY TO MAY AND IT IS WET THE REST OF THE TIME. THE POPULATION IS GUADELUPE IS 428,000. THE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAD THEM ENABLED PROGRAMS FOR FAMILY PLANNING AND A POLICY OF EMIGRATION IN 1961 TO 1981.

FRENCH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF ADMINISTRATION AND EDUCATION, BUT MOST SPEAK A MIX OF FRENCH AND CREOLE.

THEY HAVE CREOLE, DRUM MUSIC AND FOOD SPECIALTIES AND CARNIVAL SYMBOLS OF FRENCH. ARAWAKS AND CARIBS MOVED THE REGION FROM SOUTH AMERICA. EUROPEANS EXPLORED THE AREA TO RID IT OF INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS AND INTRODUCE SUGARCANE. SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED HERE IN 1848. THEN INDIAN INDENTURED LABORERS CAME HERE.

IN 1946 GUADELUPE WAS AN OVERSEAS DEPARTMENT OF FRANCE. THEY HAD A RISE IN UNEMPLOYMENT AND IN 1997 IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A REGION. TEENS TEND TO ACCOUNT FOR 43% OF THE POPULATION.....

THEIR SOCIAL CLASS IS BASED ON EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL ORIENTATION. CULTURE AND WEALTH. THERE IS NO TENSION BETWEEN BLACKS AND EAST INDIANS. THEY DEVELOPED A UNIQUE STYLE OF AGRICULTURE IN RURAL AREAS; COLONIAL VERANDAS AND JALOUSIED WINDOWS. THEIR EVODEN HUTS ARE NOW CEMENT HOUSES OF MOSTLY ONE STORY.

THEIR FOODS ARE INFLUENCED BY AMERINDIAN, AFRICAN, EAST INDIAN, AND FRENCH CULTURAL TRADITIONS. THEY HAD MANIOC, ROOT CROPS, BREADFRUIT, AVOCADO, GREEN BANANAS, PEAS AND BEANS, OKRA, CURRIED MEAT,SALTED CODFISH, FISH AND TROPICAL FRUITS. CREOLES USE HOT PEPPERS AND SPICES. THEY HARVEST RANGE FOOD FOR CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS.

BY 1996 THEY HAD ONLY 30% OF LAND IN FARMS. AGRICULTURE IS DECLINING HERE. IN THE COUNTRY PEOPLE HAVE SMALL GARDENS. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A TRADE IMBALANCE AND HAS RESULTED IN LESS EXPORTS. GUADELUPE IMPORTS MOST MANUFACTURED GOODS, EQUIPMENT AND MUCH FOOD. THEY HAVE PRIMARILY SMALL GARDENS.

THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT FUNDS SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMS AND A MINIMUM WAGE, PENSIONS, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND WORKERS COMPENSATION, AND HEALTH INSURANCE. WOMEN ARE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE IN MORE NUMBERS IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS. WOMEN MAY BE IN ADMINISTRATIVE EDUCATION, HEALTH SERVICES, AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES. MOST WOMEN ARE UNDEREMPLOYED.
GENDER WITH RACE AND CLASS IS AN IMPORTANT INDEX OF STATUS. WOMEN ARE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS. WOMEN HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FARM WOMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS.

IN MANY DOMESTIC UNITS THE WOMEN TO FARM WOMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS. IN MANY DOMESTIC UNITS THE WOMEN AND CHILD BOND IS STRONG. UNIONS ARE UNSTABLE THEY HAVE POLYGAMOUS SEX RELATIONS; MANY CHILDREN ARE BORN OUT OF MARRIAGE THERE IS A DECREASE IN ADOLESCENT MOTHERS, AND A RISE IN SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES. THEY TYPICALLY HAVE A LARGE EXTENDED FAMILY TO HELP RAISE THE KIDS. A GRANDMOTHER MAY BE INVOLVED. CHILD REARING VARIES WITH THE TYPE OF FAMILY - MANYHAVE STRICT DISCIPLINE.

THEIR RELIGION WAS PRIMRILY CATHOLIC WITH SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CALENDAR. AFTER WWII THESE FOLKS HAVE EMERGED INTO OTHER HINDU RITUALSAND ARE BEING REACTIVATED WITH EAST INDIAN POPULATIONS. EACH VILLAGE, TOWN, AND CITY HAS A CHURCH AND A TEMPLE THEY HAVE FUNERALS WITH DRUMMING, RIDDLES, STORYTELLING AND RUM. THEY FAST FOR FORTY DAYS! MODERN MEDICAL PRACTICES COEXIST WITH TRADITIONAL HEALING METHODS. AND THE USE OF MEDICINAL PRACTICES.COEXIST WITH HEALING METHODS OF TRADITIONAL HEALING. POPULAR DISCOURSE ON THE BODY INCLUDES NOTIONS OF HOT AND COLD. THEY BELIEVE IN SUPERSTITION. IN THE PAST THEY USED PERSONAL FAMILIES REMEDIES, VISITED THEIR HEALER AND THEN THE DOCTOR. TODAY THEY USEWESTERN MEDICINE OR HOSPITALS. EACH TOWN HAS CERTAIN CEREMONIES. THEY HAVE FRENCH ARTISTS, WRITERS, AND MUSIC FESTIVALS.

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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

VIRGIN ISLAND

IN 1493 COLUMBUS LANDED HERE AND HE NAMED IT SANTA CRUZ. THE CARIB INDIANS DROVE HIM AWAY. HE SAILED NORTHWARD TO A GROUP OF ISLANDS. THE FRENCH LOOKOVER THE ISLAND IN 1650. IT LIES 70 MILES EAST OF PUERTO RICO.

IT HAS 53 ISLANDS WITHIN 36 SQUARE MILES. ONE ISLAND IS GOOD FOR AGRICULTURE. ANOTHER HAS A GOOD PORT FOR COMMUNITY CENTER AND THEY BROUGHT SLAVES IN. IN 2000 THEY HAD ABOUT 120,000 FOLKS, BLACKS HAVE 80% OF POPULATION,ENGLISH IS MAIN LANGUAGE. U.S. TOOK OVER THE ISLAND IN 1917 AND ENGLISH BECAME THE MAIN LANGUAGE. THERE ARE 35% SPANISH SPEAKERS. THERE SSYMBOLIC BIRD IS IS THE YELLOW ELDER. THEY HAVE AN EAGLE ON THE OLIVE BRANCH WITH BLUE INITIALS, THE BREAST OF THE EAGLE HAS A SHILED OF THE U.S.

HOW I LEARNED TO SEW AND CRAFT

I FIRST BEGAN SEWING IN A 4TH GRADE CAMP FIRE GIRLS CLASS. I ALSO LEARNED TO SEW MORE PROFESSIONALLY AT A SUMMER CLASS WITH MY YWCA IN DAYTON. MY MOM HELPED ALSO. I REMEMBER SEWING IN HOME IN HIGH SCHOOL, AT THAT TIME I ACTUALLY WANTED TO BE A FASHION DESIGNER. THE FABRICS FASCINATED ME AS DID MY ART CLASS. MY ART TEACHER THOUGHT I SHOULD BECOME AN ART TEACHER SOME DAY AND I WOULD HAVE LIKED IT AT THAT TIME. BUT ONCE I WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH I HAD DIFFERENT GOALS.

HOWEVER I HAVE KEPT ON SEWING ALL MY LIFE. I HAVE SEWN MY OWN DRESSES AND JEANS, COATS FOR MY HUSBAND AND MY MOM, UPOLSTERED A CHAIR, AND MADE DIFFERENT QUILTS FOR MY SON AND A CHEROKEE QUILTED VEST. I HAVE SEWN COLD WEATHER GOOSE FEATHERS SLIPPERS AND SKI PANTS. I LOVE CREATING DRAPES AND HAVE CREATED DRAPES FOR MOST HOUSES WE HAVE RENTED AND BOUGHT. I EVEN DID SOME HAND EMBROIDERY AND SEWING OF A VARIETY OF JEANS, PICTURES AND WALL HANGINGS. I COME FROM AN ARTISTIC FAMILY. I HAVE TAUGHT MY SON HOW TO SEW WHEN HE WAS YOUNG.

Monday, August 20, 2012

GYMNASTICS LESSONS

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL IN TROY, OHIO I WAS SIGNED UP TO DO GYMNASTICS AND BALLET AND BATON LESSONS. I WENT TO A SMALL BASEMENT AND DANCE ROOM AND ABOUT 6 OTHER KIDS TOOK LESSONS IN SIXTH TO EIGHTH GRADE. WE LEARNED A RTHYTHEM AND A DANCE ROUTINE THAT WAS CALLED A BUNNY DANCE. WE PERFORMED ON STAGE FOR RECITALS. MY MOM AND I SEWED MY COSTUMES. SOME KIDS KNEW HOW TO BACKFLIP BUT I DIDN'T GET IT.

I LOVED TWIRLING THE BATON AND WE WENT TO PARADES. I DID SOME BALLET AS WELL BUT DID NOT PERFORM IT IN RECITALS, WE JUST PRACTICED OUR LESSONS FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS AND ENJOYED OUR TIME AS A GROUP.

TRINIDAD CULTURE

TRINIDA WAS NAMED BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ON HIS THIRD VOYAGE IN 1498. THE INDIGENOUS NAMED IT SERE LAND OF HUMMINGBIRDS.

THE FOLKS HERE ARE OF AFRICAN DESCENT AS WELL AS EAST INDIAN. THOSE OF EUROPEAN ANCESTORS ARE FRENCH CREOLE. TRINIDAD IS 1864 MILES IN AREA. THIS ISLAND IS SEVEN MILES FROM VENEZUELA. THIS ISLAND HAS 3 MOUNTAIN RANGES THAT RUN EAST TO WEST. THE INDIANS NAMED IT SERE LAND OF HUMMINGBIRDS. THE FOLKS HERE ARE OF AFRICAN DESCENT, AS WELL AS EAST INDIAN. THOSE OF EUROPEAN ANCESTRY ARE FRENCH CREOLE. TRINIDAD IS 1864 MILES IN AREA. THIS ISLAND IS 7 MILES FROM VENEZUELA. THIS ISLAND HAS 3 MOUNTAIN RANGES THAT RUN EAST TO WEST. SUGAR IS GROWN IN THE CENTRAL AREA.

THEIR POPULATION IN 1990 WAS OVER 1 MILLION. THEIR OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH. TRINIDAD IS MULTI LINGUAL. TRINIDAD. WITH ABOUT 5 VARIOUS LANGUAGES. THEIR MOTTO IS TOGETHER WE ASPIRE, TOGETHER WE ACHIEVE. SOME PUBLIC HOLIDAYS EMPHASIZE GROUP PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. FOR 300 YEARS THE SPANISH WERE IN TRINIDAD. NATIVE AMERICANS DIED ONCE THEY CONTRACTED EUROPEAN DISEASES AND WERE MOVED TO THE MAINLAND TO WORK IN MINES. SOME SURVIVORS WERE SUBJECT TO SPANISH MISSIONS. AFRICAN SLAVE POPULATION WAS SMALL TOO. IN 1780 THE SPANISH BUILT PLANTATIONS HERE. THEY GREW SUGAR AND COCOA. AFRICANS CAME FROM THE WEST AFRICA. HERE THE GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS SIGNIFICANT HOLDS. A LAND ORGANIZATION IS NAMED AFTER A ROTATING CREDIT ASSOCIATION.

THEIR IS CONSIDERABLE FORMAL AND INFORMAL MARKET AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IN IMPORTS AND LOCALLY PRODUCED GOODS. THEY HAVE AIR-CONDITIONED MALLS. THEY HAVE REGIONAL OPEN AIR PRODUCE MARKETS. SOME INTERNATIONAL TOURISM IS UNDEVELOPED HERE.

FIRMS OWNED BY ETNHIC GROUPS TEND TO HAVE MEMBERS OF THAT GROUP EMPLOYED. BLACK AND INDIANS HAVE LOGGED BEHIND OTHER RACIAL GROUPS. STATUS SYMBOLS TEND TO BE WESTERN WESTERN SYMBOLS OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS, HOUSES AND DRESS.

HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT ESPECIALLY FOR YOUTH IS A CENTRAL PROBLEM, SPRAWLING. SINCE THE 80'S CRIME IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

WOMEN ARE NOW LAWYERS, JUDGES, CIVIL SERVANTS, AND CALEPONIANS. GENERALLY THEY EARN LESS THAN MEN. SEXUAL HARASSMENT HAS BEEN A SOCIAL ISSUE SINCE 1980'S. WOMEN PARTICIPATE IN CARNIVAL WHERE THEY DEMONSTRATE THEIR SEXUALITY.

MARRIAGE PRACTICES DIFFER BASED ON ETHNICITY. FOR MIDDLE AND UPPER CLASS GROUPS A FORMAL RELIGIOUS SANCTION IS THE NORM. EAST INDIAN WOMEN WERE BETROTHED IN ARRANGED MARRIAGES THE AGE FOR INDIAN WOMEN INCREASES WITH THE PROPENSITY TO ENTER NON CO RESIDENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS. ARRANGED MARRIAGES GREATLY DIMINISH. INDIANS GENERALLY DON'T MARRY BLACKS.

MANY UPPER CLASS FAMILIES ARE MULTI GENERATIONAL. MANY WORKING CLASS AFRO-TRINIDAD HOUSEHOLDS ARE FEMALE-HEADED. THE EASTERN INDIANS AND UPPER CLASS OTHERS, HAVE PATRILINEAL INHERITANCE.

MIDDLE CLASS PARENTS READ NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDCARE BOOKS, AND FOR ALL GROUPS THEIR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS STILL HELP WITH RAISING KIDS. CAR SEATS ARE NOW POPULAR. BY AGE 2 MANY TODDLERS ARE SENT TO PRESCHOOL. BACKCHAT TO PARENTS IS NOT PERMITTED. A HARDENED CHILD OR ROWDY YOUTH IS EMBARRASSED TO THE FAMILY. GIRLS ARE ENCOURAGED TO EMPHASIZE PHYSICAL BEAUTY.

THIS SOCIETY PLACES HIGH VALUE ON HIGH EDUCATION. THERE ARE PARENTS WHO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR KIDS AND HIGHER EDUCATION. MANY PARENTS AND WOMEN ARE HARASSED. THEY USE TRINIDAD TIME TO REFER TO HABITUAL LATENESS. IT IS COMMON TO ADDRESS FOLKS WITH A GOOD MORNING! THEY HAVE PLENTY OF RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY. IN 1900 THE MAJORITY OF RELIGION WAS ROMAN CATHOLIC, WITH 20% OF THE POPULATION. MOST INDIANS ARE BUT MANY ARE CHRISTIANS, RASTAFARIANS, MUSLIMS, AFRO CHRISTIANS, BAPTISTS AND JUST FOLK BELIEFS.

ON HOLY THURSDAY NIGHT 1000'S OF HINDU PAY HOMAGE TO A CARVED WOODEN STATUE! TWO WEEKS LATER CATHOLICS PARADE THE SAME STATUE THROUGH THE STREETS. LATER CHINESE CAME TO HONOR THE MADONNA STATUE.

THERE IS A NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE, BUT PRIVATE MEDICINE SERVES A LARGE SHARE OF THE POPULATION. BOTH ARE BASED ON THE WESTERN BIO MEDICAL MODEL. THIS COUNTRY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST AIDS RATES IN THE WORLD! DRUG ADDICTION IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE.
THEY CELEBRATE THE SAME HOLIDAYS WE DO, PLUS CARNIVAL. IT ATTRACTS MANY TOURISTS ANS SCHOLARS AS WELL. HERE THEY DANCE, PLAY MUSIC, AND HAVE DRAMA. TRINIDAD HAS MANY AUTHORS. THEY HAVE STEEL BANDS AND LIVE CALYPSO.

BY 1961 THEY DEVELOPED A UNIVERSITY FOR ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL/SOCIAL SCIENTIST

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Thursday, August 16, 2012

CAYMAN ISLAND CULTURE

IN 1503 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DISCOVERED THE CAYMEN ISLANDS ON MAY 1503 WHEN HIS SHIP WAS BLOWN OFF COURSE. THEN HE SAW TWO SMALL ISLANDS SO FULL OF TURTLES ON MAY 1503 WHEN HIS SHIP WAS BLOWN OFF COURSE. THEN HE SAW TWO SMALL ISLANDS SO FULL OF TORTOISES THAT HE NAMED THEM LAS TORTUGAS. THEY HAVE MARINE CROCODILES THAT GAVE THE ISLAND ITS NAME -CAYMANAS.

THERE ARE THREE ISLANDS NW OF THREE ISLANDS NW OF JAMAICA. THE LAND IS 100 SQUARE MILES. THE ISLANDS ARE OUTCROPS. THE THE LARGEST SHIP IS 22 MILES LONG. THE POPULATION IS DIVERSE WITH 40,000 FOLKS AND SOME ARE FROM AFRICA. THEY HAVE A POPULATION RATE OF 4.2%. FURTHER
PIRATES AND THE BRITISH HAVE ALL PLAYED A LARGE PART IN THE CULTURE. THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM CHOOSE SIR TURTLE AS THEIR MASCOT AND A SYMBOL OF THEIR COUNTRY. THESE ISLANDS WERE OWNED BY THE BRITISH IN THE 1670'S AND SETTLERS CAME FROM JAMAICA. UNFORTUNATELY THE GRAND CAYMAN HAD PIRATES ATTACK THESE SETTLEMENTS. THEN THEY ABANDONED THEM. THE PIRATES USED THEM IN AS A HIDEOUT INTO THE 1700'S. BY 1800 A CENSUS SHOWED 900 FOLKS, 1/2 OF WHOM WERE SLAVES. SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED IN 1835. THEIR CONSTITUTION WAS ADOPTED IN 1859 IN BRITISH RULE,

THE REMOTE ISLAND RESULTED IN A SOCIALLY HOMOGENEOUS SOCIETY. THEY RELIED HEAVILY UPON THE SEA. SHIPBUILDING WAS IMPORTANT FOR THEIR SURVIVAL. THE SILVER THATCH WAS USED FOR HATS, BASKETS, ROOFS AND ROPE, AS IT DID NOT ROT IN SEAWATER. IN THE 19TH CENTURY MANY FOLKS LEFT FOR JOBS ELSEWHERE. THEY SENT MONEY TO THEIR FAMILIES AND RETURNED. THEY ARE STRONGLY AGAINST HAVING BRITISH OCCUPY THE ISLAND.

RELATIONS BETWEEN ETHNIC GROUPS ARE GOOD THERE ARE NO RESTRICTION FOR WORK PERMITS. OLDER HOUSES WERE MADE FROM WATTLE AND DAUB COTTAGES ARE OFF THE GROUND WITH LARGE PORCHES. RAINWATER WAS COLLECTED FROM THE ROOF AND STORED IN A CISTERN BENEATH THE HOUSE. THEY ARE NOW BEGINNING TO SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL.

SEAFOOD IS PREDOMINANT WITH THE NATIONAL DISH AS TURTLE, CONCH AND CHOWDER IS POPULAR. RECIPES ARE ALSO FROM JAMAICA AND TRINIDAD. THEY MAKE A FISH. THEY EAT KEY LIMES, HONEY, AND RUM AND COCONUT. THEY HAVE BREWERY FOR BEER.

THE COUNTRY HAS THE LARGEST PER CAPITA INCOME IN THE CARRIBEAN $24,000. IT IS BASED LARGELY ON TOURISM. THEY HAVE NO PERSONAL TAX. THEY HAVE A LARGE SHIPPING EXCHANGE WITH 1000 SHIPS. THEY HAVE NO RESTRICTIONS ON OWNING PROPERTY. 70% OF THEIR ECONOMY IS DUE TO TOURISM. THEY HAVE OVER 600 BANKS AND CAYMAN IS AN OFFSHORE BANKING CENTER. THEY HAVE MANY TRADING CENTERS EDUCATION IS HIGHLY ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL STATUS. THEIR IS A CONCERN ABOUT PRESERVING CAYMAN CULTURE, SO THEY ESTABLISHED IN THE 1980'S A NUMBER OF ASSOCIATION'S THEY EVEN HAVE AN ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM.

WOMEN PLAYED MORE ACTIVE ROLES IN SOCIETY AFTER THE 1930'S, BUT THEY WERE NOT AS ACTIVE IN POLITICS. ONLY MONOGAMY IS PERMITTED. MANY MEN LIVED APART FROM FAMILIES AT TIME TO SUPPORT THEM.

CHILD CARE IS SEEN AS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MOTHER. MANY PARENTS WORK AND ONE PARENT OR RELATIVE HELPS WITH HOMEWORK. THEY HAVE AN EMPHASIS ON ETIQUETTE AND POLITENESS. THE MOST IMPORTANT DENOMINATION IN THE UNITED CHURCH. THERE ARE MANY RELIGIONS. MOST CHURCH LEADERS ARE MALE. HEALTH CARE COVERAGE IS MANDATORY AND LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR MALES IS 76 YEARS AND 81 FOR FEMALES.

THEY CELEBRATE MORE HOLIDAYS THAN WE DO! THEY HAVE A PIRATES WEEK IN OCTOBER. THERE IS SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE ENTERPRISE, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND WEALTHY FOLKS.

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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

GALAPAGOS CULTURE

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS WERE OFFICIALLY DISCOVERED BY FRAY TOMAS IN 1535. HIS SHIP WAS SWEPT OFF COURSE. GALAPAGOS IS SPANISH FOR SADDLE AFTER THE SADDLEBACK TORTOISES.

BY 1500'S PIRATES AND BUCCANEERS WERE REGULARLY HIDING HERE. IN 1680'S BUCCANEER USED THE ISLAND FOR TO ATTACK THE SPANISH. IN 1684 COWLEY CHARTED THE ISLANDS IN 1790 THE FIRST SCIENTIST CAME HERE FROM SPAIN. THEN WHALERS CAME HERE FROM SPAIN THEN WHALERS ARRIVED FROM ENGLAND THE FOLKS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE ISLAND THEY CAUGHT SO MANY WHALES.

IN 1813 A U.S. CAPTAIN CAME TO DESTROY THE BRITISH WHALING FLEET WHICH THEY DID! IN 1832 THE GALAPAGOS WERE ANNEXED BY EQUADOR AND COLONIZED. THERE WERE MANY STORIES OF TYRANNY, SLAVERY, AND MURDER.

CHARLES DARWIN ARRIVED AS A NATURALIST IN 1835. HE MAPPED THE COASTLINE AND HIS FINDINGS INSPIRED HIS THOUGHTS ON EVOLUTION. IN THE EARLY 1900'S MANY SETTLERS AND SCIENTISTS CAME FROM OVER THE WORLD. BY THE 1930'S PEOPLE/SCIENTISTS NEEDED PERMITS TO COLLECT ANYTHING. IN 1959 THE GOVERNMENT OF ECUADOR DECLARED ALL AREAS WITHOUT HUMAN POPULATION TO BE A NATIONAL PARK. IN 1959 CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS WAS SET UP IN BRUSSELS. IN 1968 THE EQUATOR GOVERNMENT BEGAN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK.

LARGE SCALE TOURISM STARTED IN THE 1970'S WITH A 58 PASSENGER VESSELL. TODAY THERE ARE MAJOR CITIES AND A NATIONAL PARK WITHOUT ANY SIGNS OF HUMAN DESTRUCTION. MANY HUNTERS, WHALERS, AND PIRATES HAVE REDUCED THE ANIMAL AND SEALIFE POPULATION. HISTORICALLY THEY PUT GOATS HERE TO BREED AND THAT WAS A DESTRUCTIVE THING. MANY SCIENTISTS CONTRIBUTED EXPLOITING THE ANIMALS BY COLLECTING SKINS, ETC. TODAY ATTEMPTS ARE BEING MADE TO REVERSE THE SITUATION.

THIS ISLAND HAS UNIQUE FLORA AND FAUNA. BY 1964 CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION WAS BUILT. BY 1974 A MASTER PLAN WAS FOR VISTOR CENTERS AND TOURIST BOATS. THERE IS A GROWING NUMBER OF TOURISTS. BY 1979 UNESCO DECLARED THE ISLAND AS WORLD HERITAGE SITE. OVER 60,000 TOURISTS COME HERE EACH YEAR.

THEY CAPTIVE BRED SOME OF THE TORTOISESAND IGUANAS. SOME DOGS HAD TAKEN THEM . SEVERAL HUNDRED TORTOISES ARE BEING RAISED FOR THE NEXT GENERAQTION. ORNITHOLOGISTS ARE STUDYING THE DARWIN FINCHES. IN 1997 THEIR AIRSTRIP WAS EXTENDED SO JETS COULD COULD ARRIVE DAILY. THEIR APPROACH WAS TO LET TOURISTS SEE THE BREEDING ANIMALS AS A LIVING LAB. THEY BUILT AN EDUCATION CENTER IN THE RESEARCH STATION..THE VISITOR'S NED TO STAY ON TRAILS AND NOT INTERFERE WITH WILDLIFE THEY ALSO ESTABLISHED A MARINE RESERVE.

IN THE 1900'S Q MARKET FOR THE SEA URCHINS OPENED IN THE ORIENT FOR USE AS APHRODISIACS. MANY ILLEGAL CAMPS WERE SET UP ON THE ISLAND. EVENTUALLY THIS COLLECTION WAS OUTLAWED!
BY 1977 A DRAMATIC CHANGE OCCURRED. LOCAL RESIDENTS PETITIONED WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR LOCAL SENATOR AND PRESIDENT. BY 1998 A NEW LAW WAS PASSED AND RATIFIED BY CONGRESS. IT ADDRESED IMIGRATION, RESTORATION, QUARENTINE OF ORGANISMS AND FISHERIES,

THE MARINE RESERVE WAS LEGALLY PROTECTED. THE RESERVE WAS EXTENDED AROUND THE ARCHIPELIGO. ONLY TOURISM AND LOCAL ARTISANAL FISHING PERMITTED HERE. NO COMMERCIAL FISHING WAS ALLOWED. GOOD PROTECTION FOR SEABIRDS, MARINE MAMMALS FISH AND SHARKS.

IT COSTS $100 TO GO INTO THE PARK. IT GOES TO REDUE REDUCE INTRODUCED SPECIES OF ALL KINDS AND IT IS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE NATIVES.

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Monday, August 13, 2012

PUERTO RICO CULTURE

PUERTO RICANS ARE CARIBBEANS WHO ARE ON AN ISLAND AND HAVE U.S. CITIZENSHIP. THE ISLAND IS THE EASTERNMOST AND SMALLEST OF THE GREAT ANTILLES. THE CARIBBEAN IS TO THE SOUTH. IT HOUSES U.S. MILITARY FACILITIES AND AN ARMY. SINCE THE 1940'S THE NAVY HAS BEEN HERE AND THEY DAMAGED THE ECOLOGY, THE ECONOMY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. MONA IS THE NATURE PRESERVE AND WILDLIFE REFUGE UNDER GOVERNMENT JURISDICTION. THEIR LAND IS 3400 SQUARE MILES IN A UNIQUE TROPICAL ECOSYSTEM. THERE IS A RUGGED 2/3RDS OF THE ISLAND THAT SEPARATES A NORTHERN COASTAL PLAIN. THE SPANISH WORD HURRICANE ORIGINATED FROM THE TAINO WORD 'JURACAN', THE SACRED NAME FOR THIS PHENOMENON.

SPAIN TURNED PUERTO RICO INTO A MILITARY STRONG HOLD. SAN JUAN WAS WALLED AND FORTIFIED. THE HIGHLANDS WERE ISOLATED AND IT WAS A REFUGE FOR SETTLERS, RUNAWAY SLAVES, AND TAINO DESERTERS. PUERTO RICO IS DENSELY POPULATED - 4 MILLION, WITH 2.7 MILLION IN THE U.S. 70% OF THE ISLAND IS URBAN. TAINOS WERE INDIANS WHO WERE HERE BEFORE EUROPEAN DOMINATION. THEY ONCE HAD 30,0000 FOLKS AND WERE REDUCED TO 2,000 BY THE 17TH CENTURY THROUGH DISEASE AND EMIGRATED TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

THE SPANISH INTRODUCED SLAVERY INTO THEIR LABOR FORCE, BUT IT NEVER BECAME A HUGE PROBLEM UNTIL PLANTATIONS WERE DEVELOPED. THEN THERE WERE AFRICAN SLAVES, INDENTURED AND FREE LABOR. CHINESE LABOR WAS INTRODUCED IN THE 19TH CENTURY AND IMMIGRANTS CAME FROM ANDULUSIA AND OTHER ISLANDS. DURING THE 19TH CENTURY FRENCH, GERMAN,LEBANESE, SCOTTISH, ITALIAN, IRISH, ENGLISH, AND AMERICAN FOLKS CAME HERE.

PUERTO RICO IS MOSTLY SPANISH SPEAKING. AFRICAN LANGUAGE CONTRIBUTED SOME WORDS. NATURAL AND HUMAN MADE CULTURAL SYMBOLS ARE OF GREAT VALUE. SOME WORDS NATURAL AND AND HUMAN MADE CULTURAL SYMBOLS. A TINY TREE FROG, ROYAL PALMS, TAINO PETROGLYPHS, MUSIC AND NATIVE FOODS ARE SOME OF THESE FEATURES.

URBAN SPRAWL IN SAN JUAN HAS ERODED THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY. IN THE RURAL AREAS, WOOD AND STRAW STRAW HOUSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY BY CEMENT
BLOCK HOUSES. THE TROPICAL CLIMATE REQUIRED THE IMPORTATION OF PRESERVED FOODS.

MOST FOLKS OWN PRIVATE LAND. OWNING A HOME HOLDS IMPORTANT CULTURAL VALUE. THIS LED TO AGRARIAN REFORM THIS LED TO AGRARIAN REFORM IN THE 1940'S AND THE PARCELA PROGRAM IS A LOCAL HOMESTEADING EFFORT, BY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT GAVE LAND HELD BY LARGE CORPORATIONS FOR EXPLOITATIONS OF AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS.

DURING THE 1950'S OPERATION BOOTSTRAP WAS A WAY THE COUNTRY DEVELOPED INDUSTRIALIZATION. A RISE IN TRANSPERSONAL BUSINESS HAVE REDUCEDTHE PROCESS OF INDUSTRIALIZATIONS. PUERTO RICO IS DEPENDANT ON MANUFACTURING AND SERVICES. THE GOVERNMENT IS A EMPLOYER. TOURISM IS THE IMPORTANT SERVICE INDUSTRY. THEY IMPORT CHEMICALS MACHINERY, FOOD TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, PROFESSIONAL CLASS IN PUERTO RICO IS PRIMARILY WITH GOVERNMENT.

A GOOD FAMILY AND EDUCATION ARE CONSIDERED MORE IMPORTANT THAN WEALTH. THE MAIN GOVERNMENT IS THE PROVIDER OF WELFARE. THEY HAVE MANY ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES AND HAVE PRODUCED A HIGH RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT. PUERTO RICO RECEIVES FEDERAL AID AND DOES NOT GET EQUAL COVERAGE FOR WELFARE. THEY HAVE A HIGH COST OF LIVING AND THEY ACCUMLATE DEBT.

A LIST OF THEIR ORGANIZATIONS IS VAST A GENDER RELATIONS ARE EGALITARIAN. WHEN THEY LIVED ON SUBSISTENCE WOMEN WERE IMPORTANT ECONOMIC PRODUCERS. MOST UPPER AND MID CLASSES HAVE DOUBLE SALARY.IT'S AN IDEAL MALE WORLD. WOMEN ACTIVE IN PUBLIC LIFE CONSIDER FAMILY LIFE A CORE VALUE. THESE KIN ARE THE MOST ENDURING SUPPORT NETWORK. MOST FOLKS PREFER MARRIAGE VS LIVING TOGETHER. REMAINING SINGLE IS OK TOO.

PEOPLE RAISE THEIR CHILDREN WITHIN THE FAMILY. WHEN A MOTHER IS UNAVAILABLE AND RELATIVES PREFER TO RAISE KIDS VS. CARE PROVIDERS. THEY LIVE SIMILAR TO FOLKS IN THE U.S.

ONE MUST RESPECT OTHERS BY LEARNING ONESELF. THOSE WHO CAN CHOSE PRIVATE SCHOOLING. ACCORDING TO THEM EDUCATION IS NOT JUST SOMEONE WHO HAS ACHIEVED BANK LEARNING, BUT IS SOMEONE WHO IS COURTEOUS AND POLITE.SOCIAL DRINKING IS APPROVED APPROVED, DRUNKENESS IS NOT. ABOUT 30% OF THE POPULATION IS PROTESTANT AND ALL MAJOR DENOMENTAIONS ARE HERE. THERE ARE MANY CATHOLICS, SOME DEVOUT AND OTHERS NONOBSERVANT. AFRICANS INTRODUCE WITCHCRAFT AND SPIRITUAL MEDIUMS ARE MOSTLY WOMEN WHO HOLD DIVINATIONS AND SEAMS IN HOMES. HEALTH CARE HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED AND THAT HAS REDUCED TROPICAL DISEASES AND LIFE EXPECTANCY HAVE BEEN REDUCED.

THE ARTS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE NATION AND LOCAL ARTISTS HAVE ACCESS TO SUPPORT THEM FROM THE U.S., COLLEGES, AND UNIVERSITIES. THERE ARE ALSO MANY AUTHORS AND GRAPHIC ARTISTS. PERFORMING ARTISTS ARE RANGING FROM POPULAR TO FOLKSY MUSIC. THEY ALSO HAVE BALLET COMPANIES.

EVRY-CULTURE.COM




Friday, August 10, 2012

HAITI CULTURE

HAITI IS A NAME THAT MEANS MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY. THE TAINO INDIANS INHABITED THE ISLAND BEFORE EUROPEANS CAME. THEY GAINED INDEPENDENCE IN 1804, AFTER REMOVING THE FRENCH. IN 2000 MOST OF THE POPULATION WAS AFRICAN DESCENT. THERE IS A STRONG SENSE OF HAITIAN NATIONALISM.

THE ISLAND COVERS 10,714 SQ. MILES. IT IS THE 2ND LARGEST ISLAND IN THE CARIBBEAN. THE CLIMATE IS MILD AND THERE ARE MOUNTAINS WITH VARIOUS MICROCLIMATES. THEY HAVE EARTHQUAKES.

IN 1800'S THEIR POPULATION WAS 430,000 AND TODAY THERE AREA BOUT 7.2 MILLION! OVER 1 MILLION NATIVE BORN HAITIANS LIVE IN OTHER COUNTRIES. ABOUT 50,000 LEAVE FOR THE U.S., CANADA, AND FRANCE EACH YEAR. ABOUT 89% OF MIGRANTS COME FROM EDUCATED MIDDLE CLASS AND UPPER CLASSES. SOME FOLKS WORK AT AT LOW INCOME JOBS IN BAHAMAS AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE IS FRENCH, BUT MOST FOLKS SPEAK KREYOL. KREYOL IS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE IN 1987.

HAITI IS THE FIRST BLACK RULED NATION IN THE WORLD. HISPANOLA WAS DISCOVERED BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND WAS THE FIRST ISLAND IN THE NEW WORLD SETTLED BY THE SPANISH. BY 1550 THE TAINO HAD THE ISLAND. BY MID 1600'S THE WESTERN THIRD OF THE ISLAND WAS POPULATED BY FORTUNE SEEKERS, CASTAWAYS AND COLONISTS WHO HUNTED WILD PIGS, CATTLE AND SMOKED MEET TO PASSING SHIPS. BY 1788 THE COLONY HAD BECOME THE JEWEL OF ANTILLES, THE RICHEST COLONY IN THE WORLD.

IN 1789 THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE SPARKED DISSENSION IN THE COLONY AND IT HAD A POPULATION OF 1/2 MILLION SLAVES, 28,000 FREE BLACKS WHO OWNED LAND, 36,00O WHITE PLANTERS, ARTISTS AND SMALL LAND HOLDERS. IN 1791 35,000 SLAVE HOLDERS ROSE IN INSURRECTION AND MOVED TO THE HILLS. THIRTEEN YEARS OF WAR FOLLOWED! SPANISH, ENGLISH, FRENCH TROOPS WERE SOON BATTLING ONE ANOTHER FOR CONTROL. BY 1804 THE LAST EUROPEAN TROOPS WERE SOUNDLY DEFEATED BY AND DRIVEN FROM THE ISLAND BY FORMER SLAVES.HAITI WAS THE FIRST BLACK COUNTRY IN THE MODERN WORLD TO GAIN INDEPENDENCE FROM EUROPE.

DURING THE CENTURY OF RELATIVE ISOLATION FOLLOWING INDEPENDENCE THE PEASANTRY DEVELOPED A TRADITION IN IN CUISIO, MUSIC, DANCE AND RELIGION. SOME ELEMENTS OF AFRICA CULTURE SURVIVED, BUT HAITI IS DISTINCT FROM AFRICANS. THEY HAD A LARGE EARTHQUAKE IN THE 1840'S. MOST HOUSES ARE SINGLE STORY, TWO ROOM SHACKS WITH A FRONT PORCH. IN THE TREELESS AREAS HOUSES ARE CONSTRUCTED OF ROCK OR WATTLE AND DAUB WITH NEED OR LIME EXTERIORS. WALLS ARE EASILY HEWN NATIVE PALM HOUSES ARE MADE OF HISPANIOLA PINE. THEY ARE PAINTED IF FOLKS CAN AFFORD IT.

MOST FOLKS KNOW ABOUT THEIR DIET NEEDS, AND THEY KNOW INDIGENOUS FOOD CATEGORIES. THEY DO NOT WORK FOOD SUBSISTENCE FARMS. PEASANT WOMEN SELL MUCH OF THE HARVEST IN OPEN AIR MARKET PLACES AND AND USE MONEY TO BUY HOUSEHOLD FOODS.

RICE AND BEANS ARE COMMONLY EATEN DAILY AND SOME FOODS ARE IMPORTED. THEY EAT SWEET POTATOES AND MANIOC, YAMS, CORN, PEAS,, BREAD AND COFFEE. THEY EAT 2 MEALS A DAY AND ONLY A SNACK AT NIGHT. DURING FESTIVE OCCASIONS THEY HAVE BAPTISMAL PARTIES. THEY DRINK SPICED CONCOCTIONS OF RUM AND OTHER FRUIT JUICES. THEY ALSO HAVE NATIONAL AND IMPORTED BEERS.

HAITI IS THE POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THEY HAVE PEASANTS WHO WORKED PRIVATE LAND HOLDINGS AND DEPEND ON THEM. REAL INCOME FOR THE FAMILY HAS NOT INCREASED IN OVER TWENTY YEARS AND HAS DECLINED IN RURAL AREAS. ON AVERAGE A FAMILY EARNS $500 PER YEAR.

THIS COUNTRY IS HEAVILY DEPENDANT ON FOOD IMPORTS - RICE, BEANS, FLOUR FROM ABROAD. THEY HAVE A BIG INTERNATIONAL MARKETING SYSTEM THAT DOMINATES THE ECONOMY AND TRADES AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, LIVESTOCK AND CRAFTS.

MOST PROPERTY IS PRIVATELY HELD. THERE IS SOME STATE LAND IF RENTED AND IS LEASED TO ALL FAMILIES FOR VARIOOUS PURPOSES. THERE IS A VIGOROUS LAND MARKET. UNOCCUPIED LAND IS TAKEN OVER BY SQUATTERS. LAND SETTLERS NEED CASH TO FINANCE A LIFE CRISIS OR MIGRATORY VENTURES. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONFLICTS OVER AND BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE SAME KIN GROUPS. WITH THE THRIVING INTERNAL MARKET THAT IS CHARACTERIZED BY FEMALE TRADERS WHO SPECIALIZE IN DOMESTIC ITEMS AS PRODUCE THEY TRADE TOBACCO, FISH, CLOTHING AND LIVESTOCK.

THERE WAS A SMALL BAUXITE MINE BUT IT CLOSED IN 1983. OFFSHORE ASSEMBLY INDUSTRIES OWNED PRINCIPALLY BY ENTREPRENUERS WHO HIRED 60,000 PEOPLE IN THE MID 1980'S.

HAITI EXPORTS COCOA, OILS PHARMACEUTICALS AND COFFEE. THEY ALSO HANDLE ILLEGAL DRUG TRAFFICKING.

THERE IS A WIDE ECONOMIC GULF BETWEEEN THE WEALTHY AND THE MIDDLE CLASS. THE DARKNESS OF THE SKIN IS AN EVIDENCE OF RACIAL SOCIAL DIVISION. CRIME AND VIGILENCE HAVE INCREASED IN THE LAST 14 YEARS.THE U.S. PROVIDES10% OF THE COUNTRY'S NEEDS.

MEN ARE PRIMARILY LABORERS, DOCTORS, AN SPIRITUAL HEALERS. THE MEN TAKE CARE OF LIVESTOCK AND GARDENS. WOMEN TEND GARDENS AND HARVEST FOODS, COOK, TEND TO CHILDREN, AND SOME ARE NURSES. THEY CONTROL THE HOUSEHOLD EARNINGS.

MARRIAGE MAY NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL A MAN HAS BUILT A HOUSE AFTER THEIR 1ST CHILD. IT IS NOT LEGAL BUT ABOUT 10% OF MEN HAVE MORE THAN ONE WIFE, HOUSEHOLDS ARE MADE UP OF NUCLEAR FAMILY MEMBERS AND ADOPT CHILDREN. THE HOUSE IS ASOCIATED WITH THE WOMEN AND IS THE DECISION MAKERS OF THE FUNDS. THE PARENTS INVITE FRIENDS TO SPONSOR A CHILD'S BAPTISM.

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ANGLE ISLAND STATE PARK

OUR FAMILY HAS BIKED AROUND ANGEL ISLAND MANY TIMES VIA THE FERRY FROM TIBORON. MY SON AND I CAMPED THERE OVERNIGHT WITH HIS CLASS IN 4TH GRADE. THIS IS AN INTERESTING ISLAND THAT WAS FIRST OCCUPIED BY THE COAST MIWOK WITH 4 C HERE CAMPS HERE ABOUT 3,000 YEARS AGO. THEY HUNTED AND FISHED HERE. BEFORE HISTORIC USE THE PARK WAS MOSTLY COVERED WITH OAK WOODLANDS. NATIVE GRASSES AND NORTH COAST SCRUB. LATER IN THE 1800'S EUROPEAN GRASSES STARTED TO TAKE OVER THE PERENNIAL GRASSES. FIRE CUTTERS CHOPPED DOWN MUCH OF THE OAKS. OAKS, BAY, MADRONE,SAGEBRUSH, MANZANITA, TOYON, ELDERBERRY, COYOTE BUSH, AND DOUGLAS FIR ARE KNOW RECOVERED. ANIMALS AND BIRD LIFE IS ABUNDANT. SEALS AND SEA LIONS CAN BE SEEN, DEER AND RACCOONS ARE ABUNDANT. RABBITS, JUNCOS, HUMMINGBIRDS , FLICKERS, HAWKS, OWLS AND SEA GULLS AND KING FISHERS ARE ABUNDANT. THE OCEAN HAS SALMON, STRIPED BASS, AND OTHER FISH.

THE ISLAND HAS A SMALL BUS THAT CAN CARRY VISITORS AROUND THE ISLAND AND STOP FOR GOOD VISTAS PHOTOS. WHEN WE CAMPED THERE WE CAN IN THE 788' MT. LIVERMORE ON A ROAD THAT WAS LIKE A FIRE BREAK.

IN 1892 A QUARANTINE STATION WAS OPENED AT AYALA COVE. - KNOWN AS A HOSPITAL. THERE ARE 40 BUILDINGS AT THE COVE AS BARRACKS. THIS WAS WHERE SHIPS FROM FOREIGN PORTS WERE FUMIGATED. THIS WAS WHERE THE SHIPS FROM FOREIGN PORTS WERE FUMIGATED. ONCE MEDICARE IMPROVED WE DID NOT NEED QUARANTINE STATIONS. THESE BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED IN THE 1950'S IMPROVED WE DID NOT NEED A QUARANTINE STATION. THESE BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED IN THE 1950'S. THERE ARE SEVERAL EMPLOYEES HOUSES WHERE PARK PERSONNEL STAY.

IN 1775 MANUEL DE AYALA BROUGHT HIS SHIP HERE INTO THE BAY. HE WANTED TO DEVELOP AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE BAY FOR FUTURE SHIPS FROM SPAIN. HIS PILOT EXPLORED THE BAY AND MADE THE NECESSARY MAP WORK. THIS MAP IS NOW FIRST OF THIS WORLD FAMOUS HARBOR. AYALA CALLED "ANGEL ISLAND" ISLA DE LOS ANGELES AFTER A RELIGIOUS FEAST DAY.

IN 1808 THE RUSSIAN SEA OTTER HUNTING MEN ESTABLISHED A STOREHOUSE ON THE ISLAND. THERE IS A DEEP WATER CHANNEL BETWEEN TIBURON AND ANGEL ISLAND CALLED RACOON STRAIT AND AYALA'S CREW MAPPED IT. IN 1839 THE GOOVERNOR APPROVED ANTONIO OSLO, A SPANIARD, TO GIVE HIM ANGEL ISLAND FOR CATTLE RANCHING. BUT SOME OF THE ISLAND WAS RESERVED FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE HARBOR. HE HAD SEVERAL HOUSES BUILT FOR USE BY HIS HERDERS. HE NEVER LIVED HERE.

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS.GOV

HAITI CULTURE

HAITI CULTURE IS A NAME THAT MEANS MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY. THE TAINO INDIANS INHABITED THE ISLAND BEFORE EUROPEANS CAME. THEY GAINED INDEPENDENCE IN 1804.AFTER REMOVING THE FRENCH. IN 2000 MOST OF THE POPULATION WAS AFRICAN DESCENT. THERE IS A STRONG SENSE OF HAITIAN NATIONALISM. THE ISLAND COVERS 10,714 SQ. MILES IN THE CARIBBEAN. THE CLIMATE IS MILD AND THERE ARE MOUNTAINS. WITH VARIOUS MICROCLIMATES. THEY HAVE HAD EARTHQUAKES.

IN 1800'S THEIR POPULATION WAS 431,000 AND IS ABOUT 7.2 MILLION TODAY! OVER 1 MILLION NATIVE BORN HAITIANS LIVE IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND ABOUT 50,000 LEAVE HERE FOR U.S., CANADA AND FRANCE. ABOUT 80,0000 OF MIGRANTS COME FROM EDUCATED MIDDLE CLASS AND UPPER CLASSES. SOME FOLKS WORK AT LOW INCOME JOBS. BAHAMAS AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE IS FRENCH, BUT MOST FOLKS SPEAK KREYOL AND IT WAS GIVEN OFFICIAL PRIMARY LANGUAGE IN 1987.

HAITI IS THE FIRST BLACK RULED NATION IN THE WORLD. HAITI WAS DISCOVERED BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND WAS THE FIRST ISLAND IN THE NEW WORLD SETTLED BY SPANISH. BY 1550 THE FIRST TAINO HAD LEFT. BY THE MID 1600'S THE WESTERN THIRD OF THE ISLAND WAS POPULATED BY FORTUNE SEEKERS, CASTAWAYS AND COLONISTS WHO HUNTED WILD PIGS, CATTLE AND SMOKED MEAT TO SELL TO PASSING SHIPS. BY 1788 THE COLONY HAD BECOME THE JEWEL OF THE ANTILLES, THE RICHEST COLONY IN THE WORLD. IN 1789 THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE SPARKED ABSTENTION IN THE COLONY AND IT HAD A POPULATION OF 1/ MILLION SLAVES.28,000 FREE BLACKS WHO OWNED WHO OWNED LAND, 36,000 WHITE PLANTERS, ARTISTS, AN DE SMALL LANDHOLDERS. IN 1791 35,000 SLAVE HOLDERS ROSE IN INSURRECTION AND MOVED TO THE HILLS. THIRTEEN YEARS OF WAR FOLLOWED! SPANISH ENGLISH AND FRENCH TROOPS WERE SOON BATTLING ONE ANOTHER FOR CONTROL. BY 1804 THE LAST EUROPEAN TROOPS WERE SOUNDLY DEFEATED BY AND DRIVEN FROM THE ISLAND BY FORMER SLAVES. HAITI WAS THE FIRST BLACK COUNTRY IN THE MODERN WORLD TO GAIN INDEPENDENCE FROM EUROPE.

DURING THE CENTURY OF RELATIVE ISOLATION FOLLOWING INDEPENDENCE THE PEASANTS DEVELOPED TRADITIONAL CUISINE, MUSIC, DANCE AND RELIGION. SOME ELEMENTS OF AFRICAN CULTURE SURVIVE, BUT HAITI IS DISTINCT FROM AFRICA. THEY HAD AN EARTHQUAKE IN THE 1840'S. MOST HOUSES ARE SINGLE STORY , TWO ROOM SHACKS WITH A FRONT PORCH. HOUSES ARE BUILT IN THE TREELESS AREA OF ROCK OR OR WATTLE AND DAUB WITH MUD OR LIME EXTERIORS. WALLS ARE EASILY HEWN FROM NATIVE PALM. THE BEAMS ARE OF HISPANIOLA PINE. THEY ARE PAINTED IF FOLKS CAN AFFORD IT.

MOST FOLKS KNOW ABOUT THEIR DIET NEEDS , AND THEY KNOW ABOUT INDIGENOUS FOOD CATEGORIES.THEY DO NOT WORK SUBSISTENCE FARMS. PEASANT WOMEN SELL MUCH OF THE HARVEST IN OPEN AIR MARKET PLACES AND USE MONEY TO BUY HOUSEHOLD FOODS.

RICE BEANS ARE EATEN DAILY; SOME FOODS ARE IMPORTED. THEY EAT SWEET POTATOES, MANIOC, YAMS, CORE, PEAS, BREAD AND COFFEE THEY EAT 2 MEALS A DAY AND ONLY A SNACK AT NIGHT,DURING FESTIVE OCCASIONS THEY HAVE BAPTISMAL PARTIES. THEY DRUNK SPICED CONCOCTIONS OF RUM, AND OTHER JUICES. THEY ALSO HAVE NATIONAL AND IMPORTED BEERS.

HAITI IS THE POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THEY HAVE PEASANTS WHO WORKED PRIVATE LAND HOLDINGS AND DEPEND UPON THEM. REAL INCOME FOR THE FAMILY HAS NOT INCREASEDIN OVER 30 YEARSAND HAS DECLINEDIN RURAL AREAS ON AVERAGE A FAMILYEARNS $5000 OER YEAR.

THIS COUNTRY IS HEAVILY DEPENDANT ON FOODS IMPORTS - RICE, BEANS,FLOUR FROM ABROAD. THEY HAVE A BIG INTERNAL MARKETING SYSTEM AND DOMINATES THE ECONOMY TRADES AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, LIVESTOCK AND CRAFTS.

MOST PROPERTY IS PRIVATELY HELD. THERE IS SOME STATE LAND IF RENTED IS LEASED TO ALL FAMILIES FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES. THERE IS A VIGOROUS LAND MARKET. UNOCCUPIED LAND IS TAKEN OVER BY SQUATTERS. LAND SELLERS NEED CASH TO FINANCE A LIFE CRISIS OR MIGRATORY VENTURE.

EVERY-CULTURE.COM

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

OLYMPALI STATE PARK VISIT

LAST WEEKEND I HIKED AT THIS STATE PARK. I COPIED A TOPOGRAPHIC MAP WHICH DID NOT PROVIDE ME MUCH INFORMATION ON THE TRAILS. I ALSO SAW NO ONE IN THE VISITOR CENTER WHEN I STARTED MY HIKE.

THEIR GENERAL PLAN CALLS FOR LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENTS. THEIR VISITOR CENTER IS RUN BY SOME VOLUNTEERS. THEY HAVE SEVERAL HISTORIC DAIRY BARNS THAT WERE OWNED BY DENTIST GALEN BIRDELL IN 1863. THE BIRDELLS TRANSFORMED IT INTO A WORKING RANCH AND FARMHOUSE OVER THE ORIGINAL ADOBE. CHINESE LABORERS IT INTO A WORKING RANCH AND FARM HOUSE BUILT OVER THE OLD ADOBE. CHINESE LABORERS BUILT ROCK WALLS AND CULVERTS . MARY DIED IN 1900 AND HER CHILDREN WERE INHERITED THE ESTATE. THE SON OWNED IT UNTIL 1943. THEN IT WAS SOLD MANY TIMES. BETWEEN THEN AND 1977.

THE GRATEFUL DEAD, A ROCK BAND, LIVED HERE IN THE 1966. OTHER ROCK MUSICIANS LIVED HERE IN THE 1960'S LIVED HERE IN 1966. ANOTHER MAN LEASED THE PROPERTY TO A COMMUNAL GROUP. IN 69 THEY HAD A SEVER ELECTRICAL FIRE. CALIFORNIA STATE BOUGHT PROPERTY IN 1977 AS A PARK. THE PARK HAS A LONG TRAIL THAT GOES UP TO MT. BURDELL. A SHORTER TRAIL THAT I TOOK LOOPS AROUND THE MIWOK VILLAGE AND STAYS MOSTLY IN FORESTED AREAS. I SAW A LARGE BUCK, MANY LIZARDS COW AND COYOTE DROPPINGS AND MANY BIRDS ARE IN THE GRASSLAND HABITAT.

SERPENTINE ROCK OUTCROP WITH MIXED CHAPARRAL, OAK WOODLANDS AND DOUGLAS FIR AND MANY BUCKEYE TREES ARE HERE. I DID NOTICE A COUPLE OF WHITE OAKS THAT WERE WITH ACORNS (THERE ARE NONE WHERE I HIKE IN SONOMA COUNTY). THERE WAS MUCH POISON OAK AND I DID NOT SEE ANY SOAPROOT. THERE WERE MANY MONKEY FLOWERS AND BUCKBRUSH AND MADRONE TREES AND MANZANITA.

THE WILDLIFE IS FOXES, RACOONS, OWLS, BOBCATS, SOME MT. LIONS, BLUEBIRDS, RATTLESNAKES, BLUEBIRDS, MT HATCHES AND WOODPECKERS, WILD TURKEYS, HUMMINGBIRDS. THE PREHISTORY OF THE AREA IS WITHIN A 700 ACRE PARK WITH A LARGE MIDDEN SITE IN FRONT OF THE FARMHOUSE. NO ONE ELSE WAS HIKING ON THE TRAIL I TOOK AND IT WAS VERY HOT. OLYMPALI MEANS A VILLAGE OR PEOPLE. THE OLYMPALI ARE A SUBGROUP OF THE MIWOK AND IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST VILLAGES AND TRADING POSTS IN MARIN COUNTY. BY THE TIME THE MISSION PERIOD STARTED THEY LOST THEIR FOOD RESOURCES AND SOME STARVED AND OTHERS DIED FROM EUROPEAN DISEASES.

IN 1834 YNITA WAS THE VILLAGE HEADMAN AT OLOMPALI AND BUILT AN ADOBE HOME IN 1837, RECYCLING BRICKS FROM AN EARLIER ADOBE CONSTRUCTION. IN 1843 VALLEJO PETITIONED THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO OF ALTA CALIFORNIA TO GRANT 8900 ACRES OF LAND AT OLYMPALI TO HIS FRIEND. CAMILLO YNITA. YNITA WAS THE ONLY NATIVE AMERICAN TO BE GIVEN A A LAND GRANT IN NORTHERN ALTA CALIFORNIA.NO ONE KNOWS HOW LONG THE OLYMPALI WERE THERE. THEY HAVE A LARGE ROCK ABOUT 5' BY 3' CALLED KITCHEN ROCK THAT SERVED AS MANY MORTARS OF VARIOUS SIZE TO POUND ACORNS AND PLANT SEED. THEY RECONSTRUCTED THE COAST MIWOK SHELTERS IN AN AREA TO THE WEST OF BURDELL MOUNTAIN.

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS.ORG

Monday, August 6, 2012

CUBA CULTURE

IN 1942 COLUMBUS LANDED ON THE ISLAND AND AND FRAMED IT PRINCE JAMES, THE HEIR APPARENT TO THE THROWN OF CASTILLE. THIS ISLAND IS 90 MILES SOUTH OF THE FLORIDA KEYS. IT HAS 48,000 SQUARE MILES. ONE THIRD OF THE ISLAND IS MOUNTAINOUS. SINCE EUROPEAN CONQUEST THE WESTERN THIRD HAS EXCUSED CULTURAL DOMINANCE.

RECENT POPULATION ESTIMATES ARE 11 MILLION WITH 50% MIXED AFRICAN AND EUROPEAN. 37% IS EXCLUSIVELY WHITE. THEY HAVE LARGE SLAVE HOLDING PLANTATIONS IN THE WEST. HERE THE AFROCUBAN ART AND RELIGION AND MUSIC WERE MOST STRONGLY EXPRESSED. THEY HAD THREE STRUGGLES FOR INDEPENDENCE. IN A TEN YEAR WAR IN 1868 TO 1878. THEY ALSO HAD A STRUGGLE AGAINST SPAIN AND IT WAS ORGANIZED BUT SPAIN WON. FINALLY THE US INVADED THE ISLAND IN 1898 AND THE TRIUMPH OF THIS REVOLUTION WAS IN 1959.

IN CUBA THEIR PRE COLUMBIAN POPULATION WAS ABOUT 12,000. THE EUROPEAN GOLD PROSPECTORS ENSLAVED THEM TO DEVELOP AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS. WITHIN 50 YEARS THIS POPULATION WAS EXTINCT FROM EUROPEAN CONFLICTS. PEOPLE FROM SPAIN (CREOLES) AND DESCENDANTS OF ENGLAND BORN ON ISLANDS AND AFRICAN SLAVES REMAINED HERE. ANOTHER REVOLUTION IN 1791 CREOLES AND OTHERS THOUGHT ONLY THE PRESENCE THE SPANISH ARMY COULD HOLD HARMONY. IN 1868 THE PLANTERS OF THE LIBERATION ARMY DECLARED WAR ON SPAIN. THIS 10 YEAR WAR FAILED, AND THEY HAD ECONOMIC RUIN, ESPECIALLY IN THE THE ORIENT REGION. IN 1895 WAR BROKE OUT HERE. SPAIN WAS QUICKLY DEFECTED AND THE TREATY OF PARIS IN 1898 WAS SIGNED. THIS NATION DEVELOPED FROM AFRICANS, EUROPEANS, AND MIXED CULTURES.

AFRICAN RHYTHMS WERE POPULAR WITH EUROCUBANS DANCES AND RUMBA BECAME POPULAR. THE U.S. COLONIALISM BEGAN IN 1898. SOME OF THE WEALTHY SEND THEIR KIDS TO U.S. PRIVATE SCHOOLS. THERE IS STILL RESENTMENT OVER 2 MILITARY INVASIONS OF 1898 AND 1906, SUFFOCATING ECONOMICS, EMBARGO HAS CAUSED MOST CUBANS TO REJECT U.S. GOODS. SLAVERY WAS
ABOLISHED IN 1880 TO 1886.

THE CUBAN REVOLUTION IN 1952-1959 ESTABLISHED AN EGALITARIAN SOCIETY. IN 1986 CASTRO ADMITTED THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE MORE EQUALLY REPRESENTED IN POSITIONS SINCE 1990 THE ECONOMIC CRISIS HAS IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE, SOME HAVE MOVED FROM OTHER PROVINCES TO LIVE IN HAVANNAH. EVEN NEW HOUSES HAVE BEEN A FAILURE. MOST PEOPLE LIVE IN CRAMPED QUARTERS. THEY DO NOT HAVE A VALUE OF BEING LONERS. THEY VALUE SOCIAL GROUPS AND SHARING.

THEIR FOOD IS RICE AND BEANS AS A STAPLE WITH PLANTAINS, TUBERS, AND VEGIS. CUCUMBERS ARE POPULAR. THEY HAVE SOMEWHAT ELIMINATED BEEF, WITH CHICKEN AND SOME GOOD PORK TAKING OVER. THEIR AGRICULTURE IS MOSTLY SUGAR.

THEIR ECONOMY IN CUBA IS SOCIALIST AND THE POPULATION OWNS MOST PRODUCTS AND COLLECTIVELY BENEFITS FROM ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. THERE IS LITTLE PRIVATE PROPERTY AND PRIVATE WEALTH IS SEEN AS A BREACH OF SOCIAL CONTRACT.

DURING THE 1960'S TO 62 MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE WEALTHY MOVED TO MIAMI OR NEW JERSEY. THE STATE HAS USED RESOURCES TO PAY FOR HEALTH CARE, SOCIAL SECURITY AND EDUCATION. FOREIGN MONEY HAS AND SAVED THE ECONOMY, BUT HAS CREATED SOME PROBLEMS FOR THEIR SOCIALIST REVOLUTION.

THE RURAL FARM WORKERS ARE ARE IN POVERTY AND THEY OWN NO LAND. THE AGRARIAN REFORM LAW IN 1959 GAVE LAND TO 200,000 FARM WORKERS. BY 1986, 72% OF PRIVATE FARMERS ARE IN AN AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE. THE STATE GAVE THEM SEEDS, MACHINES, SOCIAL SECURITY, HOUSING AND LOWER INCOME TAX.

TOBACCO AND COFFEE HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST CROP EXPORTED. THEIR CITIES ARE OVER CROWDED! AFTER 1959 THERE WAS A DRAMATIC REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH.


EVERY-CULTURE.COM

Friday, August 3, 2012

JAMAICAN CULTURE

IN 1494 COLUMBUS NAMED THE ISLAND SANTIAGO. THE SPANISH WROTE THE NAME USED BY THE NATIVE TAINOAS XAYMAC. THE WORD IS TO MEAN MANY SPRINGS.

JAMAICA HAS 14 124 PARISHES AND IT HAS 4200 SQUARE MILES. THEIR CAPITAL IS KINGSTON. TODAY THE POPULATION IS 2.7 MILLION. 53% OF THE POPULATION RESIDES IN URBAN AREAS. MANY OF THE FOLKS ARE DESCENDANTS OF AFRICA ISLANDS AND POST SLAVERY INDENTURED SERVANTS AND MIXED LABORERS . EVERYONE SPEAKS ENGLISH.

IN 1994 - 1655 JAMAICA WAS A SPANISH COLONY. IN 1655 JAMAICAN THE COLONIAL PERIOD WAS MARKED BY THE CONFLICT BETWEEN WHITE OWNERS AND AFRICAN SLAVE LABORERS. IT WAS THE SAME DURING INDEPENDENCE - HERE WERE POOR FOLKS. BY 1944 THE GRANTING OF A NEW CONSTITUTION, JAMAICAN GAINED UNIVERSAL SAUFFRAGE.

THE JAMAICANS ARE MULTI-CLASS AND HAVE AN IDENTITY TRADITION IN WHICH THERE IS MINIMAL SEPARATION. BETWEEN SACRED AND SECULAR AND SPIRITUAL FORCES AND RITUAL DANCES AND DREAMING AND DRUMMING AND EMPHASIZE SELF RELIANCE. THEY HAVE A DRIVE TO SUCCEED ECONOMICALLY.

THE INDIGENOUS NATIVES HAVE LEFT EVIDENCE OF THEIR MATERIAL CULTURE AND INFLUENCE. JEWS CAME HERE AS INDENTURED SERVANTS TO HELP ESTABLISH THE SUGAR INDUSTRY AND BE PART OF THE MERCHANT CLASS.

BY 1850'S, EAST INDIANS AND CHINESE WERE RECRUITED TO FILL LABOR GAP LEFT BY SLAVES. THE ETHNIC DIVISION BETWEEN WHITES AND BLACKS HAS LED TO SOME CULTURAL PREJUDICES. SETTLEMENT PATTERNS CENTERED AROUND THE LOWLAND PLANTATIONS. AS THE PLANTATIONS DECLINED, POPULATION GREW TO URBAN CENTERS THAN JOB OPPORTUNITIES. THEY HAD DEVELOPED GOOD TRADING WITH WITH OTHER COUNTIES.

THEIR PRE COLUMBIAN HOUSES WERE OF MUD WALLS AND PALM FRONDS. TODAY MOST EVERYONE LIVES IN SPANISH STYLE HOUSES AND SOME HAVE ENGLISH INFLUENCES. THE PLANTATIONS HAD SERVANT'S QUARTERS.

THEIR FOOD IS DIFFERENT. IT IS A TEA OF BOILED BANANAS AND ROASTED BREADFRUIT AND SALTED COD AND CHOCOLATES. THEIR MAIN MEAL IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON. THE MAIN MEAL MAY BE BOILED YAM OR PLAINTAINS OR FRIED FISH.

RICE IS A UBIQUITOS CEREMONIAL FOOD. THEY EAT SWEET POTATOES, YAMS, AND PLAINTAINS. RICE IS SERVED WITH CURRIED GOAT MILK AT WEDDINGS AND AND OTHER OCCASIONS. SOME AFRICAN RELIGIONS USE GOATS FOR SACRIFICE. GOAT BLOOD IS MIXED WITH RUM - YUCK!

SINCE 1960'S THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN BASED ON LARGE SCALE EXPORTING. MINING AND MANUFACTURING ARE THE MAJOR ECONOMIES HERE.

THEY OWN FAMILY LAND AND MEMBERS WHO SHARE USE RIGHTS, AND ALL MEMBERS SHARE IN PRODUCING CROPS. JAIMACANS TRADE WITH US, ENGLAND, CANADA, AND THE CARRIBEAN COMMUNITY. THEY IMPORT SOME HARDWARE, ELECTIC AND TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT, FOOD FUEL, MACHINES AND TRANSPORTORTATION EQUIPMENT. BLACKS NOW WORK IN ALL TYPES OF JOBS, CHINESE WORK IN RETAIL AND WHOLESALE, TRADES. INDIANS ARE INTO PROFESSIONAL AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES. WOMEN ARE WITH DOMESTIC CHORES. THEY TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN. THEY MAY TAKE AFTER A PARENT OR THEY MAY BE INFLUENCED BY THE DEVIL. THE WOMEN TRADITIONALLY ARE SECRETARIES, CLERICAL, TEACHERS, AND DO TRADING ACTICITIES.

MOST OF THE COUNTRY'S WEALTH IS OWNED BY A SMALL NUMBER OF WHITE FAMILIES. THE SOCIAL SYSTEM IS IN PLACE. JAMAICA HAS OVER 150 NON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS. MEN HAVE HIGHER PAYING JOBS HERE THAN WOMEN. THE GRANDMOTHER OFTEN HELPS RAISE THE CHILDREN. THEY HAVE TWO MARRIAGE PATTERNS - LEGALLY RECOGNIZED AND CONSENSUAL UNION THEIR CHURCH IS ANGELICAN AND IS THE CHURCH OF THE ELITE. THE ARTS ARE A LONG TRADITION HERE AND FEW ARE HIRED BY COMPANIES. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. THEIR ARE MANY PERFORMING ARTS WITH MUSIC.

WOMEN ARE EXPECTED TO GIVE ADULT MALES SERVICE IN THE HOME.

THERE RITUALS INCLUDE SPECIAL HEALING RITUALS AND CEREMONIES TO BE THANKFUL OF ANCESTRAL VENERATION AND MEMORIAL SERVICES. THEY BELIEVED THEIR RITUALS TAKE PLACE IN CHURCHES, BALM YARDS, SILK TREES, CEMETERIES, BAPTIZED SITES. THEY HAVE IMPOVERSHED AND LARGE FUNERALS. THEY MIXED TRADITIONS AND HERBAL HEALING PRACTICES.

EVERY-CULTURE.COM

Thursday, August 2, 2012

BAHAMA CULTURE

BAHAMAS DERIVES FROM THE SPANISH BAJA FOR 'SHALLOW' AND MAR FOR 'SEA'. THEY HAVE MINOR DIFFERENCES IN CUSTOMS AMONG THE 700 ISLANDS. THE ISLANDS ARE OVER 700 MILES AND ARE PARALELLL TO CUBA. THEY HAVE 24,0000 REEFS AND ROCK FORMATIONS. THEIR CLMATE IS SUBTROPICAL. FARMING HAS BEEN PRACTICAL SINCE PRE-COLOMBIAN TIMES AND THEIR SOIL IS NOT FERTILE. THEY HAVE LITTLE GROUND WATER.

THEIR POPULATION IS ABOUT 280,000 WHO SPEAK FRENCH CREOLE WITH 1000'S OF ILLEGAL HAITI REFUGEES. 85% ARE AFRICAN ANCESTRY; THE REST ARE FROM ENGLAND. MANY YOUNG ADULTS MIGRATED FROM OUT THE ISLAND SETTLEMENTS TO URBAN AREAS.

ENGLISH IS THEIR MAIN LANGUAGE. THEY HAVE A MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION. THEY HAVE
VARIOUS EVENTS THAT DRAW 1000'S OF VISITORS. THE JUNKAANOA IS A MARDI GRAS LIKE CELEBRATION THAT BINDS PEOPLE TO THEIR PAST. THE FIRST RESIDENTS WERE LUKKIE-CLAIRES SUBDIVISION OF ARAWAK INDIANS. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS CREW LANDED HERE AND CLAIMED BAHAMA FOR SPAIN. MANY EARLY INDIANS WERE TAKEN TO CUBA AS SLAVES AND MANY DIED OF DISEASES.

BAHAMAS WAS A HAVEN FOR PIRATES. FINALLY IN THE 16TH CENTURY THE BRITISH CLAIMED THE ISLANDS THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION SOME FOLKS MOVED FROM THE US AFTER THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AS WELL ASS ENSLAVED AFRICANS. THE COTTON PLANTATION FAILED DURING THE 1830'S AND THE SLAVES WERE FREED AND GIVEN LAND TO FARM.

THIS COUNTRY HAD VARIOUS WITH THE BRITISH AND AFRICAN TRADITIONS. THE AFRICAN FOLKS HAD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND STYLES, DANCES AND FOLKTALES. NEW BELIEFS EMERGED WITHIN THE BAHAMAS AS THE MANY CULTURES REVOLTED AND AGAIN FOUND HARMONY. BY 1973 THE ISLAND FOUND INDEPENDENCE.

MANY HAITIANS ARE THOUGHT OF AS UNCIVILIZED COMPARED TO BAHAMIANS. BECAUSE THEY PRACTICE VOODOO THOUGHT OF AS SECRETIVE. AIDS CAME FROM THE REFUGEES.. THE AMERICANS ARE PORTRAYED AS ARROGANT.

ABOUT 1/2 OF THE PEOPLE LIVE IN NAUSSAW. MANY NEIGHBORHOODS RANGE FROM WEALTHY TO SLUMS OF UNEMPLOYED FOLKS. THEY HAVE OLD COLONIAL STRUCTURES, FORTS, AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS. THEIR FOOD IS MEAT OR FISH, BREAD, RICE. BOTH HAITIANS AND BAHAMIANS EAT CONCH, AN EASILY COLLECTED SEA SNAIL AND RICE AND PEAS. POOR PEOPLE EAT THESE ALSO AS THEY ARE HERITAGE FOODS. DURING HOLIDAYS THEY EACH FISH, CATCH CONCH, RICE, PEAS, BAKED GOODS AND FRESH FRUIT, RUM, BEER, SOFT DRINKS, AND TEA, AND COFFEE. FARMING IS NOT THAT IMPORTANT EXCEPT FOR SMALL SUBSISTENCE GARDENING. TOURISM ACCOUNTS FOR FOR 1/2 OF GROSS PRODUCT AND 1/2 OF ALL JOBS. ANNUAL INCOME IS $10,000. THE NATIONAL CURRENCY IS KNOWN AS THE BAHAMIAN DOLLAR. COMMERCIAL FISHING IS IMPORTANT WITH MOST OF THE CATCH BEING FROZEN AND EXPORTED. THEY HAVE COTTAGE INDUSTRIES. THEY HAVE HOTELS, CASINOS, AND SPORT FISHING BUSINESSES.

GOODS AS PHARMACEUTICALS, RUM AND CRAWFISH ARE EXPORTED AND TRADE IS WITH THE U.S. THE U.K. AND CANADA. GOVERNMENT IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER. CHILDREN WORK WITH PARENTS AND AS STREET VENDORS. SOME SKILLED TRADE MAY BE FISHING AND CARPENTRY,MASONRY WORK TEND TO BE FAMILY SKILLS.

THEY HAVE UPPER CLASS AND WEALTHY BUSINESS OWNERS. THEY HAVE MIDDLE CLASS BUSINESS OWNERS, AND PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS. ALMOST ALL LOWER CLASSARE OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY. SOME HAVE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AND DO FISHING, WARFARE, AND TRADES PEOPLE. THIS IS WHERE ILLEGAL DRUGS FROM SOUTH AMERICA THE CARRIBEAN MOVE TO NORTH AMERICA. THE MONEY FROM THIS TRADE IS TOLERATED AND NOT CRIMINALIZED. THEY HAVE NO MILITARY. WOMEN HAVE EQUAL STATUS UNDER THE LAW. THEY GO INTO NURSING AND TEACHNG, AND OFFICE WORK, CRAFTS, AND DOMESTICS.

MARRIAGES ARE MONOGAMOUS AND PEOPLE DO NOT MARRY BETWEEN BLOOD RELATIVES. BUT THEY CAN MARRY BETWEEN DISTANT KIN AND IST COUSINS. SOME INTERACIAL MARRIAGES ARE STIGMATIZED. DIVORCE IS AVAILABLE, ALTHOUGH MANY COUPLES DRIFT APART AND NEVER TERMINATE THEIR UNION. THERE IS A DOUBLE STANDARD WHERE WOMEN ARE EXPECTED TO TO BE CHASTE UNTIL MARRIAGE AND MEN CAN HAVE EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIRS. THE IDEAL IS THE NUCLEAR FAMILY, BUT THERE IS MUCH DIVERSE LIVING SITUATIONS AS IN THE U.S.

CHILDREN ARE SOCIALIZED IN ADULT ROLES. GIRLS HELP MOMS AND PLAY WITH YOUNG. THE HOUSES ARE SMALL IN HEIGHT DUE TO HURRICANES . BOYS ARE SMALL IN HEIGHT DUE TO THE HURRICANES . BOYS MAY WORK WITH THEIR FATHERS AND ARE FREE TO PLAY AND TO BE INDEPENDENT. THEY HAVE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

MOST FOLKS ARE CHURCH GOING CHRISTIANS. OBEAH IS AN AFRICAN SYSTEM OF BELIEF IN SPIRITS. SOME CHRISTAN SERVICES INCLUDE GLOSSOLABA, SPIRIT POSSESSION AND FAITH HEALING. MOST BELIEVE SOULS GO TO HEAVEN OR HELL. SOME BELIEVE IN GHOSTS.

THEY HAVE ABOUT 100 GOVERNMENT CLINICS AND AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE TRANSPORTS OUT ISLANDS TO THE HOSPITAL IN EMERGENCY. THEY HAVE 1200 PEOPLE PER DOCTOR AND PARAMEDICS ARE IN OUTLYING VILLAGES. BUSH MEDICINE IS STILL FOUND BUT DECLINING.

ARTISTS ARE GIVEN IN SELF SUPPORTING AND ARE GIVEN SOME GRANTS. PLAYS ARE PERFORMED FOR RESIDENTS, THEY HAVE WARRIORS, CONCERTS TO CLASSICAL MUSIC.

FACULTY ARE COLLEGES CONDUCT SOME SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. MORE RESEARCH IS IN MARINE BIOLOGY. MEDICINE AND ENGINEERING ARE NOT WELL. DEVELOPED.

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