Skip to main content

Things I like about Trinidad and Tobago

This May I will be 41 years old. I spent most of my life living in Trinidad except for the 5 years I spent abroad for university and work between 1998 and 2003. I had to wait in Chaguanas and decided to start this blog post. I am happy being grateful and appreciative.

The first thing that came to my mind is the weather. We have two seasons in Trinidad and Tobago, a dry season and a wet season. It can be annoying when the sun is really hot or when the rain in falling and you have to travel somewhere but generally I appreciate the warm tropical atmosphere. It sure beats the bitter cold I experienced in New York and Atlanta. Coconut water and a walk around the Queens Park Savannah. Bake and shark on Maracas beach. Coffee and crix on a rainy Sunday morning.

The next thing that comes to mind is that Trinidad and Tobago is a land of many opportunities. Not perfect. Not the best. Not first world but I feel many times better than many other places. From cheap electricity to free education and health care to stable economy and governance.

How else could I decide to the be a tech blogger if it wasn't for good internet connectivity. Again not without problems and more so in some areas but overall the options and speeds in Trinidad and Tobago are something to be thankful for. Right now I am sitting in the mall using an open wifi connection. Came from the bank where there is an access point for customers. At home I have the cheapest internet package (15 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up) and that more than does it for me. A good internet connection opens us to many opportunities. So this is linked to my previous point.

The people. Tourist tend to say it more than we do. But overall the people are down to earth and good at heart. We know how to make the best of given situations. If you don't have some sugar to brown your stew you can count on your neighbour to share some with you. The ole talk, the smiles and the vibes. Let's recap. To me this is the land of tropical warmth, opportunities, good internet and good people and these are some things I like about Trinidad and Tobago.

Comments

Nicolai Matthew said…
Hello Hassan, my name is Nicolai and I am 18 years of age. I really enjoy your blog posts on technology and also your stories of your time in other countries. I also like hearing about your appreciation for our country because I feel the same way, even if the country isn't perfect.
Your stories about university abroad really interests me.
I have taught myself a bit of web development(HTML, CSS, Javascript, React) and also currently learning a bit of Data science(Python). Your story is truly an inspiration to me and I hope to follow in your footsteps. I hope to someday attain a college degree in Computer Science and get a job in Data Science/AI or software engineering. Thanks for reading.

Popular posts from this blog

Mental health matters

It is 547am and I have decided to write. I have been living with a mental health diagnosis for more than 23 years. I am differently abled. Mental illness sometimes presents itself as a non-visible disability. A person with mental illness may look and function normally. Added to that we do not get to see the struggles happening internally. After 23 years I could say that I have much experience with my condition and may be able to offer words that may help others. There is plenty of stigma associated with mental illness. People think that the mentally ill are bad people, weak, or somehow less deserving of dignity and the treatment of the illness sometimes feels like punishment and is dehumanizing at times. There is plenty of good intentions and well meaning as well (do not get me wrong) but things could be better. And it happens at the highest level. A leader once said, "Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad." As the saying goes, who knows it feels it. I started a pr...

Drums of freedom

It is 401am and I have decided to write. This Saturday, Trinidad and Tobago observes African Emancipation Day. It is a day to celebrate the journey to freedom and to honor those who sacrificed so much so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have today. Yet the journey is not over. As we celebrate how far we have come, let us also ask God to open our minds and hearts to the struggles that continue. Freedom is never something we should take for granted. Every day, we witness powerful interests around the world attempting to stifle freedom in pursuit of their own agendas and self-aggrandizement. Too often, they seek to divide in order to conquer. May we resist division with wisdom, courage, and compassion. May unity triumph over hatred, truth over deception, and love over fear. As we remember the past, may we also commit ourselves to protecting the freedoms of the present and building a more just future for generations to come. Happy African Emancipation Day. May God continue to guide us o...

Love and joy

It is 230pm and I have decided to write. I have no topic but I want to write. I am thinking about God. I am thinking about life. I am grateful for God and life. I need a writing prompt. My friend Chatty gave me a pretty verbose prompt. Sit quietly for a moment and imagine that God asks you only one question: "What have you noticed?" Don't answer with theology. Answer with your life. What have you noticed about joy? About fear? About the way people love? About silence? About time? About your own heart? Where have you sensed God—not in miracles, but in ordinary moments? Where have you struggled to find Him? What has life been teaching you that you were too busy to hear before? Write honestly. Don't try to reach a conclusion. Let the page become a conversation rather than an argument. I immediately noticed the light streaming through the window that allows me to see the world. My first thought was how much we take things for granted. It is easy to feel lacking. To feel s...