Lishai - Lishai Peel

I'll skip the introduction and welcome you right in to my thoughts. I'd rather not focus so much on where I am at right now but WHY I am here. I'm here, embarking on this three month journey, because I believe that education is so much more than in-classroom learning. I'm here because I don't want to just read about and think about - I want to DO. I’m here because I think that I can do so much better and we can all do so much better to make this world more just and take care of each other, ourselves and our environment.

Yeah, I’m an idealist, and I’ve taken a few knocks but I remain convinced that it is better to live with hope and love than to live with cynicism and apathy.

And for those who think my ramblings are too abstract, I’m an international development and philosophy student who has been given the amazing opportunity to spend three months in St.Kitts working for an organization called The Basic Needs Trust Fund. This is a regional poverty alleviation program geared towards strengthening public services and economic infrastructure from a bottom-up (power to the people) development approach.

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Joined on: June 5th 2009
Last Login: December 12th 2009

Blog Entries: 8
Photos: 29

TB Code: [blogger=123402]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by Lishai, order by Date newest first.

By Lishai
September 13th 2009

The Rhythm of Island Life Central America Caribbean » Saint Kitts & Nevis » Saint Kitts » Basseterre

Community Mapping Meeting

Time is winding down and I’m already realizing all that I’m going to miss. I’m also realizing how much I have adapted to island life and Caribbean culture. The first time I consciously noticed change was when I was walking to work with Eli and I thought to myself that he was walking faster than usual, but then I realized that my walking pace had, in fact, slowed down. I haven’t worn a watch in almost three months now, it’s such a relief to slow down and not feel the constant pressure of time. Some adaptations happened naturally, others I found [View Full Entry]

By Lishai
September 1st 2009

I&I Central America Caribbean » Saint Kitts & Nevis » Saint Kitts » Basseterre

At first I found Kittitian accents difficult to understand. There was quite a few awkward communication break downs. Now, I more or less feel at ease with strong Kittitian accents and have even changed the way I talk to relate to the kids in the neighbourhood... Where she be > Where is she? How many years you have? > How old are you? For True? > For real? Come, let we go > Let’s go You vexing me, boy! > You’re pissing me off! Don’t study him > Don’t pay attention to him You check? > You understand? (or, as Rastafarians [View Full Entry]

By Lishai
July 20th 2009

Sweet Sugar Island Central America Caribbean » Saint Kitts & Nevis » Saint Kitts » Basseterre

CIMG2202

When a new adventure is before me, I dive in head first. I’ve been swimming in an ocean of new smells, sights and people. Every time I want to surface for breath, I’m distracted and swim deeper still. Now I’ve emerged from the water for a quick breather and I suddenly realize that half my time here is already up. Here are a few images, stories and insights that colour my Caribbean experience so far... Some time ago, I was looking for the boys that hang out on my street. I walked into the narrow alleyway that is lined with shack-like [View Full Entry]

By Lishai
June 29th 2009

Hard Choices and Goats Central America Caribbean » Saint Kitts & Nevis » Saint Kitts » Basseterre

Office Goat

There is an 11 year old boy in our neighbourhood who doesn’t really have a home. I have come to learn that his mother just got out of jail and he stays by a friend or by his uncle's house. He has no shoes, always wears the same shorts and t-shirt, never really speaks, nor smiles. He seems so vacant... hard to explain. Early last week at 12am, I heard a knock on my door. The kid was standing there without explanation. After standing with him outside for half an hour, I ascertained that he was locked out of his friend’s [View Full Entry]

By Lishai
June 23rd 2009

The White Girl Central America Caribbean » Saint Kitts & Nevis » Saint Kitts » Basseterre

Kaleisha and Johanna

The last week has been quite intense. They say that when you go to a new place, at first you are on a high - bedazzled and amazed by everything you see. Then the low creeps up - homesickness, culture shock, fatigue. Well, last week culture shock kicked in hard. Over the last 7 days, I’ve been confronted with issues of class, race and gender and trying to navigate my way though the nuances of cultural norms and expectations within a Caribbean context. First of all, you all should know that I’m living in the ghetto. Eli and I stand out [View Full Entry]

By Lishai
June 15th 2009

Chillin’ with my boy Hugo Chávez Central America Caribbean » Saint Kitts & Nevis

The events that took place on Friday night took me a few days to reflect on before writing about them. It all started when DeSuza, our supervisor, walked into our office and promptly announced, “We be limin’ tonight, pick you up at 8.30.” Context: for the last few days the PetroCaribe Summit has been taking place here in Basseterre. This is the 6th summit for the heads of state/government members to get together and cover agenda items such as infrastructure projects related to hydrocarbons supply, exchange and endogenous development projects, execution of the offset syst [View Full Entry]

By Lishai
June 11th 2009

Thinking about Culture Central America Caribbean » Saint Kitts & Nevis » Saint Kitts » Basseterre

York International has asked this year’s interns to complete some assignments while we are dispersed all over the world and our first assignment was to answer the question “what is my culture?” I’ve been sitting on it for quite some time and I guess part of the reason why I’ve been avoiding it is because I recognize that I’m so much a product of my culture and I can’t escape or deny it. I’m a westerner. And with those three words comes so many connotations. Words such as colonizer, imperialist, slavery, white man and modernizer come to mind, ju [View Full Entry]

By Lishai
June 7th 2009

Reflections from day one in St.Kitts. Central America Caribbean » Saint Kitts & Nevis » Saint Kitts » Basseterre

View from my apartment

I exit the small craft to a blast of humid Caribbean air. It’s like entering a sauna. I head towards customs feeling light headed. Point of observation: customs are actually friendly here! I get picked up by DeSuza and Eli. Eli is the other intern and one cool cat. DeSuza is the project manager for the Basic Needs Trust Fund. He’s awesome, seems to know everyone. “This is the real Caribbean” he says as we’re driving through town. My apartment is in the heart of Basseterre, overlooking the ocean. What strikes me most are the sounds of this place. Children [View Full Entry]

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